Rising in Wembley's Glow: A Bolton Wanderers Tale - Bolton vs Oxford. 18th May 2024, 4.15pm

[TANGODANCER]

Evatt's problem today wasn't making a mistake; anyone can do that, it was his refusal to accept and correct it that cost us. He's a decent manager who got us within two goals of a promotion. That isn't failure, it's error.

[BWFC_Insane]

Evatt's problem today wasn't making a mistake; anyone can do that, it was his refusal to accept and correct it that cost us. He's a decent manager who got us within two goals of a promotion. That isn't failure, it's error.

Evatt himself has said it’s failure.

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Its the manner of some of the defeats this season rather than the defeat itself.

[Harry Genshaw]

When the going gets tough...we go into our shell and give up.

[officer_dibble]

fecking wankerS. Course it’s a failure.

[Mar]

Its the manner of some of the defeats this season rather than the defeat itself.

Exactly this. Crap capitulations in our biggest Derby games and at Wembley live long in the memory.

The near misses against Portsmouth and Derby can be forgiven as they had spirited fight.

0 shots at Wembley on target. Well there's no excuse for that.

[dave the minion]

The failings today are systemic. They are Evatts. He’s had three seasons to build and the problems remain. To get out of this division playing like we are needs considerably better players than we have. You can’t do it.

We need a manager who is actually successful - knows what it takes to win and will build a team that has real desire, fight and most of all bottle.

Evatt has proven demonstrably he can’t do that. You can’t let him persist with telling us santos and Sheehan et al are the answers. We’ve asked the question a lot of times and each times we know they aren’t it.

We need pride restoring into the club. We’ve had a torrid time and bar a promotion from league two the last three seasons haven’t been good. It’s dire. I want to see player who know what representing Bolton Wanderers means. Week in week out. These ones don’t.

Ok, so if we get rid of evatt, who replaces him? All well and good wanting rid of him (I don't BTW. At all), but tell me who is stepping up to take his place.

Cant continuously keep demanding change without suggesting who steps into the breach (bearing in mind they've got to be available and willing).

Same with the players. I've seen posts suggesting half the squad need to be hung drawn and quartered, but who the hell are we replacing them with???

Today was sh1te. We were well beaten. Very well beaten. I get it. It's frustrating. However, I genuinely believe Evatt will get us into the championship next year, with the core of the current squad.

[officer_dibble]

Chill your beans re Evatt

[Prufrock]

That was hopeless.

[officer_dibble]

Elon fecking Toal on the left

[Worthy4England]

I think a few said that last year. This was the year.

We've had lots of managers (and players) in my lifetime, some have got us up, some ain't, so the notion that there's little possibility that someone else might get up, doesn't feel necessarily well founded.

Dunno at the moment what I'd favour doing tbh. Wouldn't cry if their was a change...

[The_Gun]

Evatt was absolutely destroyed tactically by Buckingham today. I’d be binning him off this summer if I were FV, but I strongly suspect they won’t.

[truewhite15]

I've been an Evatt supporter. I've defended him. I can't defend today.

I still think that trying to play on the ground, with footballers in the defence, is the way forward. I still think that some of our fans don't remember exactly how dire hoofball can be.

But today is among the closest I've ever been to falling out of love with the club, and with football. Utterly dejected. I may feel better in a few days, but as of right now... I have no confidence in the current side and management to win the games that really matter.

Next season will feature derbies vs Stockport and Wigan. We'll face Hollywood FC, who just can't seem to stop rising. Barnsley will fancy their chances of improving. So will Peterborough. To say nothing of the chances of the relegated sides. Yes, I may be allowing my current emotions to colour my judgement. But I simply don't see us getting enough positive results against them with the current side.

[BWFC_Insane]

The failings today are systemic. They are Evatts. He’s had three seasons to build and the problems remain. To get out of this division playing like we are needs considerably better players than we have. You can’t do it.

We need a manager who is actually successful - knows what it takes to win and will build a team that has real desire, fight and most of all bottle.

Evatt has proven demonstrably he can’t do that. You can’t let him persist with telling us santos and Sheehan et al are the answers. We’ve asked the question a lot of times and each times we know they aren’t it.

