Hammers boss David Moyes has criticised West Ham fans over quiet atmospheres and says his players deserve louder support.
With the return of supporters last season and some unforgettable nights during West Ham’s Europa League adventure, there was a huge transformation in the atmosphere at the London Stadium.
The ground has always divided opinion among football fans – home and away – and has been described as a ‘soulless bowl’ in the past.
But for West Ham, the former Olympic Stadium finally started to feel like home last season off the back of seeing a team giving everything, doing well and entertaining the fans.
This season there is no hiding the fact that the same level of excitement simply has not been there, despite spending £170m on eight new signings including Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca.
We have seen many times in the past that West Ham fans can produce a fantastic atmosphere in the cavernous ground designed for athletics.
But whether it is the initial dismal start to the season, issues impacting travel to games, too many Sunday and midweek fixtures, broadcasters putting on matches at ridiculous times, the cost of living crisis, complacency or the fact West Ham are playing a different and less exciting style of football – the London Stadium is not quite fizzing as it had been over the previous year.
Just over 35,000 attended last night’s drab 1-0 win over Silkeborg – a sixth home victory on the bounce – which sealed West Ham’s place in the last 16 of European competition for a second successive season. It was extremely quiet in the ground once again and it has not escaped the manager’s attention.
David Moyes has criticised West Ham fans over quiet atmospheres at home and says his players deserve louder support.
David Moyes criticises West Ham fans over quiet atmospheres and says players deserve louder support
“It is (pleasing to keep the good home form going) and a big reason for that (good home form last season) has been the support,” Moyes told West Ham TV after the game.
“And that’s why we need the support (to be better). You know it’s been a little bit quiet in some of the games recently so we need it loud and we need the players to be well supported because over the last couple of years some of the games we’ve had here and some of the nights we’ve had here have been tremendous.”
In truth it is probably a combination of many of the issues listed earlier in this article.
Playing games on a Sunday has always been notoriously difficult for clubs when it comes to fans generating a big atmosphere.
Generally speaking travel to matches is more difficult on Sundays and midweek and supporters are less likely to drink as many have to drive and work the next morning.
It combines to make a massive difference. And let’s not forget the team is not playing particularly well. West Ham are yet to record a win against a truly top side this season and Moyes is still trying to knit his new-look side together.
Perhaps we will see the best of West Ham fans – and indeed the team – during the second half of the season after the World Cup break.
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