ExWHUemployee delivers Noble verdict
CandH asked popular ITK ExWHUemployee to give his view on Mark Noble’s likely position under Manuel Pellegrini. Here’s his exclusive view.
So the seasonal question of whether Mark Noble should keep his place in the team has arisen and for me it is still the same answer…….yes, for now.
Towards the end of last season Noble was one of our best players again having seen off the usual calls for him to be dropped once more.
The icing on the cake was that crucial and absolutely superb goal against Leicester City that secured our status as a Premier League team.
Mark is a dying breed when it comes to footballers: Loyal, puts his body on the line and genuinely loves the club above anything else. He makes a great captain and is well liked and respected by all of the players.
Granted Noble isn’t the greatest midfield talent but in my opinion he is still very underrated. I believe with better players around him who will be making runs and providing him with options, his much criticised distribution will be massively improved.
When there are better players around them, some players improve hugely and I think Noble is one. If Yarmolenko, Anderson and Wilshere are ahead of him providing him with options then Mark’s passing and creativity will naturally improve.
Noble is a leader, motivator, breaks up the oppositions plays and starts our attacks and obviously offers a great option from the penalty spot.
If Noble suffers a dip in form then of course we have the options now to not have to keep him in regardless of that but until that point he deserves to start the season.