Bolton Wanderers vs Derby County - match preview

 Will Bolton be Warned that their poor form can't continue?

Off the back of a disappointing defeat to Championship, Middlesborough and dropping points to winless Burton, can Bolton end their poor run of form at the Toughsheet, against Paul Warne's Derby County. 

Bolton team news and tactics

The injury situation isn't a great one for the Wanderers, no update has been provided on George Johnston - meaning that the centre half will likely miss the majority of the season. Fellow centre back, and captain, Ricardo Santos is also likely to miss this game; he picked up an ankle injury last weekend, against Burton Albion, it is unknown how long he will be out for but Evatt's words were "We don't know" and (when referring to the nature of the injury) he said "Isn't ideal". However, positively Eoin Toal has returned from his injury and he started on Tuesday night, against Middlesborough, and showed he is ready to be starting games. Jon Dadi Bodvarsson has also completed his comeback and will now be able to fight for a first team place, with Victor Adeboyejo.

Bolton will stick with their 3-5-2/3-4-2-1 formation for this game, without an option to change to a back 4 if they wanted to, however Evatt is known for playing a back 3. Nathan Baxter should return between the sticks, he has played in every league game and came on for backup, and cup goalkeeper, Joel Coleman against Middlesborough. Eoin Toal will keep his place from the cup game and replace Ricardo Santos in the middle of the back 3, however who will partner him is unclear. Will Forrester impressed many in his cameo against Burton but is there actually a place for him to come into the starting eleven? Jack Iredale seems to have nailed down the left of the 3, being the only left footed option and having played well in most games so far; Gethin Jones has been questioned this season, but he is the vice captain and in Santos' absence, will Evatt want to take him out of the team?

Josh Dacres Cogley, who came in from Tranmere in the summer, will almost definitely keep his place on the right hand side - with the only other option being Gethin Jones. Randell Williams should also start this fixture, despite Zachary Ashworth having impressed on every opportunity he has had. The centre of midfield is a very interesting situation, with some poor performances as of late. However, I believe that Sheehan has to start because he is so essential to build-up and attacking play, next to him I would actually play George Thomason. Thomason is the only physical, ball-winner in the team and his breaking up of play, could be crucial in this game; Evatt will probably pick Aaron Morley, as he has played with Sheehan the most this season. Kyle Dempsey may be the first name on the team sheet, he has been one of the best players this season for Bolton and his creativity will be a key part in this game. 

The two up front for Bolton will probably be Dion Charles and Victor Adeboyejo, they have been the first choice pair when they have both been available. This duo up top has led to an expected goals of 7.53, compared to Derby's 4.89. However, both teams have scored 6 open play goals and the finishing of Bolton has been questionable at times. This has led to a lot of fans calling for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson to return to the starting eleven. 

Derby County team news and tactics

To find out more about Derby's tactics, you should read this tweet (https://twitter.com/WanderingRed7/status/1696242004940689770?s=20), it gives a detailed analysis of how Derby play.

On the injury front, Louie Sibley has picked up another injury in training (groin) and is facing approximately 3-4 weeks on the sidelines, a big blow for the Rams. However, apart from that, Derby seem to be injury free and have a very strong squad to pick from. At the time of writing, Cashin is still at the club but he has been strongly linked to Brighton and Hove Albion, he has been very important for Derby and if he doesn't play, Bolton have a big advantage.A lot of players have come in this summer, most notably Martyn Waghorn and Conor Washington. They have been the starting strikers for the last two league games and have been very impressive for Derby - Waghorn will be key in the outcome this game, he is the only player to score more than 1 for Derby (in the league) this season and has scored 5 goals. Washington has also been important for Derby, he has scored 1 and got 1 assist. Derby also signed Curtis Nelson from Derby County, he has played on the right side of their back 3 but he has a lot of responsibility because the right wing back (Mendez Laing) has played as more of a winger. Nelson has won 1.6 tackles per game and has made 1 tackle per game - his battle with Dion Charles and Randell Williams will be very interesting.

I won't write as much for Derby because of my recent team review on them, the tweet is very in-depth and can help Bolton fans understand their strengths and weaknesses.

My prediction is a 2-1 Bolton win, this will be a very close game (if both teams are at their best) and I think the home advantage will play a part in the outcome of the game. I think Derby will score first, in the 37th minute and Cashin (if he is still there) will head home. In the 47th minute (first half) Charles will grab an equaliser from a good Bolton play, and Bodvarsson will come on and score in the 79th minute and score from a Dacres Cogley cross to put Bolton ahead.

Burton Albion vs Bolton Wanderers 1-1 - match review

 The start of a bad run?

Another poor Bolton performance leads to a 1-1 draw away from home to 22nd place Burton Albion, there is no doubt that Evatt will not be happy with the result or some of the individual performances. Bolton have draw 1-1 with Burton two games in a row now, and with Middlesborough on the horizon, the bad form could continue for the Wanderers.

Statistical review

As always, Bolton dominated the ball over Burton (62% possession) and this lead to more chances and shots for the Wanderers. Bolton took 17 shots, with 6 on target, however they allowed Burton to have 13 shots, with 3 on target; the defence has been a strength for Bolton this season but 13 shots for Burton, highlights that it wasn't as impressive in this game. This could be due to the injury of captain and star player, Ricardo Santos, the centre back was forced off at half time due to a tackle in the first minute. In the interview after, Evatt said "We don't know. It was a really bad tackle in the first minute of the game" he continued "It seems to have got progressively worse as the half went on. It looks to be his ankle joint, which isn't ideal". It doesn't sound good for Santos and he will be a big miss, with Toal and Johnston already missing at the back. 

Yet again Bolton miss big chances that count them out of winning games, Bolton created 3 big chances and only converted 1, with Dion Charles scoring in the 58th minute, assisted by Kyle Dempsey. Both Thomason and Maghoma came in for Sheehan and Morley for this game and I do not believe this will be a long term change, Sheehan's creative output was missed and Maghoma is still adapting to the Evatt style of play. Williams and Dacres Cogley played 4 key passes each, very impressive for wide players, and based of these performances it is disappointing that Bolton couldn't get the win. 

Burton were good defensively and, despite having less of the ball, they forced Bolton to play in their own third - 36% of the game was played in Bolton's defensive third and Burton held a good line to play Bolton offside twice. They also blocked 6 of Bolton's 17 shots, perhaps showing the passion that just wasn't there for Bolton Wanderers. 

