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Notes for the New Season — Part Three: Bolton, Wigan and Blackpool
Friday, 25th Jul 2014 10:51 by HarryFromBath

In the third of a series of pre-season reports, HarryFromBath assesses the mood around the Championship clubs by delving into their forums. Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic and Blackpool are under the spotlight in today’s notes.

Bolton — Turning the Ship Around

“It’s a long job turning this ship around. It won’t be without problems, but there’s no point in getting upset about every little bump in the road”, “I’m aware that (boss) Dougie Freedman can be tactically negative, but many of the limited one-dimensional players like Eagles and Ngog have gone.”

Bolton finished solidly in mid-table last season, and many supporters are now accepting that the squad rebuilding process which began after their relegation in 2012 has not been as straightforward they may have initially realised.

Dougie Freedman

“We are trying to play in a different way. I’ve always said I want us to play the ball through midfield and be a little more patient.”

This comment, made by the Bolton manager (pictured above) in a recent interview, sparked quite a debate among supporters.

“The attacking strengths we have at the minute come from midfield”, “We are not the ‘hoof it up and get it in the box’ sort of club any more. We’re a long way from where we need to be, but I think we might be pleasantly surprised at the standard of football we play next season at the Macron Stadium.”

“I hope we can get the ball on the deck. For all those thinking we are only capable of hoof and run football, it appears to be based on a lack of ambition or an understandable lack of belief in this current squad.”

“We haven’t got the players to take this patient approach.” Supporters appreciate Freedman’s sentiments, but have doubts about their ability to play effectively this way. “Freedman is trying to get the team to play through the middle, but we have yet to see this in practice.”

“Our style of play is too disjointed, and this is the most worrying thing going into next season”, “We will end up playing in front of the opposition and then hoofing it because we haven’t the nous to play it through. It risks letting the opposition in with a misplaced pass.”

Mid-Table

“We can’t expect the play-offs as things stand. We have lost a lot of goals and have not replaced them. We finished in the lower half of the table last season — to expect a jump to the play-offs is a little steep.”


Departed Jutkiewicz

A minority of Trotters are expecting a top six finish — “anything less would be a disappointment” — but most realists accept that rebuilding the squad is a longer term project. “We just have to build on last season. We have to take it step by step.”

“A decent cup run and a top half position would do for me”, “The main issue this summer was to keep the majority of the team that were playing in the latter half of last season and we have done that.”

“Where do we go from ‘Juke’?”

Loan signings Lukas Jutkiewicz (from Middlesbrough) and 22-year-old Joe Mason (from Cardiff) “were the only strikers that were consistently successful last season”. Many Trotters were downcast when The Juke joined Burnley.

“We can all see that we need a striker, preferable a target-man type.” Many fans felt that Jutkiewicz’s hold-up style of play suited Wanderers’ breaking midfielders. “It isn’t the end of the world. He was good, but there are players out there who could do the same target man job.”


Beckford

“(Current striker) Jermaine Beckford is one frustrating player. He has the pace to break through defences and can be a brilliant finisher on his day. However, he was inconsistent and injured for most of last season, and I can’t see a 30-year-old reliant on pace being around much longer.”

Transfer Dealings

The focus has been on reducing their wage bill this summer. Defenders Tyrone Mears and Zat Knight have left, and Alex Baptiste has departed on a season-long loan to Blackburn. Up front, Chris Eagles and Marvin Sordell (now with Burnley) are no longer at the club.

Former Blue Keith Andrews has joined Watford (having been on loan with Brighton last season) and another ex-Ipswich man, keeper Arran Lee-Barrett, was offered a new deal at the end of the season but turned it down.

Dougie Freedman has moved purposefully in strengthening Bolton’s defence. Left-back Dean Moxey has arrived from Crystal Palace and right-back Kevin McNaughton returns on loan for a second season from Cardiff, his first spell having been widely judged to be a success.


French centre-back Dorian Dervite has joined from Charlton on a three-year deal, and USA international centre-back Tim Ream has agreed a three-year contract extension.

In midfield, former Town player Liam Trotter has moved permanently from Millwall on a three-year deal, and Neil Danns has joined from Leicester on a one-year contract, having spent most of last season on loan at the Trotters.


Ex-Blue Trotter

While the strengthening of the defence has been welcomed, most Trotters believe that the season will still stand or fall on the arrival of one, if not two proven goalscorers: “We’re not good enough to make the top six until we can get a 15 to 10 goals-a-season striker, and also maintain some level of consistency.”

Wigan — Counting Our Blessings

“Any Wigan supporter who is not optimistic by now needs to be sewn into a Manchester United shirt and shoved off down the road”, “When you talk about Wigan Athletic now to people, the response is overwhelmingly positive. Let’s enjoy what we have, because what we have is a gem.”

