Moysie restraint but this stuff has to stop NOW!
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.