Gallowgate Toon

Even if he scores 10-12 goals this season? He won't, he's not good enough. He's too predictable and slow and will be easily snuffed by better opposition. Nolan provides nothing else, Ben Arfa will get assists as well as chipping in with some goals and he has good delivery from set pieces. Ben Arfa is twice the player Kevin Nolan could ever dream of being and will offer us a lot more as a team.

If it ain't broke don't fix it, we're not really in a luxury position to start changing things round when we have a good chance of winning, survival is of the highest importance. Nolan will start on Saturday and that's fine, he deserves it. As much as i want Ben Arfa in the team and know he's a much better player, he shouldn't be allowed to walk in to the side but i know he will get the chance. Nolan's lucky that this week we're playing crap opposition, his days are numbered.

This will be a brilliant signing for us, his attitude appears to be outstanding. He knows he's coming to a smaller club where he will most likely start every game yet he still trained and kept the fitness levels up while waiting for the move. A lot of players with his calibre would have just assumed they'd walk into the side and not bother staying in shape, i am very pleased he's not in that comfort zone and is desperate to play, it can only be good for us.

He's not Walcott/Lennon quick but i'd say he's in the next tier down from that very similar to Rouledge in terms of pace.

Because you can do the strongest 11 'on paper'. For example Hatem Ben Arfa is technically the best player in the squad and possesses more natural talent in his little finger than the competition for his position, Kevin Nolan, therefore he should be in the strongest 11.

He's not a proper goalscorer really and that's when you should pay the £13 million type of money, so in that respect they've overpaid. He's decent though and will improve their team. The thing i don't get on that message board is that they think we'll be jealous because they have a £23 million plus strikeforce with the emphasis being on the money side of it. Why would i be jealous they've spent £23 million? I'm more proud of this window for the lack of money we've spent, we've bought some real class talent in for peanuts and it's so much more satisfying than wasting millions.

In terms of sheer quality, this is the best signing we've made in a long, long time. Can't wait to see him play against Blackpool even if it is just a 20 minute sub appearance. Tbh i can't even think of a window we've had that has been this good, some brilliant signings that show real ambition.

Confirmed on the official site, first interview on nufc.co.uk.

Saw a slight glimpse of it on TV. I thought it was nice the way Carroll genuinely appreciated the assist when celebrating with Xisco. Aye, MOTD didn't catch it but he smashed the ball into the back of the net, then started shouting and fist-pumping to the crowd. He seemed genuinely ecstatic.

Anyone else catch Xisco's celebration for the 6th? It was really nice to see a player care that much and he hadn't even scored. Hopefully this will give him that boost but it's great to see how much he wants it.

He looked pretty nervous and over-eager when he came on but if anyone caught his reaction after the 6th went in, you know that assist did a lot for him, he was going absolutely mental, i think it will do a lot for his confidence.

I noticed this too, put in some impressive performances. Pool fans seemed chuffed with him and wanted Rafa to build around him for this season. He's an excellent player imo so much more talented than Joe Cole, just too many injuries.

A very poor career choice if it goes through, Bundesliga is exciting but in a Championship kind of way as it lacks real quality. I think we'll see him fade now into a journeyman type career where he never fulfills his potential.

This whole saga has just highlighted for me that Ashley is still looking to sell the club this season. He did what he had to do to get us back and now he's not doing much at all, just enough to keep us in the league in his own opinion. What's 6.5 million in respect to his fortune about 2%? If he was in it for the long haul he wouldn't have thought twice about it imo.

