We had a decent thread a while back discussing Evatt’s philosophies and approach to the game (think it got tainted and pulled)

So not a bad time to start it up again at the beginning of the season.

In the main he’s done a fantastic job. A minority lost patience round about Xmas/New Year in both seasons. 

But surely now he has the large backing of the majority of fans and the brand he talked about implementing here is now well and truly established.

Good article above highlighting how he’s using Sport Science to get the squad performing to it’s optimum level.

A young, meticulous, intelligent and passionate individual, who we are very lucky to have leading our club.

I hope he gets what he deserves with promotion to the Championship. 

Whilst I never fully took to him, genuinely feel for him on a personal level. Struggle to recall a manager so desperate to succeed in the game. He’ll be struggling today I expect. 

Blackpool job got his name all over it next season. 

I doubt we’ve someone lined up. Could be wrong but just don’t get that sense. I think they’ll take their time to get the right man. 

As for why now, presumably a combination of results and the clear toll it’s taking on him. Didn’t see him arguing on pitch last night but yet another sign of someone struggling under pressure.

Thanks Ian.  Our club is in a better place now than when you arrived. 

1 minute ago, bwfc6ix said:

Could there be a possibility Sharon tries to convince Gary O'Neil? Didnt he do some coaching at our place a while back and they're quite pally? Or have I made that up?

I think he was a bit disappointed at the lack of contact after his contract expired

He'll probably think he's better off waiting for an opportunity in the league above

Forgot about O'Neil. 

Thought he did well at first with Wolves, but it went sour.

Then he seemed to have a pop at his players. 

Sounds familiar!

Anyway, whoever they go for will have plus points and negative ones.

2 minutes ago, Zico said:

I know, that's that I was as saying, a fair few decent options who might have been up for it had we got rid sooner are now back in work 

I'm sort of glad the board gave him every chance possible till he didn't have a leg to stand on, but, it should have come sooner for me and hope we haven't missed out

Cooper

O'Neill 

Edwards

Though the latter has the same blueprint as evatt

Good call on O’Neil as for Edwards similar to Evatt in his playing style.

8 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

He’s back at West Brom

Didn't know that, been to preoccupied with our shambles.😀

Schumacher for me

Was it @Zico that put the next 6/7 fixtures up on the other thread (I could look but I’m being lazy)?

I think it was Huddersfield away and then a run of a load of dross before we hit another couple of big games.

Timing could work perfectly (ignoring the elephant in the room of the transfer window). Stick a caretaker in for Huddersfield, free hit, we all thought we’d lose with Evatt in charge so no hard feelings if we do. Then the new man comes in, should realistically be picking up 5 or 6 wins in those first 6 or 7 games, purely from who we’re playing. Feel good factor is back, we’d likely be in the play off spots, fans well back on board and bought into the new man and all of a sudden we’re the team you don’t want to get in the play offs (without really having to do too much considering the opposition).

Amazing how one decision can change the way you look at something.

We’re going up 😂

5 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I think he was a bit disappointed at the lack of contact after his contract expired

He'll probably think he's better off waiting for an opportunity in the league above

If he rates himself he could have us back there next season

4 minutes ago, Rizlar said:

Good call on O’Neil as for Edwards similar to Evatt in his playing style.

Not bothered about the style per se; moreover the effectiveness of it, and the ability to see when it's not working and do something about it.

Gutted for him. 

Gutted for us. 
 

Gutted for FV and all involved and who have backed him, 

sad how it turned out, really frustrated at the same time he was too stubborn, you never know if he’d of tried what he did last night earlier in the season he would be ok and we would progress. 
 

anyway we really need to back them on Saturday no excuses now. 

 

 

Edited January 22, 20251 yr by superjohnmcginlay

Just now, gonzo said:

Morecambe away in Covid.

Celebrations outside the hotel after winning promotion.

Last min goals all over the gaff. Crewe, Morecambe to name but a few.

Accy semi final

Plymouth final

Barnsley play offs

Beating Blackpool at home twice 

A promotion, 2 top 6 finishes and some big dismantling of teams along the way.

25k home crowds, every away game selling out in minutes.

He bought the buzz back in watching Bolton and secured a new generation of fans that'll be here forever.

Don't let Oxford, the big game capitulations and this season blight the memory too much folks, it hasn't been all bad. It just ran stale and he ran out of ideas. 

Thanks for the memories and good luck. (Not too much if its over this way like )

Onwards and upwards. 

