Mark Noble is Mr. West Ham. Having come up through the Hammers’ youth ranks to captain the first-team, the midfielder is the local hero many supporters look up to and his uncapped England status is a topic that annoys Irons supporters in the Transfer Tavern even now!
However, he has tested the patience of those in the stands at the London Stadium by hitting out at those being critical of his performances this season. To be fair to the fans, Noble’s displays have been a far cry from his 2015/16 form, but the same goes for a host of players in the claret and blue shirts.
In case you’re wondering what he said, here it is:
“If I am really honest, a lot of people who now go to football don’t really understand the game,” he told Sky Sports.
“Football is a game of moments now and if someone does four step-overs, they’ve had an incredible game.
“That’s not something I do. It’s just football, you’ve got to live with it. The things Arsene Wenger has done for Arsenal and some people want him out.
“Players like Wayne Rooney, some people want him out of the Manchester United team. That’s why we are captains of our clubs, because we can handle that pressure.”
Needless to say, this has annoyed the fans. While Noble has every right to defend himself from criticism, questioning supporters’ understanding of the game they follow so closely may not have been the most wise of moves on the 29-year-old’s part, and our landlord has been scouring Twitter to see just how his outburst has gone down…
@Noble16Mark how arrogant are you??? We do understand football and we want you to be dropped because you’re awful!!#whufc
— Richard langton (@richard_langton) 14 March 2017
@Noble16Mark saying us fans don’t understand the game, has to be up there with Big Fat Sam calling us delusional. Both are melts to be fair.
— Möè (@MOEWHU) 14 March 2017
If only @Noble16Mark showed half as much fight on the football pitch as he did in a recent interview we’d never get overrun in midfield.
— Möè (@MOEWHU) 14 March 2017
@Noble16Mark why have you said fans have no idea about football Mark ? Just cos your getting bit of criticism you can’t turn on us now
— Stevie taylor (@StevieT1969) 14 March 2017
@Noble16Mark says fans dont understand the game, It’s about moments now?.. “moments like not crossing the ball when ur supposed to lol.
— kenny mcrobbie (@kennydoright10) 14 March 2017
@Noble16Mark oh dear Mark have you made biggest mistake of your life with that interview ?
— Stevie taylor (@StevieT1969) 14 March 2017
While most are annoyed, a selection think Noble’s verdict was spot on…
Well said @Noble16Mark majority of ‘fans’ don’t have a clue #SupportThroughThickAndThin
— Sean (@SeannyyLewis) 14 March 2017
Credit to @Noble16Mark for coming out and responding to his critics. For the record, he’s spot on! Now put in a quality performance on Sat!
— Jason Inge (@jasoninge) 14 March 2017
@UberWestHam don’t think people realise how bad we play without @Noble16Mark there’s no one to break up the play
— Jordan Duffin (@jduffin97) 14 March 2017
