HarryFromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at the University of Bolton Stadium by delving into their forums.

“A great result away at QPR and we’re just five points off Millwall. Can it be done?”, “There’s always one seemingly doomed club which ends up picking up points on paper when they shouldn’t. Why can’t that club be Bolton?”, “Beat Ipswich and hope that Millwall lose. We can do this, can’t we?”

“Damn them for giving us hope.” Although Bolton may head into Saturday’s game five points behind fourth-bottom Millwall with a vastly inferior goal difference and having played a game more, many Trotters have taken improbable hope from last Saturday’s quite unexpected victory over QPR at Loftus Road.

“Just when we lost hope and resigned ourselves to League One inevitability, this happens”, “With the games left I still can’t see us staying up but if results go our way this weekend there is a glimmer of hope”, “A club takeover, sack Phil Parkinson and beat Ipswich and the great escape might be on.”

“We are frequently good enough to beat our relegation rivals and it wouldn’t surprise me if we beat Ipswich next week to raise hopes further, but then what? We have been atrocious against anyone outside the bottom third”, “Let’s be fair. We have not been good enough over the whole season.”

“It’s not a sharp pain any more, it’s more of a dull ache.” The mood was darker after losing heavily to local rivals Wigan before the international break. “No wonder we’re going down without a whimper. We’re a shambles, a rudderless club with no leadership from on high or inspiration on the pitch.”

Money

“We’re probably down with Ipswich. The bigger worry at the moment is the financial shape we will be in by then. Compared to our financial problems, relegation is a stubbed toe”, “The reality is that we have been down for a while. It’s all about what happens if and when somebody takes us over.”

“This club is dying with [chairman] Ken Anderson and [manager] Phil Parkinson ruining things.” As reported on TWTD, Saturday’s game was in doubt until the local council Safety Advisory Group lifted their prohibition notice on the club’s stadium and restored the club’s safety certificate on Thursday.

The BBC reported on Wednesday that the club's non-playing staff had received their March salaries, but Bolton's players released a statement to say they have still not been paid. The players returned to training on Thursday following a 48-hour strike on Monday in support of the club's workers.

On Wednesday, the club were given until 8th May to settle an unpaid £1.2 million tax bill and other debts at the High Court. Lawyers for the financially-stricken club said terms for the sale of the club have been agreed and due diligence is under way. Fans simply cannot wait for the threat of liquidation to be finally lifted.

“We have had four years of ‘will they, won’t they’ regarding the future of the club and people are worn out”, “Somebody please inject some optimism here. Something to realistically hope for, to hang on to”, “Ultimately this can only be resolved by money, and not good intentions or goodwill.”

Phil Parkinson

“Has Parkinson resigned yet?”, “Has he hell. He will have them in on Monday launching the ball to absolutely no one”, “His decisions, while rational in his brain, have cost us”, “He goes all defensive and teams pick us off at the back”, “Wigan couldn’t buy a win and then, bingo, Parkinson turns up.”

Phil Parkinson (Bolton Wanderers)

“The sooner we get rid of this stone-age manager the better.” The 51-year-old took charge of the side in June 2016, steering them into the Championship and keeping them up last season. Many fans have grown weary of the stale football being played as well as some of his questionable line-ups.

“I’m sat here in the West Stand sincerely hoping it’s Parkinson’s last match.” Many fans think that the club can’t afford to sack him at present, and this failure to replace him has been a factor in their likely relegation. “I thought we were relegated when Parkinson wasn’t sacked in December.”

“His stamp is all over this current mess. Our appalling set pieces, players showing no leadership or gamesmanship and others being frozen out”, “He has made errors of judgement with his selections and his sidelining of players. He has made a pig’s ear of the campaign.”

“His backing-off defensive strategy has been negative in spades and has asked teams to come and get us”, “He doesn’t do himself any favours. He stumbled across playing the two Everton loanees in holding midfield roles. It worked reasonably well but he then binned it at the first chance he got.”

A Lack of Quality and Creativity

“How hard is it picking a team these days? You keep thinking that there might be someone better in the squad, but there is not”, “How many of this lot will be released in the summer? Hopefully it will be the majority. We need a root and branch clear-out, again”, “I want us to totally clear the decks.”

“Our style is defensive because we are better at that than attacking”, “We are too pedestrian when we have possession, almost waiting for opponents to get everyone behind the ball before we play it forward”, “We allow teams to build rhythm and confidence during the game and gift them goals.”

