By CandH’s top blogger Allen Cummings
I have been a long-time admirer and unashamed flag-bearer for Mark Noble.
It was much easier in the early years when his younger legs, boyish enthusiasm and fighting qualities were more than enough to endear him to the West Ham faithful. The local lad doing good – with his local side – it’s what we have always loved.
In more recent years though, as he has slowed through age (haven’t we all), and his game has become less robust and dynamic, his detractors amongst the home fans have grown, quite verbally in some instances. Some have even mocked the Mr West Ham tag, and openly demanded he move aside in favour of younger legs and a more direct style of player.
(Photo by Avril Husband/West Ham United FC via Getty Images)
Personally, I have felt his qualities as a captain, a figurehead and a leader were still a valuable benefit to the side. But recent events are leading me to examine my continued loyalty to Nobes. Is his unquestionable service to his one and only club now becoming a dis-service, a distraction that we could well do without?
For the second weekend in succession the talk is almost as much about Mark Noble as it is about West Ham. Should that be the case? Is that healthy in the bigger picture? Last weekend it was his ‘tweet’ that captured the headlines.
This weekend an abject display from the skipper on the pitch, before being hooked in the 65th minute – then a much publicised televised volley from Sky pundit Graeme Souness, a former manager and player, supplementedby fellow pundit Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, also a previous player and manager, has captured more attention than a gutless display from the team as a whole.
Noble’s face as he sat in the stands watching the remainder of the game told the story. He wasn’t happy. I’ve got news for you skipper – neither were we!
We have been told Noble had a ‘clear the air’ meeting with David Sullivan last weekend. I have no way of knowing if that is true, or what was said. But from where I’m sitting, the red mist is still very much swirling around.
It’s an old football saying, that no one player is bigger than the club. Whether it’s the captain with 16 years loyal service, or a promising young player with just a handful of Premier League games under his belt.
Our beloved Bobby Moore, this club’s greatest ever captain (with apologies to Billy Bonds), had his run-ins with previous West Ham owners over his time at the club – and with legendary manager Ron Greenwood.
But always the ultimate professional, whenever Bob was picked to play, he never allowed those outside distractions to influence his game, his role as captain or his obligation to the club and to us fans! Sadly
Bob isn’t around to offer his advice, but Mark might do well to strike up a conversation with another consummate professional Trevor Brooking, to get his take on it.
Mark Noble doesn’t stand alone as the reason for our pitiful showing against Newcastle United. His team mates have to shoulder their responsibility, too. But he is still their leader – and he should be leading by example.
The foot stamping nonsense has to stop – and pretty damned quick. We lost a game we should have, and were quite capable of, winning. But what has gone has gone – it’s what comes next that matters most now.
It’s still early days yet, and at the end of this weekend West Ham won’t be the only club on zero points. There is ample time to rectify this, but we need to all be pulling in the same direction. New faces will help, and there is still time for that to happen, too.
But we need a mood change on and off the pitch. The pundits say we should be mid table looking up – most would agree with that I believe! We just need the team to go out and deliver.
Poor article.
What we need are new owners.
8500 marching Hammers cant be wrong.
I agree- poor article. Noble is entitled to his opinion and only said what we all thought? If you want to look for someone to blame take a look at the owners- it’s not rocket science!
I make that around 40,000 or so that didn’t march Steven. What makes 8500 a majority? Not saying who’s right or wrong – but clearly not everyone thinks the same
So basically anyone involved with this site. If they sold up, who would be the main source then?
You make incredible assumptions – we have sources absolutely everywhere. You have no right to ask for anything more than news.. You pay for nothing and do nothing but criticise . You have no other rights than to read. Read this very carefully
Sounding very hitler like there Hugh. Keep threatening pal 🙂
A very good article Allen .But I think Noble as a first team regular is finished as simple as that.Playing him in the no 10 role is laughable. The opposition virtually walk past him and have a free run at goal.Time to hand over the reins with immediate effect to Declan Rice .Time for Moyes to have the heart to heart with Noble.
He is too thick and stupid to talk with a class act like Brooking
Only one way to solve it #GSBOUT
And that means ‘who’ is ready and waiting ti come in Phillip? Or is someone planning on starting a crowd funding site for a fans’ takeover. That would be interesting to see!
