This blog from a long term website forum member calling himself Good Old Daze sums up perfectly the whole Nobes debate and reflects mine and the thoughts of many others I’m sure quite brilliantly.
If we had a blog of the year competition this would be the winner by many miles!
Is anyone saying Mark Noble hasn’t been a very good player for us over the years? No.
Is anyone saying he’s not a loyal servant of the club? No.
Is anyone saying he shouldn’t be involved in the club in the future? No.
Is anyone saying he’s not still a very good influence on the first team squad? No.
Is anyone saying Mark’s not a great bloke? No.
Is anyone saying he’s a like-for-like replacement for Declan Rice? Of course not.
Is anyone saying he’s not got the pace for the Premiership anymore? Yes.
Is anyone saying he can’t influence top-level games like he used to? Yes.
Did he have his best Premiership game of the season against Wolves? Yes.
But is that because his standard in other games has been well below par? Yes.
Is that my opinion? Yes.
Is everyone entitled to their own opinion about this? Yes.
Should we be respectful of the opinions of others? Yes.
Have we got options other than Noble? Yes if we’re creative or give youth a chance.
Do I love Mark Noble and what he stands for? Yes.
Do I want to see him start the next match? No.
Is David Moyes going to start him again in Rice’s absence? Yes.
Will I support Moyes and Noble if this happens? Of course – 100%.
Are there other areas of the team that are concerning? Definitely, but that’s another question …
Perfect – absolutely perfect!
And I apologise for my cheap comments on a great man in his rating – we all have regrets about things said at times!
Thanks Daze!
That post from Daze was as good as Jesse’s goal against Wolves! Well done mate you have summed up what most of us think!! For the record my vote is with youth!!
Absolutely magnificent blog – now on the site.
Nice touch.
Excellent post Daze and good stuff Hugh. Big ask to play Coventry at the moment imo really would be throwing him in at the deep end, however 100% support for the team regardless of who is playing. If not noble maybe could look at Diop there and Coufal as one of the 3 CB’s with Johnson RWB. We need someone defensive minded alongside Soucek as he is such a threat as a box to box player. I think we all can agree that the squad is thin in a few areas but we have an exceptional 11 when fully fit. Just had a vision of a Noble screamer at Leicester under Moyes the first time, could history be repeated this weekend? Would accept a trademark penalty!
Good post. Agree love Nobles thought he did well but even last season he said he can’t be relied on to change games & play & play every week. Unfortunately no Cullen but I think if Noble can’t keep form like Wolves Fornals I like as CM he has the legs work rate defends well & good vision for a pass. If wanted to add more height of Ogbonna comes back in I always thought Diop could do well in mid he has some pace decent on ball & add height along Souček & maybe allow him to make his runs. With Oggy & Dawson behind if I think Fornals or Diop & Souček could do a job if Noble isn’t up for it. Then Beno on left Lingard #10 Antonio if fit front or Bowen & Lanzini could prove his worth… We will definitely miss Rice such a shame didn’t if see where in Poland game it happened could it of been avoided… Tbh we’ve been lucky with injuries compared to usual & I know Moyes likes a small squad but you need cover & competition. We are prime to make top 4 of Antonio & Rice for I’d say yes we make it but should still get Europa & hopefully Moyes will be backed in Summer bc if we shift 4 players then we will need 7-8. Though I still think should give Balbuena 2 years he wanted to stay then his agent started talking but he has been good & only lost spot to Covid be hard to find an experienced CB on lower wages who will do same job & not moan being squad player.