“Our approach is all about containing, being compact and not giving space”, “Moves always break down when they go past the central midfielders.” The lack of goals and a cutting edge in midfield has been constantly lamented by watching Trotters. “It’s so bad, it’s impossible to know where to start.”

“Where are the goals coming from? “We created next to nothing in nearly every game this season and we’re not going to change that”, “Our set pieces are appalling and we have no one who can play a threatening through ball. Strikers end up feeding off scraps and we’re not even providing them.”

The starting XI (above) at Loftus Road was set up with the back four and lone striker which Parkinson has preferred in recent games. Many felt that this line-up made the best use of their squad, with the tenacity of three hard-working midfielders protecting a slow back four and giving them a foothold.

“Our defence much prefer dealing with long balls whirled forward than having strikers with pace and trickery running at them”, “Movement is the one thing that kills all our centre-backs”, “Our defence move together in a line in warm-ups and then totally forgets how to do it when the match starts.”

A lack of pace in central defence led to Marc Wilson’s dismissal at Portman Road in September and this concern has not gone away. David Wheater, Mark Beevers and Jack Hobbs are all vulnerable here. Keeper Remi Matthews is widely trusted since breaking into the team despite the odd howler.

Right-back Pawel Olkowski’s form has drifted as the campaign has progressed and he has struggled when playing a wing-back role. Mark Little is seen as a more attacking right-back option but is now a bench option. First-choice left-back Andrew Taylor is too defensively minded and suspect on the ball.

“If we score first with a midfield of battlers like Gary O’Neil, Joe Williams and Callum Connolly, we have a chance of hanging on”, “With Williams and Connolly in midfield, we have found ourselves a hard-working midfield combination. Having O’Neil in front of them can only be a good thing as well.”

“Williams and Connolly appear to be decent together in the middle.” Williams, Connolly, Jason Lowe, Luke Murphy and O’Neil are all similar hard-working midfielders lacking a playmaker’s flair, but most fans believe that the industry and tenacity of Williams and Connolly gave midfield a strong balance.

“Will Buckley and Craig Noone have spent their entire careers in the Championship or higher, so why would they come here to us and immediately become poor”, “Buckley and Noone are less effective when they play as inverted wingers. They cut in and get swamped or cross with their weaker feet.”

Although Buckley has chipped in with five goals this season, Trotters have been very critical of some of his lightweight displays, whereas Noone’s lack of an end product has frustrated many fans. Their one real match-winner is right winger Sammy Ameobi but he has often appeared to lack interest.

“The glaring lack of quality in the final third has been our undoing”, “Whoever of Clayton Donaldson or Josh Magennis isn’t playing becomes the better striker”, “The one good striker we had was Adam Le Fondre, and he left [for A-League side Sydney FC] in August as he was surplus to requirements.”

“With Magennis and Donaldson as our only striker options, it’s an almost hopeless choice but there is little point in starting both of them”, “I’m trying to be positive but what possessed Parkinson to think that they would be anything better than absolutely awful for us this season? It’s beyond me.”

QPR 1 — 2 Bolton

“A belting day out”, “That was superb today, fans, players the lot. Everyone dug in and they worked and sang their hearts out. This is why we go to football, I loved the whole thing”, “I have not stopped smiling since the final whistle, a brilliant day out which was enhanced by the football for once.”

The visitors went ahead on 35 minutes when Will Buckley bundled in from close range before Callum Connolly added a second from a rebound after QPR keeper Joe Lumley had kept out Sammy Ameobi’s drive on 71. Nahki Wells then pulled one back on 81 with a shot from the edge of the box.

“Nothing better than a Saturday night when we have won”, “There was bit a chance of a result from this game so we go and do it. A great reward for all who travelled down”, “It felt like a different team to the one at Wigan. Magennis, O’Neil, Connolly and Williams worked their socks off in a great win.”

Wigan 5 - 2 Bolton

“I’m fuming. Going down without a fight is unforgivable and losing 5-2 to our rubbish local rivals is a joke”, “My God, where do I start? We were made a laughing stock and the game was as good as over after five minutes”, “Words can’t describe what we witnessed today. Just rip it up and start again.”

Joe Garner headed in a superb Reece James freekick on four minutes to put Wigan ahead, and the hosts went 3-0 with goals by Gavin Massey on 51 and Nick Powell four minutes later, the latter capitalising on a real blunder by Bolton keeper Matthews after Garner pounced before he had cleared the ball.

