A Prodigal Son?

It is all over the press today that the GSO is looking at bringing former captain Kevin 'Nobby the Pie Eater' Nolan back to T'Reebok, probably on a season long loan. How would fans react to this.

Some, think the MEN, will greet it with excitement. Some think it will be a backwards step. We believe that it is neither one nor the other. For a long time Nolan rested on his laurels in a midfield that had Gary Speed and Ivan Campo doing the work and the culture beside him and the goals of Nicolas Anelka shielded the lack of midfield guile when those players moved on. Once that outlet had gone it showed what most fans had known for a while, that he had lost it.

So why should he be welcomed back? Well, it would be difficult to see where he would fit into the midfield, whether the GSO uses 4-5-1, 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. Davis, Little Davies and Muamba should have the central positions sown up, with one of them playing on the right if need be and Matty Taylor on the left. But Kevin Nolan is no Michael Ricketts, he hasn't lost it to that extent. Many people couldn't understand why Jermaine Jenas was picked ahead of him for the England squad not so long ago. (OK, we do know. Spurs play in London) But Bolton haven't the aquad to be choosy, the player loves the club, even if he is unfit he's better than the squad on the bench and he wouldn't need time bedding in. Plus he wouldn't have the millstone of being captain hanging round his neck. Okocha had problems suiting his game to being captain and the same problems seemed to beset Nolan. SuperKevinDavies has thrived in this position. We at the Towers give this a cautious yes. It just depends on what ambition the player has.