Fan favourite makes brutally honest admission about playing for West Ham. West Ham fans need to hear what one of their top stars has said about playing for the club ahead of Monday’s clash with Newcastle.
When Graham Potter arrived at West Ham he was full of praise for the club’s “proper knowledgeable” fans. Potter said he was seriously impressed with West Ham’s away support after they stayed long after the final whistle to applaud his team following the harsh 2-1 defeat at Chelsea last month.
In the very next game, Potter saw the other side to West Ham fans. Supporters jeered West Ham off at half-time and full-time in the defeat to Brentford.
Some would argue those booing had every right after what was served up in the first half of that game. Potter sees both sides of West Ham fans
It was as bad, if not worse, than anything fans have had to stomach over the last 14 months.
West Ham fans often get a bad rap and are accused of being demanding and fickle by some.
Most of the time it is completely unjust.
But sometimes a certain section of the Hammers faithful just don’t help themselves. Or the team by the sounds of it.
In the 2-0 win over Leicester last time out, some West Ham fans booed Konstantinos Mavropanos as he was brought on in the second half. Fan favourite’s brutal admission about playing for West Ham. Mavropanos has failed to convince since signing for West Ham. Error-prone displays have become a theme for the big Greek centre-back.
But Mavropanos has always given his all and been nothing but professional. He is also not the only player who has failed to live up to expectations. Far from it in fact.
Hammers News warned that childish treatment of Mavropanos would not go unnoticed in West Ham’s changing room.
And that’s already clear after comments from one of Mavropanos’ teammates who has first-hand experience of it. Fan favourite Tomas Soucek has made a brutally honest admission about playing for West Ham.
Hammers fans need to hear Soucek’s honest criticism. It was not all that 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.
Some stepped over the line and embarrassed 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.
Soucek West Ham fans can be too tough on team
Many supporters predicted – and some demanded – he be the first casualty of managerial changes from David Moyes to Julen Lopetegui and now Potter.
Not a bit of it, though. Soucek always emerges as one of the first names on the teamsheet and continues to make telling contributions, scoring in the win over Leicester.
If anyone has earned the right to say it as it is when it comes to West Ham fans, it is Soucek.
And he’s done just that with his response to questions from fans.
Asked how he deals with the pressure of playing for the Hammers, Soucek didn’t mince his words.
The towering midfielder says West Ham supporters can be too tough on the players.
Hammers fans urged to change ways
Soucek also feels supporters need to get behind the team more when games aren’t going their way. Especially at the London Stadium.
“It’s very hard (playing for West Ham) because the expectation is very high, and we have to deal with it, especially when we play at home,” Soucek told West Ham’s website.
“It’s sometimes tough because obviously fans want us to win, but if the game is not going in the best way, we feel it (the pressure).
“We need them, so I hope that even if results are not going in the best way, the fans will support us even more, and we will give them back great results.”
Soucek should not be criticised for this.
Yes West Ham have been nowhere near good enough this season or the second half of last term.
But Soucek has always showed up and rolled his sleeves up.
Let’s hope supporters take his words on board when West Ham welcome Newcastle to east London on Monday night.
