Kevin Nolan has admitted West Ham made a mistake by not signing Julian Alvarez when they had the chance to whilst he was still at River Plate. 

West Ham have had a busy summer following the departure of David Moyes and have made a number of quality signings including the likes of Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, Luis Guilherme and Niclas Fullkrug.

The Hammers are looking to get back into European football having missed out completely last season and on the face of it are building a really strong squad for Julen Lopetegui, who is being heavily backed.

Nolan reveals one West Ham regret

Nolan, who was a first team coach under Moyes and also had a spell at West Ham as a player left the club this summer along with the Scot.

Following his departure Nolan has opened up on his time at the London Stadium and when asked about the possibility of signing Alvarez in the summer of 2022, he admitted that was one of his regrets.

“To be fair, we did a lot of work on Alvarez the season he signed,” he told the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.

“We did a lot of work leading up to it. And one of the first things I said he’s a Man City player right away.

“Like when obviously the boss said what you think, I just said he’s a Man City player for me because he just looked the part.

“I think for me he was probably a bit too slight, and what we needed was someone a bit bigger because he was on his own, but he adapted fantastically well. But he was given the opportunity to adapt because of how Man City are and what they do.”

Alvarez ended up joining City that summer for just £14m and went on to win the Treble in his first season and he’s agreed to join Atletico Madrid in a deal which could be worth up to £81m.

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It’s an interesting case of what might have been if West Ham had taken the gamble on Alvarez and he’s now proven himself to be a top quality operator.

In this instance West Ham’s loss was very much Manchester City’s gain from both a playing and financial standpoint and it will be mistake the Hammers won’t want to repeat in the future.

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Kevin Nolan has had his say on who is the greatest midfielder in Premier League history.

Nolan enjoyed a wonderful career of his own, playing 401 times in the Premier League alone during spells at the heart of the midfields of Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and West Ham United, scoring 50 goals along the way.

During that time, Nolan went head-to-head with some of the greatest midfielders the Premier League has ever seen, including Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes, Patrick Vieira, David Silva and Roy Keane.

However, there’s one man who stands above them all in Nolan’s experience: Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.

“The one who always stands out is Stevie. Stevie’s the top one because he could do anything,” boyhood Liverpool fan Nolan told talkSPORT when asked who was his toughest-ever opponent.

“Everyone doesn’t realise how good he was because like until you’re actually there and you think actually I’ve got him, I’m having a good game here, I’m doing alright.

“Next minute he’s just scored a goal and you’re thinking ‘didn’t see that one there’. It was just the way he was. He had a fire.

“I remember playing against Robbie Fowler years and years before. We played them behind closed doors and it was about Robbie getting back for an injury but also Gerrard played in that game.

“That’s when I just realised he was head and shoulders above everybody on that game and that day.

“I’ve got to say Stevie. He was a legend of the game.”

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Kevin Nolan believes a move to Everton could be the best option for Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips.

The midfielder joined the Premier League champions from Leeds United in the summer of 2022 but injuries and competition for places have limited him to just 31 appearances for the club across all competitions.

Phillips — a 31-time England international — was loaned to West Ham United for the second half of the 2023/24 season but struggled to have the desired impact, playing just 10 games across all competitions and totalling only 320 minutes.

This summer, Phillips has been linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium and Everton are one of the teams understood to be most interested

Nolan was David Moyes’ assistant coach during Phillips’ spell with the Hammers and he believes a switch to Goodison Park might be just what the 28-year-old needs to get back on track.

Nolan backs Sean Dyche to get Phillips back on track

“Sean Dyche is someone who would give him the support that he needs,” Nolan told talkSPORT.

“He’s got a really good backroom team and how they use the fitness coaches so being around them will help him.

“He’ll also be at home, which was a major thing with him coming down to London.

“He’d just had a baby, but everybody forgets about all of those things when we’re moving here, there and everywhere and our wives and kids are going off to another place while we get them set or they’re looking at houses.

“To come and try and bed in when his missus has just had a baby and stuff like that, it was a difficult time for him – off the field, as well as on.

“I think he has (got a fire in his belly) and it’s not for anyone else, but it’s sort like ‘I’ll show you’ and it’s for himself more than anything.

“He’s definitely got the ability and I truly hope that he gets back to where he was a couple of years ago and I’ve got no doubt that when he does, England will come knocking again.”

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Kevin Nolan has blamed West Ham’s drastic downturn in form during the 2023/24 campaign on a comment made by outgoing manager David Moyes. 

A 2-0 win away at Arsenal on matchday 19 left the Hammers sixth in the table and well in the hunt for Champions League qualification.

However, West Ham would go on to win just four more Premier League games before the end of the season, sinking to ninth in the table, while also exiting the FA Cup in the third round to Bristol City.

