NOBLE’S LOST HIS PAL PAYET
They haven’t spoken in three weeks
MARK NOBLE has revealed that Dimtri Payet has not spoken to him in weeks as the unsettled star’s relationships at West Ham collapsed.
Payet is refusing to play while his club are adamant he will not be sold. Now West Ham captain Noble, who says he once had a great bond with the Frenchman, has given another indication of how his situation has spiralled out of control.
Payet was a popular member of the dressing room but it is increasingly clear he is running short on allies after this victory over Crystal Palace.
Skipper Noble cannot imagine taking a stance like Payet’s and he says their friendship has fallen apart as the star seeks a move.
‘I have always said that he is up there with one of the best players I have ever played with,’ Noble said. ‘I had — and I say had because I haven’t really spoken to him for the last two or three weeks — a great relationship with him, but I don’t know his reasons.
‘I am not going to comment on why he wanted to leave but I do know that if someone doesn’t want to play for the team then they are better off not even playing.’ The 29-year- old wants to return to France and his former club Marseille.
‘I thought the manager was right in what he did because it is hard,’ Noble added. ‘You have to win games and if you have your best player who doesn’t want to play for you then obviously he has to do something about it.
‘I have been here all my life so I find it hard to realise that someone wouldn’t want to play for the club. It’s a massive club and he is absolutely adored — was adored here — by the fans. But football and fans change quickly.’
West Ham started slowly but after a change of system at halftime Michail Antonio was pushed forward from right wing-back and it paid dividends as he set up all three goals for Sofiane Feghouli, Andy Carroll, with a brilliant scissor-kick, and Manuel Lanzini.
All of which made the situation for Sam Allardyce at Palace increasingly bleak. The former England manager will try to add to his side this week after sealing the £9million signing of Jeffrey Schlupp from Leicester City.
‘We have just got to get better, individually and collectively, and if there’s any more to bring in we’ll try our best to do it,’ said Allardyce.
SUPER STAT: Michail Antonio provided three assists, the first Hammer to do so in one PL game since Paolo di Canio in 2000.
WEST HAM UNITED (3-4-2-1): Randolph 6; Collins 6.5, Reid 7, Ogbonna 6 (Byram 46min, 6.5); Antonio 8 (Fletcher 89), Noble 7, Obiang 6.5, Cresswell 6; Feghouli 7.5, Lanzini 7 (Fernandes 87); Carroll 8.5.
Subs not used: Adrian, Oxford, Quina, Calleri. Booked: Noble, Carroll, Byram, Lanzini. Scorers: Feghouli 68, Carroll 79, Lanzini 86. CRYSTAL PALACE (4-1-4-1): Hennessey 6; Tomkins 6, Dann 5, Delaney 5, Ward 5; Ledley 6.5 (Schlupp 81); Townsend 6 (Remy, 70, 5), McArthur 6.5 (Lee, 70, 5), Cabaye 5.5, Puncheon 5; Benteke 5. Subs not used: Speroni, Kelly, Fryers, Flamini. Booked: Ledley, Ward. Man of the match: Andy Carroll. Referee: Neil Swarbrick 6.