Bolton Wanderers - Quietly Making an Impact

[CarmeIo1522]

Bolton Wanderers

Club Details
Club Name: Bolton Wanderers Football Club
Nickname: The Trotters
Year Founded: 1874 (as Christ Chruch F.C)
Founder: Reverend John Farrall Wright
Stadium: Reebok Stadium

Management
Team Manager: Gary Megson
Assistant Manager/Performance Director: Chris Evans
Head Coach: Steve Wigley
Reserve Team Coach: Alan Cork
Goalkeeping Coach: Fred Barber
Assistant Goalkeeping Coach: Neil Edwards
Academy Director: Jimmy Phillips
Assistant Academy Director: David Lee
Academy Coach: Peter Farrell
Fitness Coach: Adie Stovell
Head Physiotherapist: Nick Worth
Assistant Physiotherapist: Paul Lake
Chief Scout: Colin Harvey
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2007-08 Season Review
After a season in which Bolton secured their second UEFA Cup campaign and the loss of their coach "Big Sam" Sam Allardyce to rivals Newcastle, they started the 2007-08 season in a dissapointing fashion, gaining only one league win in eleven matches. Sammy Lee, who was Allardyce's assistant and replaced him, was relieved of his duties and was replaced by Gary Megson, former West Bromwich Albion coach.

When Megson took over the team, they were bottom of the league with only 5 points. The arrival of Megson did not necessary improve the team by a lot straight away, but still brought them up to 16th on the table by New Year. However, they are only 2 points above of Fulham, who are 19th on the table.

Despite desperately needing reinforcements, Bolton sold Nicholas Anelka, arguably the best player on the team, to Chelsea for £15 million without bringing in any comparable replacement.

In February 2008 however they beat Atletico Madrid (who at the time were lying fourth in La Liga) 1-0 on aggregate, winning 1-0 at home and drawing 0-0 away, to reach the last 16 of the UEFA Cup for the first time in the club's history before proceeding to play the reserve team in Lisbon in the Last 16 with the tie tied at 1-1. Bolton lost the away leg 0-1 and were knocked out in their best chance of winning a major trophy since 1958. Megson picked a reserve side so that the first team were rested for Sunday's relegation battle against Wigan Athletic.

Their league form remained poor, and a 4-0 defeat at Aston Villa on 5th of April left them in 18th place, two points adrift of safety. But they proceeded to take 11 points from their last five games (including a 1-1 draw at Chelsea on the final day of the season and being unbeaten during the five games) to secure survival.

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Players
No. Position Player
1 GK Ádám Bogdán
3 DF Jlloyd Samuel
4 MF Kevin Nolan captain
5 DF Gary Cahill
6 MF Fabrice Muamba
7 MF Matthew Taylor
8 MF Joey O'Brien
9 FW Johan Elmander
10 FW Ebi Smolarek (on loan from Racing de Santander)
11 MF Ricardo Gardner
14 FW Kevin Davies (vice-captain)
15 DF Grétar Steinsson
17 MF Riga Mustapha
19 MF Gavin McCann
20 FW Ricardo Vaz Té
22 GK Jussi Jääskeläinen
24 DF Danny Sh-i-ttu
25 MF Tamir Cohen
26 GK Ali Al Habsi
27 DF James Sinclair
28 DF Jarosław Fojut
29 FW Zoltán Harsányi
30 DF Chris Basham
31 DF Andy O'Brien
34 MF Robert Sissons
35 FW Tope Obadeyi

Players in Bold are important players to the team.
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Home Kits:

Away Kits:

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Stadium

Located on the Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, the Reebok Stadium is the home stadium of Bolton Wanderers since 1997, replacing Burnden Park. The Reebok Stadium is, obviously, named after the team's long term sponsor, Reebok. This was unpopular with many fans, as it was considered impersonal, and that too much emphasis was being placed on financial considerations. This opposition has considerably lessened since the stadium was built, however, as fans have grown accustomed to the name and since Reebok is a local company.

__________________________________________________ ___________________________

Record Attendance: 28,353 v Leicester City, 28 December 2003 (FA Premier League)
Lowest Attendance for a Competitive Match: 3,673 v Gillingham, 21 September 1999 (League Cup 2nd Round 2nd Leg)
Lowest Premier League Attendance: 17,014 v Derby County, 2 January 2008
Record UEFA Cup Attendance: 26,163 v Atletico Madrid, 14 February 2008 Last 32 1st Leg
Record FA Cup Attendance: 23,523 v Arsenal, 12 March 2005 Quarter Finals
Record League Cup Attendance: 18,037 v Tottenham Hotspur, 27 October 2004 3rd Round

[IRE-ENG-OX4]

Decent start for your first MM
Maybe put in about your Stadium?
EDIT : Sorry but i didn't know you was reserving you should of said

[CarmeIo1522]

INDEX


News
1. Bolton announce Alliance with Perth Glory
2. Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell Interview
3.Important Players
4. Bolton Chief Scout Colin Harvey Interview
5.Harvey impressed with Glory players
6.Megson urges Striker Struggle to end.
7.
Megson delighted with Strikers

Match Previews
1.Perth vs Bolton Preview
2.Bolton vs Tottenham Preview
3.Man City vs Bolton Preview
4.Bolton vs Boro Preview
5.Stoke vs Bolton Preview

Matches
1.Perth vs Bolton
2.Bolton vs Tottenham
3.Man City vs Bolton
4.Bolton vs Boro
5.Stoke vs Bolton

Transfers Rumours/Transfers

[CarmeIo1522]

[7DavidVilla]

PG are already associated with Man City...To the degree that they offered us 3 players earlier this season...

Still nice update, but I'd change the team to something like Adelaide, or Phoenix, who don't have any association with an EPL club, but will be getting some soon (part of new plan to help Asian football )

[CarmeIo1522]

I was meant to write that Bolton replaces Manchester City in being associated with Perth Glory...I guess I forgot though...

[7DavidVilla]

I think I'd prefer Man City to be honest They may have some excess cash to give

[CarmeIo1522]

Lol....Yeah that's true...I'll try and think of some reasons why Glory would choose Bolton over Manchester City though....then I would make an interview with Dave Mitchell (coach of Glory)

[7DavidVilla]

Sage had a falling out with Man City? Sage sold the club? (I think lots of Glory fans would be happy with this) Bolton offered a better deal?

[CarmeIo1522]

I'll post the interview tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion Villa

[Anderson=klass]

My friend has a season ticket at bolton

[B.Jacko]

when I first looked at the title, I thought it said

Quality Making An Impact

I thought, ***!i Boton, quality, your having a laugh, then i realised it said quietly

[CarmeIo1522]

Updates coming up:
1. Interview with Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell
2. Review of the important players to the team
3. Interview with Chief Scout Colin Harvey

[CarmeIo1522]

Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell interview

BBC: First of all Dave, I would like to thank you for accepting to do an interview with us.

DM: It is my pleasure to be here.

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BBC: Let's get on with the questions. How do you feel about the alliance with Bolton Wanderers?

DM: I am delighted because even though in England Bolton could be considered to be a small club, comparing to us they're big. I am delighted that our club can secure an alliance with a club with such high calibre.

BBC: But as far as I know though, Perth Glory has been in alliance with another Premier League side, Manchester City am I correct?

DM: Yes that is correct.

BBC: So why switch to Bolton when right now Manchester City looks like they will only keep improving with their unlimited amount of cash?

DM: I do agree on the fact that they have a lot of money, but the money is theirs, not ours. Even if we are in alliance with them, we do not get some of the money.

BBC: So what made your club chose Bolton then?

DM: Bolton offered us a deal which is they'll play a friendly with us every year and that they'll send scouts to some of our matches. If one of our lads play well then he very well have a chance to be brought on trial or even on loan at Bolton. This benefits our players and our club because we hope to have a lot of fans in our stadium for the Bolton vs Perth Glory friendlies every year.
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BBC: So which players from the Glory squad do you think would make the squad for Bolton?

DM: I would say Nikita Rukavytsya, Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Jamie Harnwell all have the quality to make the squad for Bolton.

BBC: Can you describe those players for our readers?

DM: Not a problem. Nikita is a terrific striker who has a lot of pace and a great scoring record. During the last eight games of 2007-08, he scored six goal. Not a bad goal ratio I must say. He has already been on trial with Hannover 96 so it won't be first time the lad has gone on trial for a bigger club than us.

Nikolai is a great side back who can also play center-back. He is a great defender who very rarely loses his position and let people go past him. He is also the most consistent player for my team I must say.

Jamie Harnwell is a great player who can play both striker and centre-back and would still give you quality games. Because he's tall he can create chances for other attackers as well.

BBC: One last question Dave: Why didn't you mention Amaral?

