Source: Daily_Mail
Northern Exposure: Kevin Nolan's Newcastle exit a major gamble
ShareHobbling round on his crutches after ankle surgery, his two toddlers and baby-sitter Joey Barton dawdling behind him, Kevin Nolan and his close pal struggled to keep up with the rest of his Newcastle team-mates for the awkward lap of honour on the final day of last season. [LNB]Newcastle had just surrendered a three-goal lead at home to West Brom, losing their grip on a top ten place and a finish above Sunderland in the process. But the Newcastle squad and manager Alan Pardew wanted to acknowledge the fans for nine months of support and most of them stayed in St James's Park to replicate the appreciation. [LNB]Nolan's incapacity, and Barton's inability to keep his captain's two children in line, left the pair some distance behind the rest of the group. Rather conveniently, it also allowed the Geordie faithful to give an additional, heartfelt and warm ovation to the two men who have played such a crucial role in the rejuvenation of Newcastle United in the last three years. [LNB] Talk of the Toon: Joey Barton (right) and West Ham-bound Kevin Nolan (left)[LNB]And they are probably the two players most Newcastle fans would have singled out anyway, for the role they played in the Championship, and in securing Premier League safety so convincingly. They galvanised their team-mates, the fans, the whole club after relegation.[LNB] Putting the club's politics to one side - Nolan was actually a frequent and outspoken supporter of the current regime - their only goal was promotion and keeping a splintered group together. Two of the main leaders of the players' committee, which also included Steve Harper and Alan Smith, they certainly made Chris Hughton's job easier, and didn't undermine a manager who was eventually handed the unenviable task of replacing Alan Shearer. Barton and Nolan made Hughton's job easier. [LNB] More from Colin Young... Northern Exposure: Republic of Ireland for sale! A buyer's guide to those up for grabs...08/06/11 Northern Exposure: Newcastle 6 Sunderland 5 in North East XI25/05/11 Northern Exposure: Who will finish as top dogs in the North East?20/05/11 Northern Exposure: Good news is Roy is Keane to come back into football11/05/11 Northern Exposure: Positive signs for Boro despite a disappointing season29/04/11 Northern Exposure: Work has already begun for next season at Newcastle19/04/11 Northern Exposure: Sunderland are in a struggle but must keep Bruce12/04/11 Colin Young: Sunderland thought their season was over but is this the start?06/04/11 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE Last season Barton was Newcastle's best player and he should have been recalled to the England squad. Nolan, who was also touted for England recognition, was top scorer, netting a hat-trick in the 5-1 drubbing of Sunderland, making his daft chicken celebration the talk of the toon and giving him a lifetime of legendary status in Newcastle. [LNB]Anyone witnessing the genuine warmth between the two players and their audience on May 22 might have believed any contract negotiations with the club would be straight forward. Owner Mike Ashley and his managing director Derek Llambias must have seen it and Alan Pardew certainly made no secret of his desire to see them, and Jose Enrique sign new deals.[LNB] And then the talks broke down, with both players looking for more years than Newcastle were prepared to offer. Nolan will get the deal he wants at Upton Park, where he will be reunited with Sam Allardyce, who knows he may have just pulled off the Championship signing of the summer. [LNB]But make no mistake, this was not about money. Nolan wanted to stay at Newcastle. His departure is a blow for Pardew, who may expect Barton and Enrique to follow him. The posturing which has occurred since those talks collapsed is fairly commonplace, but usually ends in compromise.[LNB] Few really expected the move to West Ham to go through after Big Sam's first offer last week was dismissed as 'derisory'. But Ashley it seems is not a man who does compromises easily. It's his way, or there's no way. [LNB]The ?4million Newcastle can expect from the sale of Nolan to West Ham may represent good business for a businessman, but it makes little football sense. Not many Premier League midfielders score 12 goals in a season and exert such an influence on and off the pitch on their club. [LNB] As a distraught Barton tweeted earlier, Nolan was more than a footballer to Newcastle United. He was the leader of the gang, and with so many young, untried and young players heading to Tyneside this summer, that influence would have been immense. [LNB]And maybe that was part of the problem. The dismantling of the team, and the management, which gained promotion started with Hughton's exit and it is a major gamble to move on the players who seemed to understand what playing for Newcastle is all about. [LNB] Allies: Nolan and Barton helped former boss Chris Hughton (centre left) to success[LNB]The board have still not really been forgiven for selling Geordie Crown Jewel Andy Carroll in January, but supporters are watching carefully to see where, and how much of that money is spent this summer. That was the promise made five months ago. [LNB] The ?6million capture of France international Yohan Cabaye was the first major breakthrough in the transfer market for Newcastle, who have been pursuing a number of young players from the French league through their chief scout Graham Carr. Cabaye now looks like Nolan's direct replacement, piling the pressure on a player with no Premier League experience.[LNB] Carr was the man who found and signed Cheik Tiote, one of the discoveries of last season. But the Ivory Coast midfielder paid tribute to Nolan's role in his development at the end of last season. [LNB] A real coup: West Ham could be pulling off the signing of the season in the Championship[LNB]As Newcastle know only too well, the French market is no guarantee for success, even if it is cheaper. For every David Ginola there's a Stephane Guivarc'h, just to remind the Newcastle board of the gamble they are taking.[LNB] Like most Newcastle fans, Barton was coming to terms with the loss of Nolan. He tweeted: 'Great player, leader, captain, person, trainer and mostly a friend for life. Devastated to see him SOLD!' [LNB]Mischievously, or mysteriously, Barton added '#mejoseandjonasnext'. Clearly he does not envisage being at Newcastle for much longer, which would be another blow for the club, and the supporters. Watch this space. [LNB] Barton blasts Newcastle board with skipper Nolan the latest big departure to West HamNewcastle risk fans wrath by agreeing to sell skipper Nolan to relegated West HamPardew wants PSG striker Erding after Gameiro's Newcastle snubAll the latest Newcastle United FC news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Kevin Nolan, Mike Ashley, Chris Hughton, David Ginola, Sam Allardyce, Joey Barton, Derek Llambias, Alan Shearer, Alan Smith Places: Newcastle, France, United Kingdom
