Only twice this century have Bolton Wanderers gone the entire month of July without signing a single player: 2019-2020 and 2021-22.

The circumstances for that to have happened are quite different. It is the difference between could not and did not. It is the difference between life support and free will.

A couple of years ago we had very little hope of being able to exist in League One let alone compete. It was Bolton’s make or break summer. It was the culmination of years of decay, negligence and harm. It didn’t ‘sting’ because that would give off the sense that this was a sharp pain. This was dull, bruising and numbing to most, if not all, associated with Wanderers.

We didn’t choose to not sign anybody – we simply couldn’t.

Now, here we are – two years on. This isn’t the culmination of anything but more the creation of it. This isn’t make or break because ‘break’, for the time being, appears to have been a consequence eliminated from the rhetoric that does surround and will surround Bolton Wanderers. This is not the end of anything but the continuation of a ride back that is set to thrill and excite; and we’re only at the start.

We could’ve signed somebody – we simply didn’t.

“Preparation, preparation, preparation…”

Whether you believe that Wanderers should’ve added in certain areas already in this pre-season is besides the point. Our recent seasons have seen a necessity to bring people in just to put an XI on the pitch – this time, we get to choose. Your opinion might be that the squad is thin or the squad is weak in certain areas but, once again, it is besides the point. For the first time in an extremely long time, Bolton’s manager gets the luxury of choosing when to add or where to strengthen rather than having his decisions made for him due to a fundamental lack of basic recruitment and squad planning.

That is emblematic of the ownership of the club; in many ways. There could be things that concern you or things that you maybe even dislike. However, the underlying and key point is, for once, that there is a plan and there is a structure.

Last season was ridiculous.

The pandemic-enforced closure of the stadium meant that Bolton hovered above the League Two relegation zone in front of empty stands in a thoroughly depressing situation all-round before a run of form in the second-half of the season that could genuinely challenge any run of form in the history of the EFL brought about the most unlikeliest of promotions. It was unique, bizarre and extremely special.

We head into this campaign with a plan. The evolution of Evattism should continue to take hold of a squad that is led by a magnificent midfield. “Juego de posicion” is the often pretentiously used Spanish term to describe a style of play in which the speed of pass and angles of players allow the ball to simply be a tool that manipulate and disorientate the opposition in order to create space. No players should be in straight lines and there should always be a short option for the passer.

As with any sort of tactical innovation, it can be lambasted for its aforementioned pretentiousness but when effectively deployed, it is more than just “pass and move”; it is a complex and exciting tactic. However, the key word is complex. It takes time to do be able to do it in-game let alone perfect it; and let alone try and impose that in a League Two match.

Time, though, is something that Ian Evatt has now had. A lack of disruption to pre-season with little upheaval in terms of personnel as well as a full season putting these ideas across should mean that Evatt’s exciting young career continues to blossom.

The playoffs and back-to-back promotions aren’t out of reach for Bolton but it is going to take a lot for The Whites to break through a fairly free-spending division with nearly £10 million having already been spent in League One with just short of a month to go in the window.

A striker and a winger or two will probably be required as well as any replacements for any outgoing, dependant on the depth in that position. If Bolton do intend on being authoritative and establishing themselves as a contender this season then the development of Evatt’s system as well as a couple more incomings will be essential – it isn’t out of the question, though.

…And that’s what matters… it isn’t totally unreasonable. It’s a dream, it’s a goal and it’s attainable.

In order to truly understand the feeling among Bolton fans, the recent past must be remembered and understood. This club hadn’t just collapsed for a few years, it had disintegrated into almost nothing but dust. That is why, despite the seemingly impressive work being done by the current ownership, it is important to always have scrutiny.

That doesn’t mean overriding scepticism and cynicism should be the automatic response and reaction to anything the club do but it is important to be cautious about off-the-field matters.

…And that’s why the on-field excitement should remain loud and, maybe even, over-the-top. That’s football.

Football is the playground of the dreamer and, finally, Bolton Wanderers are giving us a chance and a reason to be that dreamer again.

It’s a gloomy Autumn afternoon. The smell and sound of on-pitch fireworks overwhelm the young, excite the bulk and irritate the old. 633 Squadron cuts through the mist as the cult-hero boy-to-man leader thumps a mascot’s ball to the corner where North meets East. This is it: the glory days.

Scratch that – that WAS it. It is now time to move on; a new era has begun.

