Noble

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Im beginning to think it might have been a mistake making noble captain , dont get me wrong ido rate him but in the order of things considering .. the strength of our current squad i just think he might be a little bit to far doown the pecking order and the problem comes when he's not performing as he should ,it doesn't look good to have to drop your captain especially on a regular basis ,i know it happend a lot last year but the big Sam part of our past is a time i would rather foget , i think Reid lwould have been a better choice .
On the city game.im going for a well earned point , just tighten up a small bit at the back because their going to try and clobber hard and fast with every thing they've got witch will suit us down to the ground because its looking like we have nearly perfected the counter attacking game ,ive got to say i haven't been so confident of west ham in years it was great last night to hear carriger and neville slightly in ore of west ham ,next thing you know. Liniker will be singing our praces .

Sorry Burkie totally disagree

Sorry Burkie totally disagree mate. for all the skill and technique of other players we have on the pitch, his personal desire and passion is worth more, there is a lot of debate whether he's good enough, but the question is, is he good enough for West Ham? for me he has to start every game because of how his work rate keeps everyone else going. Beckham was a similar captain, he led by example of work rate, he wasn't the most gifted player was he? yes he could strike a dead ball but he was a bit one dimensional in open play. I actually saw Nobes take on players last night and he played in the middle in the flanks and in the box, he was everywhere. Jack Colback was run ragged by him. And when his confidence is up he gets better. yes he hit a couple of cross field passes badly but that's why he plays for west ham and not Man City. It does help having Kouyate there to be fair as he gets about too. Lastly on the pro Noble case, right at the end of the match Payet lost the ball just outside the box and he started walking and smiling. Nobes was screaming at him to get back and he immediately obeyed. Payet was awesome last night as was Moses (what a work ethic on that fella) , but these better technical players need a little Corporal barking at them and keeping them in check. What's even better for us now is that we've got Obiang, Song. Kouyate, Oxford and Noble all vying for that position. Wide and attacking players we have Moses, Payet, Zarate, Lanzini, Antonio and Amalfitano and now Four proper stickers in Sakho, Valencie, carroll and jelavic. I don't think we've had a better squad in the premiership going forward.

Good to see you "dust the

Good to see you "dust the keyboard" down Betty.

As you know (or might not but I suspect you do) Ive never been a fan of Noble.

THAT SAID....I have also stated that based on personal experience "you have to look round the dressing room for something" and to that end he brings MASSIVE COMMITMENT.

Personally i felt last night that it was the first time in many a moon ive not seen him play WITH DESPERATION pouring out every pore!!!

Its awfully hard as a midfielder to play" any positive stuff" when you are giving the ball 20 yards ahead of you and all your team mates are doing is kicking it straight back to you as you are getting closed down!!!!

Payet,Moses and Sahko now ensure that is a an awful lot less likely to happen.

Will it turn him into an incredible midfielder?

No.

Simply because he will still lack pace,box to box athleticism, be prone to late tackles(because of the aforementioned) .

Whether its "as good enough reason" to make him Captain im not sure....Bilic obviously believes it is.

Not sure what its going to do regarding his options team wise further down the line though particularly when Song is available?!

Nice to see you have started collecting the Panininis up front though......ive got a doubler of Sahko (would you swap for Jelavic (I would even take 1 of him in Hull colours).

Hope your well fella.

Hi Roberto. As I said I think

Hi Roberto. As I said I think he suits our aspirations now. He's as good a club captain as we could ask for. A brilliant Ambassador. I don't personally think he's the best central midfielder, in fact he's just about in the top three, but the fans the manager need him at the moment to galvanise the club.

Oh you have been watching

Oh you have been watching closely lol.

All good fella.

You make very valid points ( as does Redneck and Chippy (though why hes commenting on Hammers websites when hes a Yeovil fan really I dont know!!) and it is a very valid point.

I have said so myself in the past (not naming Noble personally) that ALL TEAMS need LEADERS/BACKBONERS/ GUYS WHO WHO STAND UP WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWNERS!!

Know what.

Newcastle have a good bunch of " very good footballers".

What" they dont have " is somebody that stands up at 2.59pm and say " we are the best lets bring it home for the Geordies"!!!!

Slag Nolan off all you want but I firmly believe thats what he brought to us.

