West Ham fans often get an unjust bad rap for being demanding and fickle but sometimes a certain minority just don’t help themselves.
There was a certain amount of irony as Tomas Soucek starred in West Ham’s win over Leicester.
The big Czech hero scored the opening goal of West Ham’s 2-0 win and put in his usual selfless performance.
But it was not so long ago Soucek was being questioned and scapegoated by a section of West Ham’s support.
The man mountain has arguably been West Ham’s best and most consistent player behind Jarrod Bowen since they both arrived in January 2020.
That did not stop some supporters turning on him during tough times.
Many West Ham fans have called for Soucek to be dropped over the last couple of seasons.
Many predicted he would be the first casualty of managerial changes from David Moyes to Julen Lopetegui and now Graham Potter.
But here he is still grafting, still making telling contributions, still silencing the fickle minority.
Some supporters stepped over the line and disgraced themselves by jeering the former Hammer of the Year when he was substituted in defeats to Crystal Palace and Leicester a couple of seasons ago.
Soucek has since admitted that hurt him deeply.
Childish West Ham fans who abused star should be ashamed
It is so typical of him that he has never held it against that section of the club’s support, though.
So as past jeers against Leicester turned to cheers against the same team, there is nobody better for one West Ham star to turn to as he faces similar treatment.
Childish West Ham fans who abused Konstantinos Mavropanos should be ashamed of their actions.
With Potter carefully managing Jean-Clair Todibo’s minutes, the French defender was subbed off against Leicester – just as he had been at Arsenal.
On came big Greek defender Mavropanos.
Except this time it was to audible booing from a section of West Ham’s fans.
TV cameras showed Mavropanos clearly heard the jeers.
It’s not what any player wants to hear from his own supporters.
But Hammers fans crossed the line.
There is no hiding the fact ‘Dinos’ has not been great since arriving from Stuttgart for £17.5m in 2023.
Built like a Greek god, quick over the ground, powerful and comfortable on the ball – Mavropanos has all the attributes to be a top Premier League defender.
Indeed after some of his early performances, many had him marked out to be a West Ham cult hero.
Yet here we are watching the 27-year-old being booed onto the pitch by his own supporters.
Mavropanos has failed to establish himself in the Hammers team.
Mavropanos gets Soucek treatment from Hammers minority
He has frustrating lapses in concentration which have proved costly.
But he’s no worse than someone like Nayef Aguerd – who cost West Ham double Mavropanos’ fee.
Yet Aguerd was not subjected to the this kind of treatment.
Neither have countless others in the team who have underperformed over the last 14 months.
If you are going to boo your own player – why not Lucas Paqueta, the club’s record £51m signing and highest paid player of all time on £150k per week?
Paqueta’s form on the whole since January 2024 has been dismal until Potter’s arrival. His assist and goal record is nowhere near what it should be.
Yet he and numerous others are given the full backing of fans – just as it should be, especially in tough times.
It must be stressed it was only a minority of West Ham fans.
And it has been refreshing to see the behaviour called out by true supporters on fan forums and social media.
Mavropanos may not be the defender we all hoped he would be for West Ham.
He may end up being sold this summer given Potter has recently preferred full-backs over him at centre-back.
Fans are perfectly entitled to criticise his performances, that goes with the territory of being a top level footballer.
Booing your own is not the West Ham way
But when he has played for the Hammers he always gives his all, even if he sometimes comes up short in terms of concentration and positioning.
It is not the player’s fault West Ham signed him and believed he was the right man for the job.
That is on West Ham’s questionable recruitment over the last few years.
Another factor supporters who booed Mavropanos should consider is what other players make of their actions.
That will not have gone down well in the dressing room.
Dinos is a popular member of the team. Players remember things like that.
And what must Potter be thinking after lauding West Ham’s fans as ‘proper’ and ‘knowledgeable’ since his arrival?
Booing your own is simply not the West Ham way.
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