Many Latics believe that they have been witnessing a golden era in their club’s history. “Travelling back from the Wembley FA Cup semi-final really brought home to me how respected we have become as a small but still developing club with a reputation for playing good football.”

Uwe Rosler

The former Brentford manager engineered a run to the FA Cup semi-final and simultaneously oversaw a league run which saw the Latics storm into the play-off places after joining last December. Having transformed their season so dramatically, supporters trust their manager implicitly.

“With Rosler’s love of rotation, it will be interesting to see if we ever get the same starting XI two games in a row. Luckily for him, he has a fantastic squad to choose from.” One favourite game is to try and work out the best formation, given the flexibility of their squad.


Rosler

One popular variant is (playing 5-4-1): Carson (or Al Habsi); Taverier - Perch - Barnett — Kiernan — Taylor; McManaman - McArthur — McCann — Maloney; Riera. The only small question mark is whether Jordi Gomez’s midfield creativity will be missed. “We have enough grafters. It’s a craftsman we need.”

Expectations

“I hope and think that we will be in for another very pleasant and enjoyable season with lots of excitement. The squad is still a good one, and I am confident we will be up near the top, barring a series of bad injuries”, “We don’t have a Europa League distraction and we have a better manager.”

“Whether we achieve our goal or not, I am looking forward to what I’m sure will be a cracking season. I don’t agree that last season was our one and only chance of promotion by any means. We remain competitive. We have a very strong squad and a year’s experience of Championship football.”

Improving the Squad

Rosler has moved carefully and deliberately in the transfer market, keeping the squad’s balance and looking to replace departing players. The most notable departure this summer has been Jordi Gomez (to Sunderland), but full-backs Jean Beausejour and Stephen Crainey’s contracts were not renewed.


Gomez: Big miss?

“I think the nucleus of a good side is there. Rosler has strengthened the left where Crainey and Beausejour have left a gap. He’s brought in a hungry young right-back along with a striker who looks to be a decent goal scorer. The squad looks good for a challenge.”

Three full-backs have joined this summer. Twenty-seven-year-old left-back Andrew Taylor has arrived from Cardiff along with 23-year-old Andrew Taylor-Sinclair (from Partick Thistle) and 22-year-old James Tavernier (from Newcastle), all on three-year contracts.

In midfield, 31-year-old Don Cowie has arrived from Cardiff along with 20-year-old Emyr Huws, who has arrived on a six month loan from Manchester City. These signings are seen as cover for Ben Watson and Chris McCann, both of who sustained serious leg injuries last season and who won’t be back for August.

Up front, 27-year-old Oriel Riera has joined from Osasuna for around £2 million on a three-year contract and fellow striker Martyn Waghorn has signed permanently from Leicester in April following a successful loan spell.


Waghorn, right

Wigan fans are filled with an unquestionable sense of optimism. They had a terrific second half to last season, and feel that they are confidently heading in the right direction, led by a manager they trust. At Blackpool, things simply could not be more different.

Blackpool — A Slow Painful Death

It is best to start at the beginning. At the end of last season, the Tangerines released 17 players, including player-manager Barry Ferguson. Contracts were offered to some of the squad, including keeper Matt Gilks, defender Chris Basham and midfielder Neal Bishop, all of which were rejected.

On June 11, former Charlton boss Jose Riga was appointed as Blackpool’s new manager. By mid-July it became apparent that there were problems when Riga was understood to have refused to make any signings unless Karl Oyston (the chairman) allowed three particular (unidentified) players to sign for the club.

Despite a “signings expected to be made in the next few days” comment on a BBC news story on July 14, only one player has arrived since Riga was appointed. The squad is effectively made up of six fit players at the time of writing and 27 players have now left the club since the season ended in May.


Trialist Alnwick

A number of trialists, including keeper Ben Alnwick [who has now joined Peterborough] and striker Nathan Delfouneso, appeared in Saturday’s friendly win over Penrith. However, this weekend’s pre-season friendly game at Alfreton has been postponed, going the way of the club’s pre-season tour in Spain.

These are the facts of Blackpool’s pre-season as can best be gleaned from reliable news reports, and feelings are running high.

These are the Darkest of Days

“This is a never ending nightmare. It really is”, “I cannot see where we go from here. I honestly and truly despair”, “Tick, tock…”, “The days go by and still no players are coming in”, “My last shred of optimism has now gone.” Many supporters are simply at their wits’ end.

