Newcastle players sticking together – Nolan
Aug 10 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
KEVIN Nolan believes Newcastle United’s players have found strength and unity in the fact everyone wants them to fall flat on their faces in the Championship.
Nolan has only been at Newcastle since January, but claims the rest of the country are fascinated by the club and are desperate for them to lurch from one crisis to the next.
Owner Mike Ashley’s attempts to sell the club failed to see a new regime in place in time for the start of the new football season, although The Journal understands decisive decisions will be made in the next 48 hours.
And, while many of the problems at St James’s Park have been of their own doing, midfielder Nolan impressed with the manner in which the players who chose to remain after relegation have reacted to the latest turmoil on Tyneside.
Nolan helped create Newcastle’s equaliser in the spirited 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday and while he is immensely frustrated by the lack of progress regarding the sale of the club he has pledged to make the best out of a bad situation.
He said: “The first game was always going to be tough, all eyes were on us, not just in Newcastle but across the country, hoping for another slip-up. But I thought the lads handled that really well.
“If we play like that for the rest of the season I don’t think we will be far off.
“Ever since I’ve come to this club, I’ve realised a lot of people are out to get us. If there is anything strange or bad that happens at this club it seems to go everywhere.
“That doesn’t happen at other clubs, but it certainly happens here. It’s been tough, some of the things said and written have been hard to take.
“You read things about the lads you know aren’t true, but we have stuck together and tried to focus on what we can do on the pitch.
“We’ve shown with this display that we have a real togetherness and a respect for Chris (Hughton) and Colin (Calderwood).
“We also have so much respect for each other as a group of lads now. I think if we can keep that and stick together what ever happens to the club we won’t be far off at the end of the season.”
Although yet another training ground temper tantrum from Joey Barton – the Scouser was dropped to the bench by caretaker boss Chris Hughton – has attracted unwanted attention over the weekend, Newcastle’s performance against West Brom was a positive one.