Overall review

After watching the highlights of the game (sorry I didn't have the opportunity to watch the game live) it appears that Burton had a better understanding of Bolton than Bolton had of Burton. To expand on this, Burton's pressing triggers were known by the entire team and this meant that they won the ball a lot in the middle of final third - this explains Bolton losing possession 170 times. This wouldn't be a big issue if Bolton were good in the build up and progression phases of play, however they were not (especially after Ricardo Santos went off). In build up, Bolton set up in a 3-1-6 shape with the wing backs high and Maghoma and Dempsey pushed on to create a 6 along the frontline. This means that if Bolton lose the ball in build up, they are in a lot of trouble, this is what happened in the first goal. Dempsey lost possession after receiving a pass from Iredale, he looked to pass to Williams but scuffed it and the Burton player intercepted and Dacres Cogley wasn't able to get back in time for the back post tap in. 

Paris Maghoma did show his quality and helped create a chance for Victor Adeboyejo, which he should have scored. He picked up the ball on the edge of the box and dribbled through two players, then played a 1-2 with Dion Charles and played it out wide to Dacres Cogley. He played the ball onto the foot and Adeboyejo took an acrobatic effort and hit it straight at the goalkeeper, this could have brought Bolton back into the game with long to go. 

For Bolton's goal, George Thomason used his physicality to win the header over the Burton player in the middle of the pitch. The ball fell to Kyle Dempsey who managed to flick it onto Dion Charles, who had sneaked behind the opposition centre backs and was played onside by a Burton full back. He showed his individual quality and composure to take the ball around the goalkeeper and make it 1-1, this was a very lucky goal but did show what Bolton could do. However, they didn't have the quality to score again and the game finished a draw - a very disappointing result for Bolton.

Again, Evatt appeared to be slow with his substitutions and his first non-enforced sub was Cameron Jerome in the 72 minute. Arguably, Mendes Gomes deserved to start the game and wasn't involved until the 73rd minute. All good managers are stubborn but, what can make you an elite manager is knowing when to make changes to your starting team, and through substitutions. Against Middlesborough, with a win not expected, Evatt should start his summer signing Carlos Mendes Gomes and Will Forrester: both have been impressive when they have come on but haven't been given a start with other "first teamers", Forrester will be forced into the team if Santos' injury is serious but he should have trusted him earlier. 

Let me know what you think, either on Twitter or comment on here.

Burton vs Bolton Wanderers - match preview

 How will Bolton respond?

At the Pirelli stadium on Saturday the 26th of August, Bolton Wanderers will take on Burton Albion and will look to respond to their embarrassing 4-0 defeat at home to Wigan. Of course, Dion Charles missed that game and will be returning for this game. Burton have only 1 point out of their opening game.

Bolton team news 

As said before, Dion Charles will be returning to the squad for this fixture, likely to the starting line-up, his partnership with Victor Adeboyejo has been incredibly impressive so far this season and will be key in the outcoming of this fixture. Nlundulu will most likely come out of the team for Charles, however Jon Dadi Bodvarsson could come into the team after returning from injury. All the strikers have a point to prove, especially Adeboyejo, as he is now competing for a starting spot with, fan favourite, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson. 

There were very few acceptable performances in the Wigan game but Mendes Gomes did impress when he came and Kyle Dempsey may have been the only player who actually cared about the final result. I believe both should start in midfield, alongside Josh Sheehan - Morley was very poor and Maghoma plays better next to Sheehan, rather than instead of. George Thomason could come into the starting team because he is the only midfielder who does possess grit and aggression, however these attributes shouldn't be as necessary against a side like Burton.

The defence will likely remain very simialr, despite the horrendous performance last week. Captain, Ricardo Santos, almost has no competition and the situation is very simialr for Dacres Cogley; if anymore recruitment is to be done, it should be in these areas and holding midfield. Will Forrester could be given his first league start, over Gethin Jones, and I would start him but I think Evatt will choose to keep Jones, Santos and Iredale in the back 3. Zachary Ashworth has been impressive when given the opportunity so he could be favoured to Randell Williams in this game, however it is doubtful. Also, Baxter will almost certainly keep his place in between the sticks. Centre back, Eoin Toal, may return to the bench but it will be too early to come into the starting eleven.  

Burton team news and tactics

As for Burton, they have brought in 12 players in the summer transfer window, including 2 from the championship. Despite this, they have been incredibly poor this season and have only picked up 1 point from their opening games. In the game against Derby, they had 59% of the ball and had 15 shots but conceded 3 and scored 0; they have only scored 1 goal this season, indicating that finishing is a massive problem. From the 15 shots against Derby, only 2 were on target. From the statistics, they appear to be very poor at heading and can create good chances (or at least chances in good areas) but struggle to convert them. The only goal that they have scored was in the 97th minute to make it 2-1 from 4 yards out, this should be the perfect team for Bolton to respond to.

After watching some of their games, they have a lot of weaknesses that need to be worked on. The first big one is their pressing structure, it seems unorganised and erratic: this can work but, more often than not, it doesn't and can be played through and leave the defence vulnerable. The second links to this and it is the pace of their defensive line, this isn't always an issue but Burton play a high line and their central defenders aren't quick enough to beat the attackers to a long ball. The qualities of Sheehan, Dempsey and Mendes Gomes could all prove useful in this game to outplay Burton. In addition, their centre backs can be caught on the ball when looking to play out and a good press can lead to many chances from this area. Charles is a very good presser and if he plays well, he should score at least one in this game, Blackpool also scored a goal from this.

My score prediction is a 2-0 Bolton win, it won't be as impressive as the first few games but a comfortable win will still be a very good result. I think Adeboyejo will score in the first half from a set piece goal in the 37th minute to make it 1-0 to Bolton. I do believe that Charles will also score and that will come in the 58th minute from a good press and he will slot it around the goalkeeper. 

Comment your score prediction below.

George Johnston - player profile

 

George Johnston - the Latic turned Trotter

George Johnston has had a very interesting professional career, despite only being 24 (25 very soon, happy birthday). The Scotsman began his career in the youth setup of Liverpool, playing for the under 18s and under 19s - George left the club in 19/20 for Feyenoord for a fee of £250k. Moving abroad so young is obviously a massive step and shows great attitude and character, he did not make a first team appearance during this season but did start 1 game and make 3 total appearances in the 2020/21 season before being loaned out to Wigan Athletic. He joined Wigan in January and made 19 starting appearances and came off the bench 3 times, he played a key part in keeping Wigan up this season and his performances were recognised. On the 1st of July 2021, Johnston left Feyenoord and joined Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer - in August 2023, despite picking up a serious injury, he was rewarded with a new deal until 2026. 

