McGill, who was previously McCann’s agent, has alleged that he was frozen out of the deal, an assertion which was contradicted by Gartside.

“The McCann move was one of the easiest deals we’ve done. It was worked out between myself and Villa chief executive Richard FitzGerald. McGill had no mandate from McCann or the clubs,” said the Bolton chairman.

In a separate legal action, McGill sued McCann for breach of contract with the former midfielder settling out of court. More to follow.

- Richard McCormick
Follow @RMc2407

Reebok spin doctor Mark Alderton acted quickly after the event, getting Phil Gartside onto the airwaves to deliver assurances that everything was fine.  The Bolton chairman popped up on Talksport last Tuesday, where he received a sympathetic reception from interviewers who were more lap dog than Rottweiler.

“We’ve got a fantastic benefactor in Eddie Davies, who happens to come from Bolton which is an asset,” said Gartside.  “He’s supported the club over the last ten, fifteen years.  We’ve got a very small bank debt.  We’ve got a £10 million overdraft with Barclays.  In fact Barclays raised that this year to £15 million.  The rest of the debt is better described as equity because it’s Eddie’s debt, he doesn’t get interest on it and he’s there for the long term.

“When you borrow money from a bank and the bank then come and demand it back, that’s a different situation, but our overdraft at Bolton is, as I say, £10 million, we use it for working capital during the year.

“The rest of the money is Eddie Davies’s money, he’s been a big supporter all his life from the age of six years old and he’s 66, in good health, I can’t say anymore than that.”

All this ties in with the line trotted out since the debt started to spiral, and the banks wanted out.  To sum up:  The money is owed to Eddie Davies. As long as he’s remains interested and alive there isn’t an issue.

There’s one major flaw in this explanation:  It isn’t quite true.

Leaving aside the almost £5.2 million in the latest profit and loss account described as ‘interest payable and similar charges’ as well as other sums taken from the club by Davies in recent years, there’s a problem with the arithmetic.  According to the Sunday Times Rich List, Eddie Davies has a worth of around £60 million, most of which will be in assets.  Even allowing for errors in that estimate, it would take a cute conjuring trick to lend £100 million in hard cash to anyone.

The truth is that the money is owed to Eddie Davies’s company, Moonshift Investments.  Little is known about Moonshift, as it is registered in the British Virgin Islands where standards of disclosure are less demanding than in the UK.  It is, as the name suggests, an investment organisation.  For example it has close to a 10% stake in Squarestone Brasil, which is described as an ‘Anglo-Brazilian real estate investment and development company specialising in the Brazilian shopping mall sector.’

So where does the £100 million lent to Bolton Wanderers originate from? Who are the other investors in Moonshift?  What happens if those investors get twitchy as losses accumulate?  The chances of those questions being answered are remote.

Lest this should be seen as an exercise in Davies bashing, it should be pointed out that his take over of Bolton in December 2003 offered the only viable paddle when the Whites were up the financial creek, with debts of £60 million and a state close to insolvency.   However, that involvement came at a price.

Chief executive Allan Duckworth said at the time that Davies’s loans to the club carried repayment costs “at a premium which reflects risk, which is high at a football club.”   Suddenly, the phrase “he doesn’t get interest on it” looks less than convincing.

The total debt is only part of the problem.  The rate at which annual losses have stacked up is alarming. From £8 million in 2008, to £13 million the following year, then £35 million and £26 million most recently.  The £35 million figure is the one that catches the eye, as it well it might, representing over half of turnover.

Still, there are those who have done well.  The wage bill has almost doubled over five years and now stands at £56 million, including social security costs.  Between 2009 and 2010 there was a whopping £14 million increase.  There was also a hike of nearly £9 million between 2007 and 2008.  So much for Gary Megson’s claim to have reduced expenditure in that respect.

Interestingly, £8 million of staff costs were not originally included in the accounts for 2010.  The figures were re-presented in the 2011 report.

