West Ham United have so far been linked with endless speculation in the media, ranging from our potential move to the Olympic Stadium, to if we have a possible investor lined up or not, or what players are coming and going. With all this speculation of a new era on the horizon for us, it’s hard to look back and think could anything still survive in the modern day Hammers side? Which makes me ask this question, could Mr West Ham himself; Mark Noble, keep his place in the starting eleven or has Doomsday caught up with his West Ham United career?
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In recent months we have been linked with a huge list of players that could join the the club who play in the central midfield role, names such as Adrian Silva, Guti and Joe Cole all being rumoured, with a couple materialising with the likes of Alou Diarra and Mohamed Diame signing on permanent deals. This makes me question Big Sam’s view on the central midfield area of the squad, we have talent in the likes of Jack Collison, Kevin Nolan and Gary O’Neil and the three mentioned earlier, yet we are still being linked with more who play in the same role? Is it just a coincidence, or does he just have a hunch for signing central midfield players?
I myself, like many West Ham fans have great faith in Mark Noble and I feel he has come on stridesover the last c ouple of seasons and you can clearly see glimpses of Scott Parker in his style of play now, such as how he turns so sharply on the ball. For seasons he has been a linchpin in the side offering his hunger, passion and love for the club to help create the connection between fan and players at the club, but is his potential limited, or can we expect to see him improve in the future?
I for one have my heart telling me he will keep on improving, but my head is saying it’s time to move him on and finally sign a player who has flair and craft in abundance, someone who can dictate their teams tempo of play and are capable of stepping out of the shadows and creating magic with the ball.
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There could be endless reasons why we have so many central midfield players in the squad and why we continue to be linked with more, but one thing I wouldn’t be surprised with as much as I hate to say it, is that Mark Noble’s days are numbered and unless he has a fantastic season in the top flight this year, he could well find his position at risk as Big Sam appears to be changing the look of the squad. Its frustrating as every fan of the club knows what he is can do when he is on form, all you have to do is look at the “Great Escape” season and see how well he played in the last 8 games, although Carlos Tevez took most of the credit for scoring the goals, Mark was without question the unsung hero of that season, if he can recapture that form he will hold onto his place with ease.
Big Sam clearly has a vision in his mind of what he wants this team to be like and when you look around the squad and see the likes of the towering and dominating pair Alou Diarra and Momo Diame, as well as one of Big Sam’s favourite players and captain of the club Kevin Nolan, it does make me wonder does he really fit the bill anymore? I can’t see our captain being dropped and with Momo Diame impressing so far in pre-season the odds just keep stacking up against Mark to keep his place.
A couple of people have said to me they think that Mark Noble is a Championship player, that is something I see and to some extent agree with, but I also feel he can play in the Premiership if he has the great players around him to help get the best out of him, but I just don’t see him being the one to start the trend and lead by example of what class really looks like, his too raw and unless his skills are sharpened he could well be a name that slowly starts to fade from the team sheet.
Let me know what your views are on Mark Noble and if he can survive the new era. I honestly hope he can prove me wrong. COYI!
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I certainly hope your thoughts on Mark Noble prove to be unfounded.Mark took a while to step out of the shadow of Scott Parker. and grew in Stature as the Season progressed. I believe Mark will grow in Stature the coming Season. He is a true Hammer and goodness knows we need more of them. Dont allow him to move on, and thus like so many before, make his Name with another Club.
Of course he can and yes he will! The only midfielder we have got who’s always looking to the receive the ball and turn to start attacks and dictate the flow and tempo of the team. Hes not the greatest in the world at what he does but hes the best in our squad at what he does so without him we’d be f****d. Playing for West Ham means so much more to him than just a job and you can see that on the pitch and the passion and leadership skills especially when were behind in a game. I think this ‘new era’ without Mark your talking about is we wont need a ball playing midfielder just lumps upfront to win the long balls, Nolan to pick up the knock downs and 2 giants to sit deep when we come under pressure. Saying that, Diame does look a quality player with a bit of everything and i’m really excited about seeing what he can do for us and Diarra is a France international, very experienced and both players will improve the squad dramatically. The only reason this article exists is because we have so many talented midfield players we just have to trust Big Sam to choose the correct combination to suit each game and also start adding the same sort of strength in depth to the defence!!!
I hope your thoughts on Noble turn out to be wrong. Mark is the type of player who would die for the club because West Ham are not only his employers, they are his life, his blood, it’s what he grew up with and that is worth more than any import who plays well but fades when the going gets tough and things get bleak and let’s face it as hammers fans we know at some point it will, we don’t know when but it WILL get bleak, this is our history, the same history that Mark watched from the North Bank and he hurt the same as all of us but now he is a position to fight to the death for the club he loves and that’s why you need him around. He is the epitome of every boy and man who supports their teams through thick and thin and dreams of pulling on the hallowed Claret & Blue. COYI
I believe the midfield signings are to allow Mark Noble to pla his natural game – which is getting on the ball and playing.
If you look at our signings thus far, Diame and Diarra are both deep lying ball winners (with Diame having the tendency to push on from time to time).
This will allow Noble to play ahead of one or both of them… Also remember Diarra is older and BigSam likes to keep his players fresh so rotation is probably the more expected option switching Noble betwen DM and AM (with Nolan).
Nobes played effectively in the Premier League for 6 years, he isn’t a Championship player. He is a loyal fan as well as a player, and, unless he gets the boot he won’t want to leave any time soon.
Players like Mark are worth ten of the mercenaries who move from club to club following the pound note.Every club needs their home town boy, someone who hurts as much as we do when things go belly up. He had a great season last time out after admittedly a stagnant 2 years where his promise was unfulfilled. However he seems a different player from then and even if hes a squad man, having him round the place is worth its weight in gold…someone to remind all the fly-by-nights that its Hammers or die !!!
Mark is a good lad. He had a very productive season, last year, at the championship. But, to say he had productive seasons in the EPL, is exaggerating. He has yet to play an entire, PL season consitiently. His lack of pace, and turnover rate, isn’t the greatest. If Mark Noble, is the best midfielder on this team, we will certainly go down. We have signed, two very solid, holding mids. Noble, isnt a creative mid, or wide. So the writing is on the wall. It would be a great story, if Mark had a very solid year in the PL, but I’m not sure if that will happen here.
Some people are never happy are they. Probably one of these ‘MOTD Fans’ anyway. Go support Citeh.
I agree with everyone except Sactownhammer. Mark is what West Ham is all about, We need WHU boys in the club, they give their all Not like the Mercenaries that as stated by others that just follow the Pound. ie Demba Ba. We were the only ones to take a chance on him and then he Dumped us. West Ham is not the same any more and l am very dissolutioned with all that is going on at our club.
Interesting views on Mark Noble, It’s great to see fans getting behind him. Give him time and he could well deliver.
Why are you talking bout mark noble not having a place at west ham he is and will still be the heart beat of west ham united if he was to be left out or sold I would never watch a west ham game again even though I am west ham mad he will most def keep his place
THIS ARTICLE IS A LOAD OF BOLLOCKS. “My head is saying it is time to move him on” BOLLOCKS. Our player of the season and you want us to sell. IDIOT