Matthew Etherington discusses Olympic Stadium move, hints crowd trouble is affecting players

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Former West Ham United winger Matthew Etherington has been discussing the club’s move to the Olympic Stadium.

Former West Ham winger Matthew Etherington

Etherington, who was a fans’ favourite during his time in East London, was forced to retire due to persistent injuries last year.

But he still follows his old club with interest and remains friends with a number of West Ham players from his time there including defender James Collins and captain Mark Noble.

A terrible start to the season, infighting amongst fans, resentment towards owners and concerns over safety have soured the Hammers’ season so far.

Slaven Bilic‘s side have lost four of their opening five Premier League matches and scraped past Bournemouth in their solitary victory.

The Hammers were also embarrassingly dumped out of the Europa League by Romanian minnows Astra Giurgiu for the second season running.

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Fans are at each other’s throats over standing at their new 60,000 seater Olympic Stadium home while Karren Brady – who spearheaded the club’s move to Stratford – was allegedly spat at by her own supporters as things turned sour in a 4-2 home defeat to Watford recently.

Matters haven’t been helped by a repeat score last time out against West Bromwich Albion and a toxic atmosphere is starting to fester at West Ham with supporters beginning to question some of Bilic’s team selections and tactics.

Speaking to TalkSport, Etherington hinted the crowd problems at the Olympic Stadium could be having a negative impact.

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“I’ll hopefully be going to the league cup game in midweek (against Accrington Stanley),” Etherington told Alan Brazil’s Sports Breakfast.

“Obviously there’s been mixed reports (about the stadium).

“I think there’s been a few teething problems within the ground which doesn’t help the players.

“But it was always going to be a big wrench leaving the Boleyn, I think it was going to take a bit of time to get used to (but) I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

While Hammers fans will be hoping Etherington is right with his prediction ‘I’m sure they’ll be fine’ some may feel crowd problems is all too easy an excuse for the players.

The Olympic Stadium atmosphere cannot truly be judged until the Hammers play a genuine rival – which won’t happen until a home game against Arsenal in December.