O'Neil pulled a goal back on 62 before Michael Jacobs made the game safe seven minutes later to re-establish the hosts' three-goal advantage. Ameobi scored a consolation for the Trotters on 80 before Leon Clarke added a fifth for Wigan in stoppage time to confirm a comfortable victory.

“Bingo machine.” Fans were worried when the starting line-up (above) revealed that Parkinson had left out Wheater, Olkowski and Ameobi in a vital local derby against a main relegation rival. “It was dire, we had no desire and the players were totally clueless”, “Probably the lowest ebb for BWFC.”

Bolton 0 — 2 Sheffield Wednesday

“God, that was dire”, “What a disgrace. Wednesday were there for the taking after 25 minutes. The whole thing was set up for us to get at them and take the game to them. Instead we just set up to roll over or nick something. Another waste of a night”, “We looked as threatening as Kevin the Carrot.”

The Owls went ahead on 44 when Atdhe Nuhiu and Barry Bannan linked well before Steven Fletcher chipped the ball over the advancing Matthews. They doubled their lead on 59 when Rolando Aarons received a pass by Adam Reach and finished with his left foot from the edge of the area.

“One team had a striker, the other one didn’t.” Trotters were happy with the starting XI (above) but the difference in quality between their squad and that of their visitors determined the result. “We lost to a better team. They had players who kept the ball down without hoofing it into the wind.”

Goalkeepers and Defenders

“Remi Matthews redeemed himself at Loftus Road with some great keeping.” The 25-year-old ex-Canary “has had some great games with the odd inexplicable error”, “He has been colossal in some games, making world class saves and looking much safer on crosses into the box with more games.”

Remi Matthews

“Matthews has improved lately and he can actually throw and kick a ball as well”, “He looked proper dodgy when he came into the side, glued to his line on occasions”, “He was very poor on crosses at first, flapping at everything but he has looked much more assured with a few games behind him.”

“We know Pawel Olkowski can be a decent right-back with the right manager.” The 29-year-old ex-FC Koln man and Poland international “has scored and assisted superbly in no time since joining the club”, “He’s clearly very good at this level and was brilliant for the first 10 games in behind Ameobi.”

“Olkowski’s form has dipped. With Parkinson playing around with formations he seems to have gone backwards and he absolutely hates playing as a wing-back”, “He seemed happy to find Donaldson in the channel when playing the wing-back role, instead of just driving on and finding him in the box.”

“Andrew Taylor isn’t good enough for this league but he is our best left-back.” The 32-year-old ex-Wigan man “panics any time the ball comes near him and struggles on the ball”, “He is no world-beater, in fact he’s really poor, but at least he has some of the qualities needed to play at left-back.”

“If Taylor isn’t taking one of his 40 throw-ins, his main involvement is his Keystone Cops defending”, “He’s seems afraid to cross at times”, “Some games cry out for Taylor to have some courage and get down the line on the overlap but he’s always petrified because if he loses the ball we’re exposed.”

“Mark Little has been fit all season, Parkinson has just fallen out with him.” The 30-year-old former Bristol City right-back “is a threat going forward but is also capable of being a defensive liability. It's the balance that a modern full-back must strike and he has often has been given pelters on here.”

“It was not ideal for Marc Wilson to be isolated on a one-on-one challenge with Kayden Jackson at Portman Road.” The 31-year-old ex-Sunderland man “gives the ball away far too much but he does a decent job mopping stuff up. He is one of the few who can put his foot on the ball as a centre-back.”

Mark Beevers (Millwall)

“Mark Beevers has done good defensive work and used the ball sensibly.” The 29-year-old former Millwall centre-half has been criticised for his “aimless nine-irons, lumping the ball out and wide”, “He had a habit of smashing the ball aimlessly 50 yards down the pitch but this is now less frequent.”

“Up to Christmas I wasn’t sure that Beevers was up to this level. He was slated for his hoofing, but now he defends well, his passing has improved and he has added goals to his game”, “He has none of the qualities to play at left-back or on the left of a back three. He hates being pulled out wide.”

“Jack Hobbs is even slower than Wheater. He only has reverse gear.” The 30-year-old former Forest centre-back “must be the slowest player in our defence for a long time”, “His tackling is superb but he regularly gets caught out by sly shoves which prevent him from challenging initially for the ball.”

“Hobbs is a proper centre-half who is exceptional positionally and one who doesn’t aimlessly hoof it every time he touches the ball”, “He needs more confidence and encouragement to pass forward”, “He’s a calming influence who is great at reading the game. If only he had any amount of pace.”