At this stage, it might be pointed out that the income from television increased over the same period.  This is true, but by considerably less than the wage total.  In 2005 £1.4 million more was received in TV money, than was paid out in salaries.  That position was quickly reversed and by 2010 wage payments were outstripping Sky’s contribution by an astonishing £16.5 million.  The difference is now £11.4 million, so at least things are moving in the right direction, although that’s due to an increase in revenue rather than a reduction in outgoings.

Then of course, there is Gartside’s own remuneration.   In the year ending in June 2010 (£35 million loss, remember) he received £532,000, including a bonus payment of £156,000.

All of which marks the Bolton Chairman’s cheery take on matters monetary as, at best, disingenuous.  No enterprise can consistently spend more money than it receives, not even in football where sensible financial planning doesn’t apply.

His claim that outgoings on wages can be halved may turn out to be true, but there’s still the matter of a £25 million drop in broadcasting revenue. If the Wanderers face a prolonged spell out of the Premier League then things get worse.  By year three, the parachute payment drops from £16 million to £8 million.  By year five it’s gone altogether.

‘But the most wonderful thing for all football fans is the dream that the best is yet to come.

‘A new era under the team management of Owen Coyle is just beginning!  Let’s all enjoy the journey together!’

Those words come from Phil Gartside’s introductory statement to the 2010 accounts.  One can only hope that his financial predictions are better than those that relate to what happens on the pitch.

- Richard McCormick

Follow @RMc2407

It sucks doesn’t it?

One person who believes that is Allan Duckworth, the recently departed chief executive of Bolton Wanderers who headed for the job centre once the dust had settled.

“As the club begins a new chapter in its history, with Owen setting out the foundations of his plan for the long-term, it feels right for a change, for both myself and for the club,” read the official statement.

Which translates roughly as “you have a sinking ship, and I have a speed boat.  Goodbye. Oh, and could you pass me some of that cheese for the journey.”

Perhaps Duckers fancies spending more time watching the club he’s supported all his life.  A clue:  It isn’t Bolton Wanderers.  Another clue:  The team concerned play in red, live next to the Irish Sea and have supporters with a reputation for striking, mourning, speaking with a funny accent and stealing anything that isn’t nailed down and sometimes things that are.

Sadly he didn’t take Zat Knight with him. The man with an attention span akin to that of a goldfish on smack is said to be ‘in talks.’  The only words that should be said to him are “sod off”, and that’s a polite two-word phrase compared to others that could be used.

In what appeared at first to be better news, it was announced that Bolton had extended their deal with a supplier of anti-depressants.  A second reading of the headline was disappointing.  The product in question was Prozone not Prozac.

For those not in the know, Prozone is a performance analysis system that enables one to see which players run about a bit and those who run around a lot.

“Our relationship with Prozone provides us with the tools we need to fully evaluate player performance and maximise the chances of success on the field,” burbled Brian Prestidge, Bolton’s head of performance analysis.

Scary stuff.  The idea that performances last season were ‘maximised’ that is.  They could have been worse?

Prestidge is well known to Wanderers fans on Twitter.  He received a fully deserved online kicking after posting a stream of undiluted bilge as the Whites were easily swept aside at Manchester City last March.

“…its a shame people are so ignorant on twitter and feel the need to make snide comments…,” he pouted before logging off.

Did Prozone measure how far your toys went when you threw them out of the pram Brian?

Back to people still at the club when they shouldn’t be, we come to chairman Phil Gartside.  Garty has been in fine form of late, pestering anyone daft enough to hold a microphone or a notepad within ten yards of him, in an effort to advance the idea that relegation wasn’t the unmitigated, entirely avoidable balls up that it appeared to be.  Nope.  It was all part of a master plan.

Anyone buying that one probably still believes in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, and puts their dentures under the pillow at night in the hope of making a killing from the tooth fairy.

Exit from the top flight could have been averted, but Bolton didn’t win any of their last four home fixtures.  Nor could they hold onto a two goal lead with only eighteen minutes remaining of the game against a mid-table West Brom side who had nothing to play for.

If those at the top of the Reebok hierarchy want to reassure supporters that lessons have been learned, an acknowledgment of that incompetence would be a start.  An apology would be better.

