Da Liverpool Code - conspiracy theory

It happened right before our very eyes!

125th FA Cup Final - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff – May 13th 2006

Here is the scenario; the clock is run down completely, West Ham player has won the ball on the edge of his own penalty area. What would you do if you were an opposing striker who couldn’t get to the ball?

Go down feigning injury of course! It’s worth a shot right?

Maybe some nice West Ham player will roll the ball out of play in sympathy deep deep in his own half. Maybe a few moments of rest will take the fire out of the side about to lift the cup, then maybe, just maybe that same West Ham player would stand so far away from the goal line that it would be impossible for him to let it run out of play IF someone threw the ball back to him. Aha the plot thickens.

Now catch this – that same nice gent who was so thoughtful does receive the ball back but so awkwardly that he has absolutely no choice but to attempt a clearance with all those red shirts around him! Where does it go? Straight back to the attacking side of course, who return a sucker punch (presuming you are neutral or for West Ham) by scoring the most heartbreaking “goal of the season”.

I really don’t think it played out like that but I have a question for all you referees and sportsmen out there? What would have happened if all the West Ham players backed away from the touchline, so far that a throw could hardly reach them? Would the attacker be forced to throw the ball out of play for a goal kick or into some huge space, closer to a West Ham player? By the same token, is it then fair that the return gesture of sportsmanship is actually allowed, that puts the receiver under such immense pressure that he is forced into a possible error? What about imposing a 5-yard rule for a designated player in this position to receive the ball back with that distance around him, thus giving him adequate time to effectively deal with it – if he muffs it then, well, fool on him?

Yours truly traveled all the way from New York to see this wonderful spectacle and I am so proud of the lads and at the same time so gutted for all of us. I am not sure what I think or even if this deserves debate. On perhaps a more realistic side is to learn from this cruel lesson of “professionalism” and make sure it doesn’t happen to us ever again!

I really am not a sore loser and honestly apart from the trophy I don’t feel that we lost, we more than participated in the best FA Cup Final ever. Perhaps it is a weird twist of fate that thanks to Liverpool we are actually in Europe next season. Strange how all these things play mind games with us isn’t it?

STOP PRESS – I feel like jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge now after all – here I am already back at work in NYC (it’s Monday) and just got off the phone. Hold on folks what you are about to read is real. My good friend Joe Hurley and I recorded a CD in New York, an idea that came up minutes after we won the semi final at our favourite football bar – Nevada Smiths in NYC.

In the ensuing two weeks Joe wrote the tribute, pulled his band together and we went into the studio the weekend before the final – the song went on the website www.roguesmarch.com Wednesday morning – we burnt some CD’s the same day and left straight for the UK. No real fan fare at all.

The tune “Bleeding Claret and Blue” was intended as a tribute to West Ham past and present - and of course a set up for the FA Cup Final!

We just found out moments ago that it was actually cued up by Sky Sports to be played after the final whistle when West Ham won! Ok now I need some smelling salts – just imagine…..a worldwide audience waiting in the wings.

If you want to hear this you can download off Joe’s website at www.roguesmarch.com it is so poetic that even his mother cried!

Think I’ll do the same now….

Paul Stanley
Lifelong West Ham supporter living in New York City
pstanley@courier.com

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