Fulham Preview

Zatastic or Knightmare? Which net is he more likely to score in?

Bolton go into the Fulham match just a point above the relegation zone.

On paper, Fulham at home is a game we want to be taking points from. It becomes ever more important when things are so tight at the bottom, and we have plenty of away games left. We need to take maximum points from our winnable home games and turn the Reebok into a fortress that it was back when Big Sam was in charge.

The atmosphere around the Reebok has been alot more positive since the return of Owen Coyle, but optimism and words won’t be enough to save us this season, it is time for the players to start putting in performances for the club.

No better example than Johan Elmander who may start in place of injured Ivan Klasnic. With Klasnic out injured, it’s time for Elmander to methophorically(and most likely physically) drag himself up off the floor, get rid of the ‘pity me’ grimace and start putting in the hard graft to prove he has what it takes to play for this club.

This, without question, is his final chance. Our survival may rest on whether he can get over what mental barrier is stopping him performing to the level we have seen on odd glimses. There is a decent player locked deep in him somewhere, can we get it out in time?

The senior heads also need to start putting in a performance. It’s rare you’ll ever here me utter a critisism towards Kevin Davies, but last season he proved that he can score goals, he needs to start putting the ball in the back of the net more. It’s all well and good saying, ‘he isn’t that sort of striker’ but he is the captain of the club and the spearhead of our attack, he badly needs a goal.

Another, who I feel less guilty about critisising, Matty Taylor, has struggled all season. With young players like Jack Wilshere and Vladmir Weiss ready in-waiting, Bolton fans are getting itchy feet with Taylor’s constant lack of product. It’ll be interesting to see whether Coyle will stick with him, he has made it no secret he wants to start integrating the new recruits into the first team.

Fulham are struggling at the moment, without a win in seven, until midweek when they eeked past troubled Portsmouth. Now with the news that one-time Bolton target Andy Johnson is out for the season they’ll be desperate to get to forty points as soon as possible before they themselves get dragged into a relegation battle.

Bolton generally have a decent home record against Fulham(and an awful away record- as we are all too aware of). However last years 3-1 loss to Fulham, for many, represented the lowest point during Gary Megson’s reign.

Prediction:

I can see this being a tight game but with some decent shows of football from both teams. I predict home advantage and Fulham’s poor away record will be enough to get us over the line. 2-1 to the Wanderers. Kevin Davies to get himself on the scoresheet. I also have a sneeky feeling Zat Knight will get on the score-sheet, at which end, I have not yet decided.

COME ON YOU WHITE MEN!!!

Liverpool Review

Dirk Kuyt celebrates the opening goal

Final Score Liverpool 2-0 Bolton

The Wanderers were always going to struggle to start well under Owen Coyle when three of the first four league games were against ‘top four’ clubs and yesterday ultimatley went the way most expected it to.

1954 was our last league win at Anfield, yet with the Coyle factor still shining and Liverpool’s inconsistant form, there was some hope that we could spring a suprise.

As such, the loss was a little dissapointing, especially the performance, as Liverpool too played poorly yet eased to victory without getting out of second gear.

We had chances at 0-0. Cohen looked like getting yet ANOTHER goal against Liverpool but couldn’t get his toe on the finish. Chung-Yong Lee, who yet again proved our only real attacking threat, went on a mezmerizing run, rounding Reina only to be stopped on the line by Greek centre back Sortis Kyriagkos.

The Greek defender was abysmal when the two sides met at the Reebok earlier in the season, form he continued for much of the season. But in the last four or five games he has shown real signs of improvement for Liverpool. Not many defenders keep Kevin Davies quiet- even if he is out of form- but Kyriagkos did an impressive job on him.

Alot of our season may rely on how well the likes of Wilshere and Weiss settle in, and how much football they play. Common sense says they’ll be eased in but eventually become firm fixtures in the first team. Mancini and Wenger are good coaches and would not allow their most talented youngsters out on loan without the promise of some first team football.

A dissapointing loss, but our games won’t be decided against the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal. It will be decided against the bottom ten or eleven teams in the league. We have a winnable home game up next against Fulham. There have been plenty of positives since Owen Coyle’s arrival, now it’s time to start getting points on the board.

COME ON YOU WHITE MEN!!!

Burnley Review

All smiles at the Reebok

Final Score: Bolton 1-0 Burnley

The Wanderers came out on top, we’ve won the battle, but the war is now staying in the Premier League.

