Many West Ham United fans have launched a verbal assault on Angelo Ogbonna for failing to applaud the away support after being named captain for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.
Javier Hernandez’s opener was immediately cancelled out by a Leandro Trossard volley shortly after the hour-mark at the AMEX Stadium as the Hammers claimed their first point of the Premier League season.
Ogbonna did a half-decent job alongside Issa Diop on the south coast but seems to have lost the respect of many supporters due to his questionable actions after full-time:
Twitter: @WestHam @OgbonnaOfficial But still failed to go over and clap the fans at the end…great captain (@Tylerrjones16)
Twitter: @WestHam @OgbonnaOfficial A proper captain would have went to the fans after the game (@_SamButler)
Other fans were just critical of the 31-year-old’s performance, most notably for his inability to close down Leandro Trossard’s volleyed equaliser:
Twitter: @WestHam @OgbonnaOfficial Didn’t fancy putting your body on the line and try and close down the shot??? (@gerard_finch)
Twitter: @WestHam @OgbonnaOfficial The lack of effort from Ogbonna to block crosses against a team known to be physical was… https://t.co/V4mL3roRQy (@JoeWatts91)
Twitter: @WestHam @OgbonnaOfficial First Cresswell, now Ogbonna- two players who on form should be nowhere near the team, let alone captain! (@nmengland)
READ WEST HAM’S VERDICT
As one of the more experienced members of the travelling squad, it’s absolutely unbelievable how Ogbonna didn’t see fit to go and thank the excellent support.
He wasn’t just an experienced squad member on the day though, he was club captain. He’s supposed to be the leader of the pack and couldn’t even be bothered making a small gesture like that.
Ogbonna’s involvement was surprising in itself, with Fabian Balbuena only making the bench, and he’s even admitted himself the captaincy was unexpected.
I wouldn’t be expecting fans to forget this ordeal quickly and, to be honest, it’s unlikely he’ll be starting in the league soon anyway if Diop and Balbuena are fully fit.
What a joke.
