When Kevin Nolan joined the Hammers on the 16th June 2011, the excitement around the Boleyn that day was unanimous. A proven goal scoring midfielder has finally joined something the Irons had been missing for some time.
His superbly lobbed goal on Saturday entered him into the Hammers record books, the first midfielder to reach double figures since Frank Lampard in 1999/2000. Yet our very own captain
marvel still receives grief for his performances in the claret and blue.
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It begs the question just where would we be without his goals, top scorer with ten goals gives a huge clue to why we are struggling to kill off team, we are quite simply not finding the net on regular
occasions. Nolan may be a passenger for parts of the game but boy does he pop up when it matters.
Who will forget his delightful volley against Derby to turn the game on its head and to wrestle the ascendance back to the Hammers? That goal is just one of many vital goals Captain Kevin has come up with. Away at Doncaster, away at Burnley just to name but a few.
Yet his lethargic performances at times can lead to abuse from the stands. He slows the game to his pace and helps us dictate the midfield. Not only has his goals been vital for us, but his leadership qualities have for sure made us stronger. Under Avram Grant and Matthew Upson last season we would have been dead and buried last Saturday but under Nolan and Big Sam it is a different kettle of fish altogether. The team seem to play as a unit more and the way the team picks itself up again is refreshing to see. Yes we draw to many games but when was the last time the Hammers could boast about being ten unbeaten?
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Thinking about it I think the stick comes down to the fact when he wasn’t captain when the Hammers went on an unbeaten run with ten men including a stunning 4-1 away win at Blackpool. West Ham are blessed with influential players with Noble and Nolan amongst the ranks at the Boleyn. With the Hammers strikers not firing it is vital that Kevin has picked up his ten goals and here’s hoping for at least five more this season.
But I think his three game break after his sending off against bitter rival Millwall, served both him and the Hammers well, it gave him a vital break as he had played every game prior to that and he then realised due to the top performances from the Hammers midfielder he had to raise his game to stay in the side. The proof of this lied with his returning goal against Cardiff to lead his side to a 2-0
win. I’ve lost count of the time I have heard a commentator say “delightful ball from Nolan there”
His lob against Burnley made it his 3rd consecutive season scoring ten or more goals for his club, that sort of consistency has been missing for the Hammers for years, so Kevin ignore the haters; you have been a superb signing for this club.
Come on You Irons!
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COME ON YOU IRONS !
What planet are you on! If he wasn’t in the team we would have given proper service to the strikers ,probably had about 30 more goals and packing the mankinis for the summer by now.
Dictate the midfield. Not.
I agree his goals have been good for the club yes but our how shape and play has been dreadful due to the fact we play him in a position that don’t suit him right in midfiled sorry it don’t work you play him just off the striker and use our midfielders properly you’d see a different side of our team trust me and he would be more influential formmeneither Lansbury or Morrison in the middle with noble or when he is back diop let him sit and let noble Nolan cope and the wingers do what they do best
Lets give credit folks….Kevin Nolan has defined a whole new style of midfield play…its called “Trailing in the wake of…” and basically involves running behind whichever opposition player has the ball, generally at a safe-ish distance of 2 to 5 metres, and whilst looking busy and involved (arms going, puffing, grimace on face etc ) the idea is to never QUITE get there in time to have any influence on the play. Lord Lucan (theres one for the teenagers) has been more visible over the past 8 months than our Kev, buy hey, hes Sams old mate and ….well, hes Sams old mate…………..
Agree entirely. Nolan has done a good job for
us, at least he scores goals! The real trouble
is with our Strikers, or so they are called.
Cole in partiular, who failed in the Prmiership,
and now in the Championship. Maynard and Baldock,
seldom get a pass on the Ground, with the continual high ball to Cole which never lands up with either of them. Give Carew a go he at least, holds the ball up and Looks for someone to pass to !
Is this a joke?
Nolan made twelve touches in our last game. End of story.