The Sun’s Charlie Wyett believes West Ham United’s UEFA Europa League support shows the new Stadium will regularly sell out
The Sun football correspondent Charlie Wyett is a regular visitor to the Boleyn Ground and has travelled to Andorra for Thursday's UEFA Europa League first qualifying round tie with FC Lusitans...
I am a big fan of West Ham being here and being in the Europa League. I think it’s great for the supporters and the players are loving it, and it’s a good way for Slaven Bilic and Terry Westley to ease in their players over the next few weeks.
I am sure that West Ham will still be in the Europa League come late August and September.
If some of the more senior players are brought into the squad over the next few weeks, I think West Ham could start the season really well, as history shows teams playing in the European qualifying rounds start the season quite well.
The key is that they don’t get too tired come February or March, but that is a squad issue and down to the manager and the Board to make some big decisions and give opportunities to players in the Premier League or the Europa League.
It’s a nice problem to have and I think West Ham are seeing it as a nice problem, where as some other clubs don’t see it as a novelty.
To sell 35,000 tickets for the first qualifying round of the Europa League shows the appetite for European football at West Ham.
When people ask me about the size of club and West Ham, I think they are high up the list but people don’t appreciate that. When a club is always playing at capacity, the only true reflection is what they take away, particularly for cup matches, and we know West Ham’s away support is unbelievable.
When West Ham move to the Olympic Stadium, I personally think they will sell out every week, as long as the prices as right. People will then realise West Ham’s support-base is bigger than Newcastle’s and, at the moment, I think it is bigger than Chelsea’s in London.
Would Chelsea get 35,000 in the first qualifying round of the Europa League? No.
On the pitch, the first leg was a good test for the West Ham team, because the Andorrans were very physical and I thought the West Ham players did well to keep their cool.
There were some nasty tackles and they were being provoked so it was a good lesson for those young players. Obviously Reece Oxford found himself in a situation where it appeared they were trying to get him sent-off, so it was a good experience.
I thought West Ham were deserved winners, but it will be difficult for them again on Thursday. The key for them again is to keep their discipline and not get any injuries. They will be good enough and will win and will show their class. I think it will be pretty comfortable.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United.
I am a big fan of West Ham being here and being in the Europa League. I think it’s great for the supporters and the players are loving it, and it’s a good way for Slaven Bilic and Terry Westley to ease in their players over the next few weeks.
I am sure that West Ham will still be in the Europa League come late August and September.
If some of the more senior players are brought into the squad over the next few weeks, I think West Ham could start the season really well, as history shows teams playing in the European qualifying rounds start the season quite well.
The key is that they don’t get too tired come February or March, but that is a squad issue and down to the manager and the Board to make some big decisions and give opportunities to players in the Premier League or the Europa League.
It’s a nice problem to have and I think West Ham are seeing it as a nice problem, where as some other clubs don’t see it as a novelty.
To sell 35,000 tickets for the first qualifying round of the Europa League shows the appetite for European football at West Ham.
When people ask me about the size of club and West Ham, I think they are high up the list but people don’t appreciate that. When a club is always playing at capacity, the only true reflection is what they take away, particularly for cup matches, and we know West Ham’s away support is unbelievable.
When West Ham move to the Olympic Stadium, I personally think they will sell out every week, as long as the prices as right. People will then realise West Ham’s support-base is bigger than Newcastle’s and, at the moment, I think it is bigger than Chelsea’s in London.
Would Chelsea get 35,000 in the first qualifying round of the Europa League? No.
On the pitch, the first leg was a good test for the West Ham team, because the Andorrans were very physical and I thought the West Ham players did well to keep their cool.
There were some nasty tackles and they were being provoked so it was a good lesson for those young players. Obviously Reece Oxford found himself in a situation where it appeared they were trying to get him sent-off, so it was a good experience.
I thought West Ham were deserved winners, but it will be difficult for them again on Thursday. The key for them again is to keep their discipline and not get any injuries. They will be good enough and will win and will show their class. I think it will be pretty comfortable.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United.