I was gobsmacked at the amount cool David Moyes managed to maintain after the incident that rocked our Boxing Day.
Madley’s decision to give THAT ‘goal’ was totally beyond words and among the reasons for it which pass through my mind is perhaps too much alcohol in the Christmas pudding!
But whatever the reasons this stuff can no longer be allowed to go on in a game which is a multi multi multi billion pounds business. It is going to the very heart of all that is wrong in the new football age where points means millions.
I was travelling back from Christmas and still celebrating the 3-2 when the row erupted and the Bournemouth goal was allowed to the total shock of the radio commentators.
A benign review of the incident on Match of the Day didn’t help the mood a few hours later – it was not a goal and Madley’s position HAS to be reviewed after such a shocking decision.
A Hammers fan on the ClaretandHugh Facebook forum who was in the Bournemouth end claimed the bloke was shaking his head at the linesman as he went towards him for the discussion.
If that allegation is true we are into very serious territory indeed.
Moyes meanwhile, was clearly attempting to be as fair as possible – perhaps TOO fair for most of us but I have to admire his restraint given those two points extra would have lifted us into 13th place with West Brom to come.
What it would have done for the players confidence too is indescribable after recovering from 2-1 on the worst afternoon of the winter with torrential rain falling all over the south coast.
Here for the record is the Moyes assessment:
“When the linesman’s flag goes up you think ‘we’ve got out of jail there a bit'”
“But to overrule the linesman’s decision, I couldn’t believe.
“I think you could question the offside, because it looks pretty level.
“But what you can’t do is question that the Bournemouth player (Wilson) put it in with the top of his arm.
“When I saw the commotion I thought there was no way he (Madley) would overturn it.”
“I think he said the assistant referee only put his flag up to draw attention to it, and I’ve never heard of that ever.
“If the assistant referee raises his flag, what would it be for? Offside.
“Arguably you could say that it was offside, but I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt.
“But I can’t give them any benefit of the doubt for their player raising his hand.”
Moysie sorry but there is no benefit of the doubt anywhere here – it was clearly offside and clearly a handling offence but congratulations on the restraint again.
Hugh, like you, I was gutted by that poor refereeing decision.
That said, I was more concerned at our overall performance and some of the worrying errors that Moyes made prior to the game.
The 3-4-2-1 formation was a terrible choice for 2 main reasons. Pairing Lanzini up with Ayew, meant that Manu had to work harder in a situation where his midfield partner had little if any idea of how to play! The decision to play Marko as a lone-wolf striker, left him virtually isolated and very short on good passes. A 3-5-2 would have strengthened our very weak midfield, and added a co-striker to assist Arnautovic, who showed what he could do (albeit with assistance from Bergovic!!) with the added support.
After a very solid beginning (especially stamina, speed, and fitness), I have begun to notice some ‘cracks’ coming into Moyesie’s decision making.
Not sure whether Reid deserved to be benched, and I can’t believe he started the game with a very ‘out of form’ Ayew.
While he played well today, time will tell, if employing AC is the best option up-front.
After half a season, I must admit to be genuinely worried about our situation; perhaps a few adept midfield signings will help, and I look forward to Antonio regaining his fitness.
Whatever he has learnt to date, Moyes should have realized that a 5-man midfield and 2 strikers seems to work best; he doesn’t have the luxury of experimenting at this crucial time of the year; if he sticks to this simple formula, and uses the best players available, we will leak less, and score more, and shall say it till I’m blue (or claret) in the face.
Agree.
What does Rice have to do to start. Everyone wants Ox back & I would have him but if Moyes is just gonna stick him on bench at best I’d rather him stay in start for a top league team & get better.
I wanted to see Rice in mid slotted in perfectly for Noble at Stoke & was good there w Bilic I would of had Lanzini beside him to make breaks & pass then Arnie as #10 behind Sahko & Chic
Sad I thought we would if got at least 7 points from these 3 games now best we can do is 4 & we must win WBA.
Whether we desevee to win or not Bournemouth should of been down to 9 men w face punch by King & Boot to Face by Francis that’s a diff game.
