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When asked to sum up Wanderers’ style of football this season in one word, the response from fans on Twitter was predictably cutting.
“Frustrating,” was the description used most often, many answers expanding on a theme of inconsistency and pragmatism.
The Whites may be sitting fifth with League One’s second best defence but the general consensus among fans is that substance has won over style.
Phil Parkinson’s blueprint was clear when he arrived at the club. Success at his former employers Bradford City had been built on solid defensive foundations – indeed only the Bantams have conceded fewer goals this season, underlining the legacy he left behind at Valley Parade.
Considering the fragile confidences and unpredictable finances he inherited this summer at the Macron, ridding the club of its losing mentality was never likely to be achieved with a philosophy of total football.
The Whites’ most consistent performers – David Wheater, Jay Spearing, Josh Vela and Mark Beevers – sum up what has been successful for Parkinson thus far. It has been some time since a Bolton side looked this resolute. But to win over the doubters and prevent this from becoming a war of attrition until May, Wanderers’ flair players have to start raising the pulses.
For encouraging signs, watch the last half an hour at Swindon on Saturday.
Sammy Ameobi’s touch and precision in the build-up to Zach Clough’s one-on-one chance late in the game warrants another look and was by far the classiest moment of a cagey game.
The Newcastle United winger had been unlucky not to keep his starting place after scoring in a lively performance against Blackpool in midweek but showed no signs of sulking as he replaced the out-of-sorts James Henry on the hour.
Ameobi has already been through the mill in his brief stint at Bolton. His early outings only served to reinforce the preconceptions of unpredictability which have followed him throughout his career so far.
Parkinson will decide in January whether the 24-year-old will stay for another six months but has made little secret of the fact he will try to influence his career considerably in the meantime.
Transforming Ameobi into a player who is both physically and mentally able to cope with the weekly grind of League One football is some pet project. The player spoke openly last week about his problems with application and a desire to make the most of his time at Bolton.
If both the manager and the player succeed in their aim, Ameobi’s natural talent – that which sparkled at the County Ground for half an hour on Saturday – could well see him carve out a career at a much higher level.
Zach Clough is another of Parkinson’s players capable of the extraordinary, although the pressure put on the young striker in recent months has taken its toll.
It has already been suggested that Clough was hurried back faster than he should have been after picking up injuries last season, something which may have had a knock-on effect this term too.
Physically, Clough has endured a number of niggling muscular problems that have upset his daily routine but mentally the amount of football he lost when his stock was so high in the Championship must have been damaging.
Parkinson’s task now is to put the swagger back into Clough’s stride, as he looks to have done with his long-time team-mate Josh Vela.
The manager remains confident his side will eventually tap into a regular supply of goals – and that will no doubt help ease the mood among fans, who have been used to binary numbers in the last couple of months.
Marrying up the need to entertain and the obvious requirement for results is something managers at Wanderers have struggled to do for years – arguably even in the heady days under Sam Allardyce. It will be interesting to see if fans’ vocabulary becomes more complementary if asked the same question next May.
Source
“Frustrating,” was the description used most often, many answers expanding on a theme of inconsistency and pragmatism.
The Whites may be sitting fifth with League One’s second best defence but the general consensus among fans is that substance has won over style.
Phil Parkinson’s blueprint was clear when he arrived at the club. Success at his former employers Bradford City had been built on solid defensive foundations – indeed only the Bantams have conceded fewer goals this season, underlining the legacy he left behind at Valley Parade.
Considering the fragile confidences and unpredictable finances he inherited this summer at the Macron, ridding the club of its losing mentality was never likely to be achieved with a philosophy of total football.
The Whites’ most consistent performers – David Wheater, Jay Spearing, Josh Vela and Mark Beevers – sum up what has been successful for Parkinson thus far. It has been some time since a Bolton side looked this resolute. But to win over the doubters and prevent this from becoming a war of attrition until May, Wanderers’ flair players have to start raising the pulses.
For encouraging signs, watch the last half an hour at Swindon on Saturday.
Sammy Ameobi’s touch and precision in the build-up to Zach Clough’s one-on-one chance late in the game warrants another look and was by far the classiest moment of a cagey game.
The Newcastle United winger had been unlucky not to keep his starting place after scoring in a lively performance against Blackpool in midweek but showed no signs of sulking as he replaced the out-of-sorts James Henry on the hour.
Ameobi has already been through the mill in his brief stint at Bolton. His early outings only served to reinforce the preconceptions of unpredictability which have followed him throughout his career so far.
Parkinson will decide in January whether the 24-year-old will stay for another six months but has made little secret of the fact he will try to influence his career considerably in the meantime.
Transforming Ameobi into a player who is both physically and mentally able to cope with the weekly grind of League One football is some pet project. The player spoke openly last week about his problems with application and a desire to make the most of his time at Bolton.
If both the manager and the player succeed in their aim, Ameobi’s natural talent – that which sparkled at the County Ground for half an hour on Saturday – could well see him carve out a career at a much higher level.
Zach Clough is another of Parkinson’s players capable of the extraordinary, although the pressure put on the young striker in recent months has taken its toll.
It has already been suggested that Clough was hurried back faster than he should have been after picking up injuries last season, something which may have had a knock-on effect this term too.
Physically, Clough has endured a number of niggling muscular problems that have upset his daily routine but mentally the amount of football he lost when his stock was so high in the Championship must have been damaging.
Parkinson’s task now is to put the swagger back into Clough’s stride, as he looks to have done with his long-time team-mate Josh Vela.
The manager remains confident his side will eventually tap into a regular supply of goals – and that will no doubt help ease the mood among fans, who have been used to binary numbers in the last couple of months.
Marrying up the need to entertain and the obvious requirement for results is something managers at Wanderers have struggled to do for years – arguably even in the heady days under Sam Allardyce. It will be interesting to see if fans’ vocabulary becomes more complementary if asked the same question next May.
Source
