This may well come across as whingey, conspirational and the after effect of a defeat, but I am sure that I am merely reflecting the feelings of many frustrated West Ham fans.
I’m writing this the day after our somewhat dubious 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at Highbury and I’m sure I’m not the only Hammers fan who feels it’s “game over” for this season and our European hopes. I’m sure that some of you may feel that it’s a little premature to start reviewing our performance over the season or indeed writing us off as we are so unpredictable, but perhaps it’s better to have a look at our situation now rather than in hindsight during the summer break.We currently lie in 8th position in the league with two games left, away to Sunderland and at home to Leeds, with a squad seriously hit by injury problems. As Harry Redknapp was quoted this week, “it’s easier to count the fit players left in our squad than the unfit”. As last nights game showed once again, we seem to be subject to far more misguided refereeing decisions than most teams, to the point that Harry Redknapp may have a disciplinary hearing with the FA for saying the following:
"First of all it was a throw to us, then Petit handballed it, right in front of the linesman, right in front of their people, even they said it was handball.
"People say there's nothing to play for at this time of the season, well we had players in the dressing room in tears.
"We were robbed by a bad referee' decision, I felt all night he was going all one way, all night he was going Arsenal's way.
"They (the players) were very upset and I felt the same. I am not one for complaining about referees but I've got to say everything he awarded went Arsenal's way. We lost because a ref couldn't do his job properly."
Is it me, or does this season seem to have been the most frustrating and unjust that we have ever had? Traditionally we never do seem to have had a fair crack of the whip when it comes to refereeing decisions, but this season it feels like there’s some form of retribution being met out with “unfashionable” West Ham, because we did so well last season finishing 5th and getting into Europe. Harry Redknapp has already made comments along the lines that no matter where we finish in the league, if we thought we had a right to get into Europe it would be taken away from us. Like finishing 5th last year and still having to play the Intertoto.
This may all well sound like sour grapes, but every West Ham fan is realistic about what our club is about, how rich we are, what is our standing in the scheme of things. We know we are one of the smaller clubs in the league, we’re not rich, and if we get serious injury problems then were going to struggle. However, we do actually have a decent team that, should we avoid injuries next season, will once again be pushing for a European place. The problem is, is that were beginning to feel that because we are so “unfashionable” that we are not going to be let in to join the “big boys” games.
Is this some sort of inferiority or persecution complex we have? I will have to admit (and I am always critical of any conspiracy theory) that I am beginning to think not. Next season, we could well ride our luck with regard to fitness and find ourselves up there with the “big boys” once again. Then lets see if the likes of referees Harris and Durkin, or FA decisions such as with Manny v Villa, UEFA decisions regarding Intertoto or UEFA qualification work against us once again. But what do we do if they do?
To be honest I was fully expecting us to have a wishy-washy 8-10th place season this year. However, I would have to admit that I am beginning to wonder whether there is something more sinister going on. The money side of the game is beginning to make me start appreciating the game at a grass roots level such as watching non-league sides, because maybe, there’s more honesty. I’m sorry to come across all hard done by. I will quite willingly accept our final position and lack of cup success this year, if it wasn’t for the disappointment in other peoples decisions that have affected our team.
My only hope is that the fans will give West Ham a raucous reception during the final home match against Leeds.
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