Members of the media, most of whom can’t think for themselves, may have dubbed it ‘not for the purist’, but Whites fans took pleasure in the reputation – and the results.

There might be a few more of these sold now.

All that ended with the arrival of Gary Megson.  The Ginger One won one, drew one and lost all the rest, against the then big four. In the 2008-9 season, he managed one point from 42 against teams that finished in the top seven.

Some will argue that points have the same value, whether they’re achieved at the expense of title contenders, or relegation fodder.  That may be mathematically correct, but it overlooks the morale boost that lesser teams get from turning over the big boys, for sport is about nothing, if not glory.

One of the criticisms levelled at Owen Coyle was that he had failed to arrest that losing trend, bar one late season win against an already demoralised Arsenal. After the way Liverpool were swept aside at the Reebok on Saturday, there is one charge less facing the man from Paisley.

A sober analysis might include the arguments that Liverpool, without Uruguay’s favourite racist are an ordinary side and that Kenny Dalglish inherited a squad some way short of Champions League potential that a summer spending spree has failed to improve.  Then there’s Steven Gerrard, who has yet to regain much of his usual game, apart from whining and bitching to the match officials.

But sod that.  The men in white were fully deserving of their victory and it should be celebrated.  Underpinning a collective effort stuffed with commitment and fighting spirit were several worthy performances.

Adam Bogdan put his Chelsea nightmare behind with a solid display of maturity.  The Hungarian international wasn’t called upon to perform heroics, but he handled his routine tasks well, some of which could have gone horribly wrong.

It has been suggested that he might have come off his line more quickly in order to prevent Craig Bellamy scoring, but such a view assumes that Bogdan can move at roughly twice the speed of Usain Bolt.

At the other end of the pitch, David N’Gog continued to progress in his role of lone front man, holding up the ball well and showing some clever touches.  The Frenchman isn’t a natural goal scorer, but that will matter less if he can play in advancing midfielders as he did for Bolton’s opener.

Nigel Reo Coker has been criticised this season, not least on these pages.  He still lacks an astuteness in reading the game, but starting with the away victory at Blackburn the former West Ham and Aston Villa midfielder has played a leader’s role and exhibited the combative qualities that made Coyle give him a contract in the first place.

Game sorted. Now to do something about that hair cut.

However the stand out performer, not for the first time of late, was Mark Davies, who is at last realising his potential.  Gone, is the tendency to drift in and out of games and his tackling and tracking back have improved beyond measure.

Mini Davo’s attacking abilities have never been in doubt, but he seems lighter, fitter and faster and is starting to enjoy his first injury free season in years.  We’ll pause for a bit there, while readers find a piece of wood to touch.

Can Bolton maintain the improvement, that started at Ewood Park and has continued since? (although not without a hiccups or two)  If so, then relegation which seemed a certainty a few weeks ago, may yet be avoided.

There are difficult games still to come, but the end of season run in, seems kind compared to the other drop zone contenders.  If it’s really the hope that kills you, then Wanderers fans are once more in grave danger. No, that wasn’t a pun. Honest.

- Richard McCormick

TweetFollow @RMc2407

Kenny Dalglish waves goodbye to the chance of a top four finish.

At first, it looked as though Bolton were going to make a slow start.  Liverpool seemed relaxed and confident, whilst the men in white seemed nervous and gave the ball away far too easily.  Liverpool’s dominance lasted all of 3 minutes, and then Wanderers took control of the game.  Fabrice Muamba, whose new-found on-the-ball composure has been welcomed by all Bolton fans, fed a short ball to the feet of David N’Gog.  N’Gog’s ability with his back to goal is starting to become telling, and his deft flick, whilst holding off the challenge of Martin Skrtle, gave Mark Davies licence to run.  As Davies carried the ball forward N’Gog was off and running, forcing Agger to go with him with him and opening-up space in the heart of the Liverpool defence.  With Skirtle lumbering in his wake and Agger on the back foot, Davies took full advantage with a trademark ‘jinky’ run giving him a sight of goal.  Owen Coyle made comments in the press recently, in which he called on Davies to add goals to his game; Mark was clearly listening.  A beautifully placed finish from the midfielder gave Wanderers the lead and sent the Reebok faithful into raptures.

Liverpool were visibly shocked, as were most Bolton fans to be honest, but Wanderers immediately set out to show the early goal was no fluke.  Chris Eagles, who had a dreadful time against Utd at Old Trafford, looked like a man with a point to prove, and it was he who would worry Liverpool next.  Eagles won the ball from Jose Enrique and set-off in determined fashion.  Eagles would trouble Enrique all game with his energy and willingness to run with the ball, and he skipped away from the former Spain U21 international before drilling a shot across the face of goal.  If Liverpool fans had seen the first goal as a freak, Eagles’ effort may have knocked them down a peg or two – if nothing else, it shut the usually boisterous Liverpudlian away fans up for some time.  Maxi Rodriguez almost gave Liverpool something to sing about, as he got in behind from a long punt by Pepe Reina.  It really should have been 1-1, but Maxi somehow contrived to ‘miscontrol’ the ball and then handle, earning Wanderers a freekick.  It was a let-off for Wanderers and should have been a wake-up call for a defence playing a high line.

Wanderers may have looked more incisive, but Liverpool are a good team and gave the home side plenty to worry about, with the majority of possession.  With Gary Cahill sold, the Bolton centre back pairing is seriously short of pace, and Liverpool looked to take advantage.  With Andy Carroll decidedly out of sorts, it was left to Craig Bellamy to terrorise the Wanderers and do his once-in-a-while impression of a top class striker.  Bellamy is capable of playing some great football, but he was initially well marshalled by Wheater and Knight.  However, after about 20 minutes Zat Knight’s habit of falling asleep returned with a vengeance.  Knight started the game in dominating style, winning his headers and making some superb tackles; but the former Fulham player always makes watching fans nervous, and with good reason.  Bellamy began to curve his runs in behind Knight, and Liverpool’s midfield looked to spray passes over the big centre back’s head to find the Welshman’s runs.  It was an effective tactic, and Liverpool started to carve out openings.

It seemed Liverpool would soon create something meaningful, but it was Wanderers who were to again shock the visitors.  Eagles once more looked to get at the opposition defence, and as he slowed his run two Liverpool defenders were drawn to him.  Last calendar year, the move would have broken down there, but this is Bolton Wanderers 2012, and things are a little different now.  It was Nigel Reo-Coker, Bolton captain for the day putting in a captain’s performance, who offered Eagles an option.  Reo-Coker pushed in through the gap left by the centre half drawn in by Eagles, and the winger found his captain with a well-executed, chipped pass.  Nigel is often derided for being a “scrapper”, but there was nothing scrappy about how he controlled the ball beautifully on his chest before volleying it past a helpless Pepe Reina.  If Reo-Coker’s impressive passing stats don’t convince his doubters that he can play ‘real’ football, perhaps his well-taken goal will.

