Kevin Walsh

Archive for the ‘Bolton Wanderers’ Category

I don’t manage to get to many away games but as I live in Wigan and closer to the DW than the Reebok, yesterday was too good to miss (despite our poor recent run).  My overall reaction is that of smug satisfaction having beaten the “Mud Hutters” in their own back yard.  The win was made even sweeter by the fact that I work with lots of Wigan fans so will actually enjoy going into work on Monday.

However, yesterdays result, sweet as it was, can not mask some of the glaring concerns that still exist.  Wigan are a very very poor side and we should not get too carried away.  I know I am starting to sound like a broken record here but why is Robbo still being picked at left back.  The whole world and his dog can see that he is no longer able to cut it in the Premiership.  Even somebody as tactically inept as Roberto Martinez sussed it out and put Moses, their only player with pace, on the right against Robbo.

Lots of people were saying that Diame’s shot was unstoppable for the Wigan equaliser.  That may be the case but Jussi did not make any attempt to save it.  It was as if he expected it go over the bar so I question his judegment if nothing else.

Kevin Davies once again looked slow and off the pace, although credit for harassing Gohouri to set up the second goal for Ngog.  But why was Ngog substituted and not Davies.

And so to the positives.  Wheater and Cahill look a much more solid partnership than Cahill and Knight.  Boyatta whilst not a natural right back is big, strong and has pace.  I thought Eagles had his best game for Bolton  and Nigel Reo Coker also played well.  Ngog took his goal well and could prove to be a very good signing.

So in summary, pleased with the result but concerned that against better opposition we will continue to leak goals unless some of the deficiences that everybody except Owen Coyle can see are addressed.

So the FA finally decided on when Bolton and Stoke will play their semi-final at Wembley. We will be playing on the Sunday with a 4 pm kick off. So even if the game is decided in regulation time Bolton and Stoke fans will be getting home in the early hours of the morning with the prospect of making it into work on Monday.

Apparently the reason behind the FA decision was that Arsenal and Liverpool are also scheduled to play on the Sunday and the Police thought it too risky to have fans from Arsenal, Liverpool and the two Mancs all together in London (have they met the Stoke fans yet).

Scheduling the two Mancs to play on the Sunday would have been better because all the Man Utd fans live in London anyway.

At least the ticket arrangements seem to be fair with each season ticket holder able to purchase two tickets for the semi-final. Just hope it is the same for the final if we get there.

KPW

So here we are on Tuesday 15th March 2011, 2 days after the sem-finalists in the FA cup were decided and yet still without the confirmed dates.  Originally I asumed that the first two clubs drawn out would play on Saturday (the two manc clubs) and the last two would play on the Sunday.  It turns out not to be the case.  So the FA then decrees that it will be Wednesday the 16th of March when the dates will be announced.  Nope, that is not the case either.  Apparently, a consideration is that Citeh may be playing in the Europa League on the Thursday before the semi, assuming they overturn a 2-0 goal deficit against Dynamo Kiev at Eastlands this Thursday.

However, the other consideration are the TV rights with ITV and ESPN fighting for the the two Mancs tie, and also the fact that there will be a bigger TV audience on the Sunday.

So just let the two manc teams have the Sunday and us Bolton and Stoke fans will have the Saturday, stop all the faffing about.  If we have the Saturday it gives us a day to recover after either celebrating reaching the final or drowning our sorrows.

KPW

There have been quite a few journalists and others Tweeting today about the semi-finals of the FA Cup being held at Wembley. Most of them seem to be against the whole principle stating such reasons as “devaluing the FA Cup” or “think of all the travel chaos” as 90,000 Bolton, Stoke and Manchester City fans make the journey to London and back over the semi-final weekend. Manchester United fans will be very happy as most of them live in London anyway. However, Taggert (aka Fergy) does not think the semi should be at Wembley, nothing to do with the fact that Man Utd have lost the revenue from hosting at least one of the ties.

So let us just get one thing clear. If you support a “bigger” club then it must get tiresome getting to all these finals and winning all the trophies. Not that a big club has ever devalued the FA Cup by fielding reserves or even not entering the competition at all.

We supporters of “smaller” clubs deserve our Wembley day out. They probably come round once or twice in a lifetime if you are lucky. So come on all you tweeting hacks, stop raining on Bolton and Stokes parade!

KPW

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Went to the Bolton versus Birmingham FA Cup quarter final at St Andrews on Saturday. I must admit to being slightly nervous about the trip as Birmingham City fans do have something of a reputation. Having decided to drive I opted to park up in the City centre rather than park near to ground. As it turned out, I had no need to worry. The opposing fans were fine and there was no trouble and we felt completely safe on the walk back to the City centre.

The game proved that reports of the death of the FA Cup are premature. It was a full blooded cup tie with both teams going for the win. The atmosphere amongst the 5,000 Bolton fans when Chung Yong Lee scored the winner was amazing. It got even better once the final whistle was blown by Phil Dowd (who had a good game) and all the Bolton fans could really celebrate. The players really did seem to appreciate the support at the end, many of them giving their shirts to youngsters in the crowd.

There was obviously some mutual respect between the fans as well. Most of the Bolton singing was in support of our team, not insulting the opposition. After all, Birmingham are a similar club to ourselves and it is an inspiration that they won the Carling Cup against the favourites Arsenal. If they can win a trophy, so can we!

So it is now into planning mode for the semi final against Stoke, another one of the "smaller" clubs. Got to sort tickets out first and then work out how to get there. I notice that Taggert (aka Fergy) does not think the semi finals should be at Wembley. Well try telling that to the 70,000 Bolton and Stoke fans who will be making their respective ways down the M6. I for one can't wait and I am determined to have a great Wembley day out regardless of the result.

So does the FA Cup still have the magic. Of course it does, but probably only if your "smaller" team is still in it. If you support a "bigger" club, then it must get tiresome to keep winning all the trophies!

KPW

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad