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Organisation will be the watch word for Wanderers under Phil Parkinson.
The man whose Bradford City side claimed more clean sheets than any other in the Football League this season is known to be a stickler for preparation, thinking nothing of a 450-mile midweek scouting round trip.
Whether it be Chesham or Dartford in the FA Cup or Sheffield United in League One, the 48-year-old UEFA Pro Licence-quailed coach is nothing if not meticulous and that has been the base for his gradual improvement at Valley Parade.
“He’s a 24-seven manager and doesn’t switch off,” said Simon Parker, who followed his fortunes for the Telegraph and Argus. “He doesn’t think twice about scouting out opponents himself and making sure every detail is correct, in fact if there is a fault I suppose it is that he could over-think things sometimes.
“It’s no surprise when you phone him in midweek and he’s on his way to Gillingham to scout them out in person ahead of a game.
“If he will bring anything to Bolton it will be a sense of organisation.”
Bradford’s fans reacted with widespread disappointment as news emerged on Thursday that the club’s manager of the last five years was swapping the white rose county for red.
Parkinson’s name trended countrywide on Twitter as the story broken by The Bolton News slowly dissipated around social media.
“I think you only have to look at the reaction from the Bradford fans to see what he meant to them,” said Parker. “He has given the club a lot and he will be missed.
“I certainly found him very good to deal with. He comes across well, speaks sense, and clearly thinks a lot about the game.”
But what kind of football can Wanderers fans expect? After the muddled brand of the last 12 months under Neil Lennon, anything may be viewed as an improvement.
It appears from the testimonies, however, that Parkinson’s style is more on the Dougie Freedman side of the spectrum than, Owen Coyle, for example.
“You look at the 22 clean sheets Bradford kept in League One last year, and another five in the cup, and it tells you everything about how organised his team became,” Parker said.
“We played against Bury three times, twice in the league and one in the cup, and drew all three games 0-0. But that is the base you build from.
“Maybe he doesn’t gamble enough at times. I think after a defeat at Burton he let them off the leash a little bit and really went for broke.
“They finished the season really well.
“He plays 4-4-2 almost exclusively now, although he has dabbled with a midfield diamond before as well.”
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The man whose Bradford City side claimed more clean sheets than any other in the Football League this season is known to be a stickler for preparation, thinking nothing of a 450-mile midweek scouting round trip.
Whether it be Chesham or Dartford in the FA Cup or Sheffield United in League One, the 48-year-old UEFA Pro Licence-quailed coach is nothing if not meticulous and that has been the base for his gradual improvement at Valley Parade.
“He’s a 24-seven manager and doesn’t switch off,” said Simon Parker, who followed his fortunes for the Telegraph and Argus. “He doesn’t think twice about scouting out opponents himself and making sure every detail is correct, in fact if there is a fault I suppose it is that he could over-think things sometimes.
“It’s no surprise when you phone him in midweek and he’s on his way to Gillingham to scout them out in person ahead of a game.
“If he will bring anything to Bolton it will be a sense of organisation.”
Bradford’s fans reacted with widespread disappointment as news emerged on Thursday that the club’s manager of the last five years was swapping the white rose county for red.
Parkinson’s name trended countrywide on Twitter as the story broken by The Bolton News slowly dissipated around social media.
“I think you only have to look at the reaction from the Bradford fans to see what he meant to them,” said Parker. “He has given the club a lot and he will be missed.
“I certainly found him very good to deal with. He comes across well, speaks sense, and clearly thinks a lot about the game.”
But what kind of football can Wanderers fans expect? After the muddled brand of the last 12 months under Neil Lennon, anything may be viewed as an improvement.
It appears from the testimonies, however, that Parkinson’s style is more on the Dougie Freedman side of the spectrum than, Owen Coyle, for example.
“You look at the 22 clean sheets Bradford kept in League One last year, and another five in the cup, and it tells you everything about how organised his team became,” Parker said.
“We played against Bury three times, twice in the league and one in the cup, and drew all three games 0-0. But that is the base you build from.
“Maybe he doesn’t gamble enough at times. I think after a defeat at Burton he let them off the leash a little bit and really went for broke.
“They finished the season really well.
“He plays 4-4-2 almost exclusively now, although he has dabbled with a midfield diamond before as well.”
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