The £110 million debt mountain that the Whites find themselves buried under isn’t an issue either.  Ooh no.  To paraphrase, Gartyfacts in italics:

The money is owed to Eddie Davies.
No it’s not.

He doesn’t take any interest on it.
Yes he does.

It’s soft debt
No, it’s debt

It’s not debt, it’s equity.
Bollocks.

All bar £10 million of the money is owed to Moonshift Investments, an offshore company which has its fingers in other pies.  It is the second biggest shareholder in Squarestone Brasil, an ‘Anglo-Brazilian real estate investment and development company specialising in the Brazilian shopping mall sector.’

Squarestone isn’t that good at shopping malls.  They’ve only built one so far.  It fell down.

Suddenly, the Arndale Centre doesn’t seem so bad.

After presiding over losses of £13 million, £35 million and £26 million in successive years and allowing the wage bill to balloon by 34% in one season, Gartside should have picked up his P45. Instead he trousered half a million quid in salary and bonuses.

People who know football understand that Phil Gartside is bad for Bolton Wanderers.

- Richard McCormick

Follow @RMc2407

That player is Jlloyd Samuel, on a free from Aston Villa. This time though, there’s a difference.  The agency, Base Soccer, a large outfit with clients such as Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddlestone and Bobby Zamora, gives its consent to the switch.

Football agent Tony McGill takes up the story.  Regular readers of this site will remember that McGill isn’t exactly a friend to Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, but it is also worth noting, that he had no financial interest in the events he describes.

“A couple of days before Bolton did his [the agent’s] deal, he got a call from Mark Curtis, to say ‘let me do the deal’ – because he’ll get more commission from Bolton. So this other agency allowed Mark Curtis to do the deal on behalf of Bolton Wanderers for Jlloyd Samuel because Gartside was paying him a bigger commission, and that’s fact,” he explains.

And what happened then?

“Then Curtis reneged on the deal and didn’t pay any other agency.”

Base Soccer sued, and the case was settled out of court.

Not that a player parting company with his agent is anything new, when Curtis is involved.  Jesse Learoyd-Hill, was somewhat surprised to find that his client, Radhi Jaidi had joined Birmingham City from Bolton.

“That was the player’s decision not my decision,” explained Curtis referring to the decision to exclude Learoyd-Hill.  “He said he didn’t want to take him along. If he had wanted to be represented by him he would have brought him along; it’s not a conversation I have particularly had. It’s of no concern to me who represents the player.”

In a transfer, an agent can represent the club or the player, but not both.  Agents prefer to act on behalf of the club, as the tax position is considerably better.  This however, opens a loophole.  An unscrupulous agent can hijack a deal, claiming to represent the club, effectively poaching the player, which is a serious transgression under FA rules.

The name Mark Curtis will be familiar to Bolton fans, although not many would recognise him. That may be no bad thing. Peter Harrison was less than flattering about his former colleague.

“I played football,” said the ex-football agent. “He might have eaten a few footballs.  He’s like Harry Secombe but with ginger hair.”

And Curtis’s role at Bolton?

“He’s more or less chairman.”

When Bolton were looking for a new manager, after the departure of Sammy Lee, Curtis acted as an advisor to the club, despite the fact that Gary Megson, who he used to represent, was one of the candidates. That situation led Graeme Souness to withdraw from the process. Megson got the job.

Curtis is Kevin Nolan’s agent. He formerly acted in that capacity for Sam Allardyce and employed Allardyce’s son Craig through his company, Sport Player Management.  That concern was sold in 2002, netting around £1 million, but was later wound up owing £250,000 in unpaid tax, dating back to before Curtis disposed of it.

In 2007 when Luton Town chairman Bill Tomlins stood down, he confessed to making illegal payments to agents totalling over £150,000.  One of those paid was Direct Sports Management Limited – another Curtis vehicle that has since been struck off the register at Companies House.

Before that in 2004, West Brom banned Curtis from doing business with the club after an investigation into the purchase of defender Martin Albrechtsen. It was alleged that the transfer fee had been inflated by £500,000

Going back still further, Curtis was fined £7,500 by the FA in November 1999 for improper conduct for his part in the transfer of fifteen year-old Jermaine Pennant from Notts County to Arsenal.

