Kevin Nolan’s a bit like Mark Noble when it comes to his crowd-pleasing abilities. You either love him or hate him – or you, like me, are a little bit ambivalent about him. He’s been a great addition to the team over the past two years in that he’s provided dominance in midfield, is a brilliant poacher in the box, and seems to be a great leader to the team. We have certainly grown in strength and league position over the last two years (we’re two points off Manchester United still) and although his aggression may not be something I am overwhelmingly fond of, it’s certainly helpful on occasion.
However, this season I’ve been a little disappointed with Kevin Nolan. He’s seemed a bit subdued, and slightly off the pace. Our midfield is getting to be quite full of talent and competition, and if the day ever comes when we have a fully fit squad, we will need to make sacrifices in our current starting line up (unless we play a 3-7-0 or something; that rascal Sam Allardyce is full of surprises.)
At a time when our ‘captain fantastic’ isn’t necessarily, erm, ‘fantastic’, should he, and could he, be dropped from the starting 11? Or is our Captain Kevin un-droppable?
There certainly are reasons he’s not been at his best this year. Nolan excels at playing off a tall, lone striker – so having no Andy Carroll has affected his impact on the game. It also doesn’t help that next to the up and coming brilliance of young Ravel Morrison, Nolan is no longer the prolific goal scoring midfielder that he was last season. Morrison has been more attacking than defending, so this has meant Nolan has had to drop back deeper on a few occasions (although he does still make an effort to be offside as often as possible.)
He just doesn’t look at his best at the moment, and I can’t help but wonder- if Nolan weren’t the captain, would he have been dropped to the bench for a game or two by now? Not as a punishment per se, but look what a few games on the bench have done for Ricardo Vaz Te- he’s now back on the pitch with a determination we’ve not seen since we sat in the Championship, and he scored against Spurs.
What do you think – when our squad is fully fit, would you keep Nolan in the starting 11 and as captain, or would you pass the armband over to Reid and keep Nolan on the bench? Will he be back to good once we settle into our playing routine? Let me know below or tweet me @makingthemarrow
I think we shoud definately keep him in the squad. However unless noble ups his game we should drop him for diame and morrison to take that spot. Nolan is a great captain and i dont think leaving him out of the squad will be a step forward. I say we need to bring in a creative playmaker to fill that spot maybe next season but for now he is definately our best option
“Unless Noble up’s his game”
Are you having a bleeding laugh!!!!
I despair sometimes reading comments like that, thank god our club is run by professionals who know a good player when they see one (Maiga excepted). I know we are entitled to our opinions but sometimes it really is better that you keep them to yourself!
Mark sweats blood for us every bloody week and still people say its not enough !!! This lad has played for England at every level including captaining the U 21s yet hes still not up to the mark (excuse the pun). I give up !!!!!!!!!
spot on mate noble runs himself into the floor for us week in week out obviously that moron only ever watches us on the box
Nolan hasn’t performed to the best of his abilities yet, so far this season, however, he is a very good captain, and get’s the other players, motivated, and always has the potential to pop up with a goal. So for that reason I would keep him in 🙂
Defiantly keep him, such a good motivator and always there just when we need him and when AC is back they are incredible and cause so much trouble for the opposition
Nolan is decent with the real big man up top.
but when there is no real big man target then the same can be said of Nolan.
He is a mere passenger.
Simply bench him play another midfielder take your pick and put Ravel behind the striker big man or not .
The goal he scored against the spuds showed Energy amongst other things all of which nolan has none..creativity. ..pace. . Intelligence quick feet …the list goes on.
Nolan is useful when Carroll is there.
So if Carroll aint there then BENCH him until 75 min or so .
kevin nolan has no intelligence ? what have you been smoking mate ?
It’s sam’s call on Nolan but I think he needs some bench time he’s no spring chicken and Sam will rest him when he needs resting same with noble he would hate it but he works so hard if we have a full squad that are fit , he could be rested for the last half hour, in a game. But Nolan should stay captain till he retires.
i hope he doesnt get dropped. he brings so much to the team. you cant replace that leadership and energy. In my opinion he is still the most clinical finisher in the squad. he’s 6’1 and can score with both feet, he can score on the volley and scores with his head. if the ball falls to any west ham player in the box you want it to Kevin every single time. he may not be the most versatile player, or the quickest, and i know he isnt the most agile player in the world. but he always tracks back, works his socks off and helps keep the shape of the team when we dont have the ball, and hes a good captain ! Sam is never going to drop Kevin unless he really starts holding back the team, and at the moment, theres absolutely no chance of that happening. I can see Nolan playing premiership football for years. Ask any geordie, they’l tel you they stil wish they had kept hold of him.
drop overdue for Nolan….he doesn’t work hard enough, his distribution is poor and he looses the ball too often…his only contribution is goals (which is not enough for a midfielder) and Ravel will now fulfill that function
It’s amazing that we talk about players, but not about the system that the manager uses. Against Tottenham the midfield was packed and played well, and yes I know playing 4-6 is most unlike Sam but it worked. You could also play Carlton Cole in that system, but not as a front man. The issue for me is when is Andy Carroll coming back, and if the team keep winning playing a different system because they have to, would the manager change a winning system? Well we all know the answer to that, or do we. If Diarra was fit, would the choice be between Noble and Diarra, or Diarra and Nolan? I like the look of the team last time out it was balanced, and could attack with different options, something we have all been crying out for. So will it be more of the same, or we it be back to plan 4-5-1 and try not to lose. I hope that Sam goes with the same formation, and uses players to their potential, so Ravel should start, as would Noble and Nolan, I would rest Jarvis and play Vaz te and Downing with of course Diame playing a more forweard role running at the defence. If subs are needed we play Joe Cole, or MaCartney as the defensive midfielder if Noble or Nolan has to come off.
That’s my opinion, do the unexpected and play as they did last time and it should be an interesting game against Man City, they have been beaten this season, so they are not invincible, even though the bench has cost mega bucks, play like we did last time out “Please”.
I don’t think a few games on the bench would hurt. Might freshen him up a bit but I would drop him as captain permantly. The other players have always spoke very highly of him as a captain and his presence in the dressing room, he’s even taking young Ravel under his wing.
Maybe it is just the absence of Carroll why he isn’t playing so well or maybe he’s just tired.
I for one have always liked the bloke as both a player and a captain
I meant wouldn’t drop him not would by the way