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Chaos Before During And After Brighton Match

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Sat, 21/10/2017 - 11:28

Football fans in general are used to being treated like 3rd class citizens despite paying out huge amounts of money to support their teams, so it came as no surprise that West Ham United's match against 'newly promoted' Brighton & Hove Albion was switched to the new friday night slot 'engineered' by Sky TV.

Those fans who attempted to finish work, maybe pick up their kids for a hastily convened journey to the Olympic Park and the London Stadium were confronted with: The Northern Line being closed, and the Picadilly Line being nearly closed. Those closures were bad enough but the icing on the cake was the Overground suddenly being cancelled, no notice, nada, nothing, just some surly git saying that there was a train that had broken down, no alternative transport and no advice as to an alternative route. Fans were left with little option other than to re-trace their steps, in the Org's case that meant travelling back from Highbury and Islington to Oxford Circus and getting the Central line to the 'Stratford Coral' with it's commensurate half marathon walk to the London Stadium! The reward for the journey being massive queues at the security check points generated by people arriving late due to the transport issues.

Having endured such a trek fans were expectant of a decent match, after all on paper Slaven Billic had selected the 'perfect team' with the exception of 'Sulkman' who was suffering from his perennial back injury, but as we all know football is not played on paper, this match was being played on the vast expanse that was supposed to be a football pitch but to all intents and purposes usually serves as a shop window for visiting teams to show just how fit they are!

Brighton took the lead after 10 minutes when the totally unmarked Glenn Murray headed in Pascal Gross' free-kick, Hammers huffed and puffed with plenty of possession looking for an equaliser, but moments before the break Jose Izquierdo curled past Joe Hart from distance, despite the England goalkeeper getting a strong hand to the ball. Murray added his second from the penalty spot in the 75th minute after he was fouled by Pablo Zabaleta who had up until then been 'covering' for at least three players, the most glaringly obvious of which was Jose Font who spent the entire match compromising not only his defence but also the midfield.
The crowd grew more and more hostile throughout as passes were misplaced, crosses failed to find a team mate, West Ham attempted 33, and shots went high and wide, only two were on target throughout the entire match.
Brighton scored three goals from seven attempts, West Ham had 16 efforts, Brighton could have added further misery as Murray had two good chances saved by Hart, their goalkeeper Mat Ryan was hardly tested.

Despite conceding the penalty, Pablo Zabaleta was West Ham's best player by a country mile as was Reid to a certain extent, but the rest were pants in varying degrees. Probably the worst offender was 'Elbows' Arnoutovic, he stands 6'4" but plays 4'6", he looked about 10 kilos overweight and gave the ball away on 9 out of 10 occasions, when he was finally substituted it got the biggest cheer of the night from the crowd!

By the time the third goal for the visitors was scored, the great edifice that is the Hammer's claret & blue elephant known as the London Stadium, was emptying faster than a Harvey Weinstein ex-employee reunion, but the fun was not over, no British Rail had one final treat in store. Having assured those denied the service earlier that the trains would definitely be up and running way before the end of the match, rail officials were then strangely recalcitrant with their communication when confronted by a huge amount of fans who had left early in disgust, "no trains mate" was the message "it's only a twenty minute walk to Stratford". Those with young kids, especially one family with a disabled child were made to endure another pointless walk, salt in to the wounds anyone?

Ironically with the exception of Sulkman this was the team that fans had been crying out for, unfortunately the players seemed to forget that neither he nor Andy Carroll were playing, they kept banging their crosses in all match, but there wasn't anyone at the end of them!
As they say, be careful what you wish for, it may just happen. - Ed

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mcbikeman's picture

With world class facilities and it will be easier to get to and from than it was at upton park when you were herded like sheep to the station....i wonder how many of you people who attend the new ground feel about it now....i choose not to and never will attend a game at that joke of a "football" stadium...i wonder how many will be making the trek when in the championship

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277 users have voted.
Dartford Bhoy's picture

then you have missed out my friend. This is a fabulous stadium, the facilities are great and now the stewarding has improved dramatically. I dont hold with issues with security, in fact I think they should be more intense given the era we now live with the threat of terrorism on a daily basis. Upton Park was a joke regards infrastructure, it was our home and has great memories but time to move on. We have everything going for us apart from inept board / owners who I predict will be gone in a matter of a few year. Change the top and bring the players inline.

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241 users have voted.
Deluded Hammer's picture

To the OS 4 times now in different parts of the ground, including the vastly over-rated Club 66 seats purely so I could give an opinion based on facts and not hearsay. Its definitely not a stadium, more an arena and is assembled like a Meccano kit. The view is horrendous (66 seats included), the trek to and from the ground abysmal, facilities poor such as pubs and eateries, and those inside the ground over priced and rank. Upton Park and the Boleyn had its faults, but it knocks Stratford into a tin hat. Apart from all that, we OWNED it so no-one told as when we can play there or when not. Been there, done that and got the T shirt. I'm an armchair fan from now on unless I can get some awayday tickets. And to do that travelling the football needs to exceed todays rubbish back to at least Big Sams standards.

