In a new ClaretandHugh feature during this seasonal delay we have asked our top blogger and devoted lifelong Hammer ALLEN CUMMINGS to name his top ten Hammers of all time.
He will be bringing them to you over the next few days and he starts tonight with the young man whom he believes is the tenth best Iron of all time.
With apologies to Vic Watson, who I never had the opportunity to see play, he was before even my time – and to younger Hammers fans who would justifiable point to Dimitri Payet as a worthy contender, which I acknowledge he is. But neither features in my list of Top Ten West Ham players, that I have had the pleasure of watching in my many years of supporting this football club.
No 10 MARK NOBLE
Loyalty in the modern game is a rare commodity. There are few, if any, more loyal players in the Premier League than Mark Noble. Our current skipper has spent his entire career, save for two brief spells on loan at Ipswich Town and Hull City, in the service of the claret and blue.
No wonder he has come to be affectionately known as Mr West Ham. Twice chosen as Hammer of the Year by the supporters, he has grown from an exuberant 17 year old to a mature, but equally exuberant 31 year old.
Not the quickest or the most gifted of players technically – as Nobes himself would readily agree – but what he lacks in craft he more than makes up for in commitment, passion and devotion to the cause. Three priceless commodities that earn him a rightful place in my all-time Top Ten!
I agree, that Noble deserves recognition, but I will also defend him because having watched him over the years, I feel very strongly that he’s underrated. The thing that has gone against him is his lack of pace which is obviously more noticeable these days as he approaches the end of his career. But what really goes unnoticed is his quickness of thought and his coolness where it counts….upstairs.
Over the years he switches our pattern of play and has linked well with a great number of teammates as well as being our number one penalty taker. Anyone who thinks that Mark has been lucky to hold his place in the team over all of those years, under so many different managers, needs to think again. Take a bow, Mr West Ham.
He remains the player I tell my son to emulate. Fabregas was blessed with rare talent. Mark Noble blesses WHU with unparalleled commitment and loyalty. Doing well, work hard. Chips down, work harder.