Liverpool were not entirely at the races, but they underlined their continued threat by creating several openings that Bolton were lucky to survive.  Liverpool had a penalty shout immediately before Reo-Coker’s goal, when Zat Knight appeared to handle Carroll’s flicked pass from a Liverpool free kick.   Maxi had a chance to get a shot away, but decided to take a touch and found himself tackled by two Wanderers players.  As the ball ran free to Adam Bogdan, Liverpool protested the lack of a spot kick, but their appeals fell on deaf ears.  Every Wanderers player on the park was then forced to get stuck in and work for the team, as Liverpool upped the tempo to try and get back in.  Despite Liverpool’s endeavour, Bolton’s voracious appetite for the tackle and ‘bodies on the line’ defending ensured that Bogdan was rarely tested in the Bolton goal.

Craig Bellamy reacts badly after being informed that he's a scrote with bad tatoos

When Bogdan was called upon to make a save, it was inevitably Craig Bellamy who was providing the examination.  Bellamy got in behind Knight and Ricketts just after the half hour mark, only to see his tame shot easily caught be the ginger Hungarian ‘keeper; who is affectionately known as “Shaggy”.  Cries of “wake up Knight” from the watching crowd went unheeded, and Bellamy was unleashed again only minutes later.  Carroll rose highest to get to a long headed clearence and flicked the ball on to the jet-heeled striker, who set off at pace.  Zat Knight was the tortoise to Bellamy’s hare, except that in this version it was the tortoise who decided to fall asleep – allowing the hare a one-on-one with Bogdan.  Bellamy slotted the ball past the Hungarian international ‘keeper, who actually managed to get a hand on the ball and was desperately unlucky not to take enough pace off the shot to allow Sam Ricketts to clear.  Ricketts, who was once again solid at left back, turn and berated Knight for his error.  Whatever Ricketts said seemed to have the desired effect, and Knight improved steadily afterwards.

Again, Wanderers fans looked for signs of the 2011 Bolton to reappear.  Was that a head dropping?  Was the blame-game starting up again?  In short, “no”.  Wanderers went back on the offensive, and it was again N’Gog who created an opening – having had a hand in both Bolton’s goals.  The industrious striker received the ball and turned well.  Ignoring impassioned cries of “shoot” from half the Reebok, N’Gog showed quick feet to win a free kick in a dangerous position.  The Frenchman’s contribution should not go unheralded, as he did a phenomenal job of holding the ball up and taking pressure off Bolton defence – as well as being involved in both of Wanderers openers.  Liverpool’s defence had looked dodgy all game, but surely they would be able to do the simple thing and form a wall?  Not a bit of it.  Petrov stepped up and struck his free kick through a gap you could have got Luis Suarez’s ego through, with only a smart save from Reina denying the Bulgarian the goal his performance would have merited.

Mark Davies holds down Gretar Steinsson as a helium filled Chris Eagles starts to float away.

The game now rested on which side, if either, would get the first goal of the second half.  It was Wanderers who did the honours.  From a Petrov corner, David Wheater knocked the ball down in a set-piece routine right out of the Allardyce era.  A clever run from Steinsson had him in the right place at the right time, but it still took a superb finish to beat Reina for a third time and lift the proverbial roof right off the Reebok.

The second half saw chances come and go for both sides, as every spectator in the place nervously watched both clock and pitch.  Daniel Agger almost got Liverpool back into it with a long-range special that thundered off the crossbar.  At the other end, a good run from Eagles ended with a decent effort going just past the upright.  However, clear-cut chances were at a premium, and Wanderers industry in the middle of the park was a joy to behold for fans used to seeing limp and passionless displays this season.

When the endless running finally started to catch up with Bolton’s players, gaps began to appear in their formation and Liverpool sought openings.  Once again though, Bolton showed an unwillingness to capitulate that their supporters have been waiting to see for some time.  There was always a last-ditch tackle, a body thrown in the way or a clever interception to save the day – and, failing that, there was someone to just hoof the ball down the pitch and clear the pressure.  It wasn’t pretty at times, but the level of desire shown should warm the cockles of the heart just as much as any of Bolton’s goals.  And it was clear that the crowd had a full appreciation of the players’ efforts, when late substitutions brought standing ovations for those going off.

Every Bolton fan in attendance learnt things on Saturday night, and questions were answered that had previously eaten away at the faith of many.  Firstly, have no doubts that this Wanderers side contains enough quality to stay up.  Secondly, and most importantly, this group of players really do have some grit and fight in them after all.  And thirdly, with an eye on our next league game, the 2012 edition of Bolton Wanderers doesn’t necessarily wilt when confronted by the big sides.  Bolton fans everywhere take heart, because, on today’s evidence, there’s life in us yet and fortress Reebok might not be the crumbling ruin we all took it for.

Bolton Wanderers (4-5-1): Bogdan 7, Steinsson 8, Wheater 8, Knight 7, Ricketts 8, Eagles 8 (Tuncay 5), Muamba 7, Reo-Coker 9, M.Davies 9, Petrov 8, N’Gog 8 (Davies 6).

Man of the Match: For me, it has to be Nigel Reo-Coker.  Many will have other views, but I thought today saw a true captain’s performance from Nigel and he didn’t put a foot wrong.  We’ve been waiting for a leader to emerge on the pitch and drag us out of this mire, and we may just have found him.

Coyle-watch: Owen gets major credit for today.  It was the right formation, and he sent the lads out with optimism and desire.  Subs remain the affable Scot’s weakness, with his failure to bring on fresh legs in good time almost costing Wanderers dearly.

The Opposition: Liverpool were their own worst enemy today, but Craig Bellamy was a bright spark in an otherwise dull display.  The lightning-fast Welshman may not have Nigel Reo-Coker’s respect as  a person, but everyone has to respect his ability on a football pitch.

Move of the Match: Saturday’s best ‘move’ was actually a piece of individual skill from Martin Petrov.  Petrov, marked by two Liverpool players, flicked the ball through the legs of Glen Johnson and was away before the England right back even knew what was happening.  Petrov had a slow start to his Bolton career, but his energy and winning mentality have not gone unnoticed in recent weeks; Martin is quickly becoming one of the out-of-contract players who should be on Coyle’s “retain” list, wages permitting.

-Azreal88

Monday night saw Bolton reserves host Liverpool at the Leyland ground, in a game with Jekyll and Hyde performances from both teams.  Wanderers put out a side containing some experienced players who, you’d presume, were looking to impress Wanderers staff enough to warrant first team selection; it didn’t work out that way.  In good playing conditions, it was two of Bolton’s  ‘bright young things’ who impressed, with largely disappointing displays  from their senior teammates.

