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What was Bolton’s biggest mistake since the day ‘Big Sam’ left?

31/7/2014

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This question was raised by ‘Michael Bolton’ on the Bolton Nuts forum, here are a selection of some of the members views:

Michael Bolton: ”I was thinking about how it all went wrong for Bolton since the day Big Sam left. It has been just one big joke that has gone on in recent years and it is amazing to me how Gartside still has a job.

So what do you think is Bolton's biggest mistake since that day in 2007 when Big Sam left?

Signing Elmander for £8.2m who had no resale value was a huge mistake IMO, but I think the biggest mistake for me was by Gartside in not sacking Owen Coyle long before he did. Didn't we have a run of something like 21 defeats in 24 games? We were getting battered at home by 7 goals by the top sides.  Away from home we were just awful.  Owen Coyle has been proved also at Wigan to be a dud. Considering we only went down on goal difference that season, if Coyle had been given the boot in the autumn we would have definitely stayed up.

It is sad to see how bad Bolton are now and it needn't have come to this, did it?”

Keegan: “A tie for me - not firing Mr. Gartside and paying too much attention to what "people in football" think.”

Norpig: “Coyle should have gone straight after we were relegated.  His past with the club was the only thing that saved him. The rot had set in by then and he should have been man enough to realise he couldn't turn it round.”

bwfc1874: “Appointing Sammy Lee when we could have attracted some quality to the role. Then only backing him to bring in crap like Alonso and Braaten.”

doffcocker: “Hindsight's a wonderful thing.  Autumn 2011 wasn't too long after Coyle had us in the top 6 and a cup semi-final playing attractive football. You can understand why the club gave him the benefit of the doubt.
There's no saying we'd have stayed up if we'd sacked him halfway into the season.
A decent tactician would have kept that team up, but there's no guarantee we'd have got one.
We might have sacked him, replaced him with somebody just as useless (they do exist), still gone down and now be saying we got rid too soon.

It's hard to choose a ‘biggest mistake’, it's just been a series of monumental strategic errors, some that seemed clever at the time, some that didn't make sense to begin with.”

Allardyce: “Allardyce bailed out because he knew the money would never be enough and would have to be paid off some day and he had no succession plan for an ageing team.  He knew his plan was falling down around his ears and that the only way to save his reputation was to buy a new team or leave- so he left.
Continuing to throw money at the team to try to patch it up and keep up appearances was a mistake and the board should have been honest with themselves and the fans then and cleared out the cupboard instead of letting the problem fester until now when the position is far worse.”

bwfc1874: “Anelka, Diouf, SKD, Nolan, Dzemaili, Faye, Al Habsi - All of them under 30 and under contract when Allardyce left us. He left us with a good squad and it was squandered.”

Tigermin: “Allardyce bailed out because Gartside and the board wouldn’t back him to take us onto another level, he took us on a wonderful journey most of us never thought possible. He had a fantastic tenure as boss and I for one will be forever grateful for it. The players we were lucky to witness came to the club because of him and him alone, the man had presence and ability and we were the lucky ones that benefitted from that.”

Sluffy: “The biggest mistake was getting relegated - we've lost absolutely millions because of that.  The team that got relegated under-performed badly - worst home record in the clubs history and we had players like Davies - who had recently been good enough to play for England, Klasnic, Petrov, Jussi, Reo-Coker (who was the clubs player of the year that season), Lee, Eagles, Wheater, Mark Davies, Alonso, etc.

Can anyone honestly tell me that team wasn't good enough to stay up with an half decent manager in charge?

Instead we had Coyle playing the same system week in and week out and getting beaten every time.

Thank you Owen for your master class in tactics.”

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After The Love Has Gone

21/7/2014

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"For a while, to love was all we could do
We were young and we knew
And our eyes were alive
Deep inside we knew our love was true

Somethin' happened along the way
What used to be happy was sad
Somethin' happened along the way
And yesterday was all we had"

Earth, Wind & Fire - 1979

Usually, around this time each year, Bolton fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the new season. Some view this time with a fair amount of trepidation and others are busy preparing their bedsheets with the usual "[insert current Manager's name here] Out!" messages. This summer has so far proven less tedious than usual, what with all the excitement in Brazil. The World Cup came and went in a hotbed of goals, diving and injuries. Stars rose and dimmed and big names had their last appearance in a World Cup Finals - some with a whimper and others with a bang.

With the beautiful Brazillian sunset having fallen on Germany's 4th World Cup title, attentions have returned to the League footy - and in our case, our latest attempt to leave the Championship for a return to the Promised Land that is the Premier League. With every season spent in the Championship, it becomes more difficult to successfully return to the Premiership. Agents whisper in the ear of so-called "Premier League quality" players, promising them the lure of playing with and against some of the brightest talents the world has to offer and the delights that follow.

