Kevin Nolan: NUFC defeats a blip, not a slump

Oct 24 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

YOU are never too far away from a potential crisis at Newcastle United, but Kevin Nolan has quickly tried to extinguish the recent sparks of discontent. Chief Sports Writer Luke Edwards reports.

Nevertheless, there is always something to worry about at Newcastle United.

If the team are winning we worry they are not winning in style, if the team fail to win we focus on it as a failure, if the team lose panic spreads like swine flu on a transatlantic flight from Mexico.

“I accept if we do not beat Doncaster at home then even some of our own fans might describe the situation as a crisis,” conceded Nolan, who is expected to revert back to a more traditional midfield role this afternoon with Marlon Harewood returning to partner Andy Carroll up front.

“That is down to their expectation and there is nothing wrong with having expectations.

“The fans should have high expectations, especially in this league, with the quality we have in this squad.

“We should not be losing three games on the run at Championship level anyway.

“It is also an expectation we put on ourselves. If it does happen today then no one will be more disappointed than the 11 lads who leave the field in Newcastle shirts.

“You could be right, we are never more than two games away from a crisis, but we have such a group of lads who want to do well and who will try to do the right things.

“We hate losing as much as anyone, and we can see how much it hurts the fans – and it hurts us just as much.”

Nolan went on: “We have to expect the stick I suppose. The expectations of us and what we have done is not where we are now.

“No one expected us to be where we are now – and now we are there everyone is expecting us to go up, to do well and to win it.”

Nolan has been one of the more forthright figures in the United dressing room this season and began the week urging owner Mike Ashley to give manager Chris Hughton the means to strengthen the squad.

It was a criticism which did not go down well in the boardroom but, while Nolan is more careful with his words, he still feels player recruitment is a priority.

He said: “In an ideal world we would all like to see two or three more faces, but it just does not look as though it is going to happen.

“We want a squad of maybe two or three more and then, if we have that, I am sure there will be no qualms about us getting automatic promotion. I firmly believe that.

“We are going to do it in my eyes, but sometimes we need a bit of help, especially when you lose four players – Steven Taylor and (Fabricio) Coloccini for four weeks – and then Joey Barton and Shola Ameobi with long-term injuries.”

“He (Ashley) comes around and has lunch with the lads, things like that. We do see him around the place. He is a decent fella.

“Look, at the end of the day, I cannot start coming out defending people because everyone has their own opinions, but he has always been fine with me.

“All we want him to do is back us in what we are doing, try to be professional and try and get us back where we belong as quickly as possible. That is all we ask him to do.”