Johnston is a left footed centre back and plays his best football in a back 3, as he does for Evatt's Bolton side. This allows him to push on and show his creative qualities, he will often play a 1-2 with the wing back and then make an under or overlapping run. All of the best outside centre backs do this and this is how Johnston has registered his assists. An underlap can create an overload because the winger won't want to track him all the way and he has the understanding of when to make the run and play the pass. In a game vs Exeter last season, he made an underlap and assisted a goal for Dion Charles.

Johnston plays the pass and makes the run and the winger does not track him, players who do the same when playing in a back three are Luke Shaw and Kyle Walker.

A great way to analyse a player is to look into their statistics from an entire season, so with Johnston I have looked at his statistics from last season and found some very interesting points. The first is how many games he played and how many of those that he started: Johnston played 36 league games for Bolton last season, as well as 7 in different cup competitions, out of the 43 games he played last season, he started 40 - this shows that when he is fit and available, he is playing. Another interesting stat is the amount of key passes per game 0.4 is almost unheard of for a centre back - to highlight how impressive this is, John Stones (who steps into midfield for the best team in the world) only plays 0.3 key passes per game. Also, he kept 16 clean sheets in the league last season - as an outside centre back, he will be tasked with marking the wingers a lot and this is no easy task and shows his defensive intelligence. The final stat I'll focus in on is his interceptions per game, for a centre back a high number of interceptions is rare but Johnston averages 1.6 interceptions per game, a truly excellent stat. In comparison, Ben Davies of Tottenham only averaged 0.6 interceptions per game in the same position, last season. 

Of course Johnston will miss the majority, if not all, of the 23/24 season but Evatt has still offered him a new contract, this shows how important he is for Evatt's side and he is willing to take him to the Championship, even if he doesn't play in the promotion season. Johnston is still young and has great potential so hopefully this injury doesn't hamper his career. 

If you have any questions comment on my original piece. Also give this a read on the Fanzone Pod website here

Bolton Wanderers vs Wigan Athletic - match preview

 No Charles, No Party?

The first derby of the season

Bolton Wanderers will take on Wigan Athletic on Saturday the 19th of August at 12:30pm and the home advantage of the Toughsheet stadium will be crucial in this fixture. With just over 11 miles separating the two towns, there is no doubt that the fans will be ready for this one, but will the players?

Bolton Wanderers team news 

The current injury list for Bolton contains Eoin Toal, George Johnston and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson; Johnston will not be fit for this fixture and will unfortunately miss most o the season, with no update recently. The injury updates for Toal and Bodvarsson are also very quiet and it is believed that both are training with the first team but how close to making the matchday squad are they? If Bodvarsson is close to full fitness then he will likely be included in the squad for the Wigan game with the suspension of Dion Charles (more to follow). However, Toal will not need to be rushed back as fast because the defensive three of Gethin Jones, Ricardo Santos and Jack Iredale are all performing well - Will Forrester has also performed but hasn't had as many opportunities. 

Of course for this game Bolton have two suspensions to deal with, star-striker Dion Charles and the manager Ian Evatt were both red carded against Fleetwood on Tuesday night. The current situation is very unclear, both red cards were very questionable and most fans have encouraged Bolton to appeal the result of these decisions and in this moment, it appears as if both Charles and Evatt will miss the game. This is absolutely massive and could upset Bolton who, so far, have been brilliant this season and hadn't conceded a goal until going down to ten men, without a manager against Fleetwood.

The starting team will likely revert to normality, with Sheehan and Morley coming back in for Thomason and Maghoma but the question remains, who will replace Dion Charles. From my perspective I see two potential starting replacements for Charles, the first is Dan Nlundulu. He was brought in on loan for the second half of last season and has been brought in on a permanent deal from Southampton this season and he is the obvious option. He has only started 1 game this season but is a very similar profile to Victor Adeboyejo. The other option, and more outside the box choice, would be Carlos Mendes Gomes - CMG hasn't had many opportunities for Bolton this season but is definitely capable of playing this position. I think Nlundulu will start but Mendes Gomes may replace him later in the game. 

Wigan team news and tactics

Wigan will likely miss two of their players for the game against Bolton on Saturday: Jason Kerr and Thelo Aasgaard, Callum Mcmanaman could also miss the game but he is more than likely to be available. Jason Kerr will miss this game with a ruptured ACL, meaning that he will be out for several months and won't return soon, Aasgaard went off injured late on in their recent game against Carlisle. Maloney has confirmed that Aasgaard is in a lot of pain and "It doesn't look good" so he will not be available, Mcmanaman also went off in that game but just with cramp so should be fine. Other than that they have a fully fit squad to choose from for their 4-2-3-1 formation. 

Wigan's approach to games seems to change based on the opponent that they will be facing: in the opener against Derby, Wigan amazingly, won 2-1 and did not dominate the ball or have a lot of shots - suggesting the played on the counter (creating 4 big chances). However, they have dominated possession in every game since, including in their most recent game against Carlisle (1-1). In this game, they took a lot of shots outside of the box but will most likely play closer to how they did against Derby than Carlisle against Bolton. Their big strength appears to be their counter pressing, against Derby they would often force Derby back and this is how they scored their first goal. Their weakness appears to be their marking when pinned back, this is how Derby scored their goal in that game, Adeboyejo or Nlundulu can definitely capitalise off of this.

For this game I will predict a 2-1 win for Bolton, coming out victors but without Charles it will not be as easy. First to score will be Randell Williams off great team play in the 18th minute and Wigan will score in the 44th minute against the run of play, coming from Charlie Wyke. However, I do believe Bolton will find a way and will score in the 87th minute from a Maghoma corner onto the head of Ricardo Santos. 

Bolton Wanderers 3-0 Fleetwood Town - match review

 Refereeing in ruins 

 Bolton cruise home but at what cost

A great performance by Bolton Wanderers has been overshadowed by a horrific performance from the referee, both Charles and Evatt were sent off for what seemed like nothing. Fleetwood couldn't capitalise on the 10-men Bolton, without a manager but with Wigan on the horizon, that has become and even bigger game. 

