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It has become somewhat a grim Christmas tradition for Wanderers to be looking up at the Championship from the relegation zone at Christmas.
Since the club was relegated from the Premier League in 2012 the best pre-Christmas Day position was 16th. In the previous two years at this level, however, the Whites have found themselves in the bottom three with plenty of work to do in the second half of the season.
Phil Parkinson’s side could still climb to 21st if they beat Brentford tomorrow and results elsewhere go their way. But with fans struggling to find festive cheer in a difficult situation, we look back and compare the factors which affected Wanderers in their previous two Championship campaigns and ask: Is it really worse?
MANAGERIAL SITUATION
In 2015/16 Wanderers were in the grip of financial problems which they had not encountered for some time. The issues had certainly crept up on manager, Neil Lennon, who only a couple of months earlier had been looking to strengthen his squad with loan signings like Ivan van la Parra and Joao Teixiera.
The Northern Irishman – a natural orator - was clearly frustrated by the lack of answers he had to give on what was going on behind the scenes, and the promises which had not been kept to him. But his own private life was about to be splashed across the tabloid newspapers in what proved an insurmountable blow to his reputation among Bolton fans.
Phil Parkinson had ridden out a storm in 2017/18 when Wanderers finally recovered some form after a record-setting poor start of two points from their first 11 games. Fans’ frustration was beginning to grow again, however, when a 1-0 home defeat to relegation rivals Burton Albion left Bolton second bottom.
Twelve months on Parkinson has experienced the same situation, only in reverse. The best start since the turn of the millennium at this level had people whispering about a new dawn, but their current run of one win in 18 has supporters asking the same questions of the manager’s future.
DEFENSIVE STABILITY
Looking back at some of the detail in the 2015/16 campaign, it is hard to believe it was such a short time ago.
Wanderers’ only pre-Christmas win had been a thumping of Wolves, they had drawn an inordinate number of games, and had Rob Holding playing alongside David Wheater at the heart of the defence.
Full-back positions were less secure – as Lennon’s gambles on Prince-Desire Gouano and Jose Casado looked shaky and an out-of-sorts Dean Moxey was struggling at full-back.
By Christmas Eve last season, Wanderers had shipped 43 goals in their opening 23 games. Heavy defeats at Hull City and Wolves had been a rude awakening back to life in the Championship but the signing of Karl Henry as a midfield enforcer did add some extra bite and leadership in midfield.
This season, Wanderers have not conceded a huge amount of goals for a club in their position but, ironically, it has been the defensive nature of their football which has come in for most criticism.
There is a question of leadership and whether the release of both Darren Pratley and Henry in midfield have contributed to problems on the pitch.
Lapses in concentration, rather than wholesale disorganisation have cost Bolton points, but surely most would suggest the problems in Parkinson’s squad lie elsewhere?
GOAL OPTIONS
Another peculiar recollection of the 2015/16 season, which would end in a zombie-like amble to relegation, was that the chief topic of attacking conversation was whether Gary Madine was really good enough for the Championship?
Zach Clough was finding his feet at senior level, aided by old stager Emile Heskey. And Lennon also had unpredictable options in Stephen Dobbie and Brazilian enigma Wellington Silva.
Last season’s attack was still spearheaded by Madine, albeit a man unrecognisable from the one who played under Lennon and soon to be making a £6million move to Cardiff City.
Wanderers had scored 23 goals and also had the luxury of sending in the poacher extraordinaire, Adam Le Fondre, off the bench.
This term, goals have been the chief reason for exasperation in the Bolton camp. The team has failed to score in 11 of 23 games and its leading scorer, Josh Magennis, is without a goal since September 15.
Last weekend’s home defeat to Leeds United passed without a shot on target, which was not received well by the locals.
OFF THE FIELD
Three years ago it seemed anything that could go wrong, was going wrong for Bolton.
The EFL placed a transfer embargo on the club on Christmas Eve for their failure to produce Financial Fair Play documentation – and with chairman Phil Gartside gravely ill, the task of finding a buyer for the club fell on the experienced shoulders of football administrator Trevor Birch.
Barely a day went by without some sort of financial term being thrust into the Wanderers lexicon, making issues on the pitch look decidedly tame.
Last year it felt like Wanderers had returned to a slightly more even keel. Parkinson proclaimed on December 23: “The chairman has come out publicly and said anyone we want to stay is going to stay, so that’s key.”
The Bolton boss still added a caveat, however, reminding supporters that they should keep the club’s struggles in perspective.
“There has to be a reality check from everyone of what we are competing against financially,” he said. “I think sometimes people forget that.”
Fast-forward to modern day and the message has not really altered. Parkinson made a point of highlighting Patrick Bamford’s £7m price tag as he came off the bench to seal victory for Leeds United last weekend and the club is still surrounded by bigger budgets, Brentford being one.
Cashflow problems have all-too-often spilled into unpleasant headlines, such as a summer strike over unpaid bonuses, or the much-publicised pay issues in November.
Questions have been asked of the club’s short-term financial security, thus far without an acceptable answer.
VERDICT
Were fans to know Wanderers were not going to go into meltdown, a la 2015/16, then the current struggles on the pitch may be easier to stomach. Efforts are being made to sell the club, to generate investment, although they are unlikely to appear in time to prevent this being anything other than another scrap against the drop.
The quality of recruitment in the previous two transfer windows does bear serious scrutiny and while this writer still maintains Parkinson’s current squad is marginally better than it was 12 months ago, concrete proof is wearing thin.
On paper it still seems incredible things went so awry three years ago, or that such a desperate situation was saved back in May. One can only hope Parkinson’s faith in the team spirit and work ethic he has created is enough to see the team improve in the second half of the season.
