BBC Sport pundit Garth Crooks has included West Ham United captain Mark Noble in his Premier League Team of the Week.
The 32-year-old played a key role alongside England international Declan Rice in the middle of the park as Manuel Pellegrini’s side eased to a 2-0 victory. Crooks was very impressed.
“The Hammers stopped United from winning the title on the last day of the season in 1995; while Carlos Tevez kept West Ham in the Premier League away at Old Trafford in 2007,” he wrote on the BBC Sport website. “What took place at the London Stadium was just as spooky.
“Mark Noble spearheaded a famous victory against a Manchester United side who looked in disarray and lead by a manager who is starting to look out of his depth. Whatever sentiment you may have for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United is not a club for novices.”
OPINION
I’m not sure I disagree with the statement that Sunday’s victory for West Ham was a ‘spooky’ one. In all honesty, this was the expected result for many people heading into this game. United are not what they used to be, we all know that, while the east London outfit have some top class talent these days. With that said, it wasn’t much of a shock that Pellegrini’s men ran out deserved winners at the London Stadium. It’s a bit frustrating that Crooks’ entire explanation for putting Noble in his Team of the Week is simply a diatribe against Man United and Solskjaer. All we get about the Hammers skipper is that he ‘spearheaded’ the victory. Wow, cheers for that impactful analysis, Garth. Noble did play very well, though. His energy was too much for the visiting midfield, and he looked to move the ball forward quickly to the Irons’ attackers. This was an all-action display from Mr. West Ham, worthy of recognition.
