Bolton Wanderers fans' column: Straight From the Stands

Dear Josh,

by Liam Hatton

WE need to have a conversation about Josh Sheehan. Call it a conversation, call it a discussion, or call it a 500-word love letter about the impact he has had so far this campaign, but we are here this week to have a dialogue.

Sheehan’s performance on Tuesday in Bolton’s 4-2 win over Wycombe was very noteworthy, not just for his two assists (which takes him to joint third in the league on the season with three) or his impact with the ball in and out of possession.

The Welshman hit four long balls during the game and was successful on three of those (according to WhoScored), one of which included the pinpoint pass from deep in Wanderers’ own half to find George Thomason for Bolton’s second.

His corner for Eoin Toal’s crucial third chalked up his second assist, but it is not just his passing which deserves plaudits - although he is very good in that regard.

Sheehan occupies that position in front of the back four, which allows him space and time on the ball at times due to Bolton’s ability to retain possession. He will press when closing down, he is able to wriggle away from pressure and find himself openings when on the ball, but it is also his ability to drive forward when he needs to as well.

There was one moment on Tuesday when he did just that, moving down the left hand side before delivering a cross which was effectively cleared off the line. It says a lot about a player when they have different facets to their game so whilst Sheehan is a tremendous passer, he also offers so much more, which makes him vital to Ian Evatt’s style of play.

This is a case study of how sometimes players just need time to recover from a serious injury and Sheehan has had his fair share of those. He did come on towards the end of last season, but he was in and out of the team a lot - which could have been in part due to Evatt managing his return from another setback.

There were discussions about whether Wanderers should have offered him a new deal in the summer or if it was deemed too risky in case he suffered another long term layoff. I think we can safely say that they made the right call and that sometimes a player’s talent shines through.

It is still early in the season, but so far Sheehan is Wanderers’ Player of the Season and I do not think it is close either. He has nailed down a starting role and is finally getting that run of games in the side to truly show the player he can be.

Some players are just fun to watch - They make football look pleasing on the eye and it is second nature to them. Sheehan is definitely a footballer who has the gift, the only issue has been the injuries which have held him back.

However, so far so good. His performances are getting better and that has been recognised by the national side as well with a couple of call ups for recent international games.

So here is to you Josh Sheehan. Thank you for being rather good at this football lark.

Wanderers players gather at a gloomy Adams Park, Wycombe (Image: camerasport)

Dancing in the Dark

by Tony Thompson

WHATEVER they are putting in the half-time tea at Bolton these days, I’d get a different recipe.

I haven’t seen many performances as chalk and cheese as the one I saw against Northampton last weekend, but we got there in the end, I suppose.

We very nearly did exactly the same at Wycombe, although they were helped by a worldie and the fact that they only put seven-watt lightbulbs in the stadium, so you can’t see what you are doing at set pieces.

I have never seen a stadium look that dark before. I kept on having to adjust the contrast on my TV just to make sure there were two teams on the pitch. They nearly had to break out the fluorescent yellow training bibs.

I have to admit, I was ready to swear when they scored the second goal. After all that hard work it looked like they had tipped two points away and even though I would have taken a draw before the game, it still would have been hard to shake the disappointment.

How about Eoin Toal’s header, though? He was channelling his inner Sam Allardyce with that one and from what I could tell by the two or three faces you could see in that dark shed they call an away stand, the fans were delighted too.

Bolton put you through the mill. They have been doing it all my adult life and it is why my hair has started to thin out faster than England’s one-day batting order. If they are going to get promotion this season then I don’t think they will do it with time to spare, oh no, it will go down to the final minute of the final game, just you wait and see.

I do think this team has got something about it. I thought the same thing about Phil Parkinson’s lot a few years ago. They just seem to have that attitude about them and even though we might not always like the football they play (which in the modern day case is a polar opposite to what we knew then as ‘Hoof-Ball’), they are finding a way to churn out results, which is what it is about after all.

Crank out another one at Charlton on Saturday and I will be a happy man. I’ll also be just a year off my fiftieth birthday, which is a depressing thought!