Chris Foy reacts to controversy in West Ham win v Kidderminster
Jon Moss was correct to allow West Ham’s last-gasp winner against Kidderminster to stand, according to Chris Foy.
Jarrod Bowen scored in stoppage time in extra time to win the FA Cup clash 2-1 at Aggborough.
However, Tomas Soucek was in an offside position prior to Bowen’s goal, leading to suggestions he may have been obstructing the Kidderminster goalkeeper (as shown on YouTube, 1min35s).
Writing for the Mail on Sunday [6 February, page 146], ex-Premier League and FIFA official Foy agrees with the on-field decision in the FA Cup clash.
He said: “I can’t see any evidence that Tomas Soucek, who is standing in front of the keeper, makes any contact. And as we know, just being in an offside position isn’t an offence.
“You have to ask yourself, does Soucek obstruct the keeper? Well no, as the goalie is falling backwards. Does he interfere with the keeper’s line of vision? Again clearly not, because the ball arrived at scorer Jarrod Bowen’s feet from square. Is he impacting on an opponent’s ability to play the ball? Again no. It was the correct decision to let the goal stand.”
Lucky Hammers
Let’s admit it, if we lost that game and were knocked out of the FA Cup, then we’d have totally deserved it and Kidderminster would have more than deserved their spot in the fifth round.
David Moyes’ side are in a rut right now, with their form stuttering in the Premier League and also that laboured win over Kidderminster, which saw is take over two hours of game-time before taking the lead.
It simply wasn’t good enough and amplifies even more how we needed to sign new players in January.
While Moyes has a really strong starting line-up when all of his players are fit, there are still several players who can be easily upgraded upon.
And then when you look at the fringe players, who could you move out easily enough and freshen the squad with young, hungry players who have really bright futures ahead of them?
Mark Noble is already retiring in the summer but out of the starters at Kidderminster, we’re looking at Ryan Fredericks, Issa Diop, Alex Kral and Andriy Yarmolenko.
In other West Ham news, a pundit believes two centre-backs at surplus to requirements at the London Stadium.