Kevin Nolan...

Just a thought, following on from an article yesterday about the possibility of acquiring Moussa Sow and Gervinho, where does everyone think Nolan will be playing if we buy two new strikers in the summer?

We're nailed on to buy a couple of attacking players and alot of people seem happy to see Nolan play a little deeper to accommodate Ben Arfa, Ireland and Gervinho (hypothetically) in a more attacking role but I really can't see this happening.

Nolan is a great poacher with great positioning and good hold up play but it's been clear on several occasions this season that the game passes him by when he's in the thick of it. His only real asset (ok, apart from leadership/morale qualities) is goals and he can only score them when he mops up behind a striker/strikers, he isn't skillful or quick enough to play deeper and his crossing isn't great.

My point is, does anyone think he would be better playing behind a lone striker in a 4-4-1-1 sort of formation, leaving the more athletic Ben Arfa and Ireland a little deeper so they can still make their attacking runs while Nolan's lack of pace isn't exposed and he can play the "fox in the box" role. Something like this?...


Barton----Tiote----Ireland----BenArfa

---------------Nolan----------------

------Best/Gervinho/New Striker------


Or a 4-3-3 like this....


Barton--------------Tiote------------Ireland

Gervinho/New-----Nolan-------BenArfa


I'd love to see either lineup with our current back four (hopefully replacing Williamson with someone like Samba or Cuellar) and I reckon we'd be a tough old nut to crack!

 

Personally I'm more concerned with the amount of people willing to drop Jonas and play HBA who let's face it has managed about 2 and a half games for us so far.

 

I'd play Nolan in the hole with some pacy wingers to negate his slowness.

 

I personally wud not play Nolan in every game next season

He is a great leader and goalscorer but if we are trying to get better then I think a centre mid partnership of Tiote and somebody mor younger and technically good and creative (Ireland if he gets City form back) would be better

Don't get me wrong, I wud play him in lot of games, but not all

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Jonas hater but Ben Arfa has done far more in his short career than Jonas has in a fair few years. For Marseille and France he's done some spectacular things. I'd like to see Jonas play on his natural right hand side befor he's properly judged though. Ben Arfa really does look world class and I see where you're coming from but I reckon most people would be more excited by Ben Arfa signing for them over Jonas.

 

I'd prefer to wait and see how Ireland plays before planning him in over Nolan.

 

Nolan has scored nearly all of his goals this season from centre mid, he is best off in there alongside Tiote I reckon.

 

Same, hope he plays against Wolves and rips them apart with through balls, mint passin etc

 

-----Barton Tiote
Jonas ----Nolan ----Ben Arfa

That for the midfield?

 

Off the back of Carroll's knockdowns and against slower teams, problem is that we're unlikely to find a like-for-like replacement for Carroll and Nolan isn't getting any quicker. He's been pulled to bits a plenty of times this season, especially now Carroll has gone, and I really think if he's relieved of his defensive duties Nolan can serve as a great attacking mid/second striker.

 

If we really want to compete for Europe next season,Nolan needs to be a non-starter.
He seems like an average player without Carroll,scoring less and less,get Vargas or Abin in.
For me Colo would make a formidable captain next season.
This is my opinion ,no need to flame at me.

 

Nolan should play behind the striker and no where else. He slows down the centre of our midfield, not because he's slow, he's just not as agile as the rest of our midfield. He's a good midfielder, but he'd be better as an Attacking mid behind the striker.

 

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I agree that Nolan slows us down a bit which is why a fit and in form Stephen Ireland wud be the better option for me

 

Are you BT in disguise?

 

This. Although personally if Ireland comes good(fingers crossed) then I'll definitely drop Nolan for him or if we can buy a better CM. Although Nolan's been brilliant this season although of course his lack of technical ability, his lack of pace, agility and mobility really let him down. Good player but not a top one.

 

If we do get a couple of strikers, a winger and/or another creative midfielder I only see Nolan as backup next season. He'll get games but he probably won't be in our starting eleven if all players are available.

 

I dont like Nolan in the hole, in CM he and Tiote work well because while he isnt the best, he can pass the ball and judge play well and he doesnt necessarily need pace when Tiote is his partner, plus he still scores. He is way too ineffective off the striker, not enough pace to run onto knock-downs or have dynamic link up play.

From what we have, my favoured midfield would be:

----------Nolan------Tiote
Barton--------Ben Arfa--------Jonas

 

You know what..

Why don't we simply SELL Nolan? Yes I said it SELL, while he's playing his best football since his Bolton days.

 

Because morale would drop, the goals would dry up and as you say he's playing his best football since his Bolton days.