Let's get back together 💙⚪️💪

A very fair summary. There's been plenty I've liked and enjoyed over the last four years, some memorable moments and a rebirth of our club he's played a part in. There are numerous of our local rivals who have looked on with envy at our home and away support.

It's a shame it has degenerated into the mess it's been this season. Doubling down on principles wasn't the answer after Wembley and certainly not in the last few weeks. 

Looking down from the stand last night, I felt for him when their winner went in. He could do with a holiday, reflect and reset. If he's able to do that reflection honestly and insightfully he'll find himself back in work soon enough.

6 minutes ago, Rizlar said:

Good call on O’Neil as for Edwards similar to Evatt in his playing style.

Gary O’Neill still had Craig Dawson playing 5 yard passes across his box well after it was apparent that it was causing them problems.

I like the guy, but from what I saw at Wolves he’s very much in the Martin, Evatt, Van Nistelrooy camp of style of play and I’m not sure we’re ready to see that again so soon.

Can you imagine the first game, fans buzzing that Evatt has gone and the first goal kick Santos knocks it 3 yards to Southwood… it’d be over for him from that point!

.

Edited January 22, 20251 yr by Stig
Probably should have read the last 3 pages...

It had to happen but, if he'd gone after the Huddersfield at home game ( like he should have)

a, we would have had time to turn the mess around.

b, He would still have seemed a half decent manager with a decent CV.

 

All the best Evatt

Should have happened fucking months ago but thankfully we're not cut adrift.

Whoever made the call, Ive seen some bad decisions in my time but Getting rid of Dion to a promotion rival mid season was egregious.

Anyhow, whoever is next No Poundshop Pep 🙂

I'm confident some pragmatic cunt will soon whip this lot into shape and start snaffling points up 🥳

1 minute ago, Stig said:

.

Was gonna ask how that ships getting on that's meant to be in New York any time soon

5 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Really is bizarre timing.

With her emphasis on loyalty, patience and faith, she was just giving as much time as possible.

I respect her in a away, even though history will tell us you are probably right, this should have happened earlier. 

While things continue to stagnate/go backwards, there was always going to be a tipping point. His behaviour, his mental state, crowds dipping, a points accumulated total, a time when getting to play-offs seems at major risk or a combination of the above.

Probably helps explain why it seems bizarre timing.

Anyway I echo all the posts above about thanks for the good/great times (my family became invigorated travellers again after a dark dark decade), I wish him all the best (apart from when it affects us 😊) for the future.

That aside. I can’t wait for Saturday now. New start, new beginning, promotion charge starts here.

COYFWM 👏

That crowd was 100% the straw that broke Evatts back.

Can't be having 8.5k on for a league game.

 

are the media team on zero hours contracts, still nothing on the official channels 

Edited January 22, 20251 yr by L/H White

Bad manager, I am delighted the club have moved him on

Of Bolton's 3rd Division managers I rate him below Parky and Phil Neal let alone Rioch

 

 

Timing isn’t too much of an issue really. Whether it be today after Saturday Just gone or the Saturday before that, in the grand scheme of things non of it would’ve made that much difference and influenced what we did in the Jan market. Anyone expecting a new man to come in 2 weeks ago and have free rein in an inflated transfer market is a moon man. They themselves will want to assess what they’re inheriting and where they could be improving us. We have more than enough already here to make a mark in this league without question 
 

Yes he probably should’ve gone after Oxford. However I think the scars of that day on him and some of the players only started to reveal themselves as the season wore on. Overall I think the board were right to give him one last chance at it. We weren’t too far away last year but it wasn’t to be. 
 

a change is as good as a rest and it was needed. He won’t be the last one out of the door that were there at Wembley in May

Its a shame it ended the way it did as there's been some great moments while Evatt was in charge. At times the football was amazing and we were getting results.

Even though we're only a few points from the playoffs this season has been very poor. So it was time for a change. Probably should have happened weeks ago.

 

Rooney 💣 

Right call. Overall he did a good job for us, discounting this season. Made constant progress and just fell short, and since then it has completely sour. Gave us some great memories, including a 4-0 win at Wembley with 35,000 of us there, it's just a shame it ended on such a nasty note.

I do think the season is already a write-off, we should take our time on this appointment, make sure we get the right man, give him the 20 games remaining, assess where we are as a squad, and then push on for next season.

All the best IE.

Edited January 22, 20251 yr by mattbwfc19

27 minutes ago, gonzo said:

That crowd was 100% the straw that broke Evatts back.

Can't be having 8.5k on for a league game.

 

Yes, feels like looking out there as they were tossing up must have caused significant alarm in the boardroom