Robbie Savage drops ‘cheap’ verdict after what happened at West Ham United, it’s ‘nonsense’
Robbie Savage has defended West Ham supporters who left early in their drubbing by Arsenal, describing the backlash as a “cheap insult” and “nonsense”.
The Hammers were hammered 6-0 by the Gunners at the London Stadium last Sunday (11 February) and a plethora of supporters were seen leaving the London Stadium at half-time with the team already 4-0 down.
Savage’s fellow 606 presenter Chris Sutton was among those to criticise fans who left early saying supporters should stick with the team through “thick and thin” (BBC Radio 5 Live).
Writing in his Daily Mirror column on Saturday (17 February, page 53), Savage once again leapt to the defence of any supporter choosing to leave early.
“It’s a cheap insult to supporters who walk out at half-time if their team is 4-0 down to say they are not proper fans,” he wrote.
“West Ham supporters left the London Stadium in droves when the Hammers were being put to the sword by Arsenal – and why wouldn’t they?
“It sparked a huge debate on 606 about being “true” Hammers if you don’t stay until the bitter end of a 6-0 thrashing at home. What a load of nonsense.
“Why should you sit there and suffer if your team is getting a good hiding on the pitch when you’ve made the effort to turn up?”
Robbie Savage hits out at “nonsense” claim about West Ham fans
This is a tired old debate that most supporters are sick of being dragged into.
Look, here’s the deal. Whether you are a season ticket holder or a part-time attendee, the fact is you have paid your money and you have every right to act in any such manner you wish – forget what any loudmouth pundit might have to say.
If you want to leave after 20 minutes or if you will valiantly stay to the bitter end every week, it is your prerogative. It doesn’t make you any less of a supporter if you decide to leave a stadium early.
Frankly to suggest otherwise is just a complete load of codswallop and anyone suggesting someone is not a real supporter is clearly just fishing for bites and column inches, it’s such a tired train of thought.
So, if you were one of the people to leave early last weekend then drown out of the noise about whether you are a proper fan, they want a rise out of you.
In other West Ham news, the club reportedly wanted to bring a former Premier League favourite back to England in the last transfer window.
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