Ian Evatt’s rallying cry to get young people in the town wearing the shirts of Bolton Wanderers rather than our nearby Mancunian giants is something that should be (and is) a priority. However, it is only a goal that can be achieved by connecting people with the club; appealing to families and giving children a reason to ask their parents to “go the game” or “get a shirt”.

We haven’t had it for a long, long time – remarkably, we haven’t been allowed to have that this year – and yet, we have fallen in love; or at least rekindled a fading romance.

It began with excitement. A process of identifying and then appointing a supposedly bright young prospect of the management world was backed up by marquee signings and the apparently methodical and data-driven process of recruiting a whole new squad. The fanbase buzzed in anticipation of a stroll to the title.

That expectation was misguided and impatient, as well as arrogant in many ways. As Wanderers went on, the manager seemed easily combustible and handled the pressures of a failing giant in an erratic and unhelpful manner – overly critical of individual players, loose with words and willing to blame almost anything and anyone bar himself. Alongside that, the man in charge of the aforementioned methodical and data-driven recruitment process was shown the door before the mid-way point of the season and the new era was flatlining.

January arrived and then came the crucial acquisitions of a new midfield and a sprinkling of extra quality across the side. That flatlining new era was given a lifeline and Wanderers were relentless throughout the second-half of the campaign.

From the lowest point in our history to a 22-game run that will surely go down as one of the greatest the club has ever been on. This was a machine-like side that had created a genuine sense of unity and desire to complement an evolving and improving style of play that would see Bolton regularly wipe the floor with their opposition – but… they wasted chance after chance until it came down to the final day.

There would be no mistake. The manager, having evolved and learned himself throughout the campaign led us into a thumping victory as we finally did stroll (as had been the pre-season expectations) to promotion. Evatt made some errors in the first half of the season and frustrated many supporters with his rhetoric. However, he showed serious managerial quality to not just build a cohesive and dominant team but do that in the middle of a pandemic and in his first season as an EFL manager. His style of play and adaptability to switch between systems has helped this wonderful football club rise from worrying depths. There is an understandable and justifiable feeling that Wanderers have a special person in charge.

The reason behind the growing sense of love and affection for a group of players yet to actually play in front of their supporters will be varied and specific for many people. A key reason will be the journey; a journey cultivated by the impressive Ian Evatt. A journey whereby a club beginning the campaign at their lowest point looking to create something special but categorically failing and even worsening the situation within four months – before becoming a unique and constant force that makes good, if not goes beyond, the pre-season promise.

Saturday felt like the end of that journey. That victory against Crawley Town prompted a release of varied emotions; whether that be tears, elated cheers, relief or a moment of brief introspection – an acknowledgement that this is extremely important and poignant.

I’ve said it a couple of times in this tumultuous season for the whole sport but football is the playground of the dreamer and the escape of the worker. It is the refuge of the troubled and the company of the lonely. It belongs to me, him, her, you and us; not them.

We nearly had OUR football taken from us; that old fading romantic flame was on the verge of being extinguished. That is why this feels so special.

Saturday wasn’t the end of a journey – because THIS is only the beginning: Bolton Wanderers are on their way back.

It isn’t an unreasonable claim to say that Saturday represents the biggest game in Morecambe’s history. The Shrimps have never been as high as the third tier and victory against Bolton would see them edge extremely close to a truly remarkable achievement.

For Bolton, it must be viewed as a similarly colossal fixture.

Bolton Wanderers just don’t really play in the fourth division. You can use all the cliché’s in the world about the stadium, fanbase, history and even the size of the town – but there comes a point where it isn’t a cliché, it is just a truth. Wanderers shouldn’t be in a league whereby a poor run of form over a 2-3 month period could see you removed from the fully professional leagues and, bluntly, put into probable oblivion.

We know why we are here. Intentional neglect, natural erosion and a failure to adapt had allowed a proud institution to experience one of the worst periods, on and off the pitch, of a football club in English history.

We didn’t just fade away, we collapsed into almost nothing but dust.

We know why we are here. A false start to the new era, natural teething issues and a failure to adapt had allowed a proud institution to be genuinely concerned about relegation out of the Football League. That was until one of the greatest periods of form that Bolton Wanderers have had in well over a decade, the impact of it potentially being more important than pretty much any other run of form.

We didn’t just get back on our feet, we began to stride like the giant this club is.

A few months ago, it was important to just enjoy the ride. There were some iffy performances in that long stretch of wins but hey, that’s life. Just enjoy that ride.

