Rob is uniquely placed to give an honest assessment of the situation; as a lifelong Hammers fan, and now as a player, he knows how supporters are feeling about the loss of one of the 'prodigal sons'.
Equally, having been at Derby last season, he knows first hand about the knock-on effects of relegation to the first division - and how the problems cannot be ignored.
"It is obviously very disappointing to see Joe go. I have enjoyed playing with him - he is a quality player, very talented, and I am obviously very sorry to see him leave," admits Rob.
"I would have loved to have played with him in the league as I enjoyed playing with him in pre-season.
"It is great having someone like that alongside you - it made my job a lot easier because you give him the ball and he weaves his magic.
"So I might have to do a bit of extra work now!
"But life goes on, you have to keep battling, and we have still got plenty of young players.
"I have been very impressed with the youngsters, ones like Richie Garcia and Shaun Byrne, the same sort of age as Joe but they haven't really been in the first team as yet.
"They have done really well in the pre-season games and it will obviously be a big plus when Michael Carrick comes back.
"Steve Lomas is still to come back from injury and Don Hutchison has got a little knock at the moment, so it will be a boost when they return."
As for the essential adjustments that must be made as a result of relegation, Rob adds: "Of course we would have liked to have kept Joe but there are financial restrictions on the club - I had the same sort of thing at Derby last year.
"There is a fine line between having the players you need and dealing with the financial aspect.
"You want the best players to try to get us up; but we have got to get on and play to the best of our ability - and no matter who is coming in or going out I still remain hopeful.
"Joe is an east end lad and West Ham through and through and it is perhaps more disappointing when someone like that leaves, especially as he is only 21.
"We would have looked to him to play a big role next year if we had gone up, but he was in his last year and the club has cashed in.
"I have definitely been impressed with Joe, and when you look at Damien Duff going to Chelsea for £17m, all I can say is that he is not three times the player that Joe is.
"But other clubs try to 'nick' players, which they are entitled to do, and that is the way it goes because of the poor financial position we are in at the moment."
Rob will wear number five next season but says: "I hope people don't think I am a centre half!
"I seem to be going backwards in numbers - I spent years as a number seven at Newcastle.
"But I don't care about numbers and all that, or who is on the field with me - I just want to help the young players in the team, help the club from the pitch or the sidelines, and be happy.
"If other players get on the pitch ahead of me, no problem - I just want us to get back to where we belong."
Rob is all but certain this will be his final season as a footballer, and he reveals: "I will retire and put my feet up quite happily; I can't see me going on another year.
"I do weigh it up year by year but I think it will be one more year and then I will call it a day - and if that is having helped West Ham back into the Premiership I will be delighted.
"I still enjoy playing and training and the time to stop is when I no longer enjoy that - or when the people close to me tell me I am making a fool of myself.
"The kids haven't said that yet, but they may change their tune!"
That may then allow Rob to take a different view of Upton Park - from the stands.
A confirmed supporter he may be, but, as a professional player, he has not seen the Hammers too many times in the flesh as he has been pursuing his own playing career - which usually means being busy on a Saturday afternoon!
"I have not seen too many West Ham games as I have been playing but I have seen plenty on TV," he says.
"I am too old to remember what my first match was but it was in the time of Trevor Brooking and Billy Bonds.
"Playing for the club is something I have always wanted to do and I thought it might have happened a few times before now.
"It is something I have had in mind all my career just as, say, Alan Shearer always wanted to play for his home town club.
"Things might be hard and we are financially restricted but it is a great set of lads, I am enjoying training, and it is not all doom and gloom."