[A View From The Other Side]

Gearing up at Gloomfield already

https://avftt.co.uk/index.php?threads/bolton-at-home.60317/

[Birmingham City (H)]

Those who had not yet bought in to the Schumacher era will be on the road to being true believers now. 

A tremendous result. They can say Brum had injuries but we've got a few out too. 

I liked the comments from SS in his interview along the lines of "It's alright having the quality but you need the industry and effort". Ally that to his tactical flexibility and this is all a world away from the one-dimensional world we had before. 

COYWM! 

[The Managerial Roundabout]

I wonder if they might go back to Leam Richardson.

Either way that whole groundhog day scenario of Maloney's tactical cuteness versus Evatt's stubborn naivety is now gone for good. 

[Rangers v Fenerbaçe]

I'd always support Rangers when the Old Firm derby comes around but that's as far as it goes. I shan't be carrying BWFC/Rangers flags or getting involved in all the politics/sectarianism.

[You Tube Bolton Stuff]

Not sure I'd ever seen Bob Latchford's goal in the infamous 1977 League Cup Semi Final Second Leg at Burnden. A gate of 50000 plus and what a let down. 

If this goal is on tape you wonder if the whole game is stored away somewhere as well.

 

 

[Leyton Orient (H)]

There's so much more normality, common sense and pragmatism about the place now. The nightmarish groundhog days scenarios/defeats seem to have been banished.

I'm really interested to see how we fare in these next two games v Wrexham and Birmingham and it looks increasingly hopeful that when it comes to Stockport/Blackpool/Wigan, the white flag isn't going to go up.

Well done to all concerned on that showing today. It feels like Bolton Wanderers again.

[You Tube Bolton Stuff]

On 19/02/2025 at 19:02, Krimzon said:

Before my time . Think I went to my first game probably late 79 

Now there is a chant you never hear any more. Used to be very week at Burnden. 

"Oh when the whites go marching in. I wanna be in that number. Oh when the whites go marching in". 

Even the old folk joined in when that one rang around 

[On this day]

Had a quick look back for games played on 18 Feb.

Who remembers a home FA Cup tie v West Ham in 2006. An absolutely vast and very loud away following of Hammers. It finished 0-0 with them winning the replay. Rare for them to get any type of result v us at the Reebok in them days even though in that period they always had the hoodoo over Blackburn. Remember it being a freezing cold day, windswept. My mind might be playing tricks but I think they had the whole South Stand. Three days earlier we'd played Marseille at home in another 0-0. 

For those with somewhat longer memories 18 Feb 1978 saw us draw 2-2 at Oldham (Reid, Whatmore) in yet another 1970s attempt to get promotion to the top flight. This time we were successful but in mid Feb no doubt the big Blackburn/Fulham climax felt some way distant. With two points for a win a point away at Boundary Park wouldn't have been bad. I was at this game but very much primary school age so no clear memory other than us going as a family in a group of cars. On the way home one of the cars ploughed in to the back of another leading not unnaturally to a family row. Attendance listed as more than 20,000 which is hard to imagine given the modern day Boundary Park! I bet half of those were BWFC. 

[The next 5 games]

4 minutes ago, Eddie said:

The week when SS cements himself as a true fan favourite when we turn both of them over in consecutive away games. I’m sure of it.

Next five games are big - all tough in their own way but Stockport at home is the one I'd like to win most. Their fans love to rattle on about how they've never lost at the Reebok and there's the 5-0 to avenge. 

Then, as you say, those two. No win at Bloomfield Road in 16 league and cup attempts since 1977. We all know about Wigan. 

SS is winning the fans gradually already - results in those three would cement it for him and represent progress from the Evatt era.

[Transfer Gossip]

When stood on a BWFC away end It's really hard not to fall in to the "youth of today" type comments that our grandparents used to use but I am confident it's not much different with other clubs. 

The older you get the less you tolerate anti-social behaviour. It was going on in the later 70s and 80s when I was being taken to the match and usually with much more violent and frightening undertones. 

Brian Clough used to get angry with politicians who wanted to bundle society's ill's on to football because it was convenient to do so. It's certainly where poor behaviour manifests itself in a bright spotlight but its just a part of a wider malaise.

It'd be interesting to go back in a tardis to the 50s and before and see if people's behaviour then really was better than standards since. Another cliche older folk used to come out with was "give em national service" and they said it because they knew a couple of years in the military had matured them. 

Bottom line though: It's a perennial debate is this and there's not much new under the sun! Younger folk have growing up to do.

[Shrewsbury Town (A)]

Looks like we've got what we needed - a manager who actively manages a game of football and intervenes decisively when things are going down the wrong path. 

Suspect he picked that starting XI with physique and height in mind. Understandable against an Ainsworth team. If he hadn't already learned we don't really have enough of either in the squad. 

What we do have though is a lot of talent and if it's carefully channeled it can reaps dividends. 

We live in a footballing world drowned by statistics and sometimes you can over-analyse. The fan glancing through the League 1 table could suss our bottom line/ultimate problem - we concede too many goals.  If SS can sort out that side of our game we're seriously on to something, whether this season or next.

