Monday 30 April 2012

Who Needs Scott Parker When You Have Mark Noble?

Congratulations to Noble and congratulations to the West Ham fans who got it right and voted for him as Hammer of the Year. It must have been a close run thing between Tomkins and Noble but for me, he has been the stand out player, working tirelessly and controlling the game from his position as the hub of the team. I always said that we wouldn't see the best of Noble until Parker left and it is no coincidence that he has now assumed Mr Tottenham Hotspur's mantle as Hammer of the Year.

It will be interesting to hear from his critics. So Stani and Sav, what do you have to say now?

19 comments:

Sav said...

How wrong can people be! This is exactly why we are stuck with him. His football is not great but his PR abilities are unbelievable!

Hammersfan said...

Come on Sav, man up and admit you are wrong. Hammer of the Year AND in the Championship team of the year. The guy could be England captain and you still wouldn't admit to being wrong about him! ; )

Anonymous said...

I really can't believe that a player with limited ability and no pace at all can win this award. He sits in the middle of midfield waiting for all the players to get marked by the opposition, because he's so slow on the ball!, and then plays a 5 yard pass backwards or sideways. Because of his lack of athleticism he then has to charge around trying to keep up with play, but that what West Ham fans want apparently, a trier!

Hammersfan said...

So Bobby Moore was electric quick was he? And Trevor Brooking? It's a bit rich for West Ham fans to be citing pace as the key ingrediant for a footballer!

I am amazed by the lack of knowledge displayed by the Noble knockers. Unlike Parker, he plays killer passes. Unlike Parker he takes set pieces. Unlike Parker he controls the game rather than chases the game. His "dwelling on the ball" is called ball retention. You know, that strange Continental concept. If you can't pick a long pass, you keep the ball. Watch him. Watch how he is always available for a team mate, making little angles to extricate colleagues out of holes. Look at his range of passing - he is in a different league from the rest of the team and light years ahead of Parker in that respect. Look at his composure when taking penalties. Look at the number of times Noble has made a last ditch tackle, taking the ball rather than the man.

Noble has been class all season. For God's sake acknowldege a real Mr West Ham instead of Mr Tottenham Hotspur!

Anonymous said...

Gimme Parker over Noble everyday. Noble is useless and most people only voted for him because they think he is a trier. We were coasting towards victory over Reading until Noble did his usual trick of losing the ball on the edge of his own area due to his limited skill. That error led to their equaliser and our brittle confidence at home did the rest. He makes those mistakes all the time.

As for dead ball situations, he is appalling at free kicks and corners. Its only his penalty's that he is any good at and Vaz Te can easily take over that job.

Appalling decision. Tomkins easily deserved the award.

Anonymous said...

Anony-mouse says,

Parker is relevant to this post in so far as you're right HF- until he left Noble was just Robin to Parker's Batman and that departure has allowed Noble to come out of his shadow.

I don't think it's worthwhile to compare the two but for my part Parker is the better player. Noble is a good, although not a great one too. He was as a good a choice as any for HOTY, although Tomkins would have been equally valid, and for the first 80% of the season at least, Green kept us in game after game until these last (rather ropey by his standards) few weeks.

Noble has his weaknesses. He is very slow for example. But I'm not sure that slow distribution is a fair accusation. It can look that way but until the arrival of Vaz Te, and Nolan's recently found improved mobility players such as Noble were confronted with a lack of movement and options in front of them to work with. How can he be expected to move the ball on speedily if no-one is showing for it?

At this level he is certainly a very decent player, but for me the real test will be in the Premiership should we make it, or he leave us or it.

Stani said...

Oh my good Lord! HAAAAA!

HF, if he was the superstar you make him out to be, he would be linked with any number of clubs. He's not. You can tell us why.

As mentioned by Sav above, and as I have stated here a number of times, the guy is a PR master! Going to away trips when he's injured and doesnt have to. Opting to do the golf events and community visits etc. First one to training and last one home...but still cannot take a free-kick. Sliding into a tackle when there is no need, so the crowd think he's die-hard. Tapping his teammates on the bum here and there. Making the manager's morning brew. He probably even collects the cones after training! It's all for a reason fella!

I swear, I honestly ask myself what are his attributes and there isn't much. Penalties, maybe? He does the odd good pass every 10 games....and that's about it. Honest to God, if he was good, I would say it...why wouldn't I?