And to lose 2pts the way we did after Arnie who was superb earned us that lead. Offsides handball & even impeding the GKs vision. We should of got away w 3pts and been thankaful & had some confidence.
We should of never just gave up on the cup think that hurt confidence.
And Kouyate & Obiang cannot okay together. Rice in DM. Even Cullen can do a better job I actually think we should of held into him this season actually is good w the bakk & on a pass.
And let’s hope Moyes starts using some strikers & sub’s earlier
Totally agree and better players than Ayew sitting on the bench. Our resolute defending from a couple of weeks ago seems to have disappeared. Fingers crossed for a good transfers window.
I too cannot understand Moyse continuing with Ayew. Even forgetting that dreadful penalty miss all he seems to do is wave his arms at team mates. Zabs is also looking tired and way below the standards he set earlier in the season. And Cresswell again made several serious mistakes yesterday. If money is not spent on defence and midfield I fear we are in serious trouble. I would dearly like to see Henandez start before Ayew and a 5-3-2 formation employed in future games.
Max is on point here. The refereeing debacle and searching for the reasons for Mr Moyes’ muted response should not become a smokescreen for a poor performance. The second in a row.
The ‘ultra optimists’ predicted that 9 points from 3 games were simply there for the taking over the holiday period. We have taken 1 from a possible 6 so far. That is alarming given the quality of the opposition. Many think we were unlucky not to have nicked three points yesterday while others think one point wasn’t bad given that Bournemouth out possessed us, and out created us. Now we have WBA to look forward to with Pardew salivating at the prospect of screwing us over. A must win? Rhetorical.
Reality check: We are now in a messy relegation slog with Mr Moyes at the helm; you know, that ‘managerial Messiah’ whose self proclaiming strapline ”I can do it anywhere’ seems to be coming back to haunt him.
Signings? Yes. We need two strikers, two Central defenders and two midfielder’s, one comfortable on the ball and the other an enforcer with sharper elbows than those of Obiang, Kouyate and co. Welcome Fellaini.
Of course the financial’s don’t match up. Six new players is a totally unrealistic ‘ask’. There’s simply not the budget. Maybe there’s not the players out there with qualities we seek who would want to sign for the Hammers, or play for Mr Moyes. So let’s sell Ayew, Carroll, Saha, Snodgrass and Hernandez.
Can’t sell Snodgrass in Jan don’t think we can’t even recall him & they will wait till summer to buy.
AC Ayew Sahko & Chic they are axcoeting offers for but Ruff we have a 21man squad & Jan is the best time for getting quality or quantity really shouldn’t sell more then 2 players.
We did play poor especially in first half a lot stems from midfield Kouyate & Obaing shouldn’t be together. My line up was Rice & Lanzini in Mid bc we need a DM who can pass Rice has shown he can do that FFs what does he have to do to start. And Lanzini can pass control tempo from deep & hold the ball & break on the counter.
We can’t get 6 players in Jan well we could bet wouldn’t be quality & be overpriced.
I don’t think we need any CBs until summer & then we can shuffle some out. Ginge was great again for 34 he deserves a year & testimonial he eabta to retire here & Reid gets 5 year deal…
We have 6 CBs come Jan w Burke & Fonte then Kouyate who I would argue is best in CB back 3 better then at DM & Cresswell aslos Zab can cover.
We need Midfielders most of all & maybe a fullback tho Byram is back in training & Burke can play RB.
Moyes needed to switch up the tactics from Chelsea & Arsenal against Newcatske & Bournemouth but he didn’t & why he won’t start a CF I don’t know . Like Shako or not he is most founded CF we have & always makes a difference on the pitch so whats £50k he makes to start instead of £20k or £35k of the bench compared to Hart £130k Chic £145k etc I don’t blame him for wanting to go & now Chic will too.
Problem is bought players with no idea how they fit & I don’t believe Moyes started from Clean slate like he said.
But Madley was horrible & doesn’t deserve to ref in PL he should be demoted to Sunday league at best.