We are past that now. It’s been fun and it can still be fun but the idea that supporters will console themselves with those three months is probably naïve. It has earned the manager and the ideas of the ownership some patience and some goodwill – however, ensuring that the ride doesn’t stop here will earn them much more than just patience and goodwill in the minds of Bolton fans.

Now is the time to earn it and own it. The players, aided by three months of impressive management by Ian Evatt have launched themselves into a position where they can be at the forefront of our rise back. They have the ability to etch themselves into Trotters’ folklore; the men that kicked start our ascent back up through English football.

A Morecambe win would be a huge moment in their history, a Wanderers win would be a huge moment for our future.

Be cold, be clinical, stay calm and finish the job.

“Poverty exists not because we cannot feed the poor, but because we can’t satisfy the rich.”

Football is the playground of the dreamer and the escape of the worker. It is the refuge of the troubled and the company of the lonely. It belongs to me, him, her, you and us; not them. 

The English didn’t invent football – they were just the first to codify it. The founding members of the European Super League haven’t created a new footballing order – it already existed.

Porto look like they could become one of the final three members of the permanent 15 alongside Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. If that is to be the case, it’ll have been 26 years since a non-European Super League member won the Champions League.

Comparisons have been drawn between this and the formation of the Premier League that are simply wrong. The Premier League has flaws in abundance and deserves very little defence but it wasn’t created as closed-shop and it wasn’t created based on a club’s net worth rather than a team’s performance.

Albeit true, the view *insert team name* shouldn’t be in a Super League because they failed to beat *insert a bad team* is knowingly flawed. We know why these 12-15 teams are in the Super League and it isn’t based on meritocracy.

The arrogance and contempt to place yourself as “the best clubs” in the world is mind-numbingly predictable and, yet, still shocking. In the midst of a global pandemic; these opportunists have strategically set in motion the practical elements to remove England’s biggest clubs from England’s domestic league. Then, they’ve told us with a pat on the head and a “so, be grateful”.

There is no going back. They have come, they have seen and they have conquered.

Supporters have coasted along without fighting it. Higher ticket prices, higher-priced TV packages; for what? Less personal engagement with the players you support. Hey, maybe if you pay £500 you can get them to do a scripted video message for you.

Football, after embracing and supporting hyper-capitalism, has reached the natural end-point before it separates in two. The smallest and poorest get poorer – or go out of business. The biggest and richest… you know the rest. The inevitability of it all does not and should not prevent supporters from being enraged and, frankly, saddened.

It is difficult not to write in cliche’s. They don’t care about you, they never have. Stop caring about them.

Our sport will continue. They can’t take our football from the 5-a-side pitch or the jumpers that we use for goalposts. They can’t destroy the memories created or feelings shared.

Football itself will never die. The two 45-minute slots that separate TV commercials and overrated rants for social media sound bites on a Sunday afternoon might have died, though. That’s not all bad, is it?

You don’t have to accept it. You can rage against the machine and you probably should do. But… why? Why fight for these clubs and these owners to be a part of our game? Let them go and, quite frankly, good riddance to them.

Arsenal and Manchester United were created by workers, Atletico by students, Barcelona has fought perceived injustice against them by the Spanish state throughout its history, Liverpool have made millions off the idea that they are a “socialist” club.

It is betrayal of everything that football should and does stand for in its simplest form.

“The most valuable thing is the happiness that we are able to provoke in those that struggle to find happiness in other ways away from football.” – Marcelo Bielsa

The pros, cons and basic practicalities of the concept of modernity can be debated and challenged but the fundamental principles are relatively simple; the demand for change is constant. It can be slow or fast but, generally, the need to evolve is essential.

Football cannot and does not escape the concept.

Tactics, positions, the idea and practice of fandom, finances, laws, the entire functioning and principles of a club must adapt as time goes on. “Philosophies” for development on and off the pitch are espoused and often they are mis-represented or simply misunderstood. However, as mentioned, the fundamental principles are relatively simple; there must be a sustainable plan for growth and progression.

Sustainability for a football club comes in different forms; whether it be a dedication to recruiting players easily suited to a “high-press” on-the-pitch or the concept of “moneyball” off it; it is of imperative importance that club’s can plot their way to a thriving long-term future – not just stave off the inevitable ending of their existence.

And yet… there is something just so special about success being ever so slightly ugly. Forget the-off-field matters, we won’t know the success or otherwise of FV’s financial plan for a couple of years yet, let’s focus on Wanderers’ unbeaten run.

Twelve matches without defeat stretching back to mid-January and, if we were to be needlessly harsh; they’ve been properly outstanding in two. Wanderers have been both fortunate and unfortunate at times but there has possibly only been a couple of occasions where they have absolutely played teams off the pitch and been a level above.

This is not necessarily a criticism. It would be a bit freakish if a side managed to play at a level above their opposition on a consistent basis; the important thing is that Bolton have continued to have moments and spells, if not full performances, where they have been ruthless, relentless and simply just too good.

The midfield duo of Williams and Lee compliment a spine that would do well in the division above. There are several players in the line-up simply better than the division they are playing in.

What matters more is the continued development of Evatt’s style of play. A dominance in possession and ability to create regular openings and chances is that sort of aforementioned on-the-pitch sustainability. If the coach can create a framework that should work the same way regardless of the personnel then it can work regardless of potential transfer sales or unavailability. Of course, the level to which the tactical plan works is dependant on the quality of the personnel but the principles will remain the same.

However, arguably the most joyous part of the run is the unintentional but required diversions from the framework and the plan. Shaun Miller against Southend, Declan John against Mansfield, Gethin Jones against Port Vale, Eoin Doyle against Walsall… moments that weren’t clean, they didn’t go completely according to plan or come about via a specific formula and yet they have been some of, if not the, most important goals in this run.

Being a goal down at half-time at home to a mid-to-lower table side as you challenge for promotion in the middle of an impressive unbeaten run only for a second-half goal from your impressive mid-season midfield signing and a penalty from your cult-hero goal scorer.

The similarities between Northampton in 2016/17 and Walsall in 2020/21 are almost eerie. There were quite a few moments in that 16/17 spring run that can be compared to this current one. It is quite reassuring to reminisce as Evatt’s side begins to reflect Parkinson’s – who’d have thought that would be said six months ago?

Different styles, different methods – same feelings, same results.

If you were a betting man and tried to analyse the upcoming League Two fixtures as objectively as you could, there would have to be concerns over Bolton. Not just for the notion of the gambler’s fallacy but also for the minor deterioration in performance level.

Having said that, though, there is something heartening about supporting a team that is consistently providing evidence for a cliché: “the best teams always find a way.”

It is important to remember: “it’s a cliché because there is some truth to it”.

Six months ago, promotion was an inevitability. The manager and the supporters viewed the League Two title as an extrinsic reward on the path to perfection and the implementation of a style of play that would leave the division in awe; it was to be pure footballing righteousness.

Four months ago, promotion was still probable but it had been an unexpected poor start. Three defeats from three, without scoring, was a wake-up call. A summer of poor recruitment and arrogant rhetoric from the club had contributed to the building up of expectations; they were knocked down quite quickly.

Two months ago, promotion wasn’t happening this year – lets make absolutely sure of survival. A bottom six position as the second-half of the season got underway. Wanderers wouldn’t go down but the fact that wasn’t an immediately obvious statement meant this season was a write-off and a failure.

Now, here we are.

Survival is assured and a mid-table position beckons, or… does it?

Three points off the playoff places and six points off the automatic spots with 17 games to go. It is below the pre-season expectations, obviously, but they don’t matter anymore. What matters is: Bolton are giving themselves a chance and it is getting quite exciting.

A switch in formation, impressive January signings and the continued development of Evatt’s coaching has given Wanderers a fighting chance. One defeat in eight, a run that involves four wins in the last five.

However, they are yet to majorly impress for long-stretches. The most impressive of those four victories came against Leyton Orient; the start of the winning run. A comfortable and dominant display, without being overly threatening, was reflected perfectly in the score-line. Since then; Wanderers have squeezed past the lowly Stevenage and Southend, the latter of which requiring a comical goalkeeping error.

The ‘most fun’ and surprising of the four would be the victory at Mansfield. 2-0 down with just over ten minutes to go but Bolton still managed to take three points – it would be churlish and hyper-critical to be negative… Let’s give it a go anyway. A cross, an own goal and a fine strike by Gnahoua won a game that had been fairly even, if not shaded by the hosts.

Basically, it hasn’t necessarily been convincing.

Another concern would be the similarities between this run of form and November. In November, Bolton won four straight games (Salford, Stevenage, Scunthorpe and Southend) – then they conceded six at home to Port Vale and won one of their next nine. Talk of the supposedly complex philosophy finally sinking in was rife and there was some anticipation that Wanderers would steam-roll it until May.

There are, of course, major differences to that November run. As noted, the change in system and January signings will give Wanderers fans confidence that this is a more sustainable run.

