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Who could possibly have predicted what changes would lie in wait when Wanderers last travelled to the Liberty Stadium?
The year was 2011, Donald Trump was writing books on how to make money, the Twilight Saga was still a thing and Owen Coyle promised Bolton fans that “it would get better” after a 3-1 defeat in South Wales.
Wanderers were not alone in their demise. Half of the clubs competing in that season’s Premier League no longer play there, and four – including the Whites – have fallen as far as League One in the intervening years.
Happily, there is still one constant in a Wanderers shirt. David Wheater is a little older, if not necessarily wiser, and still bears the hallmarks of his Premier League past.
Recent analysis of the performance metrics of all Championship’s centre-backs showed the former Middlesbrough man has been at the top of his game this season, and not just for the physical stuff, either.
Only Bristol City’s highly-rated Adam Webster can hold a candle to Wheater’s stats across the board in areas like aerial and defensive duels won, forward pass accuracy, percentage of passes played forward and distribution to the final third of the pitch.
Three of Swansea’s best, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Michael van der Hoorn and the inured Joe Rodon, also rank highly, which points towards an intriguing battle when the two sides meet tomorrow.
Wheater was playing alongside Gary Cahill back when Bolton last travelled to Swansea in the league – a game which also marked an ignominious end to Ricardo Gardner’s career at the club, with he Jamaican star sent off for two bookable offences in his last-ever appearance.
The club captain has been through a lot - two relegations, one promotion, severe injuries, four permanent managers and, more recently, some draining financial problems. But one criterion in which few players can match Wheater is optimism, a commodity which could prove especially important aboard the team coach today.
“We have done it before and if we carry on playing like we did against Leeds, I think we can do it again,” he said. “It was the last day of last season and hpefully it doesn’t get to that stage, so we need to pick some victories up soon. We know that.
“We’ve got Ipswich in March, teams around us, and they are the ones we will need to win. And if we can play like that against a top team like Leeds, then we have got to show we can do it against the others as well.”
Playing on the road has been somewhat of a release for Wanderers this season. If only away results counted then Phil Parkinson’s side would be sitting comfortably in 18th. Sadly, no team in the division has taken fewer points at home.
Wheater notes the difference in atmosphere but admits it is the team’s responsibility to change it.
“You get the boos at home, don’t you, but a lot of that is down to us,” he said. “We need to play better so we don’t get them.
“You shouldn’t really let it affect you. Obviously, you hear it and think ‘flipping heck, what have I done now?’ But you might get the ball 10 seconds later, so you have to keep going, be confident in yourself.
“The away fans have always been fantastic since I have been here, probably were before as well, so there’s no complaints for us.”
Wheater also has no gripe with Remi Matthews, despite a mistake at Leeds United last week that potentially cost Wanderers a point.
The former Norwich man has proved a very able deputy since Ben Alnwick succumbed to a back injury and many believe he could continue as number one even after his team-mate returns.
“At Norwich it could have been 8-0 without him,” Wheater said. “Defenders and goalkeepers are always going to get the blame for conceding, it’s always one of our fault.
“But Remi has kept his head up, he’s a top lad. He should be confident because he’s made one mistake out of how many shots he’s faced in the past few weeks? A lot. He’ll be fine.”
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The year was 2011, Donald Trump was writing books on how to make money, the Twilight Saga was still a thing and Owen Coyle promised Bolton fans that “it would get better” after a 3-1 defeat in South Wales.
Wanderers were not alone in their demise. Half of the clubs competing in that season’s Premier League no longer play there, and four – including the Whites – have fallen as far as League One in the intervening years.
Happily, there is still one constant in a Wanderers shirt. David Wheater is a little older, if not necessarily wiser, and still bears the hallmarks of his Premier League past.
Recent analysis of the performance metrics of all Championship’s centre-backs showed the former Middlesbrough man has been at the top of his game this season, and not just for the physical stuff, either.
Only Bristol City’s highly-rated Adam Webster can hold a candle to Wheater’s stats across the board in areas like aerial and defensive duels won, forward pass accuracy, percentage of passes played forward and distribution to the final third of the pitch.
Three of Swansea’s best, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Michael van der Hoorn and the inured Joe Rodon, also rank highly, which points towards an intriguing battle when the two sides meet tomorrow.
Wheater was playing alongside Gary Cahill back when Bolton last travelled to Swansea in the league – a game which also marked an ignominious end to Ricardo Gardner’s career at the club, with he Jamaican star sent off for two bookable offences in his last-ever appearance.
The club captain has been through a lot - two relegations, one promotion, severe injuries, four permanent managers and, more recently, some draining financial problems. But one criterion in which few players can match Wheater is optimism, a commodity which could prove especially important aboard the team coach today.
“We have done it before and if we carry on playing like we did against Leeds, I think we can do it again,” he said. “It was the last day of last season and hpefully it doesn’t get to that stage, so we need to pick some victories up soon. We know that.
“We’ve got Ipswich in March, teams around us, and they are the ones we will need to win. And if we can play like that against a top team like Leeds, then we have got to show we can do it against the others as well.”
Playing on the road has been somewhat of a release for Wanderers this season. If only away results counted then Phil Parkinson’s side would be sitting comfortably in 18th. Sadly, no team in the division has taken fewer points at home.
Wheater notes the difference in atmosphere but admits it is the team’s responsibility to change it.
“You get the boos at home, don’t you, but a lot of that is down to us,” he said. “We need to play better so we don’t get them.
“You shouldn’t really let it affect you. Obviously, you hear it and think ‘flipping heck, what have I done now?’ But you might get the ball 10 seconds later, so you have to keep going, be confident in yourself.
“The away fans have always been fantastic since I have been here, probably were before as well, so there’s no complaints for us.”
Wheater also has no gripe with Remi Matthews, despite a mistake at Leeds United last week that potentially cost Wanderers a point.
The former Norwich man has proved a very able deputy since Ben Alnwick succumbed to a back injury and many believe he could continue as number one even after his team-mate returns.
“At Norwich it could have been 8-0 without him,” Wheater said. “Defenders and goalkeepers are always going to get the blame for conceding, it’s always one of our fault.
“But Remi has kept his head up, he’s a top lad. He should be confident because he’s made one mistake out of how many shots he’s faced in the past few weeks? A lot. He’ll be fine.”
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