Over the phone lines and online, there has been an uncontrolled outpouring of anguish, due to opposition striker Kevin Davies launching an evil, vicious, pre-meditated, bone-crunching, career-ending, murderous attack on Red Devils midfielder Tom Cleverley.   Or as more normal observers described it, the Bolton captain committed a minor foul and conceded a free kick.

Kevin Davies. A menace to society. Apparently.

United boss Alex Ferguson kicked off the grief-fest just after the final whistle. “He may have a broken foot, it was unfortunate,” he advised, failing to explain why he ordered his player to ponce around the stadium in a ski-boot rather than send him to hospital.

Cleverley was more measured.   “Don’t worry about it, I’ve seen it back, it was just an unfortunate coming together,” he told Davies in response to the latter’s phone call.

The unfettered torrent of woe that followed appeared to start in Malaysia, but supporters in United’s UK heartland in the home counties soon joined in.  On Twitter, worshippers of the sourest manager in football bravely attacked Kevin Davies’s wife, Emma, whilst the ‘Kevin Davies is a Thug’ Facebook group quickly picked up members, although it is still somewhat smaller than the ‘I support Manchester United but don’t have a clue where Old Trafford is’ page.

Quick to react to the tragedy, United have applied for planning permission to build a shrine outside the Stretford End, so that the tiny minority of fans who live close by can place flowers, cards and other objects in tribute to Cleverley’s foot.  Meanwhile, it is rumoured Ferguson has been granted an audience with the Queen where he will request a national day of mourning.

A routine scan has revealed that Tom Cleverley’s bones remain intact.  He will return to action in around three weeks.

Stuart Holden. Joint and bone damage. Twenty-six stitches. Surgery. Out for six months. Courtesy of Jonny Evans. Any thoughts Fergie?

- Richard McCormick

TweetFollow @RMc2407

By contrast, Saturday’s feeble capitulation to Wayne Rooney and Co barely registered mild disappointment, at least with this fan – for it was fully expected.

Sod off back to Burnley

The gap between those at the very top of the Premier League and the rest should be acknowledged. As a competition it is now very similar to that which exists in Scotland. At the root of the issue is money, or the lack of it. The yearly interest repayments on Manchester United’s debt are more than Bolton’s entire turnover. A level playing field it isn’t.

However, those facts don’t excuse the pitiful lack of resistance offered by Owen Coyle’s men, even if they were facing opposition blessed with World class players in the most clinical of moods, and a manager who is arguably the best of the modern British era. For the second game in succession, Bolton were brushed aside without making the other side work.

Individually there are too many weak links, and depressingly, some of them have just arrived. Chris Eagles is so far out of his depth, that he is painful to watch. Nigel Reo-Coker is that rare thing – a defensive midfielder who can make you miss Fabrice Muamba. The man who Aston Villa were so pleased to offload usually arrives at the scene a second after he should have done, with the ball already several metres away. In the run up to United’s third goal he was outpaced by the lumbering Phil Jones. Not good.

Kevin Davies is quite rightly held in high regard by Wanderers fans, but his best days are behind him. If the captain’s challenge on Patrice Evra had been any later, it would have occurred in next week’s fixture against Norwich and he was justifiably booked.

Just sod off. Anywhere will do.

Zat Knight reportedly has ambitions to play in America’s MLS. Take a left out of the stadium, Zat, and follow signs for the M61. The airport is just a few miles away. Take someone with you as you’re not good with directions. Coyle’s persistence with his terminally dozy central defender is a puzzle to everyone, especially David Wheater, who probably wishes he’d stayed at Middlesbrough.

That just leaves Jussi Jaaskelainen, once a tower of strength, but now a crumbling edifice with shot reflexes and creaking joints, at least judging by the speed with which he gets down to shots these days.

At the heart of Bolton’s problem is Owen Coyle, the Forrest Gump of football managers, who presides over a shambolic defence and a midfield lacking organisation. As a former striker he may not know about these things. As a manager he has a responsibility to recruit someone who does, replacing the bunch of second raters that he imported from Burnley.

