Sporting director Mark Noble has issued a clear warning to West Ham stars about standards amid a flurry of new contracts.
There are few players better qualified to talk about anything regarding the weird and wonderful world of West Ham than Mark Noble.
So on the rare occasion Noble speaks on West Ham matters nowadays, the club and players would be wise to listen carefully.
Especially in his role as sporting director at the London Stadium.
Noble is uniquely placed to be the voice of West Ham
This season must have brought back some vivid memories for Noble.
The Hammers legend made 550 appearances for the club, which included 484 starts and 66 as a substitute, a club record.
Noble has the most Premier League appearances for West Ham, with 414, and sits seventh in the Premier League all-time appearances for a single club.
He will remember few more than that fateful defeat at home to Burnley in 2018.
Former West Ham captain Mark Noble tackles fan protestor to the ground during an infamous defeat to Burnley in March 2018
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Getty Images
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The match came amid protests against the board from West Ham fans that saw Noble tackle one of his fellow Hammers to the ground during a pitch invasion.
Those images came to mind again at the weekend as supporters protested against the owners once more when West Ham hosted – but this time beat – Burnley.
They are images etched into the mind of every supporter and Noble himself, who admitted he burst into tears when he got home that particular evening.
Brutal Noble tells West Ham stars he is watching their every move
That shows just what West Ham mean to him, a midfielder of limited athleticism who worked so hard he carved out an unforgettable near 20-year career at the top level for his boyhood club.
It means Noble is uniquely placed to lay down the law when it comes to all things West Ham.
Now the Academy graduate turned legend has urged several players to take his words on board over hunger and standards.
Brutal Noble has fired a no-nonsense warning to West Ham stars about contracts.
Preston Fearon during the Premier League Summer Series Manchester United vs West Ham United
Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The sporting director has been interviewed by the club’s media team about what is expected at West Ham following a flurry of contracts being handed to key rising talents.
And Noble is warning against any drop-off in performance or focus.
Full-back Ezra Mayers, Under 21 captain Airidas Golambeckis, midfielders Preston Fearon and Mohamadou Kante and striker Josh Landers have followed in the footsteps of Freddie Potts by signing new long-term West Ham deals of late.
While Noble is delighted the club handed out the contracts, he did not mince his words about what is expected next, warning players he will be watching their attitude and behaviour.
Noble: I’m here to make sure standards don’t drop
Each of them would do well to listen as the Hammers hero told them they had better not take it for granted.
“Sometimes after signing a new contract, a player might ease off a little, but I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Noble told West Ham’s website.
“I want to push them and make sure they never take it for granted. They’ve got to work hard to play for West Ham every single day. You’ve got to stay hungry.
“It’s down to us to keep them hungry and keep pushing them. I’ve made that journey myself, I know how hard it is. We need to keep giving them that platform to push on and try to become a West Ham player.”