Where do we go from here?

[TANGODANCER]

A bit of an uncertain question:

http://www.the-wanderer.co.uk/bolton/never-the-bride" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Hoboh]

The dream has been blown out of the water due to money in the game now, Bolton will never along with 86% of other league clubs win the big one, the Prem and although it sticks in the throat it's the reality.
The cup and a romp through the second tier of Europe are the dreams now.

[HMX]

I'm not expecting to really go anywhere, that way I'm not disappointed

A victory in the semi-final would be fantastic, however!

[William the White]

Good stuff, Tango.

I wonder how many supporters of Wolves and Bolton, at the Charity shield game in 1958 would ever even have dreamed that one day we would meet each other again as promotion rivals... from the fourth division!!!

[P.O.S.]

Great read Tango, cheers.

I'm extremely happy to be doing what we're doing right now to be honest, I know that the last decade or so has seen one of the most successful periods in our history in terms of league position and development as a club and I also know that it might not last forever.

For me though, qualification for Europe (again) isn't beyond the realms of possibility and I think our performance this season shows that it can be done, and why can't we win a cup or at least make the latter stages of them if we put our full effort and determination into them?

A lifetime of following a Bolton team that retains its top level status and makes a good fist of it in the cups, and gets itself into Europe now and again and gives me some more of the best few days in my life once more? There's a very large number of teams who would give anything for that and I'd be delighted if that's Where We Go From Here.

[CAPSLOCK]

?

Is it down to the lake, I fear

[Lord Kangana]

Keep plugging away.

The game is cyclical anyway, and all bets could well be off with the Premier League if the financial bubble bursts. Added to which, we may yet find ourselves another, richer Eddie Davies. The longer we sustain ourselves at the top table, the larger we grow (or should that be re-grow) as a club. Take alook around this forum, there are now fans from the four corners of the world. Its a slow process, but its happening.

Bear in mind 20 years ago we had just about reached our nadir, playing in front of about 6k mid table in the third tier. Its a hell of task to have built the Reebok and the the teams we've had this decade, to be registering averages consistently above 20k (and having 3 seasons running of 26k plus averages).

Judging where we've come from, theres still endless posibilities opening up before us. Football is all about hope.

[Gary the Enfield]

?

Is it down to the lake, I fear

Aye. (Aye Aye Aye Aye. Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye)

[Tombwfc]

We're pretty much playing an elaborate game of russian roulette with the other 30 or so 'top' English clubs, which is to try and stave off financial oblivion long enough and hope football starts to scale back down before we go out of business.

In the meantime, it is a bit shit serving to just exist in the Premier League. If it wasn't for the Cup run this season, I don't think I'd be chalking this up as a particularly memorable season despite the fact we've about peaked as a club. It's better than the alternatives though - we've done being a yo-yo team and just existing in a lower league would drive me towards suicide. Willing the club to implode so we can do a Wimbledon and climb back up has some merit on the novelty front, but it's still a fair way back to the league (and chances Wimbledon will level out soon too and spend x amount of seasons finishing 13th in League Two).

[William the White]

We're pretty much playing an elaborate game of russian roulette with the other 30 or so 'top' English clubs, which is to try and stave off financial oblivion long enough and hope football starts to scale back down before we go out of business.

Lot of truth in this, i reckon. Scarily.

[Harry Genshaw]

Excellent article. As folk have said before - for us - this is as good as it gets.

Sorry, the pedant in me wont let me ignore the error I spotted. In 1980 we were in the top division albeit finishing bottom

[P.O.S.]

We're pretty much playing an elaborate game of russian roulette with the other 30 or so 'top' English clubs, which is to try and stave off financial oblivion long enough and hope football starts to scale back down before we go out of business.

In the meantime, it is a bit shit serving to just exist in the Premier League. If it wasn't for the Cup run this season, I don't think I'd be chalking this up as a particularly memorable season despite the fact we've about peaked as a club. It's better than the alternatives though - we've done being a yo-yo team and just existing in a lower league would drive me towards suicide. Willing the club to implode so we can do a Wimbledon and climb back up has some merit on the novelty front, but it's still a fair way back to the league (and chances Wimbledon will level out soon too and spend x amount of seasons finishing 13th in League Two).

