As an ex Bolton fan I had some awesome times as a Bolton fan. I started supporting them in 1991 with the likes of Reeves, Philliskirk, Kelly, Green, etc. But soon after that was the days of Stubbs, McAteer, Walker, McGinlay, Lee, etc., the team was really starting to look good and supporting Bolton was so exciting. I remember a spell where every game Bolton would score 4 goals, they were fantastic.
Throughout the 90s it was an upward curve getting into the Premiership, and even with a couple of relegations the team by 1998 was superb - Frandsen, Gunnlaugson, Gudjohnson, Blake, Bergson, Jensen, Thompson, etc.
I think the team Big Sam inherited from Colin Todd was very weak because so many players were sold - I remember Ian Marshall, Liam Richardson, free signings like Barness and Charlton, cheap signings like Gareth Farrelly. But Big Sam was such an awesome manager he got amazing things out of the players and he found Michael Ricketts and promotion meant he could pay big wages for players. Under Big Sam in his early Premier League days things were exciting as he brought in some fantastic players - Okocha, Djorkaeff, Anelka, Stelios, Nolan in his prime, etc.
But ever since the day BSA left it has just been a steady decline and just look how bad it is now - bottom of the league after 8 games, are there even 2 players you like any more? Shit keeper, shit defenders, shit midfield, shit strikers and no money to strengthen.
I personally have never seen it this bad for Bolton. The Premier League seems so far away. I think relegation is a near certainty to be honest, who on Earth are Bolton capable of beating? Are they capable of winning about 14 games this season to stay up? It is dark times at Bolton right now sadly.
Throughout the 90s it was an upward curve getting into the Premiership, and even with a couple of relegations the team by 1998 was superb - Frandsen, Gunnlaugson, Gudjohnson, Blake, Bergson, Jensen, Thompson, etc.
I think the team Big Sam inherited from Colin Todd was very weak because so many players were sold - I remember Ian Marshall, Liam Richardson, free signings like Barness and Charlton, cheap signings like Gareth Farrelly. But Big Sam was such an awesome manager he got amazing things out of the players and he found Michael Ricketts and promotion meant he could pay big wages for players. Under Big Sam in his early Premier League days things were exciting as he brought in some fantastic players - Okocha, Djorkaeff, Anelka, Stelios, Nolan in his prime, etc.
But ever since the day BSA left it has just been a steady decline and just look how bad it is now - bottom of the league after 8 games, are there even 2 players you like any more? Shit keeper, shit defenders, shit midfield, shit strikers and no money to strengthen.
I personally have never seen it this bad for Bolton. The Premier League seems so far away. I think relegation is a near certainty to be honest, who on Earth are Bolton capable of beating? Are they capable of winning about 14 games this season to stay up? It is dark times at Bolton right now sadly.