The lack of academy talent in the first team at Upton Park initiates fans to idolize any players who come through the youth team. One of those players is Mark Noble, an experienced and determined midfielder, who brings great passion and energy to the team. However, for all of his sheer desire to do his best for the Hammers, he does have flaws which cost the team.
Noble has been a regular in the West Ham first team since 2007, at the tender age of 20. In the past ten years, Noble has been part of some of the great and disappointing moments at Upton Park. The vice-captain does deserve praise for his commitment, but he lacks class if the Hammers want to reach the top.
A lack of pace and the inability to beat his man has set Noble back during his career, two of the reasons why the former England-Under 21 international has never played for the national side. He is a mid-table Premier League player and is never going to be any better than that. This begs the question does Mark Noble deserve a starting role?
The set-piece taker is likely to lose his duties with Aaron Cresswell and Dimitri Payet showing they can do much better at the job. Pace is something that the Hammers side has missed especially during the previous rounds of the Europa League, which is a trait Noble does not possess.
The competition in the centre of midfield has increased with the impressive performances of Cheikhou Kouyate, who was underrated during his first season at the Boleyn Ground.
Noble’s place is certainly in doubt with the signing of Spanish star Pedro Obiang, who has both athletic and technical ability to improve the centre of midfield.
It seems Slaven Bilic is going to have two deeper central midfielders’ roles, which should be given Obiang and Kouyate, and that’s without placing Diego Poyet into contention for a start, who has shone during pre-season.
Noble is known for his perceptive eye for a pass, but recently he has not been able to distribute the simplest of passes. Without this the only contribution Noble brings to the team is his 360 turn, a trademark of former Hammer Scott Parker.
There is no denying that Noble can be a great player but for a player in his ‘prime’, his performances have not shown this to be the case. Noble’s position is definitely up for grabs at Upton Park but with a lot of games expected to be played this season, he is needed, just not every week.
