Martin Keown has agreed with West Ham supporters about the combination of Mark Noble and Jack Wilshere.
The former Arsenal star was speaking in a Q&A session with the Daily Mail. Keown fielded questions on a variety of clubs about key issues.
West Ham supporters were furious with the performances of Noble and Wilshere on Sunday at Anfield. Despite their undoubted quality, there was a passive nature to their play. This allowed quicker players such as Mohamed Salah to find too much space in between midfield and defence.
It was a combination that fans don’t want to see again. Keown agrees with the fans, but stated it’s too early to judge Manuel Pellegrini’s men.
It was difficult judge West Ham because of the quality of opposition they were up against. It will be interesting to see if Manuel Pellegrini continues to play Wilshere and Mark Noble together. They are both technical players but did not give West Ham enough mobility in midfield.
There is no doubting the pair contain undoubted quality. Wilshere didn’t rack up so many appearances at Arsenal without having a determination about him.
Noble, meanwhile, is a veteran at the club and the current captain. Despite, however, his longevity at the club, it could be time for him to drop out of the first-team.
Pellegrini has spoken about his desire to build an attacking side full of creativity. This surely can’t then be a side with both Noble and Wilshere in it. Both are used to holding roles, and playing with two CDMs goes against what the new manager is trying to instil.
It’ll be interesting to see the squad selection this weekend, but it appears that more and more spectators are seeing that the pairing doesn’t work.
West Ham have to bounce back at the weekend when they entertain Bournemouth on Saturday. Eddie Howe’s men won their opening-day game at home to Cardiff, and will provide tricky opposition.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
