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The Noble Art Of Subterfuge

nevillenixon's picture
Submitted by nevillenixon on Tue, 12/09/2017 - 17:30

West Ham United Captain Mark Noble's exclusion from the squad to play the crucial tie against Huddersfield raised more than a few eyebrows, ostensibly it was due to a minor injury, what? This is a man who played last season's big match against Tottenham with a significant hernia, leading some to question the exact details of the 'minor' injury!

In the brilliant but non football related movie 'Rush'about the F1 title race between Niki Lauda and James Hunt there is a scene near the end where Lauda retires from the last race of the season, the Japanese GP, because he thought it was too dangerous to continue in the rain. Lauda's team, Ferrari, offer to say that he had mechanical issues but the Austrian said "No, tell them the truth".

In the run up to the Huddersfield game Mark Noble was featured in several high profile journals explaining what such an important match meant to a 'home grown' lad and how the result effects him more than others, indeed he was very articulate in describing how important playing for his boy hood club is to him, at the same time he also inferred that perhaps certain players don't really understand what commitment is required by the Hammers faithful. Strange then after 'bigging up' the match so much that Noble was totally absent, not even making the bench.

At the Org we are of the opinion that the penny has finally dropped, and the 'Wiily C' transfer saga rather proves the point that Slaven Billic knows that his club captain's legs have gone, Noble is not stupid and will have understood that his time is up sooner or later, perhaps the club decided to invent the injury to save Noble's pride, after all he has been such a loyal servant he at least deserves to be shown sufficient respect.

Eventually time waits for no man, expect to see a few more withdrawals through injury for hammers stalwart Noble, but hopefully a role can be found for him that has dignity and purpose, he deserves plenty! - Ed

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Comments

He does seem to be struggling. So at best he has to play his way back in the team like anyone else. More a squad player now unless he proves otherwise. Never quick but used to put in the miles, less so now.

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171 users have voted.

I think in actual fact he would've settled us down in the second half, we were getting a bit anxious before the goal

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173 users have voted.
moore 6 legend's picture

According to physio,nobes was reported with a knee injury on the 8th,was seem hopping out a car Monday night,so I don't think slavs given up on him just yet

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168 users have voted.
asheshammer's picture

I reckon he deserves an ovation from us fans. Never the best but always loyal and committed. Favourite season for me was when he worked so well with Tevez in the great escape.

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180 users have voted.
hammer1980's picture

At this start of the season, he did not play at best, but he was not the only one. However, it puts heart and soul in the field.

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170 users have voted.

Jeez boys you are an impatient lot. Firstly we lost three games in a row and were relegated with Bilic sacked. Now Noble's getting laps of honour as he retires at the age of 30. There's a hell of as lot of premature ejaculation on here, i bet your missuses are well happy? ;)

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155 users have voted.
hammer1980's picture

We lost the first three games, but not just for his fault. The whole team and Bilic are involved

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178 users have voted.

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