Ever since he has been in our side the midfield has been an issue. And because of it, our strikers have suffered with only one up, and our defence has suffered with a lack of protection. You've blamed Parker...but he left and lo and behold the problem continued. Now you blame Nolan, the guy that has scored our most important goals, and I guarantee if he leaves, the problem will still persist. Why? Because the problem is Noble.

I know you'll ask why do the managers pick him? Refer to my paragraph above about his PR skills. Teachers love their pet, HF.

Spot on 07:41!!!

Did you see Soccer AM's teammates recently? It was Lansbury and Maynard. Guess who they picked as the slowest? Yup, Noble! 'His forehead slows him down a bit' said Maynard. HAHAAAA!!!!

I'll post the link below.

Stani said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5Ohh7js80M

Anonymous said...

Mark's a good player and he's one of ours. I can see him playing a major role in the play-offs. Bring on Thursday!

Anonymous said...

So Noble gets HOTY and all his critics are suddenly wrong but when Parker wins HOTY his critics (you) aren't wrong. Hmm, more cr'p being spouted I suspect.

Anonymous said...

A real Mr West Ham who's already been found out in the Premiership chasing shadows. It's time you woke up my friend and realise that while we continue to worship non achieving home grown players our club will never get out of this rut that we seem to be in. A midfielder that doesn't score from open play or has the ability to take a man on is a luxury player in a team such as ours. He's found his level and won an award, I'm very happy for him

Sav said...

You say, "The guy could be England captain and you still wouldn't admit to being wrong about him!".

Now let me see the logic here. Parker is the captain of England. But you still won't let go and admit you are wrong about him!

Well that is some advice really coming from you.

Anonymous said...

As is becoming increasingly commonplace, I find myself agreeing with you again HF. Noble has been the stand out player of the season for me and he has driven the midfield while our captain goes missing for long periods of the game. I voted for Nobby and I am delighted he won!

Hammersfan said...

1710, you really don't get irony do you? As for you Sav, I'm shocked, I thought you were more intelligent than that! You missing that tongue in cheek self deprecation is rather like Aristotle failing to see the humour in a Greek lending a German a fiver!

Stani, you are a bitter man. What has Noble ever done to you? Is he a member of the EDL or something? Be happy that a West Ham man has been recognised by his fellow professionals, who don't benefit from Noble's PR activities - like Nolan doesn't play the same game by the way!

Anony-mouse, I'm getting worried. We are agreeing about more and more!

Anonymous said...

Anony-mouse says,

Yeah me too! Don't worry I'm sure it won't last :)

In any case HF I'm not completely agreeing with you about Nobes. I just think he's a better player than some give him credit for.

He's had a good season, but we have to remember what league we are in. We will have to see if he's developed enough this year to cut it in the top league (if we go up) cos he's not been more than average in it before. Hopefully we'll get to find out.

Hammersfan said...

LOL Anony-Mouse, I'm not calling Noble the new Trevor Brooking. I know his pace limits him and that he does still make mistakes, but he is only now hitting his prime and I have been hugely impressed by him in recent weeks. It's the way he is always looking for the ball and always offering an easy pass to under pressure team mates that impresses me. Will he cut it in the Prem? I think so. i think he has grown this season and I suppose Allardyce deserves some credit for that. Hang on, I'm going for a lie down after typing that!

Anonymous said...

He's not got any better HF, he's playing against tosh week in week out, I can barely recite Soton's or Reading's midfielders let alone the likes of Donny and Bristol City. He plays in a deep position where he sees more of the ball than any other player in the side, that's his job, having the ball off people because nobody marks him

Anonymous said...

Anony-mouse says,

Bloody hell HF- this new found reasonableness is why even I can't argue with you lately.

Noble has grown this season. The other one who has, and even more so is Tomkins. I think tTomkin's improvement is down to him playing in a more organised team against weaker opposition so having a chance to increase confidence and catch breath after seasons of struggle in disorganised defences.

7.41 isn't a fan of Nobes but I can confirm one thing he said- West Ham fans do love a trier. And that's the quality that along with others that he possesses means that whilst recognising his weaknesses and limitations, most of us like the lad.

Btw- I hope O'Neill is fit for Thursday- he's been looking like a genuine piece in the jigsaw and takes so much pressure of Nobes.

Deane said...

Parker plays for the yids Noble for West Ham makes him a better player better person more likeable etc etc
Even Carew is better than Parker