David Wheater

“Wheater is a fully-committed defender with a whole-hearted approach.” The 32-year-old former Boro centre-back and Wanderers stalwart “is a big, tall, strong unit whose skill is winning headers.”
“He is always heroic, gives his all and he puts his head, body and even his chin on the line at times.”

David Wheater (Bolton Wanderers)

“Wheater will emerge as a legend after all this is done. He has that dedication”, “I love to watch him defend as long as he isn’t exposed for pace”, “He’s our best defender by miles but he struggles now to play games in close succession”, “I am always fearful of strikers running at him and turning him.”

Central Midfielders

“Luke Murphy isn’t a battler, passer or a runner. He remains a mystery to me.” The 29-year-old ex-Leeds man “is completely incapable of screening the back four or mounting any attacks on his own”.

Tom Lawrence v Luke Murphy (Burton Albion)

“Does he tackle, run, pass, shoot or organise?” “I still don’t know what type of midfielder we have.”

“I would have loved Murphy to be decent but he has looked way off the pace in all his appearances. I credit him for always wanting to play the ball forward and he’s the only lad who looks forward when he has the ball”, “He looks more composed than any other midfielder we have but is so ineffective.”

“Joe Williams works his socks off in midfield, winning the ball and using it well.” The 22-year-old Everton loanee “gives us plenty of legs in midfield and I love his tackling, but his final ball is poor.”
“His decision-making is poor and ponderous and he creates nothing, but you can’t fault his effort.”

“Williams one of the few who tries to play it forward and who passes and moves but lacks quality”, “He’s a willing runner with limited ability. He can’t trap the ball, look up and try out something a bit different”, “I thought he has a box-to-box player, but he creates little and his distribution is poor.”

“Josh Vela is a terrible footballer who lacks technique. He runs around but can’t compete.” The 25-year-old youth product “isn’t up to the job. Teams walk through our midfield when he plays”, “He is
routinely dispossessed by nippy opponents. He can’t pass or shoot and he never wins possession.”

“Luca Connell is a young lad with a decent first touch and a bit of movement about him.” The 17-year-old youth product “is skilful with a lot of confidence”, “It would be brilliant if we could build a team around him but he is miles off that yet and isn’t ready yet to shoulder that responsibility.”

“If we had 11 Gary O’Neils, we wouldn’t be in this mess. I feel sorry for him. He’s probably too old but he works his socks off.” The 35-year-old one-time Canary “stands out because he tries, his team-mates could take a leaf out of his book”, “His ball retention is excellent and he has been consistent.”

“O’Neil is better than Williams going forward, He puts in a right shift and is one of the few of our midfielders who keeps his composure in front of goal”, “His experience shows through when he always does the right thing with or without the ball”, “He has been hard-working and effective.”

Callum Connolly

“Playing Callum Connolly in midfield helps us massively, not when the muppet switches him to left-back.” The 21-year-old Everton youngster and one-time Town loanee “brings energy to the middle of the pitch and makes some fantastic blocks”, “He’s steady without bring out-and-out fantastic or being poor.”

Connolly, Callum

“Connolly has shown some decent touches and a desire to attack. He looks quite tidy without being spectacular. He’s an all-round energetic type rather than a midfielder with any excellent ability that makes him stand out”, “He covers a lot of ground, but he has shown nothing special on the ball.”

Wingers and Wide Midfielders

“Craig Noone loses possession in the final third far too often.” The 31-year-old ex-Cardiff winger “is very wasteful, always giving possession away”, “He doesn’t give up the ghost and he chases down defenders but his stock move is breaking free and then checking like a rabbit in the headlights.”

Craig Noone (Bolton Wanderers) v Dean Gerken and Matthew Penningto

“How many times can you take a wrong option or plain fall over the ball?”, “Noone is a clumsy player. He has one trick too many and runs straight into the defender”, “He has been a big disappointment. It’s fine being technically gifted but if you don’t create changes or score goals, it is utterly pointless.”

“What the hell does Will Buckley contribute?” The 29-year-old ex-Sunderland winger “promises little and delivers less”, “He is so lightweight and easily knocked off the ball but play him on the right and suddenly we get crosses in where we normally hit the first man”, “He is absolutely anonymous.”

“I hope I don’t have to suffer another afternoon of Buckley”, “He is never a winger in a million years, He’s incredibly slow, can’t cross and he lacks the skill to go past anyone”, “They need to ask him if he has any other skills. He would be more useful painting the stands or even if put on a typing course.”