“Blackpool FC is no more than an empty shell, drained bone-dry by one despicable family who are obsessed with personal gain, a family who know the price of everything and the value of nothing. We are the envy of no-one, a shipwreck of Titanic proportions and the laughing stock of the entire football league.”

“How many times this summer have we said ‘today’s the day’?”, “I honestly can’t believe that another week is set to pass us by with no new players. Surely something has to happen today or tomorrow”, “Every thread leads to the same thing. We literally haven’t got anything else to discuss.”

“We are a laughing stock and an embarrassment — the club I have loved and which has been part of my life for nearly 45 years”, “Respected posters and seasoned fans are at their lowest ebb, driven to turning their backs on their football club.”

Karl Oyston

“I would start from the bottom of League Two again tomorrow if you could promise me that we would have an owner that cared about the club and the supporters”, “The Oystons are trying to force Riga out without compensation or they have their foot on the accelerator, driving us over the cliff forever.”

Much of the criticism of the Oyston family, who own the club, is venomous. “Parasite club-killers who won the lottery without buying a ticket” is at the gentler end of the spectrum.


Oyston and former Tangerine and ex-Town loanee DJ Campbell in happier times at Bloomfield Road

“Relegation looks like a certainty and fans will see the real damage next season, with lower gates in League One.” There has been no discussion about league positions, with relegation widely anticipated. “I am utterly fed up and disgusted over how this club is run.”

“No casual reporting about light at the end of the tunnel will make any difference whatsoever. The damage clearly has already been done. The trial players on show prove this — rejects and players struggling to find a club. They are right up Oyston’s street as he can offer the lowest wage possible.”

Some fans think that the chairman has painted himself into a corner: “The real danger now is that Oyston is totally screwed. Players know our desperate situation and will hold us financially to ransom. If we don’t compete, they’ll simply go elsewhere.”

Jose Riga

Supporters by and large are backing the manager. “Riga is on our side. He is trying to get the Oystons to spend the club’s cash on the playing side, rather than on hotels, cars and everything else. He respects himself, the fans and the game by wanting to construct a competitive side.

“He might be doing this without broadcasting (the manager has yet to speak to the press since his appointment) but Riga is a proper footballing man. He is our representative inside the club who can really make a difference. It’s why Oyston wants him out.”


Riga

“It would appear that Riga is sticking to his list. As time ticks down to the start of the season, Riga is getting in no-one and the Oyston’s cannot recruit either”, “Karl now has a manager what won’t toe the party line and accept his penny-pinching offers. He also now has the media chewing his backside.”

“I have no idea what will happen at the Forest game (Blackpool’s first of the season). My feeling is that we could field a few juniors. We could be fined or deducted points”, “My season ticket said ‘Join the Riga Revolution’ — I had no idea that this is what it meant.”

Message Boards

The most informed Bolton message board is Burnden Aces and the busiest Wigan forum is Vital Wigan . There are two Blackpool forums worth visiting A View From The Tower and Back Henry Street.

On Monday, the focus will turn to the East Midlands. Nottingham Forest and Derby County will be under the spotlight, and we will also head down the M1 to take a look at how things are shaping up at Watford. You can read Part One of Harry’s Notes here and Part Two here.


Photo: Action Images



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rambohambo added 11:38 - Jul 25
Does 'harryfrombath' get paid for this ?
3

bluemagic74 added 11:40 - Jul 25
Thanks harry a good read but boy your gota feel kinda feel sorry 4 Blackpool atm.
2

StuartBrett8 added 11:57 - Jul 25
It's safe to say Blackpool are done for, certain for relegation unless something drastic happens.... feel really sorry for the fans :(
2

TennesseeBlue added 13:10 - Jul 25
Thanks Harry, more great work, always a great read
0

bring_back_Wickham added 14:11 - Jul 25
Will definitely be laughing at my blackpool-supporting sister when we are promoted!
0

jeera added 15:27 - Jul 25
Thank you Harry.

Great input as always.
1

NoCanariesAllowed added 17:33 - Jul 25
Might not be very popular in saying it but I've disliked Blackpool for years. I thought they squeaked promotion ahead of more deserving sides in 2009, Ian Holloway annoyed me in the days he was there, they got a bit full of themselves when they started the last couple of seasons well only for it to fall down around them, and then they went and got Chopra. I'm astonished as to how much the chaos has escalated this summer though.
0

NoCanariesAllowed added 17:34 - Jul 25
(*Correction - Blackpool promoted in 2010!)
0

Leithblue added 21:47 - Jul 25
Harry, I hope you enjoy writing these almost as much as I enjoy reading them because it's fantastic stuff. Far more informative about what's going on in the Championship than any other source, full stop
1

bohslegend added 14:00 - Jul 26
Kudos Harry. Kudos.
0


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