That is Nolan's position, that's where he was succesful for Bolton. Maybe the reason Carroll was there in the first place was because Nolan is such an unfit footballer he didn't have the legs to get back? Nolan was just wandering around aimlessly, not even closing down opposition, that's the whole point of an attacking midfielder to get back enough to be an extra man but then link and/or break with the attack. He didn't do either and just doesn't have what it takes against such energetic opposition. no nolan was deeper when he was at bolton,. he had the license to make runs out of mid, but mid was his primary position. Iirc his stand-out season at Bolton, where he scored 10 was when he was playing just behind Davies. If not, then he had the legs then, he just doesn't have the legs now, if CM is his best position i seriously worry because he was truly awful there when he first signed he was over-ran by virtually everyone he came up against. bench the guy u think? what is our most strongest midfield in a 3 man or 5 man mid u say? dont say 4-4-2 i hate 4-4-2 We don't have the stamina, quality or discipline to have a 3 man midfield, unfortunately, so i'd have to go with a 5 man midfield. I would only use a 5 man midfield when we're playing away or one of the big 4 at home and Nolan wouldn't be a starter. I remember Lovenkrands looking good playing in the hole against the likes of Man U and Arsenal, so for me he would be the extra 'midfielder'. He isn't a good defender but you don't have to be when you're the extra man you just need to be able to get your body in the way of opponent and have some pace so you can break quickly. If we bring someone else in (Ben Arfa hopefully) then i'd play him there instead. In terms of central midfield, Barton is an automatic starter for me as he has the most pedigree. His partner i am torn about though: Smith offers a good engine, some decent tackles and commitment. Guthrie is a decent creative player and can pick a pass and make something happen. Between the 2, i really can't decide but both possess abilities that Nolan doesn't have apart from a decent shot. The wide men pick themselves as does our starting striker. For the other games inbetween, it's 4-4-2 i'm afraid.

That is Nolan's position, that's where he was succesful for Bolton. Maybe the reason Carroll was there in the first place was because Nolan is such an unfit footballer he didn't have the legs to get back? Nolan was just wandering around aimlessly, not even closing down opposition, that's the whole point of an attacking midfielder to get back enough to be an extra man but then link and/or break with the attack. He didn't do either and just doesn't have what it takes against such energetic opposition. no nolan was deeper when he was at bolton,. he had the license to make runs out of mid, but mid was his primary position. Iirc his stand-out season at Bolton, where he scored 10 was when he was playing just behind Davies. If not, then he had the legs then, he just doesn't have the legs now, if CM is his best position i seriously worry because he was truly awful there when he first signed he was over-ran by virtually everyone he came up against.

That is Nolan's position, that's where he was succesful for Bolton. Maybe the reason Carroll was there in the first place was because Nolan is such an unfit footballer he didn't have the legs to get back? Nolan was just wandering around aimlessly, not even closing down opposition, that's the whole point of an attacking midfielder to get back enough to be an extra man but then link and/or break with the attack. He didn't do either and just doesn't have what it takes against such energetic opposition.

Might be decent foil for Carroll if we don't get anyone else in, he has abit of pace and presence about him. We'll see but encouraging.

He's versatile as he can play on either wing, CM or as a second striker. His best position imo is as a playmaking second striker, he's accomplished on the wing too though. Wouldn't be able to do a job in CM though, he just won't do the defensive side. Same as Nolan then, except he can't do the attacking side either. he really is an abomination of a footballer.

He's versatile as he can play on either wing, CM or as a second striker. His best position imo is as a playmaking second striker, he's accomplished on the wing too though. Wouldn't be able to do a job in CM though, he just won't do the defensive side.

Suppose, but if you have a player in the middle capable of getting, retaining and then passing the ball, you have more chance to get players forward. Fair point but if we're looking for retention he isn't our man, he's not that type of player.

Wouldn't have made a difference tonight because of the sheer lack of movement or willingness to get forward, he would have got the ball, looked up and seen nobody ahead of him.

Perch was decent in the second half tbh he has one asset and that is pace. I think he has potential but was over-whelmed in the first 45.

You was watching a different game to me then. Colo was pretty bad out there - his game was littered with errors. Williamson was our second best player. What errors are you referring to? I remember him making tackles, interceptions and winning headers, he played alright. Williamson was also decent but he gave the ball away in the box to a clinical striker and if Berbatov had scored after megging Williamson i'm sure the reaction would have been a lot different. Also his lack of pace is a massive worry, if someone makes a run off his shoulder he's f***ed at least Colo has some pace (see foot race with Hernandez). I don't think Colo is much faster than Williamson in all honesty, neither are the quickest, Never said they were, just said Colo had some pace compared to no pace at all.

You was watching a different game to me then. Colo was pretty bad out there - his game was littered with errors. Williamson was our second best player. What errors are you referring to? I remember him making tackles, interceptions and winning headers, he played alright. Williamson was also decent but he gave the ball away in the box to a clinical striker and if Berbatov had scored after megging Williamson i'm sure the reaction would have been a lot different. Also his lack of pace is a massive worry, if someone makes a run off his shoulder he's fucked at least Colo has some pace (see foot race with Hernandez).