That may sound harsh, but the Scot has been in charge for a humiliation at Wembley, the heaviest defeat ever at the Reebok, and a hammering on a night when Nat Lofthouse was supposed to be honoured. The honeymoon is over and the bride suspects that her new hubby isn’t all he was cracked up to be.

Yes, that's how we feel.

Allowing the other side’s midfielders limitless space in which to indulge themselves isn’t a luxury that any Premier League team can afford. The Wanderers do it as a matter of routine. For a time, the industry of Stuart Holden concealed that deficiency, but with the American sidelined (ironically by a grotesque challenge from Jonny Evans that Ferguson has refused to condemn) it is all too clear.

Bolton won’t often be punished for their shortcomings as effectively as they were on Saturday. But if those faults aren’t rectified there will be many more defeats, numerous goals conceded, and a manager consigned to the category of ‘likeable duffer’. All together now, by was of a rehearsal:

‘Nice Gary Megson. You’re Just a Nice Gary Megson.’

- Richard McCormick

TweetFollow @RMc2407

Meanwhile, tucked away in a corner of the club’s official website, was news of a deal between Bolton Wanderers and South Korean firm Hanwha SolarOne, which will lead to a series of advertising campaigns at the Reebok Stadium, featuring that company’s range of solar panels. Inter Milan and Hamburg SV have similar agreements.

The promotion of a clean, sustainable, environmentally friendly method of energy generation seems an ethically sound project to be involved with.

There’s a snag though. Hanwha Group also makes landmines.

Yes, you read that right. Those devices which have a tendency to explode, sometimes thirty years or more after they’ve been laid, leaving victims, frequently children, dead or maimed.

Hanwha Group was founded in 1952 as Hanwha Explosives Inc, and has since grown into a global conglomerate embracing a vast variety of businesses. However, the explosives division is still thriving and continues to peddle landmines as well as cluster munitions and missiles. Unlike the UK, South Korea is not a signatory to the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines. This leaves Hanwha free to continue that gory branch of its trade.

SungSoo Lee, CSO of Hanwha’s business division was enthusiastic about his latest deal.

“Hanwha Group is proud to support the Bolton Wanderers, one of the most respected Premier League football clubs,” he said.

“Most of all, full attention of Bolton on sustainable world is accordant with the Hanwha Group credentials on social responsibility addressing climate change, energy disparity, and energy security and scarcity on a global scale.”

It’s yet to be explained how that vision fits in with the sale of products that can blow a human being to bits.

- Richard McCormick

TweetFollow @RMc2407

Can someone turn off those lights on your way out...!

However, reading several posts on various Bolton messageboards over the past three weeks, more than a few fans consider the season to be over already. In their minds, our season ended on 19th March 2011 at approximately 16.35.

This was when the boot of Manchester United’s Johny Evans collided with the knee of Bolton’s Stuart Holden. The initial reaction was not good: Holden was stretchered off the Old Trafford pitch in obvious distress and Bolton fans feared the worse. Two days later, those fears were realised: Holden was out for six months (‘gutted smilely’).

Evans, to his credit, called to Holden to apologise for the challenge, an apology that Holden has yet to receive from De Jong for a similar tackle twelve months earlier. Holden has accepted Evans’ apology conceding that, unfortunately, injuries are a risk in a contact sport such as football. Arsenal fans take note, it’s not just your players who can suffer injury as a result of a mistimed challenge, a fact that poor Holden knows only too well.

Since signing for Bolton in January 2010, becoming Owen Coyle’s first signing in the process, he has had two season ending injuries in as many seasons. For a player who is not considered to be ‘injury prone’, he has spent a lot of time keeping Sean Davis company in the treatment room.

It was that Jonny Evens who did it...!

I have every faith that Holden will bounce back from this set back, just as he has the others in his career. He seems to have the right attitude and is already focusing on his recovery. That said, I’m sure he’ll be gutted about missing the biggest game of his club career, not to disrespect to his achievements in the MLS.

