Has the real Mark Noble just stood up?

There was so much to delight in yesterday: the no nonsense, get on with the job approach of Jacobsen; the saves of Green; the monumental defensive performance of Da Costa; the movement and skill of  both Obinna and Piquionne; the continued superb form of Parker; and the way that the team, in contrast to last season, played with energy, verve and desire ALLIED to shape and organisation. But for me, the most pleasing aspect of the performance was the way Mark Noble played. 

Noble is a player who triggers passionate debate amongst our fans. Many will excuse him anything, because he is "West Ham through and through" and an Academy product; others have written him off, claiming he is too slow and lacks the necessary skill to merit a place in a good Premiership team. This is odd given the type of player he is. You expect extreme reactions to players like Huddlestone, who appears languid and lazy at times, but Noble always plays with his heart on his sleeve, always gives his all, always tries 100%. The trouble is, some have argued, that Noble thinks he is better than he actually is, that he tries to be too clever and so looks a mug, regardless of his passion.

Noble has been through one hell of a journey for a guy who is not yet into his prime years. He started as a Joe Cole type but was remodelled by Pardew because of his lack of pace. He made his debut for the reserves aged just 15 - a record - suggesting that the club saw something VERY special in the boy. He is still only 23 but has been playing for the first team for 7 seasons, and has more than 100 Premiership games under his belt. That is part of the problem. Critics treat Noble as if he is 27 or 28, not a young player still finding his way in the game.

The last two seasons have been disappointing for Noble. His career undoubtedly stalled and probably went into reverse. But look what he had to deal with. England U21 duties meant that he went almost 20 months without having a break - that is one hell of a burden for a player whose all action style means that he never stops running. Then there was a deep seated injury which he struggled to shake off. Then there's the turmoil at the club. Noble has played under Pardew, Curbishley, Zola and now Grant, and has just got on with the job to the best of his ability, come rain or rain! Weaker individuals might have been crushed by what has been happening at the club. Then add to that Zola's use of Noble, playing him wide right and wide left, when the guy is patently suited only to playing in the centre of midfield, and is it any wonder that he looked "out of form".

Well yesterday, I saw the old Mark Noble, the Mark Noble that got us all so excited during the Great Escape, the Mark Noble that Arsene Wenger, of all people, considered buying. Now Wenger may not have an eye for a keeper but he does know a good midfielder when he sees one. The fact that he even considered Noble - even though he is English! - suggests that the boy has what it takes to succeed.

Yesterday wasn't a one off. Towards the end of last season, he was out of position but still holding his own in midfield and looking strong defensively, if still a little casual with his passing. Against Stoke, I thought he was excellent too, the senior partner in midfield in truth, which is saying something given the way Parker is playing this season! And yesterday, against a very strong Tottenham midfield unit, he looked absolute class. What impressed me most was his movement - the way he created passing opportunities for others. He looked like a genuine midfield general to me and, again, I thought his all round game was better than Parker's.

Regular contributor Stani Army has promised to run naked down the Barking Road if Noble gets more than one cap for England. Well, I think we should make that streak (or waddle mate?) a sponsored event with money going to the Bobby Moore cancer charity. Be warned Stani, I can see an England midfield five of Johnson, Rodwell, Noble, Wilshire and Milner come the next World Cup, with Walcott used as an impact sub!