In late February, speculation continued to gather regarding a new contract for Moyes, but the Scotsman wouldn’t rise to questioning, simply replying to reporters in a press conference (via BBC Sport): “There’s a contract there for me and I’m the one deciding I want to wait until the end of the season.”

Nolan blames Moyes comment for West Ham downfall

Moyes’ assistant Nolan believes it was the lack of assurance Moyes gave about his future at the club that ultimately led to their downfall. The former Bolton midfielder suggested that players became more focused on whether their manager would be leaving than getting results on the pitch.

“Obviously you heard the rumours (about Moyes’ new deal),” Nolan said on BBC Radio 5 Live (via Hammers.News).

“It was clouded from January when the boss came out (publicly) and said ‘We’re going to talk about it at the end of the season’.

“You always see a change in players’ attitudes and minds (in those situations) and I think that always adds up because of the uncertainty.

“Players were then always asking us as coaches: ‘What’s going on? Do you know, have you heard anything’ and we hadn’t.

“As much as I would like to say (to the players) being in it, I knew what was going on, I actually didn’t have a clue.”

West Ham have already found their Moyes replacement in Spanish tactician Julen Lopetegui, who returns to management after a year out following his departure from Wolves a day prior to the start of the 2023/24 season.

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West Ham fan favourite Kevin Nolan has revealed that he “wanted to stay” at the Premier League club next season but Julen Lopetegui did not keep him on. 

The Hammers have parted ways with David Moyes after a tough campaign and the Scottish coach’s backroom staff followed him out of the door at the London Stadium.

That included Nolan, who has admitted that he “wanted to stay” at West Ham next season but new boss Lopetegui didn’t keep him on.

Speaking on BBC 5 Live Sport’s Friday Football Social, the Hammers fan favourite opened up about his situation and has admitted that he is thinking about the future following his departure from the Premier League club.

“I’ve got to thank the boss you know David Moyes for bringing me back,” Nolan said.

“I’ve got to thank Mr (David) Sullivan as well, the owner, for allowing me to come back in a coaching capacity and giving me the opportunity to be there…

“To be back at West Ham meant an awful lot to me. I think it’s about nine years now I spent playing and coaching capacity.

“For me receiving the news on Monday was a bitter blow. It was disappointing on my behalf because I wanted to stay. But as we all know, it’s football and that’s it. That’s done now and we look forward and start thinking about the future.”

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Kevin Nolan’s West Ham exit was not a surprise

Nolan’s exit is not a surprise as most new managers bring in their own staff when taking on a new job and Lopetegui is no different.

The West Ham fan favourite might have been useful to the Spaniard given his knowledge of the London club but the former Wolves boss is more than capable of making a good start to life at the Premier League outfit with his own experience in the sport.

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Man United have a striker on their shopping list heading into the summer transfer window and Kevin Nolan believes that Harry Kane is a player that could join the Manchester club in the future.

The Englishman has been a target for the Red Devils for years but they missed out on the 30-year-old when he decided to move to Bayern Munich ahead of the current campaign.

The former Tottenham star has been a big hit in Munich as he has provided his team with 33 goals and nine assists across 33 matches so far.

Rasmus Hojlund has been on a good run of form in recent weeks but Erik ten Hag still wants another forward and pundit Kevin Nolan believes Kane will move to Man United in the future.

Pundit can see Harry Kane at Man United

West Ham United coach Kevin Nolan thinks Kane will be back in the Premier League in next to no time.

“I can certainly see him back in the Premier League,” the pundit said on talkSPORT.

“I don’t think Tottenham would have ever have sold him to Manchester United, but for him to go to Bayern Munich, then it’s easier for him to come back from Germany and I think Man United will be his destination.

“I think they (Bayern) would want their money back. Of course (he is worth it). 20+ goals every season and he was playing for Tottenham during them times as well.

“Realistically, are Man United as good as Tottenham? But I just think he brings a different aura to them anyway, a different aura to the team as soon as he puts the shirt on for, whoever.

“But I probably think Man United would be the one.”

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This is a move Man United should have gone all in on years ago and signing Kane in the future would be too late.

The England star will be well into his thirties and by then, Hojlund will have hopefully developed even further.

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Kevin Nolan recently took issue with something BBC presenter Aaron Paul said live on air regarding West Ham.

During 5 Live’s The Friday Football Special, Paul mentioned Aston Villa, Tottenham, Wolves, and Newcastle United as teams capable of defeating the top-three clubs.

West Ham coach Kevin Nolan quickly interjected, asking why West Ham United were not mentioned, which elicited laughter from fellow guests Nigel Reo-Coker and Fara Williams.

“We’re above all of them apart from Aston Villa at the minute,” Nolan said.

Given West Ham’s recent loss of form over the past month or so, it’s understandable for outsiders to discredit them. The Irons have gone six games without a win in all competitions in 2024, including an FA Cup exit to second-tier opposition during that period.

