WestBrom
Relegation fodder …
Monday, June 20th, 2011 | BWFC Goals, BWFC News, BWFC People, Premier League | 3 Comments
Would you buy a second hand car off these boys?
Aspirations have changed at Bolton since the dark days of Gary Megson. The arrival of Owen Coyle followed by our impressive start to the season had the more optimistic of us counting air miles and dusting off our Bulgarian phrase-books. Even when European qualification had passed us by – embarrassingly so in the cup – a top half finish was still on the cards right up to the end of the season.
Never mind. Coyle’s inherited Megson’s bunch of cloggers. Once he’s had the summer to make serious changes, we’ll be back to chasing Europe again. Surely relegation battles are a thing of the past? Aren’t they?
Maybe not. Our form after Christmas was relegation-standard, and the end of the season – five defeats on the bounce – was abysmal. It wouldn’t be the first time poor form at the end of one season has carried over to the next. Add to that our tough start to the season and it wouldn’t be a great surprise to see us rock-bottom after the first seven games. We’ll have easier runs to follow, but everything looks that bit tougher if you’re sat at the bottom and confidence may have taken a bit of a battering. › Continue reading
Paul Robinson – Just a Little Bit Bonkers
Thursday, September 30th, 2010 | BWFC News, BWFC People, Paul Robinson | No Comments
Bolton’s Paul Robinson, isn’t sure what sort of reception he’ll get when returning to play his old club, West Brom, on Saturday.
‘The best years of my career were at the Hawthorns. But I left the club because I was fed up of us going down, going back up and going down again,’ he told the Birmingham Mail.
‘I hope the supporters appreciate my reasons and my contribution for the previous six years, but if I get stick or banter then I’ll take it on the chin.’
If the reaction of Baggies fans when Robinson left is anything to go by, he’ll get a sympathetic reception, but only because they seemed delighted to see him go. The street parties only ceased when the weather started to get chilly.
Then again, the supporters in that part of the World can be a little strange – they liked Gary Megson. Not that they’re entirely misguided. The hatred of Wolves can only be applauded.
A trademark challenge on Jussi Jaaskelainen, even though he's on the same side and doesn't have the ball.
Given the above, not much was expected of Robinson, but he’s surprised a few people. The Angry Dwarf doesn’t have pace, and his tackling is too often reckless, but the commitment can’t be faulted and if a last ditch challenge is needed, then Robbo’s your man. Going forward, he shows surprising composure on the ball.
An incident in last Sunday’s game against summed him up. Nani ran from inside his own half. Zat Knight backed off. So did Sam Ricketts. Stuart Holden jogged along sedately behind. Only Robinson put a tackle in. Of course he missed by about ten feet and the United man went on to score, but the right intent was there.
Who’s Bolton’s best defender this season? Well according to the Premier League’s official rankings, it’s none other than Paul Robinson.
The Whites have had a problem at left-back for years. Ricardo Gardner had to be converted from a midfield role to stand in there. Vincent Candela played for half a season, but chose to return to Italy. Tal Ben Haim covered now and then, Jlloyd Samuel alternated between sort of ok and terminally gormless, and then there was the scary sight of Henrik Pedersen plying his trade in that position.
Going back in time there was Syd Farrimond and the incomparable Henry Mowbray. Mowbray kicked anything that moved. Sometimes he kicked things which didn’t move. On other occasions things which had moved before he kicked them never did so again.
Paul Robinson won’t be competing with Ashley Cole or Patrice Evra for full back of the year, but after a season and a bit, he’s proved his worth and the belated appreciation he’s getting from sections of the Reebok is well deserved.
The Many Departures of Gary Megson
Monday, August 16th, 2010 | BWFC News, BWFC People, Gary Megson | No Comments
It’s often said that one shouldn’t use Wikipedia as a sole source of reference. At least not if the intention is to write a serious article. Happily, this piece has no such pretensions, so Wiki it is.
Gary's Gardening Efforts Haven't Met With Success...
Former Bolton manager Gary Megson appeared on TV at the weekend. Despite warnings on this very site, a few Wanderers fans chose to tune in. Others have foolishly watched various clips of the programme that are lying around on the internet.
