Bruce Rioch - Legend

[Leyther_Matt]

I suspect he left wholly to manage Arsenal. The added extras being aired in public for our benefit which, if you think about it, is nice. He could easily have just stuck to fingers up and muttered "thanks for being a stepping stone".

Or, to coin a phrase from a similar era, "watch this space".

[bobo the clown]

I was only 4 I think when he left so have little or no recollection of him as a manager and my knowledge being limited to what I've picked up from what my Dad and other relatives say and of course the people on this site. One thing i've always wondered, is there a reason he doesn't manage anymore? He's six years the junior of Sir Alex so can't be just down to age, did he just lose the motivation to manage or was there something bigger at hand?

After being boted from Arsenal he became a bit of a gyspy ... mnaged Wiggin (twice ??) and over in Denmark. But it never quite clicked like it did with us.

Who knows, but I suspect getting shot at Highbury despite doing perfectly well ... added to the fact that he must have been comfortably off ... didn't help his mindset.

[wanderers_on_tour]

Ahh right, cheers for that Bobo. Any chance you reckon he'd make a return to the club either as manager or as a coach? Money talks I guess?

[BWFC_Insane]

Ahh right, cheers for that Bobo. Any chance you reckon he'd make a return to the club either as manager or as a coach? Money talks I guess?

Rioch was great when he was here. Coming back would be a disaster. He's a relic from a game that changed, would not be right for the club.

[jaffka]

Ahh right, cheers for that Bobo. Any chance you reckon he'd make a return to the club either as manager or as a coach? Money talks I guess?

Rioch was great when he was here. Coming back would be a disaster. He's a relic from a game that changed, would not be right for the club.

Why?

[BWFC_Insane]

Ahh right, cheers for that Bobo. Any chance you reckon he'd make a return to the club either as manager or as a coach? Money talks I guess?

Rioch was great when he was here. Coming back would be a disaster. He's a relic from a game that changed, would not be right for the club.

Why?

Why? Because he was good here in the early and mid nineties. At a time when Dalglish and George graham were doing even better. Would you appoint either of them?

The game has moved on. Rioch did not much of any note since leaving us. Just my opinion......

[jaffka]

Ahh right, cheers for that Bobo. Any chance you reckon he'd make a return to the club either as manager or as a coach? Money talks I guess?

Rioch was great when he was here. Coming back would be a disaster. He's a relic from a game that changed, would not be right for the club.

Why?

Why? Because he was good here in the early and mid nineties. At a time when Dalglish and George graham were doing even better. Would you appoint either of them?

The game has moved on. Rioch did not much of any note since leaving us. Just my opinion......

So you accept that your opinion could be wrong and he could be fantastic?

[BWFC_Insane]

Ahh right, cheers for that Bobo. Any chance you reckon he'd make a return to the club either as manager or as a coach? Money talks I guess?

Rioch was great when he was here. Coming back would be a disaster. He's a relic from a game that changed, would not be right for the club.

Why?

Why? Because he was good here in the early and mid nineties. At a time when Dalglish and George graham were doing even better. Would you appoint either of them?

The game has moved on. Rioch did not much of any note since leaving us. Just my opinion......

So you accept that your opinion could be wrong and he could be fantastic?

And the evidence to support that point of view is?

[jaffka]

As equal as to what you offer, being your opinion.

[BWFC_Insane]

As equal as to what you offer, being your opinion.

It probably is, but you haven't actually put any forwards yet.....

[Lord Kangana]

John McGinlay.

There.

[bobo the clown]

Ahh right, cheers for that Bobo. Any chance you reckon he'd make a return to the club either as manager or as a coach? Money talks I guess?

Not a cat in hell's.

He's been out of the UK game too long. Plus 'Never go back'. Plus he's late 60's I think.

No, remember him fondly & if he ever popped up for a game he'd get a well deserved reception.

[Always hopeful]

Sadly, I was living in Holland for all of Rioch's tenure, so mostly missed what he did for us first hand and had to watch our rise from the depths of depression to a force to be reckoned with, from afar.

