He said all about the apathy that crosses the London stadium nowadays that the biggest ovation of the night occurred before the match began.
Michail Antonio came back just three months after the terror car accident to be presented to the supporters before the beginning of the beginning and, rightly, received the welcome of a hero. They sang their name, unfolded a great banner in their honor, the stadium announcer greeted Antonio’s “strength, resilience and character to retaliate from his hospital bed here.
How these supporters want to be able to attribute labels similar to the performance of Antonio’s teammates who followed. From the first whistle, West Ham gave them nothing to get excited. Little strength, little resilience, little character.
Very meek, very passive. Newcastle was there for the socket. Things could have been different if Tomas Soucek ended his initial chance and West Ham was offended by the eventual winner of Bruno Guimaraes not been discarded by a boost in Max Kilman, but in fact the game was of low quality that even one 0-0 would have flattered both sides.
The problem for West Ham, however, is that this is not a rare dive. Only the four teams below the Hammers in the Premier League table have won fewer points at home this season, only Ipswich and Southampton have conceded more goals.
This is a team capable of winning in Arsenal under Graham Potter and Newcastle under Julen Lopetegui. They won a commendable draw at Villa Park under the new boss and when Potter returned to Chelsea left defeated, but with a more deserved performance.
West Ham’s defeat for Newcastle on Monday night was the eighth at home this season
Bruno Guimaraes scored the only goal of the game closely to the hammers
The biggest ovation at London stadium occurred when Michail Antonio first appeared since the terror car accident before the beginning
When fans last time fans were diverted from London stadium talking enthusiastically about the sparkling football they had just watched?
Certainly not when they sent five in the first half against Arsenal. Or when they granted another five against Liverpool. Or when Jean-Phillipe Mateta dismantled the West Ham defense to Crystal Palace alone. Or when Potter’s side produced one of the worst 45 minutes of the season against Brentford and somehow lost only 1-0.
West Ham has won five home games in this term, more than Everton and Crystal Palace, and the same as Tottenham and Fulham, but even his recent home victory against Leicester was another story of Foxes throwing the relegation towel than from hammers dismantling a dark side.
The only occasion in this term that West Ham dispatched an opponent on the lawn was a 4-1 win over Ipswich in October.
But why are they so poor at home? Many times, when this question is asked, the easy answer is to point the atmosphere at the London stadium compared to that of Upton Park.
When you talk to Hammers fans, they say how often they felt they could influence the results in the old place. You were close to everything, besides the opposition, you could intimidate and take your team forward.
At London Stadium, you often feel like an audience member at an Arena show of what part of the action.
In the final season in Upton Park, the Hammers won about half of their league games and lost only three. This season they won a third and lost more than half.
Only Ipswich and Ivan Juric (right) of Kieran McKenna (right) Soutpous suffered more at home than West Ham this season
Liverpool hit West Ham for five unanswered at London stadium at the end of December
Hammers fans usually point to the poor atmosphere at London stadium compared to Upton Park as a problem
All of this plays a role, from the atmosphere to the feeling of the walk to the ground and the distant and forgotten smells of the hamburgers and onions and the sense of community.
But it is very easy to blame all this, very simple, too much an excuse and a crutch to change the spotlight of the underlying team and club problems.
Because this place can rock. Anyone who has been there for those European nights in recent years can attest to this. Put a show and you will receive an answer.
It doesn’t help the season, but in March. Of the two cups and blessed to be far enough above Leicester, Ipswich and Southampton that the relegation should not disturb them unless something ridiculous happens.
Now we are basically in a prolonged preseason for Potter to find out what he needs, who he wants and who he doesn’t want. There are more than some who will be on the final list.
For all the focus during the January transfer window from the need for a West Ham striker, the real problems for your home performances are much further.
This is a team with Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta and when Fit, Crysncio Summerville. There is a lot of attitude talent, if perhaps, aside, not always the most consistent.
West Ham Ship many goals, but Potter at least pushed them a little there. Before he arrived, they conceded three goals or more in nine different matches. This has not happened since then.
Hammers chief Graham Potter should use the rest of the campaign as a prolonged preseason
The defense of West Ham remains a huge problem, even if Potter has managed to reinforce a little
Stars like Lucas Paqueta (left) and Credcensio Summerville (right) have fought for consistency
They also need more parts. West Ham scored five goals in the corners this season. Last season, under David Moyes, they scored 12 – only Arsenal got more.
“I apologize if things are not happening faster than we want them to be,” Potter said after the Newcastle defeat. “But when you see players give everything, this commitment is there.”
The press is urgently in the middle -skill. They have no one in the center of the park that can grasp a game and do it. A large half -term defines the tone and rhythm.
They no longer have Rice Declan, they no longer have Kevin Nolan or Mark Noble.
Against Newcastle, Potter began with a midfield trio of Soucek, James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez. Potter praised Ward-Prówse for how much land covered, but if West Ham dominates the center of the park, they need more. There is heart and industry, but there is no dynamism, creativity or threat of goals they need.
Cole Palmer, for example, created 71 chances for Chelsea this season and Bruno Fernandes created 60. West Ham’s main creator from the middle was Paqueta with 26.
Palmer agreed to 20 goals and assists. Soucek leads the midfielders of Hammers with seven. Paqueta has four.
They need someone who can divide the defenses. Guimaraes, winner of the match on Monday night, leads the way to the passes completed between the lines of the season – when a pass divides the defensive structure of the opponent – with 93. Paqueta leads the way to hammers in 53.
They are missing ex -mediums, such as Declan Rice (lower) and Mark Noble (above)
James Ward-Prowse energy levels have impressed, but they need players who can grab a game in the middle of the park
Potter knows that. He is desperate to strengthen his options in the midst of summer and is linked to the middle -time of England, Angel Gomes.
Potter has made a behind -the -scenes impression since taking control. Those around the club say he raised the mood and made everyone feel more united and clearly communicates what he wants to see.
He saw flashes of it, but if he succeeds next season, he must see more, especially at home. For this to happen, he needs to land the right man in the middle.