The stark reality, however, is that the average Championship club cannot afford to pay Premiership wages. This results in big names leaving for greener pastures or being released in an attempt to cut costs and young and supposedly lesser players taking their place. The quality of players you can attract then begins to fall - followed by a reduction in quality football, smaller gates and even less revenue to buy players. Somewhat akin to a Catch-22, but with a gradual overall decline.

Situations such as these can lead the less hardened fan among us to jump ship - even for more attractive lower league football (Chorley, anyone?) or to give up and pick a Top 6 club to "have always been a fan of". The question was recently put before me - "What Would Stop You Supporting BWFC?". The easy response would be nothing. Why is this so, though? People pledge to love, honour and obey 'til death do us part and get a divorce two years later, swearing to hate, disgrace and avoid. Family disagreements make siblings turn their backs on each other for several years. What then is this magical connection that makes Bolton fans suffer along with the club year after year?

If you had a job that paid marginally better than unemplyment and gave you grief on a weekly basis, and a better job that paid handsomely was available in a neighbouring town, wouldn't any self-respecting individual pack it in and go off in search of a better life? It's fine if you support a small club that routinely butts horns with the big boys of the Premiership as we did a few years ago - but when you struggle to defeat the mighty Doncaster Rovers and loan players from Millwall, isn't there something dreadfully wrong?

Is supporting Bolton becoming a chore? Something we do because "we've always done it"? Clearly that's not a good reason to do anything - but here we are. Has the love gone? What happens next? I can't speak for you, my fellow long-suffering fan - but if Bolton does not qualify for the Premiership this coming season, I'll be here next year spouting truisms and grasping unto the smallest sliver of hope that this next season will be the season it all comes good. (Sigh...)

Author: Keegan

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Alex Baptiste - Thanks and Goodbye

18/7/2014

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Ok, I know he's only left us on a years loan but I can't see him coming back whilst Freesman is in charge can you?

Alexander Aaron John "Alex" Baptiste (born 31 January 1986), was Born in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, and educated at All Saints RC School, Mansfield.  Baptiste came up through the youth team at Mansfield Town. He was originally a central midfielder before gradually dropping back into defence and made his first-team debut aged 17 against Barnsley in April 2003.

On 12th December 2003 he joined newly promoted Conference National side Tamworth on a one-month loan deal, making four league appearances, before returning to Mansfield on 12th January 2004. On 7th February he was sent out again on loan for a month, this time to Burton Albion, for whom he made three appearances.

Baptiste established himself as first-choice central defender for Mansfield Town towards the end of the 2003–04 season.  He was ever-present during the 2006–07 season, and by the end of the campaign had made over 150 appearances for Mansfield.  Baptiste signed a new three-year contract despite interest from Crewe Alexandra in the summer of 2007.  However, he missed three months of the 2007–08 season with a back injury.  After Mansfield Town were relegated to the Conference National at the end of the 2007–08 season, he requested a transfer, which was granted. He made a total of 198 appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring six goals.

On 1st July 2008, Baptiste agreed a deal to join Championship club Blackpool. Speaking about the move, he described it as a "great opportunity and challenge".  He started the season as a regular in the Seasiders' reserve team, and for the first few months of the season he was not named in the first-team squad.  He made his first-team debut on 22nd November 2008 against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux at right-back.  He scored his first goal for the Seasiders in a 1–1 draw with Ipswich Town at Portman Road on 14th February 2009.  Three days later he was named in the Football League's "Championship Team of the Week".

Baptiste cemented his place in the starting line up in the latter stages of the 2008–09 season, playing either centre back or right back.  On 20th January 2010, after 27 appearances and two goals in the 2009–10 season, Baptiste signed a new two-and-a-half-year contract until June 2013. He said of the new contract: "I am very pleased. I had a good chat with the gaffer and Thommo and the direction of the club is upwards and I want to be a part of it." Blackpool manager Ian Holloway expressed his belief that Baptiste can play in the Premier League: "Baps has played at left-back, right-back and centre-back and he has been different class. I believe he can play in the Premiership and I have told him that.  I am working on the areas that he needs working on, but as a defender I don't think I have had a better one and I am delighted he has signed."

On 14th August 2010 he scored as Blackpool marked their Premier League debut on the opening day of the 2010–11 season with a 4–0 win over Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium. Baptiste scored the final goal of the game. He was subsequently named in the Premier League "Team of the Week", alongside teammate Marlon Harewood.

Baptiste played in the Championship playoff final against West Ham United in May 2012, which was won by West Ham 2–1.  After the match Baptiste was vocal in his criticism of West Ham's style of football saying “They just hoof it, and hope for the best”.

In May 2013, Baptiste signed a three-year deal with fellow Championship side Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer that took effect once his Blackpool contract expired on 30 June 2013.  He made his debut for Bolton in their 1–1 draw with Lancashire rivals Burnley on 3 August 2013, operating in the right-back position.  He recorded his first goal for Wanderers in the same month by scoring a consolation in the 4–1 away defeat at Blackburn Rovers.  His first goal at the Reebok Stadium was Bolton's opener in their 2–2 draw against Derby County in an end to end game which saw Wanderers claim a share of the spoils.

