Kevin Nolan column

By Kevin Nolan
Bolton captain

Read my answers to your questions

I was a young player when Youri joined and he gave me the confidence to try things

Youri Djorkaeff retired from football this week and I for one would like to wish him all the best for the future.

He was probably the first of the world-class players we signed following our promotion back to the Premiership in 2001 and Youri was a major force in the club establishing itself in the top flight.

As with many of the foreign stars who followed him, it took Youri a while to settle in.

He struggled a bit with the language, but once his English improved he had an increasing influence at the club.

Youri is a very private man but was happy to share his vast knowledge and, as a young player, helped me a lot.

He taught me about how to conduct myself on and off the field and encouraged me to take what I did in training on to the pitch.

It might sound obvious but I was a young player when he joined in 2002 and he gave me the confidence to try things that might not always come off.

He told me I was a good player who would do well in my career, yet he was very straightforward and if he thought I was doing something wrong he would tell me to my face.

I will treasure for the rest of my life my memories of playing with Fernando Hierro

He probably prevented me from doing some stupid things.

I like listening to players who have excelled around the world and done it on the highest stage.

I played with Spanish great Fernando Hierro during the 2004-2005 season and only wish it had been longer.

He speaks good English and I sat down on many occasions to listen to him talk about his 14 years with Real Madrid. In my eyes he is unbelievable, a great.

Fernando was 36 when he joined us but mastered the Premiership very quickly and was a massive factor in Bolton qualifying for the Uefa Cup.

The memories of playing with him are something I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Jay Jay Okocha, well, everyone knows who he is.

At Bolton, though, he was very much one of the lads, although one who could do with a ball what most of us could only dream of.

Despite his fame he never thought he was someone special. He used to take the Michael a lot and have a joke.

He was someone I admired as a skipper and when Sam Allardyce asked me to be captain Jay Jay was the first to congratulate me.

He told me that I could help take the club to the next level and that if I ever needed the benefit of his experience, he would be there for me.

Nicolas told me the speed of the Premiership comes as a shock to foreign players

That really impressed me - a lot of people might have been unhappy about losing the captaincy to a young player who had come through the ranks. Jay Jay did not sulk and that is the mark of the man.

I was sad to see him go at the end of last season but I saw him over the summer. He looked really well and was excited about doing something new.

At Bolton we get linked with so many players that until they actually sign we tend not to take too much notice.

However, I think we put a strong statement out by signing Nicolas Anelka over the summer - we have never spent £8.5m on a player before.

It will take Nico time to get used to the pace of the Premiership.

I was speaking with him about it and he was saying that not many players outside the Premiership realise how quick it is as a league and that it comes as a shock when they come over here.

Even though Anelka has played in the Premiership before he is still having to put in a lot of hard work to acclimatise himself to it once again.

He is still getting to know us as players and individuals but hopefully we will start to see the best of him over the next few weeks.

That said, we have all seen the quality of his finishing in training and I have been happy with him so far.

But for all the superstars Bolton have signed I think that one of the biggest players we have brought in is Gary Speed.

In the Premiership he had been a major player at several different clubs.

If I can match what he has done in his career - cup finals, playing in the Champions League and at international level - I will be delighted.

He has just signed a new two-year deal and I'm looking forward to another couple of years of playing with him.

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

This may sound stupid but I just had to ask.

Was it you I saw on Kensington High Street last Wednesday with your partner. She was pregnant and you were walking along chatting.

Wish I had asked for an autograph but after what happened last week I thought it was the last thing you would have wanted.
Umar, UK

It probably was me. I was in London last week for a few days and would have been in that area at that time.

Alright Kevin.

Sam Allardyce looks like quite an intimidating manager on the sidelines and not someone to anger.

Is he as angry as most people would imagine in the dressing room after a defeat or a poor first-half performance? Or does he go for an encouraging approach? Thanks.
Steve , Kent, England

The gaffer is very astute.

Do not get me wrong, he is a very intimidating man if you upset him.

If a rollicking is needed he will issue one. If a player is not pulling his weight, he will let you know.

Having said that, he is also a gentle giant and a great man. He is adept at handing out a pat on the back when he feels it is warranted.

He tends to analyse games from all different angles.

Knowing him as I do I would say that by the time we review the weekend's match on a Monday or Tuesday he will have watched it hundreds of times. He wants to make sure that every detail he passes on to us is perfectly clear.

Hey Kevin, how would you feel if Bolton signed David Beckham on a free transfer?
Chris, England

I have not really thought about this but it would be great.

He is a fantastic player and I'd welcome him with open arms.

He has played on the biggest stages in the world. I'll have to mention it to the gaffer to see if he can pull it off.

Kevin, I have both yourself and Ivan Campo in my Fantasy football team, do you think he will end up with more points than you at the end of the season as Ivan is on a real scoring streak?
Lee Womack, Yorkshire, England

Most of my goals are to come hopefully!

I have been getting a bit of stick from my mates about the sending-off at Blackburn but I'm hoping to pop up with a few goals and catch up with Ivan because he is supposed to be the defensive midfielder.

Kevin, as a Bolton season ticket holder, your column makes interesting reading (nice to know you are thinking the same as us).

My question is, how much effect does the crowd have on your performance as a player? Does the Reebok Roar really help? When you are playing away, can negative comments from opposing fans have an effect?
Victoria (Horwich), UK

In the match at Blackburn I thought our fans were fantastic - it felt as though we were playing at home.

And when the fans at home really get behind us it really does give the players a lift.

A lot of the lads do comment about the fans after a game - how good they have been.

They really can be the 12th man and it does breed confidence - the fans do have the power to drive us on to bigger and better things.

Kevin will continue to answer a selection of your questions each week throughout the season. Send us your questions using the post form in the top right-hand corner.