Former West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce has played down concerns raised by ex captain Kevin Nolan over the club’s stadium.
Infighting among supporters marred early matches at the ground as did violent scenes with away fans, problems with segregation and insufficient policing and stewarding.
A perceived lack of the famous intimidating Hammers atmosphere from Upton Park has seen the stadium switch cited by many as a reason for the club’s contrast in fortunes compared to their fantastic campaign the season before.
West Ham won just seven league games at home in their debut season at the ground and a host of pundits and fans have blamed everything from the size of the pitch, to the gap between the stands and the playing surface to explain why.
Slaven Bilic eventually managed to steer the East Londoners away from danger and to an 11th place finish last season.
And with the first season out of the way, many feel the fact the club has now settled into the new surroundings will lead to improved supporter experience, atmosphere and performances.
But former Hammers skipper Kevin Nolan told talkSPORT he is not so sure.
Kevin Nolan
“I think it’s going to be another tough one for them this season,” Nolan told Jim White’s show on talkSPORT.
“It’s such a fantastic stadium for everyone else to go and play but it just doesn’t feel like their home at the minute. And I think that’s going to be a major problem trying to get that to feel like home and I think that’s what they need to do and that’s what the work has got to go into really.”
But Nolan’s former manager at West Ham, Sam Allardyce, played down Nolan’s concerns and insists it will all come with time.
“I think historically, everyone who has moved into a new stadium have had a little bit of a problem that first season with the familiarity of the surroundings and it’s not what you’re used to week in and week out with your own fans and they’re not used to being in that stadium,” Allardyce responded.
“You have to accept there is a settling in period, moving into a new stadium is a massive operation… you go through those problems and iron them out as quickly as you possibly can.
“Slav (Bilic will have to) address that and make sure that mentally it isn’t a problem for the players.
Inside West Ham’s Olympic Stadium
“And make sure that it isn’t the stadium (and say) ‘It’s not this, this is a fantastic arena’ and if anyone says anything negative about it, you’ve got to put that to one side, cover their ears when people are talking negatively, focus on what you need to do in the dressing room and that’s all that really matters, the outside influence or noise is not something you should be listening to.”
Sam Allardyce
Allardyce went on to admit he was slightly ‘gutted’ not to get the chance to lead the club out at the Olympic Stadium but conceded four years as manager there was a ‘fantastic journey’ and a long tenure in modern day football.
There were always going to be teething problems and the general matchday experience has, on the whole, improved for the majority of supporters as the season has progressed.
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