Stuart Pearce deserved much credit yesterday for playing when he was injured yet managed to still marshal the West Ham defence and made some excellent tackles.

However, as a professional, he discredited himself greatly by the manner in which he went about the game. Pure thuggery is one description I could use.

Some of the tackles were great but Sky highlighted unintentionally, how many times Pearce shoved his forearm into the oposition players back of head. Les Ferdinand took some horrendous stick and was rightly very frustrated at the lack of protection he was receiving from the referee.

Pearce forearmed Gary Doherty one time knocking him to the ground and if the referee saw it he should have sent Pearce off. A great competitor in the game and I'm sure he was labouring on this reputation yesterday.

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

Answers

AP

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

I thought he was awesome - just what we need, an organiser, and a defensive motivator.
Didn't we have someone called S. Pearce on the books at one time?

I actually thought Ferdinand whinged on like a big girls blouse allowing SP to totally psych him out - although I suppose he had the last laugh. Certainly SP didn't deserve to be on the losing side.

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

I remember his words of encouragement to the resorves at KP. "Oy knobhead!" was a favourite!

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

A decent astute ref would have sent him off early yesterday, no doubt. Just as well for SP that there are no decent astute ref's in the game!

I agree you cannot fault him on his committment and passion but he was out of order.

-- Anonymous, March 12, 2001

I thought he was bloody great. Why did he leave? Oh yes, it all comes back...............

-- Anonymous, March 13, 2001