This season has proved more difficult than expected for the Hammers, who at the beginning of the season, had a certain swagger and a bit of arrogance about them. After a defeat in the opening fixture at home against Cardiff, the Hammers team dug deep and enjoyed a successful first half of the season, competing with Southampton at the top of the table. But a run of successive home draws saw the Hammers slip into the playoff places, with Reading completing a late surge to win the nPower Championship. Although the Hammers can still achieve promotion, the season by many fans will be seen as a disappointment, not only due to some poor results, but also because the style that the team has played this season is not a style which is usually associated with West Ham and this style hasn’t brought the promised victories.
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However, if the Hammers do manage to achieve promotion this season, in my view, it will be a very good accomplishment, considering the quality of teams in the Championship this season. In my opinion, the Championship has never been so strong, with the likes of Reading, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Birmingham who all have very talented players and a history of playing in the Premier League. Also teams such as Brighton, Blackpool and Hull have looked very strong this season and many of those teams will believe that if they had the same team a couple of years ago, they would have been right at the top of the table.
There is for me, one player who stands out for West Ham, one player who has been a shining light for the Hammers this season. He has played in different roles, often anchoring the midfield or
playing more advanced but wherever he plays, you know that he will give 100% to the team. I am of course talking about Mark Noble. The West Ham academy graduate and longest serving West
Ham player of the current squad has not only been an important member of the team but he has taken the armband when Nolan was suspended and led the team to some great results. The versatile midfielder has played alongside many different players in midfield, including James Tomkins and Gary O’Neil, and he has shined with whoever he was playing alongside.
What is so special about this Canning Town born midfielder for me is his love and devotion for West Ham. In the past few years, the former England U21 captain has been linked with moves away from Upton Park, but there has never been a time when Noble has wanted to leave and he has many times shown his desire to play for West Ham, not only in the press, but with his performances on
the pitch. Even though Noble is of Premier League standard, he has stayed with the Hammers this season, when a move away would have been the easy route out.
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Noble made his first appearance for the Hammers when he was just 17 and since then, he has gone on to play in Claret and Blue almost 200 times, scoring 23 goals. Noble is a spot-kick specialist, who has scored 7 vital goals from the spot this season. Many fans believe that this is all that Noble can do, but he is a player with great vision and the ability to retain possession very well. He never seems rushed on the ball and his calm approach when in possession has been vital for the Hammers this season. When out of possession, Noble isn’t afraid of going in for a tackle and this has proved very important when he anchors the midfield. Noble has also created many goals this season, both from open play and from set pieces.
So this is my player of the season, who just finished above James Tomkins, who has also had a very impressive season for the Hammers. What will please many fans is the quality of these two academy graduates and we all hope that many more can come through the ranks over the next few years.
Who has been your player of the season? Tweet me @TollyCoburn
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Disagree completley. There have been so many games where Noble has been very poor. So often we’re on the counter and he is just too slow and doesn’t spot the runs
Mate you are seriously deluded he has been our most consistent player all year setting up so many goals, scoring goals, important tackles. This has been by far his best season in a westham shirt
Sorry – Don’t agree that “the Championship has never been so strong” plain matter is that our home form has been very very poor and that alone has cost us.
Think at times we should take off our Claret and Blue tinted glasses. Just because he’s ‘West Ham’ doesn’t mean he’s the best player we’ve ever had blah blah blah. Alex got it spot on Noble at times has been very poor a players go past him with ease. Yes he’s had some good games, but the Championship is his level. There have been better performers this season and if the likes of Reid and Faye were West Ham born and bred Noble wouldn’t really get a mention.
I think Noble has improved considerably this season. But I’m there with Winston Reid as one of our most consistent players this year. It’s noticeable that out late season wobble coincided with him being out of the team. And, anyway, scoring the winner against Millwall should make him Hammer of the Year on its own!