Former West Ham United midfielder Don Hutchinson has stated that the Hammers fans must get used to their new home and that blaming the club’s poor form on a stadium move is not acceptable.
The Irons have moved from the Boleyn Ground to the London Stadium over the summer, but the team’s fortunes on the pitch have not been fitting of their grand new home.
A 1-0 win over Bournemouth is already a distant memory, with heavy defeats to Watford and Southampton on home soil putting a dent in the feel-good factor around the club.
There was always going to be a transition period as West Ham adjusted to their new surrounds, but Hutchinson has stated that this should not be an excuse for the team’s showings on the pitch.
The former Scotland international has also stated that the London club and its fans must look towards the future and not dwell on the past.
“I don’t buy into the theory that the new stadium has had a negative effect on the players – they need to roll up their sleeves and get on with it,” he told the London Evening Standard.
“Overall, though, West Ham fans need to let Upton Park go. I’m getting a bit bored of this mentality that the ground is to blame for the drop in standards this season.”
