Kevin Nolan

Squad Number: 4
Position: Midfielder
Born: 24th Jun 1982, Liverpool
Signed: 16th Jun 2011 (£4,000,000)
Contract: 5 years
Previous Club: Newcastle United

KUMB Awards: Best Signing (runner up) 2011/12.

Having jumped at the chance to team up with Sam Allardyce once again - following their hugely successful spells at Bolton in the mid-noughties - Nolan ignored the rules of modern day football transfers and dropped a division in order to join West Ham.

The attacking midfielder is well known for his goalscoring exploits and West Ham will be hoping he can become their first midfielder to score more than 10 goals in a season since Frank Lampard achieved that particular feat in the late 1990s.

2012/13 Match Notes & Ratings

4-2 v Reading (h) 19th May 2013
by Gordon Thrower

Three good finishes for a player who is more important to the team than some would care to admit. MOTM.

2-0 v Wigan Athletic (h) 20th April 2013
by Gordon Thrower

Got through a lot of work and the goal was superbly taken. A bit unlucky not to have scored earlier in the match as well.

2-2 v Manchester United (h) 17th April 2013
by Gordon Thrower

A lot of running but not as influential as he can be.

2-3 v Tottenham Hotspur (h) 25th February 2013
by Gordon Thrower

Was looking sharp until Dembele’s awful stamp put him out of the game.

1-0 v Swansea (h) 2nd February 2013
by Gordon Thrower

Looks twice the player when Carroll is on the pitch. Another one who was unlucky to find the visiting ‘keeper in decent nick.

1-1 v Queens Park Rangers (h) 19th January 2013
by Gordon Thrower

Should have scored in the first half but rarely looked like doing so otherwise.

2-2 v Manchester United (h) 5th January 2013
by Gordon Thrower

Like Vaz Te he was slightly disappointing going forward. Also like Vaz Te he got through a lot of hard work.

1-2 v Everton (h) 22nd December 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Busy match but ought to have equalised at the end.

3-1 v Chelsea (h) 1st December 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Unlucky in the first half to have a goal chalked off for no readily apparent reason. Much better in the second half when he got up in support of Cole more often.

0-0 v Manchester City (h) 3rd November 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Unlucky with the “goal” he perhaps ought to have done better with the header he had in the second half.

1-2 v Wigan Athletic (a) 27th October 2012
by Rob Chapman

Tactical guile from Martinez meant his runs from deep were consistently blocked off, but shorn of his traditional value-add he got stuck into to trying to make things happen for himself. Results were mixed, but at least he gave it a go.

4-1 v Southampton (h) 20th October 2012
by Gordon Thrower

A decent run out though his goal won’t be the hardest he’ll ever score. Could have had a second with a bit more luck.

1-3 v Arsenal (h) 6th October 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Got into his usual good positions in combination with Carroll but his profligacy in front of goal was a major contributory factor in the defeat.

1-1 v Sunderland (h) 22nd September 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Always looked likely to be the one to score and was unlucky to come away with just the one.

0-0 v Norwich City (a) 15th September 2012
by Robert Watson

I didn’t really notice Nolan a lot, he wasn’t bossing the midfield and to me it looked like he just wanted to play up front for most of the game as he seemed to be closer to Cole/Maiga than the midfield.

3-0 v Fulham (h) 1st September 2012
by Stuart Jones

Captain Kev was no doubt pleased as punch to see his old pal Andy Carroll in claret and blue - and it didn't take long for them to hit it off on the field. About 55 seconds, if my watch was right.

3-0 v Fulham (h) 1st September 2012
by Gordon Thrower

The wise chaps with whom I attend matches (Mr Smith and Mr Smith) commented that the arrival of Carroll might just bring more out of the skipper. On this showing (and not for the first time) they could well be right. Excellent finish for the goal and could have added to his tally with a bit more luck and/or composure.

0-3 v Swansea (a) 25th August 2012
by Tom Kilbey

First half performance was surprisingly good given he was asked to play on the right wing. He drifted inside when Jarvis had the ball and tried to get on the end of crosses. Drifted out the game in the second half.

1-0 v Aston Villa (h) 18th August 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Looked a bit off the pace as the match wore on but his decision to play to the whistle proved profitable.

2011/12 Match Notes & Ratings

2-1 v Blackpool (n) 19th May 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Good game from the skipper who was involved in the build up to the winner.

3-0 v Cardiff City (h) 7th May 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Good poacher’s goal and was constant thorn in the side of the opposition throughout until his second half withdrawal made, no doubt, with a slightly bigger match in mind.

2-0 v Cardiff City (a) 3rd May 2012
by Staff Writer

A real captain's performance in the heart of the midfield. Constantly snapping away at the opposition and always in the referee's ear, the importance of his signing is perhaps only just beginning to be realised.

2-1 v Hull City (h) 28th April 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Not the best of starts to the match but improved as the game wore on.

6-0 v Brighton & Hove Albion (h) 14th April 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Not one of his more eye-catching performances but quietly effective all the same. Can we claim the sixth for him?

2-4 v Reading (h) 31st March 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Some good work in the first half and his fine header led to the goal. Less involved in the second half.

1-1 v Leeds United (a) 17th March 2012
by James May

Another disappointing display from the skipper. Hardly in the game and sacrificed possession too frequently.