Phil Gartside says that Mark Curtis is the most honest football agent he’s ever met.  He also refers to him as “our man on the inside.”

- Richard McCormick

Follow @RMc2407

Since the article above was published, Curtis has become active at West Ham United, through his association with Sam Allardyce and Kevin Nolan.  The article linked below describes what happened next.

James Tomkins and the Ginger Harry Secombe

Also, from the Daily Mail.

Angry agents are threat to Bolton chairman Gartside

FA may sue over slurs on board member Gartside

Dear Phil,

Over the last few months another agent and I have attacked you on Twitter about the way you run Bolton Wanderers Football Club. You have never once replied to our accusations or tried to sue us, which seems strange given the things that have been said.

I would just like to explain to the supporters who think that I am having a go at you because I am bitter about you maybe cutting me out of a deal, or as some of them keep mentioning, because I lost Andy Carroll, (although he does not play for Bolton so that’s a bit confusing.)

No Phil, I am having a dig at you because you are an embarrassment to BWFC because of your close association with the agent Mark Curtis. This man is probably the most hated agent in football as he has tapped up so many players, many who were about to sign or had signed at your club, and nothing is ever done about it. Agents have complained time again about this, but Curtis always gets away with it. It is the belief in football amongst agents that you, through your position on the FA Panel, are protecting him.

Now, agents do lose players, but it seems to happen a lot at Bolton, and agents are frightened to put players to the club, as if they are very good, then they normally get tapped up by your mate and a blind eye is turned to this.

Phil, I was working as an agent at BWFC before you were chairman and it was an excellent, friendly club – my second club, although I liked going there so much I was there more than at my first love, Newcastle United.

I brought Eidur Gudjohnsen to the club on a free transfer, Ali Al Habsi on a free transfer and represented Gudni Bergsson, and Mick Whitlow. I brought Fredi Bobic to the club, Nakata, and of course represented Jussi for many years.

So Phil, I know and knew the club quite well. What bothers me, Phil is that I have negotiated players contracts with you, as have many other agents, and you are very good and capable at doing the negotiations. So why did you start insisting that Mark Curtis has to represent the club when negotiating a contract and therefore paying him a substantial commission.

Lots of people are talking about this Phil, and are saying that this just does not seem right. Why pay big commissions to an agent, especially one that has been in trouble so many times with the FA and fined by FIFA, when you are capable of doing it for the club and thus saving the club money.

I know you are BWFC’s biggest fan (earning £350,000 per year plus substantial bonuses) but do you not think that you need to be cutting costs at the club because of the financial problems they are having? The first thing a sensible chairman would do is cut the costs and one of the costs to be cut should be stop paying an agent money for a job that you can do.

I would gladly represent the club for free and I am sure there is a Bolton supporter out there who would love to be Chairman and not take a salary. C’mon Phil, stop all this whispering going on in football and run the club properly. Be open and honest to your fans.

If you have nothing to hide then please tell your supporters how much commission you have paid to Mark Curtis and his co Director David Bromley over the last ten years. Enough I say to have bought two players who could now be helping you fight relegation.

So Phil, what’s your reply going to be? Silence? Or maybe your mate at the FA might stick up for you like the last time. Whatever your reply, the whispering and accusations will continue unless things change in the way you run your club.

You are a FA board member Phil, the same board who after their failed World Cup bid, complained that FIFA had to be more transparent. Yes, transparent Phil, so show some leadership and come clean on how much of your supporters’ money you have given to Mark Curtis. The FA surely want to prove how transparent English Football is and to put an end to all this nudge, nudge, wink, wink that goes on when your name and Mark Curtis’s name is mentioned.

Finally Phil where has all the club money gone? When you look at your Squad you have not spent massively and your wage bill is not that big, so why is the club in so much debt? How come they are over £100 million in debt yet you have received £120 million in Sky money over the last 3 years. It does not add up Phil and hardly merits a bonus!

