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. 

36 minutes ago, Cheese said:

^ This is the arrogance that other teams rightfully mock us for. As if we're entitled to go up, because we're Bolton Wanderers. Reality is obviously too tough for some.

You really are a condescending twat. I should have known not to get drawn in. I've been on here long enough for you and anyone else to know that I'm a million miles from entitled or arrogant about our club. I've seen us play in all four divisions at least twice, ridden all the ups and downs, the good spells and the bad, seen us be nearly out of existence twice, not once. 

The aspirations and ambitions have been clearly articulated by the club, especially the manager, and well supported by the owners. We are not at the stage where we're just establishing ourselves and finding out feet in the division, where a few bad days at the office would be understandable. It's a reasonable expectation therefore that we should, by now, have ironed out the propensity for no-shows like yesterday three or four times a season. 

Out of interest, the idea that we should expect to get - and give teams - a spanking on a semi-regular basis because times have changed ...

below is a per season comparison of league games lost v won by a 4 or more goal margin when we were in the lower leagues in the 1980s and early 1990s (and were mostly absolutely shite). This season so far at the bottom.

Only 1 of those mostly shite seasons where we've lost more than we have already, and 2 where we lost as many.

Had to check to make sure my memory wasn't playing tricks ... when we're a half decent side, we don't tend to get spanked regularly.

Turns out we're all entitled to melt down over Saturday's drubbing after all.

 

83/84 L3   W1

84/85 L1   W2

85/86 L2  W2

86/87 L0   W0

87/88 L2   W4

88/89 L1   W2

89/90 L0   W0

90/91 L1   W0

91/92 L0   W1

92/93 L0   W3

 

so far this season L2 W0

 

1 hour ago, Cheese said:

Every team in the division could claim they have a "justifiable expectation" to be better than they are. Get over it. The Prem years were down to money. Nothing else.

You’re unbelievably skilled at what you do. Works every time 👏🏼

I wonder if IE shagged their wives, if the happy clappers would complain?

3 hours ago, paulhanley said:

It was "If you want entertainment go to the Palladium" actually but a great quote to remember from a wise football man.

I remember playing Cardiff away in our promotion year It was my turn to drive so no drink, my mate is well out of it we got outside the ground early, my mate fell over drunk, Ian Greaves came over and looked at him "is he one of ours" he said yes I replied "come on then  I will help you pick him up, we need all the support we can get today" and he helped me getting him through the turnstiles!

 

11 minutes ago, Hoppy said:

I remember playing Cardiff away in our promotion year It was my turn to drive so no drink, my mate is well out of it we got outside the ground early, my mate fell over drunk, Ian Greaves came over and looked at him "is he one of ours" he said yes I replied "come on then  I will help you pick him up, we need all the support we can get today" and he helped me getting him through the turnstiles!

 

I can hear him saying that with his Lancashire accent. Good man. 

.. if we'd won that game that famous night at Blackburn would have been one of celebration from minute one rather than minute 90. 

this is what a manager who looks at himself, rather then blames others says "Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou says their inconsistent start to the season is down to him rather than his players."

11 minutes ago, paulhanley said:

I can hear him saying that with his Lancashire accent. Good man. 

.. if we'd won that game that famous night at Blackburn would have been one of celebration from minute one rather than minute 90. 

That was a night and a half cars end to end Blackburn to Bolton nothing but car horns !

We all know the types of games we struggle in 

Local derbies, teams at the top going for promotion, big followings 

This season so far those are 

Wrexham, Huddersfield, Birmingham, Stockport 

1 point, 0 goals, 11 conceded 

 

6 minutes ago, Zico said:

We all know the types of games we struggle in 

Local derbies, teams at the top going for promotion, big followings 

This season so far those are 

Wrexham, Huddersfield, Birmingham, Stockport 

1 point, 0 goals, 11 conceded 

 

For all the stats the gut feel of listing these games feels right.

Last season is a good barometer with a home win v Blackpool and Derby, but otherwise draws or losses in all big games. We may equal that but no better imo. And immediately that is a problem because there are more big games in league one this season 

1 minute ago, Stig said:

For all the stats the gut feel of listing these games feels right.

Last season is a good barometer with a home win v Blackpool and Derby, but otherwise draws or losses in all big games. We may equal that but no better imo. And immediately that is a problem because there are more big games in league one this season 

And you've always got a Shrewsbury or Exeter waiting to happen 

Of course we have been on a decent run bar Brum/Stockport 

But really now just doesn't feel like we've pushed on from last season 

And bar Magohma we've definitely got a stronger squad 

We have a decent back up keeper, we've got GJ back, Schon is our best wing back, we've got a player in Matete who gives us an outlet in midfield we missed, and we've got Collins and McAtee who we didn't have 12 months ago

3 hours ago, wakey said:

Out of interest, the idea that we should expect to get - and give teams - a spanking on a semi-regular basis because times have changed ...

below is a per season comparison of league games lost v won by a 4 or more goal margin when we were in the lower leagues in the 1980s and early 1990s (and were mostly absolutely shite). This season so far at the bottom.

Only 1 of those mostly shite seasons where we've lost more than we have already, and 2 where we lost as many.

