Echoing fan comments on Claret and Hugh’s forum this morning, the electric atmosphere at London Stadium last night was highlighted by Skysports who made no secret of the fact that the former athletics stadium was bouncing as West Ham led for much of the game.
Drawing parallels with the glory days of three successive European competition seasons, the report exposed the ‘lack of atmosphere’ bemoaned by many as being one which is, unfortunately, largely self inflicted if not by the fans then by the soulless football which has been served up ever since the conference league win.
According to Sky:
‘West Ham are in the midst of a ‘tear’ in terms of points in the Premier League.
Across the last six games, they have taken 10 points – the fourth most of any team. If it wasn’t for stoppage time drama going against them against Chelsea and Manchester United, that figure would be 13. This is a West Ham team completely revamped by Nuno Espirito Santo.
indeed as we wrote yesterday, fans appear to have responded by selling out the Stadium for the Manchester United fixture – with about 15,000 more supporters arriving than the die-hard 45,000 who made it to insipid, barren games in December.
“Despite some late swings going against them, this is a team that looks united playing in front of a fanbase that is seeing signs of survival. In the 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Tuesday night, the London Stadium rocked in the second half like it hasn’t rocked since the special European nights of three years ago under David Moyes.
“There’s a team spirit here which they can cling on to,” reported Sky Sports’ Chris Reidy. “The players walk around the pitch applauding the fans, there’s genuine belief they can stay up.”
It might be unlikely. But with twelve more performances like that, Nuno’s Hammers will undoubtedly save themselves. Soulless bowl and all.
I’ve always said that it wasn’t a soulless bowl. Remember how deafening it was during the 2012 Olympics? Its the West Ham fans – we prefer to moan instead of supporting the team.
A draw is not so bad against a team who are on form. We played well and have a chance of beating any team if we continue like this .
The LS will always be less intimidating to opposition teams because the fans are 20 yards or much more away from the players . At most other clubs the fans are close enough to spit on the players . During COVID there were as many away wins as home wins and that points toward the physical fear factor that is generated by the home fans . If Westham were still at Upton Park they would certainly get more points than at the LS and so this shows that the decision to move was poor from a competitive stand point .
Sorry, did I miss the decades of continuous success at Upton Park generated by our being so intimidating?
We won nothing for 40+ years, had multiple relegations but were apparently playing a stadium that intimidated opposing teams into defeat. Extra points from UP? What division would we have sunk to if we hadn’t been there?
But West Ham won more home games during covid lockdown than almost any other time so your reasoning doesn’t hold water
But the small Covid sample size isn’t big enough to prove a point, especially as we were all in revolt yet again at the time and just not having abuse and negativity yelled at you while you’re tying to work might have been a bigger factor than the choice of location.
Added to which, our very best run came in games while David Moyes wasn’t present – what conclusion would you draw from that?
I think the night games tend to be a better atmosphere as opposed to 12.30 on a Saturday or 2 on a Sunday. But I have to say it was a great atmosphere in there last night. And a far cry from about 6 weeks ago. But the football we are now producing is entertainment for all the manager’s deficiencies it is overall far better than what has gone before. I’m just not sure how much of the upturn in style is down to Nuno or Paco.
Ah soul! It was even rocking all the way Down Under here in Perth. Could hardly believe it. Just a shame to feel gutted right at the end. Well done you Irons. 👏
This season has been a disaster,too many issues to labour on but the team respond to support,so we support. Not down yet and we must continue to play our best football to get out of this mess.
It always depends on the opponents. I’ve always enjoyed being in block 213, near the away supporters. But if the game is against a lower or smaller club, our supporters aren’t really up for a mass chantathon. Against the bigger teams we are more vocal, making the atmosphere that much better. Best atmosphere in which I attended was the Seville game that went to extra time and Yarmolenko got the winner, great night.
The stadium is fantastic, but it’s not a football stadium! If ever WHU takes ownership, I would hope for a redevelopment to make it into a football stadium.
The stadium isn’t the reason we are in relegation street but it is a contribution. Anyone who thinks it isn’t, never had a taste of Upton Park. We never had much athletics there, and there was a reason for that…….it was a football stadium. The atmosphere on Tuesday was great but please don’t compare the two. It is all about the closeness of the supporters. You need to catch a bus to get near the pitch of the London Stadium whereas the crowd at the Boleyn ground had to move back for corners. Happy days.
well, yes, but I do remember being able to hear a pin drop on more than one occasion at Upton Park, lets be fair.
Scotty the last time I went to Upton Park was towards the end of our last season there which was a brilliant season with some great football and the atmosphere was brilliant and intimidating. But I have been there many a time mainly when managed by Grant or BFS but also a few times back in the 70s and 80s and the atmosphere was sh@te. I think play the football the right way or show true grit and our fans respond like last night
I’ve always said that blaming the stadium was a lame excuse from the dinosaurs who wanted to stay at Upton Park. They’d have complained wherever we moved to and probably cited a lack of ambition by the board if we’d stayed.
Last night showed it’s us, not the stadium, that creates atmosphere.
Spurs spent £1bn of their own cash on what is now just a depreciating asset and, like us, following a European trophy, have been poor where it matters – on the pitch.
West Ham is about us – fans, team, board, staff – not a collection of structural steel.
We define the style and identity – no one else.
Our reputation now is that of over-entitled complainers, and that’s our own fault.
Well said Demon. I had to check that it wasn’t me writing this.
Upton Park, when we were young, has long gone and never coming back. We now all have seats and unobstructed views. We are getting older. Let’s all do it gracefully. Let’s all enjoy and appreciate the positive play on the field today and into the future.
Yesterday has gone. We should all applaud and get behind our team as we advance up the new West Ham Way.
COYI
It can be good, I remember the first season a midweek cup game against Chelsea the atmosphere was as hostile and charged as any at the Boleyn but it is harder when you aren’t as close to the pitch to create that, lets hope it’s a turning point and we can have more atmospheres like that between now and the end of the season we are going to need it COYI!!!