Former West Ham manager Slaven Bilic says the move to the London Stadium was just business but a move the Hammers should have made.
He said that former England chef and West Ham employee Tim De’Ath told him that big players hated the facilities at Upton Park with small dressing rooms, not very nice, the pitch looks very small, every throw in is a danger for you.
Bilic said “The Olympic stadium is different, Olympic stadium is a brilliant stadium, make no mistake, its a brilliant stadium for the fans, the women and for families”
The Croatian did concede “You could never have that atmosphere you had at Upton Park, you could never create that pressure, you could never have that 10 or 15 minutes of attack, it’s impossible “
Slaven Bilic also admitted the change of stadium changed the mentality of his players who were playing on a bigger pitch in a bigger stadium.
Slaven Bilic on West Ham’s Stadium move…
Amazing insight pic.twitter.com/ZYdptQn8dG
— West Ham News (@whufc_news) April 13, 2019
Slaven Bilic says the move to the London Stadium was just business but a move the Hammers should have made.
Well, he got half right (clue: not the 2nd half!)…….
Bilic said “The Olympic stadium is different, Olympic stadium is a brilliant stadium, make no mistake, its a brilliant stadium for the fans, the women and for families”
“fans”, “women”, “families”
Latest socio-economic groupings?
“You could never have that atmosphere you had at Upton Park, you could never create that pressure, you could never have that 10 or 15 minutes of attack, it’s impossible “
I think he is some kind of time-warp; very much like the current team tactics, which need the pitch turned 180degs so the back passing becomes attacking.
A move we should never have made. Business for the owners yes. Because of course it will them more money. Such a shame but it’s a fact unfortunately. Shame about Slaven Bilic as he had a very good first season.
Bilic is absolutely right. He’s talking about big teams players used to hate to come and play at Upton Park, fans close to pitch, intimidating atmosphere etc. Feel the fans breath on the back of your neck when they took a corner. Not so family friendly in the old days either. Wheras the new stadium is more family friendly, the flip side is the atmosphere is different. Opposition players feel less pressured now. I watched the premier league tonight programme and I don’t think Bilic said anything we don’t all already know. Such a shame he wasn’t backed up in the transfer market. Doesn’t sound like he got any of the players he really wanted in that second season and had to settle for lesser quality players.