Andy Kellett Goes one on one with Nathan Eccleston

Wanderers lined-up in a nominal 4-4-2 formation, with Tuncay and Blake apparently given a degree of freedom to roam.  It was refreshing to watch two sides who clearly wanted to play football, both passing forward from the back and showing decent movement in midfield.  Liverpool’s 4-5-1, switching to 4-3-3 at times, allowed for some lovely interchange in possession and forced Wanderers to stay compact for periods of the game.

A worrying early error from Dedryck Boyata, turning out at centre half for this one, was a sign of things to come.  Boyata looked to put pressure on the ball near the halfway line, but instead saw the ball simply knocked past him and his man skip away from him and set off down field.  It was the first of several embarrassing moments for Boyata, who seemed intent upon underestimating the pace and skill of Liverpool’s youngsters; it was largely a night to forget for the big defender, who is on loan from Man City.

Most of the threat from Bolton came down the left, where Robbie Blake and Andy Kellett combined well on numerous occasions.  In Kellett, Bolton found a willing runner with composure and ability on the ball, and it was the young left back who seemed to cause Liverpool the most headaches in the first half.  It was one such foray from Kellett that led to Bolton’s opener.  After some crisp interchange passing down Wanderers’ left flank, Kellett and Blakeman exchanged a one-two which saw the latter free in the Liverpool box.  Blakeman, who showed a cool head and quick feet all night, cut the ball back to find Kellett’s run and the 17 year old centred to the feet of O’Halloran.  A scything tackle from a Liverpool defender would, at another time, have produced a penalty, but the ball fell at the feet of Tuncay who buried it from close range.  It was a goal that would have graced any Premier League game, and easily worth the price of admission on its own.

Hardman Sean Davis

The quality down Bolton’s left was, however, not matched on Bolton’s right.  The combination of Blake, Blakeman and Kellett worked well throughout the first 45, but when Wanderers, usually through the passing of Blake, looked to switch and expand play, moves quickly broke down.  Young Nathan Battersby can perhaps be allowed a poor display at right back, and was at least not found wanting for effort; but in Topi Obadeyi and Sean Davis, Wanderers had underperformers from whom much more was expected.  Davis, returning to fitness after a lengthy absence, could be forgiven for being a yard off the pace; but being two yards behind, or simply not trying to get there at all, was a sign of a player whose head was never in the game.  Anyone hoping Davis might be ready for the first team in quick order will, on Monday’s evidence, be disappointed.  Davis’ one bright moment came from a direct free kick, which needed to be turned over by a smart stop from Hansen in the Liverpool goal.  Topi had some good moments, but they were far too few and those he had were overshadowed by his errors; a poor first touch and lack of imagination meant he never influenced the game consistently.

It was Liverpool, rather than the hosts, who offered the more consistent invention and quality; but neither side showed a cutting edge.  On numerous occasions throughout the game, Wanderers were saved only by a lax final pass or a woeful finish; and once or twice by a good save from Jay Lynch.  Lynch didn’t have a huge amount to do, largely thanks to the Reds ability to miss from 8 yards on a regular basis, but what he had to do he did reasonably well; with the only real negative being a dropped cross that could easily have cost the Whites their point.

O'Halloran misses a sitter.

Whereas Liverpool could have easily won, Wanderers really should have.  After having a goal ruled out for offside following good work from Tuncay, O’Halloran saw his chance to make amends for failing to hold his run.  After some nice passing in the middle, the ball was played wide to Obadeyi.  Though often frustrating, Topi clearly does have the ability to produce the goods at times, and he sent over a glorious cross that only needed the faintest touch from O’Halloran to send it into the net.  But O’Halloran got too much on it, and the ball ballooned over the bar from about 6 yards out.  It was typical of how things had gone for O’Halloran, who had worked hard but managed to make a mess of his opportunities.  Tuncay had the better game of the two forwards, but failed to have anything like the influence that might have been expected of him.  There was too much show-boating, not enough of which came off, and having watched him play at reserve level you can start to understand why he’s not forced his way into the first team this season.

After having a shot bounce from one post to the other and finally be scrambled clear, Liverpool looked almost certain to get an equaliser from somewhere; and so it proved.   Wanderers gave away a free kick in a dangerous position and Bolton fans feared the worst.  It was Conor Coady, Liverpool’s captain, who rose unopposed to secure a point for the Merseyside club with a thumping header.  Wanderers’ coaching staff will want to know how Coady was allowed so much space in the 18 yard box, with no Bolton player anywhere near the big number 6.  Late efforts from Liverpool could have secured all three points, but the woodwork came to Bolton’s rescue once again.

All-in-all it was a mixed display from Bolton, who you felt were capable of more, but never consistently threatened.  Liverpool were the better side for long periods, but a lack of quality in the final third meant they failed to really impress.  A draw proved to be fair result in the end, with both sides rueing missed chances.

Bolton (4-4-2):  Lynch 6, Battersby 4, Boyata 5, Connolly 6, Kellett 8, Obadeyi 5, Davis 4, Blakeman 8, Blake 7 (Lester 5), Tuncay 6, O’Halloran 5 (Sampson 5).  Unused subs – Fielding, Irwin, Eckersley.

Move of the match: A sweeping left wing advance, notching up a dozen or more passes, saw Wanderers almost walk the ball into the back of the net.

One to Watch: Andy Kellett.  The diminutive left back still has a lot to learn, and errors to cut out of his game, but he was the brightest spark on the night and played a key part in Bolton’s goal.

Next to step up: Of the young lads, Adam Blakeman looked to be the one who will be knocking on the gaffer’s door and asking for a first team game.  It’s a big step, from the reserves to the Premier League, but Blakeman outshone experienced pros in the Bolton midfield and showed he has a good all-round game.

Opposition Watch: Michael Ngoo was Liverpool’s most obvious threat, showing pace and trickery in attack.

- Azreal88

That said, while I don’t for one second think that Coyle would turn  down Liverpool, they are after all a massive club with huge tradition  and a great history, that doesn’t mean that I don’t think he wouldn’t  regret it six months down the line.
I’m sure we wouldn’t stand in Coyle’s way if Liverpool does make an approach. It would be a fruitless endeavour anyway. Once a player / manager / assistant manager / coach / groundsmen / tea lady etc have made up their mind that they wish to leave, the best thing the club can do is try to get the maximum amount for them.

king Kenny in high spirites on his return to Anfield, with a ermmm his assistants

That is why, if Liverpool do come calling, we’ll be powerless to keep Owen. I’m not naive; Coyle is an ambitious manager and his career aims will mean that he’ll outgrow Bolton, just as he outgrew Burnley.
I don’t expect him to stay at Bolton for his entire career and I’ve  always been prepared for the fact that, if a big club  came in for  him, he would leave. The consolation in that logic was that, in order for a big club to come calling, Coyle had to be a success at Bolton.

