azreal88

On the issue of Phil saying that. Was that when he retweeted something?

Right, lets have a look at this. I get on with people at Manny Road I "got in" by writing to Phil to say what I thought needed fixing. So Phil's view is for me to have a go at it. Yes it is a job, I work for an agency that Bolton use - in order that I'm outside the Reebok and dont answer to anyone there. No, nobody in the Reebok has any editorial input.

Hadn't met him until a very recently. I get on with him, yes. I went into the first meeting thinking "Gartside is a prick" and I now think that was unfair. But then I've said that too him. I've only met him three times, but I could have a pint with him.

My match reports (were on Manny Road) will now be going up on the BWFC Facebook page and I will be doing a live-update via Twitter at all games from now on. There'll be some info out about it at some point if you follow the facebook page or the club Twitter. The first report will be up today, the first Twitter-stream for fans who can't make it should be up tomorrow for the Leeds game. I'll be in the press conferences and I'm at Euxton tomorrow for press things there. My interest in this is to get more information that fans want to those fans, so if you want to know stuff ask me and I'll be Mohammed to the mountain, in the hope that there's a benefit to everyone. Some stuff I'll get and some I won't, but I'll tell you why I can't when I can't. That's pretty much it. So if there's stuff you'd like to know and I can find out, then let's do that. This is basically a first step in getting more information direct to the fans, if this is well received and that can be seen, then there will be more - so it's an ongoing project. I've started this on other forums, but I'll be doing it on all. If people have objections or think there are problems, just ask me and we can discuss them.

I can understand anyone on here who thinks Elmander is crap. If I'd only ever seen him for Bolton I might think exactly the same thing. Fact is I've watched Elmo for about 10 years now and he is a good player. He is not a striker though and has never been a goal scorer. He bagged a few for Toulouse but he was in a very creative side a player like Anelka would have scored 3 times as many. He struggled to find his position for years, being used as a central mid, a winger on both flanks and an in-the-hole forward. What he is, and always has been, is a link-up second forward. Megson signed him for a big fee and he came in under pressure to do what he's never done, score loads. It's not his fault we spent all the money on him and it's not his fault he was asked to play as a striker. Elmander is the type of forward who does everything well but is exceptional at nothing. When confident and used properly he has great control, good passing and the ability to create space for others. He can shoot (and he can volley, banged one in for Djurgarden from about 30 yards after he flopped at Feyenoord) and he will score a few but he'll never be prolific. If he had an absolutely amazing season he might get 15 in all comps, but that's not what he's for. What he does have, and i anticipate the derision, is a really good footballing brain. Even when he flopped for Feyenoord he still bossed games for them with his movement and passing. If you get the chance to look at any highlights of when he came on against Arsenal then watch for the little balls inside he plays. He made one flick for Davies to run onto for which Davo just watched the ball roll to the keeper. With more dynamic players around him, those touches open up defenses and lead to goals. A good season for Elmander isn't 20 goals....it's 10 goals, 10 assists and pass completion of around 85%. He may well never cut it for us and get shipped off abroad and it would be a shame. If he's allowed to play his own game, he could be very useful for us. If he's asked to be a striker then he will certainly fail and we'll have to get rid. I don't expect anyone to start loving him or anything, just thought I'd defend him a bit.

It was reported that Holden had been told 'no' but it was equally reported that Weiss would not be joining us. Weiss has come out and said he has signed and he has no idea why people were saying he wasn't, so why are we any more trusting of this news that Holden was told to get lost? The only quotes from the club have been Owen saying he was doing well and then him saying the trial went well aside from a thigh strain and he would be sitting down with Holden and his agent. I've seen nothing else official on him.

We have signed a young player from Wolves. Does anyone know anything about him? http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Bolto...icle158563.html An Irish mate of mine says he's heard the name mentioned as someone good for the future but nothing else.

He seems pretty serious. He can support/not support England as he chooses.....I have just always thought that you support your national side, even if you don't like the players/manager etc

So because the Bolton player didn't get capped, England can get fucked? Jesus Christ.......

Marky-Mark is a talented young player, but he's just starting out in the Prem. His lack of pace is a concern and will not get any better if his injuries continue. He's also not exactly strong. What he does have is quick feet and a good brain. Even if he doesn't start, he's a good option off the bench and should be given as much time as possible in games. No point in having young players if you don't play them. He and Lee are both potentially very good players for us by the looks of things and along with Muamba and Cahill could form the core of a good side.

I think he's earnt a chance to show what he can do without fans moaning about him.....well done to the lad.

Oh absolutely, yes. A real gamble. Not because of the money, but because if he doesn't succeed we are seriously light upfront. I am not saying the guy is a sure-fire success, though he has more chance than most of the dregs we were linked to that last week. The two issues are 1) will he stay fit? 2) will the ginger-one actually play him? I completely agree.....a gamble and we'll wait and see.

Cheers.

Then we get a vast sum of money......we will always have to sell our better players eventually. Just have to reinvest it well. Maybe we could get Taylor or Wheater at that stage?

Do we know how long Ricky is out for?

Cahill is clearly talented enough to do a job at international level. With Wheater and Taylor dropping down a level he should have a decent chance if only the squad (Bolton) can put in some good performances. He hasn't exactly excelled this season yet, but it's only the start of the season......Spurs are doing well for god's sake....nothing lasts.

If Megson gave Cohen Diouf's shirt there would have been some uproar about 'evil' Megson replacing a good player with a known rubbish one in an attempt to ruin our club on purpose and get himself sacked from the best paying and most high-profile job he's ever had.

ha, na...I just watch too much football. I would say Mak had a period of good form (a bit like Zaki) rather than being one of the top players, but fair enough.....just agree to disagree.

haha...true enough mate

Okay, so because an opinion differs from your own, that means it is based upon youtube or a computer game? Mak played half a season for Maritimo and scored for fun, but that was it.....half a season. Klasnic played well for Bremen for a number of seasons both domestically and in Europe, whilst playing for his national side. There is no comparison between their careers. Mak always had potential and could have been brilliant without his injury issues, but he was NEVER a proven player, whereas Klas was until his kidney gave up and ran away. I have watched Mak play numerous times, so let's not do the whole "we disagree so you must never have seen him" bit.

Well I'll say this much, he's better than Jaidi I really do hope Knight forms a partnership with Cahill and it works out, but he's just such a dozy player. I said in my other post, it's a question of taste....I simply don't rate Knight as a player, I think his lack of concentration is a liability at the back.; The fact he has two England caps does not make him a good player. A lot of fans slate McCann, he has played for England. Value is not about cost, it's about the quality you get for the cost. Cahill was good value; Knight was not. If he does well, that's fantastic.....let's hope so. As for the whole window: Davis is a good player, I like Klasnic, Robinson is a bit depressing but Megson loves him, Lee needs every chance to prove himself and Ricketts looks okay and is versatile. It's really not so bad and if we'd signed a creative mid I don't think people would complain at all.

Portuguese league is well below Germany, also Makakula only ever played one full season. Mak had potential, but never fulfilled it after he left Salamanca....usually due to injury. I wouldn't say he ever really proved himself, but that's more opinion than fact.

Knight is 29....are you counting that as "youngish"?

I would say he's shown himself to be a very average defender at this level. However the points about relative prices are well made.

Klasnic was one of the best players in a good league, not true of the players mentioned.