Sgt. Largent":rwcmbqm6 said:
Uncle Si":rwcmbqm6 said:
So hold on.. he breaks a record for fouls against him and you think it's because he embellishes?
You said he doesn't get protection from the refs and his teammates, and I was proving you wrong by showing you that he gets more calls than anyone in his own league AND this WC.
And this is pure speculation, but I'd guess that he doesn't get protection from his teammates because they don't like him being a punk flopper rolling around on the ground like an idiot either................and I'd also venture to guess it's also why he's AS talented as Messi and Ronaldo, yet is rarely mentioned in the "best current player" conversation.
People don't respect the nonsense. If he's just take the foul without the histrionics and carrying on, he might actually gain more respect from fans, peers and his own teammates.
Do you think the histrionics come with every foul? Like the 11 times he was fouled earlier in the tournament he was on the ground holding his ankle? have you watched how often he gets clubbed and no fouls are called? probably not.
The calls aren't "protection"
That's the way the game should be refereed.
Protection is getting yellow and red cards issued for all the hard, tactical fouls he incurs.
I also dont think you understand what "protection from a teammate" in soccer would entail. I imagine his teammates are just fine with him.
Being one of the most popular players in the world would also indicate he's quite popular. given the battering he takes on behalf of his club, country and teammates is not something his teammates don't notice.
I laugh at the people who can, in one breath bash a player like Neymar for "flopping" or "faking" and in the same breath point to all the fouls he earns as some measure of balance. It shows a misunderstanding of what takes place on the field.
Also, I can't remember a time in the last 3 years a conversation about the "best player" didnt come up and involve Neymar. He finished 3rd in Baloon D'or last year, 5th in 2016, 3rd in 2015 and is shortlisted this year.
and he's 26.
Is he perfect? no. He deserves criticism at times.
But this notion that what is being done to him (and has been done to Messi for years in la liga, Ronaldo and Ronaldihno before them) is somehow part of the game and they should "get over it" is ridiculous and exactly why the sport has some of the issues it does.
Neymar is a reaction to it, not a cause.