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This has not been a vintage year for Wanderers, and that has been reflected in our end-of-season player ratings.
Records have tumbled, and not in a good way, as strikes, wage delays and wretched form saw the club slide towards relegation into League One.
Judging Phil Parkinson and his squad purely on their efforts on the pitch has proved difficult as the chaos off it continually impacted upon preparation and confidence.
But Marc Iles gives his verdict on the players who have come out with reputation intact and those who might be glad to see the back of the Unibol this summer.
BEN ALNWICK Apps – 28 Gls – 0
Kept just four clean sheets but had very few noticeably poor games. Troubled by injury at the start and end of the campaign which allowed
Av mark – 6.28
Verdict – Stable but now under pressure from Remi Matthews.
SAMMY AMEOBI Apps – 26(5) Gls – 4
Never really recaptured the form he showed in patches last season and seemed to play with the weight of the world on his shoulders at times.
Av mark – 6.07
Verdict – Will benefit from moving to pastures new.
MARK BEEVERS Apps – 33(1) Gls – 4
Looked all at sea for the first couple of months, his distribution poor, but rediscovered form and his partnership with David Wheater was as solid as it got for Bolton.
Av mark – 6.58
Verdict – Improved as the season went on but surely won’t fancy another year in League One.
WILL BUCKLEY Apps – 23(11) Gls – 4
Had a few games where his work-rate shone through and ended up as joint-top scorer in the league but so often drifted out of games, looking bereft of confidence.
Av mark – 5.88
Verdict – Better than he showed this season.
LUCA CONNELL Apps – 9(3) Gls – 0
A breath of fresh air when he came into the side. It has been a steep learning curve since then for the academy youngster.
Av mark – 6.70
Verdict – Rising star. Wanderers desperately need to keep him.
CALLUM CONNOLLY Apps – 15(1) Gls – 2
Played across the back four and in midfield and looked a threat at set pieces. Not attack-minded enough for some but not a terrible addition on loan from Everton.
Av mark – 6.54
Verdict – Versatility was an asset. Went under the radar.
CHRISTIAN DOIDGE Apps – 8(9) Gls – 1
But for that goal at Rotherham, Doidge had struggled to come to terms with Championship football. Whether he would have improved we’ll never know.
Av mark – 6.2
Verdict – Unfortunate that his move collapsed. Bolton fans will be rooting for him in the play-offs.
CLAYTON DONALDSON Apps – 19(15) Gls – 2
If strikers are judged on goals, then Donaldson had a poor season. His work-rate in the first half of the season was good but his impact tailed off significantly.
Av mark – 5.89
Verdict – Continually selected despite poor goal return. Not what Wanderers needed.
LLOYD DYER Apps – 2(5) Gls – 0
A strange addition in January when Wanderers dabbled with wing-backs but ended up being a very poor signing indeed.
Av mark – 3.72
Verdict – Made little or no impact at Bolton. Won’t be fondly remembered.
JONATHAN GROUNDS Apps – 14(1) Gls – 0
Looked a good addition on paper and ended up being a rather costly mistake. Loaned on decent money from Birmingham but wilted under pressure.
Av mark – 5.45
Verdict – Best performance was at centre half on the last day but by then the ship had sailed.
JACK HOBBS Apps – 26(1) Gls – 1
Suffered from a mid-season wilt which took the shine off an encouraging start in Bolton colours. Had to play with injuries towards the end.
Av mark – 6.46
Verdict – A good character who showed he has got something to give.
JASON LOWE Apps – 37 Gls – 0
Came to personify people’s gripes with Parkinson’s defensive tactics. Not a dynamic type, perhaps, but Lowe organised and kept the ball as well as anyone.
Av mark – 6.56
Verdict – Contracted to next season and could be an important stable presence.
JOSH MAGENNIS Apps – 31(14) Gls – 7
Grabbed a hat-trick in the FA Cup and started the season looking like a steal at £200,000. The Northern Irishman seemed to lose momentum quickly.
Av mark – 6.07
Verdict – Could be an asset in League One but cut a frustrated figure this season.
REMI MATTHEWS Apps – 20 Gls – 0
A relative unknown when he signed, initially on loan, from Norwich. Matthews has proved to be an asset on and off the pitch for Bolton.
Av mark – 6.69
Verdict – A rare gem on the recruitment front. Looks to have a good future.
LUKE MURPHY Apps – 9(4) Gls – 0
Dumped unceremoniously from the side after the home defeat to Sheffield United, Murphy eventually found his way back in. Just.
Av mark – 5.85
Verdict – Hard to judge having had only a couple of runs in the side.
CRAIG NOONE Apps – 27(12) Gls – 1
One of the genuine good characters in the side who displays a vociferous work-rate, yet Noone’s inconsistent delivery from out wide was a problem.
Av mark – 6.16
Verdict – Seemed to try too hard at times. A better player than he showed this term.
GARY O’NEIL Apps – 25(6) Gls – 3
Looked an extravagant signing last summer at the age of 35 but if Wanderers have had a consistent presence this season, it has been him.
Av mark – 6.76
Verdict – Professionalism shone through, even in the toughest of times.