After the double loss to Arsenal I said, ‘we’ll play alot worse than that this season and win’, and last night we did so. Neither team really seemed confident enough to get the ball down and dominate the game. Burnley came out and played in the first ten to fifteen minutes, but after losing McCann and Alexander to injuries they never really looked the same and hardly created another chance in the game.

Chung Yong Lee scored the only goal of the game when his shot rebounded off the bar and over the line. A confident finish from our Korean Messi.

The ‘Judas’ chants aimed at Coyle were loud but predictable and I don’t think Burnley fans did themselves many favours
in aiming so much anger at the man who “led them from the wilderness” as Coyle put it. Although after experiencing Big Sam walk out on us, you can kind of understand it.

Maybe the Burnley fans would have been better getting behind their own team instead of focusing on Coyle, but in all honesty the effort from the Claret players did not warrant support. On a massive night they let the club down, Tyrone Mears about the only player who performed to a Premier League level.

We had plenty of chances to finish the game, Cahill flashed a header wide. Elmander, Lee and Cohen had shots blocked by defenders, Gardner forced a great save by Jensen(who was subjected to the ‘Paul Robinson treatment’ from the fans in the East Stand Lower) and Muamba put a good chance over the bar.

Wade Elliot was lucky not to see red for a poor challange that ref Martin Atkinson totally missed. You have to worry if you are a Burnley fan when you fail to create a single chance in the second half of an important relegation six pointer.

On another day, Bolton may have come out 2/3-0 victors but the 1-0 scoreline was probably a fair reflection of how the match went where the Whites just managed to pip Burnley showing more effort and abit more quality on the ball.

Overall happy with the win and the effort shown, we are still some way off the level of performances I believe that Owen can get out of the players, but a dominant peformance from the back four and Muamba, a first clean sheet of the season and another classy performance from Chung Yong Lee adds more hope that Bolton should have enough to stay up.

COME ON YOU WHITE MEN!

Burnley Preview

From God to Judas

Tomorrow night Burnley will be visitors to the Reebok, and the pressure is on both teams to get a result.

The match between Bolton and Burnley has had the build-up worthy of a cup final. When Owen Coyle left Burnley for pastures new, everyone earmarked ‘Tuesday 26th January’ in their calander.

For Burnley fans, a chance to get one over on the team their old manager thought was a better club with a better chance of staying up. For Bolton, a chance to end the back-and-forth ‘banter’ between the clubs, the chance to put one over on everyone who claimed Owen Coyle made a ‘sideways step’.

But remove the Coyle factor, this is an important north-west derby, a relegation six-pointer and a potential turning point in the seasons of both clubs. If Bolton can beat Burnley, they move out of the relegation zone, and above the Clarets which could be the catalyst for survival. If Burnley grab their first away win, not only will it get that bogey off their back, it will give them a five point advantage over Bolton and inch them closer to survival.

For all it’s billing, the chances are this will turn out to be a dour, edgy affair. With Burnley’s away record and with Bolton having Coyle in their corner, a man who knows all Burnley’s strengths and weaknesses, the odds of a home win look favourable. However, the importance Burnley are placing on this game, they will surely be giving everything they have at the Reebok.

Owen Coyle himself will probably expect a negative reception, much more than when BWFC fans booed ‘Big Sam’ Allardyce upon his return with Newcastle. It will be interesting to see what the Clarets fans come up with, I’ve already heard about a possible mooning, flag burning, seat ripping and even turning their backs to him in protest as he walks out. (All equally pathetic but that last one makes me laugh). I would hope any violence is stamped out quickly, but there are alot of very bitter and angry Burnley fans out for revenge. I think the stewards and the GMP will be working over-time.

Bolton have a full squad to choose from apart from long term casualties. If Man City star, Vladmir Weiss and MLS mvp Stuart Holden complete their deals quickly they may play some part in the game. Burnley’s new signing Fredric Nimani may figure as well as Chris McCann and Martin Paterson who are returning from injury. Captain Steven Caldwell is still out injured(which will be a relief to hear for most Burnley fans).

I predict this will, initially, be a close game, I could even see it being level going in at half-time. However, as the match wears on, home advantage and with a stronger squad, I believe Bolton will have enough to run out comfortable victors, getting one over on Burnley and more importantly getting out of that bottom three.