We need pride restoring into the club. We’ve had a torrid time and bar a promotion from league two the last three seasons haven’t been good. It’s dire. I want to see player who know what representing Bolton Wanderers means. Week in week out. These ones don’t.

Ok, so if we get rid of evatt, who replaces him? All well and good wanting rid of him (I don't BTW. At all), but tell me who is stepping up to take his place.

Cant continuously keep demanding change without suggesting who steps into the breach (bearing in mind they've got to be available and willing).

Same with the players. I've seen posts suggesting half the squad need to be hung drawn and quartered, but who the hell are we replacing them with???

Today was sh1te. We were well beaten. Very well beaten. I get it. It's frustrating. However, I genuinely believe Evatt will get us into the championship next year, with the core of the current squad.

We are Bolton wanderers. Some of these ‘players’ have been exceptionally lucky to play for this club. They’ve had chance after chance. They don’t deserve to wear the shirt again.

Evatt similarly. He’s massively lucky to have managed such a big club. He’s done nowt in the game. He’s been given a huge chance. Last season was disappointing but he got all the time and money in the world and this season in his own words it’s a failure. He’s done.

As for who to replace him with I’d go and get Gareth Ainsworth.

[BWFC_Insane]

I've been an Evatt supporter. I've defended him. I can't defend today.

I still think that trying to play on the ground, with footballers in the defence, is the way forward. I still think that some of our fans don't remember exactly how dire hoofball can be.

But today is among the closest I've ever been to falling out of love with the club, and with football. Utterly dejected. I may feel better in a few days, but as of right now... I have no confidence in the current side and management to win the games that really matter.

Next season will feature derbies vs Stockport and Wigan. We'll face Hollywood FC, who just can't seem to stop rising. Barnsley will fancy their chances of improving. So will Peterborough. To say nothing of the chances of the relegated sides. Yes, I may be allowing my current emotions to colour my judgement. But I simply don't see us getting enough positive results against them with the current side.

How dire was port vale away or beating Peterborough 3-0 when it really mattered? Lot less dire than this run in and today has been.

I’m all for playing football but it has to be realistic. You need to win the fight first and we continually don’t do that against sides who are able to press our midfield.

Man City have four big centre halves and two seriously tough holding mids. Still play football but physically match sides. We need to do that. We also need better centre halves who can defend whilst also playing. Back four might make more sense.

Rest, especially last part I agree with.

[brommers95]

Well that was shit, not one shot on target in a playoff final, good lord. I’d keep Evatt though - he’s got one more chance to get us out of this league for me.

Recruitment this summer is massive. We need to absolutely nail it.

[jmjhb]

The failings today are systemic. They are Evatts. He’s had three seasons to build and the problems remain. To get out of this division playing like we are needs considerably better players than we have. You can’t do it.

We need a manager who is actually successful - knows what it takes to win and will build a team that has real desire, fight and most of all bottle.

Evatt has proven demonstrably he can’t do that. You can’t let him persist with telling us santos and Sheehan et al are the answers. We’ve asked the question a lot of times and each times we know they aren’t it.

We need pride restoring into the club. We’ve had a torrid time and bar a promotion from league two the last three seasons haven’t been good. It’s dire. I want to see player who know what representing Bolton Wanderers means. Week in week out. These ones don’t.

Ok, so if we get rid of evatt, who replaces him? All well and good wanting rid of him (I don't BTW. At all), but tell me who is stepping up to take his place.

Cant continuously keep demanding change without suggesting who steps into the breach (bearing in mind they've got to be available and willing).

Same with the players. I've seen posts suggesting half the squad need to be hung drawn and quartered, but who the hell are we replacing them with???

Today was sh1te. We were well beaten. Very well beaten. I get it. It's frustrating. However, I genuinely believe Evatt will get us into the championship next year, with the core of the current squad.

We are Bolton wanderers. Some of these ‘players’ have been exceptionally lucky to play for this club. They’ve had chance after chance. They don’t deserve to wear the shirt again.

Evatt similarly. He’s massively lucky to have managed such a big club. He’s done nowt in the game. He’s been given a huge chance. Last season was disappointing but he got all the time and money in the world and this season in his own words it’s a failure. He’s done.

