Relieved Danny Ings will take plenty from the 2-2 draw at Sheffield United after several very difficult months at the Hammers.
He looked far better playing as a Number 10 to Jarrod Bowen rather than a one-up central striker and at last he had something to smile about.
The 31-year-old made his second successive start in all competitions and was involved in our two goals with his deflected effort falling to Maxwel Cornet’s for the opener in the first half, before winning a penalty which James Ward-Prowse converted.
Ben Brereton Díaz grabbed a leveller for the Blades at the end of the first half, while Oli McBurnie made honours even with virtually the last kick of the game.
Managers and players not overtly expressing their displeasure at poor officiating infuriates me, and is no way to force change in that regard. It is cowardly and simply reinforces the ridiculous authoritarian mandate the PGMOL hide behind.
How about all players and managers agree that they’ll start calling out poor decisions, in public, and demand explanations?
Let’s consider what might happen.
Initially, a few managers would get a fine. Others would speak up – always politely, articulately and with respect – and eventually the PGMOL would have to respond in a different way. Hopefully by asking “Okay then, for the good of the game, what do you want?”
Managers & players will accept that officials are vital, and have a difficult job. They’ll also accept that, like them, they’ll make mistakes – they’re only human – but if the officials accept when it happens – perhaps even apologise – the tension would diffuse and the quality of officials would positively change.
What annoys people, is their lack of accountability. They make a bad decison, then just hide away in their secret club. Why should they have that right?
With sustained, collective pressure, they’d have to change their masked, unaccountable position to one of clarity and transparency. Work with players and clubs to learn, for the betterment of the game, rather than maintaining a baffling arrogance and untouchability.
It takes a collective action to force the PGMOL to sit up and listen, and understand that they are only a part of the game, not the game itself.