“The atmosphere“, one fan who will remain nameless told me, ” was shocking”.
Speaking about the London Stadium last Saturday when Southampton came, saw and duly conquered a feeble West Ham United, my contact duly filled me in on the game I’d chosen to sit out at home with a cuppa, congratulating myself having having seen the forecast.
I’d had enough cold, dark silent shuffles back to Stratford through the walking traffic lights and duly gave myself the afternoon off.
Which looks a pretty good decision in hindsight having heard the unrest at half time and full time when the home fans booed off their own players.
The problem is, opponents are now getting the message that ‘fortress’ London Stadium is nothing of the sort – and any club with a bit of attitude can come out of the traps fast and overwhelm the former Premier League millionaires who seem to start as if they’re still hungover from May’s relegation.
The London Stadium is looking anything other than a ‘fortress’ this season
Next up it is the Baggies: Their plan, like Southampton before them (word gets around pretty quick)..is plainly to take the game to the Irons, according to former West Brom defender Paul Robinson, speaking on the expressandstar podcast:
“Why be afraid of a team like West Ham?
If you go and put them on the back foot, their fans are going to turn.”
Nuno needs a big statement on Saturday to quell all the unrest, the boo boys and the stories now appearing in the media over his own uncertain future. Especially at home. Especially since West Ham have fallen out of the automatic promotion places. And especially since I’m going to the game.
I’ve not once booed my own team since my very first game as a paying supporter – which I think was thirty eight years ago…against Southampton when Ian Wright scored a dodgy header to win a terrible game 1-0. And I don’t want to start booing them now. So let’s have a win for… flip’s sake.
Well when you’re 2-0 down in less than 10 minutes the atmosphere ain’t gonna be exactly ecstatic is it?
In terms of numbers, we have amazing support but the fickleness of many fans is very disheartening. Why so many have to leave well before half-time to drink rubbish beer and then return five minutes after the restart is beyond me. On Saturday, West Ham conceded two early goals before battering the opposition for the remainder of the half, yet were still booed off the park. By the time we scored our second, the ground was half empty. What signal does that send to the players?