Know what...it would be avery astute move by them to get him back onside very quickly!!

All those very nice footballers are just going to go down the tubes without somebody to lead them somewhere(apart from The Championship)!!!

Spurs, a man who gets what I

Spurs, a man who gets what I mean, sorry for the arse lick!

Betty there is a lot of truth

Betty there is a lot of truth in what you say and I don't agree with the lead post but for different reasons. Let me put it on record that I would NOT have made noble captain but do believe he needs to have a large part to play with the new guys who need to be rallied to know what it takes put play in the premiership. In terms of effort and fight when things don't go your way (see Newcastle the last few seasons ) as for the captain playing every game, maybe it's time to think more big club. Surely noble is what should be describe as CLUB captain. They need to be rested too! We have a squad let's use it! If he plays he wears the arm band but he can't play every game it's not feasible. No one should play every game if we have good cup runs as well. So our midfield should get roughly the same amount of games in theory. Even Payet should be rested in the early cup rounds, for lanzini

I don't know I f I'm seeing

I don't know I f I'm seeing noble through rose tinted glasses but today when jelevic came on he passed a long what seemed detailed message to noble (obviously from bilic) after this altho still under the cosh the spaces between our centre halves and full backs reduced and stopped us defensively rocking! Good tactics. Well carried out

Current form he is a shoe in

I am one who thought he was average to pretty good but nothing special, but the Bilic style suits him he is playing without having to think add to that the better players and he is actually integral to everything positive when going forward he is not lost in the play and seems to be exactly where he needs to be cannot fault him, very committed always has been.

Hi chubby first time I've

Hi chubby first time I've seen you comment, I'm assuming you have a name change? Noble will never be a Ronaldinho but I'm just pointing out he does bring something important to the party. The game isn't played on paper, if it was he wouldn't play.

I'm eating my hat and glad to do so!

In the Summer I made a post that Noble was not prem league quality. While I agree we have such a strong mid field, and I would prefer Song in his place against City (if fit), I cant take away his display last night. He was worthy of that armband. I see your post was made before the game, and wonder if you got that kind of performance each time if you would change your mind? On the subject of last night I was amazed at how physically strong and fast the team is. I don't think I have ever seen a West Ham team as quick and powerful. The only time I felt the team was vulnerable was when Creswell and Jenkinson were on the ball! I would much rather have Tomkins on the right leaving room for James Collins. Now Obiang is injured maybe Collins will step in..

How would you like your

How would you like your trilby to be served my lord?

I think to add and caveat

I think to add and caveat what Dicksy has said. If we in the future find ourselves competing for those Champs League places etc.... Will he have grown enough or will the technical ability out way the passion, as those others around are capable enough, as they'd be better players? Also agree Florida about the pace. He's a slow player but sometimes when all the engine parts are running at 100mph you might a need that slower cog to mop up?

yep im ok with him not having

yep im ok with him not having the pace I saw with Moses, Skho and the likes there is enough pace there for me..

Sorry more to add. He's

Sorry more to add. He's actually a really great bloke. He keeps his nose clean, a big family man and isn't a Charlie Large footballer type at all. As captain of our club and its playing Ambassador he represents decency and hard work. That for me is what our role models should be like

No surprise but with the

No surprise but with the talent we now have in midfield why make the poorest midfielder captain, don't get it, yes we can say he tries hard....really, but if he plays Kouyate or Song is on the bench, a fit Kouyate or Song is a better player and gives the team more, Tomkins would've been just as good a choice for me, equally as good as Ogbonna and Reid and has the necessary qualification of being 'one of our own', Reid is another choice, Kouyate another if we're looking for a player to lead by example, but what do I know

I think if the game was only

I think if the game was only played on paper you are right Dave. I think for a team like West Ham he galvanises the team and the fans like no other player. That is worth more I think. At a higher level and if we are trying to compete there I don't think it'll matter

I think for those reasons we

I think for those reasons we'll always stay a team like West Ham mate, there can't be many teams that give the mediocre player the captain's armband, I just hope having better players around him will cover him, Nolan didn't have that luxury and got crucified every week because he wasn't West Ham, I think Mark's lucky he is, I wish him all the best though

Mark Noble is most definately

Mark Noble is most definately not a mediocre player. He is a good Premier League quality player and works his socks off every game.You will always notice the flair players like Moses and Payet but Mark Noble goes about his job very efficiently. He reminds me of Ronnie Boyce who was nicknamed Ticker because he made the team tick. He wasn't the best player and certainly not when compared to Moore Hurst Peters and Byrne. However, you always noticed when he was out of the team as it didn't work as well.

