The Kevin Nolan saga

Nolan Opens Door for an Irish Call Up
by John Thompson, PA Sport

Despite several "come and get me" pleas to England manager Sven Goran Eriksson by Kevin Nolan, Bolton Wanderers' talented midfielder and captain, and calls by his cub manager Sam Allardyce to the same effect, Nolan now appears to be set to make a dramatic U-turn on his decision to reject advances by the FA of Ireland.

Nolan, 24 and born in Liverpool to Irish parents, has played U21 football for England and has repeatedly claimed that his future lies with the English.

However, Nolan is believed to be running out of patience with Eriksson and is said to have agreed to meet Sir Bobby Robson recently. Sources close to Nolan suggest he is prepared to throw his lot in with the Irish if he fails to make selection for England's World Cup squad this summer.

The Irish begin their Euro 2008 campaign away to Germany in September and could greatly use Nolan's talents to replace former captain Roy Keane, who retired from international football in October last year. Ireland, without a domestic league to draw players from, has frequently exploited FIFA's eligibility rules to full effect in the past.

Nolan's first opportunity to link up with his new Irish teammates could be an end of season training camp in Spain, organised by former international Ray Treacy, which precedes a friendly in Dublin against Chile.
/ends
-0- Mar/31/2006 23:10 BST

Lord help us, Ray Tracy organising the training camp, hope he brings footballs this time.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Nolan Opens Door for an Irish Call Up
by John Thompson, PA Sport


Nolan's first opportunity to link up with his new Irish teammates could be an end of season training camp in Spain, organised by former international Ray Treacy, which precedes a friendly in Dublin against Chile.
/ends
-0- Mar/31/2006 23:10 BST

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:mad:

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Nolan Opens Door for an Irish Call Up
by John Thompson, PA Sport
Nolan, 24 and born in Liverpool to Irish parents, has played U21 football for England and has repeatedly claimed that his future lies with the English.

The Irish begin their Euro 2008 campaign away to Germany in September and could greatly use Nolan's talents to replace former captain Roy Keane, who retired from international football in October last year. Ireland, without a domestic league to draw players from, has frequently exploited FIFA's eligibility rules to full effect in the past.

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Eh excuse me for speaking up but, I went to a match in Ireland's domestic League last night . Does this journalist know something about the F.A.I.'s plans for the new league? ... i.e. abolish it altogether?

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Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

:mad:

Eh excuse me for speaking up but, I went to a match in Ireland's domestic League last night . Does this journalist know something about the F.A.I.'s plans for the new league? ... i.e. abolish it altogether?

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He obviously does not know his football very well A. Of course we have a league and B. You cant have a national side without a domestic league according to FIFA/UEFA. Maybe he meant to say its not possible to draw players because of the standard which again is wrong.

Píss-poor lazy journalism, that's for sure. No excuses. :rolleyes:

Back to topic - since this subject seems to be approaching a conclusion (although I may yet be proven wrong) I have combined all the threads from this forum in which Nolan is the principal subject. Three years and three hundred posts and we're still chasing shadows. I would say "píss or get off the pot" but I'm not sure whether it's us, the fans, or Nolan that I'd say it to. :confused: It all makes for interesting if somewhat frustrating reading.

:ball: PP

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Originally Posted by Plastic Paddy

Píss-poor lazy journalism, that's for sure. No excuses. :rolleyes:PP

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Plasticpaddy to be fair to the English media,The Guardian has a complete roundup of EL results on a Monday as do one or two of the tabloids.

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Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

Plasticpaddy to be fair to the English media,The Guardian has a complete roundup of EL results on a Monday as do one or two of the tabloids.

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Who said anything about the English media CTID? I certainly didn't. In any case PA is a syndicated newswire from which papers with lesser *ahem* production values purchase their articles, which in turn only propagates such untruths. The eL PR machine obviously hasn't reached the ear of John Thompson.

:ball: PP

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Nolan Opens Door for an Irish Call Up
by John Thompson, PA Sport

...

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April fools I presume?

surely not don vito?

Well in that case you caught me hook, line and sinker. :o

:ball: PP

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Originally Posted by Plastic Paddy

Who said anything about the English media CTID? I certainly didn't. In any case PA is a syndicated newswire from which papers with lesser *ahem* production values purchase their articles, which in turn only propagates such untruths. The eL PR machine obviously hasn't reached the ear of John Thompson.

:ball: PP

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Oh he's a brit ... sorry for not highlighting that !:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Plastic Paddy

Well in that case you caught me hook, line and sinker.

