Did he whinge, when Soucek wasn’t penalised for a handball far more blatant several weeks ago, double standards
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Isn’t it weird, how players, managers, supporters, of various teams argue vehemently about referring decisions that go against the teams that they support, but are uninterested in those that are advantageous to their preferred outfit?
In an Ivor Cutler accent
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Lots to be impressed about with that performance, but ultimately 3 points is the important thing.
I’ve said for ages Trent should be operating in midfield, and he did well for the most part 
But fuck me, showed his annoying head in the clouds traits around 9 minutes when Benrahma was clear, and then again for their goal, just let the lad Paqueta waltz right past him.
Watch out Utd, we’re coming
It’s interesting how Moyes can change the media focus from: we threw away a lead and lost at home, to: the ref / VAR / big boys robbed us.
Actually, I thought the officials had a reasonably good night of it. Few (if any?) cards, very little shenanigans, play flowed, and they basically got the biggest calls right.
I thought the goal chalked off by VAR was a mile offside when I saw it but the freeze frame was much closer so the linesman was right to allow play to continue and let the cameras sort it out.
The Thiago handling in the area ticked pretty much every box for accidental handling, range, ricochet, supporting arms and so on.
I can’t see West Ham going down, though. They have decent players and can put the moves together. They just seemed to lose focus after a bright start. A bit like us really.
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Excellent result to go along with a very good performance for the most part. The last 10 to 15 minutes where we did everything to invite them on weren’t great but otherwise we were as solid as we’ve been all season. Slowly but steadily, we are returning to our usual standards.
Matip was a pleasant surprise, probably the best he’s played in a long time; the same goes for Fabinho. Jones continued his run of fine form, proving his doubters wrong again and again. He just has to stay fit. Gakpo though impressed the most. He’s already demonstrated his excellent ability on the ball but when he plays with energy and intensity, he’s close to unplayable. Really good signs from him.
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They do have some tricky fixtures and I’m sure we’d all love a collapse from them.
I think we’ve got a better chance, if still unlikely, of pipping Newcastle to 4th though. They have some potentially tricky fixtures against sides fighting to stay up like Everton, Leeds, and Leicester.
Hopefully the bitters can do us a favour tonight.
I think we are probably 3 points short of overtaking either Newcastle or United. I think Newcastle will beat United to third and we’ll be 3 points behind United.
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Absolutely…Substitute Cresswell for Thiago and it is 1-1 with 5 minutes left and I have a sneaking suspicion that opinions on the incident would have been somewhat different…and that Kavanagh would have been a pariah again.
I wasn’t baiting @Quicksand . I asked the question in view of our earlier exchange and as ever I got your honest opinion. I got a “I told you so” text from him by the way.
I heard I think Macca say that in the Champions League it would definitely have been given. Is there a different directive there?
Interesting that you use Cresswell.
His infamous “tackle” on Henderson was subject of debate on here, definitely a red card offence . A moment that had huge effect on our season.
That type of decision that has a gigantic outcome simply outweighs a was it/wasn’t it handball like last nights.
And I get that you were asking a question, not baiting. My apologies.
Couldn’t agree more. And interesting that Moyes saw nothing wrong with that tackle, but was I the referees face about the penalty last night. Surprised he didn’t get elbowed in the mush. Heard that’s Ok now.
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The counter-pressing was really good last night. Just adding some extra energy into midfield with Curtis has made a difference and the overall attitude of the players seems a whole heap better. No more moping about feeling sorry for ourselves when we concede. We are not a million miles away from where we were but the limitations in midfield are obvious and will hold us back until we get that area reinforced. No way Hendo should be playing as much as he currently is.
We lost control after Nunez replaced Gakpo. I didn’t understand that switch as we needed to keep the ball and Gakpo is good at that but I was just pleased that we won and played well. I thought the fuss over the handball was a manufactured controversy to give the pundits something to fume about. Never a penalty in a million years. I think the narrative they wanted to peddle was that West Ham were unlucky or robbed in some way but the truth is that we dominated the game and fully deserved the win.
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Being at the game and seeing TAA live just proved to me he is a midfielder.
Rice was fantastic as well. Two top players in the middle of the park.
West Ham are really gonna miss him when gone.
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I thought Milner for Jones was the turning point 
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Agree with all of this.
When a players best attributes, are by some distance, his range of passing…vision (creating because of these 2 things) and shooting from range then somewhere in that midfield is the position to be.
Did you manage to have a word with John after the game by any chance Walshy? 
Thiago was caught on the ball at least 3 times and maybe lucky to not give pen away.
Nunez came on and was abysmal and Milner came on and booted everyone.
Why dont our subs make a positive impact - in fact Diaz looked lively but has been injured so will take time but when the guy whose been out for 6 months looks better than the other subs we have some issues!
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All we can do now is win our remaining games and finish the season on a high.
If we get CL football fantastic, if we don’t, well then maybe when the players go on their summer holidays they will have a real good think about how they have let themselves down this season.
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Because they are naughty boys in an Enid Blyton book.
Why does a guy like Diaz get a pass from you when someone like Thiago doesn’t? Thiago has missed 16 league matches this season and Diaz has missed 22. So its fair to say both have equally missed significant time. When either player is out that long, then they have to be given time to get back into the groove - match fitness as they say.
It wasn’t long ago everyone was criticizing Jota when he lacked match fitness and I would say he’s going better than alright now.
Just give players returning from long term injury some leniency. You can’t hit your best ever form the first couple of games back from injury.
With Nunez on we had lost control of the midfield so he got no service, Jones and Gakpo were good and pressed well.
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I for one like the disco strip!