David Moyes has picked at the fans scab yet again as the West Ham boss makes a new ‘true supporters’ claim in the wake of the Newcastle thumping.
West Ham fans talked with their feet and in their thousands last night by walking out en masse with 15 minutes left and the score at 3-1 against Newcastle.
It was some statement from the Hammers support, who – while grateful for the vital win against Southampton three days earlier – were not fooled by the performance.
West Ham fans did their bit to get behind the team at the London Stadium, generating a pumping atmosphere.
But fans – who already struggle to generate an atmosphere in what many describe as a ‘soulless bowl’ of a stadium – had the lives sucked out of them by what they witnessed on the pitch.
This was no knee jerk reaction from supporters. Domestically, it has been awful at West Ham for 15 months now.
And another pathetic showing piles the pressure on West Ham manager David Moyes and his players in their bid to stay in the Premier League.
Make no mistake that display last night was on the players more than the manager. But it feels like the culmination of a demise the manager has instigated with his own shortcomings.
So as the inquest began last night, the blame game and finger pointing started. And it did not take long for West Ham’s fans to be criticised – by none other than Moyes.
With the obvious exception of the Covid pandemic, ask yourself this, what has been the one constant about West Ham United over the last 40 odd years and more?
Trophies? No. Top class managers? No. Ambitious owners? No. Being competitive in the top flight? No. Brilliant players giving everything for the badge? No. Not even the badge itself has been a constant for goodness sake.
It is the West Ham fans that have been the constant at this great football club.
Yes Hammers supporters can be a tough and demanding crowd to play for at times. But one thing is for certain they are ALWAYS there. They always have been and always will be.
And as Jarrod Bowen said last night – they will be there again in huge numbers for the game against Fulham on Saturday.
Imagine other clubs of West Ham’s standing if they went over four decades without winning a trophy. If some of them go one season without competing their grounds are half empty.
West Ham fans are fiercely loyal to their club. The Hammers sold out home and away when in the Championship. Took over almost all of Wembley for play-off finals. We even sell out a stadium the vast majority of us detest.
Yet after another dismal performance and result, it is the supporters who are having their loyalty questioned by the manager.
David Moyes picks at fans scab yet again as West Ham boss makes new ‘true supporters’ claim.
After a defeat to Wolves in January, Moyes fired a barb at the Hammers faithful saying ‘true supporters’ get behind their team during difficult times.
It was not the first time the Scot had criticised fans this season and he was at it again after the Newcastle horror show.
While Moyes praised fans for the atmosphere they created at the start of the game, he could not resist reminding supporters how spoilt they have been over the last two years and said ‘true supporters’ get behind the team during difficult times.
That’s despite admitting himself he too may have walked out if he was a fan witnessing what his sorry side served up.
David Moyes picks at fans scab yet again as West Ham boss makes new ‘true supporters’ claim
“I might have walked out tonight as well when I saw it, so, I know how it works,” Moyes told Sky Sports after the game.
“But sometimes when it’s not so good you stand up and be a true supporter as well. We’ve had some great results last year whether it’s been in the league, whether it’s been in Europe and sometimes when things aren’t going so well you need everybody behind you.
“I thought the crowd at the start of the game tonight was fantastic, I thought the atmosphere when we came out and the way we started the game was brilliant. So I’ve got no qualms with them leaving with a result like that tonight.”
Which is it then Moyes? Make your mind up?
One thing is for certain, West Ham’s “true supporters” will be showing up at Craven Cottage – as always – on Saturday.
Let’s hope the players show up too.
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