West Ham fans are in a dire situation and it looks a lot like they could find themselves dropping into the Championship if there isn’t a quick solution to arrest the slump in form that they currently find themselves in, and David Moyes needs to find that any potential solution fast.
With that in mind, taking a more in-depth look at the Hammers midfield could be where we find the key to what is going wrong at the London Stadium. Obviously Declan Rice cannot be dropped, the youngster is more than good enough and when those around him up their games we will see what he’s all about.
Keeping that in mind, and with the fans all well aware that Rice isn’t one who should be left out, we’re left looking at both Mark Noble and Tomas Soucek, and given what the Irons’ new signing has shown what he can do in the Champions League this season, we’re calling for Noble to be axed from the side.
The Hammers’ skipper is a top player and has been for a number of years, carrying the torch for the fans who all love seeing him play because of his passion and heart when he’s out on the pitch, but the issue is that the veteran midfielder lacks the yard of pace he once had and having some running in the middle of the park is key.
Obviously Noble will still play his part when he can, he’s an important figure at the club both on and off the pitch, but using a 4-2-3-1 system, the two holders at the base of the midfield need a level of dynamism, and that’s just not something that the Irons have when Noble plays.
Different systems will open up the possibility of playing with more than just the two midfielder holders, and Noble will get his look-in then, but for now we can’t see a way in which the Hammers survive if Noble is to start the rest of their remaining Premier League fixtures, especially away at Liverpool on Monday night.