Mark Noble has delivered his most forthright interview yet on the West Ham situation declaring that nobody should rely on him anymore.
As the club continues to spiral downwards, the protests grow and we seem no closer to buying additional players these are deeply worrying times at the club.
Noble insists there are no excuses left for the players whom he appears to blame for the problems we are experiencing but makes it clear he’s worrying himself to death about the club’s future.
He has good reason as the money spent on Manuel Pellegrini and Mario Husillo’s players – looks to have gone on flakey individuals who aren’t doing it as the circumstances deteriorate badly.
The board has just a few days left to find players who will make a difference and halt the slide to what many now believe is certain relegation and the captain has made his position very clear in these circumstances.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, he said: “I’m 33 in May. I’ve been doing this for 15/16 years of my life. It’s half my life.
“At a club at this level with the money we’ve spent, you can’t rely on me. You can’t rely on me to come on at half-time during an FA Cup game – that shouldn’t be like that.
“The manager knew I had played three games in a week, and we’ve got two big games at home.
“I spoke to him yesterday and he said he would be putting me on the bench today to save my legs.”
He continued: “When his team performs like that then what can you do? Listen I’ve just said to the players in there that we’ve got to look at ourselves in the mirror – it’s no-one else’s fault.
“We’ve changed managers, we cant’t use that excuse.
“We’ve got to say to ourselves did I work hard enough today? Was I good enough? And the answer for me was no.”
Noble wasted the best of a host of late chances, blazing over the bar from 10 yards out with the clock ticking down.
The 32-year-old, who made his West Ham debut all the way back in August 2004, also says he is ‘worried’ about the club’s future and planned to enjoy the latter stages of his career – something he’s been unable to do so far.
“I constantly worry about the club. I’m turning 33 soon and that’s where you’re at the age where you want to enjoy the last few years of your career,” he explained.
“But when you’re fighting relegation battles, then trust me it isn’t enjoyable.”