Mark Noble has given his assessment of West Ham’s performance this season under Manuel Pellegrini, following the Hammers’ 4-1 win at Watford on Sunday in the final Premier League game of the season.
The West Ham captain played a crucial role in the Hammers’ convincing win at Vicarage Road, scoring the opening goal before rounding off the win with a fourth from the penalty spot in the second half, as the London club made it three successive wins to end the campaign.
Noble suggested that the team are getting to grips with what Pellegrini is trying to achieve at West Ham in terms of the style he wants his team to play, and that the Hammers can improve next season.
“After last season, this one has been pretty solid. We played some really good stuff at times and the fans can be excited for next season,” Noble told West Ham’s official club website following Sunday’s win.
“I think we’ve shown that we’re evolving under the boss. It’s the first season under him, so we’re still learning from him and his staff. We’ll have players come in and players leave – we know that, every season its like that – but all in all the club is going in the right direction.”
OPINION
Noble is defiantly correct to point out that West Ham have improved this season, under Pellegrini in the Chilean’s first year in charge at the London Stadium. At times during the course of the season the Hammers have played some encouraging football, with Pellegrini’s style of possession and movement off the ball beginning to take effect on West Ham’s performances. That has perhaps been highlighted by the Hammers winning their last three games, against Tottenham, Southampton and now Watford, scoring eight goals in the process in an encouraging end to the campaign. Pellegrini will be hoping his side can tighten up at the back next season, after conceding 55 goals in the Premier League this season, and they have shown in their last three games, keeping two clean sheets in those, that they are able to keep teams out when they are concentrating fully. If West Ham can defend better next campaign and continue to attack as they have done in the final few matches, they will have a good chance of improving further next season.
