Today marks seven years since Mark Noble rugby tackled a West Ham fan to the ground during angry protests against Burnley.
March 10th 2018 is a date etched in West Ham folklore for all the wrong reasons.
But in the end, the scenes which unfolded at the London Stadium that day – as regrettable as they were at the time – achieved their purpose.
West Ham fans were furious with the club’s owners at the time.
David Moyes had taken over from Slaven Bilic on a six-month deal and was trying to keep the Hammers in the Premier League.
West Ham played Burnley at home and tensions quite literally reached breaking point.
Some Hammers fans invaded the pitch after three second-half Burnley goals condemned the hosts to a third consecutive defeat.
The captain – now sporting director – Mark Noble tackled one of his fellow West Ham fans as he sprinted onto the pitch.
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Another famous face among Hammers fans then took one of the corner flags and planted it in the centre circle.
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Getty Images
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Getty Images
West Ham pitch invasion protest 7 years on
West Ham’s owners David Sullivan and David Gold, who has sadly since passed away, were forced to leave the directors’ box near the end as anger boiled over and supporters chanted ‘sack the board’.
The image of Sir Trevor Brooking, one of West Ham’s most treasured sons, remaining unperturbed in his seat as supporters gathered in their thousands to hurl abuse at the board has become iconic.
While the actions clearly broke the rules and cannot be condoned.
It seems they ultimately achieved their aim.
West Ham fans had been promised the move to the London Stadium would see them compete for top players in the transfer market.
The Hammers failed to make good on that promise after luring supporters from their beloved Upton Park.
Seismic West Ham squad shift, but one problem is even worse
As a result the West Ham were dicing with relegation less than two years after moving to Stratford.
There has been a seismic squad shift since but one problem is even worse.
Let’s take a look at West Ham’s squad that day.
Interestingly only two players remain from the squad during the time of that ill-tempered 2018 game – Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio.
The team on the day was Joe Hart, James Collins, Angelo Ogbonna, Aaron Cresswell, Antonio, Cheikhou Kouyate, Noble, Pablo Zabaleta, Joao Mario, Manuel Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic.
The subs were Adrian, Patrice Evra, Declan Rice, Josh Cullen, Marcus Browne, Jordan Hugill and Javier Hernandez.
Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images
Photo by Christopher Lee/Getty Images
Hammers still haven’t found suitable heir to Arnautovic
As West Ham prepare to play Newcastle on the same date seven years on, the squad is undoubtedly much improved.
Even if West Ham occupy the same lowly 16th position right now as they did that fateful day.
The likely team for Newcastle will be Alphonse Areola, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Ollie Scarles, Tomas Soucek, Lucas Paqueta, Edson Alvarez, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.
West Ham’s bench now is far stronger.
Especially with the likes of Niclas Fullkrug and Crysencio Summerville to come back into the fold soon.
One issue persists, though.
West Ham are still yet to find an heir anywhere close to that man Arnautovic.
West Ham must find their new Arnie this summer
The Hammers had finally found a quick, powerful, skilful, maverick striker who could do a bit of everything.
Yet just as Arnautovic got going in a West Ham shirt, he demanded to leave for a money-spinning move to China.
The likes of Sebastien Haller, Gianluca Scamacca, Danny Ings, Fullkrug and now Evan Ferguson has been signed since in the long search for an Arnautovic replacement.
Yet it would probably still be Antonio, 35 this month, filling that hole had he not suffered that injury in his car crash.
Some would say the board resentment which spilled over that day is bubbling to the surface again of late.
One way to appease restless Hammers fans will be to finally find that Arnautovic heir this summer.