---
title: "Slaven Bilic will back under-fire Mark Noble to the hills"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2017/03/16/slaven-bilic-will-back-fire-mark-noble-hills/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Michael Oliver"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2017-03-16T10:11:08Z"
modified: "2017-03-16T10:11:08Z"
---

# Slaven Bilic will back under-fire Mark Noble to the hills

It’s been nearly 13 years since Mark Noble made his West Ham debut. Not a day has gone by that Noble hasn’t been 100% committed to the cause in east London, regardless of the club’s league position or of the field difficulties.

He’s a rare breed of player – a true one-club man, and with that comes a lot of due respect and admiration. No doubt there were offers to leave in the last 13 years, but he’s stuck by us through thick and thin and Slaven Bilic will offer the same support to his captain.

Now 29, Noble has been subjected to criticism from subsets of the West Ham fan base about his style of football and whether the time has come for a changing of the guard.

Despite the criticisms, Mark Noble is expected to once again lead the team out this weekend as the Hammers take on a resurgent Leicester side at the London Stadium. Check out the [Premier League odds](https://crownbet.com.au/sports/soccer/) forecasted by CrownBet to see which club is the favourite to win this weekend’s match.

The central midfielder has been branded slow, negative and a hindrance in the progression of the team, despite the Hammers’ upturn in form.

[Bilic has quickly come to the defence](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4299322/West-Ham-manager-Slaven-Bilic-supports-Mark-Noble.html) of the club’s longest-serving player and record appearance-maker in the Premier League, saying the former England U21 captain offers leadership and balance in the team.

*“Mark is our captain, he is our skipper and he has done really well recently. He is the leader of the team. He keeps us balanced. Sometimes he has a great game and sometimes he doesn’t, but overall he is playing good for us.*

*“He is also more than a player on the pitch. His presence means a lot for the others around him. He is very influential, especially when it is not going well. He motivates the players and he cheers them up. You can’t just judge a player on one mistake.”*

West Ham won the reverse fixture back in August, their first Premier League game at the London Stadium, courtesy of a late header from Michail Antonio who is back in the matchday squad having served his one-match suspension against Chelsea.

This season has been a tough one for the Hammers, more mentally than physically. Dealing with another shocking Europa League exit which preceded an awful start to the Premier League season. It’s been tough, especially with the Dimitri Payet saga which resulted in the team’s best player leaving the club.

Much has been said about West Ham’s camaraderie of late and much of that can be attributed to the job Mark Noble does that we don’t see. Galvanising his team-mates, boosting squad morale and being a true leader. What he may be perceived to be lacking on the pitch, he more than makes up for with the intangibles you get off it.