Ahead of Thursday’s England squad announcement, there was wide spread optimism that one of the most consistent and inform English midfielders in the Premier League this season would finally get his long awaited international recognition.
For years, Mark Noble has been overlooked by England managers aplenty, while young English midfielders who play for top four clubs are effectively handed free passes in to the side.
Any West Ham fan knows that Noble is not the best midfielder in the country, but there isn’t a football fan worth their salt who can deny he deserves to at least be called up to a squad.
It is a complete show of ignorance that our man continues to be overlooked, despite continuously putting in monumental shifts for the colours he loves with all his heart. He’d do the same for England, too, if he was given the chance to put in a monumental shift for the Three Lions.
Hodgson’s ears should’ve pricked up as soon as Noble’s performance in the 2-0 win at Cardiff was given particular attention on Match of the Day. Given that the likes of Alan Hansen and Alan Shearer rarely touch upon the talent of a player not playing for a club inside the top six, it should have set alarm bells ringing inside the England camp.
But are we surprised that the likes of Tom Cleverley, for example, get picked ahead of Noble? Of course not! Why would Cleverley be left out of an England side when you’ve got Gary Neville as an influential member of the England coaching staff?
Anyway, here’s what a number of fans said about Noble’s latest England snub on Twitter, which includes the opinions of neutral fans as well…
I think it’s a disgrace Mark Noble has not been called up for England, yet they still call up tosh like Cleverley
— Daryl (@daz_1906) February 27, 2014
Nobody in the England team has worked as hard for their club as Mark Noble has. Ridiculously underrated, such a shame he might never…
— Ryyan Winter LWOS (@LastWordWinter) February 27, 2014
Don’t know what more Mark Noble has to do to get an England call-up!! Superb every week. Tom Cleverley?!! Please no.
— Dave Evans (@Recorder_Hammer) February 27, 2014
If Noble played for a team like Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool or Southampton I bet he would be a regular in the England squad
— amy (@amylouisegodwin) February 27, 2014
Fair enough Carroll doesn’t deserve to be in the England team, but Tomkins and Noble should be in the team over Caulker and Cleverely!
— Sam Pascoe. (@SamRegPascoe) February 27, 2014
I would much rather have Noble or Huddlestone in the England squad than Cleverley.
— Supporting Arsenal (@SupportingAFC) February 27, 2014
Mark Noble is a midfielder of class and excellence. If England don’t want him can we please find a Scottish grandmother?
— Irvine Welsh (@WelshIrvine) February 27, 2014
Tom Cleverley gets called up. But Mark Noble continues to not get a look in. England mangers. Still as stupid as ever.
— Mark Harrison (@MarkHarrison23) February 27, 2014
Caulker over Tomkins and Cleverley over Noble. Great to see that Hodgson is picking the England squad based on form. Oh wait…
— Iron Views (@ironviews) February 27, 2014