Statistical review 

As expected, Bolton Wanderers dominated the ball but not by as big of a margin as in their other games. Bolton finished the first half with 57% of possession but finished the game with 51% of possession, this was likely due the red card and attempting to keep the clean sheet. Victor Adeboyejo was given man of the match and rightly so, the hattrick scorer was immense throughout the game and sealed his third goal in just the 37th minute. He scored all of his 3 shots on target and was on the end of excellent Bolton patterns of play. However, this performance wasn't as impressive statistically as previous games - Bolton had just 8 shots in the game, 7 of them coming in the first half, the red card came in the 68th minute so not all of the lack of shots can be blamed on this. 

The thing that impressed me most in this game was Paris Maghoma's positional understanding, for the majority of the game Bolton formed a 3-1-6 structure in build up and in attack. Maghoma would occupy the right half space of the pitch and this was how Adeboyejo's goal happened. Playing in the right half space allowed Charles to roam from his position and take up the best positions, Maghoma also got a good chance of his own because of his positioning. Adeboyejo and Charles were occupying the central spaces, when they both moved to get into space they left an opening for Maghoma. He drifted into this space and took it down well but couldn't get the shot off.

Overall review

The first half was a very impressive display for Bolton Wanderers, the football they were playing was beautiful and you could see the philosophies of Ian Evatt. Evatt made two changes to the starting line-up and brought in Paris Maghoma and George Thomason to replace Aaron Morley and Josh Sheehan, both Thomason and Maghoma were very good and didn't look out of place. Ricardo Santos was incredibly dominant and almost nothing got past him, Iredale was also good. Nathan Baxter showed who he was yesterday, not only a good ball-playing goalkeeper but a great shot stopper as well, he made 6 saves and 2 high claims and deserved a clean sheet. 

The first goal was very good team play, Gethin Jones had the ball on the halfway line and played a pass into the feet of Dion Charles. He turned with his first touch and played Paris Maghoma through, past the defensive line. Maghoma played the ball across the box into Adeboyejo's feet and he scored a very good first time shot to score his first of the game. The second goal came from a brilliant ball from the halfway line from Ricardo Santos. Dacres Cogley made a great run from out to in and found the space in the box, Santos picked him out with an unreal pass. Cogley passed it across the box for Adeboyejo to turn home to make it 2-0. The third goal was equally impressive and another assist for Josh Dacres Cogley, Gethin Joness drove through the pitch and played it down the line to Dacres Cogley. He beat his man with a brilliant first touch and then dribbled towards the by-line and with little pressure was able to pick out Adeboyejo, on the penalty spot, to convert for 3-0 and his hattrick. The Fleetwood goal came from a corner and unfortunatley it was poor defending from the team and the Fleetwood player had a free header to make it 3-1. There was a case that Baxter was impeded but it wasn't enough. 

The red cards

The first red card was for star-player Dion Charles. First, it is important to note that Omochore (Fleetwood, number 20) had been pushing people over without consequence and he floored Iredale on the halfway line, without punishment. Their goalkeeper claimed the ball and Charles gave him a small tug back, nothing really, the goalkeeper then proceded to kick out and trip up Dion Charles. Obviously, it was all very petty and it could be argued that both players should've received the same punishment. The referee then proceeds to stop play and book Dion Charles and send him off, the only explanation is descent but judging by Evatt's reaction nothing happened. Evatt then asked the fourth official why he had been sent off and the referee was called over to send Evatt off. It was incredibly unclear what happened and we will probably never know but I would encourage Bolton to appeal these decisions with Wigan coming up.

Bolton Wanderers vs Fleetwood Town - match preview

 Fleetwood Town turnaround or Bolton Wanderers win?

Bolton Wanderers have won both of their opening league games, beating Lincoln City 3-0 at home and Cheltenham Town 3-0 away from home. However, Fleetwood drew their opening game 1-1 with Carlisle and lost their last fixture 2-0 to Cambridge United at home. All signs point towards a Bolton win, but will it be that straightforward? Bolton won both fixtures last season, winning 2-1 away from home and 2-0 at home, Evatt will be looking to make it three in a row against Scott Brown's Fleetwood. 

Bolton team news 

The injury situation remains the same for Bolton, this game will likely come too soon for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Eoin Toal, who both suffered injuries in pre season but could be back very soon. Unfortunately for George Johnston, it is unlikley he will return to the side at all this season but we may get an update on his injury situation on The Fanzone Podcast on the 6th of September. 

With a quick turnaround since the last game, including having to travel back from Cheltenham, Evatt may make some changes to ensure everybody is at full fitness. However, the starting eleven that have started both league games, have performed excellently in both games so far and it would be very harsh to drop any of them. The back 5 haven't conceded any goals, despite the two make-shift centre halfs in Gethin Jones and Jack Iredale. 

The two wing backs of Dacres-Cogley and Randell Williams have impressed a lot, being very creative and both have come close to scoring, despite this Zach Ashworth also played well when he got his opportunity in the cup, even scoring. With speculation over George Thomason's future, he is unlikely to start or even be involved in this game to reduce the chance of him becoming injured. Although, Paris Maghoma has seriously impressed when he has been given a chance - coming off the bench after each game and starting the league game, he is certainly an exciting prospect. Carlos Mendes Gomes will also be looking for his first league start since joining the club for £300k from Luton Town, of course last season he was on loan at Fleetwood Town. 

Dion Charles and Victor Adeboyejo are slowly forming a very good partnership up front and it would be very interesting to drop either. The most likely man to come in to replace one of them would be new, permanent signing Dan Nlundulu, however I do expect both Charles and Adeboyejo to keep their places but they could get subbed off earlier to keep them fresh for Wigan Athletic. 

I would only make one change to the starting line-up, that would be Paris Maghoma coming in for Aaron Morley. Morley hasn't played badly but with Thomason expected to leave, it would be good to see how Maghoma can perform in the starting first team.

Fleetwood Town team news and tactics

Fleetwood Town currently have a fully fit squad to choose from and do not have any known injuries to the first team squad. They have brought in 6 new transfers in this summer, 4 being permanent transfers and 2 being loan deals. Most notably, Ryan Broom from Cheltenham Town and Danny Mayor from Plymouth Argyle, both were key players at their respective clubs last season so after settling in they should be crucial players for Fleetwood.

Fleetwood are a team that like to dominate the ball when they can and they have had more possession than the other team in all of their three games this season. However, it is unlikely that they will have the majority of possession against Bolton, due to being away from home and Ian Evatt's philosophy. The problem with Fleetwood Town this season has been their finishing ability, in their three games this season they have created a total of 7 big chances and have only scored one. It is important to note that they have only played against 2 bottom half teams and Carlisle, who were promoted. Against Bolton they may not create as many big chances and will need to be a lot more clinical. 

