CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
‘Wembley left a horrible taste in the mouth. If my own chance had gone in, it might have been a different story’
EVERYWHERE Robert Snodgrass turns he is confronted with images of 1966. Such is the price a Scotland international must pay for signing on at West Ham United, the club most synonymous with the greatest England team of all.
West Ham only flitted to its new London Stadium home last summer and the focal point of the 2012 Olympics has been dressed to reflect the past glories of its new tenants.
Some of the photographs adorning its lounges show former Hammers striker Geoff Hurst in the act of scoring his World Cup Final hat-trick against Germany. Others depict the moment in which the club’s iconic captain Bobby Moore hoisted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley.
A £10million purchase from Hull City back in January, Snodgrass respects the history attached to his new club, but that won’t prevent him attempting to offend the locals when the Auld Enemy clash at Hampden in June.
‘Around the new stadium are lots of pictures of the West Ham guys who have done so well with England,’ says Snodgrass, who has been crowned the William Hill International Player of the Year as voted for by members of the Scottish Football Writers’ Association.
‘You can tell there’s that connection. The West Ham pics are in the reception and changing rooms but the England photos are all over the function rooms.
‘It’s funny because the players’ liaison at West Ham, a guy called Tim De’ath, is also the chef for the England team. We’ve been having banter already about the game.
‘It’s been good craic because Tim’s such a good guy. He’s been massive in helping me settle in. It’s important every club has people like him, guys who know the people and the city and understand what you’re looking for.
‘Tim is exactly that. He’s such a down-to-earth lad, right up my street. I’ve thanked him a lot for all the help he’s given me but I’ve also told him I want to beat him on June 10. He won’t be getting any thanks off me that day and, if we beat them, I’ll be absolutely abusing him afterwards.
‘It’ll be massive for us if we get that result. If we lose, I’ll be keeping my head down, going on holiday and I’ll see him in four or five weeks!’
Snodgrass played when the sides last faced each other at Wembley in November and still kicks himself over a missed chance at a point when England led by a single goal.
The 3-0 defeat seemed to sound the death knell on Scotland’s qualification prospects for Russia 2018, but a win over Slovenia in March has rekindled hope.
Snodgrass hit a hat-trick in the campaign opener against Malta early in the season and those goals went a long way towards securing the writers’ vote.
Now he’d like to savour victory in a match he regards as the biggest international fixture of all, saying: ‘I don’t think you’ll get a bigger game in a Scotland jersey than this one. It’s huge and one we’ve all been looking forward to.
‘Wembley left a horrible taste in the mouth. If we’d taken our chances we’d have probably won that game. I think to myself that if my own chance had gone in it might have been a different story.
‘To now have them in our own back yard with a packed house is huge. We’re looking forward to it.’
Although the 23-times-capped Snodgrass retains talismanic status for his country, he has fared less well since moving in the winter transfer window. Perhaps unfairly viewed as a direct replacement for departed French star Dimitri Payet, the 29-year-old has struggled to find form in a wide-left role.
‘In terms of scoring and creating goals, it hasn’t really been at the level I’ve had in the past,’ he admits. ‘Other teams have played me at right midfield which has allowed me to cut inside or in behind the striker. Left midfield has never really suited me down the years, so it’s been tough.’
Snodgrass has spoken to manager Slaven Bilic regarding his concerns.
He added: ‘We’ve had a couple of chats. We’ve spoken about my position but then the lads have done really well, so I’ve had to bide my time.
‘I’ll keep working hard as I always do, striving to get that run of games and wanting to prove I can score goals and kick on.
‘West Ham is a massive club and I want to do well. I want to create the same sort of feeling I’ve had at every other club. I want the fans to see this lad means business.
‘I feel like I’ve been there for five years. I’ve settled really well with the boys. It’s one of the best squads I’ve been in.
‘It’s just that on the football side it’s taken a bit longer to get going. I’d hoped to build on what I’d done during the first half of the season and the nine goals I scored at Hull — and I’m just waiting on my chance.’
To now play them in our own backyard with a packed house is going to be huge