MY PREDICTION: Bolton 4-1 Burnley
Bolton goals from Cahill, Klasnic, Davies and Elmander
Burnley goal from Fletcher

COME ON YOU WHITE MEN!!!

The Coyle Effect

Coyle Asseses His Options

The dust is finally settling on Owen Coyle’s arrival. The media ‘interest’ from pundits who quite frankly have no business commenting on Bolton Wanderers, a club they have no interest in covering unless they are forced and/or paid to do so, finally seems to have come to an end.

Whilst Coyle is yet to record a Premier League victory, early signs have been positive. Wanderers fans flocked back to the Reebok to support Owen Coyle and although we failed to collect any points, we showed alot of fight, commitment and something we have been starved off for a long while now, quality on the ball.

I think it would be harsh on Gary Megson to say he had no input in the change of style. Whilst his cautious, negative tactics were costing us points, many of the players he brought to the club are able to play the brand of football that both Coyle and the Bolton fans want to see.

Now we have a manager, well noted for getting the best out of average players, we may see an up-turn in results, but also a change in the style of football.

So what has Coyle got to work with and what immidiate effect can we expect?

Goalkeepers

With Jussi and Al Habsi there will be few stronger goalkeeping duos in the Premier League. Coyle’s main problem will be keeping the Oman stopper happy. I’d liken him to a David James, in both stature and ability, but with a less…calamitous…nature.

Defenders

If a weakness could be thrown at Coyle it would be his inability to stabalize the Burnley defence. But with the players he had to work with, it was hardly suprising.

With Bolton he inherits another club with an awful defensive record, but a fairly decent crop of defenders. Gary Cahill is no doubt a future England regular.

Gretar Steinsson, Sam Ricketts, Jlloyd Samuel and Paul Robinson, all four different full-backs, four different styles that provide decent if not outstanding options.

The problem area seems to be Gary Cahill’s centre back partner. What we’d give for a bruiser, a destroyer in the air. Bruno N’Gotty in his prime, or an Abdoulaye Faye. As it is we are stuck with Zat Knight! There appears to be a decent player somewhere within him (and he has one more England cap than Michael Ricketts!) but whether Coyle can trust him in an important relegation battle is another thing. I would hope he spends the last week of the window searching for a more reliable centre back.

Midfield

We have a plethora(great word) of midfield options ranging from the ‘Korean Messi’ to the ‘Zizou Gavin Zidane… if Zidane was hit by a train’.

With Lee Chung Yong, Mark Davies, Ricardo Gardner and Vladmir Weiss we will be exciting going forward. Fast, flair players who will get you off your seat.

For all Muamba lacks going forward, he is a decent defensive midfielder and will have an important role holding the fort, helping the defenders and allowing the attackers to attack. With Sean Davis still to come back from injury, Muamba will know his place could be under threat if he does not perform for the rest of the season.

With Cohen and Taylor you don’t know what your getting. Some days great. Lots of days average-but still have the nack of finding the back of the net.

With Holden and Basham about too, we have plenty of options to pick from. Surely rendering the likes of Riga and McCann surplus to requirements.

Strikers

We have three strikers (and Vaz Te). Ivan Klasnic and Kevin Davies have built a decent partnership but really do lack pace. Klasnic is a fantastic goalscorer, Kevin Davies wins the flick on’s and leads from the front. Opinions range on Elmander, some say; ‘Give him a chance, he has quality.’ Others say; ‘Get rid, I’ll pay his taxi fare’. He certainly hasn’t lived up to his ridiculous price tag, but then is that his fault? My problem with Elmander is not the money we paid but the effort, passion and application he shows on the pitch- little to none! On his day he can bag you a goal, and he is probably a useful when chasing a game coming on as a sub. But a very expensive sub, if we recieve an offer, Coyle will have to consider cashing in and re-investing that money into a player he prefers. A striker with pace has to be a long term requirement for Coyle to look at.

Well that’s us.

I do think Coyle has one of the better squads in the bottom half to work with. But with alot of disharmony under the previous regime and alot of players with little confidence, God will have to start working miracles quickly.

COME ON YOU WHITE MEN

The Blog is Back!

After a couple of months hiatus over the holiday period I have decided to start blogging again- and on a more consistant basis.

With ALOT of promoting on several sites I managed to get quite abit of coverage when I first started the blog.

With a change in management and a rejuvenated fan-base, hopefully my writing will cover an escape from relegation- a worry we cannot ignore being stuck in the bottom three.