Equating Bolton’s use of a back four, and subsequent up-turn in form, to the romantic search for an ideal love is perhaps a bit forced.

However, there is something to be said of it; it is all about adjustment.

The adjustment of expectation has led to a practical and psychological shift. On-the-pitch, the ideology of the manager has been softened and has led to a slightly more functional but still progressive, with potential, approach. Off-the-pitch, supporters reached an acceptance of mediocrity at best, relegation battle at worst; therefore, the relaxed view of pleasant surprise after each win has led us to finding an ideal love. That love being hope without jeopardy.

It is inevitable the pressure will rise if Wanderers carry on and continue to get closer but, for now, just enjoy this ride.

“The world is like a ride in an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it you think it’s real because that’s how powerful our minds are. The ride goes up and down, around and around, it has thrills and chills, and it’s very brightly coloured, and it’s very loud, and it’s fun – for a while. Many people have been on the ride a long time, and they begin to wonder, “Hey, is this real, or is this just a ride?” And other people have remembered, and they come back to us and say, “Hey, don’t worry; don’t be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride.” – William Melvin Hicks

It was roughly half seven and it lasted for about, roughly, five or so minutes.

Bolton Wanderers slipped to 20^th in League Two.

The sentence itself is crazy to be actual words on an actual screen.

The previous sentence itself is crazy because of its repetition; bewilderment at Bolton’s current status and stature has become so much of a cliché that it becomes something to rally against.

Why are you bothered? What does expressing your frustration achieve? When will people realise the current predicament? Who expected anything different? How could we possibly be doing any better?

Partially true, albeit the word ‘partially’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting in the context of this situation.

I do not care if you are pro or anti Evatt and I do not care if you believe patience is warranted or not. I do not care if you believe people are buying into the idea of a “big club” in a “small league” and I do not care if you are offended at or in support of being told that Wanderers fans are “living in the past”.

It is quite simple; Bolton Wanderers, even with the current squad, should not be in a relegation battle into the National League – it is either mockery or apathy to suggest otherwise.

The causes for concern are evident and relatively long-lasting; an opening month of three straight league defeats resulting in scoreless afternoons were a bit of a wake-up call but, admittedly, two of those three defeats came against strong fourth tier outfits.

The cause for concern has grown as October continued to underwhelm before December failed to back up an impressive November; until you realise that the impressive November, which included four wins on the spin, consisted of two wins against, arguably, two of the worst form sides in EFL history at the time and another against the, then, 22^nd placed side in the table.

Anger, resentment, confusion and frustration has not subsided and now, with less than half the season to go, Bolton Wanderers face the legitimate prospect of dealing with a third successive relegation.

However, the previous seasons of chaos and crime have allowed Mr Evatt and Football Ventures an extended period of grace and decorum – and, obviously, rightly so.

The years prior to this one have been devastating. A community has been all but decimated; it’s been battered, bruised and bombarded with crippling uncertainty about its very life – it is only reasonable to allow an adjustment period.

Especially when that adjustment period has involved the recruitment of a whole new squads worth of players; players that the manager is making quite clear were, in the majority, not his decision to sign as well as the general teething issues of new ownership and management; for any business, this is a historic and fairly unusual upheaval.

The style of play is definitely laudable and absolutely admirable; the implementation of such structure must be understood and appreciated. Automatic patterns of play of a sophisticated level will take time, especially working with League Two players. Relationships between players will take time, especially in a pandemic-enforced social lockdown. Some results have been good and elements of some performances are encouraging for the long-term. An extra season attempting to adopt this system is reasonable and fair; especially when you consider Evatt’s title-winning season at Barrow came on the back of a season of ‘bedding in’ at Holker Street.

Having said that, expectations are understandably high. Perhaps holding every interview against Mr Evatt is unfair. Word-for-word, people make mistakes and even the idea or suggestion that somebody is trying to convey can be proved to be incorrect; so, therefore, repeatedly bringing up the current manager’s pre-season bluff and bluster (some may call unsubstantiated arrogance) with regards to Bolton being inevitably fighting for promotion is harsh.

However, it is the principle that counts. The refusal to acknowledge the mistake is what grates on supporters. Fairly early on in his tenure, in October, he began to accept that a tempering of expectations was needed.

There was no apology for nor mention of his own part in the building up of those expectations and until that happens, fans will continue to side against him when he suggests that over-confidence in the fan-base is a key issue for under-performance.