The game vs Cambridge United also highlighted two big weaknesses that Bolton can definitely exploit. The first is how they deal with high pressure, Cambridge won the ball back on multiple occassions when Fleetwood were playing out from the back, using the number 6 (Scott Robertson) as their pressing trigger. They also won the ball in transition a lot, this means when they were fighting for the ball or Fleetwood had just regained it, Cambridge would swarm a player and win it back easily. Another of their weaknesses is defending from set pieces, especially corners. The Wanderers have scored a set piece goal in every game this season, with both Iredale and Adeboyejo scoring from a corner in the first game, Ashworth scoring a free kick and an own goal aganinst Cheltenham. They often lose who they are marking and big men can become free in the box.

My prediction for this game is a 2-0 win for Bolton, I think the first goal will come from winning the ball from a high press and Dempsey will assist Dion Charles. The second goal will come from a corner and Randell Williams will swing the ball in for Ricardo Santos to head home.

Cheltenham Town 0-3 Bolton Wanderers - match review

 Dion Charles domination 

Bolton Wanderers took on Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road (The completely-suzuki stadium) and comfortably won 3-0. Dion Charles scored 2 of the goals and Kyle Dempsey scored the other (possibly a Liam Smith own goal), all goals were scored in the first half of play. Another tactical masterclass from Ian Evatt, on Saturday, saw the Wanderers ease to victory.

Statistical review 

This will be a common theme throughout the season, however it is still important to note, Bolton again dominated possession, having 74% of the ball, despite being away from home. This domination assisted in the shot numbers (they also show a performance of domination) Bolton took 16 shots, 7 being on target and Cheltenham only had 5 shots, with 2 on target. For the first time this season, Bolton have converted the big chance they created - the first goal, with Dion Charles slotting it home. Jack Iredale was very impressive at the back and was very involved in the attacking play (having 94 touches), Adeboyejo was also impressive - making 2 key passes and creating 1 big chance. 

Analysis of each goal

The first goal was scored in the 15th minute by Dion Charles, assisted by his striking partner Victor Adeboyejo. Josh Sheehan picked up the ball just ahead of the halfway line and played a pass into Adeboyejo's feet, breaking two lines of pressure with the pass. Adeboyejo flicked the pass around the corner, first time, and played it into the pass of Dion Charles. His first touch was very good and it gave him a yard on the defender and he finished it well, slotting the ball into the bottom right corner. 

Another set piece goal for Bolton Wanderers, this time from a free kick. Aaron Morley and Randell Williams both stood over the ball but it was the number 16 to take it, this was an in-swinger at the goal. Kyle Dempsey made the run at the near post and Morley found him with pace and power, this created confusion and the ball deflected off the Cheltenham defender (Smith) to make it 2-0 for the Wanderers. 

In the 33rd minute Dion Charles scored his second of the game and the third of the game for Bolton and it was spectacular. Randell Williams took a throw-in deep into the Cheltenham half, Dempsey peeled off his man and made himself available. He attempted a cross but it was poor and cut out easily but it was a poor clearance and the ball fell to Dion Charles on the edge of the box. From this angle, he was able to strike the ball into the far, bottom right corner past the goalkeeper with ease. 

Overall review

From watching this game, it became clear to me what Evatt wants to see from his outside centre backs. Both Iredale and Gethin Jones played high up the pitch and were involved in the attacking play, this helped outnumber the Cheltenham defence. Jack Iredale really impressed me and he uses his vision to find and play passes the most centre backs won't be able to play. Despite being out of position, he is playing incredibly well and he won't lose his place in the starting team for a while if he can keep up this form. 

Another standout performer was Victor Adeboyejo, specifically his link-up play was very impressive. For the first goal he was very involved and that was the best example of his quick link-up play. Bolton should look to play into his feet more, he can use his strength to hold off defenders and his first touch is good enough to either play it first time or hold onto the ball and wait for runners. Dan Nlundulu will also be able to do this, but not to the same level. 

My only criticism of this game would, with another game on Tuesday, not making substitutions any earlier. The game stagnated after half time and the introduction of Maghoma or Mendes Gomes earlier could've inspired another goal in the second half. Rotation may be made on Tuesday and it will be interetsing to seethe performance then. 

MJ Williams - player profile

 MJ Williams, the midfield and defensive destroyer 

MJ Williams is a 27 year old footballer who currently plays for MK Dons in League Two and has represented his national team at youth level in 2014 (Wales). He began his professional career with Liverpool but did not make a senior appearance for the side, however he did enjoy loan spells at Notts County, Swindon Town and Rochdale. The latter was the most successful and Williams did join Rochdale on a permanent transfer and made 56 appearances from 2018-2020. He then signed for Blackpool and assisted in their promotion to the Championship but that was when he left, for Bolton and regular football. Joining in 2021, Williams made 89 appearances for Bolton and has only just left the club for MK Dons.

MJ Williams is more of a defensive minded player and is definitely better in the first and second phases of play, rather than in the final third. He can also play as a central defender and did so for Bolton on multiple occasions, but it probably isn't his best position. I would say he is best as a single pivot (number 6) with 2 slightly more advanced number 8s (box-to-box) players ahead of him. This gets the best out of his game because one of his main strengths is his ability to cut a passing lane, Williams places himself in between the passer and the intended receiver. This resulted in his high interceptions numbers and tackles per 90, in relation to his teammates.

Another strength of Williams is what he does as soon as he wins the ball back from these situations. He can easily trap the ball with one touch and then progress the ball up the pitch, through carrying the ball or passing through the lines. This part of his game is such a strength, that he has already done it for MK Dons in their first game, against Wrexham. The numbers aren't accurate but this was a situation he was put in, his teammate had the ball on the touchline and only had the option of going back to Williams. Williams had 4 players running at him but still managed to pick out a pass through to the number 11 on the board and break the entire press with one simple pass. 

He also has a superb long ball in his locker as well, having the ability to find players over the top of the defence or out wide. One of his most impressive uses of this was in the EFL trophy round 2, he assisted Oladapo Afolyan with a clipped ball, completely bypassing the midfield and defensive lines of Barrow. Having a player who can do this is crucial for every side because it gives different outlets of attacking play. 

Saying this, it was the right time for Williams to move on and leave Bolton to become more of a regular in the starting team. He is clearly a player of quality and deserves to play regular football. 

