Bolton to go down

[Leo No.8]

I think as with Charlton who enjoyed season after season of mid-table security under Curbishley, Bolton may struggle to cope with the loss of Fat Sam next season.

 

It's no detriment to Sammy Lee, but I think as with Charlton, the team and club as a whole is built around the manager and his way of doing things, so when he goes it can all fall apart pretty quickly.

 

You look at the players they actually have, and there are a few talented footballers but I'm not sure the likes of Diouf and Anelka would stand up to be counted if they do start to struggle. Apart from them there are a lot of very average individuals who have done a job under Allardyce who may be shown up without him there.

 

As much as I dislike Allardyce for being a fat, egotisitical whopper, he did an incredible job with Bolton; although it wasn't pretty to watch, he made a group of players who should by all rights have been in the lower half of the table into a team which for much of the season was in the top 5. He did it by making the incredibly difficult to beat with excellent organisation, but also good man management, shrewd work in the transfer market and awkward tactics.

 

They are 7-1 to go down on Ladbrokes which considering their position last season I don't think is a great price, but I might have a few quid on it regardless or see if they are better odds elsewhere.

Edited June 21, 2007 by Leo No.8

[Knox_Harrington]

Agree. Could be a bit of Martin O'Neill syndrome.

[Earl Hafler]

They'll play more attractive football but end up midtable i think.

[Paul B]

I reckon they'll surprise a few people. I think they'll look like challenging the top position till Christmas then they'll slightly fall back but still end up in a Champions League position.

 

Remember fight fans, you read it here first.

[Hassony]

wigan and fulham are a certainty to go down, i can see bolton struggling but not enough to be relegated, as they haven't lost any of their main players yet apart from ben haim

[Bailo]

Looking at their incomings so far, they're all pretty unknown other than McCann and J'Lloyd Samuel, hardly awe-inspiring players.

[Falconhoof]

I was thinking the same as Leo, they could go down, but it now looks like they are keeping the better players, apart from Ben Haim. I was expecting Anelka to have weasled his way out of there by now but it doesn't look like happening. Diouf, as much as we hate him, is a reliable worker for them, he looked like he might be leaving but maybe they are all looking forward to a season with Sammy Lee. They still have Kevin Nolan so there are players who can win games for them. That will be the difference and i'd expect them to be in the top ten. They surely can't get into Europe again with the defence they have now though.

[Benitez]

They'll play more attractive football but end up midtable i think.

 

 

you think?

 

I don't think they will.

[Will]

Mid-table

 

Don't doubt Sammy

[stressederic]

I was thinking the same as Leo, they could go down, but it now looks like they are keeping the better players, apart from Ben Haim. I was expecting Anelka to have weasled his way out of there by now but it doesn't look like happening. Diouf, as much as we hate him, is a reliable worker for them, he looked like he might be leaving but maybe they are all looking forward to a season with Sammy Lee. They still have Kevin Nolan so there are players who can win games for them. That will be the difference and i'd expect them to be in the top ten. They surely can't get into Europe again with the defence they have now though.

 

The only thing you can rely on Diouf to do is be a complete c***.

[_00_deathscar]

Hate him so much?

[Leo No.8]

See the thing is that Charlton finished mid-table the season before last, and when Curbishley left I said 'they'll definitely go down now' but didn't put any money on it. I get the same feeling about Bolton this time.

 

Ben Haim is a big loss and Jaaskelainen will be as well if he goes - both are very solid performers, great organisers and the type of players whose influence is often drastically underestimated.

 

People are saying it looks like Anelka will stay, but I think in our frenzy to sign players at Liverpool we've forgotten it's still only June. If anyone half decent shows an interest in Mr. Anelka it'll kick off and he'll be gone in a flash. There is a lot of transfer activity yet to come...

[Cobs]

You never know with these things but I can't see it myself - as ever to stay in the Premiership you just need to find 3 teams worse than you

 

 

Birmingham

Wigan

Derby

Fulham

Boro

Sunderland (although looks like they're gonna spend a bomb - DAMN YOU QUINN )

 

 

i think they'll finish above without much bother

 

 

then you have the 'should be mid table' sides - of which Bolton are a part

Villa

Pompey

West Ham

Blackburn

Reading (could struggle this year)

Man City

Newcastle

Everton

 

 

i think they've too much experience and will work too hard for Sammy to take them down.

[Leo No.8]

So did anyone get on this in the end?

 

I did them at 7-1 and it's looking a fairly decent bet at the moment. Diouf isn't getting on with Lee and Nolan is in poor form so a couple of their better players are struggling; they don't have a lot else apart from Anelka who is still class.

 

Derby look as sure to go down as any team I've seen in the Premier League for a long time and Reading will be worried about some of their recent results.

 

Those three are bottom and would be the three I'd pick to go down right now. I still think Brum and Wigan will struggle long term but they look to have more about them.

Edited September 17, 2007 by Leo No.8

[Bootle Buck]

Feel sorry for Sammy Lee. He is trying to be so positive in every interview and you can tell the press are getting to him. I can't see him being there much longer to be honest. He'll be lucky to make it to October.

[Cam]

Derby and Reading may as well volunteer to go down now.

 

The battle for the 3rd spot will be interesting with Hapless Hutchings & Titus ensuring Wigan are in there. Lee is struggling with taking over from a (relative) 'legendary' manager - he doesn't seem very Paisley-esque yet. But my money would be on the always reliable Steve Bruce to snatch embarrassing disaster from the jaws of imminent midtable mediocrity.

[fyds]

A friend of a friend who remains good mates with Sammy was brave enough to say that while he believes Sammy is an excellent trainer and probable number 2, he is no manager in his opinion.

 

We'll see - but it's not looking good thus far.

[L19red]

So did anyone get on this in the end?

 

I did them at 7-1 and it's looking a fairly decent bet at the moment. Diouf isn't getting on with Lee and Nolan is in poor form so a couple of their better players are struggling; they don't have a lot else apart from Anelka who is still class.

 

Derby look as sure to go down as any team I've seen in the Premier League for a long time and Reading will be worried about some of their recent results.

 

Those three are bottom and would be the three I'd pick to go down right now. I still think Brum and Wigan will struggle long term but they look to have more about them.

 

Good shout Leo. I didn't do it because I hate bets that take 9 months to pay out, but well done for this one. Are you going to lay it off or stick with it regardless?