Lucky number seven gives Gary Megson a chance of redemption
Sunday November 30th, 2008
Why the Bolton Wanderers manager must take the FA Cup seriously this season
The draw for the third round of the FA Cup takes place today at 2.15pm. Wanderers have been given the lucky number seven in the draw.
Recent results have bought Gary Megson enough time for us to now assume that he will still be manager of Bolton Wanderers by the time the third round comes round in January.
And after last season’s surrender at Sporting Lisbon in the Uefa Cup, when Megson fielded a weakened team, the FA Cup will give him a chance to redeem himself with supporters.
There really are no excuses this time, with no Uefa Cup commitments and after being dumped out of the Carling Cup by Northampton at the earliest opportunity.
Portsmouth’s success in the competition last season should give hope to clubs like Bolton that they do have a chance of winning it too.
Personally, I would rather win the FA Cup and be relegated than finish 10th and get knocked out of the Cup in the third round, but I know the board won’t see it like that for financial reasons.
But the board have also shown great willingness to reconnect with the needs of the fans this season, so let’s hope Phil Gartside instructs Megson to go for it regardless of where we are in the league come January.
After all, the defeat at Wigan following the Lisbon surrender demonstrated that resting players is no guarantee of winning the next game.
It’s a long time since we had a decent Cup run (eight years?), and taking the Cup seriously would give Megson a good way of differentiating himself from Sam Allardyce, who always saw the FA Cup as secondary once we got into the Premier League.
It might just win over a few more fans too, especially those who have found it hard to forgive him for his team selection in Lisbon.
Do you want Bolton to take the FA Cup seriously this season? Have your say in the comments below.
And in case Gary needs a reminder of the romance of the Cup, here it is…
[youtube=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Pldp3vIhHME]
BWFC People, Gary Megson, Phil Gartside, Sam Allardyce
1 Comment to Lucky number seven gives Gary Megson a chance of redemption
[...] 2. Don’t allow fans to pay hundreds of pounds for a Uefa Cup tie at Sporting Lisbon and then put out a reserve team (OK, so we’re unlikely to see much European action in 2009, but a bit of effort in the FA Cup would be a good place to start). [...]
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