Sammy Ameobi

“Sammy Ameobi looked involved at Loftus Road and had one of his better days.” The 26-year-old ex-Newcastle right winger “puts team-mates in trouble with lazy passes”, “He can be pivotal for us but has lacked any interest at times”, “He must play regardless as there is no one like him in the squad.”

Sammy Ameobi (Bolton)

“Dropping Ameobi would make us even more unwatchable, if such a thing is imaginable”, “If there was a highlights package of close control, beating a man as if he wasn’t there and passing the ball crisply to feet, Ameobi would be in every clip. He’s a class above anyone else, even on an off-day.”

Strikers

“Josh Magennis has reverted to what he is, an honest League One player.” The 28-year-old former Charlton striker “is a targetman who can’t win headers and constantly has the ball bouncing yards off him”, “I am really disappointed with his inability to hold the ball up and he’s as mobile as a brick.”

“Magennis struggles to make the ball stick but you can’t fault the ground he covers”, “He’s probably a lower-league centre-forward. He’s definitely not a target man because his control is hopeless. If he played in a 4-4-2 with balls being pumped into him, he could probably score with the right partner.”

Clayton Donaldson

“Playing Clayton Donaldson on his own up front simply has to be the least threatening attack in world football. It’s boring, clueless, predictable and uninspiring.” The 35-year-old ex-Sheffield United man “is often caught flat-footed and not attacking the space”, “He a decent player who is past his best.”

Adam Webster and Clayton Donaldson

“Donaldson is the only striker the ball sticks to. He’s aggressive, strong, makes intelligent runs and he controls and lays the ball off, but he just can’t shoot to save his life”, “He has the first touch of a park player and doesn’t react to balls into the box”, “He has no anticipation or reading of the game.”

“In a masochistic way I enjoyed him attempting a five-yard pass. Instead of it going where it should have, it ended up with him on his backside and the ball about 10 feet from the nearest white shirt”, “The difference is amazing when you play decent balls to him. He does a good job leading the line.”

Trotters’ Views on ITFC and the Game

“Ipswich have lost only two of their last eight games, some of those against decent opposition. I’m not feeling right giddy about this one to be honest. They have been nicking draws for fun. Fingers and toes crossed here for a win by the odd goal, but I am certainly not expecting it to be a rout.”

Bolton have won five and drawn five of the 11 games played against the six lowest-ranked teams around them so they are confident of putting in a competitive display on Saturday. The Portman Road play-off semi-final may have been 19 years ago, but memories of that game still linger on.

“Where is Freddie Bobic when you need him?”, “Despite that 2000 play-off game, which was largely exorcised by Bobic [who scored a hat-trick against us in 2002 to all but confirm our relegation], I don’t mind the Tractors”, “I will never forgive or forget that one”, “That game was more about the referee than the opposition.”

“I recall that Jim Magilton was a **** that night, and that it was Ipswich and David Sheepshanks that pushed for the away goals rule in the play-offs to be dropped. Had that not happened, we would have gone through at 90 minutes with the score poised at 3-3.”

“Brexit can be compared with Ipswich and David Sheepshanks, trying to change the rules because the current ones don't suit, and the referee is the biggest **** ever”, “Ipswich, Jim Magilton and all the rest of them have a very special place in hell waiting for them.”

Websites

The two busiest Trotters’ forums are Wanderers Ways and The Wanderer. Bolton Wanderers highlights are available on the Multimedia menu as well as Ipswich Town and for the whole of the Championship and other EFL leagues.

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

Steve_M added 10:48 - Apr 5 How is David Wheater only 32? He's been around for years. Still some blubbing about 2000 I see, which decisions did Knight get wrong again?
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tags added 11:13 - Apr 5 It doesn't matter Steve M - it's the quantity of cards given out - and that means Bolton played fairly and did not act liked ferral c***s that night.
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baldman added 11:49 - Apr 5 Try playing football not rugby
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SouperJim added 12:01 - Apr 5 I absolutely love Bolton fans and their historical revisionism of the 2000 play-off semi, blub blub blub. Hope we smash their rotting club to pieces tomorrow.
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itfchorry added 12:34 - Apr 5 Great work as always Harry There's only one Barry Knight !!
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OwainG1992 added 23:17 - Apr 5 God so bitter still! 2 years later they sent us down and enjoyed a decent spell in prem often in top half! And they still cant stop crying about us teaching them a lesson in football.
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