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

[officer_dibble]

Fair points BWFCi. For me, if I was Sharon, I would let him have a holiday and get him in when he is back and ask him what he would do differently.

If the answer is, and I always come back to this, Plan A better, I’d be looking for a new manager. He’s assembled the best players available to do Plan A. It’s not worked cos whilst they are nice footballers they are bottle jobs. Absolute fannies.

I would have liked to have seen Michael Duff if we are in the market. Ainsworth isnt a bad shout but will be want to come up north?

[Whookam]

For all those thinking "ah well, we'll do it next season", I don't think that optimism is justified by the teams coming into League One next year and how we've seen this team perform in big games.

[BWFC_Insane]

Fair points BWFCi. For me, if I was Sharon, I would let him have a holiday and get him in when he is back and ask him what he would do differently.

If the answer is, and I always come back to this, Plan A better, I’d be looking for a new manager. He’s assembled the best players available to do Plan A. It’s not worked cos whilst they are nice footballers they are bottle jobs. Absolute fannies.

I would have liked to have seen Michael Duff if we are in the market. Ainsworth isnt a bad shout but will be want to come up north?

I’m working on the basis that Evatt does the right thing and walks. Very quickly. There can be no coming back from this. If he puts Sharon and the board in the insidious position of having to make a call then that’s a disgrace.

You simply can’t be asking a manager you’ve given such backing to, to build a team over such a long period to say ‘well that was dreadful but you can stay if you tell us how you will change’. It’s not the place of a board to do that and if change was possible it would have happened by now. Evatt is just tarnished here. He needs to go and rebuild his career somewhere likely a level down and probably get through his skull that he’s certainly at best right now a bang average lower league manager in a pot of 50 odd managers.

[BWFC_Insane]

Marc Iles has put out his player ratings. He’s pulling no punches now. Saying exactly what I think too about some.

[officer_dibble]

One thing is for sure - if he stays fans will be right on his back from the first bad result. I honestly dunno - I think the players have to stand up and take the criticism, are we going to get a better manager? He’s been outthought by too many now at this level - Shaun Maloney had his number, twice. We won’t get anything from Duff next season. Parky probably fancies his chances!

[officer_dibble]

Just seen santos didn’t bother fronting up for interviews. Get rid of that spineless c*nt now.

[DJBlu]

Fair points BWFCi. For me, if I was Sharon, I would let him have a holiday and get him in when he is back and ask him what he would do differently.

If the answer is, and I always come back to this, Plan A better, I’d be looking for a new manager. He’s assembled the best players available to do Plan A. It’s not worked cos whilst they are nice footballers they are bottle jobs. Absolute fannies.

I would have liked to have seen Michael Duff if we are in the market. Ainsworth isnt a bad shout but will be want to come up north?

I’m working on the basis that Evatt does the right thing and walks. Very quickly. There can be no coming back from this. If he puts Sharon and the board in the insidious position of having to make a call then that’s a disgrace.

You simply can’t be asking a manager you’ve given such backing to, to build a team over such a long period to say ‘well that was dreadful but you can stay if you tell us how you will change’. It’s not the place of a board to do that and if change was possible it would have happened by now. Evatt is just tarnished here. He needs to go and rebuild his career somewhere likely a level down and probably get through his skull that he’s certainly at best right now a bang average lower league manager in a pot of 50 odd managers.

He's too arrogant to walk. The players were blamed yesterday and he said he's baffled. Sharon won't sack him as she said she's lucky to have a manager that's shown such loyalty. If you don't reciprocate that loyalty you look a fool.

We're stuck with him for another season unless the season ticket sales take a hit over summer and the bean counters get involved.

[Bertie Wooster]

Just seen santos didn’t bother fronting up for interviews. Get rid of that spineless c*nt now.

I appreciate that he's the captain, but surely we can't just single out Santos. Why on earth Evatt thinks that Santos is capable of being our quarter back dictating play is weird, every time he had the ball yesterday after a minute or two of chuckle brothers 'to me to you' with Toal - he had no one to pass the ball to, the movement ahead of him was non existent, it was almost a 5-0-5 formation. Let Santos defend as that's what he's good at, not be responsible for dictating play and being creative,

I blame the likes of Sheehan, Maghoma & Thomason much more, they did absolutely nothing - they didn't show for the ball at all, they didn't give Santos any options - it was a tactical disaster. We needed more in midfield, not for the first time under Evatt why did we need 3 CB's when chasing the game, when we really needed another body in midfield.

And don't get me started on Jones, he such a poor player but plays as he's one of Evatt's fav's.

