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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