Bolton Preview

Looking forward to the first match of the season...

By: Steve Tattersall

Well, it's that time again. 4 days to the new season!

Most of this will be obvious inane blither, but at least I tried. If anyone can think of anything relevant for these previews, let me know.

BOLTON WANDERERS

Bolton should be raring to go after last season, when they got to the FA cup semis and the Div 1 playoffs, when only the profligate finishing of Dean Holdsworth and the kismet of Ipswich Town stopped them from going further. On the flipside, this is probably the best time to meet them before they strengthen their squad.

FORM

BWFC have had as strange a preseason as us, and Stan always tells us to ignore preseason results (unless we win of course). Hammered a couple of times by Scandinavian opposition, a win against Bury and a goalless draw against Chester. Make of that what you will.

Despite several rumours in the local press about new and exotic foreign imports, their squad definitely looks weaker this season than last, after selling Gudjohnsen to Chelsea and Claus Jensen to Charlton.

Looking at the squad on soccerbase, it looks like they're lacking a killer striker apart from Dean Holdsworth, who despite his gaffe at Wembley last year and numerous appearances in the News of the World, is still pretty good. Their kitty is now about 8 million quid heavier, but overall they still look a bit average for division one (I can't believe I'm writing that after seeing some of the rubbish we saw in the last few seasons!)

New signing are fairly obscure (Paul Wheatcroft? Anthony Barness? Maikel Renfurm? Leam Richardson? Simon Charlton?) but Ricketts from Walsall isn't a bad player and Per Frandsen is an old favourite.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

This is going to get a bit depressing this season, because there are such a lot of good players. Bolton, though, look a bit short. Amongst others look for:

Star: Per Frandsen - clever midfield player, has always looked impressive when I've seen BW play. Stop him and we could be in with a shout. And an ex-Rover.

Weak spot: Mark Fish - South African international who "likes to have a wander", according to Ron Atkinson.

Entertainment factor: Paul Warhurst - OKish ex-Rover. Will probably score Wanderers' winner. John O'Kane - yes, *that* guy. Doubt we'll see him play though.

PREDICTION

Although we always seem to mess up against Bolton, I'm quite optimistic. I certainly don't think it's going to be a repeat of our opening-day defeat against Middlesbrough 6 years ago.

A good start of course is vital: it was the big difference between last season and the preceding two. Avoid defeat and I think everyone will be pleased. Getting stuffed against a side that looks fairly run-of-the-mill for the division could mean our season's over before it's begun.

One-all? Payton not to score? Possibly Davis to get a header?

RECENT(ISH) RESULTS V BOLTON AWAY

http://www.clarets .org/stats/opp/11.HTM - liable to factual inaccuracy as always

Some pretty miserable defeats there. If my memory serves me correct Billy O'Rourke let a goal in from the Bolton keeper's goalkick in the 82-83 match. In a twist of fate the 94-95 was our last match in division one, where the Clarets fans sang "we're going down in five minutes" near the end.

WEB LINKS

Like most Lancastrian teams' web sites, most of these seemed either (a) obsessed with the team's history, or (b) obsessed with the team's stadium. Bolton go one better than most with a Reebok Stadium website (http://www.reebokstadium.co .uk) although it seemed to be broken when I tried it.

http://www.bwfc.co.uk - Official Site, fairly OK, another planetfootball.com effort I see Patrick?

http:// www.thisisbolton.co.uk/sport/wanderers.html - Bolton Evening News, just like the LET...

http://www.bwfc.co.u k/club/direct.htm - directions to the ground, although that's probably not too useful!

http://www.bwsa.cwc.net Supporters' Association site. Quite good although for some reason half the pages are actually giant pictures, rather than text.

I can't find a BWFC mailing list or bulletin board anywhere, does anyone else know of one?

Steve

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