This is for The Fanzone Pod, check this out on their website here 

Cheltenham Town vs Bolton Wanderers match preview

 The first test, away from home

Bolton Wanderers visit Whaddon Road, otherwise known as The Completely-Suzuki Stadium, in their first away game of the season against Cheltenham Town FC. On Saturday at 3pm, the second fixture of League One will take place and Bolton will look to continue their good form and make it three wins in a row in competitive competitions. 

Bolton Wanderers team news 

George Johnston remains unavailable and will likely miss the entire season, in contrast, Eoin Toal is on the comeback and hasn't been selected recently due to not being sharp. He may be embedded back into the first team soon but this game could come too soon to make the match squad. Jon Dadi Bodvarsson could also return soon with Evatt saying "He is still training with the group".

After picking a heavily rotated side in the cup, there will likely be wholesale changes against Cheltenham Town FC. Coleman will more than likely return to the bench and Nathan Baxter should come back in to the starting line-up, after sitting out the last game. Despite scoring, I expect Zach Ashworth to return to the bench and the in-form Randell Williams should come back to the starting team at left wing back. Ricardo Santos is near unreplaceable at the moment and Jack Iredale seems to have nailed down the left centre back spot with Johnston out of contention. This does leave the question of Will Forrester or Gethin Jones at right centre back however. I think Evatt will go with the experience of Gethin Jones in this game, despite Forrester impressing against Barrow. Dacres Cogley should continue at right wing back, with no real other options apart from Gethin Jones and potentially Luke Matheson but he is not ready for first team football yet.

In midfield, there were three changes for the game against AFC Barrow, with Paris Maghoma, George Thomason and Carlos Mendes Gomes all coming into the starting side. The standout of these three against Barrow was Maghoma, he ran the game: creating the only big chance of the game, completing all his attempted dribbles, making 4 key passes and all with a 94.1% pass accuracy. However, I do not think he will keep his starting place, despite this great performance. Personally, I believe that Josh Sheehan, Aaron Morley and Kyle Dempsey will all return to the starting eleven and Evatt won't take any risks yet.

Against AFC Barrow, Charles and Adeboyejo were both rested and Dan Nlundulu and Cameron Jerome both came in to replace them. It is unlikely that either of these will keep their place in the starting line-up, if one was to it would be Nlundulu. Cameron Jerome is most likely the fifth choice striker when everybody is fit. 

This is the starting team I think Evatt will go with

Cheltenham Town team news and tactics 

Cheltenham brought in 9 players in the summer transfer window, most notably Luke Southwood (from Reading) and Curtis Davies (from Derby County). However, they have lost 12 players including two star players in Ryan Broom (Fleetwood Town) and Alfie May (Charlton Athletic). They have lined up with a 3421 or 352 this season and they have lost both games, their first to Shrewsbury Town and their second to Birmingham City. 

Cheltenham Town are a team that prefer to play on the counter attack and they are a direct team, that don't want to dominate the ball. This is very different to the ideas of Evatt and should make for a very good encounter. Despite losing to Shrewsbury Town, Cheltenham had 4 more shots (16) and 1 more shot on target (4), implying that their finishing is a weakness. They like to attack down the right hand side, rather than the left or through the middle. Another common theme of their play is long shots, the attackers then follow the shot in and capitalise on the rebound - Bolton defenders will have to be aware of this. A weakness of their play is their defensive structure, after committing people forward on an attack their rest defence can be scattered. This means that the centre backs aren't covering the right areas and can be exposed easily. Switching the ball can easily expose their defence, meaning that Dacres Cogley and Randell Williams will be key in this game. 

Based off this and Evatt's use of positional play, I think Evatt's tactics will work well against Cheltenham Town. I am predicting a 3-1 victory for Bolton Wanderers on Saturday: Dempsey (21), Williams (44), Street (51) and Charles (76).

Bolton Wanderers 1-0 AFC Barrow match review

The Final Score 

Comfortable win or close call?

Bolton Wanderers come out as 1-0 victors against AFC Barrow in the EFL Carabao cup to seem them through to the next round. Bolton lined up with a heavily rotated team, including new signings Will Forrester, Zachary Ashworth, Paris Maghoma, Carlos Mendes Gomes and Dan Nlundulu. This was the starting team that Evatt went for and that rested many key players.

Statistical review 

Bolton Wanderers dominated the game and really should've scored more than they did, both Mendes Gomes and Nlundulu should've scored and Adeboyejo had a great chance when he came on. From the 16 shots only 3 were on target and that is simple not good enough, however it is 3 more than Barrow, who had 7 shots with 0 on target. Possession was also one-sided, Bolton had 78% possession of the ball and completely dictated the flow of the game, however this was mainly with the centre backs with Forrester and Santos completing 97 and 93 passes respectively. Again, only 1 big chance was created and yet again it was missed (this time by Mendes Gomes) it was an unfortunate miss but it is a chance you have to put away. 

Overall review

Unfortunately, I did not get the opportunity to watch the game so it will be based off the highlights. For me Paris Maghoma was a particular stand out performer, showcasing his quality on the ball, he often combined well with Mendes Gomes on the edge of the box or would carry it past players with ease. Moreover, he showed his set piece quality, with a corner in the first half - to most it would appear as if he struck it wrong, however he clips it into the space onto Iredale's run. This type of corner will be a common theme throughout the season. 

Zachary Ashworth also showed his set piece prowess with his goal in the in the 44th minute from a free kick just outside the box. Ashworth lined up just to the right of the D and whipped the ball into the bottom left corner on the goalkeeper's side, it was executed perfectly and made the difference in the outcome of the game. 

Another standout was Dacres Cogley again, truly showing that he will be the starter down the right hand side for the season. He was involved in all the attacking play down the right hand side, his link up play is very good and an underrated aspect of his game.

Obviously this cup isn't the most important competition but Evatt will want to win every game he can, especially against his former teams.

Bolton Wanderers vs AFC Barrow - match preview

Can Ian Evatt come out victorious against his former side?

 On Tuesday night, Bolton Wanderers take on AFC Barrow in the opening round of the EFL Carabao cup at the Toughsheet stadium. The League Two side, Barrow, won their opening fixture against Tranmere Rovers - winning 2-1 away from home but Bolton Wanderers will be a different type of test. They have been on the up since Evatt was at the club and he set them up for a good future, this year they will be looking to challenge for promotion

Bolton Wanderers team news 

The injury situation remains the same for the Wanderers with George Johnston looking like he will miss the majority ,if not all, of this season. Eoin Toal could make his return from injury in this fixture but it may be too early in his recovery plans, if he is fit it is unlikely he will be risked from the start and may have minutes from the bench. However, this fixture could be the perfect time to embed some of the new signings, like Forrester and Ashworth. This competition will not be a priority and therefore key players may also be rested to reduce the risk of injury. 

AFC Barrow team news

AFC Barrow nearly have a completely full squad to pick from, with all being fully fit, apart from summer signing Mazeed Ogunbo. Ogunbo joined the club from Arsenal on a season long loan but will miss the first three months of the season after picking up an injury during the pre season campaign. Barrow have been busy in the summer window, bringing in ten signings: Dean Campbell from Aberdeen, David Worrall from Port Vale, Jamie Proctor from Port Vale, Cortney Duffus from Morecambe, Junior Tiensia from Solihull Moors, Owen Bray from Leeds United, Sean Etaluku from AFC Mossley, Kian Spence from Halifax, Emile Acquah from Maidenhead United and Mazeed Ogunbo from Arsenal. 

AFC Barrow tactics and predicted eleven

Against Tranmere Rovers, Barrow lined up with a 352 formation and will most likely use this same formation against Bolton. They are not a team that like to dominate the ball and Bolton will dominate possession on Tuesday night, this plays into Evatt's favour. Barrow place a lot of emphasis on their crosses to score their goals and while they don't average a lot of crosses per 90, they are effective when they use them. Barrow's biggest strength is their set piece delivery in the form of corners and long throws from Rory Feeley. They have tall, strong players who can win the first ball and then players, like Spence, can attack the second ball and volley home. Ricardo Santos will be key for Bolton, using his strength and aerial ability to neutralise their biggest threat. 

How Bolton can win this game

Barrow's biggest weakness appears to be the aggression of their press/ their centre backs. Patient attacking play can expose this incredibly well, this could be a great opportunity for Paris Maghoma and Carlos Mendes Gomes to show their talent. In addition, they struggle to clear their lines defensively so the poacher instincts of the strikers will be required to win this game. The low crosses across the box from out wide are a big struggle for Barrow and the wing backs of Bolton will be crucial in the outcome of this game. 

This is the eleven that I would go with, it gives starts to Forrester, Maghoma, Ashworth and Mendes Gomes against a team that Bolton should definitely beat. Baxter keeps his place but Coleman could come in if he is a cup goalkeeper, Iredale and Santos keep their place but Forrester comes in to help him settle in. Dacres Cogley also stays in the team to elongate his settling in period and Ashworth comes in for his first minutes for the club. Thomason earns a start after impressing off the bench and Maghoma comes in against a club he played against last season, with Mendes Gomes ahead but I wouldn't be surprised if Dempsey keeps his place. I have the same strike force as last game but new permanent signing, Nlundulu could come in for his first minutes as a full time Bolton player. 

I am predicting a 3-0 win for Bolton against AFC Barrow on Tuesday night, the home advantage and the league difference should be enough for a rotated team to still come out victorious. 

Bolton Wanderers vs Lincoln City 3-0 - match review

The Final Score 

Bolton Wanderers 3-0 Lincoln City

 

Unfortunately, I was not able to watch the game and therefore this may not be completely accurate but from what I have seen I will give you my match review. 

The opening day fixture, this was one that Bolton fans knew they had to win if they want to start with good form. Lincoln fans wouldn't have expected the team to win but a 3-0 defeat shows the levels in between these two sides. With two corner goals and a defensive error, Lincoln fans won't enjoy the journey back after a poor performance against a better side. A truly dominant performance from the Wanderers will leave the fans even more excited for the upcoming season.

The statistics tell the story of a one-sided affair with Bolton, coming out as the superior force. Evatt's philosophy was clear to see with 70% possession and 16 shots - highlighting his attacking but possession-based style of football. Lincoln City did not get a shot on target in the game, despite having 4 shots inside the box - 6 in total. However, despite keeping the opposition out Bolton will still be looking to improve: losing the ball 156 times and only creating 1 big chance but still missing it. 

The set piece delivery in yesterday's game was particularly impressive with two out of the three goals coming from corners, one from each side. Aaron Morley took the first corner from the right hand side, placing the ball onto Jack Iredale's head on the edge of the 6 yard box. The second was taken by Randell Williams from the left hand side, again placing the ball on the edge of the 6 yard box but falling to Victor Adeboyejo. This could become a common theme from corners this season, Bolton will use out-swinging takers and aim the ball between the penalty spot and the 6 yard box. Many teams have used this same technique in the past, most famously Liverpool in their Champions League winning season. 

The third goal came from a brilliant long ball but the substitute George Thomason, playing the ball forward to Kyle Dempsey on the left wing. He brought the ball down and played the pass looking for Dion Charles in the box, Paudie O'Connor intercepted this but only to turn it back into his own goal. This capped off a brilliant game for Dempsey, who was definitely a contender for man of the match along with Jack Iredale, Aaron Morley and Randell Williams. It was a good performance throughout and could be the start of a great season for Bolton Wanderers. 

Bolton Wanderers vs Lincoln City preview

Bolton Wanderers vs Lincoln City preview - team news, predicted eleven, score prediction and more

Bolton begin the 23/24 season with optimism about their chances for promotion, a win in their opening game could give them confidence to push on for the automatic places. With home advantage, Bolton will look to use the atmosphere of the Toughsheet community stadium to claim three points over Lincoln City.

Team News

Bolton Wanderers have been very busy in the transfer market so far, bringing in eight first team players and a B team player (Matheson), leading to the potential for a lot of changes in their starting line-up. With two new signings in between the sticks it isn't clear who Evatt favours, however Nathan Baxter (former Chelsea player) will likely get the nod ahead of Joel Coleman. 

The defensive situation is very interesting with new signings and injuries affecting the decision: Johnston will miss this game with a knee injury, Eoin Toal is on his way back from an ankle injury but this game could come too soon and Will Forrester is unproven as a starter for a promotion-challenging team. Two new wingbacks have come in, Zac Ashworth and Josh Dacres-Cogley (playing on the left and right side respectively), both will look to come in as a starter but will either? With the form of Randell Williams and the loyalty to Gethin Jones, it could be difficult to nail a place immediately. 

