TalkSPORT hosts Adrian Durham and Darren Gough are at odds over Mark Noble’s status at West Ham United.
The 31-year-old signed a contract extension with his boyhood club on Wednesday, but Durham and Gough couldn’t agree on whether he is a Hammers legend or not.
“Will he go down as West Ham legend or is he a cult figure at the football club who symbolises West Ham’s mediocrity?” Durham posed on talkSPORT. “He’s never played for England. So there’s a level of player Mark Noble is, and it’s a decent level but not the top level. So does that symbolise where West Ham have been and probably always will be?”
Gough retorted: “For Mark Noble to be at the same club and come through since he’s been eleven, I think he is a legend. I think he’ll continue to be a legend even when he stops playing, because I think he’ll stay at the football club as a coach.”
“He’s never played for England. He’s a decent level, but not top level.”
Is Mark Noble a #WHUFC legend?@talkSPORTDrive and Darren Gough debate as he signs a new contract. pic.twitter.com/52mFoJRrgb
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) December 12, 2018
OPINION
Both men make decent points, here. Noble, in terms of what he has done for West Ham and his service to the club over many years has to be considered a club legend. He’s not been one of the most talented footballers to wear the claret and blue shirt, he’s certainly not Paulo Di Canio or Dimitri Payet, but he’s a leader in the vein of Bobby Moore and he’s given his utmost to the Hammers cause every time he’s played. Durham is correct that he’s not a top level player, but he’s wrong in saying that that means West Ham will be at the level they’re at now forever. There is scope for the club to improve and they’re showing signs of that this season. Gough is probably spot on in his prediction that Noble will go into coaching with the Hammers. He seems to be a born leader and that will hold him in good stead if he does choose that for the next stage of his career.