Something’s not right here mate. Transparency, that’s what everyone is calling for. You owe it to your fellow fans. C’mon Phil, speak.

Over to you Phil, Bolton fan and proud Chairman.

Yours,
Peter Harrison

Wigan fans celebrate their victory.

Coincidentally, Owen Coyle’s defining day came against the same team at the Reebok on Saturday. Wanderers fans were reasonably confident prior to the game. The visitors lay bottom of the league with the worst defensive record and hadn’t won in two months.

That optimism was shattered before kick off when the line up was announced. After favourable results of late with a 4-5-1 formation, Coyle reverted to his favoured 4-4-2. Had his charges used the wide areas, played at a high tempo, committed bodies forward and passed the ball with anything approaching accuracy, that gung-ho approach might have been justified. But they didn’t and it wasn’t.

It should be acknowledged that the Latics deserved their win. They were better organised and had the greater desire, as well as something resembling a game plan. They were however, aided by an opposition manager with the tactical nous of Bagpuss.

Playing David N’Gog and Kevin Davies up front at the same time is spectacularly gormless. Both are link up players rather than out and out strikers. That the Whites need two defensive midfielders in order to protect a sub standard back four and to give Mark Davies license to roam is obvious to all. Apart from the man who picks the team.

Just joking Bagpuss. You’re a much better tactician than Owen Coyle.

Coyle’s post match comments didn’t help the already agitated mood of the home support. Mainly because they were the ravings of a lunatic.

“For a period of time in the second half we looked like we could kick-on after equalising,” he frothed. Even if that were true, it constitutes a period of nine minutes.

Back in 2008, Bolton avoided relegation despite the manager and not because of him. That left Megson a further two years to play with his wrecking ball. The effects are still being felt.

That doesn’t excuse the man who now occupies his chair. Coyle’s obstinacy in persisting with a failed formation and an overinflated belief in his own capabilities and those of his staff are the biggest obstacles to Premier League survival.

- Richard McCormick

The Immunotherapy is not available on the NHS. It is also expensive. The Emma Hoolin Appeal was set up to raise £211,000. This is the cost of the initial treatment.

Unfortunately, due to set backs and Emma requiring extra care whilst in the US the cost has now risen. So far the appeal has made £310,000, but it is estimated that the total cost of Emma’s treatment could be in excess of £350,000.

On Saturday February 11th 2012, Wigan Athletic face Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. On that morning, prior to the game, there will be a large number of people walking the six miles from the DW Stadium in Wigan to the Reebok to raise funds for the Emma Hoolin Appeal and to make more people aware of neuroblastoma.

This is the walk4emma.

Please register to participate in the walk4emma. To do this simply email your details to walk4emma@hotmail.co.uk by return you will receive sponsor form, poster and details of the walk.

There is a just giving page set up for donations: www.justgiving.com/walk4emma/new. This links directly into the Emma Hoolin Appeal and keeps track of how much money the walk4emma will make.

Read more: www.wigan.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.as…268430#ixzz1lJSiyCzt

Please, please, please support this event and join the walk, whether you are a Latics fan, a Bolton fan or just willing to participate and raise some much needed funds and awareness for this worthy cause.

Register at walk4emma@hotmail.co.uk

The walkers will meet at 10 am on the morning of the 11th February at the front of the DW Stadium setting off at 10:30am prompt. There is a stop off point at New Springs Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Cale Lane, for refreshments. Estimated arrival time the Reebok is 1:30pm.

If you can’t make the walk

Are you driving to the Reebok Stadium for the match? – If so, read on.

If not, please forward this message to someone who is.

St Joseph’s High School,Chorley New Road, Horwich operates a car-parking facility for fans on match days.

On Saturday 11th February all monies raised are to be donated to the Emma Hoolin Cancer Appeal.

The charge is £4 per car, £8 per minibus and £20 per coach.

SAT NAV reference is BL66HW

or view at

www.stjosephsbolton.org.uk/

Sam Ricketts fights the cold with an unusual warm up routine.

