CandH’s top blogger Allen Cummings makes a very good case for the skipper as the tension builds ahead of the restart .
Following the arrival of Tomas Soucek – and the way he dovetailed almost seamlessly into a midfield role within the David Moyes’ team – there was a growing feeling that skipper Mark Noble’s days as a permanent starter for West Ham was coming under increasing threat.
As we entered the last quarter of the season support was gathering for the younger and more athletic Czech Republic international to be the regular partner to Declan Rice in that key midfield area – at Noble’s expense. But then came Covid-19, football stopped and everything went on hold.
Now a resumption is on the horizon – and I believe the picture with regard to the skipper has changed massively. Where a place on the subs’ bench looked to be a real possibility for Noble – now I believe he is going to be needed more than ever out there, where it matters most, on the pitch and in the thick of the action.
For me he has to start ahead of Soucek – not necessarily because he is a better player technically or physically than Tomas but because he has more influence on this team than anyone else in the side.
Football post- coronavirus is going to be very different to what we knew before. Players aren’t going to be inspired by the crowd because the stadia will be empty.
They aren’t going to feed off the atmosphere because there won’t be one. The role of the captain is going to come into focus far more than ever before in my opinion.
No-one leads by example more than Nobes. He lives and breaths West Ham. His passion for the club and for the team is there for all to see, and we love him for it. He wears his heart on his sleeve, just the way Billy Bonds did. And we all know what an incredibly inspirational figure Bonzo was.
Noble has his critics, but his admirers, both on and off the field, far outweigh his detractors. His team mates admire him, respect him and feed off him. Right now his team mates and his team need Mark Noble as never before.
They need him to pump them up. They need him to drive them on. They need him to continually remind them of the job that has to be done. Nobes is made for the task.
The next nine games will make or break our season. They could, some say, make or break our club. We know the skipper has just moved into his 34th year, his legs aren’t what they were, but his mind is still as sharp as ever. His experience for what lies ahead will be vital. His influence will be priceless!
One of the reasons we are in trouble is the fact that Noble has played so much, his legs are gone and he no longer can keep up with the pace of the game. He has become a liability in games where so often he gets booked because his lack of pace gets him into trouble. He has a role to play but off the bench. I am afraid we are dealing with an inept manager who will play the likes of Noble and Snodgrass ahead of more agile and gifted players like Soucek, Fornals and Anderson. He will give Wilshere time again a player you cannot give time to in a relegation battle. West Ham have missed a big opportunity to get rid of Moyes, an opportunity that will become more evident when if lose the first 3 games and have to win 4/5 of the remaining 6 games to stay in the division. I just don’t think he has the ability to put the best 11 in the best formation on the pitch and his record to date ratifies this.
The team will be delighted to have your support behind them mate! #coyi
Love him as we do yep I agree but we need to be winning the games not by having a stalwart on the pitch but with our best available team and Soucek has got to be in that category as the best player for that midfield berth
“ not necessarily because he is a better player technically or physically “
Forgot we are so good we can afford to play with 10 men and a cheerleader.
Noble would still be a good voice in dressing room when he’s 65 but that doesn’t mean he should start in central midfield.
Bit harsh to lable Noble a cheerleader after the service he has given. But then dedication and loyalty count for little these days, that is obvious.
We need three points next week, not five years ago.
After we lost to West Brom in cup Noble was very vocal that we shouldn’t be relying on him at his age….. especially when you have a young, 6 ft 5 dominant midfielder who just come from playing in champions league in the squad.
That in no way means I don’t respect noble or am grateful for his service over the years. He just shouldn’t be in our first eleven.
Thank you.
The fact that Souceck has signed an extension to his loan is a huge boost – so to leave him on the bench woudl be a slap in the face – Souceck has to start – perhaps an argument could be made for playing Rice, Souceck and Noble (like Pelle briefly did with Rice, Obiang and Noble last season) but for me Souceck has to start
With so many games in such a short period the only way Moves can play in all of them is in cameos
Just be thankful that at long last we choices in midfield and will need to use all options over this short period!
Yeah and Jack rearing to go as well!!