Rice scores on his last home match in claret and blue
Hope everyone is safe and well.
I quite enjoy the final home match of each season as there is always a party atmosphere and the weather tends to be good and I enjoy seeing the players and their families and the staff walking around the pitch after the match. But there are always mixed emotions and this season is no exception.
We have a Europa Conference League Cup Final to look forward to, a better finish in the Premier League than we thought only a few weeks ago, but we have also seen the last home game featuring our Hammer of the Year captain Declan Rice. Other players are likely to exit as well with plenty of rumours now flying about on social media of who is staying, leaving or coming.
But I was a bit disappointed that Rice didn’t say a few words as he was handed his HOTY award, it was nice to see him walk around again on his own, but I wanted something a bit more from him to be honest. I have been spending some time with those dedicated fans who wait week in and week out outside the stadium car park for players to stop and sign the team shirts they are clutching hold of, or have a photo taken with their favourite player before they speed off in their expensive sports cars.
Too often players have just driven past the regular crowd who get excited about which player may be coming out next, with some getting messages from other fans who watch from the walkway above the car park or listen to the sound of a car revving up as the players are ready to leave. I feel for the fans who wait time again only to see players drive by.
But I got an extra treat on this day as my youngest boy Ali had his photo taken with Carlton Cole … always believing! He strolled out of the car park and came up to the excited group of fans and chatted away, signed shirts and programmes and was in no hurry to leave. He is such a nice guy and he seemed genuinely pleased to spend time with the fans. I guess that is why this small group of dedicated fans wait after every home match to get a chance like that to speak to one of the players.
Me and my son were well made up and have made a pact to collect as many photos and signatures as we can next season. I’m telling that is going to be quite a challenge because once a player stops in their car you need all your wits about you and strength to get through the crowd to have a chance of getting anywhere close too them, let alone get a photo. Luckily we both do karate 😂
I had a good feeling about this match as Leeds are likely for the drop this season and even Big Sam is not going to save them from relegation. They were woeful after we equalised through an excellent goal by Rice and it was no surprise that in the second half we took the match to them and could have scored 4, but managed just 2 more through Bowen and Lanzini. So pleased for him to get on the core sheet after coming off the bench. He needs to play regular football and will have to move away from London Stadium for that.
You can see why Leeds are not going to stay up, they have nothing up front and did not look likely to get a goal once we started playing. Paqueta was clearly enjoying himself with tricks and skill to delight the crowd and show us a glimpse of how he will play next season. Bowen put in yet another solid shift and some fans around where we sit were thinking maybe he could be our captain next season.
Who knows what will happen after the last ball is kicked on 7th June, but I have a good feeling it’s going to be a much better season that this one. But I guess that depends on us lifting a trophy and how we invest the money we will get from Rice and other players leaving. We struggled in part because w have no depth in the squad, something that we will need to solve if we are to push on next season.
A shout out to Knollsy, the fan who stood his ground against the Dutch ultras trying to break into the seating area where players and staff families and friends had watched the game when we played AZ Alkmaar away in the first leg of the Europa Conference League Semi Final. He was humble and although he stood for photos and was saying it wasn’t just him defending the seating area and he was only doing what any one of us would have done in the same situation. He seems like a really nice guy.
Thank you all for your wonderful comments, support and feedback throughout this season – I have really appreciated it. I still have a couple of matches to post and will do that after a holiday with the family for half term.
Enjoy my photos from the final home match of the season and take care everyone
Dawud
From the Stands 