The fans believe. The players need to perform.

Hopefully I can re-capture some of the viewers who read my blog in the past. I look forward to sharing the journey to safety with you.

COME ON YOU WHITE MEN

Video Skills Test

Burnley fan Matthew Baron discusses the Clarets form in the Premier League this season and whether they can stay up this season.

 

Map Skills Test

Below is a google custom map, with pointers for four stories from Thursday 19th Novemeber 2009′s edition of the LEP.

Each story has a where element to it and are all based in the local Preston area. Each story can be found in the paper version of the LEP and also has a version on the LEP website(which are included in the bubble along with a related link) I have also added my own brief commentary on what the stories are about.

View Larger Map

Image Skills Test

The four images below are of the National Football Museum.

It was announced yesterday that the Football Museum, based in Preston will be ‘shared’ with the Urbis in Manchester. This has become a major story, and caused uproar in Preston.

The following set of images could accompany or add weight to stories about the National Football Museum.

Original Image

This is the original image i took.  I decided on this paticular image because i felt it gave me a nubmer of options, with two clear focal points- The Sir Tom Finney fountain and the museum itself behind. The two also complement each other nicely, and the fountain adds a little emotion to the picture and takes the focus away from the building which looks a little dilapidated.

200-500 pixels image

Of the three cropped images, this was the hardest to decide on, the original picture didn’t leave many options for a tall thin image. I eventually decided to go with a picture of the building, with the logo on the side as i felt it was the picture that could still be used to tell abit of a story- the logo on the building gives it an immidiate setting in your mind as to what and where it is, while the building which shows clear wear and tear could be used in a Pro-Manchester article, highlighting that it is time for  a change and a move from Preston.

400-300 pixels image

The 400 by 300 picture offered more scope as to get both the building and the Sir Tom Finney fountain in. All i had to do for this was crop around the sides to get rid of the unwanted background and re-size the image slightly. Again this gave me the opportunity to get the logo and the building in, but with the addition of Tom Finney, adds emotion and history to the picture- you are no longer looking at a building, but the Finney fountain evokes iconic football moments(and an iconic player) and could be used for a Anti-Manchester article, supporting claims that Preston is a worthy place to hold the National Football Museum. It could also be used in an article with quotes attributed to Tom Finney about his thoughts on the museum moving.

100-100 thumbnail image

The thumbnail image was less hard to choose, the only two real options were to get a picture of the statue or the logo on the museum. As it was a thumbnail I decided the logo would be more appropriate as it clearly spells out what you are seeing, whereas if you were unfamiliar with the statue the size of the image could cause confusion as to what the image was even of. There is no confusion that the thumbnail is the logo of the football museum-as it clearly says it in writing- it could be used as a supporting image in any article about the football museum.

Chelsea Bun and an Everton Mint

Sorry for the lack of updates guys. Been very busy at University.

Anyway, quite a hectic week that started with so much promise.

Another ‘Gary Megson total-football’ display against Everton. A deserved 3-2 win, but after an easy start, we were certainly made to earn it.

Clearly Everton were under strength in defence, and their inability to deal with crosses was evident from the first two goals. Fans favourite Lee Chung Yong scoring a well hit first(thank god Bibi didn’t get a touch!) and a Gary Cahill header. ‘Easy easy easy’ was the chant. Infact, i was on for my speculative 4-0 at 80-1.

The quality of Louis Saha soon changed that- another one of those pesky strikers who always scores against us. A beautiful strike that Jussi didn’t have a chance with.

Another good strike from mop haired Felliani had Bolton fans biting their nails. Had we thrown away another 2-0 lead?

On 83mins, striker Ivan Klasnic collided with Lucas Neill and to be quite honest, given all his medical past, i wasn’t the only one who feared he was dead.

On 85mins, Ivan Klasnic is dancing a funny little jig in front of the corner of the East End Lower. That’s why we love football!

Overall, we deserved the points and were hoping to take the confidence into a tough Chelsea double…

…we didn’t.

Two 4-0 thrashings that quite frankly showed the difference in qualityy. We are a long long way behind Chelsea. We held our own in the second game for the first 45mins. But once Samuel had been sent off, we didn’t stand a chance.

Again, apologies for the lack of updates. I will be back on later this week with a new update. One that i’ve been saving for a few weeks- it even involves club leg-end Didi Hamann!