From a business perspective, it was not hard to understand why West Ham United found it impossible to resist the allure of the London Stadium, with its agreeably large capacity, vast corporate facilities, proximity to the capital’s centre and Olympic legacy. It seemed to tick all the boxes for a club looking to reach the next level, as long as everyone kept in mind the football team that was going to play there. They would have to feel as comfortable as those sitting in the posh seats. After almost a year in their new home, they don’t.
West Ham’s players have played ball in public, obligingly telling the world about what a thrill it is to play in such a wonderful, modern stadium, even though they have suffered some humiliations there this season. The truth is different in private, where the brave faces disappear and the grumbling begins. Slaven Bilic’s team feel so uneasy in the stadium one senior player describes the Stratford experience as “terrible”.
Related: West Ham confident there will be no repeat of fan trouble against Chelsea
The running track is a huge problem but is here to stay. This is the price to pay for playing in a quasi athletics arena
Gold and Sullivan are determined to challenge the elite. There is an iron belief that moving was the right call
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