By CandH blogger Allen Cummings
Our victory over Newcastle on Saturday was our ninth home win of the season in all competitions at the London Stadium – seven of those victories coming in the Premier League and one each in the League Cup and FA Cup.
With remaining home games to come against Huddersfield, Everton, Leicester and Southampton, all definitely winnable in my opinion, we are firmly on course to comfortably record our best ‘home’ season of results since moving in to our new stadium.
Four more victories will take our total to 13 for the season – beating the previous best of 10 wins for the 2016-17 season, our first after moving home.
That doesn’t exactly make us impregnable and there’s still plenty of room for improvement but slowly and surely we are making the LS a far less hospitable place for visitors.
The frequently aired criticism was that the stadium was too big, too open, lacked atmosphere – not intimidating enough to favour us as the home team.
It appeared the disappointing results were bearing that out. The truth of course wasn’t simply down to the stadium alone. Events on the pitch and around the team itself played a significant part in us turning in some very disappointing results.
But now under the guidance of Manuel Pellegrini, we’re seeing a welcome change in approach and atmosphere at the club, and consequently results are improving.
The pre-requisite of any side is to win its home games – or as many as possible. There are those who frequently like to refer back to ‘fortress Upon Park’.
Yes, the old ground could provide a great atmosphere making it an intimidating place for teams to come. But it’s a stretch of the imagination to suggest we were virtually unbeatable there. We weren’t. Far from it in fact.
Manuel Pellegrini made a valid point following Saturday’s victory saying: “One of the things that has changed this season compared to others is that there were problems at this stadium. I think that now when the team plays well and you win, there is nothing to complain about.”
We all know that is probably unlikely, as there will always be moans about the Wi-Fi, stewarding and beer running out but on the pitch, where it really matters, things are clearly looking up.
A visit to the London Stadium is no longer going to be the jolly day out it once was!
I think the way we play under MP is largely responsible for increased good feelings. I have always preferred it, UP when it had terraces was intimidating but the moment that was redeveloped and made all seater it was never the same.