Something truly remarkable happened yesterday. With time running down and Allardyce desperate for a winning goal, Vaz Te was sent on and Captain Kev was withdrawn. The look on Nolan's face said it all. Bewildered. Shocked. Betrayed. It was like a son walking in to his bedroom to find his sixteen year old girl friend having sex with his Dad!
And you can understand the amazement. If you need a goal, you keep Nolan on the pitch. Normally. Let's face it, he nearly scored two in this game, with one deflection in the six yard box brilliantly saved by Cesar and another headed over the bar. But the trouble is, Nolan's knack seems to have deserted him in recent weeks. It is true that he is still getting opportunities but he has stopped taking them. And his presence in the team is restricting our most talented player, Joe Cole.
We came alive in the second half yesterday because the chains tying JC to the touchline were snapped by Allardyce at half time. Suddenly Cole was allowed to wander, to move inside, to find space rather than occupy a space - and the results were sensational.
Second half we could have scored five. Chamahk should have had two, M'Bia made two brilliant blocks, Joe Cole was clean through on goal and forced a good save from Cesar, and Reid might have scored two. We pounded QPR and with JC given more freedom, we looked like a different team - fluid, expansive, dare I say impressive.
But we can't have two players sitting in the hole. With Paulista comfortable on the flanks too, the way forward may well be to use Joe Cole in the hole, and then what do you do with Kevin Nolan?
An impact sub perhaps?
Match report here: http://thegamesgonecrazy.blogspot.ro/2013/01/west-ham-1-qpr-1-west-ham-mortally.html
15 comments:
Not a fan of Nolan. Most of last season he was awful. Improved for the first part of this year but I still feel umbrage towards those players who seem to be automatic picks regardless of form. Drop him, I say, and let Joey Cole roam!
I actually think Nolan was class last season and if he helps keep us top half of the table this year he deserves respect. Joe Cole is still a traitor
Get rid....simples
I agree 100%. For now, it's time for Nolan to take the bench given his recent form. if it comes back up, then great!
I must adgree I have been very disappointed with Nolan over recent weeks. With the return of JC there is only one position to play him and that is behind the forward free to roam. Nolan does pop up with goals but he has not been the same player since the beginning of the season a couple of games on the bench might do him some good. I could never see Nolan noble cole and mo all fitting In.
Nolan hasn't got the legs anymore and is missing in most games now.
Wouldn't worry about selling Nolan, you need to buy a goalscorer.
If Remy was playing for WH yesterday you would have won 8-0.
Yesterdays draw showed WH are close to being good and QPR need to buy an entire midfield.
Ok, he's playing rubbish but letting him go? Let's not get too carried away.
He should be told in no uncertain terms he needs to improve...whether that be by dropping him or whatever. Maybe with the subbing against QPR, the process has started.
If he can sort himself out I think he still has lots to offer. I think we're too easily forgetting his abilities when he's playing well, with good fitness and the right attitude.
You couldn't come back to the org and deal with that arse Wrighty could you? And completely agree with selling Nolan, another arse!
It's fascinating how quickly you are asking for Nolan to go. I wonder what it would take to do the same for Lord of the Boleyn, Mark Noble.
In the first half of the QPR game they looked so much more dangerous than us because they had Tarraat in the hole behind the striker creating things and we had nothing. The frustration of knowing that we had a similar, even better, player stuck out on the wing whilst Nolan just wasted space was painful. Cole has to play in the middle and that leaves no space for Nolan.
We are not a big enough club to release such players. he has been half decent and the talk of making the same mistake as we did with Zamora is a joke, lets be proud to have such British players at upon park and look to get some class and stability at the back first.
off topic but tompkins should go i understand we have a defensive crisis
but this bloke is appaling is like a boy in a massive toyshop doent no where to go first
I think Nolan is average and lazy and has been carried as a passenger for far too long. The main reason why he is lazy is beacuse hes unfit and the reason he is unfit is because he no longer thinks he has to fight for hes place because BFS will put him in the team no matter what. Bench him and if he doesnt show the right attitude and get fitter then lose him (god knows who would buy him for the wages we are suffering> as said by others earlier Joe needs to roam. Also Nolan is the reason why we havent scored an away goal for god knows how long because when away from home you need to attack with pace something he has never got. Also we can then cnahge the formation so we are not playing this rubbish formation just to house lazy arse Nolan
Nolan is taking up someone elses place in the team. Slow of thought and body and way, way past his best. Allardyce has simply stuck him in the side irrespective of form or effectiveness, and if hes not scoring, then its out of the side and in with some spark, legs and creativity. Nolan is overrated and is taking up Joe Coles obvious position.
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