He has been a breath of fresh air in a Bolton midfield terrified of the ball in recent seasons. Confident in possession, keen for the ball and with an eye for a pass as well as being equally adept in his
defensive duties: he is / was (I can’t be arsed checking) the top tackling midfielder in the Premier League. A solid all rounder. The only slight criticism I can think of is that I thought that he may have chipped in with a few more goals, although I instantly forgive him that when I remember that one of the goals he did score was the winner against Blackburn, the first at home for 13 years. What a goal it was too!

Losing a player of Holden’s quality will obviously be a big blow as, in this author’s opinion (and that of many others), he has been our player of the season this year, and by some distance. Any team would be weaker in his absence. However, despite losing our best performer, is our season effectively over?

Bloody Hell.... look what you've started now Jonny.... hope you're proud of yourself ?

Unfortunately, the stats do not make for good reading: since Stu-S-A made his league bow for the Mighty Whites in March 2010 against Wolves,  we have won 41% of league games in which Holden has featured (impressive eh?) compared with just 20% when Holden has been absent (not so impressive).

Another issue we have is the fitness of Mark Davies. In an ideal world, I’d pick Mark Davies and Holden to be my starting midfield duo as I think they compliment each other well; they’re both comfortable in posession, good on the ball (Davies especially) and are always willing to take the ball and try and make something happen, a trait which I feel some other Bolton players do not have. To lose Holden is a spanner in the works; to lose Davies too is a toolbox in the works.

However, despite what the stats say (people can use stats to prove anything even remotely true), we are not a one man team. (As yesterday’s game v West Ham proved) We were in great form prior to the Man Utd game with six wins in the previous nine games in league and cup.

Not only was our form impressive, but the spirit within the team was as good as I can remember. 3-2 victories against Aston Villa, after going behind twice, and Birmingham in the cup, after twice being pegged back, demonstrated the great character and spirit in this Bolton team.

Under Megson, we would have lost the game against Villa for sure and could have easily lost the game against Birmingham. I very much doubt we would have gone on to win 3-2 under Megson. If I’m honest, I doubt we would have done so under Allardyce, whose teams were set up to grind out narrow 1-0 opposed to last minute winners.

The team demonstrated amazing resolve in each of those matches. Having dominated for large periods against Birmingham, passing up several opportunities to secure the win, they were hit with a big sucker punch with Phillips’ goal, however good a goal it may have been. It would have been easy for Bolton to take the draw and look to the replay in that position, but Owen Coyle’s men are made of sterner stuff. They didn’t allow Birmingham to establish any momentum following their goal and, ultimately, got the result which, overall, I think they fully deserved.

That is the type of attitude and desire that needs to return, not only on the pitch but in the stands. There’s no point in us feeling sorry for ourselves. Holden is a great player, but he’s just that, one player. The results we got before were down to the team, not any one man.

The fans and the team need to return to the previous mindset we had all of a month ago. Holden’s injury could be the defining moment in our season, it could give M Davies the chance to shine etc, but we can’t let it define our season.

We have a fantastic opportunity to reach our first FA Cup final in 53 years. What has happened in the last three weeks cannot be erased; it cannot be altered, however much we may wish it could be.

Go on cocker.... do it for me...!

However, we do have control over the next few matches. I’m sure Coyle will have team fully prepared for the semi final, but the fans can play their part too. The players need us now more than ever. Together, we can win this semi final, no matter who is in our midfield. Contrary to what the naysayers may believe, our season is far from over!

-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-

This time last season, Whites fans were looking forward to the inevitable sacking of Gary Megson, and as Johan Elmander’s recent comments show, the players were sick of the Ginger One’s if-it-moves- shout-at-it routine.

Mystery solved. It was Martin Samuel who ate all the pies. And probably the mash too.

The mood has also been lifted by the belated England cap awarded to Kevin Davies, which has had the added bonus of upsetting the morbidly obese West Ham supporting monkey that is the Daily Mail’s Martin Samuel.

So the question posed in the title to this article might seem a bit odd.  A look at the league table shows it isn’t.  Bolton sit in twelfth place with eight points and a goal difference of minus one.  Or to put it another way, exactly the same position as last term after seven games. Now Coyle has the chance to move ahead on that front.

Last season’s fixture against the Potters marked a low point in terms of what happened on the pitch.  Disaffected football fans have been known to voice their disapproval, but they usually wait until the half or full time whistle.  The match was only 25 minutes old when the Reebok faithful started to boo.