Onward and upward.

[On this day]

Constrast that with eight years ago yesterday and another 1-0 home win.... v Rochdale with a Mark Beevers goal that barely crossed the line. 

This football club has very high ceilings and low floors.

Already feels a lifetime ago with a pandemic between then and now

 

 

[Injuries]

Etete back for the Blackpool (a) and Wigan (a) week then (about six weeks away). 

He will rip em a new arsehole. 

Thus endeth my optimism about the three remaining derbies of the season.

[Transfer Gossip]

43 minutes ago, TrickyTrotter said:

Out of contract June 25

Baxter

Coleman

Hutch

Santos

Cogley

Jones

Matheson

Matete out of contract at the Mackem's as well but wouldn't want him.

Vic got another year 

Possibly keep Baxter. Dunno about Hutch. I would free the rest and build a different, meaner back four. 

[Wrexham (A) - EFL Trophy]

Other than the fact I increasingly can't abide Wrexham I am not fussed about this. I am not actually too fussed about this season and SS has a free pass from me until the Summer. More information gathering for the new man tonight, weighing up each player's attitude and attributes.

[The Real Plan A 2.0]

A lot of interesting talk about formations, in-game management, tactics. All of it relevant and interesting and I'm as happy to get involved as anyone.

In the end though you just need to check out our goals against column. You have to go down to 17th in the table before you come across any other side who have conceded as many. 

I just think SS and the new staff need to re-instill some of the old-fashioned basics of defending in to our players. I've said it before on other threads about football in general, there are things passed on to from generation to generation of football people that are getting lost. Full backs, get in the way of crosses, there is no disgrace in sending it in to Row Z if you're in a tight spot, position yourselves differently against pacy players/taller more powerful players to cater for their different threats.

Its great for defenders to be comfortable in possession but I doubt any of the above has been taught at our club for many years now and its stuff that's not all that difficult to get across. 

Then we can talk about systems and formations and adapting occasionally to address the strengths of the opposition. 

I think SS is pretty pragmatic and if he'd not realised these things before he joined us they'll be dawning on him.

[Crawley Town (H)]

Eccentric result in an eccentric season. We are very much in transition. A squad lopsided with quality compared to physique and leadership. A squad with a number of players who are out of contract at the end of the season. A new manager/new era in its embryonic stages. Lots of injuries. I think we can probably expect more odd fluctuations until things begin to settle down. 

SS will be gathering his thoughts all the time. 

Worth enjoying today though because it ain't very often your team wins 4-3 after being 1-3 down with 22 minutes to go. Also not often you see a game finish 4-3 after being 0-0 at HT.

[Transfer Gossip]

There's room in the squad for a signing if Arfield and Williams are on their way out but Iles ain't confident. Like most other folk I still think we need a midfielder with some physique. 

Overall though..not too fussed. Just relieved we've got rid of Evatt and enjoying the honeymoon period for the new set up. Win, lose or draw this season .... we're building for the future again.

[Next Manager]

It's not major surgery that's needed but at the same time it's a little bit more than tweaks. The squad needs to be a bit more mentally tough, there needs to be a leader or two added and also a bit more physique, especially in midfield. SS is very unlikely to be as tactically dogmatic/predictable as IE so that problem ought to resolve itself. 

[Reading (A)]

Ah well. 

Best he sees the lot, faults and all. 

[Reading (A)]

Two Saturday mornings running when I've been looking forward to the Wanderers goings on the afternoon.

The times they are a changing.

[The Real Plan A 2.0]

We aren't getting automatic promotion and in my mind I'd written off the season and been thinking about preparing for 25/6 with a new manager and making an assault on League 1. These last two wins of Julian's have us outside the play offs by a fraction so, of course, promotion cannot be ruled out! Look at Oxford last season. Would we be Championship ready if we snuck up with this team? No. Oxford seem to have rapidly developed themselves though! 

As regards remaining fixtures I hope Julian has a little word with SS to say "whatever else happens the fans would love to avenge the 5-0 at Stockport, finally get one over on Wigan and win at Blackpool for the first time since 1977". 

[Next Manager]

9 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

A really nice, and important touch to make sure JD etc go with them on Saturday. 

That's what I was thinking. One of the best things to come out of this last week or so is Julian having that experience. He had a rough time with the fans at the end of Phil Neal's reign and although he scored some crucial goals under Bruce and its all a long time ago I am sure there were some faint bruises from that time. The warmth he's been shown and deserved this week will hopefully have dealt with all that and he knows he'll forever be well thought of in his home town. Good lad Julian. It's been a pleasure to see you smiling and enjoying living the dream.

I am sure he'll be on hand for quiet bits of BWFC wisdom and knowledge with Mr S and the new staff.

[Next Manager]

4 minutes ago, Cheese said:

 

Brilliant news but bloody hell Cheese have you been pressing refresh all afternoon? You nearly beat the club to that announcement! 

[Next Manager]

Been at work all day so only just checking in. Probably miles behind the curve but it looks like betting suspended again and everyone waiting for to arrange the press conference?