He has; 7th in the league going into the new year, despite a little, and probably understandable considering the squad, wobble in form and results of late.
I have just been informed by my Dad that Roy Hodgson has been sacked by Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish has been appointed until the  end of the season

Cheers Liverpool. Kinda stepped on my point there. Ah well, I haven’t written a Manny Road article for so long… I’ll continue.
I don’t think there has been a worse time than this to manage Liverpool. Of course they are a massive club but they have an average team, little money to spend (although obviously more than we
have) yet they still have the same expectations. True, they should be doing better than what they are doing now, but their squad falls way short of the current top 5.
The Liverpool fans wanted Dalglish. They now have Dalglish. The masses now have their ‘messiah’. Where have we heard that before? If King Kenny does not provide the results expected at Liverpool, as Hodgson clearly didn’t, then they want a big name manager – Hiddink, Rijkard  etc.

To be fair, they have a point. Liverpool are a big club and have big ambitions. Some may say unrealistic expectations, but there’s no way a club like Liverpool shouldn’t be challenging for a Europa League  place, especially when the likes of Sunderland, Bolton and Stoke are  above them.

Sadly for Roy, success at a lower level doesn’t always translate into success at a bigger club. His managerial history is evidence of that.  He has had his managerial successes at ‘underdog’ sides such as Fulham and Switzerland, while his stays at Inter Milan and Blackburn were less impressive.

If the Liverpool fans didn’t think Hodgson has the right credentials  to manage Liverpool (he didn’t and I said that from the very
beginning), I fail to see how Coyle does. He has all of 18 months PL  experience. Coyle is destined for big things, I have no doubt about  that, but he’s still a relative novice at this level. He’s still  learning his trade and, looking round the Liverpool forums, their fans  know this.

The red half of Liverpool have never got over the fact they just arn't as pleasing on the eye as the blue half these days !

If you don’t have the majority of the fans (let’s face it, you can’t please all of the people all of the time) behind your appointment,  you’re always going to face an uphill struggle as those against your  appointment will continue to be negative to save face. ‘We won 4-1 but we were negative’ ring any bells?

In essence, you have to do twice as well in order to win over the sceptics. With Liverpool’s squad the way it is, and the expectation  level as high as it is, I consider that to be almost impossible for any  manager other than Dalglish who will get additional time due to his  legendary status at the club.

Sadly, you only get one shot at managing a ‘big’ club (ask Allardyce  and Rioch etc). Allardyce’s stock couldn’t have been higher when he left The Reebok for the final time in April 2007. In eight years, he had turned Bolton Wanderers from Championship strugglers into European contenders. He even managed a domestic cup final and an impressive interview for the England job for good measure. It took less than eight months at Newcastle to destroy that legacy.

Get the boot from a ‘big’ club, even if it is considered a harsh dismissal, and you could ruin all the good work you have done in your career up to that point. You’re forever finished at that level. True, Coyle has got time on his side, but once you are pigeon holed into a ‘level’, it is very difficult to get out.

Coyle has already been linked with the Arsenal job (it’s amazing what a strong media perception can do for a career). He has had continued success at every club he has been at. His star is definitely on the  rise, but if he were to take the Liverpool job at this stage in his  career, and failed (and with the aforementioned expectancy levels and  squad that was more than likely), he’ll be forever remembered as the  man who was sacked by Liverpool.

His success before Liverpool will forever be overlooked, or dismissed with the attitude that ‘it’s easy  to achieve success with Bolton, Burnley and St. Johnstone, but this is  [insert big club name here]‘.

Mark Hughes in another example; whilst at Blackburn, he was talked as being a candidate to replace Ferguson when he eventually retires from Manchester United.

Following ‘failure’ at Manchester City and he’s now at Fulham. Not to worry, it’s ‘his level’. At least he’ll have so much compensationI think the moral of the story is, if you’re offered a job at a ‘big’ club, be sure you’re ready for it. I’m not sure Coyle is.

If the Liverpool job had been offered to Coyle, I’m sure he’d have taken it. He’s an ambitious man and the possibility of managing a club like Liverpool would surely be too much to turn down.
However, I imagine a club in a better position on the field will come in for Coyle at some point if he stays here. We have the media perception now that we play like Brazil. That will attract potential suitors.

Personally, I think the media perception of Allardyce and his style of football always went against him. He achieved far more with us than Coyle has thus far (although I’m sure that will change if Coyle stays here) yet his name was never linked with Liverpool, much to his obvious (and understandable) irritation.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Spurs are interested in him if ‘Arry gets the England job. That wouldn’t have happened had he got the Liverpool job and, despite their respective histories, I know which job I’d prefer upon leaving Bolton.

Liverpool are a big club in decline. The allure of managing Liverpool is obvious, but the reality is not so great, as Hodgson will no doubt tell you. This is the worst Liverpool team in years. They have no chance of cracking the top 5 for the foreseeable future.

If it were any other circumstances, I’d say Coyle would be mad not to manage them, but with the current team and consistent expectation  levels, I think he’d have been in a no win situation.

Thankfully, for us anyway, Coyle was not put in that position. Liverpool’s owners have gone for Dalglish. To be perfectly honest,  it’s just delaying the inevitable. Other clubs will come in for Coyle if he continues his impressive work with us. He is far too good a manager to stay with us long term. We just need to enjoy his time here and, hopefully when he does move on, he’ll leave us in a good position in the league and perhaps a trophy in the cabinet. He is destined for big things that’s for sure and, at the moment, those things are bigger and better than Liverpool.

-Dave Hallsworth-

eh up... Harry's going on about the title again, better make an appearance just to keep things real...!

However, whilst journalists were marvelling at Redknapp’s Nostradamous like predictions, few noticed a fatal flaw in his plan. Whilst Arsenal were slipping up at home, that was their third home defeat of the season and fourth in total, Chelsea had suffered back to back defeats for the first time in years, City were struggling to play more than one attack minded player in any given team and Man United, while unbeaten, cannot win away, few had noticed that another team in white were above Spurs, and their form was not faltering.

Following Bolton’s 5-1 demolition of Newcastle, they too were just six points off the league leaders, yet claims that we could claim the first league title in our club’s illustrious history were not forthcoming. While Bolton Wanderers have (whisper it) become fashionable of late, with numerous column inches devoted to the ‘total football’ Owen Coyle’s team is now playing, the common consensus is that the league title may be beyond us, despite a friend of mine signing up to bwfcforum.co.uk with of rather optimistic username of ‘Bolton for the Title’! Yet I have reason to believe that Kevin Davies may indeed be lifting some silverware come May.

