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Fallibility was always part of the package when Bolton Wanderers appointed Ian Evatt as manager just over four years ago.
It would be grand to think that the derogatory headlines and hot takes on social media over the last few days since his red card against Shrewsbury Town would transform his outlook, create a less emotional character, but let’s not kid ourselves.
Life under the stewardship of Ian Evatt rarely settles on middle ground. And though he continues to divide opinion throughout the fanbase, it would be hard to argue that the highs have not outnumbered the lows.
Those who have watched that purposeful stride out to the centre circle at full-time before knew it was unlikely to end well on Saturday evening. Nearly 20,000 supporters shared the manager’s frustrations on the day that the visitors’ crass time-wasting tactics had not been adequately dealt with by the officials over 90 minutes, nor suitably addressed in stoppage time.
There is very little dispute that his address to the referee was worded correctly, if such a thing exists. In that alone, perhaps Evatt has learned something from what happened at Northampton last season?
Yet somewhere between the discourse with Declan Bourne about stoppages, something said by Shrews’ Liverpudlian skipper Morgan Feeney has caused the red mist to descend. And the response – whatever context it is taken in – will not be viewed favourably by the Football Association.
The Bolton boss is entirely right to say that if two players had nudged forehead-to-forehead during 90 minutes the worst outcome would be a couple of yellow cards, and barely a mention in the post-match press conference. He is also savvy enough to know he is judged by higher standards in his current job, and where the FA is concerned, more draconian ones too.
Ex-Everton and Tranmere defender Feeney clearly did something to warrant the yellow card he received as antagonist, or for “grabbing” Evatt, to use the latter’s own terminology. None of it will really wash in the hearing, however, where referee Bourne’s account will be the one that matters.
Most Wanderers fans have embraced the prospect of a young manager with baggage attempting to learn by his mistakes and many would not see the fire taken from his belly in times like these. Some of the biggest names in the game have flipped their lid and made unwanted headlines, and years later the stories have had their edges smoothed, becoming more apocryphal over time.
Former Wanderers midfielder Jason McAteer was one of the folk who came out in support of Evatt on social media, maintaining that he is the type of manager he would ‘like to play for.’ Others simply don’t want to see Bolton’s name associated with this sort of tawdriness, that Evatt has let down the club’s good name, and it is hard to argue with that point of view, too.
Since May we have stalled at a crossroads in the manager’s journey with the Whites and while recent results have felt like a positive step, this feels like an unnecessary diversion. The international break needed to be about doubling down the improvements that have been visible over the last few weeks but now you suspect the charge, hearing and verdict will supply just as much of a talking point as how Bolton will fare in the more challenging fixtures on the immediate horizon.
What effect the manager’s potential absence could have on those key games is a pertinent question – and may yet be the most telling punishment dished out by anyone, FA or otherwise.
And what of Bolton Wanderers’ view? Evatt has clearly been backed to the hilt by the board, who are willing to overlook his flaws in the belief his skills as a manager can take this club to where it wants to be. Will there be internal discussion on Saturday’s events, warnings, or discipline issued? And where does this kind of behaviour sit with a club which rarely misses a chance to extol its belief in community values?
One thing is for certain, the dramatic pendulum just continues to sway at the Toughsheet Stadium, stopping for just a brief second at one extreme or the other for a change in direction, but never resting in between.
Evatt says he will learn and move on but perhaps four years into his tenure it is safe to say that this is the way of things, love it or loathe it?
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Fallibility was always part of the package when Bolton Wanderers appointed Ian Evatt as manager just over four years ago.
It would be grand to think that the derogatory headlines and hot takes on social media over the last few days since his red card against Shrewsbury Town would transform his outlook, create a less emotional character, but let’s not kid ourselves.
Life under the stewardship of Ian Evatt rarely settles on middle ground. And though he continues to divide opinion throughout the fanbase, it would be hard to argue that the highs have not outnumbered the lows.
Those who have watched that purposeful stride out to the centre circle at full-time before knew it was unlikely to end well on Saturday evening. Nearly 20,000 supporters shared the manager’s frustrations on the day that the visitors’ crass time-wasting tactics had not been adequately dealt with by the officials over 90 minutes, nor suitably addressed in stoppage time.
There is very little dispute that his address to the referee was worded correctly, if such a thing exists. In that alone, perhaps Evatt has learned something from what happened at Northampton last season?
Yet somewhere between the discourse with Declan Bourne about stoppages, something said by Shrews’ Liverpudlian skipper Morgan Feeney has caused the red mist to descend. And the response – whatever context it is taken in – will not be viewed favourably by the Football Association.
The Bolton boss is entirely right to say that if two players had nudged forehead-to-forehead during 90 minutes the worst outcome would be a couple of yellow cards, and barely a mention in the post-match press conference. He is also savvy enough to know he is judged by higher standards in his current job, and where the FA is concerned, more draconian ones too.
Ex-Everton and Tranmere defender Feeney clearly did something to warrant the yellow card he received as antagonist, or for “grabbing” Evatt, to use the latter’s own terminology. None of it will really wash in the hearing, however, where referee Bourne’s account will be the one that matters.
Most Wanderers fans have embraced the prospect of a young manager with baggage attempting to learn by his mistakes and many would not see the fire taken from his belly in times like these. Some of the biggest names in the game have flipped their lid and made unwanted headlines, and years later the stories have had their edges smoothed, becoming more apocryphal over time.
Former Wanderers midfielder Jason McAteer was one of the folk who came out in support of Evatt on social media, maintaining that he is the type of manager he would ‘like to play for.’ Others simply don’t want to see Bolton’s name associated with this sort of tawdriness, that Evatt has let down the club’s good name, and it is hard to argue with that point of view, too.
Since May we have stalled at a crossroads in the manager’s journey with the Whites and while recent results have felt like a positive step, this feels like an unnecessary diversion. The international break needed to be about doubling down the improvements that have been visible over the last few weeks but now you suspect the charge, hearing and verdict will supply just as much of a talking point as how Bolton will fare in the more challenging fixtures on the immediate horizon.
What effect the manager’s potential absence could have on those key games is a pertinent question – and may yet be the most telling punishment dished out by anyone, FA or otherwise.
And what of Bolton Wanderers’ view? Evatt has clearly been backed to the hilt by the board, who are willing to overlook his flaws in the belief his skills as a manager can take this club to where it wants to be. Will there be internal discussion on Saturday’s events, warnings, or discipline issued? And where does this kind of behaviour sit with a club which rarely misses a chance to extol its belief in community values?
One thing is for certain, the dramatic pendulum just continues to sway at the Toughsheet Stadium, stopping for just a brief second at one extreme or the other for a change in direction, but never resting in between.
Evatt says he will learn and move on but perhaps four years into his tenure it is safe to say that this is the way of things, love it or loathe it?
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]