Bolton Wanderers' tactical tweak can help League One effort

After the play-off final in May, calls for change were difficult to ignore. Everyone had a theory on what had been lacking in Bolton’s promotion push, and the clamour to pin blame on one singular aspect, player, or indeed manager, made for a disagreeable and volatile mood.

With so many players still in contract, the likelihood of a massive overhaul was always slim, and once it became common knowledge there was positive dialogue between the board and Evatt over his plans for this season, his own position looked more stable than it had in the direct aftermath of Wembley.

Sharon Brittan announced that available funds would be directed at the playing squad, hinting that the change folk wished to see would come in the form of signings. Four new players have been added but the general sense that Evatt’s current options are weaker than the ones he had in May is also hard to move past.

Injuries have once again proven a nuisance, meaning a handful of key men have yet to play any meaningful football this summer, and the statement-making deals have moved at glacial pace.

Ian Evatt has made some tactical tweaks at Wanderers this summer (Image: Harry McGuire)

Once more the negative mood has begun to bubble as supporters look for tangible evidence that the team which tailed off at the start of 2024 has evolved into something stronger.

Right now, with just under a fortnight to go before the opening game at Leyton Orient, the biggest addition to the ‘positives’ column has been a tactical tweak which has brought out a different side to the existing squad and highlighted why some of the less heralded signings could be more important to the cause than folk have given them credit.

Evatt has often railed against criticism of his tactical flexibility, which came to a head at Wembley, but, nevertheless, that is where the manager has concentrated his efforts in the last four weeks. And the signs are positive, Sure, we can only make judgements from three pre-season friendlies, none of which have been played with what the manager would consider his full-strength squad, but the task of adapting to a different formation, complete with its patterns and responsibilities, might just have been the distraction his players needed as they inch towards the new campaign.

Rather than the 3-5-2 used exclusively last season, the shape used through the last few weeks has been an adapted 3-4-3, with two central midfielders sitting deeper than last season, and two of the three strikers operating in the ‘number 10’ role.

One of the key differences we have witnessed is that the wide players – Josh Dacres-Cogley and Max Conway in most cases – have been able to work more with one of the ‘wide’ attackers around the penalty box, with less emphasis placed on the wide centre-half pushing on to support in possession.

Klaidi Lolos has impressed in his early appearances for Wanderers (Image: Harry McGuire)

New signing Klaidi Lolos has slotted in particularly well, looking happy to drop deep and start attacks, along with some slick combinations which have brought the best out of Dacres-Cogley.

On the opposite flank Aaron Collins also seems well-suited to the role he is being asked to play, and though it has been a big leap for 20-year-old Conway, he has shown why many tip him to have a bright future in the game.

Lolos – known universally as ‘K’ around the Bolton camp – arrived from Crawley in the best goalscoring form of his career and should probably have opened up his account against Fiorentina, but his ability to slot into any of the three positions could make him an important addition.

Likewise, Scott Arfield has played both as a deep-lying midfielder against Middlesbrough and Chorley, then behind the main striker against Fiorentina after the half-time withdrawal of Collins with a gashed knee.

The experienced former Rangers man was, like Lolos, signed with this new system in mind, but some of those who were already in Evatt’s squad have also quickly got to grips with what is needed.

George Thomason has fitted in well with the pre-season tactical change (Image: Harry McGuire)

Josh Sheehan and George Thomason have both played as a midfield pivot before, sitting in front of the back four and linking defence and attack, but last season were often supported by two ‘number eights’ doing the traditional box-to-box work.

The job in this instance is more structured. They do offer defensive support, especially in possession, but the pair are now noticeably working in tandem to win the ball back and forcing quick transitions in the opposition half.

Thomason has proven especially adept at nicking and sniping over the past few games, his natural combative nature and athleticism seeming to suit the new role.

Sheehan put on a masterclass on the ball against Fiorentina, chipping in with defensive work but showing his passing ability has not missed a step since last season. Similarly, Aaron Morley may feel the midfield tweak could feed into his own strengths in possession.

Dion Charles will soon be available for selection again, with all signs pointing to him returning to the number nine role. If the brief is to press higher and harder than ever before, experience suggests the Northern Ireland international would be more than happy to oblige. Another player who could benefit from an extra attacking berth is Dan Nlundulu, whose time with Bolton thus far can best be described as slow burn.

The former Southampton man looked like a work in progress when he initially came to Wanderers on loan, Evatt’s decision to sign him for a six-figure fee not meeting with unanimous approval from the fanbase.

Though the Bolton boss said he was buying into potential, confidence was clearly an issue. And just as Nlundulu appeared to have conquered his stage-fright, a major hamstring tear put him out of action for several months. By the time he returned, the promotion pressure was too great to guarantee game time and allow him to build again, which means the clock is set back to zero again this summer.

Dan Nlundulu congratulates Vic Adeboyejo after his goal against Fiorentina (Image: Harry McGuire)

Nlundulu has returned in the best shape of his Bolton career and has featured prominently in each of the three public friendlies so far, playing as the central number nine against Chorley but drifting wider to great effect in the second half against Fiorentina.

Physically, he remains Evatt’s most imposing option, and though he still needs to convince with his work in the penalty box, the tactical shift has opened up a new avenue in the team and brought out something in Nlundulu we feared may never arrive.

At the back, Wanderers have also accelerated the speed at which the ball is being moved. Whether that is in direct response to the criticism of last season, or just the extra space afforded in summer friendlies remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that Evatt’s players are enjoying the challenge.

With a month to go in the transfer window there may yet be a statement signing or two which signifies exactly what tactical direction Bolton are heading in, and there may well be occasions when last season’s tried and trusted 3-5-2 makes an appearance too. But if little else has changed around the Toughsheet Stadium, there has at least been signs of a new tactical direction. And dare we say it, an exciting one at that?