Phil Gartside has told Bolton fans to turn up in force if they want to keep the players happy.

 

Even though Bolton are pushing for a UEFA Champions League spot, crowds have been 2,000 down on last season and 5,000 below The Reebok Stadium's 28,000 capacity.

 

And Gartside is worried Bolton's failure to sell out their ground will have a negative affect on the players.

 

The chairman is particularly concerned about Nicolas Anelka, who has experience of playing in front of packed houses at Arsenal, Real Madrid and Liverpool.

 

"If we want to keep players like Nicolas Anelka happy, then we've got to give them the support they deserve," said Gartside.

 

"Fans have to realise they can help the players, especially the likes of Nicolas who are used to playing in major stadiums in front of big crowds.

 

"We need to improve the atmosphere here."

 

Gartside accepts that ticket prices are driving the supporters away and plans to use money from a new television deal to keep costs down, but he insists the fans must also play their part.

 

"We can't keep discounting tickets," he explained.

 

"Some of the TV money will go towards keeping the cost of football down, but we need the fans to get behind us now."

Edited February 8, 200719 yr by HomerJay

I feel strongly about this I think PG hasn't dropped a real bollock on this one. But not that it will matter to him or the board I expect.

I added my comments on the evening news website, I'd advice anyone else to do the same. Hopefully the BEN will pass them onto the club.

 

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/wanderers/w...1174669.0.0.php

He's an idiot. People who don't go to the games obviously aren't that arsed about seeing Anelka, so they're not going to be that arsed if he clears off either, are they?

 

And if thousands of folk who have already paid for their ticket are staying away, perhaps the club might want to consider changing the product they offer. Games are interminably dull far more often than they're not and, even at a fiver a chuck, the casual supporter is unlikely to rush back for a repeat dose.

 

And yes, I know, we're fifth in the league, we've never had it so good, and in Sam we trust.

Personally I believe he should keep his mouth shut until he sorts out the matchday experience. Once at the stadium you cannot get near a kiosk, it's over priced, you can't order anything without repeating yourself 3 times.

 

It's alright putting big plasma TV's everywhere but if people are unable to stand there with a beer and a pie, they are pretty much pointless. I do also believe prices should be reduced a little.

to be fair, the kiosk queues have improved 10 fold in that last 3-6 months.

 

although whether thats down to the staff and vending machines or just the fact that no red ginger bothers any more i dont know?

It's alright putting big plasma TV's everywhere but if people are unable to stand there with a beer and a pie, they are pretty much pointless.

Just a thought, but if the powers that be want the masses to get behind the team, shouldn't they think about getting shut of the screens to encourage people to - God forbid - sit in their seats during the game? Half the empty spaces at the Reebok are there because folk are downstairs supping.

Phil Gartside, Sam Allardyce and Kevin Nolan today went public in thanking the fans who have been behind the team this season.

 

We know watching the team can be expensive and we really appreciate, not just the money but also the time and commitment this takes.

 

Over 3000 extra tickets were sold as a result of the ??5 offer at the recent Charlton and it looks like even moe will be turning out to cheer the team on against Fulham this weekend.

 

Sam has called the supporters and the players to get together for one final push to make sure the European dream returns to Bolton, 'Who knows with everyone behind us the dream of a Champions League spot could even become reality'.

 

Skipper Nolan who returned to goal scoring ways against Arsenal in the cup talked about how having such good support at the Emirates really spurred the team on to one of their best performances of the season. 'I have seen how well the crowd can get behind the lads over the last few years, for the newer lads like Anelka the passion of our supporters really helps them want to be a part of everything we are acheiving here.

 

Sam commented 'Last year we let performances drop off towards the end of the season and this cost us our spot in Europe, this year we are determined not to let thuis happen and with the fans behind us we will make this happy. One of the proudest moments of my carear was walking round in Bulgaria and seeming how many fans had travelled there to watch the team, I owuld love to give the fans another chance to enjoy the experience we know we are in this together'

 

 

CARLSBERG DO NOT DO PRESS RELEASES.

Most Premiership teams ( apart from the top 4) have seen a fall in attendances this season. I think a lot of people are tightening their belts, and have decided that it just isn't a value for money form of "entertainment, and lets face it 9 out of 10 Premiership games are shite.

So is he really saying that adding the 2k fans is going to somehow transform the atmosphere into a Besiktas-esque frenzy???

