Cautious optimism for what's in store,
by Liam Hatton.
It is funny how quickly a few wins can change the mood, but we all know that football is a fickle sport and all fanbases are guilty of that exact same notion.
Three league wins and 11 goals later since the 4-0 drubbing against Huddersfield will do that to anyone, but there is no doubt that the mood has slightly shifted.
Since that game, Huddersfield have lost their last four league games whilst Bolton have won their last three league fixtures and now sit above them in the table with a game in hand.
Like I said, things can change quickly and a big reason is because of the goals that Wanderers are scoring. There are worse problems to have than the talent that Ian Evatt possesses in his striking department. Do you want to go more physical? Well how about starting with Victor Adeboyejo and any one out of Dion Charles, Aaron Collins or James McAtee.
Maybe you fancy more of a delicate touch, with quicker movement and passing between any of Charles, Collins or McAtee? Simply put, you will win more than you lose when Bolton’s strikers are firing on all cylinders.
Point your finger at whatever you like - whether it is the tweak in formation which sacrifices three strikers for more protection in midfield, or maybe that defeat against Huddersfield just shifted the energy amongst the squad.
There was huge pressure for Evatt to go, the place was turning toxic in a hurry and a change in captaincy even occurred. The fact is, you knew that something needed to happen and quick. Maybe it was a siege mentality that the team adopted, but it seems to have lit a fire underneath them.
This is not to discredit the last three games at all because noticeable improvement has been made, but the fixture schedule has eased up slightly. Of course, you always have to beat the teams in front of you and no game is a given, but it is also obvious that there are bigger tests to come with the likes of Birmingham, Peterborough, Stockport County and Rotherham on deck.
But staying on a positive note: There has been a huge shift in terms of the intensity and pace in which Bolton have played. Counter attacks are being deployed with much more vigour and defensively they look much more assured. This all bodes well, but three games is just that - a very short sample size in what is a long season.
I think that the best phrase to use at this time is ‘cautious optimism’, because I am still wary of what can happen with this team. I guess that is just what being a Bolton fan entails in that you always have to check your blind spot for any bumps in the road.
However, we are staying positive right now because there are quite a few things that cause us to do so. Another winnable game presents itself today, and it gives Bolton a chance to edge closer to the play-offs.
By Lee Sidebotham
So, 1,176 Miles, six days and three football clubs later, it’s good to be back home.
That away end when Collins scored made the midweek trip to London all worthwhile. Five-one down yet we were still singing by full time. It was an experience I’ll never forget.
Against Crawley we weren’t exactly at our best either. We’ve played a lot better in games this season and lost. But we grinded out a result which is what promotion winning teams must do sometimes.
Northampton on the other hand was the best we’ve played away all year, minus extra time obviously.
Hats off to everyone who made trips to all or some of the games to support the lads.
Someone else who’s impressed me over the last week is Szabolcs Schön. While I initially had high hopes for him in pre-season, I think it’s fair to say it’s taken him a bit of time to find his feet. Whether he was still getting used to the English game or Evatt’s style of play I’m not too sure. But until last week it just hadn’t clicked.
However, the last few games he has proved me and I’m sure many other supporters wrong. His pace and surprising physicality helped us score that second and seal the game against Crawley. He had winger Quitirna in his back pocket for the entire 90 minutes and he was man of the match, for me.
At Sixfields he put on another impressive showing, although he was maybe a bit too physical at times. The yellow card he received was more like an orange. That tackle was on the limit to say the least! It was a good thing it wasn’t though; his counter-attacking play and runs in behind left Northampton’s defenders for dead.
We seemed to play a less possession-based style of football and more counter attacking over the last two matches. We had 52 per cent possession on Tuesday then just 30 per cent last Saturday. Whether this was on purpose or not I’m not sure, but it suited Schön to a tee.
It almost seems like we do more with the ball when we have it less. Collins and McAtee were well suited in matching Schön’s pace on the break to retrieve the ball in and around the opponents area.
I know a lot of supporters won’t have had the opportunity to see this side of him yet, so I’m excited for Saturday to see again what he can do.
