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Josh Vela has been asked to be Wanderers’ equivalent of Delle Ali against Bury tonight.
With Gary Madine still struggling to shake off a shoulder injury, Phil Parkinson is convinced playing his top scorer in his favoured number 10 role behind Adam Le Fondre can pay dividends.
Vela is the only Whites star in double goal figures this season and, says his manager, well capable of emulating the kind of position Ali has played for Tottenham and England this season.
“Vela has been our most effective player in the final third this season and you look at the modern day player like Delle Ali who plays that role, it’s something he’s done all season,” he said. “We’re not playing someone out of position or reinventing the wheel, he’s been key all year long.
“I felt on Saturday we did everything but score. I felt in control of the game.
“We’ll reassess, as we always do, and I’ll pick a team which is right to win this game. But I know Josh can be an asset there.”
Fans questioned whether using Adam Le Fondre up front on his own was a negative step at Oldham but with all signs pointing towards Madine being side-lined once again, Wanderers legend John McGinlay reckons there is no need to panic.
“Gary Madine has done well this season, no question, but there are options without him which are still capable of getting a result against Bury,” he said.
“It’s OK pointing at the manager who picks the team but if it isn’t working there are enough leaders and experienced players on that park to change it. Not everything has to come from the dugout.
“I think we’ve seen that the high ball up to Le Fondre hasn’t worked but with Josh Vela in that number 10 position, I’m sure Phil Parkinson would have been asking him to make those runs down the sides. And he’s shown he’s got goals in him this season.”
McGinlay has warned Wanderers to prepare for the fight of their lives when they come up against a Shakers side he feels are better than their lowly 20th position.
“Alan Thompson and Lee Clark will have Bury fired up. And they are a decent team, who have under-achieved this season.,” he said. “A fit James Vaughan is probably the best striker in this division and there are one or two others who can play too.
“From Bolton’s point of view, they have to show what happened at Oldham was a slip-up and nothing else. At this point in the season there are a few players who are maybe not as sharp as they were a few months ago but, to be honest, performances don’t matter now, only results.”
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With Gary Madine still struggling to shake off a shoulder injury, Phil Parkinson is convinced playing his top scorer in his favoured number 10 role behind Adam Le Fondre can pay dividends.
Vela is the only Whites star in double goal figures this season and, says his manager, well capable of emulating the kind of position Ali has played for Tottenham and England this season.
“Vela has been our most effective player in the final third this season and you look at the modern day player like Delle Ali who plays that role, it’s something he’s done all season,” he said. “We’re not playing someone out of position or reinventing the wheel, he’s been key all year long.
“I felt on Saturday we did everything but score. I felt in control of the game.
“We’ll reassess, as we always do, and I’ll pick a team which is right to win this game. But I know Josh can be an asset there.”
Fans questioned whether using Adam Le Fondre up front on his own was a negative step at Oldham but with all signs pointing towards Madine being side-lined once again, Wanderers legend John McGinlay reckons there is no need to panic.
“Gary Madine has done well this season, no question, but there are options without him which are still capable of getting a result against Bury,” he said.
“It’s OK pointing at the manager who picks the team but if it isn’t working there are enough leaders and experienced players on that park to change it. Not everything has to come from the dugout.
“I think we’ve seen that the high ball up to Le Fondre hasn’t worked but with Josh Vela in that number 10 position, I’m sure Phil Parkinson would have been asking him to make those runs down the sides. And he’s shown he’s got goals in him this season.”
McGinlay has warned Wanderers to prepare for the fight of their lives when they come up against a Shakers side he feels are better than their lowly 20th position.
“Alan Thompson and Lee Clark will have Bury fired up. And they are a decent team, who have under-achieved this season.,” he said. “A fit James Vaughan is probably the best striker in this division and there are one or two others who can play too.
“From Bolton’s point of view, they have to show what happened at Oldham was a slip-up and nothing else. At this point in the season there are a few players who are maybe not as sharp as they were a few months ago but, to be honest, performances don’t matter now, only results.”
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