Not the best week for West Ham. Again. It was disappointing on several fronts. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see the Tottenham game live I was at a yoga workshop. So while I was stretching into downward facing dog it seemed we were running riot at White Hart Lane. I couldn’t believe it when I came out of the studio and we were two up. I’ve been pretty confident going into most games this season but I had an uneasy trepidation about this one. Surely even we can see the game out with ten minutes left on the clock. Nope. Never underestimate the power of a West Ham team’s ability to snatch defeat (or certainly what felt like one) from the jaws of victory! So near…and yet so far.
Despite not having seen the action I must admit I was somewhat mystified by the first substitution. Not that Big Sam had taken Noble off as, by all accounts, he was lucky to still be on the pitch by that stage, more so because of his inclusion of Carlton Cole. Why bring him on at such a crucial time? No offence to the club cult hero, I’m a big fan of CC but I couldn’t understand why Allardyce went for a forward rather than a defender, or Nolan. Carlton is not necessarily known for his ability to keep possession so it baffled me. Were we going for a third? And if so, pushing Sakho and Valencia out wide, how? Now, Allardyce is often slated for not being positive enough, but he doesn’t ever appear to be swayed by public opinion so it seemed to be a strange decision from him. It was, on the outside I guess, a positive tactical switch but it didn’t work. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m no master tactician and hindsight is a wonderful thing, I’m not criticising him it just confused me. We’ll never know what would have happened if he’d brought on the much-maligned Nolan in Noble’s stead. Then again, imagine if he had and we’d still conceded two? Or worse, lost?! The furore would have been phenomenal. The anti-Sam brigade would have been burning effigies in the streets! It’s a no win situation…literally.
And yet, despite bringing on another striker, we sat back anyway. Deeper and deeper, inviting them on, a team that loves a the high press at the best of times. It was inevitable that, even in that short space of time, our negativity would prove to be our undoing, and Tottenham’s superior energy levels made all the difference. The questions have to be asked now because we did look tired towards the end and Spurs had another gear to go to. Why have we conceded late goals recently? Manchester United, both cup games against Everton. Why are we finding it difficult to hold onto a lead full stop? Swansea away, WBA at home. If, as Sam mentioned post-Hawthorns disaster, we are feeling the effects of a heavy fixture list and are suffering from fatigue, how on earth would we manage to deal with the rigours of a European competition, going into one of the most important seasons in our club’s history? I’m all for not running before we can walk. Our pre-season priority was survival at all costs. Short of an unmitigated footballing disaster we’ve pretty much taken care of that. So it’s a catch 22 for me…I want to win all of the games this season…but I’m worried about the final cost!
These are all issues I will bring to the attention of Mark Noble later today in our interview for Soccer Saturday…we’ll see what he says.
Whatever happened at White Hart Lane, it was such a shame that the game was overshadowed by crowd (mis)behaviour. I spoke about pride last week. For me there wasn’t much there to be proud of.
Yes it was a small minority on that train, and, it hasn’t even been proven that they were indeed Hammers fans. Highlighting a lack of foreskin maybe isn’t offensive. I wouldn’t know. They obviously value that precious piece of flesh covering their tiny penises. Good for them. However, shouting “f**king Jew” and making hissing noises or using the Y word in the stands is totally unacceptable. I’ve heard the whole…“well they sing it about themselves” argument. Sorry that doesn’t sit right with me. We’re not in the playground…“well he was doing it first Miss!” Give me strength. “It’s just banter!” Banter. A word now appropriated by numbskulls looking to excuse all sorts of vile behaviour and abusiveness. Please.
The right way to behave starts with us.
David Baddiel tweeted me and said that the origins are irrelevant. It should stop across the board. He’s right. He also sent me a link to something that I hope you will take a look at… Click on THIS
Real people’s lives were, and still are, affected by the holocaust. It was an atrocity that should never be forgotten or made fun of. Over a million Jews went to their deaths at Auschwitz. I recently read Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor E Frankl and it was so powerful and poignant it really affected me.
Would they sing a song making light of 9/11? Why not? Does that not fit their football “banter” agenda? Would they enjoy a song sung by opposing fans about bowel cancer and our favourite son Bobby Moore? No? It would be a disgrace. Some things you can make light of, laugh at even. But there’s a limit.
Then there’s the Harry Kane chant. I saw the video a few weeks ago and I didn’t like it then. I was really disappointed to hear our fans had sung it again at Spurs. It’s playground stuff. It’s infantile. It’s hurtful to people with disabilities and their families. I don’t wish to sanitise football terrace humour. I’d never advocate that. Some of our songs are hilarious and I’d hate to see that disappear.
But do we have to abuse? Do we have to use sexually derogatory, racist, anti-Semitic or homophobic language? Do we really still have to sink to those levels?
Now I hold my hands up I’m no fan of the “East London is full of t***, f*** and West Ham” song. It makes me feel uncomfortable. It’s archaic. It’s 70s & 80s humour at best and one that objectifies women in a way I don’t approve. In this day and age I’d hate to take my niece over to Upton Park or the Olympic stadium and have her hear it. It’s best left behind where it belongs. Having said that I’m no PC pc plod. I don’t trawl the internet for things to get offended about and report to the necessary authorities forthwith. I wouldn’t make an official complaint. I just suffer it. But I certainly wouldn’t abuse someone who doesn’t just sit there and take it. The use of the word mong is another step too far in my book. It is one that’s used to mock people with disabilities. Just because it doesn’t offend you personally it doesn’t make it right. Or even ok.
