Guest alex Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 (edited) My favourite player for us this season has been Guthrie. Even when played out of position he's done well - despite occasionally drifting into the centre when he's supposed to have been on the right! However I think Nolan's goals have earned him the title and over the season I suppose he's probably been an asset in this league. What a generous observation! - we would have been more than a bit short without his goals this season. Nolan has proved himself a very good finisher this season and for me he is better on the ball than he is given credit for. Yes he does lack pace and yes it would be better if he were quicker but pace is not everything. While he was apparrently poor in his last season at Bolton he was a top man for them for several years - in the premiership. Throw in his age and I just do not get (at all!) the assumption from many on this thread that Nolan cannot play in the PL and needs to be sold. Far too much negativity on this thread. And we have far bigger weaknesses than Kevin Nolan - seriously pleased for him picking up his award and assuming he takes some sort of bow the morra night I'll applaud the scouse salad dodger. It's about 4 seasons since he played well in the Premier League imo. Not having a pop or singling him out other than for the reason he's being discussed. He can't play effectively in a 4-4-2 in the Premier League though. Last time he did look decent in the league above was when he was at the head of a midfield 3 with two wingers etc. I don't think anyone would deny his goals have been very important and I actually think he's benefitted from playing the odd game alongside Guthrie instead of Smith of late but his lack of legs this season in what is, lets be honest - a rather pedestrian division, would be a massive problem if he were one of two man central midfield for us next year as I see it. Edited March 16, 2010 by alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew 4880 Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Had a look at nolans stats for the PL season on season and (as far as final product goes) his last actual good season was 05/06 since then hes been average/poor at premier league level last year (between bolton and us) he played 30 PL games and got himself 0 goals and 4 assists (2 for us 2 for them) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeazesMag 0 Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 My favourite player for us this season has been Guthrie. Even when played out of position he's done well - despite occasionally drifting into the centre when he's supposed to have been on the right! However I think Nolan's goals have earned him the title and over the season I suppose he's probably been an asset in this league. What a generous observation! - we would have been more than a bit short without his goals this season. Nolan has proved himself a very good finisher this season and for me he is better on the ball than he is given credit for. Yes he does lack pace and yes it would be better if he were quicker but pace is not everything. While he was apparrently poor in his last season at Bolton he was a top man for them for several years - in the premiership. Throw in his age and I just do not get (at all!) the assumption from many on this thread that Nolan cannot play in the PL and needs to be sold. Far too much negativity on this thread. And we have far bigger weaknesses than Kevin Nolan - seriously pleased for him picking up his award and assuming he takes some sort of bow the morra night I'll applaud the scouse salad dodger. it isn't just pace, it is because he doesn't from box to box enough. We don't have anybody who does this, Guthrie probably has the best "engine" but he doesn't get in front of his forwards either. You need support to front runners, quick support and consistent support. You can play someone like Smith in the holding role, which he has done very well, but around him you need a couple of players who will support quickly and for 90 minutes. He's been a good finisher though, and I'm not knocking him just pointing out our team weakness. This is the biggest weakness in the team IMO and we will get absolutely steamrollered next season unless it is improved. I don't know who I think has been our best player this season. Enrique is the best player per position on the books, but also Smith, Guittierez, Steven Taylor, Harper and maybe Carroll and Lovenkrands are as good as any other in this league at the other clubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Percy Street 0 Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 My favourite player for us this season has been Guthrie. Even when played out of position he's done well - despite occasionally drifting into the centre when he's supposed to have been on the right! However I think Nolan's goals have earned him the title and over the season I suppose he's probably been an asset in this league. What a generous observation! - we would have been more than a bit short without his goals this season. Nolan has proved himself a very good finisher this season and for me he is better on the ball than he is given credit for. Yes he does lack pace and yes it would be better if he were quicker but pace is not everything. While he was apparrently poor in his last season at Bolton he was a top man for them for several years - in the premiership. Throw in his age and I just do not get (at all!) the assumption from many on this thread that Nolan cannot play in the PL and needs to be sold. Far too much negativity on this thread. And we have far bigger weaknesses than Kevin Nolan - seriously pleased for him picking up his award and assuming he takes some sort of bow the morra night I'll applaud the scouse salad dodger. it isn't just pace, it is because he doesn't from box to box enough. We don't have anybody who does this, Guthrie probably has the best "engine" but he doesn't get in front of his forwards either. You need support to front runners, quick support and consistent support. You can play someone like Smith in the holding role, which he has done very well, but around him you need a couple of players who will support quickly and for 90 minutes. He's been a good finisher though, and I'm not knocking him just pointing out our team weakness. This is the biggest weakness in the team IMO and we will get absolutely steamrollered next season unless it is improved. I don't know who I think has been our best player this season. Enrique is the best player per position on the books, but also Smith, Guittierez, Steven Taylor, Harper and maybe Carroll and Lovenkrands are as good as any other in this league at the other clubs. To be fair if Lovenkrands had played a full season in his current form he would have absolutely walked the CCC player of the season. I accept the constructive criticism here of Nolan, was just a little concerned earlier in the thread that his very considerable contribution this season wasn't being recognised at all. He might even yet hit 20 goals this season (pushing it I know) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob toonpants 4165 Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Its going to be interesting to see how many players we get into the team of the season - especially as all your pundits /opposition players and managers are always going on about how much quality weve got. Ironic really considering how much flack our support has always got for its unrealistic expectations, and even though we are accadaccering the League we seem to have a worse opinion of our players than everyone else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 22032 Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Its going to be interesting to see how many players we get into the team of the season - especially as all your pundits /opposition players and managers are always going on about how much quality weve got.Ironic really considering how much flack our support has always got for its unrealistic expectations, and even though we are accadaccering the League we seem to have a worse opinion of our players than everyone else Like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney 0 Posted March 16, 2010 Share Posted March 16, 2010 Guthrie really keeps us ticking over. He always shows for the ball and is a clever passer. Nolans goals and size have been superb for us, he can be a passenger/hindrance for us going forward though. Aside from that he seems to be a hugely positive influence in the dressing room. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted March 18, 2010 Share Posted March 18, 2010 Guthrie really keeps us ticking over. He always shows for the ball and is a clever passer. Nolans goals and size have been superb for us, he can be a passenger/hindrance for us going forward though. Aside from that he seems to be a hugely positive influence in the dressing room. No coincidence Nolan has looked better in his allround play of late with Guthrie alongside him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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