[TANGODANCER]

Just deleted a lengthy post because it won't change a thing. We got it wrong and lost. Everybody here knows why apart from our stubborn manager. Daft as it sounds, most of us could pick a side and a game plan that would have given us a better chance of winning. I 'm no Evatt knocker, or blamer, but he got it way wrong. Hands up, Mr Evatt, you blew it.

[officer_dibble]

Yeah I don’t blame santos on his own - he’s just the captain and he doesn’t behave like one. They all hid yesterday I agree.

[DJBlu]

Yeah I don’t blame santos on his own - he’s just the captain and he doesn’t behave like one. They all hid yesterday I agree.

His reaction after heading the ball away from Baxter for their first speaks volumes.

They're always quick to blame one another when it's not going right. A calm leader takes stock, motivates and gets a team out of the mire by lifting them. That in turn is seen by the fans who then elevate them further. The worst thing about it all is Evatt is still surprised when it happens.

[Bertie Wooster]

So when he goes who do we want ?

Alex Neil, Liam Rosenior, Kevin Nolan....

[officer_dibble]

Depends when. I think he’ll be here in August but maybe not November

[tankcopters n aids]

Pathetic performance.

And one we've seen before under Evatt when the going gets tough. 0 leaders in this squad

All of them looking like they're on a potter down the promenade when getting back for the second goal

Our playmaker Sheehan was playing hide and seek not making himself available for the ball.

Dempsey was the only one who looks like he could be arsed

No urgency. No character. No idea.

If L1 promotion is the question Evatt ain't the answer

Other than that a cracking day

[TANGODANCER]

Golden rule: Do not let players run at you . Don't back off. Oxfords rule seemed to be "If you can't get the ball, get the man". They did, it worked.

[officer_dibble]

Been thinking back to the semi and the beers on the pitch etc - mentally the prep was wrong from that point.

[DJBlu]

Been thinking back to the semi and the beers on the pitch etc - mentally the prep was wrong from that point.

They'll learn and keep them on ice for Wembley next season.

Again goes back to mentality. Thinking job was done as they'd got past last years hoodoo.

[officer_dibble]

Your optimistic! I’m thinking mid table at best next year… we’ll be in transition.

[BWFC_Insane]

In terms of players who don’t deserve to be playing for Bolton Wanderers we’ve had a few down the years. But this lot are right up there.

The more I reflect the more angry I am. I can take not being good enough. It happens. I can take missing a penalty and losing the shoot out. It happens.

But this lot simply don’t turn up when the going is tough. Shirk it when a team lays a finger on them in midfield.

They don’t deserve the fans who have given them amazing support. I can’t give credit for wins when the going is good if you at the first sign of resistance crumble. At the first bit of pressure buckle.

In a form of masochism I watched the game back. I never normally watch a game like this again we’ve lost. But this was one that warranted a second viewing. There are players there not even trying. If you can’t sprint full pelt in a playoff final then don’t tell me you’ve put effort in. If at 2-0 down you are strolling round when we have a corner with zero urgency. Walking to talk a set piece. Hiding behind your player in midfield and standing static. Walking slowly with the ball after their attack breaks down as though it’s a pre season friendly.

That’s not effort. That’s not desire or spirit.

So before we get to obvious tactical failings and mental frailties. There is a basic thing. Called trying. And if as is the case yesterday and has been lacking on other occasions you can’t always guarantee that then there is a massive problem.

They are shithouses. And I can’t honestly come to any other conclusion. They will no doubt go elsewhere and not care one bit. Fans can’t. We are stuck here. And we deserve a hell of a lot better than this group and their ‘efforts’.

And I hope Evatt walked round to every single one of them yesterday and pointed this out. I’d have them in tomorrow to watch the replay and stop it at every point they aren’t trying properly. You’d need a day to do it but by god as much as Evatt is at fault those players really are a disgrace and need telling. Parky style telling.

[dave the minion]

Yep. You're obviously right (as always).

Professional sportsmen in the biggest games of their careers - with the prospect of promotion on TV and with no doubt chunky promotion bonuses and/or pay rises riding on it - really would turn up and just not try.

There's just no other possible conclusion....

Yes, we were truly awful and I'm not going to argue otherwise. There are problems that needs sorting , obviously.

But the notion that they couldn't even be arsed to try to win??? Give me a f#cking break.

I Also love this concept that you've been peddling most of the season that they don't deserve be playing for us. FFS we're a 3rd tier team on a rebuild from the brink of collapse. No more, no less. Despite repeated denials, the sense of entitlement from some is, frankly, embarrassing.

I get anger. I get frustration. I get being upset. All those are fine after an season like we've had. I'm as upset as the next man, but some of the analysis on here and elsewhere is just ridiculous at best