I’ll probably get pelters for this…so be it. I’m not just paying lip service here. It’s something I believe in. I’m not being a wuss, over-sensitive, nor a big girl’s blouse in a man’s game. None of those things.
Yes it’s an outrage culture. We are a social media world all so quick to be offended. Believe me some of the misogynistic sexist crap I’ve heard over the years would offend Jim Davidson. Listen I can take a joke. I know what’s funny. I’ve got five brothers I’ve heard it all and I’ve given as good as I’ve got. But call me slag, or bitch or whore…or gash? To my face? At a football match or even in a public place among non football fans who just want to use public transport in peace? That would separate the “men” from the boys believe me. You’d find out who really has balls.
When I first started match reporting for Soccer Saturday the abuse I received on Twitter was horrific. Think of the worst things you could call a woman, or even a fellow human being and you’ll come close. It affected me. It affected my work to a certain extent. It knocked my confidence and I truly began to question my ability.
Initially there were a lot of malicious tweets attacking me. There was an I HATE BIANCA WESTWOOD Twitter page questioning my credentials and attempting to gain others’ support. I had never been spoken to like that before. I HADN’T just appeared. I wasn’t sleeping with my boss or anyone else at Sky for that matter. I had never even been in the kitchen let alone left it! It took me over ten years to get to that stage in my professional career I wasn’t ticking a politically correct box. It took me a long time, a lot of hard work, of knocking on doors, doing interviews and editing features, trying to convince my boss I was good enough and knew enough.
I still never thought in a million years I’d end up in-vision reporting. No other female had. I was gobsmacked when they asked me to do it. A woman! Least of all me. From a single parent family and a council estate in Chingford, the girl with the estuary accent! Fortunately for me my producer believed in me and his bosses took the gamble.
Of course I made mistakes, stumbled over words, got a name or two wrong. It wasn’t because of a lack of football knowledge. I’d never done any live TV before and I don’t mind admitting I was petrified. At times, especially with all the online abuse, which I did my best to ignore, my nerves got the better of me. You try verbally recreating a goal in 10 seconds with no replay, sometimes without even a monitor or knowing all the players in a team from the lower leagues. Remembering who passed it to who, how, where from, did he cross it, head it, curl it, place it, pass it.
It’s a lot harder than it looks and my minor mistakes really angered some people and wow did they let me know about it. Now you can question my morals or call me old (& that’s just Jeff ha kidding!) or a lady of the night, or an idiot, call me ugly I don’t care that’s just an opinion. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder anyway. But question my knowledge of the game?? That cut me more than any sexist slur. I know my football!
Now, thankfully, fans are used to seeing a female face and hearing a female voice and they aren’t so threatened anymore. The trolling has stopped. I can sleep the night before a game and I’ve had a bit of practice so I’m not frightened anymore. No I’m not perfect but who is??
I’m not tub-thumping here. I’m not on my soapbox, I’m not trying to “make a change”. I’m no socio-political activist. I didn’t come into this game to make any demands I’m just a female reporter in a male dominated industry trying to make my own way. I have gone quietly about my business and I was determined to make it. Along with all the other female producers and directors that Sky Sports now have in the ranks. Clare Tomlinson was the only female reporter at Sky when I started. I know she had a tough ride at times. Being in a man’s world isn’t for the faint of hearts but she made me believe I could do it too. I just wanted to work in a job that I love in a sport that I adore and have been watching since I was 6 years old. Oh and get paid the same as my male counterparts please. It’s not asking too much. Just a bit of equality. Thanks!
This is only my opinion but it is my message. The world is not a lads dressing room I’m afraid. The culture doesn’t apply in real life. Not anymore. Sorry guys!
As I said before I’m not calling for an end to terrace comedy. I am not the fun police. I would just like to see fans (especially ours) use a bit of sensitivity. Some sense and sensibility. Imagine if it was your kid. How would you feel? It’s not really about Kane per se. I’m sure he’s big enough to get over it, it’s probably water off a duck’s back to him. But for my cousin Charlotte who was severely disabled, for my dad who had MS and spent the last ten years of his life in a wheelchair. I feel I have to speak for them. My dad always tried to see the humour in his situation and would jokingly use some terrible names for his disability to make us laugh. That was his prerogative. We would laugh with him but if anyone else had referred to him in those terms, especially in an abusive way I would have fought them and fought them hard.
Do we really NEED to use the word mong? It’s not important. Let’s drop it. I know there was no maliciousness involved. It’s just ill-judged & misinformed that’s all.
West Ham has got some of the funniest fans I’ve ever encountered. The brilliant reenactment of the train situation in Paris was a case in point. I loved it. When my mate Claire-Louise was in the Upton Park away end against Everton in the cup she was in stitches at some of the Hammers’ comedians in the crowd. East End humour is sarcastic and dark and usually utterly genius. We must never lose that about ourselves. But some jokes aren’t really that funny. I know we’re better than that.
COYI
B x