It wasn't that we could directly blame East for our shortcomings. It's just that he spoiled the whole tone, (lack of) rhythm and equity of proceedings. Perhaps he could 'do a Pompey' and go straight from PL to L2 without passing Go?
Hopefully Mark Clattenburg's defection to Saudi Arabia, means that the Premier League won't be able to spare us any of their 'Elite' referees for a bit.