Nevertheless, when he left I was moved to write my first and only letter to BWFC, addressed to Mr Rioch, in which I thanked him for everything he'd done for the club. I hope he received and read it. I have vision of him sat in his office, opening my letter and it bringing a smile to his face. I'll never know whether this happened, but I'm happy to think that it did.

[jaffka]

As equal as to what you offer, being your opinion.

It probably is, but you haven't actually put any forwards yet.....

Probably, you mean definitley.

I dont need to qualify any statement as fact either

[TKIZ!]

Think he would make a great scout for. Think of all the players he brought through. And before anyone starts suggesting all the rubbish ones every manager has picked some terrible players up, even Ol' Rednose

[Hoboh]

Think he would make a great scout for. Think of all the players he brought through. And before anyone starts suggesting all the rubbish ones every manager has picked some terrible players up, even Ol' Rednose

I think he should just enjoy retirement in Cornwall and leave us to remember the good times, Be a while before we see the likes of that again under the current dick in charge.

[Bruce Rioja]

As equal as to what you offer, being your opinion.

Jaffka, Jaffka, dear Jaffka. Are you still to learn that BWFC-Insane's version of absolutely everything is not mere 'opinion', dear boy, it's the official version.

[TKIZ!]

He should put 'FACT' after everything just so we know

[Bruce Rioja]

Now then, listen up, Coyle. Free lesson here from a bloke that knows his shit.

From today's BN.

BRUCE Rioch has backed Wanderers to return to the Premier League a stronger club, provided they find a proven goalscorer.

The former Burnden Park boss, who was appointed 20 years ago last week, revealed his sadness at watching the Whites lose their top-flight status on the final day of the season.

Rioch spent three glorious years with Bolton, guiding the club from the third tier to victory in the play-offs over Reading and a return to the Premier League.

And he believes one of the men who helped him get there – Owen Coyle – can emulate his success, provided he sharpens up his attack over the summer.

Speaking to The Bolton News, the 64-year-old hopes his former club can add to their attacking options.

“I’m saddened by the fact the club has gone down,” he said. “It will have an impact on the whole place and you’d have to say there is a demand to go back up right away.

“If Owen is going to do that, and he is most certainly capable, then I feel he needs people who are going to win him games. Of course, you must get your defence right, but if you haven’t got goalscorers in your team it’s an uphill struggle right away.

“Back when I was at Bolton we had Owen, Andy Walker, John McGinlay, Alan Thompson, Jason McAteer, Mixu Paatelainen, David Lee and, later, Fabian de Freitas. That was really something. We collected match winners who could snatch you a goal.


“If we lost one through injury, there would be someone else to come in right away.

“Perhaps there isn't that depth there at the moment but I'm sure it is something Owen will be looking to address. Besides, the philosophy is easy, but putting it into practice is the hard part.”

Rioch also believes there is an onus on Coyle to install a winning mentality back into the club after such an inconsistent 12 months.

Before arriving at Burnden, the former Scotland international had earned legendary status at Middlesbrough when he guided the cash-strapped club into the top flight from the old Third Division.

But Boro's stay in the First Division would be brief, and after being relegated on the final day of the season, Rioch can empathise with how Coyle is feeling at present.

“Owen will be hurting but he'll learn a lot from adversity. I remember my experience at Middlesbrough and it was a horrible feeling. But you have to get through it.

“You have to live with it, and that applies to the manager, the players, the staff and the fans.

“You get knock-backs, and it is about how you deal with them. I came to Bolton on the back of losing in the play-offs with Millwall but I didn't lose faith in my ability.

“I got back that winning mentality and that can happen with Bolton next season, too.

“I wish Owen every success. I follow the club closely and I hope they bounce back at the first attempt. The secret is to keep it a family club, and most importantly a happy club. That is Bolton's real strength.”

[BWFC_Insane]

He's telling Owen to buy more attackers. Not sure that's the kind of advice Owen needs to hear.......