It is fair to say that Kevin Nolan has received quite a bit of criticism from West Ham supporters last season. In all honesty, he did have a number of poor performances, looking somewhat off the pace in quite a lot of the games that he played in, which caused a lot of this. Indeed, many fans, including myself, feel that he no longer warrants an automatic first-team place, especially in light of the clubs summer signings.
Nonetheless, I still believe that his service over three seasons at the club does deserve a lot more praise than what he generally receives from the Hammers faithful. This is based upon both his performances on the pitch, and especially in his role as captain – probably the best one I have witnessed during my years of supporting West Ham.
Looking firstly at Nolan’s statistical contribution to West Ham, since his switch from Newcastle United in the summer of 2011, it bears out more favourably than you may expect for the Liverpudlian born midfielder.
In 110 appearances, which is comprised of one season in the Championship, and two in the Premier League, Nolan has scored 29 goals and provided 13 assists for the Hammers. This is more on both counts than any other West Ham player in that period, which of course isn’t a completely fair comparison, considering Nolan has played more games than a lot of West Ham players during that time, but still highlights the importance of the former Bolton Wanderers man to the team. Even last season with all the criticism Nolan received – at one stage from his own manager – his seven goals and five assists were higher than any of his other team-mates.
It is not just the mere fact of the goals, but it is also notable that they generally tended to come at important times, resulting in valuable points for the Hammers. Indeed, 23 of his goals in a West Ham shirt have come in victories, with many by a single goal margin. Indeed his five goal spell in the four matches of February of last season effectively ensured that the club were safe from relegation worries, which highlights this point further. In other words, his goals are usually vital to the cause.
The thing that has really made Nolan stand out in his time at Upton Park, however, is his captaincy. In signing Nolan, West Ham gained themselves a true leader, someone who is capable of organising the team on the pitch, and whose influence helps create a real team environment, full of spirit and camaraderie, off it.
Rewind back to the summer of 2011, when Sam Allardyce first became West Ham manager, and things were looking pretty bleak for the club. They had just been relegated after a disastrous season under the stewardship of Avram Grant, displaying a disturbing lack of spirit or fight, particularly towards the end of the campaign. There were constant rumours of fallings out and rifts and factions in the dressing room during that time, and the team played exactly in that manner – as a bunch of individuals rather than a team.
So leadership was required, and it was provided in abundance by Kevin Nolan. As a personal observation, from the last three years of watching West Ham play, team spirit and attitude seems a whole lot better amongst the players from those days. From celebrating goals and victories expressively during and after matches, to the entire team working unbelievably hard defending the Hammers goal when under pressure, (sometimes even putting themselves in physical danger doing so), this attitude has been clear to see on the field. Off it, social media seems to indicate a strong bond between team-mates, with plenty of ‘great banter’ as Alan Partridge might say, in evidence.
I think Nolan can take a lot of credit for this. I have heard quite a few important names at the club hail the impact of his captaincy behind the scenes in this regard, with West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan even once describing him as the most impressive footballer he’s ever met. And fans’ favourite, Mark Noble, said of his captain in December last year, at a time when Nolan was under considerable pressure: “Kev is brilliant in the dressing room and he has been unbelievable for us…He’s the gaffers man and he looks after the dressing room and all of the problems in there. You need someone like that.”
During games, you often see Nolan engaging with his team-mates, encouraging them or giving orders such as organising the team for defending set pieces. It is also noticeable how he deliberately gets himself about the opposition, especially in home matches, setting an early tone by putting in strong challenges, and of course using his tactic of standing in front of the other teams goalkeeper at corners. Whilst some may consider this sort of thing as undesirable, or even going against ‘the West Ham way’, I actually quite like it. He sets the example for the team to get stuck in, which is what supporters love to see, and it sends a clear message to the opposition that they are not going to have an easy ride playing against West Ham. What other West Ham captain in recent years could you say something similar about in terms of their application on the pitch? Matthew Upson? Nigel Reo-Coker?
Sometimes this goes too far, with Nolan’s two silly sendings off last season a case in point, but overall I think this attitude has helped to make Upton Park a place where teams can fear to come to again, after years of West Ham looking like a soft touch on the pitch.
Therefore, whilst I feel that Nolan is in decline footballing wise, and that he should probably become more of a squad player for the coming season, it is important to underline the midfielder’s contribution to the club as a whole, and give him the credit that he probably doesn’t receive enough of from a lot of West Ham supporters. His goals and general leadership qualities have been a heavy factor in promotion to, and subsequent consolidation in, the Premier League. His influence in the dressing room has also created a team atmosphere that I hope will continue for the foreseeable future, and can serve as a catalyst for future captains, such as Mark Noble.
By no means do I think he’s finished yet as a West Ham player either, as he still has that unique knack of getting in the right place at the right time to score vital goals, which would make him an invaluable impact substitute.