1-1 v Doncaster Rovers (h) 10th March 2012
by Gordon Thrower

The good work of his tap-in for the goal was somewhat countered by the dreadful ball he played that led to their goal.

1-1 v Doncaster Rovers (h) 10th March 2012
by Daniel Prescott

Scored the goal, but that was about it.

1-1 v Watford (h) 7th March 2012
by Daniel Prescott

A good start but faded as the game wore on. Seemed to be chasing the game at times.

2-0 v Cardiff City (a) 4th March 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Pink Palermo couldn't stop raving about how he bossed the game. Maybe the sight of how well the team was doing without him bucked his ideas up but it wasn't a bad 90 at all from the skipper. Fine finish for the goal too.

2-1 v Millwall (h) 4th February 2012
by Gordon Thrower

I know what you’re thinking – “oh he’s having a pop with that mark”. However, in the ten minutes he lasted I can’t recall him doing anything of note other than getting sent off. The red might have been a bit harsh – it certainly wasn’t the worst challenge I saw all day – but he did give the ref the excuse.

2-1 v Millwall (h) 4th February 2012
by James May

The less said the better. A reckless, naive tackle so early on in the game when there was no need to go in the way that he did. The ban may just be a blessing in disguise given his recent form.

2-1 v Nottingham Forest (h) 21st January 2012
by James May

Another below average performance from the captain. Plenty of vocals but lacks pace and gives the ball away far too often. His place in the side has to be questioned.

1-0 v Portsmouth (a) 14th January 2012
by Gordon Thrower

Ok so the back-heel into the box that led to the penalty was fine. He got in a few good blocks late on in the first half as well. But has anyone actually worked out what he is for?

1-0 v Barnsley (h) 17th December 2011
by Gordon Thrower

The boos were unmerited. He got through one Hell of a spell of work, doing the unspectacular hard miles required to protect the defence. Not his fault that the sponsors obviously preferred to have their post-match photos taken with the skipper.

1-2 v Burnley (h) 3rd December 2011
by East Stand Martin

Possibly his most energetic performance of the season and one which was warmly appreciated by the Boleyn faithful. His goal was sublime, his first half miss abysmal. Still our best player on the park.

3-1 v Derby County (h) 26th November 2011
by Gordon Thrower

An improved performance even without taking the quite sublime goal into consideration.

2-1 v Coventry City (a) 19th November 2011
by Gordon Thrower

Another matched that by and large passed the skipper by. One superb block at the end though.

2-0 v Hull City (a) 5th November 2011
by Gordon Thrower

Poor first half – the booking was particularly irresponsible. Improved in the second half.

4-0 v Blackpool (h) 15th October 2011
by Gordon Thrower

Quiet but effective. Constantly looking to spread the play out wide and it was his pass out to Faubert that set up the first.

2-2 v Crystal Palace (a) 1st October 2011
by Gordon Thrower

Better than his last outing – though that wouldn’t have been difficult. Scored one and possibly ought to have had another.

0-1 v Ipswich Town (h) 27th September 2011
by Gordon Thrower

No urgency at all from the skipper whose form is a bit worrying at the moment.

1-0 v Peterborough (h) 24th September 2011
by Staff Writer

Simply not at the races. Not for the first time this season.

4-3 v Portsmouth (h) 10th September 2011
by Gordon Thrower

Not quite as influential as he can be, he was a yellow waiting to happen as he was rather cynically targeted from the opening seconds. Calmed down after the card eventually came.

4-1 v Nottingham Forest (a) 28th August 2011
by Staff Writer

One suspects we're yet to see anything close to the best Nolan can produce. As it is, he's doing a fair job of controlling the middle of the park and captaining his side - how refreshing - but the nagging feeling is that he's yet to get out of third gear. However - he scored, we saw the Chicken dance!

1-2 v Aldershot Town (h) 24th August 2011
by Staff Writer

Uninterested, not at the races.

2-2 v Leeds United (h) 21st August 2011
by Gordon Thrower

It seems that when he plays well Parker doesn’t and vice versa. Good see some on pitch skippering as he gathered players around to organise things whilst play had stopped for an injury.

4-0 v Watford (a) 16th August 2011
by Brian Evans

I would have given him a 6 as he wasn't involved too much, but his natural leadership, cunning sportsmanship and eye for motivation notches him up one. Gave a bollocking when needed, support at other times. You can just tell though that he isn't the most mobile and nippiest of players, but he'll always be in the right place at the right time, which is good.

1-0 v Doncaster Rovers (a) 13th August 2011
by Gordon Thrower

After last week when he seemed to vanish in the second half this was a much better outing. Bossed midfield and was our biggest goal threat. MOTM.

1-0 v Doncaster Rovers (a) 13th August 2011
by East Stand Martin

A captain's performance. Scored the goal, denied a second by the woodwork and went close again late on.

0-1 v Cardiff City (h) 7th August 2011
by Gordon Thrower

Decent first half. Faded a bit in the second half. Seemed to play well when Parker was having quiet moments and vice-versa which raises the question as to whether they can be effective together.

2010/11 Match Notes & Ratings

Kevin Nolan is yet to play this season.

2009/10 Match Notes & Ratings

Kevin Nolan is yet to play this season.

2008/09 Match Notes & Ratings