Saints or Sinners?

As West Ham fans celebrate an almost perfect points return from the last 3 games they can also reflect on how much more shrivelled their nervous systems have become over the past 2 weeks. It’s fair to say that the trauma suffered during this time has probably led to a rush of mood disorder referrals to local GP’s and some upsetting incidencies of ‘No.2’s’ as bowels were loosened on the terraces and in sitting rooms around the country as we all once again got aboard the emotional rollercoaster that is supporting West Ham.

It’s fair to say however that losing a player to an idiotic act in 3 consecutive games might be unlucky in the first instance, stupid in the second and unforgiveable for the third. And not necesarily in that order.

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2 wins and a draw against promotion rivals and Millwall might have given cause for celebration but the heriocs of the players left on the field should not cloud the fact that all 3 players dismissed have been utterly irresponsible and let the team down – regardless of results.

Interstingly, the manner of dismissals for Nolan, Taylor and Green have highlighted the three most talked about and contentious red card offences that occur pretty much every week these days. There is, of course, the blinded by misplaced loyalty view that in each case, similar actions in other games have resulted in lesser punishments, but the question has to be asked about what the players are being told around their behaviour and self control on the pitch. Take each scenario on it’s merits and make your own mind up…

 

Case 1 – Kevin Nolan – Picture the scene, a hotbed of emotion in a long awaited derby against bitter rivals. A nervous referee who has probably been up all night studying the history between the sides and thumbing the pages of his old Shoot comics to find old match reports to help him. Yes, it’s going to be physical, yes you have to stand up and be counted. Are you going to commit a 2 footed ‘tackle’. Absolutely not. Do you as skipper realise the likleyhood of what will happen if you commit a two footed tackle? Against Millwall.Obviously not. The only thing he should have been jumping into was the bath. AFTER the game. Result – the team got him out of jail. Stupidity Verdict – Guilty as charged.

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Just a few days later…

Case 2 – Matt Taylor – Now Matt isn’t known for his scrapping abilities so why start in a 6 pointer against your nearest promotion rivals? Here we have an even more nervous official – and who wouldn’t have been with the white hot atmosphere that night – and an opposition so comprehensively outplayed for the first ten minutes that they will grab the lifeline of the chance to cheat with the same enthusiasm as an RBS Banker. Step up then Matty Taylor. The sceneario – after 2 undeniable penalty appeals, Mark Noble takes a tumble in the Southampton penalty area. The ref points to the spot. The points are in the bag, a one goal lead 10 mins into the game and an opposition with less punch than Derek Chisora. What could possibly go wrong? Nothing except one of your other players running 50 yards to push an opponent in the chest – yes we KNOW it was in the chest ie a yellow card offence – but he gave Billy Sharp the chance to cheat which he did superbly and here we go again. Result – the team got him out of jail. Just. Stupidity Verdict – Guilty as charged.

And almost unbelieveably…a week later…

Case 3 – Rob Green – Perhaps having seen a fellow ‘stopper’ attempt to decapitate an opposition striker at Portman Road last Saturday and receive a yellow card and a handshake from the match day man in black, Greeno felt that a quick rush upfield and a lunge that Bruce Lee wouldn’t have sniffed at, would be a risk free action, unlikely to put us in any trouble at 2-1 up in the early stages of a second half away from home against a side that had been gifted a lifeline just prior to half time…Or not. Yes, we know that he possibly wasn’t the last man – so settle down Stat Police – but did the thought not occur for one teeny second that, God forbid, there is a referee that isn’t likely to buck the season trend of tending to give decisions against the loud mouthed Londoners on a day trip to flat cap country and kiss me quicker hatland. No. Oh and Robert, we haven’t got a sub keeper. Perhaps those post training games of 3 and In that the lads get down to these days meant that he knew then Henri – the Cat – Lansbury might have been relatively competent between the sticks. But I doubt it…Result – the team got him out of jail. Superbly. Stupidity Verdict – For that evening. England’s Number 1.

 

In a perverse way, the three players in question have actually done more to gell the squad and forge some very real team spirit, producing some genuinely inspirational performances, than any Big Sam rant or tactic has all season. 

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So should we be thanking them or hanging them??

You decide. But it’s ‘TYPICAL WEST HAM’

And that’s why I love them.