Did defeat at Watford show that new West Ham manager David Moyes may need to drop captain Mark Noble?
David Moyes, manager of West Ham United, looks on prior to the Premier League match against Watford.
David Moyes’ time as West Ham United manager did not start as the Scot would have hoped after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Watford in the Premier League.
The Hammers were outplayed at Vicarage Road and Moyes may now be more aware of the task at hand with his new team currently in the relegation zone after picking up nine points from their first 12 games.
Mark Noble of West Ham United takes on Abdoulaye Doucoure of Watford during the Premier League match.
The 54-year-old opted for a three-man central midfield with Pedro Obiang operating behind Cheikhou Kouyate and captain Mark Noble.
Noble has now played 417 times for West Ham after breaking into the first team in 2005 having come through the club’s academy system.
The skipper is a natural leader and as a homegrown talent has that connection with the fans. However, Moyes may need to drop him for the good of the team.
Pedro Obiang of West Ham United arrives prior to the Premier League match against Watford.
For all of Noble’s outstanding talents off the pitch, on it the 30-year-old is now someway behind the likes of Kouyate and Obiang. Likewise, his inclusion saw Manuel Lanzini pushed out wide, which is perhaps not the best way of utilising the Argentine’s talents.
It would be a big call for Moyes to make this early into his career at the London Stadium, but if he wants to keep the East Londoners in the English top flight it may be time to plan for life without Noble.
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