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I know :) :) and you weren't alone.

"without its own domestic league" - really lads!

This topic was mentioned by the commentator at the Bolton v Manure game today.
It sticks in my craw TBH to see him openly making Ireland a second choice if Sven doesn't come calling.
Let him fcuk off.:mad:

This is really p!ssing me off now.Why can't this imbecile just take a run and jump.One thing for sure if he does get an England call up he wont get many caps unless big Sam takes over.If he does decide to throw his hat in the ring with us i just can't bring myself to support him with his attitude.

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Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

Oh he's a brit ... sorry for not highlighting that !:rolleyes:

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WTF has that got to do with anything CTID? Bad journalism is bad journalism wherever it's from, irrespective of the nationality or persuasion of the journalist. I really don't know what point you're trying to make (or indeed why you're trying to make it). As our friends from the North might say - catch yourself on! :rolleyes:

:ball: PP

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Originally Posted by Plastic Paddy

WTF has that got to do with anything CTID? Bad journalism is bad journalism wherever it's from, irrespective of the nationality or persuasion of the journalist. I really don't know what point you're trying to make (or indeed why you're trying to make it). As our friends from the North might say - catch yourself on! :rolleyes:

:ball: PP

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The point is he is British.,.. therefore he has access to the Guardian... therefore he has no excuse for not knowing we have a domestic League.. do I have to spell everything out ?:confused:

I agree 100% with your point about the Press Association and the lazy media here reproducing wire stories without checking though.

Kevin Nolan reckoned in a much quoted recent interview that the way Ireland played in the recent friendly that, if he declared for us, there's no guarantee he would get a game.....

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Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

The point is he is British.,.. therefore he has access to the Guardian... therefore he has no excuse for not knowing we have a domestic League.. do I have to spell everything out ?

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In this case you do because you haven't stated your point clearly until now, but now you have the confusion is over. And - in any case - this was Stutts on the April Fool wind-up. There's no John Thompson, no PA article and no denial of the existence of the eircom League. :eek: So you and I have been arguing over... nothing. :o

:ball: PP

But you were right PP, it was p1ss poor journalism nevertheless.

tell me more, does anyone have it or able to post it up here?

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Originally Posted by gonzo

Incidentally there's a phone video clip of Eng.'s latest supposed saviour, singing a 'rebel' song during the last OF game, doing the rounds. Perhaps the 'cartoon character' is not as black as he's painted. Nor has he forgotten his Irish roots!;) :D

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What is an 'OF game':confused:

i reckon old firm

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Originally Posted by livehead1

i reckon old firm

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WTSPEIG

(well that sounds plausible enough I guess)

But a bit too obscure for me, I am not a member of MENSA!!

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Originally Posted by geysir

But you were right PP, it was p1ss poor journalism nevertheless.

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That's not fair, I thought the article was very well written.

JT, sorry, S88.

/ends 03-April
London


No domestic League?

Ray Treacy?

What more clues do you want lads?

I was going to add that the reason Nolan wasn't selected for England was because Eriksson, a Swede, couldn't understand Nolan's scouse accent but that John Aldridge had volunteered to interpret for the FAI. I thought that would have given the game away though.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

That's not fair, I thought the article was very well written.

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Of course Stuttgart your hoax was excellantly executed but still doesn't excuse Thompson's role :)

The best part of this wind-up was that it brought us this fantastic bit of logical thinking.

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Originally Posted by CollegeTillIDie

The point is he is British.,.. therefore he has access to the Guardian... therefore he has no excuse for not knowing we have a domestic League.. do I have to spell everything out ?:confused:

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Lee Trundle plays for Swansea... therefore he has access to Welsh women...therefore he has no excuse for not going out with Charlotte Church...do I have to spell everything out?:)

On April Fool's day I poosted up a joke article on Nolan. This is serious this time. For info...

(oh, by the way, I'd take him. Sod it. We need someone in exactly that role.)

