Top manNewcastle United top goal scorer Kevin Nolan takes the October 2009 award for Championship Player of the Month.
Nolan seems to have settled nicely into his attacking midfield/backup striker role and managed to pip Leicester City’s Matt Fryatt to get the award. Furthermore, Alan Smith claimed 4th place in the voting.
The full results were – Keven Nolan: 24.56%, Matt Fryatt: 21.85%, Peter Wittingham: 12.21%, Alan Smith: 9.63%, Michael Chopra: 3.66%, Others: 28.09%.
Gary Speed, speaking before the Blades game, paid tribute to Nolan:
“We don’t need to be reminded how dangerous Kevin is. He’s got a great eye for a goal.
“He is a great player and I speak to him quite a bit. I enjoyed the couple of years that I played alongside him and I thought we complemented each other well.
“He is a leader on the pitch and gives 100 per cent in every game and on the training pitch. He is a good footballer and it is no surprise to me than he has been banging them in this season.” (more…)
Chris Hughton: Showing his balls.Newcastle United manager, Chris Hughton has picked up a second successive Championship ‘Manager of the Month’ with Newcastle United on the eve of taday’s clash with the Robins of Bristol City.
The ex ‘Spurs and Republic if Ireland legend beat off WBA’s Roberto Di Matteo, Preston’s Alan Irvine, and Gareth Southgate from the toxic waste dump down the road for the prize.
Speaking about the award to Sky Sports News, Hughton gushed:
“It’s very pleasing, but it’s very much an award for this group of lads and the staff I’ve got working with me. It’s very much a team award.
“I’m certainly enjoying it at the moment. It’s very difficult not to when you’ve got a group of lads performing as they are, and we’re at the right end of the table.
“But I know there are going to be difficult times ahead of us. There are times when we’re going to be stretched and perhaps we’re going to get the injuries that other teams have already had this season. (more…)
