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George Thomason believes the Wanderers dressing room needs to stop being “nice” and make sure standards are improved from within.
The young midfielder made his challenge to the squad after Saturday’s demoralising defeat at home to Huddersfield Town, which left Bolton fourth bottom of the League One table.
Thomason admitted “inconsistency” had crept into his own game since the start of the season and feels more responsibility needs to be taken on by players on the pitch to address problems as and when they occur.
Speaking to The Bolton News, the 22-year-old argued that if Wanderers are to change their fortunes against Reading this weekend, that the camaraderie in the squad must be set aside for 90 minutes.
“It can only come from within,” he said. “This is a group which has been here a while so we should know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, what our performance levels should be, and if you can’t get the best out of yourself then I expect the man next to me to give me a livener, to tell me: ‘George, sort yourself out!’ And I would do the same for them.
“We are being a bit too kind to each other and we should be a bit more honest and upfront, send out those messages. We might be a good group of friends off the pitch but on it, it’s business time and that needs to start hitting home.”
Ian Evatt has come under intense pressure after a four-game run without a win or a goal in the league, the manager conceding at the weekend that the overspill of disappointment from May’s play-off final defeat to Oxford United had been more difficult to shift than anticipated.
The manager left on Saturday evening unable to answer whether he would be in charge for the next game against Reading but seeking talks with the club’s ownership.
Those conversations occurred over the weekend and have seemingly resulted in him picking up business as normal on Monday morning at the training ground.
Thomason was handed his Bolton debut by Evatt in late 2020 and has blossomed into a first team regular over the past couple of seasons under his stewardship.
Asked about the criticism the Wanderers boss has received, he said: “Personally speaking, he’s the guy who has moulded me into the player I am today, given me every one of my professional appearances. I can’t speak any higher of him and I know a lot of the lads are privileged to be coached by him compared to coaches they have had in the past, and he has given a lot to us as players, brought us on a lot.
“I would personally hate to see him go, but I am not one to sway decisions or comment on things like that because it is ultimately down to him.
“I just know that we should never take him for granted; I personally haven’t because I know how good of a man and a manager he is.”
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