It was a disappointing result for Arsenal, but certainly not an unfair one. Bolton are vastly improved in 2012, and they produced yet another determined display. The home side did, however, have plenty of silk to go with their steel. Listening to some post-match reviews, you could have been forgiven for thinking that Bolton had bullied and harassed their way to a point against an underperforming Arsenal; not a bit of it. This was an organised and unyielding Wanderers display, but also one which displayed verve and attacking drive. Arsenal have played worse this season and still won, and Bolton deserve full credit for keeping a clean sheet against them.

The Gunners started brightly, with Bolton failing to come to grips with the pass-and-move style for which the North London outfit have become known. Indeed, in the early stages of the game, it seemed last year’s Wanderers had made an unwelcome return. The Whites followed the ball around the pitch, watching Arsenal play whilst not actively trying to stop them. As a result, the ball found its way into the box far too regularly for the home crowd’s liking, and Arsenal looked increasingly likely to take the lead.

A ball whipped in by Alex Chamberlain should have been converted, but no Arsenal player could get a touch. Minutes later the ball dropped to Walcott, but the winger took one touch too many and found himself closed down, with Ricketts clearing the ball. Then it was Robin Van Persie’s chance to squander an opening, cutting inside onto his right and then taking an age to shoot – the ball cannoned off Wheater to safety. “Too easy” was the cry from the stands.

The root of the problem was Bolton’s midfield system. Having chosen to man-mark Arsenal’s midfield trio, Bolton had surrendered the middle of the pitch to any opposition defender who decided to carry the ball forward. As Arsenal’s defence brought the ball forward at feet, at least one midfielder was forced to move forward to make a challenge and suddenly Arsenal had a player free in 10-15 yards of space. With time and space to turn and run, Arteta and Ramsey could pick their passes at will. When Bolton’s midfield chose to stick to their marking responsibilities, Arsenal’s defenders were free to run right at the Bolton back line and pick passes of their own. Bolton were lucky, in truth, that Thomas Vermaelen had been deployed at right back. If Arsenal had had a centre half with more creativity, Bolton could have been in serious trouble.

Bolton managed to forge good chances of their own. David N’Gog had an effort saved when played clean through, and when he flicked the rebound to Chris Eagles the winger shot just wide. Martin Petrov, a player in fine form at the moment, was effective down the left and whipped in several dangerous crosses. However, it was a calculated, rather than inspired, display from Wanderers in the first half – and it was generally agreed they would have to show more aggression in the second half to claim any points.

Thankfully for Wanderers fans, Bolton 2012 were back in full force for the second half; which saw the marking system in midfield modified to cut the number of free runs Arsenal had through the centre. When faced with a defender in possession, Wanderers’ wingers started to come inside and pick up players, freeing central midfielders to close-down or intercept. With their freedom to play openly from the back largely curtailed, Arsenal took to playing a more direct brand of football – with mixed results. The clear height advantage of Wanderers’ back four meant that Arsenal increasingly lost possession as a result of their switch in passing styles, and Bolton’s desire to continue to play on the deck meant they came increasingly into the game.

Theo Walcott in familar pose, ie missing the goal.

With more even possession, came a more frantic game, with both sides looking to get forward and make something happen. Bolton grew in confidence, with Mark Davies and Nigel Reo-Coker carrying the ball forward with increasing regularity. Wanderers, in general, became more attack-minded – with the fullbacks on both flanks pushing forward to offer support as moves developed. When Owen Coyle first arrived at Bolton, his team talks seemed to regularly inspire the side to give much improved second-half displays – fans should hope that this was a sign of that returning.

Arsenal remained dangerous. Robin Van Persie twice struck the woodwork, and only a superb save by Adam Bogdan denied Theo Walcott when in behind the Bolton line. The home side, however, were not to be beaten, and Bolton’s defenders were prepared to put their bodies on the line to preserve a rare clean sheet. David Wheater was imperious throughout and Zat Knight, who had looked lumbering in the first 45, seemed more switched-on and aggressive after the break. Arsenal could perhaps have been described as unlucky to gain only a point, were it not for Bolton’s efforts at the end of the game.

