Rival Son

I worried because Dalby’s only record of scoring goals was in the Scottish Farmers League. Costelloe scored 1 in 28 appearances in this league during 2023/24. Makes Nlundulu look prolific. Nice waste of £500k by the piemen. Happier with Dalby as a freebie.

And Ricardo Santos!

We do not give a two year contract to a 22 year old who’s not in plans. An 18 year old: yes.

We’ve just given Hutchinson a fresh two year deal. We have two keepers without Southwood and can always loan a keeper in an emergency. A few positions where we haven’t got two options to be sorted first.

How and who determines if something has legs? The title of this thread is gossip, which is made up of rumour and speculation. It’s a recipe for bollocks! If it comes from the club and it’s employees, it’s probably got legs. The BN tend to be a little circumspect, so their stories probably have legs. Treat everything else with a pinch of salt, and embrace the fun of speculation. 😀

Actual rumours? Actual facts or rumours, most of which are bollocks!

@noxid While I agree that most of those players should leave before Sheehan, I find it fascinating that, after a season where we conceded 70 goals - more than two of the relegated sides - no one seems to be clamouring for defenders to leave. Ok, we have released Baxter, Santos and Jones, which will be part of a defensive rebuild, but are the others up to the required standard?

Sheehan also has a good shot and finish, which was woefully underutilised under Evatt’s defensive midfield role. A more advanced role, with Morley and Simons behind him, would likely see the best of him. in a list of players to leave, Sheehan is quite low down for me.

Sorry to hear of the loss of your mate @desperado RIP Chris

I’ve a feeling we’re sorted for left back. We know we have Conway and the interview with Schumacher earlier this week (can’t find it right now) emphasised that Taylor has been playing as left side of a back three, and was as much bought for left back as left centre back. Given we’ve already got Johnston and Inwood as left footed centre backs, we’re pretty well stocked with left footed defenders.

Only one other BWFC manager since the 1880s - Phil Neal - has spent two seasons or more as our manager in the third tier, and failed to deliver promotion to the second tier. Phil Neal managed the club through years when finances were dire - we had to build a supermarket over more than a third of Burnden’s capacity to avoid going under. In contrast, recent finances were robust enough to allow significant spending by Evatt; with no better return. Neal also a delivered an EFL Trophy win - by a bigger margin - and a play off final defeat - which at least went to extra time, and Comstive missing a sitter just before 90 minutes to win it really wasn’t Neal’s fault! Think what you like of Evatt but, for me, he’s the one of the worst managers I’ve seen at Bolton in over 50 years of watching the Wanderers.

Perhaps 125 to each team for management, support staff, non-involved players, squad wives/partners, sponsors and guests. Around 100 for the venue owner and sponsor representatives, and 30 for media and journalists.

A few things I’d change here. Inwood is a left sided defender, and a starting candidate for me. Warren is a winger. Right side, but left footed, which is why he both creates goals and scores them when he cuts inside. Left footed Schon, in contrast, doesn’t look comfortable on the right. That said, I’d take Schon on the left, over Tutu. Tutu, like Collins, looks a class above in small doses, but is largely anonymous. Schon, without the defensive role of a wing back, may just thrive as an out and out left winger. Certainly, that’s where he always seemed to be on the highlights reel I watched, when we signed him.

Oh shit! Shows how a name can permeate the brain! My apologies to Charlie Warren. 🤭

We’re also missing youngsters from the above thoughts. The most glaring is Inwood, who has always been highly rated by the club, which now seems to be mirrored by Schumacher when he saw and played him. I don’t think Curtis Warren has been brought in to be a B team player. I think he’s a serious contender for one of the wing roles. And I think some of Jules’ youngsters will be banging on the door, as B team players. A lot more to leave, in my opinion, with some only going when they realise they’ve not made the squad.

Because it was stated in reports, at the time. Cogley took up his option of another year on his contract.

Max Conway

SS didn’t tie him down for another year. He had an option for another, which JDC opted to take. SS and the club had no choice in the matter, because JDC had the required number of appearances. JDC is another who isn’t at the level we require, IMO, but we need a second RB anyway, along with a second LB.

SS will play a different formation, next season. Perhaps 4-2-3-1. No single defensive midfielder but 2 solid, yet creative, 6s side-by-side: Morley and Simons? This might free Sheehan up to play 8 in the 3 (it is his number, after all). With current personnel, Randall and Dempsey are also candidates for this role. However, not all may be around, next season.

If Vic is in any way part of the management’s thinking, then we’re going nowhere. If and when he’s fit - Christmas I heard - ship him out on loan, to reduce the wage bill until his contract expires.

I don’t disagree but last season they were our only option. As a backup, with a full pre-season with the first team, they might have progressed. They’re at the age where progression can be quick. My point about variety still stands, I think. Next a couple of out and out wingers, who can cross. No point having a gun, if there’s no ammunition!

We have a couple of youngsters (Abimbola and Lewis) who are traditional big centre forward types, and could act as a backup. If we’re going for a second striker I think a bit of variation might be good: a Charles or Doyle type.

I remember the fingers crossed waiting for referee appointments. Have we got Uriah? As others have said, the only referee who didn’t seem to have a(n unconscious) bias towards the big teams. This was probably because he would not only refuse to be bullied by players and/or managers trying to intimidate him, but he’d also deal with it quickly, firmly and effectively. Without doubt, the best referee I’ve witnessed in my lifetime. Rest in peace, Uriah.

That’s the problem. Your desire to fulfill a homoerotic fantasy is distinctly narrowing the range of available candidates. 😉 Seriously, we’ve just recruited a Sporting Director and Head of Recruitment. It’s their role to identify suitable and affordable candidates. I, and all fans, will have a view on their suitability to fulfill the role. My view is that we have we have a number of exciting youngsters in attacking positions, such as Abimbola, Lawrence and Lewis, any of whom may or, more likely, may not break through. I don’t want their pathway blocked by another Adeboyejo, Nlundulu, Kachunga or Bakayoka. Push the boat out for an experienced and proven 9, who might also have a longer-term coaching aspiration, and support the youngsters. A younger, more prime, Jerome. As I said above, identifying that person is the job of Fergal and his team.

Things I don’t like about this: - He scored 15 goals on loan in a godawful league. - Jack Iredale was probably the best left-sided defender in said league, despite not being good enough for Bolton (that might say more about Evatt, to be honest). - Scott Arfield scored 9 goals at 1 every 96 minutes, after leaving us to go to the team who won the Scottish Championship, and will be playing in the same league, next season. - Prior to the loan, he scored 7 goals in 73 games for Wrexham … in the National League and League 2! I usually try to be positive on here, but I’m struggling to get excited by this speculation. I really was looking forward to us pushing the boat out for a proven 9 (our number one target, or should be) at this level, or higher.