Newcastle boss Alan Pardew takes blame for Kevin Nolan exit

Exactly I'd have kept him on for a final year and played him as a super sub (a la Kevin Phillips). Last 15 minutes when you just need the ball up in the box, I don't think you'd find a cheaper fox in the box of the same quality than him. I reckon he'll become a striker in a season or two and we'll regret not keeping him for that reason

 

Fair enough, he could have done that for a year, but he'd be really unhappy sitting on the bench and relinquishing his captaincy. I think if we used him like that he'd be demanding a transfer this time last year, having spent this season harming the moral of the squad.

 

It's all well and good saying "I'd keep him for another year". What if Nolan didn't want to be here for another year?

 

I would hope we'd have a striker on the bench who's semi capable of this...i would rather chuck on Best or Lover than Nolan to grab a goal as they'll have MORE in the tank than the other players...not less!

 

I'll always remember Nolan fondly but it was a transfer he would have never rejected:

- High wages
- First team football
- Work under a manager who gets the most out of him. (fat sam)
- Be in a league more suited to his style of play.
- Long Contact, so will be secure in a job for 5 years (even though he'll be past it in 2/3 years time).
- More of a challenge for him (getting out of the championship again)
- Living in London (I think I heard he wanted to).

 

Pardew shouldn't take the blame. What happens in the contract department is nothing to do with him.

Nolan is a good player and i'd have liked him to stay for another couple of years, but a 5 year contract on 50k wages is ridiculous. He maybe worth that to a CC club trying to get promotion but not to us.

I have respect for Nolan as he's been a massive part of the team, and he wopped the Mackems, but to be quite honest, he can **** off he thinks he's good enough for a 5 year contract.

Barton is, but not Nolan.

 

Same, but whats done is done... lets just hope we dont come to regret it too much!

Wasnt there an interview where he said he knew that one day the team would become too good for him but he wanted to retire here? Gave me the impression he would have been happy to be on the bench just to sort of stay around the club and keep the positive atmosphere along with Barton & Harper. But maybe not, who knows.

 

There was, he was thinking about 3 or 4 years into the future though. He knew he wasnt a technically gifted or especially fit, and I think he knew he would be shown up next year by the new players like Cabaye.