Omg noble? A mediocre player!

Omg noble? A mediocre player! That's just not true! Ok if you picked the best 11 players we have he possibly not be in there. But anyone who manages a team KNOWS the best 11 players don't makes the best TEAM! You need a bit of everything. Noble is one of those players who allow people like Payet to do his thing. He won't get big credit but some important players don't, it doesn't make them mediocre!

Unsurprisingly I don't agree,

Unsurprisingly I don't agree, you telling me that Song or Kouyate can't do the necessary part of the job of a midfielder and be better than Mark Noble?
the only difference being they'll do that job and more, good luck to the bloke, he's made a living out of being very ordinary

I don't think song has that

I don't think song has that side to him chippy. Kouyate maybe, it's the attitude of not rolling over when your back is against the wall. Song isn't like that. Someone who cares enough to walk over coals. As I said in an earlier post chippy, imo opinion why can't we have a squad game which noble is very much apart of.

I agree he's a good player to

I agree he's a good player to have in the squad but by choosing him as captain he's picking Mark Noble for at least every league game, for me that's a strange choice with the midfield we now have, but then I didn't understand the new 5 year contract he was given either, that said the common denominator is me so perhaps that tells you all you need to know, I just don't get him as player but I do wish him all the best

Chippy noble galvanises the

Chippy noble galvanises the team ( hopefully even when not playing) if we are playing well his importance is probably less evident, an unsung hero, but if we start to slide to the relegation zone his importance will sky rocket. I believe noble isn't one of our best midfielders but he does bring something to our midfield that others don't. Under fergie manure had a captain but didn't gaurantee his inclusion in every game, and I don't think noble should either. I also would not have picked him as my captain.

Fair points, I think we'll

Fair points, I think we'll see our captain as a permanent fixture though, although I'm not sure who is now vice captain?

Chippy not trying to shout

Chippy not trying to shout down your opinion, and I don't think you have taken it that way. Which pleases me. You may very well be right in your permanent fixture prediction only time will tell. I'm not against differing opinions it's healthy. Was a bit territorial about ur mediocre comment tho ha ha. It's not like when Nolan was getting a game when he had nothing to offer and maybe people on the forums have taken it this way. Scouting other sites us fans now have very little reason to be so negative about our current squad. The current squad is very good but will faulter as we are in transition from the big Sam era, I expect this to take at least a year regardless of the last 2 results. I'm not getting carried away in the same way I didn't when we lost to Bourno and Leicester . We can now go into games knowing we are gona try and win and have the ability t score the goals to beat anyone

No offence taken at all mate,

No offence taken at all mate, it's just about expressing opinions, mine just happens to be different than 95% of people on here, lol
I'm definitely not too negative this season, although you'd never guess sometimes!, I think the future is bright for us and I think we have a decent manager taking us there

I have to disagree mate

He's an asset and always looks to play football on the deck whilst giving 100% effort, and to add he posses loyalty which these days is priceless in the shite world of football. Carlton Cole was loyal apparently for taking a pay cut to stay and although I admire him for that bit, he was shockingly bad for years and is no comparison from an all round perspective to Noble. Noble is never a mediocre footballer in my opinion.

Well said Betty. My daughter

Well said Betty. My daughter is friends with Mark Nobles wife and he really is a lovely guy. He got me a signed shirt for my 60th birthday. A captain represents the club at all levels not just on the pitch.He loves the club and speaks well when interviewed.On the pitch, he provides leadership and he in now scoring goals from open play thanks to the defensive cover provided by the likes of Kouyate and Obiang.He nearly got a penalty against Newcastle on Monday with another good turn and run.For me he was the only choice as club captain and long may he reign.

