It’s easy to underestimate the performances of Kevin Nolan for Newcastle United.
Kevin Nolan – Newcastle’s captain supreme
Kevin makes the Newcastle team click, and you could see on Saturday against Wolves, how his good passing and experienced play, helped Newcastle get going in that first half, and of course his goal after 22 minutes was excellently taken.
It was not luck that he put the ball between Hennessey’s legs, and it would have been so easy for Nolan to miss that chance, which was much much harder than it looked.
Newcastle will miss Kevin Nolan’s presence for the next two games, but it’s important that the team push on from the excellent win last Saturday, and at least try to get a win at Aston Villa this Sunday afternoon.
Since Gerard Houllier came in as manager, the Midlands team has been less than impressive, and surprisingly Aston Villa, after finishing 6th last season under Martin O’Neil, are in 16th position on just 34 points, and are 5 points behind Newcastle, and just 2 points above the relegation zone.
So it will be important that Newcastle do not lose this game, and again have a side beneath them in the league gain all 3 points, and we have to remember Villa were beaten 1-0 by Wolves in their last home game.
The Newcastle boss will be concentrating this week on what his team will be on Saturday, with the suspensions of Kevin and Cheick Tiote to combat, although Ryan Taylor is now back from his 3 game suspension.
Alan Pardew talked about his captain, Kevin Nolan, today:
“Kevin’s performance against Wolves epitomized what he brings to the team.”
“He leads by example and he only picked up the booking when he had to sacrifice himself for the team.”
“He is a special player and sometimes we take him for granted a little bit, but what you cannot take for granted are the 12 goals he has scored this season.”
“That is more than Andy Carroll has scored, and it is more than a lot of strikers have managed in the Premier League.”
“It is a massive contribution and he scored the all-important first goal against Wolves which got us going.”
“He was not well in the build-up to the game and probably should not have played, but he did and delivered when we needed him.”
The very fact that Kevin played on Saturday while still a bit sick, shows his absolute commitment to the Newcastle side, and he always gives everything he has.
Kevin is a massive player for Newcastle, and it seems that Alan Pardew is trying to get the club to sign him up to a long term deal.
Certainly if Newcastle can get Kevin, Joey Barton and Jose Enrique to commit to long term contracts on Tyneside, that would be fantastic, and hopefully before the transfer season even opens.
We’re hoping that will happen, and sooner rather than later, as they are three massive players for the Magpies, and that’s also why we need a win on Saturday, so the club is safe from relegation, and contract negotiations can begin.
Comments welcome.
15 comments so far
G
Apr 6, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Comment #1I think the only people who take Nolan for granted, are the generation of kids who occasionally post on here slating him for being too slow, past it, and generally average. I am told it’s because his stats on the latest version of Wiistation360 football manager are low? KN, is deffo a key man for us, and generally one of the best players in the league.
Davies
Apr 6, 2011 at 10:23 AM
Comment #2His contribution to the club and the squad cannot be measured in goals. He’s the best captain (on and off the field) we’ve had in years.
ASTORIA
Apr 6, 2011 at 10:27 AM
Comment #3Nolan is a great player who appears to have taken the club to his heart. I met him a while back and he was a true professional and a great guy, very funny. I only hope the club look after him in the summer and re-new his contract as the rumours of him leaving are worrying (if true).
Ciaran Thomas
Apr 6, 2011 at 10:27 AM
Comment #4Totally agree with you,Im 17 years old but I believe if wasn’t for Kevin Nolan,We wouldn’t have half the point we have now.
G
Apr 6, 2011 at 10:41 AM
Comment #5I think it’s worth mentioning here that KN would walk straight into most teams starting births in the league.
geoff777
Apr 6, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Comment #6A real fighter who never gives in.
Pardew & Ashley owe him big time for the Arsenal fightback.
Things could have got very ugly if we’d gone down 0-7 after the Andy Carroll sale. We would have been in serious relegation trouble.
Wonder if we’ll ever know the role Nolan & his agent played in that saga?
Geordiedoonsooth
Apr 6, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Comment #7Top player & captain & by all accounts a top man too. I hope the club keep him & Barton hope Enrique stays as well but if he wants to leave sell him Ferguson,Tavernier & Kadar are more than adaquate LB’s
Sav
Apr 6, 2011 at 11:27 AM
Comment #8“Ferguson,Tavernier & Kadar are more than adaquate LB’s”?
Sav
Apr 6, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Comment #9Aren’t they a left-winger, a centre-half and a right-back?
phim93
Apr 6, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Comment #10kevin is of few premier league players who still play for the badge on their top and not for the money they are getting payed… Kevin Nolan you are an absoloute legend and i wear my kevin nolan top with so much pride whereever i go
carrollsinger
Apr 6, 2011 at 11:37 AM
Comment #11Nolan is better then any midfielder in the England set up it’s a shambles he can’t make it and players like Barry do. The only midfielders who are having a good season in the set up are wilshire and parker in my opinion will be a big miss on Sunday but Barton will move across to the middle with Guthrie
geoff777
Apr 6, 2011 at 11:49 AM
Comment #12—————–Harper
Simpson – Willo – Colo – Enrique/Ferguson
Raylor – Barton – Guthrie – Jonas
———–Shola – Loven
Saylor to play midfield if needed?
Davies
Apr 6, 2011 at 12:06 PM
Comment #13Looks about right Geoff. Our defenders seem to like getting forwad (especially now they have been given livence to do it). Saylor and Colo both did some good work in leaving their posts at the back on Saturday and both were instrumental in the 3rd and 4th goals.
KazengaAsprilla
Apr 6, 2011 at 10:16 PM
Comment #14All that talk of Nolan deserving an England call up is rubbish, being in the right place at the right time doesnt mean you should be playing internationally. Whilst i appreciate that Nolan is our captain and is key in the dressing room, and there have been results this season that he and Barton have got fur us single handedly. However, he is most certainly not good enough for england. He is slow, gives the ball away, and gives away dodgy fouls. i would find it hard to see him in the team next year with benny back and playing behind the striker.
KazengaAsprilla
Apr 6, 2011 at 10:19 PM
Comment #15He would also not walk into any team in the prem as G noted earlier…Dont get me wrong i love the guy and he has done good things for us, but lets not kid ourselves, his general footballing ability is not that great, unless i have been watching a different player all season.,