This is such a ridiculous point of view , so we should be happy with the mess our club is in? We are the laughing stock of the premier league.
Do me a lemon Allen!
I think both Moyes and GSB wouldn’t well to have regular conversations with Sir Trev. He knows the fans, and what keeps them happy, better than anyone.
No point talking to Noble: he doesn’t offer enough of anything in particular to get by as a PL midfielder these days. I love the guy, and what he stands for, but I’m not sure he’s ever consistently offered enough in a PL midfield, and, if so, has been part of the problem over the last 10 years or so. In his defence, though, he’s had some shocking players playing alongside him (Radolslav Kovac anyone?).
Mark Noble is nearing the end of his career. He demonstrated that with a poor performance against Newcastle. His days as a first choice selection are numbered. But, Mark is a true & loyal supporter of West Ham, always tries to give his all for the team, & cares passionately about the club. Because of all he has done for us we owe him a great debt of gratitude. Souness was probably correct in what he said about Mark, but we could do with a few more team members who emulate a Mark, on & off the pitch. So, I would excuse him his outburst about the “Diangana Affair”. He is quite correct to be outraged by it & he has a right to his opinion. In his position he might have been more discrete in voicing his comments, but someone with a bit of credibility needed to tell the owners where they are going wrong. The supporters have been trying for years – & have got nowhere !
I agree with Steven – a poor article and very condescending. Ask yourself who has created the awful toxic atmosphere at our great club. It certainly is not Mark Noble who has served our club with passion, loyalty, honesty and distinction. The same cannot be said for the owners who claim to be WHU fans. We have been continually served a menu of false promises and a player recruitment strategy that has no long term objective and is just based on whims. They go public all too often on important issues that have negative connotations for the club. For example, at the end of last season it was very quickly reported that no money would be available for transfers and that players would have to be sold so that new players could be brought in. I wonder who leaks these stories? This strategy just gives other clubs the edge when buying players from us because they know we are desperate. We cannot even compete with Crystal Palace to get one of Moyes’ top targets which just highlights our standing. Along with their sidekick who thinks it’s OK to have a shouting match with the manager in front of the players, the club is run in such an unprofessional manner that our great club has become a laughing stock. WHUFC is in disarray because of the owners and their sidekick, NOT BECAUSE OF MARK NOBLE. He just said what we are all thinking.
What do you mean ALL – Blimey, and you talk of condescension!
Only could pick out one small word in the last line of my lengthy comment – Hmm!
Unsure what you mean. U talking about ads?. if so change browser
I agree with Steve we need new owners but unlike Steve feel this is a good article on an important discussion point.
I understand why so many are loyal to Nobes, a youth player that has spent his whole career with us. He is one of us and deserves respect because of it. However, the only criteria for selection should be is he good enough, and he is not and hasn’t been some some time. He has always had an excellent footballing brain but has never been blessed with a great deal of speed. Now he has slowed to a point where no other attributes can compensate. It has been said he plays as a number 10, but for me that means influencing games in the final third, but that is rare. To find time and space he frequently drops very deep but this just slows the game down. He is undisciplined from a defensive stand point and a liability.
I’ve heard many talk about his leadership qualities but you first lead by example and I haven’t seen too many stand out performances from him since the move from Upton Park.
It is with regret that i say the best thing for West ham is Mark Noble moving on. Retirement if he doesn’t want to play on or drop down the divisions. 32 is no great age and I true wish he was performing like he did in that last great season before the move, where even with Payet in the team, Nobes was my stand out planer, but unfortunately he is well short.
I don’t want to get into the GSB out debate – but I think that it is unfair to blame Nobes post on Diang for the poor performance. It is more relevant to ask the question on whether he deserves his place in the team – I think that the challenge for Nobes is to re-invent himself as a player since he has slowed down – he could look at players like James Milner and Gareth Barry as models to follow
I am not sure whether he has had a chat with Sir Trev – but I am certain that he has had many with Kevin Nolan and together they are looking at ways of building morale in the dressing room – and whether Nobes is in the starting XI or not I feel that he still has an important role in the dressing room
Noble out