West Ham’s survival hopes headed south in the added-on minutes of drama and controversy that could well define the season at both the top and bottom of the Premier League yesterday. The forlorn hope that Leeds United – officially ‘safe’ after that result – will do the Hammers a favour and beat Tottenham to keep the relegation battle alive may keep thousands watching tonight.
The VAR argument rages on with fans, ex players and officials all coming down on their own side of the argument. Won’t change anything. I doubt whether there’s a conspiracy but the authorities have to find a way to restore the game’s credibility, when one side gets away with skullduggery all season and wouldn’t be about to lift the trophy without it. Peter Schmeichel, for one, nailed it with his post match appraisal:
That’s how they’ve scored so many goals, by blocking people, holding people, doing all kinds of things. And then we get to this point, it takes VAR five minutes, Darren England the VAR, it takes five minutes. He starts it over again and starts it over again and again… that in itself puts so much doubt into that decision that it cannot be a free-kick.
I think it’s so wrong. I just don’t understand why all of a sudden that’s a free-kick, because it’s not been for any teams all the way throughout the season. All this, it’s just crazy. And that decision today, it’s just so wrong on so many levels.
Strangely, however, I’m already resigned to a season in the lower tier.
One to try and hang onto : Hammers’ hero Tomas Soucek
No VAR, as many have said. Good old fashioned ranting at the referee and celebrating when the errors go your way, knowing decisions even themselves out over a season – without the whiff of favouritism.
Imagine: No tourists! Half the number of fans queueing for a half time cup of tea. A time to reset, start again, rebuild. Hopefully not ‘doing a Leicester’. I’m off to start a campaign to keep Tomas Soucek at the club as captain next year, assuming just about everyone else is going to be sold.
And who knows, with events seemingly lining up off the pitch to make for an interesting summer, maybe, just maybe, change at the top is quietly gathering impetus.
Bring it on. COYI.
At the least the the incident should have been a penalty Soucec dragged down 2 other players bear hugged all this being ignored happened before the ball reached the keeper WE WERE ROBBED By the OFFICIALS conveniently ignored all what wagoing on go
When have watched Championship games many less interruptions and impression is the game flows much more. Remember watching a Lazio match and it stopped for a free-kick every few yards – it was no longer worth watching. PL is not nearly as bad, but watching a C. game you suddenly realise the amount of professional fouls & bickering that is already going on and how it is already a lot worse than you thought.
Referees do a lot of good work trying to keep the game going, when you see players hitting the ground left and centre, with the odd dramatic high-pitched scream (Calafiori who then got up once he was ignored and he ran back as WHU were attacking, every Chelsea game,… the list goes on).
This decision will not define West Ham’s season. I would look to the poor start under Potter and the lack of new manager bounce and poor formation decisions when nuno was appointed. I too have resigned myself to championship football. Hopefully clear out the mercenaries from the club, new ownership and a top to bottom reset. If it takes a couple of years then so be it.
This was was hard to take as I thought we matched arsenal well yesterday but VAR and the ref cheated us out of point but that said tatty chance off the post Fernandez 1on 1 he should of scored but the hard facts are we have put ourselves in this position bad decisions bad management and Sullivan being in charge had made this our nail in the coffin season the writing was on the wall last season and we blagged it the same thing this season but just the run in had been harder there were to many dropped points and now the harsh reality is West Ham are down with no money no ground and no direction we lose our best players for sure but the only positives is most of our team are championship players already so we rely on youth and what first team players we can hold on to RIP our premier league status
You have to put forward the case for the board to insist essential players stay as per their contracts however with the club paying 100% wages for 1 season to pacify them and if they take us up they can leave then. This would almost guarantee an immediate return and a good option for the board rather then risk being a Leicester or a yoyo club up & down. The only exception is if a really massive offer comes in for one of them. This would make a lot more financial sense than the 50m we risked on Taty & Pablo
This is what I have been thinking too. Also with Kretinsky becoming more involved thought this could be what unfolds. Also if NES stays (apparently club and manager want this) then surely he would have certain key players he would want to keep, which would be part of his demands. Lastly, players like playing in his teams, which also helps. If this pans out, Jemez has to stay, without him, it’ll be a lot tougher in every way.
Anyhow, going to have to be patient now and see how events unfold.
No one seriously expected to get anything from the Arsenal game so we’re not in a worse position then we were on Sunday morning. Spurs have only won two games this year, one against a relegated Wolves and another against Villa reserves. Why are people assuming they will beat Leeds, Chelsea or Everton. We beat a better Newcastle team away last season and matched Leeds at home in the cup. We’re not down yet.
We were always going to struggle after the Sullivan orchestrated disaster Summer transfer window and keeping Potter far too long. It could be said Nuno did well to get this close.
Relegation is always a disaster puts the club back years and risks further decline. Looking up at well run smaller clubs like Brighton, Brentford, Fulham and Bournemouth will we finally understand how to professionally run a club especially in manager and player recruitment?
Love the upbeat ending to your post! I have also made peace with going down after the Brentford game & the Spuds beating Villas reserves.
May take a few months to adjust but if we can assemble a half decent squad no reason we can’t do a “West Brom” and bounce straight back up. No VAR? Almost worth getting relegated to re-discover the genuine buzz of celebrating a goal without looking over your shoulder! ⚒⚒⚒🏴