David Moyes aims ungrateful dig at West Ham fans over lack of atmosphere despite selling out amid bad weather and rail strikes
After another dull, turgid West Ham performance devoid of ideas or any coherent style of play or Plan B there can only be one person to blame?
Actually 60,000 people according to Hammers boss David Moyes following the 1-1 draw with a hugely under strength and out of form Crystal Palace.
Yes the Scot has dared to go there as he took a deep breath before criticising supporters in an interview posted on the club’s X feed following the dismal showing.
The only thing more dreary than some of the football served up at the London Stadium of late was the weather on Sunday afternoon.
Moyes aims ungrateful dig at fans
Yet Moyes has aimed an ungrateful dig at West Ham fans over a lack of atmosphere despite selling out amid bad weather and rail strikes.
With no trains, very few places to park that won’t set supporters back nearly £20 and a local road network simply not built to support fans attending Premier League football fixtures, many West Ham fans could have been forgiven for giving the Palace game a miss.
Especially as it was on TV.
Yet the Hammers packed out the London Stadium once more despite yet more rail strikes.
Not that Moyes is grateful.
‘We’re not quite getting it’
Quite the opposite if anything as he said West Ham fans are not generating an atmosphere for Sunday matches.
“A little bit mixed, I’m disappointed we didn’t maybe take all three points but (deep intake of breath) in the same breath we’re just not quite getting it (the atmosphere) on Sunday at 2 o’clock here at the stadium,” Moyes said.
“You know we’re finding it really hard to probably build up a good enough atmosphere.
“Maybe it’s that we’re just not playing well enough or maybe just within the stadium.”
Cheap shot after display as dreary as the weather
This is sure to go down like a lead balloon with West Ham fans, most of whom will just be getting home half-drenched after watching another tepid display.
West Ham fans have a lot to be grateful to Moyes for. Make no mistake about it.
But football is an entertainment sport. And West Ham are not giving value for money in that regard under the Scot right now.
To take a pop at fans who turned out in great numbers once more, many of whom have been following the club over land and sea for three seasons, is a cheap shot.
Especially in the middle of a cost of living crisis, with Christmas looming and the aforementioned rail strikes and grim weather.
Moyes needs fans onside if he is serious about earning a contract extension. But these kind of comments will only serve to drive a wedge between him and his detractors.