Megson’s comments after the game demonstrated that he was beyond redemption. An interviewer asked if the second half performance been enough to send the fans home happy.

‘I don’t know, I’m not bothered,’ came the reply.  When your manager morphs into Catherine Tate it’s time to go.

Games against Stoke aren’t easy.  ‘Physical’, ‘dirty’ and ‘long ball’ are labels used by lazy football writers and resentful opposition fans.  In truth, Tony Pulis has assembled a squad, who work hard and for each other, containing several individuals of genuine quality – former Bolton favourites Abdoulaye Faye and Eidur Gudjohnsen amongst them.

But a victory should be the aim here.  Gradual improvement is the realistic objective for Owen Coyle’s Bolton.  Supplanting Stoke who finished in comfortable mid-table last time round will be a valuable first step.

- Richard McCormick

Owen Coyle’s men have had a mixed few days.  A creditable performance at Aston Villa, followed by a lethargic showing at Burnley.  The latter demonstrated that the Wanderers boss hasn’t got much depth in his squad.

Meanwhile, up the road in Stretford, Alex Ferguson has spent the week playing hide and seek with Patrice Evra.  United’s left-back hasn’t been the same since being terrorised by Kevin Davies in 2007 and is always a reluctant participant in this fixture.  Last season, Evra’s fingers had to be prised off the door frame as he was dragged out of Old Trafford and onto the team coach.  A similar scuffle is anticipated this time round with the Frenchman’s passport having been confiscated as a precautionary measure.

Will Wayne Rooney play?  According to Fergie, his striker’s head isn’t right – but then it never has been.  For one thing (as a contributor to this blog pointed out in midweek) it’s shaped like a potato.

Jennifer Thompson - Reebok Rebel

But don’t be fooled.  The man with more whores than you can shake a dick at will feature at some point, which is a shame, as he usually has a good time at the Reebok – although not as good a time as he had at the Lowry.

Perhaps Phil Gartside can make Jennifer Thompson an honorary member of the Reebok Rebels for the day.  That should put the Chav Master General off his stroke, so to speak.

The other potential high profile returnee is Rio Ferdinand, who was last seen limping out of South Africa, shortly before his England team mates, who didn’t even have injury as an excuse.  Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville, Luke Chadwick and Pug out of the Bash Street Kids.  Do Manchester United have the World’s ugliest football team?

Jussi Jaaskelainen will return in place of Adam Bogdan, who has acquitted himself well, but Gary Cahill is still missing after his ridiculous sending off against Arsenal.  That leaves a centre back pairing of Sam Ricketts and Zat Knight.  Add Gretar Steinsson and Paul Robinson into the defence and you have a reason why Whites fans may prefer to watch this one from home.  At least there’s a sofa to hide behind there.

Rio Ferdiand and other members of the United squad

Only incurable optimists or those under the influence of alcohol will be expecting Bolton to get anything from this and as a silly kick off time precludes even the most ardent ale can from getting bladdered before match time, it’s down to the cheery mob to hope for a win.

But everyone will be looking for signs of progress.  Under Coyle, there’s been a depressing pattern against the top teams – a decent early showing followed by falling to bits late on, as the effort of containment gets too much.  A habit of ending the game with less than eleven men on the pitch hasn’t helped.

The Whites need to be bold, as West Brom showed against Arsenal.   But they also need to retain possession better.  Fabrice Muamba has improved, but he hasn’t shown his prowess in breaking up play against the best opposition.  Lee Chung-Yong and Martin Petrov both have talent to spare, but they’ve been disappointing this term.

Of course all those things could be rectified, and it probably won’t be enough, but if Bolton can finish the game with heads held high, having given the visitors something to compete against for the ninety minutes, it will show that the battle bus is moving in the right direction.

