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From promotion winner pushing a case to be reconsidered on the international stage to a player being spotted shopping at the Trafford Centre on a Saturday afternoon, how has it come to this for Declan John?
While it is true to say a handful of Ian Evatt’s squad have failed to get the minutes on the pitch they had hoped for this season, none have seen such a sharp decline in stock as the Welsh ace, who since starting on the opening day against Ipswich has started just twice more in League One.
When someone drops so swiftly out of the picture, it is natural to assume there is a direct cause – be it a bust-up with the manager, an injury, an illness. But in John’s case, his fall from grace appears to be exclusively down to preference.
John was one of the January saviours in Bolton’s League Two campaign, arriving on loan after a hellish few years at Swansea City and in the middle of a global pandemic, which made for uncertain times for any footballer coming out of contract.
When he penned a three-year deal to stay with Wanderers permanently the following summer, it was regarded as something of a coup. John was only 18 months out of the senior Wales international set-up and had played in the English and Scottish top-flight, so for a club aiming immediately for another promotion he looked a great fit.
But as Bolton returned to League One, John suffered a first spate of problems with form and fitness. He started seven of the first 18 games in league and cup, with back-up Liam Gordon filling in the blanks.
By the second half of the campaign he had regained consistency and was again in top shape, missing just one match between October 23 and the end of the season. Questions were often asked of his suitability as a pure defender, rather than as an attacking wing-back, but even his harshest critic could not fail to be impressed with his individual form over April, where he helped the Whites finish on a high with four straight wins.
When the club released Gordon – who would go on to sign for League Two Walsall – there was an obvious void to be filled. And Wanderers did it quickly, bringing in Cambridge United’s impressive left-sided defender Jack Iredale a matter of weeks before the last ball was kicked in anger.
Straight away, fans wondered whether Iredale would be pitched into a battle with George Johnston for the left-sided centre-back spot, or whether John’s crown was at stake. Not long into August, it became clear his future lay in the wider position.
Once familiar with the tactical nuances of Ian Evatt’s system the Australian pushed on to become first choice on the left, pushing John first to the bench, and eventually out of the reckoning all together.
The two have only started once on the same pitch – a Papa Johns Trophy game against Leeds United’s Under-21s – and the situation was complicated further when Bolton brought in Liverpool’s Owen Beck for a third option on the penultimate day of the transfer window.
Beck was given time to acclimatise, improve his fitness to cope with the demands of League One, but all the while Iredale retained almost exclusive possession of the left wing-back slot, John starting games against Morecambe and Forest Green, along with cup outings against Salford, Aston Villa and Tranmere.
Recently, Beck has also been preferred to John on the bench, leaving Wanderers fans posting social media messages of his sightings around the locality on days when the squad were playing further afield.
Manager Evatt’s straightforward assessment that some of his fringe players would most likely seek a move away from Bolton in January was not aimed at any single player in particular – but John, along with a few others, will surely have noted it down.
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But how did the former Cardiff City man end up shunted so far to the periphery?
Evatt talks about players forcing his hand with their work on the training ground. John’s time in limbo could come down to something as simple as a dip in form – thus could also be rectified.
It appears, however, that at least part of the decision is tactical. Iredale’s ability to slot in at centre-back, or even as a holding midfielder, offers Evatt the opportunity to change systems in-game.
Defensively, the Australian also has a physical edge. According to data from Wyscout, he has won nearly twice the defensive duels per 90 minutes as John in his 19 appearances this season, engaging in three times as many.
Technically, John moves the ball at a quicker pace, firing out more forward passes and at a higher success rate – all traits which perhaps explain the desire of some fans to see him back in the equation.
The Welshman produces fewer crosses into the penalty box but does have a slightly higher success rate.
But Iredale does rank higher in terms of xG – i.e. data shows he has a high chance of scoring – and in xA – which measures the chance of him assisting a goal. There is no clear delineation, but there is little doubt that the former Cambridge man currently has the upper hand.
Beck’s figures are limited to the few first team appearances he has made thus far but, taking into consideration his games at B Team level and those at Liverpool last season, his game does appear more akin to John than Iredale.