Despite only collecting three points from the past 12 available, West Ham United still sit in a healthy seventh position in the Premier League standings.

Nolan was indeed correct to include West Ham on that list of capable teams. However, for his side to stay in contention as serious European contenders, they must improve their results soon.

The Hammers have indeed secured victories against the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, and Tottenham this season, showcasing their ability to defeat top sides. Therefore, Nolan was justified in including West Ham on that list.

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West Ham United first-team coach Kevin Nolan has spoken about how close the club came to signing Harry Maguire from Manchester United in the summer transfer window.

Nolan admits he was disappointed that a deal couldn’t be done for Maguire, suggesting that money was the decisive issue in the end.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Nolan gave some insight into the Hammers’ pursuit of Maguire, who could surely have done well to leave Man Utd after his difficult spell at Old Trafford.

The 30-year-old was once one of the most impressive defenders in the Premier League during his time at Leicester City, but it just hasn’t happened for him at United, and moving to someone like West Ham could have been ideal to help get his career back on track.

Nolan certainly sounds full of regret about this deal not working out, especially as it seems it wasn’t at all far away from getting over the line.

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“I think it was very close, I was a bit upset that we didn’t make it [happen],” Nolan told talkSPORT.

“I think it was just in the end, the money didn’t get sorted from what I can gather which is obviously upsetting from our behalf because we wanted to [sign him].

“Probably upsetting from Harry’s behalf and probably United’s behalf as well.”

He added: “I think the gaffer was in contact with Harry, his agent and everything else but yeah, obviously we then had to move onto our next target.”

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West Ham United coach Kevin Nolan has admitted that he would love to return to Newcastle United in the future as the former Magpies star continues to build up experience in management. 

The 40-year-old has had mixed management spells in the past in charge of both Leyton Orient and Notts County, which resulted in the former midfielder stepping back from manager roles in 2020.

Nolan has spent the time since as assistant to David Moyes at West Ham where he is learning a lot from the former Man United boss.

The West Ham coach is likely to step back into management in the future and the former Newcastle star says he would love to return to the Tyneside club someday.

“Definitely yeah, at some point,” Nolan, who won the Conference League last week, told talkSPORT when asked if he would like to go back to sole management again at some point.

“Not just now. I am enjoying learning and seeing how David does it. But there will be a time when that comes. I will know (when it is the right time).”

When speaking about Newcastle, the former midfielder said: “It’s a fantastic club, and I had good years there.

“Look, there is always an opportunity in the future.

“(If Newcastle came calling) it’s something I would love to do.”

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The post Title winning coach admits he would love to manage Newcastle United appeared first on CaughtOffside.

It’s not been the greatest of seasons for West Ham United with the Hammers still in the relegation dogfight and David Moyes clinging onto his job for dear life.

The east Londoners have flattered to deceive in the English top-flight this season, with their domestic form contrasting sharply with the way in which they’ve approached the Europa Conference League, a competition in which they’ve won 10 and drawn one of their 11 games so far.

It has to be their European sojourn which has convinced Clinton Morrison that Moyes still has something to offer because it can’t be the dour, defensively-minded fare that they’ve been serving up in the Premier League.

“I think David Moyes has got credit in the bank,” Morrison told Darren Fletcher and Kevin Nolan on the Friday Football Special on BBC Five Live.

“They overachieved last season. They could have gone on and won that Europa League.

“I think the job David Moyes has done there, with his coaching staff, and I am not only saying it because Kev (Nolan) is here, but a brilliant job.

“Let me tell you, if there were clubs out there, if Leicester didn’t have a manager now and David Moyes was available, then they would snap his right hand off, for sure.”

Though Morrison’s opinion should be as valid as any other, it’s a bit of a stretch to believe any club would move to hire Moyes immediately.

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That said, even Nolan hinted during the same segment of the show that Moyes perhaps could’ve had the Leeds job if things had worked out differently.

“David Sullivan is someone who has always backed his man. He has always thought ‘You know what, I am going to give him the opportunity because he has got us to this position and give him the chance to get us out,” he said.

“If David Moyes becomes available, in the last six or seven weeks ago, would he be up for the Leeds job? Would he be up for every other job that becomes available to keep everyone in the Premier League?

“He (West Ham co-owner) has looked at it and gone ‘no, I have to back my guy’ – I always feel that you have got the support.”

West Ham appear to have already made their mind up about their manager in any event. According to 90Min, the Hammers will dispense with his services at the end of the 2022/23 campaign whether or not they stay up.

Then, and only then, will we see just how much clubs like Leicester will be banging down his door to work with him.

The post ‘Moyes has got credit in the bank’ – Pundit names Premier League side that would hire beleaguered West Ham boss appeared first on CaughtOffside.