To have been denied victory by incorrect refereeing decisions once in a week is bad enough, but twice in a week is almost too much for fair minded fans and observers alike, it seems like the football authorities are unwilling to add West Ham United to Leicester city in it's pantheon of Barclays Premiership achievers! After the injustice of Manchester United's goal that clearly should not have been allowed in the FA Cup replay at Old Trafford, Hammers supporters have had to endure another 'bad ref day' at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea where the referee was either the recipient of an ex-gratia retirement home in the Algarve or just totally inept and incompetent, either way West Ham lost out on the opportunity to go above Manchester city in to the Champion's League spot that they surely deserved, however Manuel Lanzini's beautiful first half strike and Andy Carroll's second half goal were not enough to prevail. At the end of the match the home fans were celebrating wildly that their team had managed to eek out a draw against the superior visitors, how the mighty have fallen?
It is easy to be critical of those in charge of high profile matches, particularly those involving the faltering old guard, but a free kick taken from a highly debatable re-arranged point to gain the extra couple of meters to clear the wall and a penalty that should have been a free kick at most, were the undoing of a Hammers side that took all that Chelsea had to 'fight for their lives' in order to gain a draw against their higher achieving and more buoyant East end neighbours.
It is a testimony as to how far Slaven Billic and his team have progressed that fans and players alike are disappointed that their team have only managed to achieve draws at the home of the fallen Premier League leaders Manchester United and Chelsea in the last week, after all they both should have joined liverpool as clubs to have been beaten home and away during this exceptional season, one which leicester city will quite rightly take all the plaudits, but one in which will see West Ham United quietly slip into one of the new power places that can only be strengthened by the huge resources that are about to arrive.
Hammers have moved progressively forward, despite some atrocious and biased decisions that have already cost them dear! - Ed
Comments
Just seen even
more evidence of double standard refereeing on MOTD.
Mike Dean just gave the 'benefit of the doubt' to an Aston Villa player on a blatant second yellow card.
There will always be the same problem
The refs are untouchable and the governing bodies have to keep it that way. Some of the decisions in not just West Hams matches but in a lot off the average teams anyone other than the top 6 ( both manu's, chelski, Le arse, pool and tot scum ) will always struggle to get a fair go with the refs. The FA need to keep these clubs up at the top so they can justify their places. Can you imagine the revenue loss if the likes of Manu or pool where to be dropped to 1st division and you had the likes of the foxes, hammer or God forbid Stoke winning the league and representing England in the top leagues, sorry , can't have that so tweak it a bit and make sure that the decisions go the right way.
The main trouble and we have seen it recently with Blatter and his mob that to many fat cats looking after themselves first, unwilling to make a decision that might actually help the game. The old boys club rules so let's not get our hopes up, nothing will ever change and clubs like the mighty West Ham United will never get the right calls.
Hope the refs not at west ham
Hope the refs not a the cup replay game against manure
Love that headline nev.they
Love that headline nev.they know & we know that they got lucky,We deserved to win and they celebrated a draw,how times have changed COYI
Against both Manure and both yesterday
Against both Manure and yesterday against Chelsky we deserved to win. Our position in the standings and the way we play annoy the FA and the big clubs (They are accustomed to see us fight to avoid relegation) But they will have to begin getting used to this situation because we are becoming a Top Club. COYI
Those days are gone
Those days are gone hammer1980 ,in fact if we dont start winning trophys with this team then we never w!ill
happy days
happy days Burkie
Watching today's games sums it all
There were more blatant penalty appeals in the Southampton Liverpool, and Man City Man United matches and guess what, no penalties were awarded. It is time that they have a quick review of the replays prior to letting a controversial decision in the box be awarded or not. West Ham were unjustly at the receiving end in both cases. Moreover, a number of fouls went against West Ham, while many that were committed by Chelsea went unpunished. Yet what now looked like a minimal touch, although the BBC even claims that the Chelsea kid tripped himself as there was no contact by Antonio outside the box resulted in a crunching decision against West Ham. It is hilarious that players like Fabregas (he cheated by moving the ball back a yard or two) and Willian claim that Chelsea should have won the game. West Ham players were penalised by the Fabregas set piece as they were now considered to move a couple of yards further away from that set piece. The referee should have re-measured that distance from that set piece once the ball is moved from the original location.
Looks like we are still in the top five
We are a goal difference better than ManU and still a point behind Mabu Dhabi Citeh. Very unjust weekend as we should have been fourth. Even the commentators mentioned that a few times during today's Manchester derby. Wonder who will be in the goal during the internationals as Joe Hart was stretchered off.
.
.
Goalies
Probably Jack Butland, Stoke or Fraser Forster from Saints, both are decent keeper's