The fourth in the Exiled Robin’s series of six posts introducing you to the Championship’s newest members focuses on perhaps the most surprising addition. Bolton were an established Premier League club and in Owen Coyle had snared one of the brightest young managers in the game, yet found the going last season just too tough.
Find other posts in the series here:
Welcome to the Championship (1/6): Blackburn Rovers
Welcome to the Championship (2/6): Sheffield Wednesday
Welcome to the Championship (3/6): Charlton Athletic
About……Bolton Wanderers
Nickname: ‘The Trotters’ Manager: Owen Coyle
Play at: The Reebok Stadium, 188 miles from Ashton
Gate
Capacity: 28,101; Last Season Avg Attendance: 23,669
Interesting
Facts: Bolton
have spent more years in the top division (71) than any other side without
winning the title >>> Two of the most famous FA Cup finals of all time
featured Bolton, the 1923 ‘White Horse’ final – the first at Wembley, and in
1953 they lost 4-3 to a Sir Stanley Matthews inspired Blackpool >>> In
1958 Bolton were also the Cup final opposition for Manchester United in the
weeks following the Munich Air disaster – their last major trophy
Notable match vs City: City 3 Bolton 0, Freight Rover Trophy Final, Wembley, 1986
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHEw2aL3TuQ (must watch for City fans!)
2012-13
Fixtures: 20th Oct
(A), 13th Apr (H)
Many
thanks to big Trotters fan Matilda Hankinson, co-editor of the comprehensive
Wanderers website, the Lion of Vienna Suite, for this insight into one of the
big clubs of this year’s Championship.
Bolton had spent 11 years in the top flight prior to May’s relegation
and will undoubtedly be looking to bounce straight back up.
How are you feeling
about playing in the Championship, a few weeks following your relegation?
I am slowly coming to
terms with it. Even before relegation was a certainty, I wrote this article on why relegation could actually help the
club. In short, the club has been floundering on and off since the departure of
Big Sam. Relegation gives Coyle the chance to clear the slate and build the
team back up in a sustainable way. A successful, productive season in the
Championship is far preferable to another relegation battle in the Premiership
to me.
What does your club
bring to a tight, competitive and entertaining division?
Bolton will certainly
be going through a major transition period this season, which will mean lots of
experimenting with new players and old players in new combinations. If Owen
Coyle takes this opportunity like I think he will, the club will be trying out
lots of new things to figure out the best way to go forward in the future. I
can't guarantee it will always be pretty, but it should be exciting.
What style of
football/formation do you play?
As I've said, I'm not
positive exactly what Bolton will be playing, and hopefully it won't be exactly
the same week in and week out. Last season Coyle tended to switch back and
forth between 4-4-2 and 4-5-1, generally being more successful with the latter.
Stuart Holden should be back this season, and if he manages to stay fit for
more than half a season, that should put a huge emphasis on passing through the
midfield again.
Who are the star
players we should all look out for?
While I hope that
Coyle will be making quite a few additions to the squad before the season
starts, in the current batch, Martin Petrov is undoubtedly the most talented
player. The left winger is no spring chicken at age 33, and has been criticised
for being 'lazy' and failing to get back to help defend, but when he has a good
game, the Bulgarian is unstoppable. He plays with a certain grace that is very
appealing, and his crosses are works of art.
And is there an
up-and-coming future star in your midst?
We've got a few up and
comers that I have high hopes for. Stu Holden isn't a new name, and given the
fact that he'll be 27 when the season starts, he's not a youngster, but given
that his career has been plagued by a series of very serious injuries, he's still
building up his reputation. After missing effectively all of last season, he'll
be rearing to go this season. If you managed to watch Holden at all in the
2010-11 season, you'll already know why we can't wait to have him back. He can
control the flow of the game, his distribution is superb, not to mention the
fact he scores a goal or two himself. Adam Bogdan is the other one to watch,
the young Hungarian managed to displace living legend Jussi Jaaskelainen last
season, which should tell you all you need to know. I think we could have
another incredible keeper on our hands, and I'm excited to see what he can do
now that the starting spot is undeniably his.
What are your views
of your manager?
Owen Coyle earned
himself a lot of criticism this season, for very obvious reasons given that the
club was relegated. He's extremely charismatic, and when he gets it right, his
football is quite fun to watch, but the problem is that he appears to have no
Plan B for when he doesn't get it right. Tactically speaking he can be quite
inept, and I think this is an area where his relative youth hurts him. I still
think he could make a good manager, but he needs to seriously work on his
tactical approach, and improve his backroom staff.
….and of your
owner/board/Chairman?
Overall I'm a big fan
of the way the club has been run in the past few seasons. There's been quite a
few fan incentive deals, including free travel to some away games, many
giveaways over social networking sites, and a very good direct debit scheme for
season tickets. The club is in quite a bit of debt, but it is basically all
owed to the owner, Eddie Davies, instead of a bank which puts the club in a
better position. The wage bill is certainly too high, but that could probably
be said of most clubs. Phil Gartside, the chairman, picked up a lot of
criticism for not sacking Gary Megson sooner, but since then has come good in
my eyes.
What are your
expectations for the upcoming season?
I hope to see a lot of
change, and most importantly a coherent vision of where the club is going from
Owen Coyle and the club in general. The goal should be to get back to the
Premiership within the next few seasons, and it's important that this season
takes a big step in that direction.
Who will be your big
rivals in this division?
Lancashire is a
football rich county, so there are always plenty of local rivals to contend
with. The fiercest will probably be Burnley. There's been a rivalry between the
clubs for a long time, and I think they still haven't quite forgiven us for
poaching Coyle from them.
And finally, do you
have any specific favourite memory of playing against Bristol City?
Unfortunately, I can't
say I do! I'm a relatively young football fan, only becoming seriously
interested after the Euro 2004, and the two clubs haven't been in the same
division since then.
(ER: I’ve added my
favourite at the top, my, and City’s first ever visit to Wembley in 1986)
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