OPINION
With West Ham United embarking on a massive summer revamp the continuing presence of stalwart Mark Noble could prove vital this season.
West Ham captain Mark Noble has been there and done it at The Hammers, he’s seen good times and the bad times. He was there when the club was relegated to the Championship and he was there when they finished 7th in the Premier League in 2015/16. In fact, he played a vital part in that particular season, playing 37 times.
With the new manager, new faces and new signings arriving at The London Stadium this summer, the squad will look very different than what it has in previous seasons. There will be a return to an attractive playing style, with lots of possession and technical ability on show.
This is where Noble comes in. The English midfielder has struggled in recent seasons, as the club’s playing style bypassed his best qualities, favouring a more direct style with big forwards and long-balls.
This season, the 31-year-old can be more important than ever. With the sheer number of new signings, The Hammers supporters need a familiar face and someone that they can relate to. Also, all these new players on big wages need someone who knows the club, to tell them what it means to play for West Ham. Noble can do that.
Then, there’s the playing style. Manuel Pellegrini needs a conductor. Someone who can sit in front of the back-four, be brave enough to take the ball when he’s facing his own goal and play dangerous passes into midfield. Someone who can take that pressure and thrive under it, to be the heartbeat of the team. Noble can do that.
His performances may have dropped a level or two in recent seasons and his place in the team may not be as assured as it once was, but forget the new signings, Mark Noble could be West Ham’s most important player this season.
