Sky Sports: Bolton agree fee with Newcastle for Nolan

[William the White]

Nolan bleeds Bolton Wanderers, but every man has his limit, and i think he's just had enough of the abuse (and who could blame him?). And so I think he quite fancies a change now, and if that happens to be to a bigger club, with bigger wages and a better chance of getting in the England squad, then all the better. Certainly if he manages to galvanise Newcastles squad in the way he did ours last season, then he'll not be short of adoration.

If a deal is done, it'll be to suit all parties. I will bet anyone on here any amount of money they wish to put up that we won't be letting him go without a replacement in mind. Anelka was an entirely different situation, in that he was a notoriously sulky Frenchman who we'd promised to let go if a big club came in for him, theres certainly no danger of Nolan not giving his all if we forced him to stay.

Obviously i'm gutted, and i'd like nothing more than for this to be a nonesense rumour and us to keep Nolan and sign another midfielder, but there are merits to this deal. For both parties. There doesn't always have to be someone to blame.

Well said Tom. Well said indeed.

And well done for reminding the short term memory losers here of how crucial his return last season was!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Meanwhile in Bonkersland, NZogbia refuses to play for the Toon again

Like I say on that thread, more money for Nolan please

[Verbal]

Nolan bleeds Bolton Wanderers, but every man has his limit, and i think he's just had enough of the abuse (and who could blame him?). And so I think he quite fancies a change now, and if that happens to be to a bigger club, with bigger wages and a better chance of getting in the England squad, then all the better. Certainly if he manages to galvanise Newcastles squad in the way he did ours last season, then he'll not be short of adoration.

If a deal is done, it'll be to suit all parties. I will bet anyone on here any amount of money they wish to put up that we won't be letting him go without a replacement in mind. Anelka was an entirely different situation, in that he was a notoriously sulky Frenchman who we'd promised to let go if a big club came in for him, theres certainly no danger of Nolan not giving his all if we forced him to stay.

Obviously i'm gutted, and i'd like nothing more than for this to be a nonesense rumour and us to keep Nolan and sign another midfielder, but there are merits to this deal. For both parties. There doesn't always have to be someone to blame.

Well said Tom. Well said indeed.

I'll second that

thirded.

[keveh]

I know how the media works mate and this isn't a guaranteed story

Stop it DSB!

Just let me dream a little bit

[eddybwfc]

Nolan bleeds Bolton Wanderers, but every man has his limit, and i think he's just had enough of the abuse (and who could blame him?). And so I think he quite fancies a change now, and if that happens to be to a bigger club, with bigger wages and a better chance of getting in the England squad, then all the better. Certainly if he manages to galvanise Newcastles squad in the way he did ours last season, then he'll not be short of adoration.

If a deal is done, it'll be to suit all parties. I will bet anyone on here any amount of money they wish to put up that we won't be letting him go without a replacement in mind. Anelka was an entirely different situation, in that he was a notoriously sulky Frenchman who we'd promised to let go if a big club came in for him, theres certainly no danger of Nolan not giving his all if we forced him to stay.

Obviously i'm gutted, and i'd like nothing more than for this to be a nonesense rumour and us to keep Nolan and sign another midfielder, but there are merits to this deal. For both parties. There doesn't always have to be someone to blame.

Well said Tom. Well said indeed.

I'll second that

thirded.

Fourthed

[fatshaft]

Nolan is having an awful season and he was awful last year. Why are people so worked up about him leaving ? I don't think we need to replace him because he doesn't actually bring much to the team at the moment. I would be delighted if the money goes on Velaso but I doubt that will happen. I think if we are being offered £3m/£4.5m then thats a suitable offer which we can use in the summer.

Remember he has 10 yellow cards already this season (been suspended twice), but hasn't scored this season and it didn't look like we missed him against United or Arsenal.

Just hope Fat Sam wants him and we can rank the price up.

Sums up things nicely. Getting £4m+ for a player who has been well out of form for a long time is great business. It opens up place that was automatically filled week in week out, and now makes no-one in the team undroppable.

Not sure how to feel about this.

ditto. He is stale at the Reebok, but has been Bolton through and through forever. Good luck to the lad. I will watch with interest when the Nolan-bashers start crying that he's gone.

Well I am mostly a Nolan basher, and I think this is very good news.

[Prufrock]

My instincts tell me I don't like this. The timing just seems wrong. IF Veloso comes in tomorrow then maybe I'll understand but it just seems so strange with only a few days left. I kind of agree with the general sentiment. No-one should ever be undroppable, and if we have the chance to improve on any player, no matter who they are then we should take it, and IF that is the case here then fair enough. This is a HUGE call though. He is the club captain and still for me, despite not being anywhere near as good as a few years ago, still our best midfielder. I also think if Muamba is worth 5M, then 4.5 for Nolan is low. I wont deny i love the lad to bits as a bloke, lovely bloke in real life and bleeds for this club, and if this deal goes through i hope he goes there and sticks it to all the boo-boys and shows what a good palyer he is (obviously not at our expense). ALL said and done though he has stagnated, and what worries me is not so much Nolan leaving, as i think it could be good for him and us, but the fee and the timing. Next few days will be 'interesting'.

