Aston Villa manager Dean Smith was involved in a touchline argument with Hammers coach Kevin Nolan after a dive by Jack Grealish earlier in the game.
Post-match Smith told reporters “One of their members of staff was calling Jack a diver and a cheat. I’m not having that. David Moyes said he’d deal with it.”
TV cameras picked up the argument which later involved the fourth official telling several backroom staff to take their seats and calm.
David Moyes was questioned on the subject during his post-match press conference but appeared to duck the question saying that TV cameras can pick up what is part of the normal match day passion from the dugout.
West Ham coach Dave Billows was given a yellow card with John Terry from the Villa bench.
If Smith is waiting for an apology from Nolan and Billlows he might be waiting a long time. TV replays show Grealish is a diver and a cheat and, if anyone, it should Grealish and his manager doing the apologising.
Grealish is a talented player who doesn’t need to cheat so it is disappointing when someone of that talent resorts to that behaviour nor as Hughie pointed out in another piece actually making it an essential part of his game.
they claimed the penalty was a dive when the replay shows the shirt tug . west ham can make all the claims they wish they got lucky last night with the sly fouls late lunges and leaving the boot in after the ball is gone plus the odd kick and stamp . the refs will see that on the highlight shows and be ready for it . expect west ham to collect a lot of cards as the season wears on .
Grealish is a fine player but last night was embarrassing he should hang his head in shame! Trying to get fellow professionals booked or sent off! He is a diver and a cheat
I would keep to your presenting duties on I’m a celebrity with Dec…
How does a slight tug on the back of your shirt make you fall to the ground. Don’t try to cover your cheating and diving by accusing our players. I know it’s embarrassing but if you support Villa you have to own it.
Actually, when they showed the replay of the shirt tug here in the States, they pointed out that particular dive by saying that on a shirt tug you fall back not forward. Those commentators are not West Ham fans either, just pundits. As for Grealish, you can deflect and defer all you want …when someone turns around and then suddenly drops to their knees like Grealish did, it’s a dive. Plain and simple. We can argue the Rice penalty all you want but it does not take away from the fact that Grealish took a dive.
It’s funny how fans of teams who play Aston Villa all say same about Grealish, tbh I’d love grealish to play for whu but I think Moyes would tell Grealish to knock diving on the head. Smith while Aston Villa tactics are working its keeping him in a job so he ain’t going to change a thing.
I don’t want Grealish. Leopards don’t change their spots.
Grealish, and his mates brought the game and their club into disrepute, by blatant cheating. The last collapse by Grealish has gone viral, showing no touch.
Shame on the manager and staff for not stamping that out. Them being former players … John Terry being a warrior himself. Pathetic Aston Villa, pathetic !!!
I’m not sure what Smith’s point was……the Grealish late fall to the ground (while holding the ‘wrong’ knee) has gone viral and it simply shows Villa are ‘that’ kind of club. Add in the Douglas Luiz incident where went ground and then jumped up when realised play was continuing without him and Kevin Nolan looks to have a good case.
Grealish obviously makes the ‘most fouled player’ tag work for Villa in that he wins free kicks – but it’s a waste of time as they can’t convert them into goals!
Strange how the truth always hurts,and if Smith is defending this then he’s as bad as Grealish and should have to explain the behavior of his players. Villa supporters will try to divert the attention from this incident by looking at Hammers incidents, which, to me, signifies guilt. If Smith or Terry won’t do any thing about it the FA should and certainly Gareth Southgate won’t want this in an England shirt in his team. Hammers are not the only team to complain about Grealish’s behavior and won’t be the last. Remember great players don’t need to cheat, think about it.
That Fornals’ incident was the first time I have seen Jack go down cheaply and I didn’t like it. However, every other time was a clear foul and it was the only way that your boys could stop him.
Having said what I have above about the Fornals incident, even Jamie Carragher was arguing that Ollie should have gone down when Ogbonna wrestled him (the VAR incident) to ensure he gets a penalty. When pundits are saying that sometimes you have to do that to get some justice then players that don’t normally dive will do so!
And fans of other clubs say Jack dives because, like you, they don’t like players that are too good for their clubs to handle. Most proper fans and pundits are now recognising Jack for what he is – the best carrier of a ball and attacking creative player in the PL.
I agree that Grealish is a great player. I don’t agree that he doesn’t go down easy. The slightest touch has him screaming out as he’s letting himself collapse in a heap. He is positively embarrassing. How can any fair minded football fan try to defend him? When he carries the ball, most opponents are frightened to get close in case he does his usual swan dive. I suggest you look at the clips on u tube, it may just change your mind.
Seriously? Talent includes attitude. Grealish is an embarressment to the game and will eventually get the knocks his behaviour invites. Looking forward to it.
Maybe if someone like Roy Keane was still playing he would go in hard on Jack the lad and sort him out. I’m sure he wouldn’t do it again.🤣
Jack does this sort of thing week in week out………..
What does it say about the manager that sends him out to cheat week in and week out?
Dean Smith is trying to use bluster and outrage to cover up the obvious and it is easy to tell the type of manager he is with John Terry as part of his team. They set out to win by whatever means they can!
I reckon Ollie Watkins was embarrassed by his captain’s behaviour. Probably why he missed his penalty and refused to fall down when Oggy was giving him a hug…