21 Mar 2011 00:29:00<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n ![\"EPL](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/b77f1bbc126533_news.jpg.jpg\")
<\/p><\/div>\nEPL : Rafael van der Vaar – Mark Noble, Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United<\/p>\n
Related Links<\/h4>\nTeams<\/h4>\nPlayers<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n West Ham United<\/a> midfielder Mark Noble<\/a> insists his side have the potential to become a top ten Premier League<\/a> club if they can avoid relegation this season.<\/p>\nThe Hammers currently sit in the relegation zone, one point adrift of safety. But their form in recent months has seen them pick up 12 out of a possible 18 points.<\/p>\n
They continued this with a hard fought 0-0 draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane, and Noble insists they need more of the same if they are to avoid relegation.<\/p>\n
He said: “Since January, if you look at our points to game ratio we should be a top ten club. <\/p>\n
“That\u2019s the stats and if we could have started the season the way we finished it we wouldn\u2019t be in this position but we are. <\/p>\n
“We need a bit of momentum and the result against Spurs is a massive confidence boost.”<\/p>\n
Noble also believes that the east London outfit’s upturn in fortunes has been based on their ability to recruit \u2018top quality\u2019 players in January.<\/p>\n
The Hammers brought in reinforcements up front with Robbie Keane and Demba Ba, while Thomas Hitzlsperger, a summer signing, is fit again.<\/p>\n
Avram Grant also strengthened the side with midfielder Gary O\u2019Neil and former England defender Wayne Bridge. <\/p>\n
The 23-year-old said: “We\u2019ve bought in some top quality players. <\/p>\n
“We\u2019ve got Thomas Hitzlsperger back, Wayne Bridge has come in and Demba Ba is a good player for us and we\u2019ve still got Robbie Keane to come back.<\/p>\n
“That is the sort of calibre we need. <\/p>\n
“If we can bring players in like that and do good business in the transfer windows I\u2019m sure with the foundations and the fans we have got there is no doubt we can\u2019t do what Tottenham are doing here.”<\/p>\n
There were a number of standout performances from the visitors but it was former England full-back Wayne Bridge who stood out.<\/p>\n
Before the game Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp thought the loan signing of Manchester City star Wayne Bridge would prove to be one of the shrewdest pieces of business this season, and his performance on Saturday would have done nothing to change the former West Ham manager\u2019s mind. <\/p>\n
Bridge, who had a nightmare debut against Arsenal and Theo Walcott back in January, was faced with another England winger in Aaron Lennon. But this time it was the defender who came out on top.<\/p>\n
Noble was full of praise for his team-mate, and said: “Harry Redknapp is not normally wrong because he knows his football. <\/p>\n
“Bridgey in his first game will be the first one to tell you he had only played three or four games in a year and playing against Theo Walcott isn\u2019t an easy task. <\/p>\n
“But he hasn\u2019t let that affect him, he\u2019s a full international, he knows how good he is himself and in the last month or so he has been fantastic for us. <\/p>\n
“It\u2019s a credit to Wayne Bridge that Aaron Lennon had to change wings. He swapped with Gareth Bale because he wasn\u2019t getting any joy. <\/p>\n
“I\u2019m sure if he keeps playing the way he is, England manager Fabio Capello will be on the phone.”<\/p>\n
The Hammers rode their luck at times as Spurs dominated possession, but the visitors did have chances of their own to win the game.<\/p>\n
And Noble was delighted with his side\u2019s resilience in north London.<\/p>\n
“We had a disappointing result in the FA Cup quarter-final against Stoke last week, but if you could ask me now whether we would have taken six points against Stoke and Liverpool in the Premier league and a point away from home against Spurs, who have cemented themselves as one of the best teams in the country and in Europe, we would have,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Spurs had a few chances, we had a few chances, but I think a 0-0 draw was a fair result.” <\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/b77f1bbc126533_news.jpg-150x150.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div>\nEPL : Rafael van der Vaar – Mark Noble, Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United<\/p>\n
Related Links<\/h4>\nTeams<\/h4>\nPlayers<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Players<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n West Ham United<\/a> midfielder Mark Noble<\/a> insists his side have the potential to become a top ten Premier League<\/a> club if they can avoid relegation this season.<\/p>\n The Hammers currently sit in the relegation zone, one point adrift of safety. But their form in recent months has seen them pick up 12 out of a possible 18 points.<\/p>\n They continued this with a hard fought 0-0 draw with Tottenham at White Hart Lane, and Noble insists they need more of the same if they are to avoid relegation.<\/p>\n He said: “Since January, if you look at our points to game ratio we should be a top ten club. <\/p>\n “That\u2019s the stats and if we could have started the season the way we finished it we wouldn\u2019t be in this position but we are. <\/p>\n “We need a bit of momentum and the result against Spurs is a massive confidence boost.”<\/p>\n Noble also believes that the east London outfit’s upturn in fortunes has been based on their ability to recruit \u2018top quality\u2019 players in January.<\/p>\n The Hammers brought in reinforcements up front with Robbie Keane and Demba Ba, while Thomas Hitzlsperger, a summer signing, is fit again.<\/p>\n Avram Grant also strengthened the side with midfielder Gary O\u2019Neil and former England defender Wayne Bridge. <\/p>\n The 23-year-old said: “We\u2019ve bought in some top quality players. <\/p>\n “We\u2019ve got Thomas Hitzlsperger back, Wayne Bridge has come in and Demba Ba is a good player for us and we\u2019ve still got Robbie Keane to come back.<\/p>\n “That is the sort of calibre we need. <\/p>\n “If we can bring players in like that and do good business in the transfer windows I\u2019m sure with the foundations and the fans we have got there is no doubt we can\u2019t do what Tottenham are doing here.”<\/p>\n There were a number of standout performances from the visitors but it was former England full-back Wayne Bridge who stood out.<\/p>\n Before the game Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp thought the loan signing of Manchester City star Wayne Bridge would prove to be one of the shrewdest pieces of business this season, and his performance on Saturday would have done nothing to change the former West Ham manager\u2019s mind. <\/p>\n Bridge, who had a nightmare debut against Arsenal and Theo Walcott back in January, was faced with another England winger in Aaron Lennon. But this time it was the defender who came out on top.<\/p>\n Noble was full of praise for his team-mate, and said: “Harry Redknapp is not normally wrong because he knows his football. <\/p>\n “Bridgey in his first game will be the first one to tell you he had only played three or four games in a year and playing against Theo Walcott isn\u2019t an easy task. <\/p>\n “But he hasn\u2019t let that affect him, he\u2019s a full international, he knows how good he is himself and in the last month or so he has been fantastic for us. <\/p>\n “It\u2019s a credit to Wayne Bridge that Aaron Lennon had to change wings. He swapped with Gareth Bale because he wasn\u2019t getting any joy. <\/p>\n “I\u2019m sure if he keeps playing the way he is, England manager Fabio Capello will be on the phone.”<\/p>\n The Hammers rode their luck at times as Spurs dominated possession, but the visitors did have chances of their own to win the game.<\/p>\n And Noble was delighted with his side\u2019s resilience in north London.<\/p>\n “We had a disappointing result in the FA Cup quarter-final against Stoke last week, but if you could ask me now whether we would have taken six points against Stoke and Liverpool in the Premier league and a point away from home against Spurs, who have cemented themselves as one of the best teams in the country and in Europe, we would have,” he said.<\/p>\n “Spurs had a few chances, we had a few chances, but I think a 0-0 draw was a fair result.” <\/p>\n <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n