[thebish]

My instincts tell me I don't like this. The timing just seems wrong. IF Veloso comes in tomorrow then maybe I'll understand but it just seems so strange with only a few days left. I kind of agree with the general sentiment. No-one should ever be undroppable, and if we have the chance to improve on any player, no matter who they are then we should take it, and IF that is the case here then fair enough. This is a HUGE call though. He is the club captain and still for me, despite not being anywhere near as good as a few years ago, still our best midfielder. I also think if Muamba is worth 5M, then 4.5 for Nolan is low. I wont deny i love the lad to bits as a bloke, lovely bloke in real life and bleeds for this club, and if this deal goes through i hope he goes there and sticks it to all the boo-boys and shows what a good palyer he is (obviously not at our expense). ALL said and done though he has stagnated, and what worries me is not so much Nolan leaving, as i think it could be good for him and us, but the fee and the timing. Next few days will be 'interesting'.

being club captain is, i think, part of the problem - it causes a problem for megson.... week in/week out Nolan is (often quite rightly) berated as being an utter waste of playing-space - yet, what can megson do about it??

1. to strip him of the captaincy leaves a hurt and wounded Nolan stalking the dressing room
2. to drop him evokes the response - why is he captain then - you can't drop the captain.

short of feigning long term injury and paying him to sit in the crowd to save face - what else can megson do??

keep on picking him and hope he recaptures the form of the 2002 5-0 against Leicester days???????

[Zulus Thousand of em]

You can bet your life that he'll be transformed when he moves on. Mind you, there'll be some shite around him at Newcastle.

[Prufrock]

My instincts tell me I don't like this. The timing just seems wrong. IF Veloso comes in tomorrow then maybe I'll understand but it just seems so strange with only a few days left. I kind of agree with the general sentiment. No-one should ever be undroppable, and if we have the chance to improve on any player, no matter who they are then we should take it, and IF that is the case here then fair enough. This is a HUGE call though. He is the club captain and still for me, despite not being anywhere near as good as a few years ago, still our best midfielder. I also think if Muamba is worth 5M, then 4.5 for Nolan is low. I wont deny i love the lad to bits as a bloke, lovely bloke in real life and bleeds for this club, and if this deal goes through i hope he goes there and sticks it to all the boo-boys and shows what a good palyer he is (obviously not at our expense). ALL said and done though he has stagnated, and what worries me is not so much Nolan leaving, as i think it could be good for him and us, but the fee and the timing. Next few days will be 'interesting'.

being club captain is, i think, part of the problem - it causes a problem for megson.... week in/week out Nolan is (often quite rightly) berated as being an utter waste of playing-space - yet, what can megson do about it??

1. to strip him of the captaincy leaves a hurt and wounded Nolan stalking the dressing room
2. to drop him evokes the response - why is he captain then - you can't drop the captain.

short of feigning long term injury and paying him to sit in the crowd to save face - what else can megson do??

keep on picking him and hope he recaptures the form of the 2002 5-0 against Leicester days???????

Either one or two is surely a better option if his being captain is the only reason for selling him. Okocha was stripped of the captaincy, yet the second half of his last season he was one of our standout performers. As for 2. he is club captain, a strong manager should be able to drop the club captain, that position should never guarantee a starting eleven place. Am i right in thinking Gary Neville is still United club captain, yet isn't first choice?

I don't necessarily think 'being Captain' is the problem either, for the first few months of being Captain he was brilliant, i think it is more that being captain has been allowed to make him feel undroppable (which i dont think the captain has to be), the England talk going to his head, and perhaps dare i suggest it, he was an early developer, had a couple of purple years and has struggled since. I really can't wish the guy anything but success if he does go, and i really feel he was treated unfairly by many here because he came through the academy. All in all, no matter how could a deal or a decision it turns out to be, at least part of me will be sad to see that man leave our club. Doesn't necessarily mean i think it is the wrong decison, though like i said, the timing and reported fee worry me.

[mullayo]

Who's the new captain? Cahill?

Gotta be careful it's a guaranteed starter should be a midfielder but wouldn't make it Taylor cause of Gardner.


I think Nolan's heart hasn't been in it. I remember when he got 11 goals one year now he doesn't look as fit and if your captain is moping around it's catching. We should have got $5m plus for him though. Hope we get N'Zogbia not Butt in exchange. May need to scrabble about for a replacement. Gelson?

[DJBlu]

Who's the new captain? Cahill?

Gotta be careful it's a guaranteed starter should be a midfielder but wouldn't make it Taylor cause of Gardner.


I think Nolan's heart hasn't been in it. I remember when he got 11 goals one year now he doesn't look as fit and if your captain is moping around it's catching. We should have got $5m plus for him though. Hope we get N'Zogbia not Butt in exchange. May need to scrabble about for a replacement. Gelson?

