No room for Nolan??

Its been mentioned before but where does our captain and top scorer fit in when all our players are fit? In my opinion Nolan wont get into a 5 man midfield, never mind a four. Im excited about the posibility of landing Nzogbia and believe this would push Jonas to the right leaving Tiote, Barton and HBA in the centre. The only option that would allow for Nolan is HBA right mid. Is this a waste of creative talent?

 

Nolan may not be consistantly in our starting 11 next season, but he will be playing regularly none the less and he still will play a vital role next season. He's been part of our strength next to Barton. His goals alone should get him a place.

He will be on the very edge of our starting 11, and will come on as an impact player if we need a goal, and will remain our club captain definitely. No other player can wear that badge nearly as well as he can, not even Barton who's been very influencial.

Without Nolan we'd be in the CC next season. Simple as.

 

Nolan would be one of the first names on my team sheet week in week out

 

I'd like to see him and Ben Arfa playing behind a lone striker

 

Probably whoever comes in, it's Tiote and Nolan in centre midfield all the time for me.. Probably drop Barton, but sure they'll all have their chances over the season...

 

I dont think he'd be in the first 11, but he'll probably play lots of games anyway. To keep all 5 first choice midfirlders fit/available for a whole season is verging on impossible.

 

If N'Zogbia comes in Nolan has to be dropped. Nolan's had a good season all things told, but he's been a passenger since Carroll left, and has only scored 4 in 15 since he got injured. Normally I'd say 1 in 4 is decent for a midfielder, but Nolan doesn't track back and isn't creative, it's his goals and leadership which get him in the team, and frankly one in four isn't good enough when it's your goals keeping you in.

On another note, if Nolan isn't in the team, Harper has to get the nod over Krul for his experience alone, and he'd be my second choice for captain (Barton was a bit of a dick when he captained against Villa). Just noticed that Harper is our only regular starter over 30.

 

YES YES THIS.

I'm not Nolan's biggest fan & I'm glad AG your seeing what I'm SEEING!

 

Drop Barton? Are you insane? Have you seen our record without him this season?

 

It's this ignorant minded view about Nolan that really boils my piss. I'm sorry mate, but Nolan does so much more in the team that just score goals and be our capitain.

He provides strength our defense, he plays a part of our passing play, and adds alot of sting in our attack, not just through goals, as he's much more creative that most people give him credit for. He plays quick clever little passes and through balls around the box and creates chances for other, and sometimes people don't see things like this. Nolan has alot of ability that people don't recognise.

So i'm sorry to get a bit flamed up but people should realise he has more uses than just goals and wearing the armband.

 

i see nolan as a player to come on and change the game a bit or for when we're cruising just to keep level heads. i see his role next season as more an off the pitch leader.

 

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Kevin Nolan = Creative???!!!

He's a grafter not Cesc Fabregas or Xavi.

 

Valid points AG and I agree with you even though I'd like Nolan in the team

I just think that he is invaluble to us and wont be dropped anytime soon (although he has said himself that after the next few years he is likely to become increasingly less influential on the pitch)

If we are to believe that he played the second half of the season through injury he deserves the chance to prove himself again next year when fully fit.

 

Is the correct answer!!!

Nice to see that I'm not the only one to share this view

 

Same with me! Plus Nolan isn't in exactly peak physical condition to play until his late 30s. I can see him retiring here as a impact sub or player/coach though.

 

I think Pardew has said that is where he envisions Ben Arfa playing, as a playmaker behing one forward.

 

Not quite but getting there...

Nolan brings a aspect to the team that Barton wouldn't in the centre, decent at covering and the runs he makes off the ball, creating chances for others.. Barton would be better for ball retention but Nolan would be more of a threat attacking wise..

 

He will be involved but I'd be surprised if he has a starting 11 place in our strongest (injury free) line up. I see him as an impact sub and playing in the AM role during squad rotations or as backup to Ben Arfa in the case of injuries and suspensions. He'll get games just not as many as this year.

After all isn't that what we need to improve our overall squad performance, a situation where we have a couple of very good players for each position so that nobody can take their first team place for granted?

 

I said it before, Pardew won't drop Nolan. He loves him and the players love him. They all seem to see Nolan's goals and leadership as key during games.

I don't think it's fair, but I believe that Nolan will be in our strongest 11 unless he's injures or needs a rest. The only way he'll be booted out is if a midfielder turns up who is SIGNIFICANTLY better enough to out-shine Nolan's average CM play, work-rate, heavy goal count and on-pitch leadership.

There's a lot more to Nolan than just CM play, so it's a tricky situation. If it was purely down to CM abilities, he'd be replaced quite comfortably with some quality signings, but that isn't the case.

I wouldn't expect anything much different to what we have now. Same 4 with Ben Arfa in behind the striker to make it a 5 man midfield. The difference will be that some players will be rotated to give other players rests and to provide a team which is tailored to the strengths/weaknesses of the opposition.