Why Kevin Nolan deserves an England call-up
The feeling of sporting dejection was at its pinnacle on 2 December 2010 when, Mr FIFA himself, Sepp Blatter revealed that Russia would be the hosts of the World Cup in 2018; despite many feeling that England had the best bid. Questions were asked; Did we do enough? Did we deserve it? Are we being punished for past misdemeanours? Or is it a case that we just did not tick the right boxes? Panorama investigations aside, the fact that we went out on the first round of voting and practically not even considered as hosts, left a sour taste in the mouth.
Yet, we in this country are guilty of something similar; guilty of dismissing players because of the club they play for, of ignoring form and going with a manager formula normally based on a misplaced allegiance to a few core players. There’s a long standing view in certain parts of the country that areas and clubs are favoured amongst the media and the England selectors, namely the North West and London. It doesn’t take too much head scratching to recall the reluctance to give Kevin Phillips a chance in the England side, despite finishing as Europe’s top goal scorer. Or the fact Joe Cole was constantly picked for the squad despite the fact he has flattered to deceive for years.
There are many injustices in football and surely one of them is the persistent overlooking of Newcastle United talisman Kevin Nolan for the national side.
The Facts
With 10 league goals to his name this season, there are only three players who have hit the back of the net more times than Nolan: Berbatov, Tevez and teammate Andy Carroll - and this from a man mainly operating as a central midfielder.
We’ve heard from all quarters what a great buy Rafael Van der Vaart has been and what a fantastic season Samir Nasri is having. We’ve watched as Nani looks to be finally stepping in to Cristiano Ronaldo’s boots, yet Nolan has proved to be more prolific than the aforementioned three in a newly promoted side.
Of course he does not have the skill of Nasri, the trickery of Nani or the vision on Van der Vaart; but what he offers Newcastle United is invaluable. His heart on sleeve performances and ability to be in the right place at the right time has endeared him to Geordie supporters and he is well and truly repaying that faith. Let’s not forget that this is not a one off season, as there were calls earlier in his career for an England call up when was an integral part of theBolton Wanderers side.
Manager’s Corner
When asked this week for his views on the subject, Newcastle boss Alan Pardew summed up the situation by saying: “Have there been players who are not as good as him who have played for England? Yes there have been. Could he play in the future? Personally, I would really hope that he would get a cap.
When asked if he felt Nolan had been overlooked he added: “Am I surprised he has not had England recognition before? Probably, but he is 29 and still a young man really and he has still got two or three years left in him.”
Cynics would argue that it’s the manager’s job to endorse their players, but Pardew is still fresh in the Tyneside hot seat and he also paid tribute to Nolan the man: “He is a proper guy for a manager. You couldn’t have a better lieutenant and captain.”
This sentiment has been echoed by fellow managers who have worked with Nolan and with such support; it’s difficult to determine why he is constantly overlooked.
The Competition
One would say it’s fair to assume that a manager has to weigh up whether or not there is a space for a new player in the squad and if he has the ability to enhance the existing group of players. Looking at the current incumbents of the England central midfield position, Gerard aside, it’s difficult to present a case for any of them. Frank Lampardhas endured a miserable season with injury and barely thrived at the World Cup and beyond. Mobility is often a criticism aimed at the Newcastle captain but given Gareth Barry’s standing in the setup and his clear lack of pace, then this argument is somewhat defunct. Furthermore, it’s difficult to find a strength in Barry’s game that Nolan does not possess himself and his versatility over the Manchester City man should make him a serious contender to replace the former Aston Villa captain.
On the flip side, there is a call to take the lessons from our German friends and strip down the squad and rebuild with youth. The performances of Jack Wilshere in the heart of Arsenal’s midfield have had many a fan calling for his inclusion and he does look to be the answer to our technical dilemma. However at the tender age of 19 there’s no rush for the young Gunner and leaving his development in the hands of Arsene Wenger is an emphatically better resolution.
Playing with Carroll
The striker is one of the hottest properties in English football at the moment and he’s already attracting the interests of top European clubs, amazingly only a year after becoming a Newcastle regular. There’s no doubting that the lanky forward has had a positive influence on Nolan and is the focal point of the Newcastle triangle; with Joey Barton supplying the ammunition and Nolan himself often getting on the end of a Carroll knock down. This almost telepathic understanding has been an effective outlet for the Magpies and there’s no reason why this cannot be transferred to the national side. Furthermore the off field influence the Toon captain has had on their young starlet has been priceless and keeping Carroll on the right path could well be a job Nolan could do for both club and country.
What Next
There’s not a lot more Nolan can do other than keep turning in impressive performances and hitting the back of the net for his club - and the decision now lies firmly at the door of Mr Capello. The Italian said he wanted to shake things up in the England squad and calling up the Scouse ‘lieutenant’ would go a long way to doing just that. Yes, he is not the most fashionable player and is unlikely to take your breath away with a piece of magical skill but his determination and goal scoring ability can be an effective weapon in England’s armoury.
On a side note, it’s probably a further indictment of the game in this country that the most in-form and prolific attacking midfielder is a hark back to the old fashioned professional lacking the continental technicality.
Nevertheless there’s no doubting that Nolan has proved himself as a more than competent player and on current form he simply deserves a chance.
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