I am aware that this may not be the most popular opinion amongst Hammers fans, but I believe that a fair amount of credit, as well as criticism, is deserved on the part of Kevin Nolan.
Yeah mate spot on !!!
Good article. Nolan’s contribution should be recognised. I’d also like to see some different combinations in midfield. Come on you Irons – surprise me!! Hoping for a better season, but it’s always the hope that gets you in the end!
I back your viewpoint too James. His on field leadership has been the best captaincy in a West Ham Shirt for at least 12 years.
I think, realistically that Noble may not be quite the ‘leader’ but more the ’embodiment’ of West Ham in the coming season. Personally if Reid stays I would like to see him take it.
Although I tend to agree with much of what you have to say about Nolan, best captain ever?
Not in my opinion! For me there has only been one. BOBBY MOORE! Followed only by Billy Bonds!
What a nonsense of an article. Believe it or not it infuriates me when people have a go at our own players, particularly when they put in alot of effort for lack of ability. I always defended Boa Morte as he gave his all, the same as Wanchope and Carlton, but the stick Nolan gets is fully deserved.
Lets look at your stats as you were keen to show them. 100 Apps and 29 goals. Good record, in fact a great record. BUT 12 of those goals were in the championship. Last season he produced a measly 7 goals! Season before it was only 10.
Now this is a player that despite his extreme abilities has the cheek to tell others what to do and organise on the pitch. Yet if he is so good at organising etc why in so many games last season did we stop playing a certain way (You could tell it was not what we were supposed to do as either BFS was moaning or slumped in his seat bored!)
This is the same player who, and this is proven. (Look on squawka!) who, despite telling others, cannot.does not pass 5 yards to a team mate, tackle, close down enough, dribble, whip crosses in. In fact you barely know he is on the pitch most of the time, the only time you see him is when he is in the refs face!
And this thing at set pieces I really like as well, but I would call it more goal hanging than anything else, I mean he is so static at corners and is just hopeful that it drops to him. He isnt moving and causing a problem to opponents. easy, lazy way out?
He might be a great leader off the pitch but you have to wonder, what exactly is BFS doing, surely it is his job to do that? You wont see Louis Van Gaal not doing certain things to keep the dressing room a close nit unit, its border line a peer pressure group of players at the moment. Team atmosphere comes from the manager not one of the players, who in turn is guaranteed a game, no matter form or ability. Remember while Nolan is playing West Ham are effectively down to ten men, such is his lack of contribution!
I loved the bit about setting the early tone by getting at his opponents, while I will say give him his credit, he does do it for the first 30 seconds, but that is it lol!
The last captain that was worthy of the name was Di Canio, and his contribution deserved the captaincy. Before, the same, Lomas, and he got involved with the games also. You knew he was playing! Even Dailliy organised the team as much as Nolan does (Except again, you knew Dailly was playing!)
Nolan is a poor player and only is in the team because, as Noble put it “He’s the gaffers man and he looks after the dressing room and all of the problems in there” He is the managers man and does the jobs BFS does not want or cannot do.
For real ! only got 7 goals last term and 10 before ?
Not bad for a mid fielder and someone played out of position a lot. If he had a better center forward to play off, or decent midfielders around him, then he would have got a load more.
Name me another midfielder in the premier league who for 5m, will get you an average of 8 – 10 goals a season.
When we get some more creative players in the team he will probably add to that.
Also when we went up, he scored so many crucial goals to get us in the play offs.
In addition when we went down and all the other players were like rats in a sinking ship, he stuck his neck out and joined us to take on a massive challenge. He could easily have sat it out at Newacastle and not bothered.
Leave the fella alone.
Out of position? I see him play in the whole behind the striker. Not supporting the midfielders behind him and usually some distance away from the striker. He gets close sometimes when its Carroll but makes no effort if its Cole or Maiga.
Yeah he ONLY got 7 and 10 goals, while offering nothing else. Taking the place of a striker, We could go two up top or have a creative player on the whole that could probably score nearly as many but would create a hell of alot more!
So its now better players around him he needs, are these the better players so that he can not pass to them anyway? Or not bother making runs for anyway? How would better midfielders make him dribble better? Make him tackle more? Surely if the problem was that everyone else was terrible and not him we would see more of him and he would shine more. Not the other way around. Better centre forward than our record signing, his best man Andy Carroll? He he cant be arsed with him in the team then even Zlatan would struggle.
I cant think of another midfielder who does nothing except chip in with a few goals in the league for 5 million. I cant think of a few strikers though.
He scored crucial goals when we went up, more crucial than Vaz Te? You dont see him being allowed to stand around. I remember Maiga being screamed at by Allardyce a few times for being static, never seen him do it Nolan.
He joined us on a sinking ship. The fact he was working for a manager who he knew would play him regardless of form, the fact he was going to be on 50k and he would be played in whatever position he liked had no bearing on the fact im sure.