The title race is one of the closest in years. Some commentators have said that this is evidence that the league is the best it’s ever been, despite the fact that Chelsea’s total of 28 points from 14 games is the lowest tally accumulated by a league leader since 1994. However, whatever the reason, the league is indeed close this year. Chelsea lead the way obviously, despite their recent loss of form, but they’re just three points ahead of fourth placed Manchester City and (as this is a Bolton blog and we’re flying high), just six points ahead of fifth placed Bolton Wanderers.

The run up to Christmas is vitally important. We have five games before the trip to Chelsea on December 28^th. My personal target is 8 points from those five games, but I’m sure you will have your own targets and aspirations too dear reader. I consider that to be a realistic target, especially considering three of the five games are at home against Blackpool, [Insert Corporate Name Here] Rovers and West Brom. We also have away trips to Eastlands to face Man City in a match to determine fourth place (provided we beat Blackpool this week) and a trip North to face Sunderland, a match to keep us in fourth place (provided we beat Blackpool, City and Blackburn).

If we can get the necessary wins to take us to that ‘magical’ 30 point target, it will leave us to get 10 points from the remaining 18 games to see us safe from relegation. I know that we’re not talking about the prospect of relegation at the moment, considering our form and league position, but the sooner we can make that mathematically certain, the better.

The reason I hope that we can get to 30 points by January is not to keep pace with the league leaders, or even the top 4 contenders, although that would be nice. The reason I want to put ourselves three quarters of the way to safety is so we can give the FA Cup a bloody good go this season.

For a club with such a fine FA Cup tradition, our recent attempts at cup success have been nothing short of pathetic. We haven’t got past the fifth round since 2004, and that includes third round exits in both attempts under Gary Megson. However, we now have a manager who remembers fondly the cup runs of the early 90s (ironically better than myself) when we had several, memorable giant killings of top flight teams while we were in the lower leagues, knocking out the cup holders (Liverpool in 1993 and Arsenal in 1994) in consecutive seasons, and at their own grounds too.

We’re now equipped with a manager who treats cup competitions with the respect they deserve (I’ll conveniently ignore our unfortunate exit to Burnley in the league cup earlier this season) and I firmly believe that we are well equipped for cup success. Before anyone says anything, yes this belief is largely motivated by our hammering of Newcastle and other impressive performance of late. However, with the race for the title being so close this season, their priorities may not include the FA Cup. It is well document that Abramovich wants the Champions League, a cup which six managers and £500m have yet to obtain for him; Man United want that nineteenth title to surpass Liverpool; Arsenal just want to win anything although, for some bizarre reason, that doesn’t seem to include the FA Cup; Man City are focused on finishing fourth, ditto Spurs, and both may harbour distant dreams of winning the league (with it being so close, they may never have a better chance). Of course, in isolation, the above teams having other, perhaps more pressing, priorities is hardly a guarantee of cup success. Chelsea have managed to win the FA Cup in successive seasons whilst maintaining a strong domestic title challenge.

However, we have impressive form ourselves and have done more than enough to prove that we’re a good team with some fine players. Two defeats in fourteen Premiership games shows that we’re no longer a soft touch, determined to turn up at games with the sole, and ultimately unsuccessful, aim of trying to escape with a draw.

For the first time in years, we take the game to opposition. For the first time in over a decade, once ahead we keep attacking, which has produced the most goals per game we have ever scored in a Premier League season. Owen Coyle has instilled a belief in the players that we can take points in every game, and with good reason as, bar defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool, we have taken points in every game.

We have a settled team and, with that, we have created some strong partnerships; in Elmander and Davies, we have one of the best striking duos in the Premiership on current form. They have scored 14 goals and have numerous assists between them Davies’ excellent pass to set up Elmander’s first goal against Newcastle being a prime example. His deft touch to set up his strike partner against West Brom is another.

In Holden and Muamba, we have a midfield duo who can rival most teams in the league. No-one covers more ground, and they boast the record of the most tackles this season. However, it is Holden’s attacking prowess that has caught the eye. He is easily one of the star performers of the season, turning in first class performances in each and every match.

With our current form, and the bit of luck you need in cup competitions, I believe that we could do very well in this season’s FA Cup. Coyle has a strong cup record for each of the clubs he has managed; he took St Johnstone to the semi finals of both domestic cup competitions in Scotland, knocking out Rangers at Ibrox along the way, and got them to the final of the Scottish Challenge Cup before leaving for Burnley, a cup final which his current assistant Sandy Stewart won without him before himself moving South to link up with Coyle. He then took Burnley to within 2 minutes of Carling Cup final before a late Jermain Defoe goal deep into extra time snatched away their dreams. The one thing against the Allardyce era, for me anyway, was that, for all the top eight finishes, and they were considerable achievements, we had no need for the silver polish, and sadly you can’t organise an open top parade to show off a league table. That may all change under Coyle.

All the players have said that Coyle’s enthusiasm is infectious and that rubs off on everyone he meets. Well, I haven’t met Owen Coyle but his enthusiasm has rubbed off on me regardless. It’s not going to be easy and, similar to my last article after the Stoke game regarding Europe being a possibility, I’m sure a lot of other clubs will be thinking the same, but hopefully we may need to get the champagne on ice because we have a great chance of going to Wembley (twice)!

-dh1985-

The FA were unable to act after referee Chris Foy claimed that the incident had been seen by match officials.  Yeah, right.

In truth, it’s difficult to get agitated about Huddlestone did.    For one thing, Bolton won – and in some style. Secondly, it wasn’t a full blown assault, more a petulant toe poke, for which the appropriate sanction is a clip around the ear and an admonishment to stop being such a girl, rather than a three match ban for violent conduct.  However, the fact that this is not an isolated happening does grate a little.

After being reduced to a gibbering wreck by Eduardo’s horrible leg break at Birmingham, you’d think that William Gallas would be mindful of the health of his fellow professionals.   How wrong that assumption would be.

In last season’s game against between Arsenal and Bolton at the Emirates, Gallas went in over the top on Mark Davies which led to the young midfielder being stretchered off with damaged ankle ligaments.  A red card?  Nope.  A yellow then?  Negative.  Retropective punishment?  Not on your nelly.  Alan Wiley, the man with the inappropriate surname, said he’d seen the challenge so no action was taken.

Sissoko explains how he can get away with anything

Going back a while, to a New Year fixture at the Reebok against Liverpool, there was not one, but two stamping incidents.  Firstly, Steven Gerrard did a little tap dance on the already prostrate Kevin Nolan.   It was difficult from the video footage alone, to establish if there was malicious intent, and as Nolan himself made light of the event, it’s best to move on.

