Enough To Make You Weep

Exactly 10 years ago today, on 17th November 2002, we went to Leeds United in the Premiership and won 4-2.

Just look at the Bolton team from that day:

Jaaskelainen,
N'Gotty (Tofting 59)
Campo
Barness
Mendy
Okocha
Frandsen
Nolan (Ricketts 77)
Charlton
Djorkaeff
Pedersen

I'm not saying that team were world-beaters but it does show how far we have fallen in 10 years. That team wasn't exactly full of pace or talented youngsters but look at the class on show...Youri, Okocha, Frandsen, Campo etc.

And when the scores were locked at 2-2 Sam Allardyce was able to bring on goal-machine Michael Ricketts who put Bolton in front with his first touch. Pedersen then sealed it in the last minute. What options does Freedman have when the game is deadlocked?

I was excited by football in those days, 10 years on and look what's happened to our team. No flare, no talent, and no excitement. Will we ever see the good times again?

I know where you're coming from Natasha, but even in those days we still weren't happy - I remember the boos going round Elland Road when Pedersen was named in the starting 11!

We were shaky at the back in those days, just as we are now. But back then we had players who could change a game with a great goal or defence-splitting pass. Somewhere along the line we stopped buying players who could pass a football, maybe it's a sign of the times.

Passi wrote:We were shaky at the back in those days, just as we are now. But back then we had players who could change a game with a great goal or defence-splitting pass. Somewhere along the line we stopped buying players who could pass a football, maybe it's a sign of the times.

And yet back then we were known as a longball team...not sure what we are now.

I got threw out of that game. Great times.

Jesus, check out that midfield - frandsen, campo, okocha, Nolan - probably four of my top ten bolton players of all time. That is the big difference to now - eagles, mark Davies, spearing, pratley, Keith Andrews. Jesus, how depressing!

Natasha Whittam wrote:Exactly 10 years ago today, on 17th November 2002, we went to Leeds United in the Premiership and won 4-2.

Just look at the Bolton team from that day:

Jaaskelainen,
N'Gotty (Tofting 59)
Campo
Barness
Mendy
Okocha
Frandsen
Nolan (Ricketts 77)
Charlton
Djorkaeff
Pedersen

I'm not saying that team were world-beaters but it does show how far we have fallen in 10 years. That team wasn't exactly full of pace or talented youngsters but look at the class on show...Youri, Okocha, Frandsen, Campo etc.

And when the scores were locked at 2-2 Sam Allardyce was able to bring on goal-machine Michael Ricketts who put Bolton in front with his first touch. Pedersen then sealed it in the last minute. What options does Freedman have when the game is deadlocked?

I was excited by football in those days, 10 years on and look what's happened to our team. No flare, no talent, and no excitement. Will we ever see the good times again?

At least we have the memories
Flare?

Flair enough.

It was late. I was depressed. Forgive me the typo.

Bernard Dennis Park wrote:I got threw out of that game. Great times.

Touching up women again?

I had a £50 bet on that game that we won win 3-2, I was gutted when Pedersen made it 4-2.

Natasha Whittam wrote:It was late. I was depressed. Forgive me the typo.

twas a rare error

ok

The only tiny crumb of comfort in this is that Leeds have fallen further.

Natasha Whittam wrote:
Touching up women again?

Not this time. I got a little too excited when Ricketts scored the penalty and nearly caused a riot.

Barness, Mendy, Charlton, Pedersen and Stig - not exactly superstars, but all capable. I remember the moaning about most of the players in that team and yet they did OK by and large.

Mendy was brilliant that season, especially when he played as an attacking wing back.

wanderlust wrote:Barness, Mendy, Charlton, Pedersen and Stig - not exactly superstars, but all capable. I remember the moaning about most of the players in that team and yet they did OK by and large.

Barness was a solid player, and actually got forward pretty well.

Mendy could have been a world-beater, but he couldn't defend to save his life...mainly because he was always in the opposition's penalty area!

Great days.

When we had that team, Big Sam wanted some money to make that squad even better! We instead waited until he had gone and we had Megson before we made serious investment. Toolate.com! Possibly the biggest mistake in the clubs history. We continue to make similer mistakes. Venky's Rovers only paid £8million for Rhodes. Imagine if we'd invested in that talent. I know we're not a rich club, but we would definately be able to stretch to £8million for a player who could promote the chicken lovers on his own! But who needs Rhodes when we've got N'Gog eh!?

Lt. Boon wrote:When we had that team, Big Sam wanted some money to make that squad even better! We instead waited until he had gone and we had Megson before we made serious investment. Toolate.com! Possibly the biggest mistake in the clubs history. We continue to make similer mistakes. Venky's Rovers only paid £8million for Rhodes. Imagine if we'd invested in that talent. I know we're not a rich club, but we would definately be able to stretch to £8million for a player who could promote the chicken lovers on his own! But who needs Rhodes when we've got N'Gog eh!?

I suspect Rhodes scored more goals yesterday than Ngog will score by Christmas.

Any one of our forwards could have scored the sitters Rhodes was given on a plate yesterday. Our problem is that we're incapable of creating enough clear cut chances of that calibre frequently enough - our forwards have a diet of half chances and long distance stuff because we don't get enough players forward as they're too busy worrying about our defence.