DM: *Laughs* I know you are going to ask that. Amaral has been through a long career already and now he just wants to settle down in a club as far as I know. However, if he does indeed want to leave the club, I won't stop him.

BBC: Thank you for your time Dave and I hope your club performs well in the A-League this year.

DM: It is an honor

[CarmeIo1522]

Important Players

Jussi Jääskeläinen

Full name - Jussi Albert Jääskeläinen
Date of birth - 19 April 1975
Age - 33
Place of birth - Mikkeli, Finland
Height - 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)


Known for his ability to make superb saves, this will be Jussi's 11th season at Bolton Wanderers. He was voted the best goalkeeper in the Premiership by sponsors Barclaycard for the season 2001-02. Jääskeläinen was named BWFC "Player Of The Year Award" and also "Players' Player Of The Year Award" in the same year. Despite having gone through a small slump in the 2007-08 season and that rumors of him leaving Bolton after his contract expires have emerged, Jaaskelainen agreed a new four-year contract on 11 June, which he signed on 9 July 2008.

Originally Posted by Gary Megson

Jussi has been with us for a long time and unless something amazing happens to Ali (Al-Habsi), he'll be our starting goalkeeper and I have 100% trust in him.

Kevin Nolan

Full name - Kevin Anthony Jance Nolan
Date of birth - June 24, 1982
Age - 26
Place of birth - Liverpool, Merseyside, England
Height - 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)

A product of the Bolton youth team, Kevin Nolan have been with the senior team since 1999. He signed professional terms with Bolton at the age of 17 and made his first team debut. Many people have started noticing Nolan when in the 2001-02 season, his goal (his only of the season) was the winner at Old Trafford in the game which Bolton recorded their second shock win at the ground. Due to his heroics at that match, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has been later seen scouting Nolan.

Nolan has previously been called-up to the England Under-18s[2] and Under-21s and some commentators have acknowledged that he could be a future candidate for the England squad.

Originally Posted by Gary Megson

Kevin is the heart and soul of this team, no doubt about it. The decision to keep him as captain is an unanimous decision. We will continue to rely on him to lead us.

Matthew Taylor

Full name - Matthew Simon Taylor
Date of birth - 27 November 1981
Age - 27
Place of birth - Oxford, England
Height - 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)

Known for his long range screamers, Matthew Taylor did not begin his career on a successful note. After an initial trial at his local side, Oxford United, he was told that, due his to his thick set build, he was 'too fat' and 'only good enough to go in goal'. He then started his career at Luton Town.

His impressive displays led to interest from Premier League clubs, but he instead decided, in July 2002, to sign for First Division side Portsmouth for £750,000. With an explosive pace, he easily captured the position of left back as his own. He was later used as a left midfielder,a position many fans believed suited him better than the restrictive full back role.

Taylor moved to Bolton on Thursday 17th January 2008 for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £4 million, after rejecting an offer from Sunderland AFC and easily become the left midfielder of Bolton.

Originally Posted by Gary Megson

Not just that some of his goals are amazing, he also does a decent job of defending. Him and Ricardo Gardner definitely clinched the two side midfielder spots.

[7DavidVilla]

Perth Glory Fans

Not sure about Harnwell, but Nikita and Nikolai could certainly make Bolton. I reckon Dino could scrape in, and possibly Tando in later years.

Good excuse for changing clubs, fairly realistic. Does this mean Glory may get some Bolton players? Another thing you could consider doing is starting a Glory thread, and have the two connect.

e.g. You could do a report on Nikita going to Bolton, and have it from Bolton and Glory's point of view

[CarmeIo1522]

If I have the time, I'll probably make two threads. A-League isn't very long anyway.

Good idea Villa and thanks for the comment. Don't know about Dino though, he seems rather inconsistent.

[7DavidVilla]

He's supposedly moving to a German club in second division

[ilikechicken510]

Great report mate! A+

[14Atlas]

good start mate, I haven't seen a Bolton thread so I probably follow this one

[CarmeIo1522]

Thanks for the support!

Anyone got questions for chief scout Colin Harvey?

[SAFC_Broady]

nice updates

[Camo]

wow a bolton thread there rare

nice start and good luck

[Liverpöol]

This is doing alright, but u should have reserved places at the start and then done them. Instead of making an OP in between random comments

[Liverpöol]

Originally Posted by rhcp22

wow a bolton thread there rare

nice start and good luck

so true ay... everyone who makes those 'what team should i do' polls, always seems to have Bolton on top. However a thread about them never eventuates.