Bolton Wanderers fans have their say ahead of Blackpool game

By Liam Hatton.

You can judge the current situation at Bolton beyond results. Normally, Ian Evatt will defend his tenure, or a particular result, or point back to his time at Bolton and how they have overcome bad periods.

To his credit, he has proved that in the past. I have spoke a lot over the last few years about the credit Evatt has in the bank with ownership and the fanbase, but ever since Wembley that credit has run dry and now we are talking about dipping into the overdraft.

Evatt mentioned this week about how he could go back over the last four and a half years, point to statistics during his time at Bolton and how he has been successful. He then went on to say now is not that time for that and the time for action is now.

At least he is slightly self aware, but he still has a notion of saying something that is on his mind without directly coming out and saying it. To his credit, he has ate a lot of humble pie with his quotes this week and he realises that a lot of the fanbase has turned.

We did not want it to be this way and we do not take joy from wanting a change in manager after going through the good and bad periods with Evatt. I can only speak for myself and the fanbase’s mood at games and on social media (which admittedly is a hotbed for reactionary statements). 

I do not want to talk about the 5-0 defeat to Stockport, I just want to look forward. This season has constantly felt like one step forward and three steps back. The Huddersfield and Stockport games were two heavy defeats which has been uncharacteristic for this team in the past.

We talk about mental resilience and reacting in a positive manner when Bolton go behind, but this year when Wanderers do concede first they just crumble. Something is off with this team.

Players absolutely deserve some of the criticism and blame as well, let us not get it twisted. They can come out after games and talk about how they deserve the criticism and not the manager. Well, come out and prove it then because words are words, and actions are actions. 

Lip service only goes so far, but the point is that it will turn toxic at games if this carries on. Today’s game against Blackpool is huge, a good performance is important but a win is the main thing to try and get back on track.

I think a change is needed, I think Evatt has been too stubborn by not changing his tactics. Can he adapt when teams have figured us out and we can’t fight through their press for example? There are lot more questions than answers right now.

But at the same time I don’t believe the board will make a change unless things get really ugly. If that change doesn’t come after Wembley, or against Huddersfield, or Stockport then it’s likely not going to come at all.

Maybe they will go on another run and surprise us all, but I am not buying what they are selling. Prove me wrong, because actions speak way louder than words.

Wanderers fans have still turned out in force this season despite the inconsistency (Image: CameraSport - Alex Dodd)

Remember why we’re here.

By Lee Sidebotham.

What has made you happy to be a Bolton fan so far this season? Admittedly, this question had me thinking for a moment.

It seemed to cause much debate in the comment section to our Q&A special last week too. Sure, so far it’s not been the season we all expected. But it’s too easy to be caught up on recent results while forgetting about the bigger picture. I know I’m not the only one tired of the negativity around this football club at the moment and when you come to think about it, there’s more to cheer about than you might initially think.

The way we approached the Huddersfield and Stockport games was unacceptable and I completely understand many supporters’ frustration with management. However, we must not forget about the other matches we’ve had this season and how well we’ve played at times. Our reaction following these poor performances against the likes of Peterborough and Reading I believe has been too easily forgotten about. We just need to see that intensity more.

We all knew it was going to be a tough league coming into this season. Narrowly missing out on promotion for the second time hasn’t helped either. However, I think a lot of fans would have taken being one point outside the play-off places in November. Also, look at the likes of the so-called big clubs such as Blackpool, Peterborough and Huddersfield also in and around us struggling. League One is wide open right now and a string of just a few decent results could change our entire outlook.

The progression George Thomason has made this season is also one to be happy about. Despite recent injury setback, he’s arguably been our best player this season alongside Kyle Dempsey. Gaining the club captaincy I think we can all agree was well deserved and sparked some change following a poor start to the season. Hopefully he can do the same again on his return shortly.

In fact, the progress our youth players are making overall is something we can also be proud of this season. Max Conway and Nelson Khumbeni have been regular starters for both Crewe and Accrington respectively, with Khumbeni getting on the score sheet on Tuesday night.

Not just on the pitch, the way we reacted in the stands at Northampton away following negative comments online towards Rico is one of which we can be collectively proud. It showed the silent majority are behind him and the rest of our players. And with attendances averaging over 20,000 at home this season despite mixed results, it just goes to show how loyal we are.

