What's your analysis, Stu? All I see there are contradictions and your opinion. You're asking people to expand on their opinions, and move away from 'soundbites', yet you've used several yourself. I know you champion Nolan, and feel like you need to defend him whenever possible, but I'd love to see (figures, graphs, etc) what you see that other people don't.
For what its worth, in a 3 game analysis for Newcastle United (Tottenham, Fulham & Arsenal), Kevin Nolan as CM played the fewest passes (most of which were dump passes to a more creative player), the fewest tackles, fewest interceptions, and his average position was dead on the half way line. Once I've submitted the work, I'll post it up on the forum in the tactics thread, so people can read it.
Fair play if you do, but I don't really see what points I've made that I haven't provided some sort of support to go with it (if able to). I don't see Nolan as a creative player, I see him as a tidy distributor who tries to get on the end of attacking situations.
His most improtant work comes off the ball and in the dressing room by leading the team.
You're only allowed to like Tiote and Enrique man Stu you fool.