Latest

Kevin Nolan: the tale of the tape

|

So the regulation Championship season has come to an end. 46 games have come and gone…so what have we made of our skipper and marquee summer signing Kevin Nolan?

After 42 appearances for us this season (which in itself is great feat; given the amount of dosh squandered in the past on the likes of Kieran Dyer, Craig Bellamy and Thomas Hitzlsperger only to have them sit on a treatmenttable all season.) Nolan racked up 12 goals from midfield making him our 2ndt op goal scorer behind Carlton Cole on 14 and also our first midfield player to get into double figures since a certain Frank Lampard jr left our parish for the Kings Road of Chelsea in 2001. In terms of goals I’d say Nolan hasn’t beenf ound wanting; he’s scored not only goals of real quality, but also goals of real importance; the strikes at Brighton and at home to Derby come to mind.

The fastest growing Hammers website is now on Facebook, click the link to be entered into our up and coming competitions http://www.facebook.com/pages/ForeverWestHamcom/200938616608282

Looking at Nolan as leader…well the bar wasn’t set too high by the previous incumbent. Matthew Upson was so anonymous as West Ham captain that media would constantly insist that it was Scott Parker who skippered us. Nolan however is a proper leader and has held the position of captain at pretty much every club he’s ever been at, he’s very vocal on the pitch; having worked with Sam for so many years he’s essentially his mouth-piece. Nolan also leads by example; not in the same way as say Parker did with his all action displays but more with his goals in crucial, tight games; for example against DerbyCounty at the Boleyn we were knocking on the door at 1-1 to find the goal that would put us in front; that’s when Nolan produced a world class volley to put us 2-1 up and firmly in control of the match.

 

 

In my humble opinion Nolan has been a massive step up in terms of the character of captain from Upson and he’s chipped in with a respectable tally of goals but…whether or not Nolan is determined a good signing all depends on; can he steer us through the play-offs and back to the land of milk and honey? Can he pop up with a vital goal at Cardiff? A wonderstrike at the Boleyn? Or will he notch a Wembley winner?

Looking for experience? Just want to be heard outside of the Boleyn? We are currently looking for writers, drop us an email at foreverwestham@snack-media.com for more details

I think overall his leadership and goals have made Nolan a worthwhile acquisition; but ultimately whether or not he’s deemed a success will be judged on if come May 19th when he’s proudly holding aloft the Championship Play-Off final trophy

Ever dreamt about getting paid for reading about West Ham? Well now you can make dreams a reality http://bit.ly/ffc-foreverwestham

Share this article