Source
Since the club was relegated from the Premier League in 2012 the best pre-Christmas Day position was 16th. In the previous two years at this level, however, the Whites have found themselves in the bottom three with plenty of work to do in the second half of the season.
Phil Parkinson’s side could still climb to 21st if they beat Brentford tomorrow and results elsewhere go their way. But with fans struggling to find festive cheer in a difficult situation, we look back and compare the factors which affected Wanderers in their previous two Championship campaigns and ask: Is it really worse?
MANAGERIAL SITUATION
In 2015/16 Wanderers were in the grip of financial problems which they had not encountered for some time. The issues had certainly crept up on manager, Neil Lennon, who only a couple of months earlier had been looking to strengthen his squad with loan signings like Ivan van la Parra and Joao Teixiera.
The Northern Irishman – a natural orator - was clearly frustrated by the lack of answers he had to give on what was going on behind the scenes, and the promises which had not been kept to him. But his own private life was about to be splashed across the tabloid newspapers in what proved an insurmountable blow to his reputation among Bolton fans.
Phil Parkinson had ridden out a storm in 2017/18 when Wanderers finally recovered some form after a record-setting poor start of two points from their first 11 games. Fans’ frustration was beginning to grow again, however, when a 1-0 home defeat to relegation rivals Burton Albion left Bolton second bottom.
Twelve months on Parkinson has experienced the same situation, only in reverse. The best start since the turn of the millennium at this level had people whispering about a new dawn, but their current run of one win in 18 has supporters asking the same questions of the manager’s future.
DEFENSIVE STABILITY
Looking back at some of the detail in the 2015/16 campaign, it is hard to believe it was such a short time ago.
Wanderers’ only pre-Christmas win had been a thumping of Wolves, they had drawn an inordinate number of games, and had Rob Holding playing alongside David Wheater at the heart of the defence.
Full-back positions were less secure – as Lennon’s gambles on Prince-Desire Gouano and Jose Casado looked shaky and an out-of-sorts Dean Moxey was struggling at full-back.
By Christmas Eve last season, Wanderers had shipped 43 goals in their opening 23 games. Heavy defeats at Hull City and Wolves had been a rude awakening back to life in the Championship but the signing of Karl Henry as a midfield enforcer did add some extra bite and leadership in midfield.
This season, Wanderers have not conceded a huge amount of goals for a club in their position but, ironically, it has been the defensive nature of their football which has come in for most criticism.
There is a question of leadership and whether the release of both Darren Pratley and Henry in midfield have contributed to problems on the pitch.
Lapses in concentration, rather than wholesale disorganisation have cost Bolton points, but surely most would suggest the problems in Parkinson’s squad lie elsewhere?
GOAL OPTIONS
Another peculiar recollection of the 2015/16 season, which would end in a zombie-like amble to relegation, was that the chief topic of attacking conversation was whether Gary Madine was really good enough for the Championship?
Zach Clough was finding his feet at senior level, aided by old stager Emile Heskey. And Lennon also had unpredictable options in Stephen Dobbie and Brazilian enigma Wellington Silva.
Last season’s attack was still spearheaded by Madine, albeit a man unrecognisable from the one who played under Lennon and soon to be making a £6million move to Cardiff City.
Wanderers had scored 23 goals and also had the luxury of sending in the poacher extraordinaire, Adam Le Fondre, off the bench.
This term, goals have been the chief reason for exasperation in the Bolton camp. The team has failed to score in 11 of 23 games and its leading scorer, Josh Magennis, is without a goal since September 15.
Last weekend’s home defeat to Leeds United passed without a shot on target, which was not received well by the locals.
OFF THE FIELD
Three years ago it seemed anything that could go wrong, was going wrong for Bolton.
The EFL placed a transfer embargo on the club on Christmas Eve for their failure to produce Financial Fair Play documentation – and with chairman Phil Gartside gravely ill, the task of finding a buyer for the club fell on the experienced shoulders of football administrator Trevor Birch.
Barely a day went by without some sort of financial term being thrust into the Wanderers lexicon, making issues on the pitch look decidedly tame.
Last year it felt like Wanderers had returned to a slightly more even keel. Parkinson proclaimed on December 23: “The chairman has come out publicly and said anyone we want to stay is going to stay, so that’s key.”
The Bolton boss still added a caveat, however, reminding supporters that they should keep the club’s struggles in perspective.
“There has to be a reality check from everyone of what we are competing against financially,” he said. “I think sometimes people forget that.”
Fast-forward to modern day and the message has not really altered. Parkinson made a point of highlighting Patrick Bamford’s £7m price tag as he came off the bench to seal victory for Leeds United last weekend and the club is still surrounded by bigger budgets, Brentford being one.
Cashflow problems have all-too-often spilled into unpleasant headlines, such as a summer strike over unpaid bonuses, or the much-publicised pay issues in November.
Questions have been asked of the club’s short-term financial security, thus far without an acceptable answer.
VERDICT
Were fans to know Wanderers were not going to go into meltdown, a la 2015/16, then the current struggles on the pitch may be easier to stomach. Efforts are being made to sell the club, to generate investment, although they are unlikely to appear in time to prevent this being anything other than another scrap against the drop.
The quality of recruitment in the previous two transfer windows does bear serious scrutiny and while this writer still maintains Parkinson’s current squad is marginally better than it was 12 months ago, concrete proof is wearing thin.
On paper it still seems incredible things went so awry three years ago, or that such a desperate situation was saved back in May. One can only hope Parkinson’s faith in the team spirit and work ethic he has created is enough to see the team improve in the second half of the season.
Source