The atmosphere died when they moved the away fans next to the West Lower to please PC plod & his merry men.

 

And how can you expect to get an atmposphere going when the likes of Liverpool couldn't sell out, due to Phil & his f??cking mates charging them an arm & a leg?

 

Gartside should stick to wiping Hargreaves arse.

The atmosphere died when they moved the away fans next to the West Lower to please PC plod & his merry men.

 

 

Wise words. Can this not be re arranged for next season? It's not like the old bill aren't still dragging folk out of the stands randomly anyway.

to be fair, the kiosk queues have improved 10 fold in that last 3-6 months.

 

 

i've only sat in the south stand this season and that certainly isn't the case!

Wise words. Can this not be re arranged for next season? It's not like the old bill aren't still dragging folk out of the stands randomly anyway.

 

so you'd prefer an empty area to one with bolton fans in?

 

cos thats the current norm in the south west lower

 

anyway, the whole argument is a cop out

 

as satan mentioned, the noise at besiktas was second to none

 

was nowt to do with where the bolton fans were

Edited February 8, 200719 yr by Casino

Should the club not be asking why the fans didnt attend? (ST Holders) Or why people are not renewing season tickets? Or do they just let their customers "walk away"?

did pg himself attend?

 

or was he away with work

so you'd prefer an empty area to one with bolton fans in?

 

cos thats the current norm in the south west lower

 

anyway, the whole argument is a cop out

 

as satan mentioned, the noise at besiktas was second to none

 

was nowt to do with where the bolton fans were

 

 

Empty? No, the fans would just be moved from next to the West Lower to next to the East Lower. It's called banter, Casino. Unless the West Lower masseev would like to get things going by throwing their boiled sweets in the direction of the away fans.

Just a thought, but if the powers that be want the masses to get behind the team, shouldn't they think about getting shut of the screens to encourage people to - God forbid - sit in their seats during the game? Half the empty spaces at the Reebok are there because folk are downstairs supping.

 

and making the club more money.

and making the club more money.

Which is what it all comes down to when we're done, isn't it?

 

The rest of it is a bit of a sideshow.

What exactly is Garty trying to achieve? I think he went to the Allardyce/Moores School of Public Relations.

Two words for you Mr Gartside.

 

Gerald Ratner.

Summat that just occured to me - how does Anelka feel about his chairman coming out talking sh??te about him?

 

Makes Anelka look a bit of a c??nt really.

 

The other players too must think 'what the hell'

 

All in all, Garty has made an utter tw??t of himself

Two words for you Mr Gartside.

 

Gerald Ratner.

 

thing is, Ratner knew his product was sh??te and mocked those who bought it

 

Gartside believes our is top class but can't understand why no one will buy it

I can't believe that after he was caught red handed lying his tits off by Panorama, he's sticking his ugly mush over the parapet so soon.

So basically that fat windbag is telling us that to keep ??80k per week Anelka happy we should rush out and buy tickets for the current garbage on offer.

 

When Anelka and the rest of the passionless plonkers start earning their ??80k per week maybe I'll consider a few more games.

Empty? No, the fans would just be moved from next to the West Lower to next to the East Lower. It's called banter, Casino. Unless the West Lower masseev would like to get things going by throwing their boiled sweets in the direction of the away fans.

 

unless your owd eyes can't see that far, you'll have noticed that as often as not, theres nobody in the away lower bit

 

and explain besiktas?

 

bolton fans - looking for somebody to blame for not being able to make some noise

 

ffs, we made more racket with 6 thou on in the 80s

unless your owd eyes can't see that far, you'll have noticed that as often as not, theres nobody in the away lower bit

 

and explain besiktas?

 

bolton fans - looking for somebody to blame for not being able to make some noise

 

ffs, we made more racket with 6 thou on in the 80s

 

Although this is true, in the 80's you weren't being filmed from every angle by numerous overzealous plod or risking being manhandled by Fat Phil's Orange Warriors.

 

You could lob 2p's over the dividing fence to your heart's content, now anyone daring to stand up risks being dragged away and banned from Football for 3 years+. The restrictions that a banning order places on your life with the inability to travel when England are away is completely OTT and IMO not worth the risk.

 

People have been banned after being seen chanting and making hand gestures to oppposing fans. Football as we knew, and loved, it is dead. Ask yourself what Garty has done to prevent that and the answer is... Sweet FA.