Green Street Hammers
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London Stadium can become a fortress for West Ham with Manchester United in town

By Adam Smith

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Winston Reid of West Ham United celebrates with team mates after he scores his sides 5th goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between West Ham United and Macclesfield Town at The London Stadium on September 26, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 26: Winston Reid of West Ham United celebrates with team mates after he scores his sides 5th goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between West Ham United and Macclesfield Town at The London Stadium on September 26, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /
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After a tense first month of point-less Premier League action, West Ham have picked up points in two consecutive matches. It’s not much but the four points were direly needed and are the first steps to West Ham reclaiming control of their early season destiny. Next up is Manchester United, and the London Stadium will need to be rocking for a result.

Home form and away form are extremely important in the Premier League. For ages, West Ham were a middling team but the atmosphere at Upton Park made them world-class competition for visiting teams. The London Stadium has not yet become the fortress that the Boleyn Ground was, but with a Chelsea drawn nil-nil and Manchester United limping into this match can West Ham’s new ground be a difference maker?

Manchester United are doing their best to make the challenge a little more inviting for West Ham. Where the Hammers have picked up their recent play, United has dropped them and looked poor; they dropped points at Old Trafford to Wolves and lost to Derby in the Carabao Cup midweek.

To compound issues with on-field play, manager Jose Mourinho seems to have lost the locker room as player/manager issues have come to a head. Paul Pogba has been stripped of his vice-captain duties, Marcus Rashford can’t get a start, there is tension between Anthony Martial and Mourinho, and the team’s defense is extremely vulnerable.

West Ham, on the other hand, are currently more organized and stronger than ever. Captain Mark Noble has rejoined the starting XI after a back injury and has inspired his team to consecutive points, Declan Rice is stepping up in his first-team role, Yarmolenko, Arnuatovic, and Anderson are coming together as a cohesive attacking unit, and the center back pairing of Diop and Balbuena has been solid of late.

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The two teams are currently worlds apart, but the difference between Chelsea and Manchester United may be greater than United and West Ham. This is mentally important for the Hammers because there was little faith in the Irons to do what they did against Chelsea. No one has been able to force the Blues to drop points, or shut down Hazard, or nullify Jorginho, but West Ham stayed structured and did the unthinkable.

West Ham will need to use a similar game plan to that of the Everton match; attack early by capitalizing on an overaggressive team, and take the chances you create/are given. This Manchester United back line is prone to errors – every single one of them – a striker like Arnautovic who offers speed, pressure, physicality, and a chip on his shoulder the size of Austria is a player these defenders are not used to lining up against. This West Ham team has every ability needed to win this match.

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The difference maker in this match will be the supporters at London Stadium. The players have woken up and started to perform to their level of potential and even provided a thrilling nil-nil draw against the Premier League leaders at home. It’s time for the other end of the bargain to be upheld – it’s time for West Ham to regain their home fortress status and become a deaded team to play at home.