(ESP)-NOLAN KEEPS OPEN MIND ON IRISH QUESTION
2006-07-21 08:04 (New York)
NOLAN KEEPS OPEN MIND ON IRISH QUESTION
By Ian Parkes, PA Sport
Bolton captain Kevin Nolan is refusing to rule out the prospect of one day
playing for the Republic of Ireland.
Nolan was talked about as an England prospect prior to the World Cup in
Germany after an exemplary season in Wanderers' midfield.
The 24-year-old scored 11 goals last term for Bolton, but with Steven Gerrard,
Frank Lampard, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick ahead of him, Nolan faces a
tough challenge to break into the England squad.
It is why he has already held talks with Republic of Ireland manager Steve
Staunton about pulling on a green jersey.
Nolan, who is eligible for Ireland through the grandparents ruling [S88 adds - I thjought it was parents, no?], concedes
he is willing to sit down with Staunton again to discuss the matter further.
``I have spoken to Steve Staunton a couple of times,'' confirmed Nolan.
``He has been to watch some of our matches, although he was obviously watching
Joey O'Brien as well.
``But it's something we've chatted about, and something we will have to
discuss more in depth, but it's probably a long way off.''
Nolan's first choice would understandably be to play for England, yet even
though his name was continually linked at the back end of last season, there
were no regrets about missing out on the World Cup.
``I can honestly say I did not once wish I was there,'' insisted Nolan.
``I had a brilliant summer with my missus and a few of the lads, so it never
entered my mind.
``I just enjoyed watching the World Cup. It's something you have to enjoy. It
was a fantastic occasion.''
With Sven-Goran Eriksson now gone, and new manager Steve McClaren taking up
the reins on August 1, a fresh outlook may give Nolan an opportunity.
But until it happens, it is not a matter that concerns him, adding: ``It (a
call-up) has not happened yet, so it's not an issue.
``Until it does happen, if it happens, then it will be something to think
about and look forward to.''
Nolan has also dismissed the speculation linking him with a move away from the
Reebok Stadium, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham having all been
mentioned as potential destinations.
``It doesn't bother me,'' Nolan said.
``It only affects me when my mum comes in and says `are you going to
Manchester United?'
``I think she is starting to believe the papers now, so I have to explain that
it's just a way of filling them up.'

this guys fukin makes me sick to my very core.
I was all up for for him but i have had enough at this stage .
who the hell does he think he is the sassnach scum.
HE COULDNT BE ANY MORE OF A LAGER LAGER ,OI OI ,IM A BIT OF A GEEZER ENGISH CHAV...nothing like kilbane or breen

It would be nice to tell him to go and fuk himself but unfortunately we're not in a position to be turning down players.

He's a cracking player..I'd take him in a flash.

You're right totalfootball, and what's worse, I knew it too.

I just saw the story on the newswires and stuck it up impulsively thinking there must have been recent contact. But reading the article again it's not even "new" news. The implication is that Stan spoke to him after Bolton games which would have been months ago. So it's not even news & not even relevant anyway.

just saw this on the U.T.V site but Stuttgart beat me to it, it'd be funny if he never gets a cap.

Nolan would have qualified under the FIFA amnesty.

IF he decided to declare we could ask FIFA to allow him and it may be looked upon favourably. I belieeve they have made exceptions for people who would have qualified under the amnesty but faiiled to apply in time.

An english paper (i think maybe the mail or mirror) had a short column yesterday in the sports section saying that Nolan had held talks with Staunton about the possibilty of playing for ireland. I'd personaly like to see him declare for us.

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Originally Posted by The Bit O'Red

I'd personaly like to see him declare for us.

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In the name of God, why?

Im bored of this already

McClaren will pick him for the next England squad.

He's English, good luck to him as an player for England.

Apparantly McLaren is trying to get Paul Scholes to reconsider international football. If Scholes agrees, that's the end of Nolans Engurland chances. Personally, I'd even put Joey Barton ahead of Nolan for an England place. Nolan is an attacking midfielder. That position is not a priority. England already have Gerrard, Lampard, Joe Cole in this area. The likes of Kieron Dyer and Shaun Wright-Phillips can't even get into the squad, and they're better than Nolan. You also have the emergence of Aaron Lennon, coupled with SWP, will surely push Beckham into a more central role. They do not need Nolan. What they do need is a midfield engine/Defensive player like Barton. Scott Parker is another who can't get near the squad. Nolan hasn't a hope...:rolleyes:

Do I think we should take him? Absolutely. Why? Because our midfield is abysmal and 'cos I want to go to Euro 2008 with us there. We need to start qualifying for finals lads. At this stage i'd take Alice Cooper if he could help qualification in any way.....

Another one of these stupid threads. I want Kevin Nolan to make a statement saying..........I WANT TO PLAY FOR IRELAND. then lets try and get him. Stan shouldnt go after him or anything else. All Nolan talks about is if he gets in the England squad then great......and if he doesnt then maybe Ireland.
But the FAI do have a case if he does want to play for us...

I'd rather come bottom with a team of players that wanted to play for us than top the group with a bunch for whom playing for us was a career choice or because they werent considered good enough to play for their own country