More and more West Ham United fans are calling for David Moyes to replace homegrown captain Mark Noble with youngster Declan Rice.
West Ham United entertain Burnley today knowing a win is crucial in the battle to survive this season.
Moyes‘ side had turned a corner when a 2-0 win over Watford elevated them up to midtable and onto 30 points.
But back-to-back 4-1 defeats to Liverpool and relegation rivals Swansea City has dragged the Hammers back into the thick of things in one of the most congested survival battles in recent memory.
Supporters are furious with the side’s performances of late and many fear they have hit poor form at the wrong time with rivals steadily improving.
West Ham face an obdurate Burnley side who visit the London Stadium with one of the best away records in the country.
Ahead of the game more and more supporters are calling on Moyes to take affirmative action by replacing homegrown captain Mark Noble with young defender Declan Rice IN MIDFIELD.
Much like the team, Noble’s form has been very up and down over the last two seasons.
Rice has operated in midfield before with mixed results.
But an increasing number of Hammers fans feel it is time to inject more mobility into the centre of the park to help the club stave off the threat of relegation.
It would be brave of Moyes to suddenly drop the captain and boyhood Hammer from the side at such a crucial stage of the season.
But as has been proved by Scott McTominay at Manchester United, if you are good enough you are old enough after the young midfielder emerged to take Paul Pogba’s place in the Red Devils side under Jose Mourinho.
What Rice lacks in experience behind Noble, he probably makes up for with increased mobility and agility.
It may give the likes of Manuel Lanzini more licence to take off the shackles with Rice in the centre protecting the defence alongside Cheikhou Kouyate.
One Hammers fan commented on HITC.com: “Rice moving to centre midfield in place of Noble.
“It’s another defender at corners etc and enough legs to back up attackers. Surely a no-brainer as Noble does neither.”
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