Andy

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I think Nolan is a better centre midfielder than Barton by some distance.

Agreed, it's not world-class marthon runner standard, but it's really nowhere near as bad as so many of you imply. He's conditioned to perform for 90minutes, not 3hours. He should be looking visibly tired by 80minutes+ if he's been giving 110% to the cause. Nail on head here: Your point would be all well and good - except he looks knackered and immobile after 8 minutes, never mind 80 minutes. Your point would be all well and good if there were any actual evidence of our midfield being overrun as a result of his apparent lack of mobility. It was a bit of a joke to be honest. I don't genuinely think he is tired after 8 mins. He at least makes it to 20 mins. Seriously though, I don't really know how anyone can reasonably defend his mobility or his fitness levels because they are, quite frankly, not very good. They are also massively exaggerated... However, this time, you are missing my point - I'm not defending his lack of mobility, I'm questioning its relevance when he makes up for it positionally.

Did you see our midfield performances earlier in the season when Nolan was out injured? We looked far more limited with Barton or Guthrie in the centre alongside Tiote - and yet Barton is far more mobile than Nolan and theoritically a better footballer... As I've said, it's very easy to overlook the tactical know-how that Nolan brings to the team but there's good evidence to suggest that it's far more valuable than a lot of people realise.

Agreed, it's not world-class marthon runner standard, but it's really nowhere near as bad as so many of you imply. He's conditioned to perform for 90minutes, not 3hours. He should be looking visibly tired by 80minutes+ if he's been giving 110% to the cause. Nail on head here: Your point would be all well and good - except he looks knackered and immobile after 8 minutes, never mind 80 minutes. Your point would be all well and good if there were any actual evidence of our midfield being overrun as a result of his apparent lack of mobility.

I love that people genuinely think they can second guess Mike Ashley. The guy himself probably hasn't even made his mind up on how much of it will be spent yet -- from what we've seen so far, he operates on impulse rather than with any kind of logical planning. It sounds stupid for a businessman, but I really think the amount that Pardew will be able to spend will genuinely depend more on what mood Ashley is in at the time than anything else.

Ashley will probably give Pardew £70m now just to spite Keegan.

Whilst I appreciate what you are saying, that's a pretty simplistic way of looking at it. First, you would have to consider whether they are goals that could have been scored by a) someone else in the team doing the same job (ie standing in front of the keeper at corners or b) in his position as a midfielder breaking from deep. That's an even more simplistic way of looking at it tbh, because it's disregarding one of the most little-found elements in a central midfielder's game. How many other midfielders in Europe have scored as many from his position this season? I bet you could count them on one hand. The debate that we're having in this thread about Nolan is deja vu -- the same discussions took place over Laurent Robert in the Robson era. Most people didn't realise the value of his goals and assists until it was too late. That's pretty much what i've said...? Part a) addresses whether these goals could have been scored by someone else on the team had they taken up the set play position he did (which is controllable) and part b) addresses whether another midfielder playing in his position would score the amount of goals. This would weigh up his finishing ability, his ability to time his runs, but then also the fact that that is his role in the team and he is given the licence to do so. Sorry, by responding to my defence of Nolan I actually thought you were using that as an argument against him -- saying that other players could bring the same qualities; which is obviously extremely debatable. I don't like the argument that he doesn't cover enough ground either, going back to your original post. He's not the most mobile (although nowhere near as immobile as people like to make out), but as I said a few pages back, mobility isn't the be-all/end-all in midfield and he has Tiote alongside him for that purpose anyway. More important is having the intelligence to be in the right places and to hold the shape of the team; Nolan excels at that more than anything else. It was very noticeable when he was absent earlier in the season - our midfield were poor even with Tiote in the middle.

Whilst I appreciate what you are saying, that's a pretty simplistic way of looking at it. First, you would have to consider whether they are goals that could have been scored by a) someone else in the team doing the same job (ie standing in front of the keeper at corners or b) in his position as a midfielder breaking from deep. That's an even more simplistic way of looking at it tbh, because it's disregarding one of the most little-found elements in a central midfielder's game. How many other midfielders in Europe have scored as many from his position this season? I bet you could count them on one hand. The debate that we're having in this thread about Nolan is deja vu -- the same discussions took place over Laurent Robert in the Robson era. Most people didn't realise the value of his goals and assists until it was too late.

Why isn't he the kind of player England would call upon then? Because he hasn't been called upon by England? So the reason why he's not the kind of player England would call upon is...."because he hasn't been?" Why is it relevant? Some players are effective at club level without quite being international class -- Nolan is one of those players. I don't think that anyone could say that Nolan as a goal scorer is inferior to any current England midfielder, in fact the stats show he's better than most. So it's obviously the other parts of his game which are considered lacking. That doesn't mean he can't be an effective club player, but the same limitations means while he's here we'll be limited as well. Limited in what sense though? With him in the team we're playing well, defending quite solidly and creating chances for the forwards. He may not be a Champions League standard midfielder, but Jesus, we've just been promoted -- he's more than good enough to help with a Europa League push.

Why isn't he the kind of player England would call upon then? Because he hasn't been called upon by England? So the reason why he's not the kind of player England would call upon is...."because he hasn't been?" Why is it relevant? Some players are effective at club level without quite being international class -- Nolan is one of those players.

So what is the point you're making? That we should overlook his contribution (goals, good team performances, good results with him in the team) on the basis that he isn't as good as Jack Wilshire and he isn't the kind of player who England would call upon?

Who cares where his goals come from, as long as he's getting them? I'd rather him score 13 or 14 scrappy goals from set pieces than 3 wonder goals over the course of a season.

Vuckic, as well, I suppose.

Nope. Hmm... That's only logic I could have seen in it really. Pardew must feel that the players he's got in reserve, and perhaps even the youngsters, offer more. Which may turn out to be an entirely accurate assessment based on Guthrie's performances this season.

Does loaning him out free up a space for a free transfer?

Nobody is whinging about it, it's just an observation. As I said, his performances haven't changed.

I agree with this - it's not to a huge extent, but there's a difference and to me it's noticeable and has been for perhaps the last month... His performances and effort on the pitch are still the about the same as before - maybe even better. But to me he doesn't look like he's enjoying things as much.

Still entitled to play in Europe unless they go into administration, at a guess.

From asking about, the general consensus seems to be that League Cup runners up don't qualify for Europe, if they haven't already, but FA Cup runners up do. So if that is correct, we're dependent on there being two top five teams or Birmingham in the FA Cup final for the 6th place spot to be opened up.

To be fair, that sounds like you've got it right...

That settles it then.

Isn't a goal threat. Apart from when he scores. Or goes bloody close (as he did yesterday). Give. Head. A. Shake. He's going to carry the stigma of being Leon Best for a while - at the very least until he scores goals consistently over the course of a season. If he was a new January-signing called León Bestinho and had performed the way he has since he's had a run in the team there'd be a wankfest over him.

I'm sure someone (may have been Nut) posted some FA documentation or other earlier in the season, and that basically said the opposite to that wiki article. I could be completely wrong mind.

Rules have changed this year iirc.

He's knocking in goals and getting quite a few half decent chances per game yet isn't a goal threat? Don't understand that logic like.