Home
Phil Parkinson is itching to get the season under way, and he is calling for the backing of Wanderers fans when his side takes on Sheffield United today.
His first competitive match as Whites boss sees the Blades come to town and Parkinson's aim is to give the supporters plenty to shout about at long last.
Since he first came to Bolton, Parkinson has stressed the need for the players he inherited to banish memories of last season, and when the new campaign kicks off this afternoon, he wants the stadium to become rival clubs' least favourite away-day destination.
"What we have to do is make the Macron Stadium a great place for our players to play and a very difficult place for the opposition to play," he said. "If we do lose games here we have to make sure those teams really earn the points off us, that’s what we have to try to create, and the supporters will play a key role in that, there’s no doubt about it.
"I want the lads to look forward to the home games and relish the atmosphere here.
"One thing the supporters want to see is real pride in wearing the shirt.
"A team has to have a go every single game and when they’re driving away from the stadiums, home and away, win, lose or draw, they want to say they’ve seen a Bolton team that has given everything to win the game – that’s what we have to create."
Parkinson admits this is the time of year when the anticipation is at its highest, particularly as he and Wanderers are about to take their first competitive steps together, and while he is dead set on victory against his ex-Southampton team-mate Chris Wilder, he will take today's result in his stride.
"Everybody’s looking forward to it, I think it’s important that we go into the first game anticipating the start but equally knowing it’s not the be-all and end-all," he said. "If we beat Sheffield United we won’t be jumping up and down, if we lose we won’t be getting too carried away. We’re ready to get going now, everyone in the camp just wants Saturday to come."
Source
His first competitive match as Whites boss sees the Blades come to town and Parkinson's aim is to give the supporters plenty to shout about at long last.
Since he first came to Bolton, Parkinson has stressed the need for the players he inherited to banish memories of last season, and when the new campaign kicks off this afternoon, he wants the stadium to become rival clubs' least favourite away-day destination.
"What we have to do is make the Macron Stadium a great place for our players to play and a very difficult place for the opposition to play," he said. "If we do lose games here we have to make sure those teams really earn the points off us, that’s what we have to try to create, and the supporters will play a key role in that, there’s no doubt about it.
"I want the lads to look forward to the home games and relish the atmosphere here.
"One thing the supporters want to see is real pride in wearing the shirt.
"A team has to have a go every single game and when they’re driving away from the stadiums, home and away, win, lose or draw, they want to say they’ve seen a Bolton team that has given everything to win the game – that’s what we have to create."
Parkinson admits this is the time of year when the anticipation is at its highest, particularly as he and Wanderers are about to take their first competitive steps together, and while he is dead set on victory against his ex-Southampton team-mate Chris Wilder, he will take today's result in his stride.
"Everybody’s looking forward to it, I think it’s important that we go into the first game anticipating the start but equally knowing it’s not the be-all and end-all," he said. "If we beat Sheffield United we won’t be jumping up and down, if we lose we won’t be getting too carried away. We’re ready to get going now, everyone in the camp just wants Saturday to come."
Source