The wrong end of things (again)

Ok, this is going to be a partisan, angry, twisted, bitter, frustrated rant - pretty much par for the course and sure to hit a raw nerve amongst Irons fans. But is it just me who feels we are getting the rough end of things from all levels of football authority since the Tevez saga?

Mention this theme to anyone outside the West Ham family and you are laughed down as paranoid. Ok, I’m paranoid.

But Saturday’s red card for Freddie Piquionne was just another decision that went against us, cost us victory and will have serious knock-on effects on Wednesday’s Carling Cup semi-final second leg, with our leading scorer now banned from the match at St. Andrews.

Piquionne scored a great header for what should have been the winner in one of our best, most committed and defiant performances for months, and at such a tough place as Everton it was even more outstanding.

Ok, the laws say you should be booked for getting involved with fans as you celebrate. But does anyone know what it’s really like to have been a success-starved, nerve-wracked West Ham fan, and player, these past months?

I drove away from Goodison Park with that 'it would never happen to a Manchester United player' theme pounding in my head. Then Ben Shepherd, bless him, and his Goals on Sunday team, proved there is one rule for us and one rule for Man U players.

Referees do not have to book players for Piquionne’s supposed offence. I knew I’d seen far worse go unpunished but couldn’t remember when.

But TV clips of the Villa-Man U game proved the point. Ashley Young was booked for rushing up to the crowd after scoring, and then Vidic did the same thing, with half a dozen team-mates jumping all over him, and didn’t get a card.

And guess what..he’d already been booked and would have had to see red. But he’s a Man U player, his and his colleagues’ offence looked worse than Piqiounne’s, but there was no card.

Piquionne did not jump into the crowd, he stood in front of them on the right side of the barrier, all he’d done was jump the advertising boards. Surely a quiet word would have been more sense. Peter Walton is in his last season on the referees’ list, he can’t be bothered about assessors now.

But our whole, sad, season could be further ruined by that red card. Without Obinna as well, and Cole struggling with injury, who will play up front on Wednesday?

It’s just another of a long list of poor decisions. I still can’t forget the late ‘winner’ at Wolves scored by Piquionne that was disallowed by Mark Clattenburg, or the clear penalty turned down when Lars Jacobsen had his shirt dragged off his back at Birmingham. Counting Saturday’s draw, that could have been six more points on our tally.

TV proved Piquionne didn't handle at Wolves. Clattenburg made that laughable decision from 20 yards behind the striker, so how could he have seen whether it was handball or not? Clattenburg is one of those annoying referees who has started to believe his own publicity, and has introduced the ‘shoulder shrug’ into refereeing signals.

Remember his decision and the incident when Gomes put the ball down expecting a free-kick and Nani was s allowed to score? Where was the game played? Old Trafford of course.

And there have been other rulings from the authorities. Remember the Millwall cup tie? We were finally heavily seemingly for what happened half a mile away at Upton Park tube station and Millwall fans were praised for their behaviour despite countless seats being ripped up in their end.

Ok, all this sounds bitter, twisted and irrational.. Seems to come with the territory these days as a West Ham fan.

Gladly there were good bits from Goodison. Our fans were magnificent, out-singing the home support all afternoon. And the side did play their guts out, for themselves and the manager. James Tomkins was outstanding under the aerial barrage, Noble, Parker and Boa Morte were excellent and Zavon Hines covered himself in glory.

He was out there because of his pace, mobility and desire to run at defenders. He was kicked mercilessly by John Heitinga - he of the most thuggish Dutch squad ever to walk the planet - and Mr. Walton did precious little about it.

Piquionne also got plenty of treatment, and his first booking was for retaliating after being kicked and body checked. Walton missed most of that but was quick enough to get his cards out for the goal celebrations.

Ok, I am paranoid - but what do you expect?

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