West Ham fans have had an interesting reaction to life in the Championship so far this season.
There was genuine despair when Nuno Espírito Santo’s side were relegated from the Premier League back in May. For the first time in over a decade, the Irons were staring down the barrel of the second tier and things looked genuinely bleak.
However, six games in and it appears as though most Hammers fans are actually enjoying Championship football more than recent years in the top flight. That’s natural of course when your team is winning. The Irons currently sit second in the table after three successive victories.
For the first time in years, the Hammers have strung a few consecutive wins together. Additionally, they are playing some exciting football. 14 goals in six league games sees them as the current joint-top scorers in the division.
There are still concerns about West Ham’s defence, but when you have enough attacking quality to simply outscore the opposition, you have a big advantage. For the first time since arguably 2021, West Ham have found a way of winning games while also playing some exciting football.
Furthermore, the Championship just provides entertaining football games. Many Hammers fans agreed that Tuesday night’s performance at Bolton wasn’t perfect despite the 3-2 victory. But the game was really exciting and there was a lot to like from both teams.
For years, Hammers fans have suffered through laborious Premier League outings. Even on the rare occasions when West Ham actually won a game, there was very rarely a thrill, rather a relief.
But Championship football has brought that thrill back. The absence of VAR has made it possible to actually celebrate goals, the EFL fans have proven more passionate and raucous than their top-flight counterparts, and the genuine unpredictability of the division means anything can happen.
I’ve seen some Hammers fans even admit that, were it not for financial and status reasons, they would happily remain in the Championship. Of course, every West Ham supporter wants to see the Irons promoted back to the Premier League this season, but the simplicity of the second tier has proven a refreshing change of pace.
The football on display may not exude quality, but it appears much more authentic. Players take more risks, games are more open and refereeing decisions aren’t overthought. This is what football should be: entertaining, enjoyable, real.
I’m sure we will suffer at some point this season and long for the glory days over the early 2020s once more. But for now, I’ve certainly endured worse times as a West Ham supporter.
