Look in the mirror Allardyce, then point the finger!

Question: can anybody remember West Ham collecting four red cards in a season? It may have happened in 2003-04 because Defoe was on a mission to get a transfer and was collecting red cards like other teenagers were collecting Pokemon cards (for those that don't remember, he picked up three), but even when Hutchison, Dicks and Mad Dog were in Claret and Blue, I don't remember four red cards in the first two thirds of a season.

It's true that red cards are issued more liberally these days, but players know the rules and have a duty not to push the envelope, thereby forcing a referee's hand. So why is it happening?

Well if a manager automatically blames the referee and publicly defends his players, is it any wonder that they behave irresponsibly? Taylor was stupid last night - bloody stupid - but rather than criticise him, Allardyce  chose to quibble over whether hands were raised to the chest or face. Who cares? We had just been awarded a penalty so what the hell did Taylor think he was doing? His actions were crass and irresponsible as Vaz Te appeared to tell him after the card was shown. So why the hell hasn't Allardyce said that? Instead of arguing about the decision to show red, why isn't Allardyce saying what most West Ham fans believe, that Taylor let the club down and cost us the game?

But a pattern has already been established hasn't it? Kebe was criticised by Allardyce for provoking Collison's assault at Reading and, unbelievably, Nolan's horror tackle in the Millwall game was also defended despite the powder keg nature of that fixture. What message does this give to the players exactly? Well, Taylor's idiotic conduct last night answers that question doesn't it? If the manager endorses thuggery, why shouldn't the players behave like thugs?

Would Greenwood have behaved like Allardyce? Or Lyall? Or Clough? I can hear Clough now. "The boy was bloody stupid and it will cost him three weeks wages for the time he is suspended." Now, had Allardyce adopted that approach after Nolan's red card, would Taylor have rushed in, fool like, last night? Of course not!

Instead of blaming the officials, Allardyce should point the finger at his own reflection. This is a team in the image of the manager, and like the manager, it considers itself above reproach. Collison let the club down at Reading, Nolan did the same against Millwall and Taylor repeated the offence last night. All three should have been fined and publicly reprimanded. Perhaps then we might keep 11 players on the pitch for the duration of a game!