Mark Noble exclusive: Players care more than some fans think

Mark Noble insists players care more about poor form than some fans think and believes that West Ham's results will improve.

West Ham have struggled for form since moving to the London Stadium in the summer from Upton Park, and sit 18th in the Premier League.

Watch NOW TV

Watch Sky Sports for just £6.99. No contract

They have not won in the Premier League since their opening home game against Bournemouth on August 21, and Noble is insistent that the players are feeling the hurt just as much as the fans.

In an exclusive interview with Soccer Saturday, Noble said: "A lot of fans around the country and I'm not just talking West Ham fans, think that: 'Oh footballers get paid well, so if they lose it doesn't matter, they just go home to their nice cars and houses, and it doesn't matter.'

"I can assure you that isn't the case. You do care. And I can assure you the players in there care, every one of them.

"But sometimes when it isn't going for you, it isn't going for you, and you need to dig in and work hard for each other and try to turn it around."

Hammers captain Noble, who has been at the club his entire career, also suggested some teams have found it easier playing at London Stadium compared to the compact surrounding of their former ground.

"As I said before we even moved into the stadium, you've got to win points, because nobody is going to give you them, and teams are going to come here now and enjoy playing here.

"If you ask them if they enjoyed playing at Upton Park, they'd probably say yes for the atmosphere, but because it was an intense place, so up-close and personal, it was a tough place to go and get a point.

"A lot of the time the atmosphere is fantastic, and if I'm really honest we haven't given them much to shout about for sure.

"But I've always said, and I believe I can say it because I've been here since I was a kid and have supported West Ham my whole life; if you can't support West Ham through times like this then why support us at all?

"I mean it was great last year, we had spells where the fans were unhappy, we lost a couple of games, but the real fans and the fans who have stuck by us all these years will stay behind us I am sure."

West Ham finished seventh last year in Slaven Bilic's first season in charge, but have struggled to match those performances this season.

They go to a rejuvenated Crystal Palace on Saturday looking to return to form, and Noble says the players have aired their views about recent form, which can only be a good thing going forward.

"People have spoken up and said what they feel, whether it's wrong or right it's nice to get those feelings off your chest and get on and train.

"If you train 100 per cent and play 100 per cent, nobody can really have a moan at you because you've given everything.

"I don't think the effort is questioned, I just think it's probably at points a lack of confidence.

"I do believe it will change around. I believe we've got the characters and the players in there, and the manager especially to do that, and quality. But quality doesn't always get you points, you have to dig in together, and that's what I think we've got in the changing room."

You can watch Liverpool v Man Utd, plus England's tour of Bangladesh and the British Masters on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy six months at half price!