The whole Eden Hazard debacle was another unedifying moment for a game conning itself into a crisis.

Slow motion replays in high definition make the extent of any “injury” obvious for all to see.

But players still roll around in agony however minimal the contact.

It’s all designed to dupe referees into awarding penalties and free kicks or to get an opponent in trouble.

So players can hardly complain when the practice is picked-up by a Swansea ball boy.

But where will it all end?

The next time a striker hits a wild shot wide you could see a whole stand of fans go down clutching their faces.

Managers could drop to the floor as the fourth official dangerously waves his subs board.

And perhaps mascots could demand the ref shows a red card to any player who kicks a ball at them during the warm-up.

Football has created this mess by not stamping down on simulation the moment it started to creep into the game.

But at least the Hazard/Ball Boy show took my mind off the Hammer horror show at the Emirates this week as Arsenal slammed five past us.

I can just about live with Sam Allardyce’s indifference towards the cups with Premier League survival the priority.

But last time I looked the Arsenal game was a league fixture with three points up for grabs so why start with three of our best players on the bench?

It makes you wonder what is the point of following a team if they are going to throw cup games and admit defeat before kick-off against anyone in the top six?

It’s FA Cup weekend so obviously the Hammers have got a few days off.

But the fourth-round has got a few choice ties and I fancy the big guns to win on the road.

Man City to beat Stoke, Everton to beat Bolton, Arsenal to beat Brighton and Spurs to win at Leeds pays 15/2 as an away win accumulator which looks worth a punt.

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Running Total for all 2013 bets to a £10 stake:   £-40.00