The midfield selection will also require a lot of thought from Evatt, with only three positions to choose from and 6 potential options it won't be an easy choice. New loanee, Paris Maghoma will look to show his technical ability at his first opportunity - being able to find attackers effortlessly from any range, he definitely has assists in his locker. Also, Kyle Dempsey will look to build upon his pre season form; despite having to fight for his place with new signing Carlos Mendes Gomes (former Luton Town player).

Finally the front two, this is arguably the toughest choice of them all for Evatt. Dion Charles will likely retain his place trough the middle but who will play alongside him? Jon Dadi Bodvarsson will likley be unavailable for this game, after picking up a hamstring injury against Salford City. This leaves new permanent signing Dan Nlundulu, Victor Adeboyejo and Cameron Jerome to choose from, Mendes Gomes is also an option, however this isn't expected. 

Predicted Eleven

With the injuries at the back for Bolton, the options are limited and some players may have to play out of their comfort zone. Will new signings be given a chance or will Evatt stick with the players he already knows and trusts? Based on pre-season and recent interviews, I believe that Evatt will start this team. 

Only two new signings would be coming into the team but a slow pathway into the team can help new players settle in and make their transition seem smooth and easy. This team would leave a very strong bench, while having a strong xi - a characteristic  that all the best teams have. 

Score prediction 

There is no doubt that Bolton are favourites in the opening day fixture, Evatt will be looking to begin his campaign with a win. Lincoln placed eleventh last season with 62 points, compared to Bolton who finished fifth on 81 points and won the EFL Papa John's trophy. They will look to continue on the journey back to the Premier League and a win against Lincoln is almost a must. That being said, I am going to predict a 2-1 win at the Toughsheet Community Stadium with Bolton coming out victors in a deserved win. To score will be Dion Charles and Kyle Dempsey, before Lincoln score late in the second half. It will be a good performance but one that shows signs of a new team who need to bond and gel before a good run of form can start. 

The upcoming season for Bolton Wanderers

 Can they go one better than last season? Will they make playoffs again? Can they make the automatics?

Bolton Wanderers currently reside in League One, no doubt a giant sitting in a lower division. With the status of a premier league club, you have to ask yourself when can they make it back to the top. Under the guidance of the current manager (Ian Evatt) Bolton have seriously improved and reached the playoffs last season. Losing out to Barnsley in the playoff semifinal but the signs were there that Bolton could be on the up.

Ian Evatt’s tactical vision

Ian has described his own tactics in many different ways but his interview with the Coaches Voice is very interesting and highlights how he wants to play. “Pep Guardiola has been a big,big influence on me” anyone who regularly watches Guardiola or Manchester City will understand that this means a possession-based attacking system. When he was Barrow manager he was told “you simply cannot play possession-based football in the national league” however this did not stop him. He led Barrow to tenth despite the owners only wanting to avoid relegation and only having four contracted players when he took over. “But I wasn’t happy” the words that emphasise just how success-driven Evatt is, this attitude has seriously helped him achieve what he has at Bolton (including a Papa Johns trophy win). 

In 2020 Evatt took over Bolton and finished third place in his first season, getting promoted to league 2. Then guided Bolton to a ninth place finish in their first season back in League One, not only clearing relegation but being just 10 points off the playoffs. And of course last season they came so close to earning promotion with a fifth place finish and a carabao cup win. He’s achieved all this in so little time by sticking true to his principles and playing his philosophy. He has continued with his 3412 possession football and it has worked very well for him. (See pinned tweet for further in depth breakdown of his tactics)

The players

The players at Bolton have changed a lot during Evatt’s tenure, with his first squad basically being unrecognisable to the current team. He has used the loan market very carefully and this resulted in a lot of turnover but it has been managed well. 

This is Evatt’s first eleven compared to his latest for Bolton ,and with only Santos and Gethin Jones still at the club from that team, it is clear to see how ruthless Evatt is in relation to his squad management. He has used clever recruitment and loans to progress Bolton to where they are now. It is also important how he does this due to the recent financial struggles of Bolton. Saying that, he has spent big this summer and there is more to come, the recent signing of Carlos Mendes Gomes for £300k is a big splurge. Moreover, he is wants even more players “There’s no update to speak about right now but we are working very hard behind the scenes and we’re about four or five light, being honest.” - two signings have been completed since with potentially more to come. It could be an expensive summer for the wanderers.

The big games 

However, that isn’t to say that this will be an easy season for Bolton, there are a lot of difficult games to play. The three relegated teams always pose a threat to promotion the following season and with local rivals in Wigan and Blackpool being relegated, those games will mean even more. The other relegated team is Reading and they are in deep financial trouble and have been placed under a transfer embargo. Also, Wigan are suffering financially and recently Jack Whatmough and Jamie McGrath have terminated their contracts due to advice of the PFA. Meaning that, at least one of the automatic promotion places is up for grabs.

However, you have the challengers from last season,such as: Barnsley, Portsmouth, Derby and Peterborough United. All who pose a big threat to Bolton and could stop them from achieving promotion. In addition, Bolton will be looking to retain the EFL Papa John’s trophy.

What if Bolton don’t go up?

This could be a make or break season for Bolton Wanderers: having spent big on transfers already (Carlos Mendes Gomes and Victor Adeboyejo, in January) and looking to bring in more, they need to get promoted or could be forced to sell big players next season. Including Ricardo Santos who has been a standout player for Bolton in the back line and next summer will only have 1 year left on his current contract. The same with Dion Charles, another key man that they can’t afford to lose. Promotion is key for Bolton. Moreover, while unlikely even Evatt could be looking for a move if that happens. With the tactical knowledge to manage at the highest level, he won’t want to waste his time in League One if there are clubs higher up the 92 looking for a new boss.

What do I think?

Personally, from a neutral perspective, I believe that Bolton have all the tools to get promoted automatically this season. They have a good squad with some championship level players and some who are looking to improve their game and reach new levels. Just from pre season, we have seen the performance of Randell Williams reach new heights; with some saying “Randell Williams looks a different player as well” (@TrotterChatPod on Twitter) and with some comparing him to Connor Bradley from last season. Everything points to them at least challenging for promotion but of course anything can happen in football. From what I have seen on the pitch and heard about I believe that Bolton will get promoted this season and will go far in the Papa John’s trophy. Ian Evatt has shown on multiple occasions that he is a great manager and has overachieved many times: therefore, I have no doubt that when it is expected that they do challenge for the league, that they will. 

If you guys like this type of content then I am happy to do more like this in the future. Please like, follow and retweet 👍

References that helped me make this 

@CoachesVoice

@TrotterChatPod

@BwfcFans

@SofascoreINT

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