This wasn’t necessary. Everyone knew what he was going to say. If the Ginger One was to be believed, Bolton were all but challenging for a Champions League place when he was unfairly placed on gardening leave.
Just to balance things up, here are a few snippets from that Wikipedia article, which cast Gaz in a slightly different role than the one as football saviour.
Norwich
‘Megson managed the Canaries for the remainder of the 1995-96 season, but was sacked at the end of the season’ › Continue reading
Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Aston Villa: What the papers say
Monday, April 27th, 2009 | BWFC News, BWFC People, Gary Megson, Johan Elmander, Phil Gartside | No Comments
Image via Wikipedia
How the national press reported Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Aston Villa
It seems like we’ve been hearing this for weeks now, but yet again we’re told by the Mail that Bolton are just one win away from definite safety. The same paper also tells us that Gary Megson believes Bolton have “hearts as big as buckets all over the pitch.”
Big hearts maybe (although that wasn’t necessarily the case at Portsmouth last week), but the Guardian thought the Wanderers display lacked inspiration, saying that “the highlights of this encounter will not make it into any PowerPoint presentations put together for Bolton chairman Phil Gartside’s proposed two-tier top-flight that would include Celtic, Rangers and, of course, Wanderers.”
11 things you (probably don’t) need to know about Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers
Saturday, April 18th, 2009 | BWFC News, BWFC People, Chris Basham, Danny Shittu, Gary Cahill, Gary Megson, Johan Elmander, Kevin Davies, Matt Taylor | No Comments
- Image via Wikipedia
Your guide to all the predictions and Mystic Meggery ahead of Portsmouth v Bolton Wanderers
Reasons to be cheerful
1. Danny Shittu is a major doubt after being floored by Didier Drogba last week.
2. Matt Taylor, who has scored 10 goals so far this season, would love to show Pompey fans what they’ve been missing since they sold him – even if Gary Megson won’t let him be captain for the day.
Reebok Round-Up (25.03.09)
Wednesday, March 25th, 2009 | Ariza Makukula, BWFC News, BWFC People, Fabrice Muamba, Gary Megson, Grzegorz Rasiak, Matt Taylor, Phil Brown | No Comments
What Manny Road has been reading (and thinking) about Bolton Wanderers
West Brom 1-1 Bolton: What the papers say
Monday, March 23rd, 2009 | BWFC News, BWFC People, Danny Shittu, Gary Megson, Matt Taylor | No Comments
Image by birdfarm via Flickr
How the national press reported Bolton’s 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns
The Times thought Bolton were worthy of all three points. It says Bolton’s goal had been coming for a long time when it eventually arrived from the boot of Matt Taylor in the 67th minute and also points out that West Brom failed to get a shot on target all game – even their equalising goal needed a massive deflection from Danny Shittu.
West Brom 1-1 Bolton: The fans’ view
Monday, March 23rd, 2009 | Andy O'Brien, BWFC News, BWFC People, Danny Shittu, Gary Megson, Johan Elmander, Matt Taylor, Sebastien Puygrenier | No Comments
The Bolton Wanderers match report you won’t read in the papers (or see on Match of the Day)
West Brom 1-1 Bolton: Video highlights
Saturday, March 21st, 2009 | BWFC Goals, BWFC People, Matt Taylor | No Comments
For those who just can’t wait for Match of the Day
More than two hours before you’ll see them on Match of the Day, here are the goals from the Wanderers’ 1-1 draw with West Brom at the Hawthorns earlier today…
11 things you (probably don’t) need to know about West Brom and Bolton
Saturday, March 21st, 2009 | Abdoulaye Meite, BWFC News, BWFC People, Gary Megson, Kevin Davies, Mark Davies | No Comments
Image via Wikipedia
Your guide to all the predictions and Mystic Meggery ahead of Bolton’s trip to West Brom this afternoon
Reasons to be cheerful
1. Our chances of winning this game are better than 50/50… because under Gary Megson we have only lost 49 per cent of our matches.
2. Megson should get a good reception from the fans… the West Brom fans that is. Tony Mowbray certainly wants him to get a good welcome and Jonathan Greening has been having sleepless nights over it too, but Megson himself is not so optimistic about what the atmosphere will be like.
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