- Richard McCormick

"Rooney just hasn't been the same since all this came out"- Ferguson

It’s the game which every Bolton fan looks for when the fixtures are published; United at home. The team we love to beat more than any other. Seems hard to believe it was eight years ago that we recorded the second of our famous wins over United, and in their own back yard to boot. However, since that night in September, our record against Man Utd. has not made for nice reading; one solitary league win, Megson’s first as Bolton boss, and the first at home since December 1978; two draws, which felt like defeats due to the manner in which they were obtained – a last minute equaliser from Solskjaer denying us a famous double in 2002/2003 and an even later equaliser from David Bellion (remember him? No-one else does) in 2004 after ‘Sir’ Les Ferdinand had handed us a late lead.

Every other match against United has resulted in defeat, and some heavy defeats at that. Can this Sunday be any different? After the ‘concentrating on the league’ result on Tuesday, I can understand people being sceptical about our chances of success. However, there are some reasons to be optimistic surely? Well, Rooney’s had a poor start to the season by anyone’s standards, but especially his. That’s always a plus, yeah? Well, perhaps not. The last time we faced a Rooney in the middle of a goal drought, he went home with the match ball! The ‘charity boys’ strike again! That said, J’Lloyd Samuel isn’t playing so they’ll have to do without his impeccable finishing ability. Swings and roundabouts really.

Berbatov has been in good form though since the start of the season, and may be the player to fear from an attacking sense. More so than Rooney going off current stats. However, we are all too aware of the threat that Berbatov can cause having snatched yet another late winner in 2009 when Andy O’Brien managed to tackle himself and Puygrenier whilst leaving Tevez unscathed and free to cross for the a chance even the Bulgarian of old was not going to pass up. Added to the new form of Berbatov, similar to our own no. 9 (never thought I’d get to say that), there’s the long standing duo of Giggs and Scholes, who, the latter in particular, seem to turn out world class displays week in, week out. There’s also the added problem of Nani who seems to have found an end product to his endless trickery and, considering the lack of faith most fans have with at least one of our fullbacks, they could be in for a torrid afternoon. Is it all bad though? Should we do what Megson was only one short step away from and send out the reserves? Or better yet, not send out anyone at all. Just let them take the three points and leave the ‘stars’ free to concentrate of the ‘winnable’ game next week away at West Brom.

Do we stand any chance? Can we get something from this weekend? I think so. Their defence has looked far from solid since the season began, especially away, having conceded soft goals, and ultimately leads, in their previous two away games. True, Goodison Park and Craven Cottage are not happy hunting grounds for United of late and, sadly, the same cannot be said of The Reebok but their defence has looked undeniably shaky. Ferdinand could be back to play alongside Vidic. I’ll leave it up to yourselves whether you think that is good or bad for us. True, he is a great defender on his day, but he hasn’t played much football in the last few months and he’ll certainly have a baptism of fire coming up against Kevin Davies, who always gives defenders a game, and a rejuvenated Elmander, who is troubling goalkeepers more than ball boys this season. Is it not going to be easy this Sunday. Let’s face it, it never is, but we have reasons to be optimistic. Again, excluding the Carling Cup defeat to those bitter folk down the road, we’ve got some decent form to speak of ourselves.

We’ve only lost one game, away at Arsenal, and we were in with a shout of getting something their too until the sending off killed it as a contest. We’re also showing some bottle and drive which was absent last season. Apart from playing Stoke, we managed to obtain all of zero points from losing positions last season. If you include Stoke, the grand total is four points. We have managed to get level in the last three league games in which we went behind, and managed to get points from two of them. Such a comeback, especially the one against Birmingham, would have been unthinkable under Megson. Don’t get me wrong, I’d prefer us not to go behind at all, but at least we have demonstrated that we can still get something from games, despite any early setbacks. I think the form of Petrov can be the key on Sunday. He has had an indifferent start to his Bolton career, and may not have had quite the impact many of us would have hoped. However, he has the ability to be a match winner and, if we can get him the ball, I think he can give the United right back just as difficult a match as the likes of Nani and Giggs are likely to give Steinson and Robinson. We know that Davo will be his usual defence harrying self and Elmander seems to be playing without such a huge weight on his shoulders. Funny what a goal (or three) can do. Jussi will of course return between the sticks, although credit must go to Bogdan for some impressive saves and performances in tough games. I’m sure he will be a better keeper for his experience.

