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Everton v Liverpool: Divers will turn fans away - David Moyes

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments451

Mark Lawrenson chats to David Moyes about the Merseyside derby

Everton boss David Moyes has warned ahead of Sunday's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park that players who dive will drive fans away from football.

"People are going to turn away if they continue to watch people throw themselves on the ground," he said.

The Scot admitted Jack Rodwell's red card - later revoked - for still rankled.

"We got really badly done by a terrible refereeing decision," he added.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis believing that the Uruguayan attempted to deceive the referee into awarding a penalty during the teams' goalless draw at Anfield in October.

And Moyes believes that referees need to be careful in their assessment of each incident to avoid a repeat of Martin Atkinson's mistaken dismissal of Rodwell last season.

"I think it's important you do get someone who's strong enough to identify what are the right challenges and the wrong ones," he said.

The former Preston boss has won only four matches out of 23 against Liverpool since swapping Deepdale for Everton a decade ago, losing four of his last five home Premier League derbies at Goodison.

But he emphasises that, despite the importance of the game on Merseyside, the success of Everton's season is not dependent on the outcome.

With Everton six points and eight places above their Stanley Park neighbours, Moyes is concentrating on building on a strong start to a league campaign from a side that has been taken its time to get into its stride in recent seasons.

"We didn't beat Liverpool last year and we finished above them in the league so it's a really important three points but it might not make a big difference to the league position come the end of the season," Moyes added.

"The important thing is to see if we can stay up there in a lofty position. We've very rarely been up there at this time of the season.

"We go into the game in good fettle, we've got a bit of momentum, we've started quite brightly and hopefully we'll continue to play the way we have done."

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451 comments

  • Comment posted by Ollie, at 12:50 27 Oct 2012

    Divers, insane ticket prices, overpaid players, a lacklustre England team, a lack of geniune competition in all top leagues of Europe, the Olympics showing how real sports stars behave, racism, media-centric players always promoting themselves, every single thing analysed like it's the start of WWIII .... take your pick Mr. Moyes as to what is actually turning off fans!

  • Comment posted by Ingvar_Gunnarsson, at 13:38 27 Oct 2012

    I'd actually argue the pathetic response from a certain number of black players to the "Kick-it-Out" campaign and their demands for special treatment because their feelings are hurt is more likely to turn fans away. Fans want to see drama and aggression and pantomine. Not groups of players making themselves separate from not only their fellow professionals but the fans who watch them every week.

  • Comment posted by User0966333583, at 13:37 27 Oct 2012

    How many times have we seen Drogba or Ronaldo dive only for the commentator to say they were "clever" to draw a foul? Commentators also have responsibility not to be biased and not to romanticise. If the BBC wanted, they could compile a video where at least one player in every team in the premiership dives this or any other season. Targeting one player from one team is hypocritical and cowardly.

  • Comment posted by Mr M, at 12:47 27 Oct 2012

    People already have started to turn away from football. Don't get me wrong I really enjoy watching football, but the weak fouls given and cheating ways frustrated me.

  • Comment posted by User0664125184, at 13:44 27 Oct 2012

    Its about time it was adressed & that EVERYONE buys into it, from players, ALL managers & especially comms & pundits who need to start calling a cheat a cheat not someone being "clever" or there was "contact" when the player has thown himself at the defender to "earn a penalty" Once thats dealt with then we can next look at blocking & shirt pulling at corners, it's a penalty!

  • Comment posted by greedkilledfootball, at 14:09 27 Oct 2012

    Diving is rife and is damaging the credibility of the game. Its easily solvable though, all FIFA or the greedy pl have to do is set up a panel of experts who review incidents. If they deem a player is guilty of diving, then a 10 game suspension should follow.

    If this was implemented, Ronaldo would never play another game of football again. Biggest diver around bar none.

