Nolan: Newcastle Need To Play As A Team

Former Newcastle United midfielder Kevin Nolan has been talking to the press prior to today's game between West Ham and Newcastle United. Instead of focusing on the game, the questions put to him related more about Newcastle and the possibility of 'cliques' forming in the dressing room, which are allegedly causing unrest. A rumour that manager Alan Pardew has had to defend over the past few days.

Nolan responded to the question as to whether he thought cliques would form in the Newcastle squad. He said;

“I’ve been in relegation battles for a lot of my career and that’s always the massive worry because people start going, ‘it’s his fault, not mine. I’ve done all right’.

You don’t want that. You want to be able to look the other lads in the eye and be able to say that no matter what happens today, this is us, this is what we’re about and we’re going to give it a good go.

They have got to make sure that when the little cliques come then they have to stick together as a team, as a whole, as a group. 

It is not to do with what nationality you are or where you are from.

You’ve got to have a core group. The core group have got to be strong - with ethics. That’s one thing Sam does.

He’s very good in that respect. He has his core group and when he brings people in if they don’t buy into it then they’re not here for long.”

Nolan added;

“It is my old club coming to my new club so I am looking forward to it.

I wish the circumstances for them could be a bit better but that is not my concern any more. My concern is this club. I love being here. I enjoy it and I am looking forward, hopefully, to West Ham winning on Saturday.”