After so many years in the claret and blue, it should be no great surprise to hear the Hammers skipper say, “I want to end my career with West Ham.” Mark Noble has been a mainstay of the Hammers side ever since his debut back in 2004 against Southend in the League Cup.
Noble is nearing 400 appearances for the Hammers, a feat only 18 other players have achieved and said it would feel “funny” to turn out for another side.
Speaking to the club’s official website Noble went on to say: “To me, looking at myself at the age of nearly 30, I’ve still got a contract until I’m 33 and thinking about playing for another football club would be funny – I think Steven Gerrard said that as well.
“Walking around the place, I know all the coaches at Under-7, Under-8 and Under-9 level, sometimes I go and watch the youngsters train and I feel like I’ve been there and done it myself, coming up through the ranks with the Club.
“I’ve managed to captain this fantastic Club, which is something very few players get to do, captaining the club they support, so it’s a major honour for me. I don’t think I’ll appreciate it fully since I stop playing.
“There aren’t many of us now, because football is forever changing, managers change and obviously relegation battles mean players move on, so I think it would be very hard for players now to keep in the team they support and stay there after coming through the Academy. I can’t see it happening.
“I would like to finish my career here, that’s what I’ve always thought. I can’t see myself playing for another football team, but football is such a changing world so you can’t ever tell what’s going to happen next season.
“As I said, I’ve got three years left on my deal here and I’m not sure my body will let me go far past the age of 33, to be honest!”
THE BOSS CHARGED
Meanwhile, Slaven Bilic has been charged by the FA for “improper conduct” following his javelin-esque throw of a sound microphone in the weekend’s 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion. Although possible, it is unlikely that Bilic will receive a touchline ban and a heavy fine is expected.
ANTONIO MOVES LIKE JAGGER
Some of the female West Ham fans might have got quite excited at the start of the new Umbro advert featuring our very own Michail Antonio, released on Valentine’s Day. The advert shows our utility man arriving back at his room with a date, both sporting a pair of orange boots and putting kit on rather than taking it off. It was good to see Antonio showing off his moves but still getting an early night as there is a big game at the weekend.
CARROLL LIKES IT HOT
His yoga, that is. People have finally cottoned on to the fact that AC’s recent injury free spell is not a fluke. Carroll has taken to practising hot yoga over the last couple of years, following in the footsteps of Ryan Giggs, Andy Murray and even Prince Harry. The ancient Indian discipline is proven to aid flexibility, recovery and prevent injury – all things we can all agree the big man was in desperate need of.