Noble: I’m not disappointed – it takes time”
Writing in his London Everning Standard column he said: “Our performance at home to Everton was way short of good enough and we know we need to up our game on Monday. We were beaten by a better side but it was painful to watch.
I still say, if the chairman had been sitting in his office after four games with nil points and you had promised him 42 points with six to go, he’d probably have said you were crazy.
I’m really not disappointed in the season. We had a new manager with another way of playing, a new staff, loads of new players and sometimes that takes a couple of seasons.
We had developed a good home record and maybe everyone turned up for the Everton match thinking it was a given, we were going to get another victory when really we should have heeded the warning from the Huddersfield game, where we came back from 3-1 down to win.”
ClaretandHugh says: It’s all too easy to knock the comments of players after bad defeats and we are as guilty as anyone else for doing so. But on this occasion it’s reasonable to take Noble’s comments on board because as we reflect on a strange season it’s very easy to see where he’s coming from. It’s always going to be an easy game from the stands but we really do need to remember that Pellegrini has brought a tactical approach to West Ham we haven’t seen in years and it surely is going to take a while for the players to get it. I’m not sure that explains the inconsistencies but some players need to sort out in their heads on that one or find themselves on a departure short list. Injuries have taken a toll but not once has it been used as an excuse. The Hammers have a great opportunity to show us they have learned lessons starting at Chelsea tonight and in the meantime I sway towards the skipper’s view and have everything crossed for the last few fixtures.