Noble and Zabaleta, West Ham’s Golden Geezers

West Ham’s recent success has been astounding as the team has come together under their new manager and started collecting points against the Premier League’s best. Two players who have been instrumental in this turn of form are two of West Ham’s oldest.

Mark Noble and Pablo Zabaleta – West Ham’s Golden Geezers.

Pablo Zabaleta

Tied for oldest player on the team, Pablo Zabaleta isn’t showing any of his age this season. The plan was pretty straightforward when he signed with West Ham. Zabaleta pens a two-year deal and starts over Byram to begin the season, eventually cede time to the younger player, mentors him along the way, and spend his second season at the club as a lockerroom leader and Cup player.

Well, Byram’s propensity to pick up injuries saw this plan stall out and dissipate as the player was never able to get healthy enough to challenge Zabaleta. He was shipped out for the 2018/19 season on loan after a new recruit signed with West Ham and likely doesn’t have a future here anymore.

The plan got back on track with said new recruit Ryan Fredericks signing on for this season. The promotion stand out on Fulham jumped across London and signed with West Ham, bringing a strong offensive eye and blistering pace to the Hammers squad. With two months now gone in the season, Fredericks is not in the starting XI as Zabaleta has surpassed him, just like Byram, again,

Why is this 33-year-old defender able to win these jobs consistently?

Two reasons: Experience and leadership. Zabaleta is maybe the most seasoned defender in the Premier League; he knows how to win, knows how to handle explosive players, and provides a calming presence to the pitch. Fredericks lost the job because he wasn’t able to contend with the elite players of the Premier League – yet.

Despite Fredericks losing the position, it’s been Zabaleta’s leadership that has allowed him to keep his spot in the starting XI. Zabaleta has had to face up against Everton at Goodison Park, shut down Eden Hazard and Willian, and keep Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial wrapped up since being a starting player. Not the easiest of tasks.

West Ham have conceded two goals since Zabaleta was reinjected into the starting Xi at Everton, a far cry from their ten goals conceded in the previous four Premier League matches. It is also no coincidence that the center back due of Diop and Balbuena has started playing better once Zabaleta was in the back line. His play style is more reserved and they know he’ll help in coverage more than commit forward.

West Ham are at a crossroads now at right back. There is no way Zabaleta can get dropped, but Fredericks is the player of the future in that position. However, Zabaleta is playing himself into a contract extension as it stands now, as West Ham are a better team with him on the pitch

Mark Noble

He’s often the scapegoat for West Ham when the team is underperforming and rarely gets the rave reviews he deserves when the team is playing like they currently are. Mark Noble is so instrumental to West Ham being organized and playing hard, and after sustaining a back injury this was proved. Sure, he didn’t help much in West Ham’s first two matches of the season but after returning from injury he’s been a revelation.

He proved how invaluable he is to West Ham against Manchester United. Mourinho left out Mata, Herrera, Fred, and Lingard from his starting midfield which left Pogba, Fellaini, and Matic as Noble’s opposition. This trio is extremely physical and uses their height and size to their advantage. Noble led Rice and Obiang in shutting down their opposition by closing on them quickly and implementing the short, quick passing play that Pellegrini likes to use.

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Outside of his actual play, Noble brings leadership to the pitch. He knows more than anyone what West Ham is as a team and knows how to play the West Ham way. The team can perform without him on the pitch, however, form tends to be inconsistent without him. It wasn’t a sure thing that Noble would get into Pellegrini’s starting XI before the season started but now it can’t move forward without him.

Easing the pressure on him are two key players in West Ham’s future: Jack Wilshere and Declan Rice. Wilshere is a new member of the squad but has been a lifelong fan. He has endeared himself to the Hammers faithful with a picture of him in Doc Marten’s jersey in claret and blue when he was a child. Even though he has been out injured he has been solid this season and can help carry some of the midfield pressure once he returns as an English midfielder who knows West Ham.

Wilshere is the short-term solution to the “life after Noble” problem, but Declan Rice is the longterm one. He plays with maturity and vision beyond his years, wears his heart on his sleeve when he plays, and genuinely loves the club. He has been one of, if not THE best West Ham player this season. He is settling in well to his new position in defensive midfield.

Noble knows that Rice will carry on the armband and his captain duties once he leaves the team, but until then he will continue to give his all on the pitch. No one cares more about this team than Noble, and no one plays harder for the crest on the front than him either.