BETTER ‘We need the fans get behind us, we’re family, it’s not us
SAYS WEST HAM CAPTAIN
Slaven Bilic’s side left their old ground after 112 years last season to take up residency at the revamped Olympic Stadium but they have been unable to bring their form from last term with them.
Issues with stewarding and seating have also caused problems at the new London Stadium and the club are in talks with the owners of the ground over numerous points of action.
But in the meantime, Noble wants an immediate response from the Hammers fans against Southampton today.
The midfielder, who requested to take part in the pre-match media duties, had this message for the club’s supporters: “You cheered when we were on top, now do it when we are in trouble.”
Bilic’s side, who finished seventh last term winning 16 of 38 Premier League games, have only managed one top-flight win in this campaign, shipping 13 goals in five matches.
And Noble, a Hammers fan since he was a young boy, is hurting inside.
He said: “I asked to answer the media’s questions. I wanted to do it because I’ve been a West Ham fan all my life.
“I know what it’s like because West Ham can be frustrating at times and you don’t always support a team just because they’re doing well. I’ve seen all the social TONY STENSON media stuff but at times like this when it’s not quite going right, things can change in a moment.” And after the violence inside the new stadium, where segregation issues meant fans clashed with Watford supporters before turning on each other thanks to a council-imposed rule which insists everyone should remain seated at all times, Noble sent out a heartfelt plea for calm. He said: “Forget about the football. You think about young kids seeing what’s been going on in the stadium and it isn’t really right. “I wanted to send this message. We really need the fans to get behind us now rather than fighting among themselves. We’re a family. It’s not us and them. We need to be all together. “But you have to understand – and as a West Ham fan I do – where the fans are coming from. “If a family of five go with three children we need them but we also need the geezer standing up in front of them. That’s the problem right now. “If a person pays good money for a seat and wants to stand up and cheer and then has an 18-year-old steward telling him to sit down you ask any West Ham fan and ask them what they’re going to say, it isn’t going to be nice but that’s the problem we’ve got. “We need to come together and the board are doing their best to sort this out and get the fans behind us. It will get better.” And Noble’s second plea was to ask for