Wouldn't want a guy who refuses to play for his club because the boss got his name wrong.

[FaninOz]

Nolan will never get near the England team, in fact he shouldn't even be near our team. So good luck to him, I'd sell him (possibly give him away) tomorrow. I very much doubt if anyone will pay much for him.

He brings nothing to our team noe, his leadership is poor, his performances are poor, he doesn't score goals, he doesn't create goals, he can't tackle, he can't pass, he can't conrol the ball or beat a man, he is so slow and doesn't motivate his team anymore. He may do better in a better team, but bigger club doesn't necessarily mean a better team so I can't see him doing well at Newcastle, or anywhere else for that matter.

Enough said I guess.

[William the White]

Who's the new captain? Cahill?

Gotta be careful it's a guaranteed starter should be a midfielder but wouldn't make it Taylor cause of Gardner.


I think Nolan's heart hasn't been in it. I remember when he got 11 goals one year now he doesn't look as fit and if your captain is moping around it's catching. We should have got $5m plus for him though. Hope we get N'Zogbia not Butt in exchange. May need to scrabble about for a replacement. Gelson?

Wouldn't want a guy who refuses to play for his club because the boss got his name wrong.

Didn't get it wrong - used it to insult him. Slightly different, no?

[potter1989bwfc]

Guthiere ? Part Exchange ?
the fee is believed to be 4.5 Million, which i think is quiet a good fee
New Midfield
K Davies Basham Mubhama M Davies Taylor

[H. Pedersen]

You can bet your life that he'll be transformed when he moves on.

Players who go to Newcastle get transformed, but it ain't for the better.

As I said in another thread, I can't really believe this is happening, but any objective observer would have to conclude that we're talking about ~£4 million for a player who can't pass, can't control the ball, can't run, can't tackle, can't head a ball, can't score, and can't keep his temper in check. If we use this money to get Veloso I would be perfectly satisfied. We could then play a 4-2-3-1, allowing Elmander to play in his best position. Nolan has always been what has prevented us from true flexibility in the team.

--------------- Jussi ----------------
Steinsson - Cahill - AOB - Samuel
------ Veloso ------ Muamba ------
Taylor ----- Elmander ---- Gardner
--------- Davies / Makakula --------

Sorted.

[seanworth]

Wow the sh$t hit the fan after I went home. Have to say I have mixed feelings, and I am sure all points I make will have been repeated many times over in this long thread.

I like Nolan, and he is a key part to the Bolton Wanderers, and is our captain. Dumping him is a huge risk on our part. How will the team react. Do we have any other leaders ready to step up. Will the team disintegrate. With the bitching fans each week it can hardly be motivating for the players. Can certainly understand why many players wouldn't want to come here.

Now having said that, I think the risk is worth it. Nolan has not been playing well for the most part. Being the Captain makes it very hard to drop him. I doubt that the team will continue on the same path regarding how we are playing now that Nolan is gone. Now we could collapse which is quite possible, but I think we have the opportunity to move up a level now and start playing more attractive and efficient football with Nolan out of the picture. The pressure on Sparky sure has increased though, unless we get another midfielder in his place.

[hisroyalgingerness]

Nolan may bleed Bolton. He may be Bolton "through and through". In fact, I don't doubt that he'd go down to League 2 with us if that were to be our fate. But that isn't enough. We need players who can compete consistently week by week in the Premiership. He's playing in a role where his contribution needs to be more tangible than running around shouting at the ref. We haven't had that for far too long.

We've never settled on our midfield this season, never been able to find the right balance. Partly due to injuries and suspensions but for me any midfield with Nolan in it has a weak link. He was shown up at Blackburn by two younger midfielders who showed they were mobile enough, strong enough, brave enough and clever enough to slip passes around and get our static team moving. Nolan watched all this with bewilderment constantly jogging behind the play.

He's a passenger and we'll be back to playing with 11 men when he's gone, not 10 and half.

The worrying thing is the effect on the dressing room. I don't doubt his role and the respect he has here.

Some great memories - his goal against United to win us that game at OT, the goal at Highbury and his volley against Dirtburn.

[hisroyalgingerness]

And his goal at Brum that day, when we had lost 6 on't bounce. Get in

[Hoboh]

You can bet your life that he'll be transformed when he moves on.

Players who go to Newcastle get transformed, but it ain't for the better.

As I said in another thread, I can't really believe this is happening, but any objective observer would have to conclude that we're talking about ~£4 million for a player who can't pass, can't control the ball, can't run, can't tackle, can't head a ball, can't score, and can't keep his temper in check. If we use this money to get Veloso I would be perfectly satisfied. We could then play a 4-2-3-1, allowing Elmander to play in his best position. Nolan has always been what has prevented us from true flexibility in the team.

--------------- Jussi ----------------
Steinsson - Cahill - AOB - Samuel
------ Veloso ------ Muamba ------
Taylor ----- Elmander ---- Gardner
--------- Davies / Makakula --------

Sorted.

Except I don't think we'll see that name i could be happy with that!