A grandad with his walking stick, struggling with each step he takes whilst his granddaughter smacks her Hammers scarf on the poorly positioned metallic railing upon VAR denying the equaliser, summarises West Ham’s time in the Premier League this season.
Arsenal’s monumental time wasting and bickering amidst breaks in play saw the Hammers amount to success in the 95th minute as the ball bundled its way into the net, but was disallowed due to Pablo’s arm blocking David Raya, not to mention, Raya got two hands onto the ball but could only parry it away before it made its way in, which is a second phase of play, but that didn’t seem to matter in this instance.
Arsenal fans will be quick to reject that it was fair play, but they’ve had numerous incidents with Raya and gotten away with all of them - such as the punch on Joao Pedro - but VAR, as history has indicated, always tends to sway in favour of the keeper.
Tomas Soucek, after the game, spoke on VAR’s decision: “It's a BIG error by VAR! I don't see any foul. Every game Arsenal does so many blocks, so many small fouls, and now suddenly they need the title and they get it. For football this is very disappointing. Even for Arsenal fans this is not what we want."
Jarrod Bowen questioned as to why the decisions were enforced today, as they haven’t always been across the season, and Nuno bellowed that ‘even the referee doesn’t know what is or isn’t a foul’
Countless times West Ham have been on the wrong end of the bizzare instances, the one this evening, Manchester United’s mystical added time, Rutter’s handball for Brighton at the AMEX which was deemed a handball but the ball was in the ‘second phase of play’ when it hit the back of the net, subsequently denying West Ham two points, or the foul on Pablo against Brentford last week which was deemed to be a ‘slip’.
The incidents do not stop.
A decision that has benefited both Arsenal’s title hopes and Spurs staying in the Premier League is seriously shocking.
Most Hammers fans would’ve expected a defensive performance such as the 1-1 result against Manchester City, but Nuno changed. Nuno formulated a game plan enough to take down Arsenal, but it unfortunately didn’t unfold.
Mateus Fernandes missed a golden one-on-one opportunity with Raya, and of course, the disallowed goal is the other talking point.
West Ham’s fate is now once again out of their hands as tomorrow’s result for Spurs against Leeds essentially decides if Nuno’s side has another two dances left in them.
From the central defenders to the forwards, correct decisions were made, correct positions of play were orchestrated, but ultimately none of it would prove dividend. A result that doesn’t feel at the players’ own fault, but has astronomical ramifications for the Hammers.
With two games to go, it’s just one point adrift, but Spurs have yet to play, and we now await to see if it remains at one, or increases to two, worst case scenario being four.
A painful 90.
Comments
Sad day
Losing today means leeds are safe. That means forget them trying to win tomorrow.
Sorry Louis I watched a different game
I saw a defensive Moyes set up that was as successful as Moyes like the 6 nil drubbing they gave us a few seasons back.
We sat back, rode are luck and should have been two or three down at the break.
Arsenal Time wasting and bickering... Is that the best excuse? We handed tthe ball to them on a plate and invited there press. This might be ok for you but not for me. Today we needed a win, we are fighting for our survival not looking for a goalless draw to get us in the Eurodisney Thursday league!
Cluno and his substitutions were pathetic, as previously said swap Bearded Bill for Taty ... inspiring!
Give my *rse a toothache!
Thought we played well myself.
Well organised, compact, kept our shape and soaked up the pressure. The longer the game went on the more it looked like we could maybe get something from this, the beautiful header by Taty, the one on one when Pablo put Fernandes through and the disallowed goal which will be the talk for years to come. Personally, I think much of Arsenal success is down to Raya, a keeper I long admired at Brentford and it shows some sense of our game over the 90+ minutes that Sky gave MOTM to Raya.
Unfortunately the whole 90 odd minutes revolved around that one decision, but forgetting our emotions about this point, if this match does not have some serious repercussions for VAR and also the scrums that have crept into the game at corner taking then the game is over. Lessons need to be taken on board, the game is crumbling into a national farce. Get rid of VAR, make the referees decision final, and ban the use of fifty odd cameras by Sky and whoever to analyse every moment by overpaid and not always knowledgeable pundits. Then, just like in the 60's and 70's we can go down the pub after a game and moan amongst ourselves and listen to the new Jimmy Hills and Brian Moore's showing the beautiful game as it once used to be on The Big Match and MOTD
PS. I do agree, Pablo for Taty was baffling
I agree with that DH
Well organised, compact, kept our shape and soaked up the pressure..... i just personally cant watch it, sat on the edge of the seat, waiting for the invertible mistake, pulse rate and blood pressure through the roof.
We have no press, allow them into the final third, might nick the ball after 8 or 9 passes only for us to panic, pass back to Herman monster just to kick it down the throat of their centre backs to start the whole process off again. Exactly what I hated in Moyesball.
DB, I'm with you
I fully understand and agree with your sentiments. However, there are " needs must" times and yesterday was one of them. In an ideal world, we will stay up and next season start all over. Is Nuno the man, I don't know. I personally think he is far better than Moyes and I'm not seeing at this present time better alternatives. But current talks on this forum for Scott Parker tells me our fans aren't setting the bar very high.
Little old West Ham
Don't fit in the prem and all the controversial decisions all seem to go to our opponents. The last 2 decisions especially, with the Wilson goal just illustrates that we are not wanted in the prem much sooner have the greedy six and unfortunately Spuds is one of em and be ready for another BENT outcome tonight against Leeds. You haven't seen the end of yet another European Super League that was attempted a few seasons ago and now they have got rid of one of the main clubs that opposed it because it is no coincidence with these terrible decisions, it took them a lifetime to find something wrong with our equaliser if you look long enough they will find some infringement and we've had our fair share of these this season, and you wont convince many WHU fans otherwise. We are not wanted in Prem and yesterday VAR made sure of it
At the end of the day. You
At the end of the day. You can't have your arm across the keepers throat and not get penalised.
The modern game has gone mad. The goal was never going to stand. Unfortunately, we've thrown too many points away this season. It shouldn't have come to yesterday's game.
But Gary Neville repeating 20 times over "it's a foul" reinforcing his loathing of West Ham was despicable.
Ultimately, it's all a pile of shit!
But
Thats not the issue. All so called experts havent even seen or refuse to see the foul before that. In fact rice also fouled mavropanos right? Goal shudve been ruled out and then penalty given.
But
That never happens, time and time again in the Prem there's a wrestling match in the box for a corner and a foul is never given.
I still think Pablo cost us. Why was his arm there? Why give the cheating establishment the opportunity to rule the goal out?
Pablo
Himself was fouled before that. Its a typical arsenal thing. Players, empowered by moaner arteta screaming about a pathetic gk who cant catch the ball so pretends hes fouled.
To be honest a lot of what
To be honest a lot of what has been covered on here depicts my loathing of the Premier League.
There was once a time when it was exciting. That's all gone now. VAR is a major contributor to the pattern of play. The penalty box wrestling and corners on top of the keeper. The long throw in's. It's boring, predictable. The pundits supposedly know there stuff. But the majority of them are so far stuck up there own arses it's ridiculous.
I for one am looking forward to the Chumps next season and some real blood and guts.
The Premier League can fvck right off for me.....
Yeah
Bumped into saints fan other day. He said he enjoys the chumps way more. Got team with identity. Cup run.
Exactly VAR, it's old skool,
Exactly VAR, it's old skool, bringing a bit of excitement back. Only B class prima Donna's. All we need is Hull to win and there's your proper derby right there.
Won't be able to move for caravans PMSL!