Liverpool legend Ray Houghton says the London Stadium lacks the fear factor he experienced at Upton Park while playing.
Commentating on Talk Sport radio he told listeners “
I’m not blaming the stadium for the defeat, but it doesn’t enhance the day,”
“At West Ham, I’ve done a couple of games and you are up in the Gods! You’re so far away from the pitch, you’re so far removed you don’t feel like you’re at a football game. I feel like I’m at an athletics meeting seriously, that’s how I see it.”
“I played at the old Upton Park by the Chicken Run and I used to the West Ham players would come out and terrify the opposition. There’s no fear factor about playing at the London Stadium – it’s not a football stadium at all.”
“I’ve got West Ham mates and one of them was round my house yesterday and said there was 57,000 there, but you wouldn’t think that.
“They’re not near enough to influence the players or get onto them or back them or whatever to get that sound across to them.”
Happens away from home as well . The fear factor hasn’t helped us to any great heights in the past , , apart from a little run in the 60’s there has been nothing to really shout about .
The likes of Liverpool , Manchester United to name just two spent all Thier time robbing West Ham and others of Thier talent just to deny them the potential to grow and leave the field open for Thier own success . A few cup runs and a few wins is all we have achieved since the 60’s whilst playing at the Boleyn , so in reality the LS has nothing to do with it whatsoever . Our yo yo run through the divisions has been down to losing our best players to other clubs mixed with bad management , no ifs or but’s . Another point to consider is that visiting clubs always go nuts to beat us at the enormous LS stadium . It’s always Cup Final day to visit the LS . That is something we must address most urgently .
Agree whole heartedly with what Ray Houghton says, and also your comment , Kevin, about away teams getting the ‘Cup Fina’ l feeling when playing us at this ground, and so up their game. The fact is, however, that even with the seating brought closer to the pitch, that place just isn’t a football stadium, and in present form will take us years to establish out identity and playing style there. Blow it up, and build a real football stadium is what I say; radical, but what’s needed.
Although it’s the players on the pitch and their attitude that wins games, the venue, atmosphere and fans are a major factor in assisting the home team having that right attitude to go out and win.
If the visiting team are not nervous or affected by the venue/supporters then the home team have a problem, a big one.
Last season, I was seated half way up 232 which at times felt a long way away from the action and I felt that I ‘Should have gone to Specsavers’! I’ve now moved to the BML which is nearer the action and slightly more atmospheric.
The trouble in my opinion with the LS is that it’s neither fish nor fowl at the moment. It could be one hell of Stadium but needs turning in to a football ground. They did it at the Etihad, they could do it at the LS. Hopefully E20 will be given the elbow and we get ownership. Then the work could begin on building a new Upton Park, getting the fans closer to the players. It could be done and hopefully within my lifetime.
Oh here we go again. Another old player going on about how everybody was terrified of playing at UP. . So we always had 100 % home record obviously. Er???
I loved the Boleyn with a passion-still do! But it is the players who decide the result, not the ground. The Etihad does not somehow fit the mould these people always go on about -noisy, crowd close to the players, steep stands etc. It is amazing City manage to do so well. And the Emirates. Arsenal don’t do badly there. How do they explain that I wonder……
It’s a boring explanation. We moved there at a time when the wheels were coming off & the blunders of the owners were coming home home to roost. Doesn’t make such a good story though.