‘Grady Diangana was one of the Championship’s best players’ – Mark Noble backed as West Ham legend questions why £18m starlet was sold to West Brom
West Ham legend Trevor Sinclair has backed captain Mark Noble and supporters’ criticism of the club and their decision to sell starlet Grady Diangana.
Noble took to Twitter on Friday night to react to Diangana’s £18million move to the Hawthorns, saying he was ‘angry, gutted and sad’ about the decision to cash-in on the 22-year-old ace.
The winger spent last season on loan with the Baggies, and managed eight goals and seven assists to help the midlands outfit seal promotion back to the top flight.
Diangana celebrates helping West Brom win promotion to the Premier League
Hammers fans were eager to see him return to play in claret and blue and excited for his breakthrough season ahead, having also seen him impress during the club’s pre-season campaign.
But there was outrage among the West Ham faithful when the club announced on Friday they had agreed to sell Diangana to West Brom in a permanent deal.
It led to Noble’s public outburst against the club, while Declan Rice said he was ‘gutted’ to see the ‘top player’ leave, and Jack Wilshere told him to play ‘for a club that respects you’.
Noble has himself been criticised for ‘going too far’ by going public with his ‘angry’ reaction, with former England defender Danny Mills telling the midfielder to ‘put his thumbs away’.
But Hammers legend Sinclair has backed the skipper saying, like all West Ham fans, he probably feels ‘betrayed’ by club chiefs David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady.
Diangana was looking good in pre-season for West Ham but expectant supporters will no longer be able to see the homegrown star in action for the Hammers
“When we moved to the London Stadium the owners said within five years we can be challenging for the Premier League and the Champions League,” Sinclair told talkSPORT.
“Fans feel betrayed, that’s what the complaints are about. It’s not about David Moyes, they’re behind him, they’re behind this team and they’re behind this group of players.
“But this is almost the final straw, the fans cannot get their heads around selling this young man who is so exciting.
“For me, he was one of the most exciting young players to come out of the Championship this season.”
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talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino also had his say on Noble’s comments, saying they highlight big problems behind the scenes at the London Stadium.
“When a captain of a football club comes out and says how disappointed and angry he is…
“He’s a pivotal figure at that club, and that’s telling you there’s going to be problems further down the line.
Wilshere was another irked player at West Ham
“Player transfers are difficult because there’s no guarantee on anybody. West Ham had Reece Oxford who went to go and play in Germany, he was seen as a star and they decided to let him go elsewhere, and now this lad is going to West Brom. He might become a star but he might not…”
However, Darren Bent has no doubts about Diangana’s talent, hailing him as one of the brightest players in the Championship last season.
And, having watched him play a number of times last term, the former striker has questioned why the 22-year-old hadn’t got his chance for the Hammers, and why they decided to let him go.
“What I’ve seen of him at West Brom, and I watched him on a lot of occasions last year, he was absolutely superb,” Bent said on Drivetime.
Diangana got eight goals and seven assists on loan for promoted West Brom last season
“He was arguably one of the best players in the Championship last season, he’s dynamic, he can go past people, he’s got a great left foot, he’s tricky, he’s pacey.
“Also, there was a time last season when West Ham were really struggling and it got to January and I thought, ‘why have they not called him back?’
“He would have made a difference because he was flying in the Championship so his confidence was really high.
“The only thing I can think of to explain why they’ve let him go, is David Moyes had watched him in pre-season, has potentially not quite liked what he saw and feels he doesn’t feature in his plans.”
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