It’s funny how things don’t seem nearly as dire as they were just over a week ago. We have a great opportunity in the upcoming games and the clubs we’re facing to gain a good number of points. We’re only four points off second place let’s not forget. It’s a close league and it will remain that way for the rest of the season. And Schön will be pivotable in helping us get there, I’m sure.
by Chris McKeown.
Just a couple of weeks ago any traces of optimism seemed to be in short supply, BWFC fans had a hard time convincing anyone who asked (or dared to listen to them), that there was light at the end of the tunnel, the mood around the club needed to be lifted - and quickly!
The good news is that in the space of three games, that hope has returned, the chat amongst fellow football fans is getting back to being positive. Importantly, the players, manager, and fans are (almost) back on the same page.
I think the word I would use to describe the recent resurgence, is resilience.
Yes, the return to a formation the players know is certainly a key factor. But each game we have won, we have seen a different approach, from the fantastic football played on a waterlogged pitch at Northampton, that was very much Bolton at their best with quick passes and movement, to the knuckle down ‘thou shall not pass’ style at Crawley, defending what we had and waiting for a chance to come to put the game to bed.
The boost of confidence from taking maximum points from the last few games is clear for all to see, and it is hard to leave anyone out of the well deserved praise, but John McAtee looks to up to speed and very threatening now, Ricardo Santos has had probably his best games for some time in the last week and we all know how good he can be on top form; I’m also liking what I’ve seen from Szabi Schon, he looks like he is someone who has the bit between his teeth and has provided some excellent deliveries of late.
With the front line that we have, soon to be added to with the return of Klaidi Lolos and Carlos Mendes Gomes, it bodes well for us to kick on now.
I think if we can win against Shrewsbury, (and it’s important to keep up this momentum) then we can experiment against Aston Villa Under-21s and all enjoy the international break.
There will be bigger tests for this team down the road but if we can do the job at the weekend, then we will put ourselves right back in the mix. Aand for now, that would do nicely!
By James Scott.
For the first time since 2023, Bolton have won consecutive games on the road.
The return to last season’s formation was debuted away from home at Crawley, an opposition who love to keep the ball, before Bolton headed to Northampton on Tuesday. Wanderers dropped points last season at Sixfields after George Thomason’s red card, bailed out only by Carlos Mendes Gomes’s stunning header.
Yet Bolton passed both of these tests with flying colours. As I wrote in last week’s column, last season’s formation suits both pairs of strikers, and Bolton have scored 11 times in their last three league games. More impressively, however, the tweaks implemented within the back five and midfield trio seem to have made the difference.
Uncharacteristically, Bolton won against Crawley with just 32 per cent of the ball, defending in a slightly different manner to usual. Adeboyejo and Charles ran themselves into the ground harrying Crawley’s backline, but the other eight outfield players sat in a well-constructed mid to low block, absorbing the pressure but never once did Crawley break through.
Over half of Crawley’s efforts on goal were from outside the area, as any play through the middle was shut out immediately by Wanderers’ compact midfield. Bolton’s wingbacks won 16 duels between them, making sure Crawley couldn’t make any inroads on the flanks.
Despite two late lapses in concentration against Northampton, a similar formula played out on Tuesday night. This time Collins and McAtee played up top, but the framework remained consistent. Dacres-Cogley and Schon won 12 duels on the wings (excluding a rather overzealous tackle from Schon which saw the Wanderers left back cautioned).
This (generally) assured nature at the back has also allowed for more positive signs going forward for Bolton. Szabi Schon and Josh Dacres-Cogley began the season looking terrified of going forward, but the last 180 minutes of football has been their best yet. Schon played a crucial role in both of John McAtee’s goals, as his tenacious run tore Crawley apart before a pinpoint cross into Bolton’s number 45 against Northampton set Bolton on their way.
The wing-backs have looked much direct more than ever before, which appears to be an instruction from the manager which has paid off. There looks to be clear signs of evolution in Bolton’s play style from last season, as Wanderers came away from two must-win away fixtures with maximum points.
The toughest test is yet to come at Birmingham in a couple of weeks, but if Bolton get a result against Shrewsbury this weekend, the positive trajectory will boost Wanderers heading into the international break.
The tweaks in the 3-5-2 system have brought Bolton some success so far, but these are only building blocks. Wanderers look much more comfortable in a system that they know well, now they must push on from here.
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