• The Magazine
  • Interviews
  • Current
  • Nostalgia
  • Legends
  • European
  • World
  • Log in
  • Subscribe
Menu
  • The Magazine
  • Interviews
  • Current
  • Nostalgia
  • Legends
  • European
  • World
  • Log in
  • Subscribe

Football League season review: Neil Lennon steadying the Bolton Wanderers ship

Pink by Pink
May 11, 2015
in Latest, Opinion, Review
Football League season review: Neil Lennon steadying the Bolton Wanderers ship

In the first of a short series, we want fans of Football League clubs to give us a review of their club’s performance on and off the pitch during 2014/15. First up it’s ANTHONY HART and his club, Bolton Wanderers.

Barely a tenth of the crowd waited in a cold Macron Stadium after the final game of the season. There was an unusual delay of the players coming back out for their lap of appreciation. It felt like a non-event, and a metaphor of Bolton Wanderers’ season.

It was a season that effectively ended in February. The start was hopeless. Dougie Freedman’s football was no-frills, no-fun and almost no-wins. A respectable League Cup performance at Chelsea was a rare escape. Three days later, as Bolton trailed 2-0 at home to Derby, people had finally had enough; on and off the pitch.

“Freedman out. Gartside out”

People were getting on the pitch. It was farcical. Freedman had one more game, away to Fulham. Bolton lost 4-0, as some fans resorted to urging the Cottagers to score another to ensure Dougie’s coffin was nailed. Within 48 hours, he was gone.

Neil Lennon took over after the October international break. It was more proactive to watch, and for a while it was getting results. A near two month unbeaten run got them well away from the relegation zone, but already the gap to mount a play-off challenge was too much.

Derby wins at home to Wigan and Blackburn, plus the FA Cup ties with Liverpool gave us some highlights but once Liverpool ended the cup campaign, there was realistically nothing to play for. A horrendous run of injuries, including to the influential Darren Pratley and Mark Davies, and the sale if Lee Chung-yong to Crystal Palace didn’t help, and for the last three months Bolton drifted to mid-table obscurity. The end of the season was heartily welcomed.

What happens next? Talk about Bolton always leads to talk about debt. It has increased again, but interestingly, losses were down from around £40million to around £10 million. The club is starting to trim the wage bill and has met Financial Fair Play demands. That’s a start. It does mean Lennon will mainly be looking at free transfers and loans yet again this summer, however.

There are already echoes of last summer. Twelve months ago, there were hopes of securing Lukas Jutkiewicz on a permanent deal after a prolific loan spell. He eventually went to Burnley. This time, it is Adam Le Fondre and Barry Bannan who have impressed on loan. Le Fondre has said he is open to a return to the Macron. Will austerity allow it though? Cardiff are looking to cut their expenditure too, so hopefully something could happen.

Twelve months on, one bright hope is young talent. Zach Clough, having made his debut in January, would probably have ended up top scorer had his season not ended in March through injury. Josh Vela, Tom Walker and Max Clayton have also broken into the first team, and look as comfortable, if not more so, than some of the older heads. First-team coach Garry Parker said the same in a post-match interview after Saturday’s final league game. “Our worry is deep down the senior players aren’t good enough. Some of the players we’ve got aren’t good enough.”

Next season is tough to call. There will be plenty of outs, and there will need to be good quality ins, particularly in the wide positions which where almost ignored by Freedman. Lennon has proved already with a fit squad and something to aim for, he can get results in the Championship. The top half is more than realistic a target, in fact it should be a minimum. Actually being promotion contenders could still be a bridge too far.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ANTHONY ON TWITTER @anthonyhart1109 AND CAN CHECK OUT HIS BLOG HERE http://the54football.blogspot.co.uk/

Related Posts

Latest

Bengals vs Chiefs Betting Odds, Spread, Predictions & Key Match Info: NFL Championship Game Summary (2023)

It’s time for the 2023 AFC Championship – and we have Bengals vs Chiefs for the third year in...

by Jamie Ingram
January 27, 2023
0
Latest

WWE Royal Rumble Betting Odds, News, Predictions & Picks (Fans Believe In The Rock)

WrestleMania season is upon us, with the WWE Royal Rumble 2023 just days away. In addition to the men’s...

by Jamie Ingram
January 27, 2023
0
Open Sud de France 2023 Betting Odds: Latest Open Sud de France Betting Lines, Tips, Bonuses, and More
Latest

Open Sud de France 2023 Betting Odds: Latest Open Sud de France Betting Lines, Tips, Bonuses, and More

The 36th edition of the ATP 250 Open Sud de France starts on January 30. The Open Sud de...

by Jamie Ingram
January 23, 2023
0
Latest

Liverpool vs Brighton Betting Odds, Predictions, Team News, and Line-Ups (Premier League 2022/2023)

Brighton welcomes Liverpool to the AMEX Stadium this weekend in what promises to be an exciting game of football,...

by Jamie Ingram
January 13, 2023
0
Load More
Next Post
Ibrox ’71 –  Stairway 13 and the lost boys of Markinch

Ibrox '71 - Stairway 13 and the lost boys of Markinch

golf betting
Current

Best Golf Betting Odds: Top 5 Golf Betting Sites for PGA Tours, US Open, Masters Tournament, and Other Major Golf Events

by Jamie Ingram
January 31, 2023
0
0

We know the best golf betting sites online, and we ain’t puttering around! Bovada is on top of the list...

Read more

Bengals vs Chiefs Betting Odds, Spread, Predictions & Key Match Info: NFL Championship Game Summary (2023)

January 27, 2023
0

WWE Royal Rumble Betting Odds, News, Predictions & Picks (Fans Believe In The Rock)

January 27, 2023
0
football odds UK

Best Football Betting Odds in the UK: Top UK Sites With the Best Football Odds in the UK

January 25, 2023
0
Open Sud de France 2023 Betting Odds: Latest Open Sud de France Betting Lines, Tips, Bonuses, and More

Open Sud de France 2023 Betting Odds: Latest Open Sud de France Betting Lines, Tips, Bonuses, and More

January 23, 2023
0
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Profile

© Copyright 2023 – Football Pink

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Profile

© Copyright 2022 - Ronnie Dog Media All Rights Reserved. Live Score

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Gmail
  • Print Friendly
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr