West Ham lost more than a midfielder when Mark Noble retired at the end of the season. They lost their club captain, their leader, their symbol. It is not always about what happens on the pitch. There are the conversations that happen away from the public gaze, the exchanges at the training ground every day, and figures such as Noble are crucial when it comes to ensuring that standards remain high on and off the pitch.
He understood West Ham. “Losing Mark Noble was important,” David Moyes said after his side began this campaign with three league defeats. “He could see things even though he didn’t play much last season. He was important around the club.”