And the fact the youngster is now being used more extensively than John does not bode well for his future with the January transfer window looming.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
From promotion winner pushing a case to be reconsidered on the international stage to a player being spotted shopping at the Trafford Centre on a Saturday afternoon, how has it come to this for Declan John?
While it is true to say a handful of Ian Evatt’s squad have failed to get the minutes on the pitch they had hoped for this season, none have seen such a sharp decline in stock as the Welsh ace, who since starting on the opening day against Ipswich has started just twice more in League One.
When someone drops so swiftly out of the picture, it is natural to assume there is a direct cause – be it a bust-up with the manager, an injury, an illness. But in John’s case, his fall from grace appears to be exclusively down to preference.
John was one of the January saviours in Bolton’s League Two campaign, arriving on loan after a hellish few years at Swansea City and in the middle of a global pandemic, which made for uncertain times for any footballer coming out of contract.
When he penned a three-year deal to stay with Wanderers permanently the following summer, it was regarded as something of a coup. John was only 18 months out of the senior Wales international set-up and had played in the English and Scottish top-flight, so for a club aiming immediately for another promotion he looked a great fit.
But as Bolton returned to League One, John suffered a first spate of problems with form and fitness. He started seven of the first 18 games in league and cup, with back-up Liam Gordon filling in the blanks.
By the second half of the campaign he had regained consistency and was again in top shape, missing just one match between October 23 and the end of the season. Questions were often asked of his suitability as a pure defender, rather than as an attacking wing-back, but even his harshest critic could not fail to be impressed with his individual form over April, where he helped the Whites finish on a high with four straight wins.
When the club released Gordon – who would go on to sign for League Two Walsall – there was an obvious void to be filled. And Wanderers did it quickly, bringing in Cambridge United’s impressive left-sided defender Jack Iredale a matter of weeks before the last ball was kicked in anger.
Straight away, fans wondered whether Iredale would be pitched into a battle with George Johnston for the left-sided centre-back spot, or whether John’s crown was at stake. Not long into August, it became clear his future lay in the wider position.
Once familiar with the tactical nuances of Ian Evatt’s system the Australian pushed on to become first choice on the left, pushing John first to the bench, and eventually out of the reckoning all together.
The two have only started once on the same pitch – a Papa Johns Trophy game against Leeds United’s Under-21s – and the situation was complicated further when Bolton brought in Liverpool’s Owen Beck for a third option on the penultimate day of the transfer window.
Beck was given time to acclimatise, improve his fitness to cope with the demands of League One, but all the while Iredale retained almost exclusive possession of the left wing-back slot, John starting games against Morecambe and Forest Green, along with cup outings against Salford, Aston Villa and Tranmere.
Recently, Beck has also been preferred to John on the bench, leaving Wanderers fans posting social media messages of his sightings around the locality on days when the squad were playing further afield.
Manager Evatt’s straightforward assessment that some of his fringe players would most likely seek a move away from Bolton in January was not aimed at any single player in particular – but John, along with a few others, will surely have noted it down.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
But how did the former Cardiff City man end up shunted so far to the periphery?
Evatt talks about players forcing his hand with their work on the training ground. John’s time in limbo could come down to something as simple as a dip in form – thus could also be rectified.
It appears, however, that at least part of the decision is tactical. Iredale’s ability to slot in at centre-back, or even as a holding midfielder, offers Evatt the opportunity to change systems in-game.
Defensively, the Australian also has a physical edge. According to data from Wyscout, he has won nearly twice the defensive duels per 90 minutes as John in his 19 appearances this season, engaging in three times as many.
Technically, John moves the ball at a quicker pace, firing out more forward passes and at a higher success rate – all traits which perhaps explain the desire of some fans to see him back in the equation.
The Welshman produces fewer crosses into the penalty box but does have a slightly higher success rate.
But Iredale does rank higher in terms of xG – i.e. data shows he has a high chance of scoring – and in xA – which measures the chance of him assisting a goal. There is no clear delineation, but there is little doubt that the former Cambridge man currently has the upper hand.
Beck’s figures are limited to the few first team appearances he has made thus far but, taking into consideration his games at B Team level and those at Liverpool last season, his game does appear more akin to John than Iredale.
And the fact the youngster is now being used more extensively than John does not bode well for his future with the January transfer window looming.
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