Ultimately, whether you’re for or against the way the club is currently being managed, we must all agree that the atmosphere around the club needs to improve. And what better opportunity than against The Seasiders.

Steve Bruce will be in the dugout for Blackpool at Bolton (Image: PA) This is a team capable of more.

By Chris McKeown.

It’s seemed an age since Stockport and the upcoming Blackpool game hasn’t exactly had the same buzz in the build up to it that usually comes with games of this stature.

For all the time the supporters have had to mull over what was a deflating result at Edgeley Park, the focus needs to be all on the Seasiders now.

The mood around the club is in desperate need for an immediate uplift, and the players and Evatt should surely be thankful a game of this nature has come up on the fixture list so soon.

Make no mistake, for me, this type of match would be the perfect place to bounce back.

Blackpool are struggling currently- the return of Steve Bruce will undoubtedly raise the spirits in their camp, but we must make this game about us.
A derby game with a chance to turn the tide back in our favour!

Stockport fired back after a 5-0 thrashing against Wycombe to a huge win over us and another against Wrexham to move back into the play-off zone. That is absolutely the mantra we have to follow and the added spice of beating a local rival would take us all into the Cambridge game with a huge return of confidence.

The feel around the club is in need of some TLC,  but with the arm around the shoulder, we also must see extra passion, both on the pitch and in the stands - this must be driven by the team, the tempo needs to be high for 90 minutes on Saturday.

We have to stop the huge setbacks, no one thought this season would be plain sailing, but it shouldn’t be like trying to turn a cruise liner around in the River Croal either!

This is a team that’s capable of so much more, the stats on most goals and home wins are all strong in our favour, it shows that there is something positive to work with. It’s now time to convert all that into the success of promotion.

However, first thing's first. Restore some fan-pride with a derby win and build from there. It could be the tower of strength we are looking for!

If Ricardo Santos doesn't win the ball in the air, who will for Bolton? (Image: CameraSport - Andrew Kearns) A worrying case of deja-vu.

By James Scott. 

On November 11, 2023, George Thomason thundered a ferocious strike into the top corner from 25 yards to seal all three points for Bolton against local foes Blackpool.

Some 377 days later, a lot has changed, most notably perhaps being the mood around the Toughsheet Community Stadium. 

This time last year, the prospect of facing Blackpool in the league for the first time since the dark days of the 2019-20 League One campaign was exciting. This weekend, I’m approaching this fixture with dread. For us fans, we’ve been in this situation before. 

Not only are Wanderers coming off the back of the most humiliating of thrashings against Stockport, but Blackpool will look to target Bolton’s weakness – when backed by a big crowd, Ian Evatt’s men are prone to freezing, playing terribly scrappy football and getting hammered. 

Despite being winless in the league since September, Blackpool will definitely have targeted this game as one to get their season back on track. Bolton must look to do the same thing.

George Johnston spoke about Wanderers’ failure in local derbies, accepting that "they do hurt even more," and that the players "can’t imagine how bad it must feel for the fans." 

Furthermore, Johnston said that the understandable post-Stockport anger should be directed towards the players for "it was only the players who were responsible for that [the defeat]."

And yet this all feels very similar to the last time Bolton were hammered in a big game. Both Blackpool and Wigan sent Wanderers home with their tails between their legs in February, after big opportunities to win the games were squandered. It has been the story of Bolton’s return to League One since 2021. 

In truth, the blame for the consistent freezing on the biggest stages should lie partially with the manager and partially with the players.

It is Ian Evatt’s job to fire up his players and make sure they have the appetite to play for the badge which represents every single one of us who turn up every week to watch them. But the players must also find some self-motivation and fight.

There is far too much finger pointing and shrugging when Bolton concede a goal and far too little fight to get back into matches from the players. There seems to be a collective lack of accountability throughout the squad. 

This entire analysis plays out most frequently when Wanderers try to defend set-pieces. There is no responsibility taken, and if Ricardo Santos doesn’t win the initial header, the chances are Bolton will have conceded. The senior players must take control.

I know I asked Santos, Sheehan and Johnston to step up against Stockport a fortnight ago and avenge some of the pain from 2021, but they in fact did the opposite.

So I’ll ask again, this time with more conviction, for Bolton to come out flying against Blackpool. Please prove me wrong.