Best of luck at Blackburn, sorry it didn't work out for you here although we both know that left back isn't your position.

Author: Sluffy

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Who are you? - Kevin McNaughton

13/7/2014

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Kevin Paul McNaughton (born 28 August 1982) is a Scottish footballer.  

Nicknamed 'The Silver Fox' by teammates due to his grey hair, McNaughton is a versatile player who can play anywhere on defence, including a more defensive minded midfield role.  He began his career in the Scottish Premier League playing for the Aberdeen for six years.

After coming through the club's youth programme, McNaughton was thrust into the first team at 18, making his debut on 5 October in a 2–1 win over St. Mirren, and became a regular for the 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons in a team containing lots of young players brought through the youth system like Darren Mackie, Russell Anderson and Darren Young. A knee injury sustained in 2002 kept him out for 12 weeks and on his return McNaughton struggled to return to form.  It wasn't until new Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood arrived, that he managed to recover his previous form.

During the 2005–06 season, McNaughton was linked with moves to Celtic and Fulham, but nothing came of either and he remained at Pittodrie.

On 26th May 2006, it was announced that he would be joining Football League Championship side Cardiff City on a free transfer.  McNaughton quickly became an important part of manager Dave Jones's plans as he played in the left full-back position, and his form once again earned him a recall to the Scottish national team, although injury robbed him of the chance to take his place in the squad.  During his second season at Cardiff, having switched to right-back, McNaughton played in all six matches of the club's run to the 2008 FA Cup Final, including scoring his first goal for the club on 27th January 2008 with a 20-yard volley in a 2–1 victory over Hereford United in the fourth round.  His first league goal came just a few months later when he scored on the final day of the season against Barnsley in a 3–0 win.

The start of the 2008–09 season saw McNaughton his 100th appearance for the club when he played against Watford on 21st October.

During a pre-season friendly against Celtic on 22nd July 2009 he suffered an ankle injury which kept him out for the opening two months of the season.  After appearing for the club's reserve side, he returned to the first team on 17th October 2009 as an unused substitute during a 1–1 draw with Crystal Palace but suffered a recurrence of the injury kept him out until 17th November 2009 when he played 45 minutes of a reserve team game against Hereford United.  He returned to the line-up on 21st November 2009 against Barnsley, but was taken off in the 21st minute for Paul Quinn with a back injury.  On 23rd November McNaughton was sent to have a scan on the back injury, which the club's medical staff believed to have caused the problem and resulted in him being out for two weeks.  On 5th December 2009 McNaughton played his first 90 minutes of the season in a 1–0 win over Preston North End. The next season his injury worries ceded and he has played in every league up to and including the game against Barnsley. McNaughton was Cardiff's most consistent defender throughout the 2010–11 season, and won the Player of the Year award.

On 2nd May 2011, McNaughton was involved in an incident where he collided with assistant referee Sian Massey.


He was later cleared when the FA ruled the incident an accident though it attracted hits and comments on YouTube, with some suggesting the player had deliberately barged into the official.  Also McNaughton had captained the side for the first time in their 3–0 loss to Reading in their play-off second leg, on 17th May.

In 2011/12, McNaughton was named as stand-in captain in Mark Hudson's absence starting on 22 November against Coventry City. He went onto make three further appearances as captain, during which time he made his two hundredth league appearance for Cardiff in a 1–0 win over Nottingham Forest on 26th November 2011. He also played a part in the club's League Cup run to their first ever final, which they lost 3–2 on penalties to Liverpool.

McNaughton's four-hundredth league appearance for Cardiff came in a goalless draw at Brighton & Hove Albion on 21 August 2012. McNaughton started over half of City's fixtures in 2012–13, as Cardiff finally achieved promotion to the Premier League.  With his contract expiring during the close-season, the club has confirmed that McNaughton has been offered a new deal.  On July 5, 2013, it was announced on the official Cardiff City website that McNaughton had signed a new one year contract extension with the Bluebirds.

On 27th September 2013, McNaughton joined Bolton on a 28-day emergency loan deal.  He made his first appearance for Wanderers four days later in a goalless draw with local rivals Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.  After becoming the club's first choice right-back during his stay with Bolton, he scored his first goal for the club in the 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic on 21st December 2013, this was his first goal in the League since scoring for Cardiff against Barnsley in May 2008

McNaughton returned to Cardiff after his loan spell and on 7th March 2014, McNaughton signed a new one-year extenstion with the Bluebirds.

McNaughton was currently the Cardiff's longest-serving player and a huge fan favourite, known to the fans as 'super Kev' but as you know he's with us for the remainder of his contract.

Welcome back Kevin and here's hoping you have a fantastic season (and more!) with us.

Author: Sluffy
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