As for who to replace him with I’d go and get Gareth Ainsworth.

My choice would have been Duff. Bit of a paradigm shift maybe, but not going to happen now.

[Worthy4England]

I've been an Evatt supporter. I've defended him. I can't defend today.

I still think that trying to play on the ground, with footballers in the defence, is the way forward. I still think that some of our fans don't remember exactly how dire hoofball can be.

But today is among the closest I've ever been to falling out of love with the club, and with football. Utterly dejected. I may feel better in a few days, but as of right now... I have no confidence in the current side and management to win the games that really matter.

Next season will feature derbies vs Stockport and Wigan. We'll face Hollywood FC, who just can't seem to stop rising. Barnsley will fancy their chances of improving. So will Peterborough. To say nothing of the chances of the relegated sides. Yes, I may be allowing my current emotions to colour my judgement. But I simply don't see us getting enough positive results against them with the current side.

What I would say TW, is I don't recall anyone ever saying "let's play hoofball." It's being held up like a witch that needs burning (and I'm ok with that coz I'm not saying pkay hoofball either). I'm going to be a happier fan if I supported Pompey or Derby or Oxford tonight than I am supporting us. I don't recall the three promoted teams playing the same way as us, but not sure I'd have them as hoofball either.

It's like the spectre that gets conjoured when the manager is discussed. There's this one and the alternative is Sean Dyche. Hahaha.

[Mar]

Well that was shit, not one shot on target in a playoff final, good lord. I’d keep Evatt though - he’s got one more chance to get us out of this league for me.

Recruitment this summer is massive. We need to absolutely nail it.

I'm on this train of thought. Plenty to go off. Were improving our position year on year but not as quickly as we would like or expect given how well the club is run on a whole.

Evatt can't shoot. That's on the players. They didn't so that today. Evatt may have his faults but not getting a shot on target at Wembley can't be down to him.

It's going to be extra tough next year and I agree the transfer window is massive.

[BWFC_Insane]

The failings today are systemic. They are Evatts. He’s had three seasons to build and the problems remain. To get out of this division playing like we are needs considerably better players than we have. You can’t do it.

We need a manager who is actually successful - knows what it takes to win and will build a team that has real desire, fight and most of all bottle.

Evatt has proven demonstrably he can’t do that. You can’t let him persist with telling us santos and Sheehan et al are the answers. We’ve asked the question a lot of times and each times we know they aren’t it.

We need pride restoring into the club. We’ve had a torrid time and bar a promotion from league two the last three seasons haven’t been good. It’s dire. I want to see player who know what representing Bolton Wanderers means. Week in week out. These ones don’t.

Ok, so if we get rid of evatt, who replaces him? All well and good wanting rid of him (I don't BTW. At all), but tell me who is stepping up to take his place.

Cant continuously keep demanding change without suggesting who steps into the breach (bearing in mind they've got to be available and willing).

Same with the players. I've seen posts suggesting half the squad need to be hung drawn and quartered, but who the hell are we replacing them with???

Today was sh1te. We were well beaten. Very well beaten. I get it. It's frustrating. However, I genuinely believe Evatt will get us into the championship next year, with the core of the current squad.

We are Bolton wanderers. Some of these ‘players’ have been exceptionally lucky to play for this club. They’ve had chance after chance. They don’t deserve to wear the shirt again.

Evatt similarly. He’s massively lucky to have managed such a big club. He’s done nowt in the game. He’s been given a huge chance. Last season was disappointing but he got all the time and money in the world and this season in his own words it’s a failure. He’s done.

As for who to replace him with I’d go and get Gareth Ainsworth.

My choice would have been Duff. Bit of a paradigm shift maybe, but not going to happen now.

Yeah Duff a good shout, I see him and Ainsworth in the same mould. Will play front foot football with intensity and whatnot but without the naivety and they won’t take prisoners when needed.

Ainsworth got Wycombe into the championship which is probably one of the more miraculous things to happen.

Alex Neil been mentioned but not so sure. Did it at Sunderland but feel it would be asking him to repeat a similar trick.