Does ‘Mr. West Ham’ still have a valuable role to play for the Hammers in 2016/17?

Let’s face it, although many seemingly foresaw Slaven Bilic and West Ham United initially struggling out on the pitch as a result of their recent move to London’s Olympic Stadium, no one quite expected the Hammers to take to life in 2016/17 as poorly as they admittedly have done so far this season.

 

From a string of unforgivable mishaps at the back, to a total loss of direction from the managerial dug-out and a series of equally embarrassing off-field incidents that have brought the club nothing but a whole load of negative attention down at the Olympic Stadium thus far – the 2016/17 campaign has certainly proven one to forget in the east-end of London. Things seem to be going from bad to worse for the Hammers right about now, and unless Bilic can somehow turn things around rather dramatically sooner rather than later, perhaps the once unthinkable threat of relegation may ultimately become all too real for Irons fans in the not too distant future.

 

So then, with West Ham currently struggling badly among the English top-flight at this particular stage in the proceedings – must Bilic grab his current situation by the scruff of the neck and potentially drop current Hammers captain, Mark Noble, from the first team fold this season to stand any real chance of further improvement? The fans have clearly begun to have their say…

 

Noble just passing backwards or to the side.. think he needs to be dropped, Obiang for me

— Irons Stuff (@Irons_Stuff) 25 September 2016

 

Mark Noble is huge problem for us. He's too slow, leaves the defence exposed and runs around like a headless chicken. He needs to be dropped

— West Ham COYI (@TheHammers_) 24 September 2016

 

Although most honest West Ham fans still hold Mark Noble in the highest regard possible for his passionate displays out on the pitch, as well as his old fashioned attitude and clear love for the club he has supported since he was a child – perhaps now is simply the time for the 29-year-old Englishman to finally be dropped from the first team fold at West Ham United.

 

Whilst there have been several other key offenders involved among Slaven Bilic’s ill-fated plans so far this season, Noble has ultimately looked way past his sell-by date whenever he has represented the Hammers in 2016/17, as he no longer seems capable of winning countless tackles in the middle of the park or keeping on his toes when tasked with rushing back into position on those all-important counter-attacks. If West Ham are to improve upon their current fortunes any time soon, Bilic needs to install more of an influence within his central-midfield positions, and quickly!

 

Yes, the long-term Hammers favourite could theoretically turn things around in his next few outings with just a little bit of luck on his side – but with Cheikhou Kouyate also looking rather short of his best in the middle of the park for West Ham this season – now is seemingly no time for Slaven Bilic to be offering Mark Noble chance after chance after chance, just because he was born round the corner and always where’s his heart upon his sleeve.

 

Put in no uncertain terms whatsoever, Mark Noble will always be well received among real Hammers fans – that much will most likely remain true for the rest of his playing days no matter how poorly West Ham have ultimately performed this season. But will this team really progress with a central-midfielder who constantly passes backwards whilst looking dangerously short of confidence whenever he finds himself inside the final third? Certainly not… 

 

We all love Mark Noble but he needs to he dropped.

— Uber West Ham (@UberWestHam) 25 September 2016