When you are a new manager and you haven’t yet been introduced to the supporters in-stadium, it is best to not criticise their forms of fandom on a semi-regular basis.

A season at Barrow, in which the full fixture calendar was not completed, is not and should not be enough to convince people of his long-term qualities as a manager. Scrutiny is imperative. The alternative is an apathetic fantasy and, then, over-positivity creeps in allowing poor performance to be excused and unnoticed.

Ian Evatt shouldn’t be sacked, unless of course Wanderers went down (and even then there is reason for debate).

Ian Evatt, however, must be criticised. He is under-performing as coach/manager of a set of players. Forget the name and forget the situation; 19^th is ridiculous. Even if promotion and the playoffs were a stretch; mid-table should not currently be dreamland for Bolton supporters.

Things may change and things will probably, almost undoubtedly, improve.

Our current position is both totally unacceptable and, yet, not the end of the world – both things can be true.

Throughout the last decade, Bolton Wanderers had continued to exist on the brink.

‘The brink’ almost seems too much of an understatement; the club, and therefore large parts of our town’s pride and culture, had already began a free-fall into obscurity and irrelevance but, more importantly, extinction.

A celebration of its survival and continued existence is not only a positive thing; it is a necessity. It is an immense relief – it was nearly all over.

Since those days and weeks of salvation and early rebuilding; Wanderers, to put it politely, have stuttered on-the pitch.

A grim unpredictability that wears even the most die-hard supporters’ patience very thin, promotion seems so far away and unlikely – the new era wasn’t supposed to begin like this.

There are several reasonable and mitigating factors for this. The catastrophic off-the-field mess prior to Football Ventures’ takeover had left the club completely broken and bereft. A new squad, new manager, new backroom staff and new philosophy, both in terms of footballing style and financial planning, was required.

This would obviously take time and, perhaps, promotion was always a much longer shot than anticipated. However, it has probably now got to a stage where the acceptance of difficulty and strife is fading – promotion might not be on the cards but that doesn’t mean we should be closer to the bottom-of-the-table instead.

Ian Evatt and his players have insisted we can be the best team in the league on our day. Nonsensical statements like this infuriate supporters – every team in such a congested and even league can be the best team on their day. His own bluff and bluster helped perpetuate the sense of promotion and success as a formality and just an inevitable extrinsic reward on the road for intrinsic perfection.

Whilst allowances can and should be made for imperfections and even failure this season – it doesn’t mean it has to be merrily celebrated and excused. This season has been, bluntly, a failure so far. That doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t get better and that doesn’t mean there aren’t legitimate and reasonable causes for it.

I, you and we should be allowed to criticise without being made to feel guilty for not consistently referring to off-the-field issues of the recent past. Being told to essentially be more grateful whenever there is the utterance of the slightest of criticisms is a ridiculous and unsustainable form of support.

It could be a slightly more meta and existential ponderance than is required; however, the fact remains, if Wanderers fans have to check themselves from frustration and anger – what was the point in being so upset about our demise in the first place?

There can be several reasons to support a club; primarily, especially in Bolton, it is in the blood. It is based on a social and emotional connection that is very rarely, if at all, replicated in other areas of life. The mass sharing of similar feelings – anger, elation, devastation – all about the same fairly unimportant thing is baffling to those who don’t “get it”.

That is what football fandom is or can be: an unconfined expression of the extremes of our emotions; just because we nearly went out of business doesn’t mean you can’t still “feel it”.

Don’t settle.

Barrowcelona – a mildly amusing term to try and describe the style and quality of play at Ian Evatt’s Barrow. Something that hasn’t been replicated at Bolton whatsoever. It should mean fluidity, verve and attacking intent; we’ve witnessed an over-complication of an, admittedly, fairly complex system: slow, confused and lacking any thrust.

Aside from 105 minutes across two games at the start of the season, Wanderers have consistently played a 5-3-2 which has occasionally switched to a 3-4-1-2 when they’ve played well but it has been very, very rare they have played well.

Even if you were not confident in the summer, 15^th in the middle of January makes it very evident it hasn’t worked. It hasn’t even been encouraging or unbalanced where the attack works but the defence lets it down or vice versa; it simply hasn’t worked.

It has been completely disjointed and yet, paradoxically, overly structured. The lack of any innovation or intuition, bar Doyle, has led to a monotonous and formulaic passing style in which no risks are taken and, therefore, few chances are created.