PAWEL OLKOWSKI Apps – 36(3) Gls – 2
Dubbed a Rolls Royce at the start of the season, the wheels threatened to fall off prior to Christmas. Olkowski is better than League One, that is for certain.
Av mark – 6.54
Verdict – Had a dip in form, recovered, but struggled to make sense of the madness.
ERHUN OZTUMER Apps - 9(9) Gls – 1
Game-time severely restricted, much to the fans’ chagrin, the former Walsall playmaker never looked like fitting into Parkinson’s plans.
Av mark – 6.07
Verdict – Easy to feel for Oztumer, who was inexplicably overlooked at times.
ANDY TAYLOR Apps – 26(1) Gls – 0
Started the season unsure of his first team place but a challenger never materialised. Steady as they come.
Av mark – 6.34
Verdict – Ended up as the mouthpiece for a dissatisfied squad but Taylor rarely let anyone down on the pitch.
JOSH VELA Apps – 14(5) Gls – 0
Frustration was etched across Vela’s face almost every time we saw him. Goals had dried up even if his effort levels hadn’t dipped. A fresh start is exactly what he needs.
Av mark – 6.50
Verdict – Leaving after 17 years, man and boy. A sad end for Vela.
DAVID WHEATER Apps – 33(1) Gls – 0
Not always guaranteed a starting spot this season, and not at his very best, but continually proved himself Bolton’s most effective defender.
Av mark – 6.82
Verdict – Wanderers always looked better when he was in the back four.
YANIC WILDSCHUT Apps – 6(12) Gls – 2
The Dutchman, on loan from Norwich, scored a couple of crucial goals early in the season but never gained Parkinson’s trust and picked up a nasty ankle injury.
Av mark – 4.75
Verdict – Truly disappointing signing who never got close to his billing.
JOE WILLIAMS Apps – 29(1) Gls – 0
Midfield scrapper on loan from Everton who lacked the touch of finesse that Wanderers really needed in the middle of the park.
Av mark – 6.45
Verdict – Showed promise but Wanderers needed creativity.
MARC WILSON Apps - 14(3) Gls – 0
Experienced Premier League man with international experience who won’t have come cheap but really didn’t make an impact.
Av mark – 5.49
Verdict – Another one in the poor signing column.
Others: Harry Brockbank 3/0; Ronan Darcy 0(1)/0; Jack Earing 0(1)/0; Connor Hall 1/0; Adam Le Fondre 0(1)/0; Mark Little 3(1)/0; Joe Muscatt 0(1)/0; Joe Pritchard 2(3)/0.
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Records have tumbled, and not in a good way, as strikes, wage delays and wretched form saw the club slide towards relegation into League One.
Judging Phil Parkinson and his squad purely on their efforts on the pitch has proved difficult as the chaos off it continually impacted upon preparation and confidence.
But Marc Iles gives his verdict on the players who have come out with reputation intact and those who might be glad to see the back of the Unibol this summer.
BEN ALNWICK Apps – 28 Gls – 0
Kept just four clean sheets but had very few noticeably poor games. Troubled by injury at the start and end of the campaign which allowed
Av mark – 6.28
Verdict – Stable but now under pressure from Remi Matthews.
SAMMY AMEOBI Apps – 26(5) Gls – 4
Never really recaptured the form he showed in patches last season and seemed to play with the weight of the world on his shoulders at times.
Av mark – 6.07
Verdict – Will benefit from moving to pastures new.
MARK BEEVERS Apps – 33(1) Gls – 4
Looked all at sea for the first couple of months, his distribution poor, but rediscovered form and his partnership with David Wheater was as solid as it got for Bolton.
Av mark – 6.58
Verdict – Improved as the season went on but surely won’t fancy another year in League One.
WILL BUCKLEY Apps – 23(11) Gls – 4
Had a few games where his work-rate shone through and ended up as joint-top scorer in the league but so often drifted out of games, looking bereft of confidence.
Av mark – 5.88
Verdict – Better than he showed this season.
LUCA CONNELL Apps – 9(3) Gls – 0
A breath of fresh air when he came into the side. It has been a steep learning curve since then for the academy youngster.
Av mark – 6.70
Verdict – Rising star. Wanderers desperately need to keep him.
CALLUM CONNOLLY Apps – 15(1) Gls – 2
Played across the back four and in midfield and looked a threat at set pieces. Not attack-minded enough for some but not a terrible addition on loan from Everton.
Av mark – 6.54
Verdict – Versatility was an asset. Went under the radar.
CHRISTIAN DOIDGE Apps – 8(9) Gls – 1
But for that goal at Rotherham, Doidge had struggled to come to terms with Championship football. Whether he would have improved we’ll never know.
Av mark – 6.2
Verdict – Unfortunate that his move collapsed. Bolton fans will be rooting for him in the play-offs.
CLAYTON DONALDSON Apps – 19(15) Gls – 2
If strikers are judged on goals, then Donaldson had a poor season. His work-rate in the first half of the season was good but his impact tailed off significantly.
