Gary Neville told Monday Night Football on Sky Sports (23/08/21 at 10:15 pm) that it has been a ‘struggle’ for West Ham fans to get over leaving Upton Park.
The TV pundit thinks Michail Antonio could be the player to ‘bridge the gap’ where West Ham can feel there is a ‘future’ at their new home.
Leaving your home is hard enough, especially if you leave one as historic and traditional as the Boleyn.
It doesn’t help that those in charge then opt to move into a stadium that was previously used for Athletics and isn’t seen as a proper football stadium.
But Neville thinks West Ham’s 4-1 win against Leicester last night proves that they can move towards the positives.
“Honestly, it has been a struggle for West Ham during these last few years to get over Upton Park,” said Neville.
“They have lost the spirit. The stadium that they have got now is detached from the pitch.
“He (Antonio) could, if he stays fit, with his spirit and as we saw (v Leicester) with the stadium bouncing, finally make those West Ham fans, not forget about Upton Park but certainly bridge that gap where they think there is a future and they can create an atmosphere in the stadium.
“The West Ham fans haven’t had anything to love whilst they have been in that stadium.”
Only West Ham fans can really answer whether they will get over leaving Upton Park, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the answer is that they never will.
But winning football matches, getting into and maintaining their European status will certainly help matters – and adding a few trophies.
And when the Hammers have a player of Antonio’s ilk, character and energy-boosting ways on their books then it certainly helps proceedings in East London.
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