Antonio Nocerino seems to have been enjoying his brief time at West Ham so far, and has recently stated his desire to stay at the club after his loan spell from AC Milan expires at the end of this season.
“I like it here and would love to play in the Premier League next season, hopefully at West Ham because they were the first team to knock at my door’ he has been quoted as saying.” (Claret and Hugh).
West Ham fans will love this type of attitude from the Italian. However, Nocerino has so far not had nearly enough game time to show whether or not he is good enough, or prove that he is able to adapt to the Hammers style of play to be offered a permanent deal by the club yet. While he has a good pedigree, and played at a high level with some of the best players in the world previously, Nocerino has had little first team football in the last couple of seasons and has also never played in the Premier League. He needs to prove his value before West Ham can consider trying to negotiate a transfer in the summer.
It’s certainly not Nocerino’s fault that he has been restricted only to substitute appearances and one start since arriving at Upton Park. During his first five matches, the Hammers won four and drew one, so replacing one of the winning side with the AC Milan midfielder would have been wrong.
However, the time has probably now come to give Nocerino a run in the side, and let him fully showcase his talents. Fellow midfielder Mohamed Diame has been very disappointing this season, including in the defeat to Manchester United on Saturday, and his only positive impacts have come from the substitutes bench so far. It has also now emerged that Matthew Jarvis is likely to miss Wednesday night’s fixture against Hull City because of injury. Due to the lack of form of Diame and possible absence of Jarvis, couple with the recent run of losses, it seems now is the ideal time for Nocerino to be given a run of matches, starting with the Hull game.
Hopefully West Ham will also be able to enjoy a significant portion of possession in a home game against a team like Hull, which would enable Nocerino more touches of the ball, and give him a real chance to prove what he can do. Whilst he has looked ok in his cameo appearances so far, the Italian needs to do plenty more to show that it’s worth the club taking him on in the summer. This should be his opportunity to do so.
I think Nocerino should definitely be given a chance, particularly ahead of Taylor who can’t seem to find a team mate when he passes the ball.
The guy was not one of Milan’s best players a few seasons ago and included in Italy’s starting lineup for the Euro’s for no reason and he seemed to thrive off of player behind a target man at Milan (Ibrahimovic) where he scored 11 goals in a season, so to play him in a more advanced postion may not be a bad idea. Forza Noce!
Agree, I understand that not unsettling a ‘winning team’ is a sensible approach, but we have quickly gone back to being the side that rolls over easily – and typically for West Ham, we get Man United just as they hit a bit of form – why couldn’t we have played them a week or two earlier ???? However, if Sam insists on the ‘if you can’t win, don’t lose’ philosophy surely someone like Nocerino who is comfortable on the ball and can slow down a game if need be to keep possession, surely he must get a run out now. He might be saying he would like to stay beyond this season now, but he’ll definitely change his tune if e doesn’t get any minutes on the pitch and especially if the unthinkable happens and we manage to get ourselves relegated !!
How chances do you want to give this oaf.please no more than nine more games.he is killing not just the team but the club.wake up!
IF I HAD BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD ON OF THESE RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE
SEASON TICKETS I WOULD HAVE RETURNED IT BY NOW.
Still it’s fun watching NORTHAMPTON or Orient
COMPARED TO WHAT SAM SERVES UP