The same couldn’t be said for Mohamed Sissoko’s ten metre dash to stick the boot into a horizontal El Hadji Diouf.  Given the seamier side of Diouf’s nature, some might say he’s due a good shoeing.  Perhaps, Mark Clattenburg, the man in the middle that day, was working to a set of rules in which that sentiment had been enshrined.  There can be no other explanation for the entry in his match report which said that no action was deemed necessary.

A few months earlier at Stamford Bridge, it wasn’t a stamp, but a reckless kick to the area below Tal Ben Haim’s knee that earned Michael Essien a booking, rather than the sending off it deserved.  But that’s what you get when Rob ‘Big Club’ Styles is carrying the cards.

The intention here is not to claim that Bolton are being singled out for neglectful treatment.  It’s the inconsistency and the bias toward the big clubs that is the problem.

Clattenburg was the referee at Manchester City when Emmanuel Adebayor attempted to stamp on Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie.  A ban resulted this time, as the act had not been seen.  Which was odd, as it happened three feet in front of the man with the whistle.

At Arsenal in September, Gary Cahill got his marching orders for the mildest of infringements.  Even Arsene Wenger thought the decision unfair.  When old wrinkle bonce sides with the opposition you know there’s a problem.

'Get up you cissy. Stevie hardly touched you'

Stuart Atwell officiated that day, which may provide an explanation.  He was also in charge at Liverpool in March when he allowed Steven Gerrard to escape without censure after his forearm smash on Michael Brown of Portsmouth. The list goes on.

Without inside knowledge it’s hard to know where the problem lies.  Are the FA too harsh on officials who admit they’ve made mistakes?  Are those tasked with controlling Premier League matches completely starstruck?   Or are they just a bunch of lying bastards?

Until the answer is found, players of the less fashionable clubs will hope that their more illustrious counterparts don’t start carrying weapons onto pitch.  In the current climate they’d get away with using them.

- Richard McCormick

The Reebok Stadium. It's been bolted down as a precaution against light fingered visitors

Such things are common for the guests. The death of a neighbour’s cat can trigger a week of mourning, statements in Parliament and a candlelit vigil outside both cathedrals.  However, a moment of sombre reflection is justified this time.  It’s to acknowledge the passing of Liverpool FC as a force in English football.

The league title last came to the red half of Merseyside twenty years ago.  Since then the likes of Graeme Souness, Roy Evans, and most satisfyingly, Rafael Benitez, have presided over a slow, but inexorable decline.

Assessing Benitez when he first arrived in this country wasn’t easy, due to language difficulties.  It was only when his command of English improved, that it became apparent what a tit he was.  The Spaniard spent tens of millions, building a nondescript squad and is just as culpable for the club’s plight as Tom Hicks and George Gillette.

Now there’s Roy Hodgson. When your manager signs Paul Konchesky, you know the aspiration is mid-table mediocrity.

Not that the ex-Fulham man has much to work with. The list of players at Anfield used to be full of household names.  Now, apart from Fernando Torres, and arch diver Steven Gerrard, it comprises has beens, overrated journeymen and anonymous foreigners.

Steven Gerrard in familiar pose

This game will be an interesting test for Bolton.  While Liverpool won’t be challenging for a Champions League place anytime soon, they are still, at least for the moment, regarded as a big club.

Against such opposition, Gary Megson had a never say live attitude.  Last season’s fixture resulted in a 3-2 win for Gerrard & Co.  For some, the turning point was the sending off of Sean Davis, for looking at Lucas Leiva in a funny way.  But the stats told a damning story.  The home side had a mere 19% of possession.

Things are different under Owen Coyle.  His team are way off the finished product, and will be so for several transfer windows.  But there is a spirit and a self-belief that was entirely lacking before the Ginger One was given the boot.

The Whites should have beaten Manchester United and Aston Villa, but were let down by poor finishing. A victory over a fashionable side, even one in freefall is overdue.  Anything less then three points will be a disappointment.

- Richard McCormick

The support from football fans and ordinary people in the street has been inspirational

Click the link to listen to Mark Halsey’s Exclusive  interview.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/751463426e948768/

Despite hailing from Hertfordshire, Mark Halsey has firmly established himself as one of Bolton’s favourite adopted sons. After spending 12 years playing non-league football for Cambridge City and Hertford Town he began his refereeing career in 1989 and a decade later refereed the famous 1999 Football League One Play-off Final between Gillingham and Manchester City at Wembley. The same year he was promoted to Premier League status and shortly after the FIFA List of referees. He quickly established himself as one of the most popular referees in the League.

Mark was kind enough to take time out of his schedule to speak Exclusively to Manny Road & bwfcforum’s Andi Walton. He started by asking him about his current health:

MH:      Yeah I’m feeling very good, I seem to be getting stronger with every game I do and it’s a bonus for me because I never thought I’d be back refereeing again, so every day is a cup final and it’s really great to be back and the reception I’ve received from the two games I’ve done at Rotherham and Port Vale and Oldham and Bristol Rovers, the fans have been absolutely fantastic and it’s been very emotional and overwhelming for me.

AW:      It must have been the furthest thing from your mind getting out on the football pitch when you were in the midst of your treatment but now you’ve got to that stage, it must be a real thrill.

MH:      For me to come back and, you know, I suppose…for what I’ve gone through with all my chemotherapy and my radiotherapy…I mean if you saw me at Christmas, I was nowhere near the Mark Halsey of old, you know, but I’ve worked hard and a lot of people have helped me and it’s been great.  The support I’ve received from people around the country – just ordinary football fans and ordinary people in the street.  They’ve been inspirational to me and they’ve got to really pat themselves on the back for the way they’ve helped me and it’s down to them that I’m back where I am now.

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Click the link to listen to the interview.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/751463426e948768/

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AW:      Tell us about the club Mark, how have they been helping?

MH:      Oh they’ve been fantastic. I come into remission and Adie the fitness coach and you’ve got Nick Worth in charge of the physios, they’ve been brilliant with me.  Then you’ve got the doc who’s been brilliant with me.  Owen Coyle’s been running with me and Adie’s set me running programmes to do to build my fitness back up and without the club I don’t think I’d be where I am now as well because they’ve been absolutely first class with me, first class.

AW:      Let’s go back a bit earlier in your career. You were a player before you were a ref weren’t you?

MH:      Yeah.  I was a player. I played non-league as a goal keeper down in the Ryman’s league and up until I was about 28 really then I gave up playing and sort of…well 30 I was, and gave up playing and took up refereeing.  I got one or two injuries and took up refereeing.

AW:      Do you think that’s given you an advantage as opposed to somebody…well you know, it’s a decent standard you played at.

MH:      It was yeah. It does help you playing the game. I have empathy for the game, I give players a chance, I love football, I’m a football fan and it’s all about 22 players on the field and the fans, you know, it’s not about the referee.  And I think that’s where sometimes we lose sight.  It doesn’t always mean to say that ex-players make good referees.

