West Ham United captain Mark Noble has suggested the club is in need of more strong personalities in the dressing room.
The Hammers have enjoyed a comfortable if underwhelming debut campaign with Manuel Pellegrini at the helm.
Performances against the top six have been excellent on the whole.
But the opposite has been true when facing so-called lesser sides.
Hammers attitude problem?
Many feel the team has an attitude problem and lack motivation for the less glamorous matches.
Others simply feel West Ham’s Premier League-worst injury list has caught up with them at times.
Now skipper Mark Noble has suggested the club needs more mental toughness in the dressing room.
It comes after Ryan Fredericks lifted the lid on an inspirational speech from Noble ahead of their historic 1-0 win at Spurs last time out, read the full story here.
Captain Noble wants more leaders like Zaba
Speaking in his Evening Standard column, Noble commented on veteran defender Pablo Zabaleta signing a contract extension.
And he believes the club needs more people like the Argentine.
“I saw Ryan Fredericks mentioned that I had given a speech before the game,” Noble said in the Evening Standard.
“The truth is I just wanted the players to know how much it meant to everyone, the club, staff and the fans…
“There was more welcome news this week, with Pablo Zabaleta signing for another year. To have a player like him is so important. I wish we had a few more ‘Zabaletas’.”
Pellegrini must address issue in summer recruitment
Pellegrini must keep Noble’s words in mind when he assesses players he wants to bring to the club this summer.
You can’t have enough leaders in a football team.
At times West Ham have lacked that this season with some disappointing and meek performances.
It doesn’t mean you have to have 11 captains on the pitch.
But players who are brave, mentally tough and have the right attitude to drive the Hammers onto bigger and better things.
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