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249 users have voted.
Dartford Bhoy's picture

Good post DH, But I hope you respect that I say it as I see it. In block 227 in the Brooking Stand I think the view is brilliant, seats are comfortable and plenty of room for movement. I have never said it was a football stadium and consistently forecast that one day WHU will own the LS as the tax payer will want rid and it will be reshaped... watch this prophesy :o)

Disagree that the facilities are poor, more toilets etc, food IS suspect, but overpriced compared to what? A pint of Amsteal is cheaper in the LS than the Bat n Ball in Westfield. With UP we owned a small stadium with no chance of rebuilding, no ambition, one pathetic tube station that after the game had a wait of nearly an hour to get on the platform and some pretty toxic days but we continue to sing about Johnny L's claret n blue army, well I remember lots of people calling for the hero's head particularly last home game V Liverpool when demoted. Enjoy the armchair, me... Im gunna carry on supporting my club and enjoy the roller coaster ride like beating Chavski in the LC and Spudz in the Prem... Bring it on, Come On You Irons... West Ham til I die!!!!

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Dartford Bhoy's picture

I say it as I see it. This club with the right owners, a decent manager and a couple of quality players will make the LS rock.

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264 users have voted.

The stewarding hasn’t improved and the next time you are standing in a huge crowd in a small area with barriers either side waiting for the joke of a security check just think........let’s hope to god that nothing happens as we are all very vulnerable. I observed this a few weeks ago and decided to ask one of the chief stewards his thoughts and his response was? You should all get here at 12:30 and this wouldn’t happen! And you say the stewarding has improved, do me a favour mate it’s a joke as they are clueless!

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294 users have voted.
Dartford Bhoy's picture

The response from the chief steward was stupid and that clown needs to be reprimanded. I said "improved" and far from ideal. That said, I approached the stadium from Westfield at 18.50 and spent no more than 5 minutes in the security check, I can only say it as I see it. On the way back, and for the record I never leave early, but on Friday night the stadium was close to empty at the whistle, I walked unhindered straight to Stratford station via the bridge and walked straight onto the Central line west. I chose a seat in the Brooking end as it was closer to the station to save time. Be quite clear my fellow Hammer Im no mouthpiece for the porn dwarfs I just share my experience which is better than last season.

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238 users have voted.
mcbikeman's picture

To many false dawns.....the support the club has is immense and yes everything is in place as you say...but since when have we ever taken advantage of that?

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303 users have voted.

We have had only ONE decent performance at the L.S,which was against the spuds (which we should be up for regardless of the stadium)...all the other wins (& there isnt many) were lucky against sides who really should have got at least a point.We have had many tonkings there,culminating in the defeat to the mighty Brighton...
& people still believe it is a fantastic move for westham!!

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302 users have voted.
metbobby1's picture

Remember that we were promised CHAMPIONS LEAGUE football once we moved to this athletics track....oops....I mean football ground! Note I use the word 'ground', as no matter how swanky the surroundings are, it's what happens on the pitch that counts. CHAMPIONSHIP football more like!! Did you notice that not ONE fan was consulted on the move from the Boleyn???
Our fan base is and has always been mostly working class. I'm sorry if I've offended anyone there....but I loved the Upton Park station experience because we could call it 'home'.
It wasn't called 'Fortress Boleyn' for nothing either, as we wended our way back to the station in the knowledge we'd won more often than not.
I've been a fan for 47 years....and was born with no legs and only one arm.
My dad's best mate used to take me when I wore my little artificial legs when I was ten.
Touts used to give us free tickets when it was 'sold out'....and we were allowed into the players entrance to go into the lift.
I've got a treasured photo of Bobby Moore and myself playing football.
I refuse to go to the London Stadium as a matter of principle

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354 users have voted.
cast iron's picture

Well, we get another chance to be messed about in a months time when we play Leicester on Friday 24th November. By "engineering this slot what Sky are doing is to turn the fans off of going to the match, and We can see by the tales of woe that I've just read that it will probably work, but what sky should remember is no fans, no atmosphere and we all know these players need The West Ham fans behind them. So why us ??? why can't we have the right to say NO its Spurs or Chelsea's turn. Wonder how much money G&S get for televising these matches, or if its an across the board payment for all premier clubs, If it is then we all should make sure that we don't keep having to put up with this and are not shit on because this slot is very difficult to get to. And why is the Olimpic stadium being picked the most having a look through the sky football schedule the only other Friday night game this year is Arsenal v Liverpool on Dec 22nd. I think this an unfair and to top it all they even had us pencilled in For Christmas Eve against Newcastle. Bet you anything that these fixtures are about one thing MONEY and the loyal fans will still try to get there to support there beloved West ham but I for one think that Sky are taking the piss and our board should say, Pick someone else, we've had our go. Mind you probably suit gold to play he won't worry he will be in the Carribean anyway on his yacht sipping his Pina coladas over the Christmas eve, while we will be stuck at Stratford waiting for our trains

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427 users have voted.
Dartford Bhoy's picture

agree CI, someone has to say no to the media and the people in charge. Im not a great fan of the Fridays but hate more the Monday nights, crazy with work the next day. But my biggest beef is the selection of the first games of the season, three years on the bounce we have been away to a top 6 club!

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185 users have voted.

Apparently according to the Daily Express Bilic has said his goodbyes to the players and has offered his resignation. Can he turn it around against Spuds at Wembley if he is still around? After all West Ham's performance at that stadium has always been either historic as in the FA Cup final loss against Liverpool, or West Ham have walked away with the trophies in the bag, in a clinical manner.

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311 users have voted.

Maybe if Bilic steps down and the Under 23 coach takes over, Martinez could possibly pull out a hat trick with the aid of our youngsters.

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313 users have voted, including you.
cast iron's picture

Don't take any notice of daily express they wrote that it was going to snow for 3mths last year. BBC and Sky say he staying

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218 users have voted.

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