By Tyne-Talk
October 24 2009

Newcastle United's Kevin Nolan is alleged to have called Mike Ashley a "decent fella" and caused a bit of a stir this week but his sights are set on today's home tie with Doncaster Rovers and he is well aware that three points are essential if they are to remain contenders for the top spot.

On today's game he said;

"I accept that if we don't beat Doncaster at home then even some of our own fans might describe the situation as a crisis.

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 got in this squad.

We should not be losing three games on the run at Championship level anyway. It is an expectation that we put on ourselves.

If it does happen on Saturday then no one will be more disappointed than the 11 lads that leave the field in Newcastle shirts. We need a reaction."

On Mike Ashley he added;

"We last saw Mike Ashley a few weeks ago. He comes around and has lunch with the lads, things like that. We do see him around the place. He is a decent fella.

I can't start coming out defending people because everyone has their own opinions but he has always been fine with me but you know, 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 and and if he can do that, he will always be OK in our eyes.

I think we could do with a few players in. But I think that Mike has been fair. He has spent a lot of money since he came to the club. I think he has brought in a lot of players even this season knowing that he going to be leaving or knowing that he is going to sell the club.

In an ideal world we would all like to see two or three more faces but at this moment in time it just doesn't look as though it is going to happen.

Maybe a fresh start is needed. In an ideal world we want a squad or maybe two or three more and then if we get 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 Coloccini for four weeks - and then Joey Barton and Shola Ameobi with long-term injuries. It is going to be tough without them all."

And on his move to the club and the progress he made, he said;

"To be quite honest, in the two years at Bolton I probably wasn't quite in the condition I wanted to be in. No disrespect to what Bolton had, but it was just a fact that I was carrying a lot of knocks.

I had problems with my ankle, and problems with my ribs, and it takes its toll in the end. I could never, ever go through a proper week's training, and someone like me needs to be training day in, day out, and that's what I've done since I've come back for pre-season.

I had an operation a couple of weeks before I came, and Jamie Murphy and all the backroom staff have been fantastic. They've looked after me - that's been a major plus for me. When they've had to pull me out, they've pulled me out.

That's one thing I've got to thank them for - they've looked after me as an individual. That's what's brilliant here."

MATCH PREVIEW/STATS/THREAD NUFC v DONCASTER ROVERS HERE

Nolan On Current Form, Ashley & Injury Woes

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 24/10/2009 10:47

TyneTalk
24/10/2009 10:47

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tunyc
25/10/2009 20:09

Good shout.

All professional and such.

He must be irritated with the front office but he's putting a good face on it. I hope we can hold onto him, at least for this season.

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MissC
25/10/2009 20:23

Yup me to, he adds a lot to the field whether he is scoring or not.

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TOONTILLIDIE
25/10/2009 21:51

Good on the lad for saying it, but behind closed doors he probably thinks he is a c@nt. Nolan is one of the main reasons we are doing well this year. I was always a big fan of him but last season for us he looked sh@t and you think bloody hell we have signed a donkey. This season he has ben quality. If we want to go up then we need to keep him but think if we get a decent bid then he will be off.

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tunyc
25/10/2009 23:28

He went on way too much about needing players to believe he doesn't resent Ashley at all.

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