The only regular combination has been the right centre-back into the right-wing back over the half-way line with the centre-back and central midfielders then overlapping to create a space and several passing options in behind the opposition’s left back; bar that, for want of more sophisticated vocabulary, it has been a ‘mush’ – a bit of a splodge. No cohesion. Striking similarities to Arsenal’s recent form prior to Christmas.

There could be several reasons for it but one that remains a theme is the potential ‘over-coaching’. Without knowing much from inside training, we did see clips from the start of the season in which professional footballers who had fairly good professional careers were being constantly told and reminded of their ‘pass detail’ – something of importance but something that should surely be expected for players of the ilk of Antoni Sarcevic, for example.

Pure speculation, partly based on an inference, would suggest that these tiny and basic details are overly discussed but on a wider scale. So the complex system that requires patience is being so drilled in, the players’ instinct is minimised and this leads to an indecision and an over-thinking which is indicative of a slow, ponderous build-up; particularly in the first-half. Our late surges, in which we have nicked equalisers, tend to be desperate and more inventive; perhaps this is because jeopardy and risk creeps in and a basic expression is shown.

A 4-3-3, generally, should be more attacking and aggressive. On a very basic level, there simply should be more people contributing to attacks. However, I think the key improvement will be defensively; in terms of both balance and possession.

The suggestion that having less defenders makes us worse defensively is wrong. Playing a back five with a middle three against one or two forwards confuses the defence; unless the overall gameplan defensively rigid and based on counter-attack. It is essentially like playing against two false-nines, especially if you’re attempting to be pro-active with the ball, as gaps open up and one-on-one duels become rare. The defence would also switch to a five without the ball, anyway. The 4-3-3 should reduce the risk of being caught in transition.

In terms of possession, it should drastically improve the ability to build-up from the back. The defensive midfielder is able to split the two central defenders and, therefore, allows extra passing lanes through the middle as well as wide – it also prevents the midfield becoming overly congested like it has done so far this season. I think Brandon Comley’s skillset is more suited to this as he is almost constantly facing forward and passing vertically instead of having to shift the ball wide to wing-backs. Tutte, the man with the shirt, perhaps is better at what Comley isn’t as good at but time will only tell on that.

Regardless of the formation of the players, the style should be consistent. The ability to be fluid is almost a founding principle of a progressive way of playing; modern-day coaching as Evatt would say. Whilst there are several mitigating factors for Wanderers and their manager’s underperformance and inability to implement the philosophy so far this season, it isn’t harsh to really begin to question the long-term plan; especially when the original plan has now been essentially scrapped – given Evatt’s post-match comments last week.

Until the style of play is implemented then the importance of the formation is reduced. A change in system might improve the team and the results but it will not be decisive until the apparently complex philosophy is in place.

Tobias Phoenix left his role as Wanderers’ Head of Football last week. Ian Evatt was promoted to manager this week. These were developments that were surprising and, to a few fans, a bit confusing.

Phoenix’s role as Head of Football could not be made any clearer than his title. He was the head of all footballing matters at the club. The development squad, the first team, the manager, the recruitment, the ‘moneyball’ ambitions. Ultimately, you would imagine that any decision on Ian Evatt’s future as manager would be a joint process but Phoenix’s opinion and input would probably be the most important; essentially (but not really), he was Evatt’s boss.

As Head Coach, Evatt’s role was purely to take charge of the first team and make decisions on team selection and in-game management. Once again – all fairly obvious. His input into wider footballing business, such as transfers, would be important and necessary but not the final say nor the most important or necessary input.

The developments of the last fortnight in which Phoenix has left and Evatt has had his job title change seem relatively pointless to many if not most. However, the structure of the club has seemingly changed a great deal – especially considering the pre-season bluster about long-term approaches and the aforementioned ‘moneyball’ project. That bluster has quite quickly turned to bluff in reality.

Having said that, the perspective from the outside looking in will not shift or change that much. Bolton fans will pay sign in to iFollow every week and watch the team. Evatt will be on the sidelines in charge of the team. Bolton will sign players that divide opinion, overwhelm and underwhelm in January. Life will go on as normal.

What will change will be the processes of the club behind the scenes. Most pertinently to the majority of supporters; that will involve the process of recruitment.

Over the last few months, there have been rumours that the majority of the transfer business was done by Phoenix. Around 75% of the 21 signings are said to have been down to the Head of Football. This isn’t unexpected nor scandalous – that is his job.

So, without Phoenix at the club and Evatt now being the ‘manager’, it is safe to assume the new manager will take charge of the recruitment side of things.