Had to check to make sure my memory wasn't playing tricks ... when we're a half decent side, we don't tend to get spanked regularly.

Turns out we're all entitled to melt down over Saturday's drubbing after all.

 

83/84 L3   W1

84/85 L1   W2

85/86 L2  W2

86/87 L0   W0

87/88 L2   W4

88/89 L1   W2

89/90 L0   W0

90/91 L1   W0

91/92 L0   W1

92/93 L0   W3

 

so far this season L2 W0

 

I do love facts

1 hour ago, Stig said:

For all the stats the gut feel of listing these games feels right.

Last season is a good barometer with a home win v Blackpool and Derby, but otherwise draws or losses in all big games. We may equal that but no better imo. And immediately that is a problem because there are more big games in league one this season 

And don’t forget that Derby’s keeper wrongly got sent off so they were down to 10. 
 

Blackpool was a good game but it took a 1 in a 1000 thundertwat to seal it 

1 hour ago, Zico said:

And you've always got a Shrewsbury or Exeter waiting to happen 

Of course we have been on a decent run bar Brum/Stockport 

But really now just doesn't feel like we've pushed on from last season 

And bar Magohma we've definitely got a stronger squad 

We have a decent back up keeper, we've got GJ back, Schon is our best wing back, we've got a player in Matete who gives us an outlet in midfield we missed, and we've got Collins and McAtee who we didn't have 12 months ago

I think the stand out difference from last season's squad is the reduced height/strength/heading ability, accepting the improvements like Schon, Matete and McAtee (although he becomes a weakness when IE decides he's a midfielder, IMO).

We've lost JDB and Jerome up front - say what you want about them not scoring enough but that's 2 players that could hold a ball up that we now don't possess (and neither of them ever played as bad as the front 2 yesterday).  We've lost Maghoma, Iredale, Ashworth, Ogbeta.  Not saying any of the full backs were the greatest players but they were definitely stronger than Schon & Williams.  We were too weak last season - and somehow IE has managed to make us even weaker.  The forward line is just flimsy, it doesn't matter who's turn it is to be picked that ball isn't sticking.

Edited November 10, 20241 yr by Johnnyrotten

27 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I think the stand out difference from last season's squad is the reduced height/strength/heading ability, accepting the improvements like Schon, Matete and McAtee (although he becomes a weakness when IE decides he's a midfielder, IMO).

We've lost JDB and Jerome up front - say what you want about them not scoring enough but that's 2 players that could hold a ball up that we now don't possess (and neither of them ever played as bad as the front 2 yesterday).  We've lost Maghoma, Iredale, Ashworth, Ogbeta.  Not saying any of the full backs were the greatest players but they were definitely stronger than Schon & Williams.  We were too weak last season - and somehow IE has managed to make us even weaker.  The forward line is just flimsy, it doesn't matter who's turn it is to be picked that ball isn't sticking.

McAtee and Collins

or

Victor and Charles

 

He's gotta pick one combo and stick with it, rather than chopping and changing. 

 

Mcatee, Sheehan and Matete just isnt working in midfield, 

5 minutes ago, only1swanny said:

McAtee and Collins

or

Victor and Charles

 

He's gotta pick one combo and stick with it, rather than chopping and changing. 

 

Mcatee, Sheehan and Matete just isnt working in midfield, 

And give them game time. Knowing that the 70th minute is likely to be your last can’t help. Like for like substitutes every week is no good to anyone. Including us.

2 hours ago, only1swanny said:

Mcatee, Sheehan and Matete just isnt working in midfield, 

Far, far too many letters 'e' and 'a' in that lot.

Slaughtered the players this morning Bolton News

No way back now.........Turned toxic

1 hour ago, masi 51 said:

Slaughtered the players this morning Bolton News

No way back now.........Turned toxic

Terrible comments there. All he has to say is ' there has been a very honest discussion behind the scenes, the details of which remain behind the scenes but we know we all need to improve' 

The comment about players not training properly is really worrying. 

22 minutes ago, Ani said:

Terrible comments there. All he has to say is ' there has been a very honest discussion behind the scenes, the details of which remain behind the scenes but we know we all need to improve' 

The comment about players not training properly is really worrying. 

For a bloke who always likes to be honest and tell the truth he gives the impression he doesn't half make some shit up when it suits.

We got a link to these comments?

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/24713144.manager-gives-damning-verdict-bolton-wanderers-standards/

3 minutes ago, tomski said:

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/24713144.manager-gives-damning-verdict-bolton-wanderers-standards/

But singing about the football that we play, we have had a lot of success over five years, so I find that a bit strange

33 minutes ago, Ani said:

 

33 minutes ago, Ani said:

The comment about players not training properly is really worrying. 

Aye 

Have heard before that players don't put the effort in when he's absent from training, watch itself isn't uncommon 

Do none of his chums take training when he’s away? Where’s Atherton, Crainey, Gilkes, etc.

Publically throwing the group - which, without names, is what he’s done - is simply another attempt to deflect blame away from his own failings.

This is turning toxic and needs to be nipped in the bud, immediately.

Time to act, Sharon.