  • Comment posted by mick neal, at 13:36 27 Oct 2012

    Ha ha. Drive them away?Already has with me, pal! Overpaid prima donnas. Any mug who pays to watch "professional" football needs their head looking at.
    They moan about recession, prices, politicians etc., etc. and then pay hundreds of pounds per year watching buffoons with limited intelligence. There is obviously something wrong with our "education system" - The fans will NEVER learn!! Ha ha ha!!

  • Comment posted by User0111489079, at 14:18 28 Oct 2012

    And Neville gets booked for .......... DIVING !

    Let's see if moyes fines him ?

  • Comment posted by Aunty Sue Knows Best, at 13:17 27 Oct 2012

    Mr Moyes is absolutely correct. There are two factors that perpetuate this obscene behaviour that amounts to a kind of match-fixing.
    1) Football authorities treat it as little more than inconvenient rather than the criminal behaviour it is.
    2) Commentators (including, shamefully, those of the BBC) lend these defrauders an air of respectability by refering to deceitful hoaxing as 'simulation'

  • Comment posted by DontTrustTheGovernment, at 08:14 28 Oct 2012

    All teams have players that dive. It's the play acting that makes me sick!

  • Comment posted by User0528817049, at 20:59 27 Oct 2012

    182. Firstly every team that i have seen at anfield for a few seasons have divers in them so lets not just be a true bitter blue and lets name all the divers and lets get them all named and shamed suarez does it and it s embarrasing i agree, united have at least six you have quite a few but maybe your blue tinted glasses prevent you from seeing them.

  • Comment posted by User0326684428, at 12:55 27 Oct 2012

    Suarez is still gonna dive tomorrow lol, as if he cares what anyone thinks of him.

  • Comment posted by mick neal, at 13:51 27 Oct 2012

    Ha ha ha - That's why fans paying to watch are mugs! They are being had.
    You're right, it never used to happen. Why bother going to watch a bunch of overpaid cheats? Get a life. Do something more useful than lining the pockets of moronic footballers. (by the way - paying to watch on Sky also counts - ha ha ha ha!!!)

  • Comment posted by Aunty Sue Knows Best, at 13:35 27 Oct 2012

    It is not about the actions of certain players from specific clubs. Rather, it is about a cancer within football that needs surgically removing. One sure way to do it is to deduct 3 points from offending teams, and a further 7 points if their managers argue about it!

  • Comment posted by D1710704993293, at 13:56 27 Oct 2012

    @63. 'the fans of Self-Pity City', I can only assume you are a policeman from the South Yorkshire Force, or a Manc!

  • Comment posted by PhilSpace, at 11:27 28 Oct 2012

    The sycophantic, fawning coverage of Manchester United by the BBC and the media in general hides their habitual cheating, gamesmanship, intimidation of referees, linesmen, and the FA. But it is open season on Luis Saurez, Liverpool Football Club, and Kenny Dalglish.....

  • Comment posted by User0763631003, at 12:10 28 Oct 2012

    Diving is ruining the game in general. I think all major decisions should be reviewed immediately by a 4th official on a monitor as a penalty or sending off could be the difference for the title or European qualification. I can't see why all games can't be reviewed after the weekend and any diving missed in a game results in yellow cards given retrospectively.

  • Comment posted by GunnerStorm, at 13:51 27 Oct 2012

    I will always be a fan to football, but the worst thing in history is the cheating from Barcelona and UEFA in the Champions League.
    Video Refereeing will help improve decisions against divers, but Barcelona's cheating ways will always carry on.

  • Comment posted by User0138791583, at 12:59 27 Oct 2012

    Frankly, of all the things driving people away from the game, diving is very low on the list. Much worse is the culture of greed and short-termism that is alienating fans and has been since the inception of the PL.

  • Comment posted by DimDomsDadsDogsDead, at 09:56 28 Oct 2012

    Another thing that turns me off is players like Steven Taylor with a deliberate handball and immediately slapping his chest to 'show' the ref where the ball struck, CHEAT! Jamie Carragher attempting to block another players run, that is obstruction, CHEAT!