++ [ originally posted by Ian ] ++
If you think that Van Nistelrooij is the only striker who cheats, dives, cries to the ref, or elbows people, you're a long way off. Ruud is an exceptional talented striker and he uses all the same tactics that Vieri, Ronaldo, and even Ibrahimovic use. Besides, it's not as if defenders never cheat to stop strikers.
The game today is fundamentally flawed in that money has replaced honour, and therefore, how can a player be successful playing completely with-in the rules? I think this just proves that football players should not be allowed to publish autobiographies until ten years after their retirement.