The benefits of this are obvious. Evatt clearly wants to play a 3-4-1-2 but has also been flexible, both at Barrow and sometimes at Bolton, by playing a 4-3-3. A fundamental difference of these systems: one has an extra defender, the other has an extra forward or winger. In the summer, Wanderers added to their already well-stacked defensive ranks by signing four centre-backs to accompany the other four centre-backs already at the club. They signed one winger, five weeks after the season had started, even though the only out-and-out winger at the club had picked up an injury in pre-season that would rule him out for the majority, if not all, of the campaign.

Obviously, this was because Wanderers and Evatt were specifically aiming to play a 3-4-1-2 throughout the season – so, there is nothing wrong with the way in which the squad was constructed. Except that within 75 minutes of the new season, the manager decided to switch to a 4-3-3. He then started with this formation away to Colchester a week later. Strikers Nathan Delfouneso and Bright Amoateng alongside full-backs Jak Hickman and Jamie Mascoll were deployed as the Whites’ wingers.

This confusing tactical decision could be due to a couple of reasons. Either the head coach and Head of Football had a breakdown in communication and the potential for the head coach to play a different system; a system that required players for a specific position that hadn’t yet been recruited for. The alternative would be that neither of them clocked a lack of wingers in the squad before deciding to switch system. (It isn’t a very good sign when a breakdown in communication between the head coach and Head of Football seems to be like the more palatable option.)

Therefore, the positives of the head coach taking responsibility for recruitment is that situations like that shouldn’t occur anymore. He will know the systems he intends to play and will target players based upon that. This is good.

The downside of this change in title and responsibility would be the potentially damaging long-term effects it could leave on a club.

Lots of clubs get into on-the-pitch and off-the-pitch trouble due to self-serving decisions made by a manager from a few years ago.

Completely understandably, the current manager wants the club to succeed whilst they are the manager. Therefore, the recommendations and targets to sign tend to be ‘for the here and now’. This could involve giving a few 28, 29, 30 year-olds two or three year deals. Inevitably, this harms the business you can do further down the line as well as harming the progression and vigour of a future team under a different manager.

Another negative would be the narrowing of the pool. If your manager, who is already a busy man, is leading your transfer business then your pool of potential signings become limited to players he knows or contacts that only he has. Of course Wanderers will have scouting networks as well as other people giving their input but Wanderers have always had scouts and time after time, it is the manager’s contacts and reliance on certain agents he knows well that takes over.

From Coyle’s Burnley duo and Freedman’s insistence on signing every single central midfielder to have ever played for a South London club to Lennon’s remarkable consistency to deal with the same agent for whatever reason, allegedly. Allegedly.

Now, for what it is worth, Wanderers look to have some functions in place that guard against those potential weakness becoming reality.

Venture capitalists are unlikely to entrust one of their employees with sole responsibility for spending their money. Therefore, three-year deals to 29 year-olds from mid-table Championship clubs should and probably will be prevented.

Another reason to not necessarily be overly concerned would be Evatt’s commitment to progression. In his now famed podcast appearance on Tifo, “Barrowcelona”, he described himself as a “modern day coach with old school values”. Hopefully, his ideas and views on transfers fall in line with the ‘modern day’ bit and he takes an interest in data analysis as well as modern scouting techniques. Anecdotally, he seems like someone who would have that sort of interest, to be fair to him.

Personally, I feel that the best and most realistic chance to have sustained and long-term success is by having a strong and layered footballing structure – especially when it comes to recruitment. The success of Phoenix is still in doubt and probably will be for a little while yet. However, the role he fulfilled is vital in modern football.

The club itself should have an identity. That identity can be whatever style of play you want as long as the Head or Director of Football remains there. They remain there in order to sign and sell players that fit the profile they want. The head coach should be the one who moulds themselves to the club rather than the other way round.

On a footballing level, I don’t like the decision. However, the key aspect of this will probably be financial and that is something I do not know enough about to comment on.

If Football Ventures and Sharon Brittan have taken this decision due to the impact of COVID-19 on the club’s finances then fair enough. She has already done a lot for this club and it’d be silly to not trust their decision. Especially when finances were cited in the statement that announced Phoenix’s departure.

However, it would also be silly and daft to not remain wary considering Bolton’s recent history. We can be trusting and supportive without being naïve.

For the time being, Evatt’s change in job title means very little. It will be when the January transfer window opens that the change becomes significant. His tactical approach and mindset would suggest that the general concerns of a manager being in charge of recruitment will be no more than that – just concerns rather than reality.