Home
Wanderers’ players will be given some time over the next few days to recharge the batteries – and come back stronger for the festive schedule.
After efforts to move the Leasing.com Trophy second round game against Accrington Stanley to Saturday proved fruitless, Keith Hill’s side face a free weekend.
The Bolton boss has broken down the heavy League One defeat at the Wham Stadium to his players this week and feels his players have reacted well.
But while he was disappointed the cup game could not be shifted, he believes the mini-break could come at a good time.
Wanderers have the likes of Harry Brockbank and Jack Hobbs making progress towards fitness and moved their Under-23s game against Barnsley to a noon kick-off at Leyland this afternoon (November 29) to allow some players to get some game time.
“Personally, I wanted to play this weekend, as a club we wanted the game to be played, and Accrington did as well,” Hill told The Bolton News. “But unfortunately because of police advice we were not able to do it.
“So I think it’s a time for evaluation. We’ve been together for 12 weeks, it has been an unbelievable learning curve, and I feel like it’s time for the players to have a little rest.
“They have been climbing mountains for me, they really have. It has been a good week’s training, we’ve met with them as a group and in evaluation meetings individually so this is a good time to repair some damage, rest the mind, then we go into a really influential part of the season.”
Wanderers face a potential backlog of fixtures, which could worsen depending on Blackpool and Shrewsbury’s progress in the FA Cup.
Hill is looking on the bright side, and feels with the right business in January the extra games will not be a burden.
“There are 29 games to play, it’s okay to dream but you have got to do something about it, there has got to be some positive action – and some positive luck as well, I suppose,” he said.
“We are planning for the 29, and then next season’s 46. I honestly would rather play Saturday-Tuesday to the end of the season, I really would, because it keeps you ticking over.
“We have had too many cancellations, postponements. This free week is a good one, it came at a good time, but I would rather keep busy.
“January is a big opportunity to improve, to make this squad stronger, not just for this season but for next season as well.”
Source
After efforts to move the Leasing.com Trophy second round game against Accrington Stanley to Saturday proved fruitless, Keith Hill’s side face a free weekend.
The Bolton boss has broken down the heavy League One defeat at the Wham Stadium to his players this week and feels his players have reacted well.
But while he was disappointed the cup game could not be shifted, he believes the mini-break could come at a good time.
Wanderers have the likes of Harry Brockbank and Jack Hobbs making progress towards fitness and moved their Under-23s game against Barnsley to a noon kick-off at Leyland this afternoon (November 29) to allow some players to get some game time.
“Personally, I wanted to play this weekend, as a club we wanted the game to be played, and Accrington did as well,” Hill told The Bolton News. “But unfortunately because of police advice we were not able to do it.
“So I think it’s a time for evaluation. We’ve been together for 12 weeks, it has been an unbelievable learning curve, and I feel like it’s time for the players to have a little rest.
“They have been climbing mountains for me, they really have. It has been a good week’s training, we’ve met with them as a group and in evaluation meetings individually so this is a good time to repair some damage, rest the mind, then we go into a really influential part of the season.”
Wanderers face a potential backlog of fixtures, which could worsen depending on Blackpool and Shrewsbury’s progress in the FA Cup.
Hill is looking on the bright side, and feels with the right business in January the extra games will not be a burden.
“There are 29 games to play, it’s okay to dream but you have got to do something about it, there has got to be some positive action – and some positive luck as well, I suppose,” he said.
“We are planning for the 29, and then next season’s 46. I honestly would rather play Saturday-Tuesday to the end of the season, I really would, because it keeps you ticking over.
“We have had too many cancellations, postponements. This free week is a good one, it came at a good time, but I would rather keep busy.
“January is a big opportunity to improve, to make this squad stronger, not just for this season but for next season as well.”
Source