Av mark – 5.89
Verdict – Continually selected despite poor goal return. Not what Wanderers needed.
LLOYD DYER Apps – 2(5) Gls – 0
A strange addition in January when Wanderers dabbled with wing-backs but ended up being a very poor signing indeed.
Av mark – 3.72
Verdict – Made little or no impact at Bolton. Won’t be fondly remembered.
JONATHAN GROUNDS Apps – 14(1) Gls – 0
Looked a good addition on paper and ended up being a rather costly mistake. Loaned on decent money from Birmingham but wilted under pressure.
Av mark – 5.45
Verdict – Best performance was at centre half on the last day but by then the ship had sailed.
JACK HOBBS Apps – 26(1) Gls – 1
Suffered from a mid-season wilt which took the shine off an encouraging start in Bolton colours. Had to play with injuries towards the end.
Av mark – 6.46
Verdict – A good character who showed he has got something to give.
JASON LOWE Apps – 37 Gls – 0
Came to personify people’s gripes with Parkinson’s defensive tactics. Not a dynamic type, perhaps, but Lowe organised and kept the ball as well as anyone.
Av mark – 6.56
Verdict – Contracted to next season and could be an important stable presence.
JOSH MAGENNIS Apps – 31(14) Gls – 7
Grabbed a hat-trick in the FA Cup and started the season looking like a steal at £200,000. The Northern Irishman seemed to lose momentum quickly.
Av mark – 6.07
Verdict – Could be an asset in League One but cut a frustrated figure this season.
REMI MATTHEWS Apps – 20 Gls – 0
A relative unknown when he signed, initially on loan, from Norwich. Matthews has proved to be an asset on and off the pitch for Bolton.
Av mark – 6.69
Verdict – A rare gem on the recruitment front. Looks to have a good future.
LUKE MURPHY Apps – 9(4) Gls – 0
Dumped unceremoniously from the side after the home defeat to Sheffield United, Murphy eventually found his way back in. Just.
Av mark – 5.85
Verdict – Hard to judge having had only a couple of runs in the side.
CRAIG NOONE Apps – 27(12) Gls – 1
One of the genuine good characters in the side who displays a vociferous work-rate, yet Noone’s inconsistent delivery from out wide was a problem.
Av mark – 6.16
Verdict – Seemed to try too hard at times. A better player than he showed this term.
GARY O’NEIL Apps – 25(6) Gls – 3
Looked an extravagant signing last summer at the age of 35 but if Wanderers have had a consistent presence this season, it has been him.
Av mark – 6.76
Verdict – Professionalism shone through, even in the toughest of times.
PAWEL OLKOWSKI Apps – 36(3) Gls – 2
Dubbed a Rolls Royce at the start of the season, the wheels threatened to fall off prior to Christmas. Olkowski is better than League One, that is for certain.
Av mark – 6.54
Verdict – Had a dip in form, recovered, but struggled to make sense of the madness.
ERHUN OZTUMER Apps - 9(9) Gls – 1
Game-time severely restricted, much to the fans’ chagrin, the former Walsall playmaker never looked like fitting into Parkinson’s plans.
Av mark – 6.07
Verdict – Easy to feel for Oztumer, who was inexplicably overlooked at times.
ANDY TAYLOR Apps – 26(1) Gls – 0
Started the season unsure of his first team place but a challenger never materialised. Steady as they come.
Av mark – 6.34
Verdict – Ended up as the mouthpiece for a dissatisfied squad but Taylor rarely let anyone down on the pitch.
JOSH VELA Apps – 14(5) Gls – 0
Frustration was etched across Vela’s face almost every time we saw him. Goals had dried up even if his effort levels hadn’t dipped. A fresh start is exactly what he needs.
Av mark – 6.50
Verdict – Leaving after 17 years, man and boy. A sad end for Vela.
DAVID WHEATER Apps – 33(1) Gls – 0
Not always guaranteed a starting spot this season, and not at his very best, but continually proved himself Bolton’s most effective defender.
Av mark – 6.82
Verdict – Wanderers always looked better when he was in the back four.
YANIC WILDSCHUT Apps – 6(12) Gls – 2
The Dutchman, on loan from Norwich, scored a couple of crucial goals early in the season but never gained Parkinson’s trust and picked up a nasty ankle injury.
Av mark – 4.75
Verdict – Truly disappointing signing who never got close to his billing.
JOE WILLIAMS Apps – 29(1) Gls – 0
Midfield scrapper on loan from Everton who lacked the touch of finesse that Wanderers really needed in the middle of the park.
Av mark – 6.45
Verdict – Showed promise but Wanderers needed creativity.
MARC WILSON Apps - 14(3) Gls – 0
Experienced Premier League man with international experience who won’t have come cheap but really didn’t make an impact.
Av mark – 5.49
Verdict – Another one in the poor signing column.
Others: Harry Brockbank 3/0; Ronan Darcy 0(1)/0; Jack Earing 0(1)/0; Connor Hall 1/0; Adam Le Fondre 0(1)/0; Mark Little 3(1)/0; Joe Muscatt 0(1)/0; Joe Pritchard 2(3)/0.
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