AW:      So how did you end up in Bolton then, because obviously we can tell from you voice that you’re not born and bred.

MH:      No born and bread in Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire and I married a Bolton lass so obviously that’s when I moved up here and here I am.

AW:      You’ve become an honorary northerner.

MH:      I’m an honorary northerner, yeah and I love being a northerner. I love being a northwester, I wouldn’t move back down south.

AW:      So you’ve talked about the club helping you with your recovery, but how did you come about getting involved with Bolton in the first place?

MH:      When I first moved up here in 2000…Sam Allardyce has been brilliant with me as well.  He was in charge of the Wanderers and I asked if I could come along and train with him and I am and I’ve been there 10 years now, going every day.  I mean the lads have been fantastic with me and over the last 9 months I’ve got to know Joey O’Brien and Sean Davis very well, although Sean’s got on my nerves, in there recovering in the gym because of the long term injuries…but we’ve passed the time away really well and we’ve had a good laugh and he’s a bit of a pain in the backside is Sean!

We’ve had good times.  It’s been great, you know…but that’s why there’s a plus point being in the gym with them two all the time.

AW:            Obviously you arrived in 2000 and that was when the club was just about sort of on the up and up wasn’t it?

MH:      In 2000 first season in the Premier League it was.

AW:      And has the club advanced since you first arrived? I imagine that you’re one of those who have been around for the longest now.

MH:      I think they’ve gone from strength to strength really. You can’t take it away from what Sam Allardyce done.  I mean he’s put the club on the map and he’s done a fantastic job.   And obviously all good things come to an end and you move on.  And we’ve had people come and go and they’ve all done well in their own way and I think now that Owen Coyle’s here.  I mean Owen Coyle…his enthusiasm is second to none.  When I first saw his training session I thought he was absolutely…his enthusiasm was fantastic and he’s got all the lads up there and playing and working for him.

AW:      I suppose you’ll be coming up against Sam now won’t you because obviously you never did while was in charge of Bolton?

MH:      No I don’t referee Sam. He’s at Blackburn and we’re right good friends so they never give me Sam’s club’s.

AW:      Right, so that’s all kind of acknowledged then by the powers-that-be, is it?

MH:      Yeah.

AW:      Who are the best Bolton players that you worked alongside then over the last 10 years Mark?

MH:            Obviously there have been some great players haven’t there? I think Jussi Jaaskelainen  and I’ve trained with Jussi and I think he’s got to be up there, one of the top players, top performers, consistently week-in week-out.  And Ivan Campo was fantastic in the midfield there.  Djorkaeff and Jay Jay Okocha – there are some great names of the past aren’t there.

AW:      I suppose those are the sort of names as well that the fans remember best, particularly those like Campo really had a connection with the fans.

MH:      Oh of course he did.  They were some good days under Sam weren’t they. You know, I think the lads now that have come in are doing well and playing for Owen and if they keep us in the Premier League, which I think they will…I don’t think there’s a problem there…and see if we can kick on and see if they can kick on next season.

AW:      So you’ve said ‘us’ – you said ‘we’ there.  Does that mean that you’re a Wanderers fan? What would you describe yourself as?

MH:      Well you know, obviously being attached to the club you do, don’t you.  But I mean obviously people know I’m a QPR fan but obviously living in Bolton and training in Bolton, you get an affection for the club because as I say, the club have been fantastic with me and, you know, it’s a family run club.  So you do tend to say we, you know what I mean?

I’ve been to most games there this season because of my illness but you do, you use that terminology don’t you?

AW:      I imagine at times that it didn’t make you feel much better with some of the performances

MH:      [laughs]

AW:      Tell us about the rest of the league then.  You talked about Wanderers players.  Any other players that you’ve jut enjoyed being on the same pitch as?

MH:      Oh I mean there’s loads.  I mean there’s some fantastic players around isn’t there?  From refereeing, you just look at the likes of Alan Shearer, Henri, David Beckham. I had the privilege of refereeing Zidane and he was got to be one of the best, you know…it’s great to be on the pitch with players like that.  And you’ve got there some great players now.  You’ve got Rooney, you’ve got John Terry, you’ve got Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, they’re absolutely fantastic players aren’t they. And it’s one everyone would want to pay to see, whether you’re support for Chelsea or support for Arsenal, cos you’ve got Fabregas who’s outstanding as well, so there’s some fantastic players.  And instead of all the supporters booing and when they come to their grounds, they should be clapping them because you don’t want them players leaving the Premiership and going playing back in Spain and Italy and things like that cos we want to be the best league in the world and we need to keep those players in the Premier league.

AW:      Yeah, there’s the sort of well-known story of Wanderers fans of when Ruud Gullit played at Burnden Park, you know, he just absolutely played us off the park but the fans just clapped him off cos they hadn’t seen a player of that standard for 20 / 30 years on the pitch there.

MH:      But that’s what it should be like every ground…life’s too short.  I know that. You just don’t know what’s round the corner.  And instead of, you know, the fans…yeah of course they get emotional don’t they, with people, so it’s just great to have all these great players gracing our football pitches.

AW:      That brings me onto how you deal with the fans’ reaction to you.  We all know some of the choice language that fans can use about refs if things don’t go the right way.  How hard is it when the whole ground – they question your parentage or whatever it might be?

MH:      [laughs] It’s emotional.  People get emotional.  Football’s emotional.  And I mean 9 times out of 10 you don’t hear it because you’re concentrating and focussing on what you’re doing, so you don’t really pay any attention to it to be honest.

AW:      Do you understand it though?  Say there’s the FA Cup semi final over the weekend and John Terry’s tackle on James Milner has come in for a bit of scrutiny and then there was the penalty in that game as well.  Howard Webb doing that game and obviously someone that you know well.  But can you understand the frustration of the Villa fans there for instance?

MH:      Well obviously I can’t comment.  I honestly haven’t seen any of the incidents, obviously because I was refereeing my game at Oldham, so I’ve not seen.  And I was at Manchester City so I can’t really comment on that because I’ve not seen any of it.

AW:      Well speaking in general, you can understand how…because you know, fans spend a lot of money.  They travel to Wembley for instance in that case and you know, we as Wanderers fans have had loads of decisions, as of course all clubs have over the years, and you do remember them.

MH:      Yeah, it’s just…as I say, these things happen don’t they?  As I say it’s very difficult for referees.  They get a split second, you know, and so it’s very difficult for referees to referee at the top level.  As I said, they get a split second whereas you get all these replays and then you can make your mind up afterwards after watching it two or three times can’t you?  If you look at Fabio Capello, he said the English league’s got the best referees in the world.

But it’s just one of those things.  We all make mistakes.  I make mistakes.  It’s just one of those things.

AW:      Would you appreciate some help from cameras though Mark?