Yes, we’re still without Cahill but, at the risk of putting off any potential suitors, we have only kept two cleans sheets with him in the side in over a year. While I would not put the blame for that solely of Cahill’s shoulders, it is evidence enough that we can cope without him. I believe that we can give United a good game. I think Coyle will demand a response following Tuesday’s unpleasantness. I think we can trouble them going forwards. They’ve already dropped silly points and their defence looks far from solid. Plus, I fancy us to lift our game come Sunday. I play football Monday evenings with a shit load of United fans. It would be good to walk in there with a smile on my face having put another dent in their title dreams (even if it is only September). Here’s to a good game, a full house (although I think a 5-0 Bolton triumph is more likely) and a good result. Come On You Whites.

Trevor Francis lines up for his league debut

1940-1949

 The resumption of the league programme saw only three completed seasons in the 1940’s. Bolton struggled in the bottom half in all three, and were 19th best overall, whilst Birmingham – relegated in 1939 – missed out on promotion in 1947 before winning the Second Division the next year and finishing 17th in 1949, leaving them with the 22nd best average league position for the period.

Manchester United were top dogs, finishing 2nd in each of the three seasons, with Villa 6th, with league finishes of 8th, 6th, and 10th.

1950-59

The 1950’s were another successful period for Bolton, spending the entire decade in the top flight, enjoying five top ten finishes and two FA Cup Finals, including the 1958 win over the post-Munich Busby Babes. Over the decade, Bolton were the seventh best league side, although this was to precede four decades that were to see Bolton drop down the leagues and back up again twice.

Birmingham split the decade equally, with five years in the top flight and five in the second tier. They started the decade by coming bottom of the First Division, then spent the next five seasons in the upper reaches of the second tier before promotion as champions in 1955. The following season saw the Blues reach their highest ever league position of 6th, and reached the FA Cup final for the second time, losing 3-1 to Manchester City in a game memorable for City keeper Bert Trautman’s heroics in completing the match despite a broken bone in his neck.

They also became the first English club to take part in European competition, playing their first group game in the inaugural Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in May 1956. They would go on to lose a semi-final replay 2-1 to Barcelona after drawing 4-4 on aggregate. Both 1957 and 1958 saw Birmingham finish 13th, and they finished the decade with a 9th place finish in 1959.

For the 1950’s as a whole, Birmingham were the 17th best team, a feat they would not match until the first decade of the next century. Local rivals Aston Villa were 12th best – their worst decade to date – whilst three title wins helped Manchester United to be top dogs, ahead of Wolves in second place and Arsenal in third.

The decade was also the heyday for two of the smaller Lancashire clubs, with Blackpool the 4th best team overall (their best ever decade) and Burnley 5th (they would go one better in the 1960’s).

1960-1969

At the start of the decade, Bolton were historically the 6th best side since the commencement of league football in 1888 (Birmingham were 24th) and had spent all bar seven seasons in the top flight. Although they started the decade with a top six finish in the First Division, football was changing with the abolition of the maximum wage imminent, and the 1960’s were to see the start of Bolton’s fall from the top table of English football.

The following season saw the retirement of legendary centre forward Nat Lofthouse, and Bolton struggled without him, finishing 18th. Despite a mid-table finish in 1962, Bolton were again 18th the following year before finally being relegated in 1964. The remainder of the decade saw Bolton slowly slip down the Second Division, finishing 3rd in 1965, 9th in each of the next two years, 12th in 1968, and 17th in 1969.

Birmingham spent the first six years struggling at the foot of the First Division, finishing 19th, 19th, 17th, 20th, and 20th before finally being relegated in 1965 in last place. Despite struggling in the league, they had notable cup success, becoming the first English club to reach a European final in 1960, losing 4-1 to Barcelona in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup, and repeating the feat a year later, this time losing to AS Roma after beating Inter Milan home and away in the semis. The Blues also beat rivals Aston Villa 3-1 on aggregate to win the 1963 League Cup.

Following relegation, Birmingham finished the decade in the top half of Division Two, and ended as the 26th best team, one place below Bolton in 25th, the Trotters’ worst decade to date. Aston Villa also had their worst decade to date, in 21st place, whilst Manchester United were 3rd behind Spurs and Everton.

