He's a bread and butter no nonsense defender at the end of the day, never shy in getting his nut on the ball at either end or putting a foot in. These types need blending in with a partnership so they can cover each others lapses a bit and i think that's always been a problem with him. Always seemed to play for himself by his own rules and certainly at Rovers whenever we conceded and his was at fault he blamed everybody else. I think that's why he'll never kick on at a higher level but midtable championship to upper end he should be comfortable enough.

This is where we are at and if we had a solid center defense most wouldn't have him near the place. Sadly needs must and he might be in the same boat. A loan might be best all round.

He gets linked every window.

A Dante's regular and used to hide out in the Ley Inn sometimes, Guiness and jagerbombs he was hardcore.

Me neither he played in a world of his own but i don't think there was anyone there to get a grip of him ti be honest. Player wise those there's a lot there to work with he should be a top defender at this level he's wasted on a bench. If he could actually form a partnership with someone then he's useful to have around but needs to stay out of the alehouses and concentrate on his job.

4 yrs @15k pwk with a massive promotion bonus and Robert is your fathers brother. Hanley is another who might have to be a bit more realistic with his wages can't see many clubs wanting him on their bench for 25 grand per week. Can TM handle a player like big Grant though ? Bowyer was a bit scared of him i think.

He's had years to sort it properly.

That was the way to go a few years ago, perfect for a club like us. Get them back, get them in then you can work on keeping them and maybe even squeezing them a bit. Price rises around here in this climate and situation will only ensure less newbies and less renewals then once the gates drop to 80's levels regularly it's damn near impossible to get them back. A wise man learns from history and it doesn't look like he's got to grips with ours. He's running it like one in a city of 500k or a densely populated London borough.

You'd be forgiven for thinking he's just worried about covering his own wages and justification. I was pleased when they got in a proper experienced CEO and of course he made all the right noises that the likes of Shaw, Shebby never did. Can't remember of the cuff when he first started and the present situation can't be helped but since he's been here more of the ground has been shut, the number of STs and hardcore attenders has shrunk. We've also spewed 12 million in the wrong areas of the team with very little return and the ground looks like nobody uses it from the outside. Add in two price rises for the most loyal section of customers and a Waggot tax for the casuals then it's not adding up to a great resume so far ! I now think apart from some admim duties what's the point in him ?

Was reading a Bolton News the other day and it was doing a flashback piece to this time of the year when Hill had no players and almost had to sign an entire team. I think loads came in at the last min so it looks like Wigan are in a similar boat and it's impossible to prosper like that. Coyle had to scrabble around here in a window that i think delivered Wes Brown, Gordon Greer, Stokes amongst others. No way to run any club.

Hence why he gave Venus the duel role probably and it strikes me that everything has to go through those 2 at Ewood. Similar to every big decision has to go through the family first. Like owning and running a football franchise funded by someone else. It's the power he has here that'll be as attractive and addictive as anything else.

I'd think better players would make his job a bit easier his main reluctance seems to be taking risks on more established players he doesn't already know. He's a risk averse manager on and off the park, that kind of thing keeps clubs stable for a while at least but it'll never propel you forwards. Eventually it will bite you right in the arse but talking the odd risk and pushing the odd boundary puts you in success or sacked territory. Not somewhere he'll ever venture.

He deserves a good run of fitness now after what he's been through to be fair to him.

Will it even be open in the forseeable ?

There was a lot of goodwill after promotion that they failed to cash in on they chose that moment to nudge prices up presuming there'd be a few more on and boost takings significantly. They chose the wrong path there it should have been all efforts to get missing and casual fans back on board regularly with something bold. It's just a fact of life that needs doing here every now and again. Paid the price since with gates slowly shrinking before covid.

London, enough said.

Even the one who left the board, declared himself bust then came back on when they got promoted ! People wonder why business men get involved in football.

Club before Country is the golden rule. Lets hope he gets through this unscathed.

We have the fans but like i said earlier the mindset is in many cases a lot different than those at Preston and certainly Bolton now. We are very much a team and club that bobbles along with a set of people running it who often flounder about and seem more content to guard their own positions. Then a set of very wealthy people in a far off land just sign the cheques and pay for it all. People aren't daft they see what's going on and the rare back of a fag packet owners statements and managers blather has long worn thin. I'm not saying it's right but it is understandable to a degree why a lot say 'why should i bother'. The malaise has always set in quick at clubs like ours and what Waggot and co upstairs need to realize is people need stimulating and encouraging. They need something to look forwards to and a feeling it's worth it and there is a means to an end. Other words we need to see something being built with a genuine aim in mind not just here to make up the numbers and be grateful for it. They spend their time and money then, otherwise it stays in their pockets because rightly or wrongly the view becomes Venkys don't need it and the manager and players get paid millions collectively regardless. Bit more of a local working mans 'in it together' feel to Preston and Bolton i'd say were'as its been lost somewhat at Ewood over the last decade. Sadly it's often as 'us' and 'them' feeling.

This is why it should be pretty straightforwards the bar isn't very high there Bell is a league 1 wide attacking midfielder ability wise trying to play as a Championship wing back. Tommy Spurr was a standard mid level left back and despite a chronic lack of pace was much better than Bell so surely there's similar out there.

Evans fit just in time for an International, great timing as usual...?

If you can't get quick and straight answers from those signing it off then it doesn't really matter whose doing it.

It was that kind of mentality that cost us after lockdown despite winning the first game. Get on it as soon as you can and stay on it as long as you can. Winning mentality needed at all times not this well we'll have a look and see, if we lose we'll shrug our shoulders because it's ok there's always the next one.

Nothing worse than dropping those two words in it's just opinion v opinion at the end of the day. If the club, owners and managements decisions were spot on we'd be in a lot better position, if there were as bad as they used to be we'd be deep in the mire a league or two below. We are bang on middle of the road and very few expect perfection we just want to be a bit better, enough to actually see it not have to root around for hidden stats to back it up.

No chance.