I'm surprised by that. On the contrary I can bring to mind more memorable moments this season than I can for the last few years put together; from Blake's free kick against Birmingham, to the moment Petrov's shot went in against United, the wins over Spurs and Newcastle, Holden's goal against Blackburn, the win away at Wolves, the equaliser against Blackpool and of course the Quarter Final - and who knows what else to come in the final two months.

I've loved it this season actually!

[Lord Kangana]

Agreed. For action, drama and entertainment its probably the best one since we finished 6th.

[TANGODANCER]

Excellent article. As folk have said before - for us - this is as good as it gets.

Sorry, the pedant in me wont let me ignore the error I spotted. In 1980 we were in the top division albeit finishing bottom

Well it's 30 years ago and I didn't check the official site, Harry, but....?

http://www.footballstatisticsresults.co ... ion_2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CAPSLOCK]

And 79-80?

[TANGODANCER]

And 79-80?

Well, the link's there to see both before and after 1980. If I've made any errors from it I apologise. The purpose of posting it was to show the fortunes of other clubs besides our own. As I say, whatever I got wrong came from there.

[Montreal Wanderer]

Excellent article. As folk have said before - for us - this is as good as it gets.

Sorry, the pedant in me wont let me ignore the error I spotted. In 1980 we were in the top division albeit finishing bottom

Possibly a typo, Harry, missing a /81 since 80/81 was the year Villa won? bloody pendants

[CAPSLOCK]

And 79-80?

Well, the link's there to see both before and after 1980. If I've made any errors from it I apologise. The purpose of posting it was to show the fortunes of other clubs besides our own. As I say, whatever I got wrong came from there.

Woah, woah, woah, don't go getting huffy

Was just showing what HG was getting at


http://bwfcstats.com/1980/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We were relegated somewhere between United on the 7th and Boro on the 8th

Lost 21k off the home attendance in 28 hours!

[TANGODANCER]

And 79-80?

Well, the link's there to see both before and after 1980. If I've made any errors from it I apologise. The purpose of posting it was to show the fortunes of other clubs besides our own. As I say, whatever I got wrong came from there.

Woah, woah, woah, don't go getting huffy

Was just showing what HG was getting at


http://bwfcstats.com/1980/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We were relegated somewhere between United on the 7th and Boro on the 8th

Lost 21k off the home attendance in 28 hours!

Huffy, get off it CAPS. Twas an answer is all.

[Tombwfc]

We're pretty much playing an elaborate game of russian roulette with the other 30 or so 'top' English clubs, which is to try and stave off financial oblivion long enough and hope football starts to scale back down before we go out of business.

In the meantime, it is a bit shit serving to just exist in the Premier League. If it wasn't for the Cup run this season, I don't think I'd be chalking this up as a particularly memorable season despite the fact we've about peaked as a club. It's better than the alternatives though - we've done being a yo-yo team and just existing in a lower league would drive me towards suicide. Willing the club to implode so we can do a Wimbledon and climb back up has some merit on the novelty front, but it's still a fair way back to the league (and chances Wimbledon will level out soon too and spend x amount of seasons finishing 13th in League Two).

I'm surprised by that. On the contrary I can bring to mind more memorable moments this season than I can for the last few years put together; from Blake's free kick against Birmingham, to the moment Petrov's shot went in against United, the wins over Spurs and Newcastle, Holden's goal against Blackburn, the win away at Wolves, the equaliser against Blackpool and of course the Quarter Final - and who knows what else to come in the final two months.

I've loved it this season actually!

For quality of football it's been very good, good performances and two of the greatest goals we've ever scored (Mark Davies and Elmander). It depends what you're looking for though, I personally think the Sammy Lee/Megson season is the most exciting domestic season since when we first reached Europe.