A chant that hadn’t been heard since the David Moyes era rang out once again — and it suggests West Ham are on the way back under Nuno Espirito Santo.
He may have divided opinion by the end but David Moyes achieved many things at West Ham.
Whether it was keeping the Hammers up twice, leading the side to a record ever Premier League points total, three consecutive seasons in Europe or their only major trophy of the last 45 years.
But it sums up what most fans think of the owners that Moyes’ single biggest achievement during his time in east London was arguably leading a meteoric rise which put a halt to fan protests against the board.
Momentum was gathering in those protests back in 2020 but the appetite for activism was dampened as results improved dramatically on the pitch and the connection between the team and supporters grew stronger.
Moyes’ biggest achievement was shielding West Ham board
The debacle that has unfolded since Moyes’ departure has seen resentment from the fans towards the ownership not only rise up again but reach unprecedented levels.
Before the 3-2 win over Burnley, West Ham fans held their biggest ever march against the ownership with an estimated 10,000 fans involved.
Hammers supporters have vowed to continue their protests all season long with the ultimate aim – among other things – of forcing the current owners out, or to stand down from the day-to-day running of the club at the very least.
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As disconnected as West Ham are off the pitch when it comes to relations between the fanbase and the ownership, the same has been true of the team and fans – and even within the dressing room itself.
The club all but hit rock-bottom after the disastrous spells of Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter.
Former West Ham boss David Moyes shakes hands with majority owner David Sullivan after winning the Europa Conference League
Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images
They were so bad it only served to give ammunition to those who had warned West Ham to be ‘careful what they wish for’ after parting ways with Moyes.
After an encouraging start in his first two games, many drew comparisons between Nuno Espirito Santo and Moyes.
Their bullish, no-nonsense rhetoric and approach and authoritative aura being strikingly similar not to mention the counter-attacking style of play.
But it looked like even Nuno may not be the answer when he seemed to almost admit defeat with a series of bizarre decisions in damaging losses to Brentford and Leeds.
However, the return of chant that hasn’t been heard since Moyes shows West Ham are back under Nuno.
Return of chant that hasn’t been heard since Moyes
There has been a noticeable uplift in the atmosphere at the London Stadium in the last week.
It has been noted by Nuno and the players that the backing from Hammers fans during wins over Newcastle and Burnley has been markedly improved.
That has gone hand-in-hand with markedly improved performances.
Nuno vowed from the start now was not the time to ask for the fans to support the team but for his players to give back to the fans after nearly two years of misery and regression.
Well they have given back to the fanbase this week with back-to-back victories which have breathed new life into the entire club let alone the season and survival hopes.
It was one chant sung by Hammers fans against Burnley which is the clearest sign yet that the Hammers are back and believing again.
Nuno Espirito Santo celebrates on the touchline during West Ham's win over Burnley
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
When West Ham were flying under Moyes the chants flowed almost non-stop.
Super Davey Moyes, Champions of Europe and a host of player ditties would ring out.
But no chant was sung more often and with more verve and vigour during those heady days than ‘West Ham are massive’.
Over the last 16 months that chant has not even been sung with the gallows humour Hammers supporters are famed for. That’s how bad things have been in east London.
Initially, it started tentatively as West Ham closed in on back-to-back wins in the game against Burnley.
West Ham are on their way back under Nuno
The chant is a reversal of the song Hammers supporters love signing about rivals Tottenham being ‘battered everywhere they go’.
But when your own team is suffering more batterings than most, it’s hard to justify singing about being ‘massive’.
As momentum gathered on the terraces, though, and the entire ground was soon joining in ‘West Ham are massive everywhere we go, West Ham are massive everywhere we go, everywhere we go’.
It was a fitting end to a week where it really feels like West Ham fans have reconnected with the team and the manager.
A week where it feels like the Hammers may be turning a corner.
A week where it feels like Nuno really is the right man to finally follow in the footsteps of Moyes.
West Ham may not be fully back yet but they are on their way under Nuno.
The similarities between what is unfolding and the turnaround under Moyes are already startling.
The key will be sustaining the turnaround during a difficult run after the November break.
Whisper it quietly, West Ham are coming again.