Noble explains Marko’s current mood

Chicharito and Marko Arnaitovic have undoubtedly had plenty of issues during the just closed transfer window.

And anybody who doesn’t believe the speculation surrounding them has had no effect on the squad probably don’t know too much about the game on the inside.

What with the Chinese and Valencia casting strong eyes in their direction anything could have happened but thankfully nothing did and the Mexican appears to have settled back in given his performance against Liverpool.

Now if selected it will be time tomorrow for Marko to demonstrate that he too is ready to give the Irons everything after the Great Bore of China transfer saga is finally at an end.

Mark Noble is having an influence on both as skipper and in today’s article he’s given to the London Evening Standard explains the sort of role he’s been playing behind the scenes.

It’s an interesting read from the skipper.

He said – talking first of Chicharito – : ‘He said to me: “I’m back on track. We need to find that consistency.”

And Nobes added: That was nice to hear because, as I said to him the other day: “Chicharito, you have to understand that you’ve been at Manchester United and Real Madrid. Players here at West Ham look to you, they will follow that example.”

He’s a great lad and he accepted what I had to say.

Of Marko he revealed: “He’s been as good as gold. Obviously, January hasn’t been great for him, because he’s been injured and we had the China stories, but I’m hoping now we will see the best of  him for the final three months of the season.”

On a personal level he explained that when he went to seet Jurgen Kloppp and Liverpool skipper James Milner before the game, the German said to him. “I was with him for five minutes when we spoke to the ref about the game and he addressed me as ‘Legend’.

“I know that’s a term used too frequently these days but it still means a lot coming from a brilliant manager like him. When you have him saying to me,  “How are you doing, Legend?” it makes you feel brand new.”

He also addressed the officials decisions and said: “The referees, too, come under so much scrutiny, not only from the usual outlets but also now from their own kind: former referees.

That kind of examination has had its effect. Years ago, you could have a laugh with the refs. Now it seems, they don’t want that. If you talk to them away from the pressure of a game, they’re lovely guys and we get on really well, but as soon as they get on that pitch, a wall seems to go up.