10 Oct 2016 08:28:15
I remember a few weeks back there was a thread about players showboating, and ED001 had mentioned Neymar as the prime example of excessive showboating which instead of helping the team, spurs the opposition on and pushes them to boost their game (physical side of it too) . Credit to ED001 for his analysis, as I just read an article where one of the Bolivia defenders (the one who elbowed him recently) has come out and said the exact same thing about Neymar. I strictly condemn any intended action to hurt the opponent, but just wanted to credit ED001 for the insightful analysis.

{Ed001's Note - thank you, and I agree, no player should react like that, but it does happen.}

1.) 10 Oct 2016
10 Oct 2016 08:55:25
Hot head people are hot head players and South America seems to have the most hot heads. Therefore they react badly to being embarrassed by a brilliant skill from Neymar in this case. Calmer players either laugh it off or get their own back with a brilliant skill of their own. I'm pretty sure the player that kicked Neymar in La Liga was South American too.

2.) 10 Oct 2016
10 Oct 2016 12:15:14
Could Lil Magician stereotype a bit more?

3.) 10 Oct 2016
10 Oct 2016 16:25:04
it has nothing to do with hot headed players being from somewhere specific. Showboating is unprofessional and in no way, respects your opponents and in fact, denigrates them and if you do that, you get exactly what you deserve. I grew up (and played football) in Nigeria, lived in France for five years and now live in the States and I can tell you, if you try to embarrass your fellow competitors even tho you are winning, you get exactly what you deserve. I do not condone any form of violence but if you poke a bull, you`ll get the horns, for sure. Neymar is not better that many of the Brazilian legends before him and many of them never did what he`s doing because it`s against sportsmanship, respect and honor for the game. I read one of Pele`s books where his dad ripped him a new one after he saw him ridicule the opposition while playing on the streets as a kid. Pele said he felt so ashamed that he never did that again. Maybe Neymar should learn a thing or two from The King.

4.) 10 Oct 2016
10 Oct 2016 18:17:13
I've given a fair bit of treatment in my day to guys who are showboaters/ gloaters.
Both are unsportsmanlike, it's just the way it is.

5.) 10 Oct 2016
10 Oct 2016 19:42:47
If a player has skill and uses it he should be applauded for the skill of it. If it makes oppersition players look silly they need to train harder to combat the skill against them . football is an entertament and what better than some fancy footwork.

6.) 11 Oct 2016
11 Oct 2016 00:52:10
On one hand there is this argument about, if you got it, flaunt it, which the skilled players use to showcase their skills/ tricks, but for me, professional football is not only about trickery. Its about respecting the game and setting a good example for millions of people watching the player/ team, and no sport preaches disrespect of your opposition. There are highly skilled athletes who can perform a ton of football related skills, but they take a different path and pursue freestyle football, where showboating is a part of their profession. Fancy footwork and Cruyff turns are all great entertainment, and I all for it, but by showboating I am not just referring to skills and tricks, but just the general attitude and behavior of a player on the football pitch.
Having said that, I (please take note of the "I", since its an opinion) also feel that things like these are part of the players personality and sometimes skills/ tricks done to help the team are perceived as cocky, rather than genius. A perfect example would be Ronaldinho. That guys personality oozed humility and respect, so I never used to get the impression of cockiness when he performed all those worldly tricks, whereas Neymar gives me a different feeling altogether. Not dissing Neymar in any way, as I think he is a brilliant footballer, but just talking about how their personalities come across (to me) .