1970-1979

The start of the decade saw both clubs struggling at the wrong end of Division Two, with Bolton in 16th and Birmingham in 18th, but the two clubs were to head in different directions for the next few years.

In 1971 Bolton finished rooted to the foot of the Second Division, and relegated to the Third Division for the first time in their history, whilst Birmingham finished mid-table.

Bolton spent the next two years in the third tier, promoted as champions in 1973, followed by two seasons mid-table in Division Two. In each of the following two years, they finished 4th, missing out on promotion by a point to West Brom and Brian Clough’s Notts Forest respectively, before pipping Southampton and Spurs to the Second Division title in 1978. Unlike their promotion rivals, Bolton’s return to the top flight would be brief, although they did end the decade with a relatively comfortable 17th place finish.

Birmingham followed their 9th place finish in 1971 with promotion the following year, and spent the next seven years in the top flight, flirting with relegation in 1974 (19th), 1975 (17th), and 1976 (19th), but otherwise being comfortably mid-table before their relegation in 1979.

The decade was again Bolton’s worst to date, with only one season in the top flight and two in the third tier, and an overall position of 32nd best team for the decade, whilst Birmingham were 20th.

Liverpool dominated the decade with 4 title wins and a worst finish of 5th, followed by Leeds in 2nd, with by far and away their best decade, and two times champions Derby in third. Aston Villa had their worst decade, with four seasons in the second tier and three in the third dragging their ranking down to 26th, the only decade in which Birmingham have outperformed their neighbours in the league. Bolton’s near neighbour’s Manchester United suffered relegation in 1974 after struggling the previous year, but bounced straight back and still managed to be the 8th best team of the 1970’s.

1980-1989

By 1972, Bolton had dropped out of the all-time top ten, and by the end of the 1970’s they were historically the 13th best team since league football began. Birmingham were 23rd. Whilst the 1980’s was to see Birmingham improve their all-time ranking by one place to 22nd, a position they still hold, Bolton were to drop from 13th to 18th.

If the 1960’s were bad for Bolton and the 1970’s worse, the 1980’s were an unmitigated disaster that saw the club plummet from the top flight to the Fourth Division and on the brink of bankruptcy.

The decade started with Bolton rooted to the foot of the First Division in 1980. The following two seasons saw them battling relegation in the second tier, a fight they were to lose in 1983, when seven points from their last twelve games contributed to a bottom-place finish, three points from safety, and relegation to the Third Division for the second time.

Again they finished mid-table in their first season, but rather than bounce back the following year, they spent the next three seasons in the bottom half, culminating in the unthinkable – a play-off defeat to Aldershot and relegation to the Fourth Division for the first and only time in the club’s history.

The Trotters managed to secure promotion at the first attempt in 1988, and finished the decade with a 10th place finish in Division Three.

Birmingham started the decade with promotion to the top-flight, replacing Bolton in the process, and spent the next four seasons in the bottom half before relegation in 1984, two points adrift of perennial survivors Coventry. The following season they were promoted again, finishing second behind Oxford and above Man City in third, but survived only one season, finishing thirteen points adrift of safety, but five above neighbours West Brom. The next three seasons saw them virtually mirror Bolton’s performance after their relegation in 1980, finishing 19th twice before being relegated to the Third Division for the first time in their history, finishing in 23rd place, twelve points from safety and one place above neighbours Walsall.

Despite their unprecedented relegation to the third tier at the end of the decade, Birmingham’s performance over the 1980’s as a whole was consistent with previous decades, with an overall rating of 24th. Bolton, on the other hand, had spent one year at the foot of the top tier, three seasons in the second, five in the third, and one in the fourth, leaving them with an overall ranking of 48th that would have been unthinkable a decade or two earlier, and put them in the bottom half of the 93 clubs that had played league football in the 1980’s.

Top dogs were Liverpool, with six title wins, followed by Arsenal and Manchester United in joint second, Forest in fourth, and Everton in fifth.

Look out for part three, 1990 to present, coming soon

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.