Before Everton’s game against Manchester United at the weekend, David Moyes made sure his comments in the press put just about enough pressure on the ref to see Everton get away with a penalty Mike Reilly might otherwise have given.
So, seeing as the boss has resorted to those sort of tactics, it’s not really surprising that Everton players are trying their luck ahead of tonight’s game. John Terry was sent off against Everton in the reverse fixture this season, and realising it obviously helped them hold us to a 0-0 draw, Mikel Arteta has decided to point out to the press that refs should keep an eye on the Chelsea captain.
The Everton midfielder says “That they let the game flow is not a bad thing, but I think they have to be stricter with one shocking thing. With a challenge like the one Eduardo received or some of those that Terry makes, late tackles. They should put a stop to that. That they let you play and be a bit more aggressive doesn’t seem a bad thing to me. That’s better than always stopping the game because I dive, I get up, I protest. I wouldn’t take that out of the game because the respect for players, be they local or foreign players, is very great and beautiful.”
Now far be it for me to get all precious about John Terry but hasn’t Arteta just admitted he dives whilst criticising a fellow professional?
Blue is the colour
