A video has emerged showing what banned technical director Tim Steidten did in response to chants from West Ham fans.
It has been a strange first year for Tim Steidten at West Ham.
Just weeks into his arrival at the club a source very close to West Ham’s owners confirmed to Hammers News that Steidten was finding David Moyes ‘hard work’.
West Ham supporters have seen the validity of that in recent weeks.
Steidten and Moyes did eventually find some middle ground last summer.
The Scot signed James Ward-Prowse while Steidten brought in Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Steidten was widely praised for his deals but Moyes had power of veto so he must take some of the credit too.
In January, though, Moyes and Steidten were struggling to see eye-to-eye again on transfers.
Moyes and Steidten strained from the start
The German had a number of potential deals lined up for the likes of Ibrahim Osman, Jota and Jack Clarke.
But it is reported Moyes snubbed those and pushed instead to sign Kalvin Phillips.
That has proved to be one of the worst deals in West Ham’s history with the club thankful it was only a straight loan.
With West Ham exploring their managerial options of late, Steidten was tasked by the owners with doing due diligence on potential candidates.
That did not go down well with Moyes who has banned him from being around the first team until he leaves.
Journalist Kaveh Solhekol claimed last week that Moyes’ decision to ban Steidten and snub deals in January while pushing for Phillips helped seal his fate with majority owner David Sullivan.
Steidten is seen as integral to any hopes the Hammers have of rebuilding the smallest and second oldest squad in the league.
But he was somewhat bizarrely criticised by some fans for interviewing managers.
Video shows banned Steidten’s response to chants
That was a departure from the almost universal praise heaped on the coveted director since his arrival at in east London.
Steidten even has his own terrace song so popular has he been since signing Kudus and Alvarez in particular.
The ex Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen recruitment chief could be forgiven for wondering what kind of reception he might receive when returning to the London Stadium for the first time since Moyes imposed his ban.
It seems he needn’t have worried, though.
Video shows what banned Steidten did in response to West Ham chants.
Footage has been posted on social media by a Hammers fan showing supporters serenading Steidten as he watched the 3-1 win over Luton.
Hammers fans sang “Super Timmy Steidten” at the technical director.
And he looked delighted to hear it, smiling as he turned to give a thumbs up and applaud the fans signing his name.
You can see the video in the post below.
Hammers fans put faith in ‘Super Tim’
It shows West Ham fans are still very much behind Steidten and believe in him.
Liverpool and Newcastle have both been linked with him of late.
But he publicly committed his future to West Ham, describing his ‘euphoria’ at the trust the club has in him.
Steidten also stated he sees West Ham as a five-year project.
Fans are heartened by that.
Not least because the last long-term project he embarked on was at Leverkusen.
He appointed Xabi Alonso and helped build the team which has just made it 50 games unbeaten across all competitions this season.
That included winning the Bundesliga at a canter and making the finals of the Europa League and German cup.
If he can put together a team even half as good at West Ham, they’ll be on to a winner.
READ ALSO
Moyes lifts lid on real reason he didn’t respond to West Ham fan chants
Paqueta makes exciting prediction about West Ham star Earthy
West Ham star’s wife hits out at Bowen winning award and he reposts it
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
