James Collins lifts the lid on what players from other teams think of the Olympic Stadium

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West Ham United favourite James Collins has revealed what players from other teams think of the club’s controversial Olympic Stadium.

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic

A woeful start to the season and life at their new 60,000 Olympic Stadium home has left morale low on the pitch and in the stands.

Fighting among fans and safety fears at the ground as well as 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 last term.

The Hammers sit 17th in the Premier League nearly a third of the way through the season, just one point above the relegation zone while Slaven Bilic‘s side were also unceremoniously dumped out of Europe in pre-qualifying.

West Ham and Chelsea fans clash at the London Stadium

The club finds itself at the centre of a new negative story each week with the spotlight firmly fixed over East London following the move into such an iconic ground.

Whether the big stadium move has impacted results on the pitch is dividing opinion among supporters and pundits.

Many have suggested the Hammers are struggling to adapt after moving from the smallest pitch in the Premier League at Upton Park to one of the biggest in the London Stadium.

West Ham’s Olympic Stadium

And now experienced centre back Collins, who came back into the side for the 1-1 draw with Stoke City last time out, has lifted the lid on what players from other teams think of the London Stadium in an interview with talkSPORT.

“I think it’s a great stadium

For a club that’s looking to where we want to go, it’s a fitting venue.

“With the talk of the stadium, I think if results had been better I don’t think it would have been an issue at all.

“It’s a tremendous stadium and obviously I know players from other teams who have been there and played and they speak very highly of it so (from) a player’s point of view it’s a tremendous place.”

Perhaps for West Ham that is half the problem.

West Ham United’s Adrian, Dimitri Payet and team mates look dejected

Opposition players and teams are clearly raising their game when they visit the new ground and Bilic’s side are struggling to match that intensity.

Upton Park was a different proposition altogether with rival teams and players admitting it was one of the toughest places to play over the years.

But that does not mean to say West Ham cannot make the new ground a place opposition teams don’t want to play in the near future.

That will mean the club getting it right on the pitch more often than not and making it something of a fortress.