Sounds like another personal

Sounds like another personal connection to the Noble family, like I've said I don't know the bloke so I'm basing my opinion as a footballer not that he signed a shirt for me, he's still a West Ham player and for that reason I hope he does well but for me we will have better players sat on the bench while he's playing because he's captain

I think as a club captain you

I think as a club captain you have to be that person though mate. You have to be the guy that new players, foreigners etc... go to as a reference of guidance. PDC is a classic example of amazing ability but poor captain. His two most recognisable and memorable moments for us are the Wimbeldon goal, total genius, and the Bradford game and grappling with Lampard Jnr for the penalty, total selfishness. He wasn't captain because he was the best leader. It was because he was the best player. Mikel Arteta another one. On their day surely Wilshere, Cazorla and Ramsey are better options? But Arteta is club captain? Maybe he's a great guy behind the scenes and players respond to him. I've played in teams with captains and as captain in rugby. The best players that could do that bit of magic, always needed managing around the pitch. Because I worked hard and was willing to lay my body on the line, they would do as I asked (demanded). There was never a question about their superior ability over mine, they accepted it. Maybe that's what happened with Nobes. The personal experiences people have just confirm that image. All opinions though mate but a lot of managers pick him?

Yep they certainly do pick

Yep they certainly do pick him, he must have something and I know I'm very much in the minority, I just hope we don't go down the same route as we did with Nolan, who I thought was our best captain for years but he became an Achilles heel in the side because he was captain but his legs had gone and he was treated like shite from a majority of the fans which can't of helped confidence, Noble's lucky in the respect that the fans love him, I hope the management take a sensible approach and drop him if they need to though, other than that good luck to the bloke

I think Nolan vs Noble

I think Nolan vs Noble argument because isn't West Ham is a bit disingenuous. Nolan was given a chance as long as he performed. Once it was apparent he couldn't anymore and was getting picked regardless, he fell foul of the fans. There are others if you look at this list ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015–16_Premier_League ) that fit the "not the best player" (which is subjective not fact) but their managers obviously think they're the best captains.

My point was that Mark will

My point was that Mark will look a better player surrounded by the pace and skill we have in the side now, Nolan didn't have that, he had to play in a side that relied upon Carlton Cole being the back up striker, with the likes of Downing as the 'star' midfielder. I don't know any of the players personally so the fact that he might be a great family man makes no difference to me, I'm basing my opinion on footballing ability and leadership, to me he's found wanting in both departments, particularly when it means leaving a better player on the subs bench, Bilic obviously sees him as the player to take the club forward though so as I said my opinion counts for nothing, and I hope he does well, I just think we will have better options when players are fit

Agree Betty.

I dont go along with the "nolan was treated like shite by the majority!!".He was still captain,wasnt good enough, so thats why he got stick...no different from anyone else in that situation!

I'm not so sure H65, there

I'm not so sure H65, there were a lot of players not performing in the team last season including our new captain but Nolan was singled out, I still maintain that was because of his links with Sam Allardyce, whichever way we look at it he's still one of our most successful captains in our modern era, I think it's sometimes easy to forget

I respect your opinion Dave

But imo scott parker was by far a better captain than nolan,but at the end of the day its about opinions & we will just have to agree to disagree!;)

Absolutely mate, have a good

Absolutely mate, have a good weekend

Competition

There is a lot of competition now in the middle of the park and imo there are quite a few more skilled players than Mark, no one can match his heart and desire but sometimes that is'nt enough. Having said that being given the arm band is a shoe in to the team sheet week after week.

My point exactly mate, he

My point exactly mate, he starts now regardless

You really should go back to

You really should go back to supporting Yeovil and stop undermining our best player.

Only when they're winning! It

Only when they're winning! It's West Ham's turn this week

Chist are you still on board

Chist are you still on board glory hunter ?!!

I always said he was not that good

But I also said he might be able to lift his performances if we could get the whole team performing better and if we had better players.
I honestly think Noble is earning his place at the moment working hard and creating stuff too, so maybe i was wrong and he can be good.

I thought his coments after

I thought his coments after the game were inspiring, the lad was almost in tears

Acknowledgement

Mark said in his post match interview (citeh) that Bobby Z used to say win the ball then give it to the better players around you. This lad has West Ham in his blood but knows his abilitys are limited to winning ,holding and creating space for the talent to shine...no doubt he has captain abilities but for me Reid should've been the man but I know it means more to Mark and he will give every ounce of effort he has but from a footballing sense is that enough, a bit strange saying this considering our away form.