MH:            Obviously that’s not gonna happen because FIFA have said no so that’s the end of the matter so there’s no point, no matter what I say.  It can’t be used and that’s it.  I think we can make good use of them but obviously we cannot…

AW:      What’s the best match you’ve ever reffed at?  The City Gillingham playoff final, I know you did that.  That was an extraordinary match wasn’t it?

MH:      Oh it was fantastic.  Every game I referee is good.  You know, I treat every game the same.  You know, I just love refereeing.  I just love football and I treat every game the same, whether it be at Rotherham, Morecambe, Accrington or wherever it be…at Goodison Park, I treat every game the same.

AW:      You’ve done a league cup final, a charity shield.  Would the FA Cup Final be the dream?

MH:      Oh yeah it would be. I mean with my illness and obviously, you know, being out all season, there’s that carrot there and it would be great if I could come back and referee that FA Cup Final, on merit and not on sentiment.

AW:      How’s the restaurant going on?  You still involved?

MH:      Yeah, it’s not too bad.  It’s been a struggle.  It’s been a massive struggle but you know…it’s been difficult.  But yeah, my wife’s been running that so I’ve not had a lot of involvement with that.

AW:      Where do people go if they… you’ve been good enough to talk to us so we might as well give you a plug.  Where do people go if they want to get involved?

MH:      It’s Ristaurante Sottovento, 69 Worsley Road in Farnworth.  So come along and speak to us or whatever, and support your local restaurant.

AW:      Just a couple of final things then, just on more general reffing issues.  Are players more disrespectful now and does that really affect kids watching them?

MH:      No I don’t think so, no.  To be fair, I think the Respect Programme’s working very well from what I’ve seen of it and, you know, I can only talk for myself and I get the utmost respect from players and I think that the players give the referees the utmost respect as well to be fair.  You know, I think that’s been working well.

AW:      You know when players do surround you though and obviously we’ve talked about the passion that’s involved, and they do get right in your face and, you know, you only have to watch Match of the Day to see that there is some fairly choice stuff being said by the players.  Are you not tempted just to get the yellow card straight out?  That would stop them soon enough, wouldn’t it?

MH:            Well…as I say, football’s a very emotional game and, you know, that’s what it is, it’s very emotional.  And referees manage the occasion, they take that into consideration, so they may just be doing it to themselves and it may look as if it’s at the referee.  I mean the referee on the whole; I think the referees in England do an excellent job.  And the players and the managers do respect that.

AW:      And how’s it different when you’re refereeing an international game or a European game?  Is it more difficult with the language and that kind of thing?

MH:      No they all speak English.

AW:      So you make yourself understood?

MH:      Yeah.

AW:            Refereeing an international game must be a real honour as well.

MH:      It is yeah.  It’s a great honour to represent your country, just like a player, it’s a great honour to represent your country abroad with the three lions and the FIFA badge.  It’s fantastic.  So it’s just the same for a referee as it is for a player representing your country.

AW:      And what’s the future hold Mark?  Obviously you’ll try and keep your recovery on track and get back as a regular Premier League ref next season?

MH:      Yeah, well hopefully I’d like to get a game this season.  But we’ll see how my fitness goes and I’m getting stronger all the time and as I say, it’s not been easy, considering another 2 weeks I wouldn’t be here standing talking to you, it’s been amazing and the Christie  has been a fantastic hospital and my professional team has been brilliant with me and as I say I’ve got a charity dinner on May 7^th at Lancashire Cricket Club, which we’ve got Roberto Mancini, Sir Alex Ferguson, Owen Coyle and Sam Allardyce is guest of honour so it should be a great night.

AW:      Brilliant, how do people find out more about that if they want to?

MH:      They can contact Lancashire County Cricket Club. There’s a Lancashire website and if they want to make a donation, they can text Mark to 78070 to help raise money for the Christie. Or they can visit the Just Giving website…www.justgiving.com/Mark-Halsey

AW:            Fantastic. We wish you all the best with your recovery and it’ll be great to see you back on the pitch in the premier league.

MH:      OK thanks very much.

Click the link to listen to the interview.

http://www.zshare.net/audio/751463426e948768/

As well as battling the illness he is actively fundraising to raise money for The Christie, the leading cancer centre in Manchester. You can help him reach his £50,000 target by visiting www.justgiving.com/mark-halsey or goto http://www.lccc.co.uk/index.php?p=news&id=3495 for details of Mark’s charity dinner on May 7^th at which Sir Alex Ferugson, Owen Coyle, Roberto Mancini and Sam Allardyce will be in attendance.

due to journalistic integrity (and the fact it might not be him) we have blanked out the ugly mush in this pic

(we would like to express, these are not necessarily the views of bwfcforum or manny road)

Superstar Shrek look-a-like Wayne Rooney was last night said to be close to an Old Trafford exit, according to sources.

The former Everton hitman, 24, has been in sensational form for the champions this season, netting his 33rd goal of the campaign in Sunday’s win over rivals Liverpool.

But in news certain to stun the Old Trafford faithful, Rooney was recently seen close to an Old Trafford exit. Our sources, who were allegedly close to the club at the time, also claim to have photos of Rooney in the compromising position. Negotiations to purchase the photos broke down in order to preserve our journalistic integrity.

Englands inform striker’s alleged proximity to the exit door could not come at a worse time for debt-ridden crisis-club United as they prepare for Saturday’s vital clash against local rivals Bolton Wanderers, followed by a run of games that sees them play title rivals Chelsea at Old Trafford followed by local derbies at Blackburn and Manchester City.

The club were keen to refute the rumours, with a clearly flustered club spokesman claiming that the allegations were “completely irrelevant” and “utter nonsense”. The spokesman refused to comment further, whilst Rooney himself was presumed to be unavailable.

The news comes as a further disruption to Italian tactician Fabio Capello’s world cup hopes, following celebrity wideman David Beckham’s Achilles injury.

Controversial former Rhodesian premier, Robert Mugabe, has emerged as the shock front-runner to take over penniless premiership high-flyers Everton.

I guarantee I'll be in the first team by Saturday...

Currently president of the former British colony – now known as “Zimbabwe” – Mugabe’s interest could end chairman Bill Kenwright’s long search for a buyer.

If Mugabe, 86, does take over from theatre impresario Kenwright, he will become the latest in a long line of controversial Everton chairmen believed to include Isaac Newton and Leonardo DaVinci.

An Everton supporter last night told this column: “I’m not bothered who takes over – it could be Robert Mugabe for all I care – as long as we get the investment we need.”

Mugabe’s interest may not be popular in all quarters, however. Known to favour a policy of “hyperinflation”, some fans are already worried that ticket prices will rocket astronomically.

Adding credibility to the rumours, Everton are currently refusing to take calls, whilst Mugabe is believed to be overseas and unavailable for comment.