If the first 70 minutes had seen Bolton defend resiliently and counter-attack when the opportunity presented itself, the last 20 minutes of the game were dominated almost entirely by the team in White. And it was Kevin Davies arrival which, just as it had against Swansea a few days earlier, signalled the transition from Wanderers simply matching their opponents, to Wanderers outplaying them. Arsenal tried their own ‘heroic’ substitution, but Henry failed to have a real impact on the game – though he showed flashes of the old brilliance.

As the pressure from the home side increased, one of their more frustrating habits returned. Why is it that Bolton’s players are so shot-shy these days? Tuncay and Kevin Davies both had shots blocked, when if they had taken the chance to shoot early they’d have had a free effort on goal. Mark Davies and Reo-Coker both chose to take an extra touch when in good shooting positions, allowing them to be closed down and forcing them to play more difficult angles and shoot wide. Clearly this reticence is something which will have to be worked on in training. Nevertheless, it was Bolton who had the run of the place come the end of the game and could have won it, especially had a late shout for a penalty on Mark Davies been granted.

Arsenal will feel they should have won the game in the first half, but should equally be relieved they didn’t lose it in the last quarter. Bolton will be delighted with a point, and can quite rightly claim to have been the match of a side with hopes of a top four finish. If the Wanderers play like this every game until the end of the season, they’ll be well clear of the drop come the final day. Arsenal will have to dramatically improve to claim a Champions League spot, and both sides will agree a draw was about right.

Bolton Wanderers (4-5-1): Bogdan 8, Steinsson 7, Wheater 8, Knight 6, Ricketts 7, Muamba 7 (Pratley 6), Reo-Coker 8, M.Davies 8, Eagles 6 (Tuncay 6), Petrov 8, N’Gog 7 (Davies 7).

Man of the Match: David Wheater. I think this might be a controversial pick, but there you go. It was ‘Wheats’ or Reo-Coker, and Reo-Coker’s dip for the last 20 minutes of the first half meant the big centre half carried it. Wheater was immense throughout, blocking a number of shots, clearing off the line and bringing the ball forward out of defence. Superb display.

Coyle-Watch: Owen is becoming increasingly vocal and animated as Bolton’s revival continues. Today’s tactics were solid and there was good use of subs. Can’t fault the manager.

Nigel Reo-Coker: Some would argue that Reo-Coker has been our best player this season, whilst others rubbish that claim; but nobody would argue with the assertion that Nigel has been superb since he assumed the captain’s role on the pitch. With another classy and authoritative display today, the former Villa man is quickly establishing himself as a favourite amongst the Reebok faithful. It may be harsh not to have made him man of the match for this game, but his dip in the latter stages of the first half almost cost Wanderers their point. In spite of that, it’s the first time in a long while that a Bolton captain has improved after gaining the armband, rather than fallen away – long may it continue.

- Azreal88

Bolton Wanderers Under 18s secured an emphatic 3-0 win over a much fancied Manchester City side, with a performance which sets a benchmark for Lee and Kelly’s youngsters to live up to. The result shocked the decent number of City fans who had shown up, but everyone there admitted that the Wanderers deserved their win.

Is Uncle Eddie’s investment starting to pay off?

City’s scholars started the game well and, as was expected, managed to retain possession and show some good touches. Bolton’s early focus was on maintaining their shape and work rate, which served to frustrate City on their home patch. As the hosts sought to produce something more inventive, they also began to turn the ball over and Wanderers looked to take advantage on the break.

As the game started to become scrappier, Bolton got their first couple of chances. A decent ball saw James Caton released down the left. The young winger took it on and got past his marker, but a slightly heavy touch allowed the ‘keeper to gather at feet. A second opportunity came shortly after, as forward Zach Clough got his head up and found Georg Iliev. Iliev needs to work on his mobility, but there’s no doubting his touch and ability on the ball; he turned well, and was unlucky to see his shot blocked.

City are rightly proud of their academy system, and they continued to pose a real threat to the Wanderers goal. As Bolton pushed forward, City countered down their right and created a good opening. Glenn Matthews failed to stay with his winger and as the ball was centred only a body-on-the-line block by Ben Dennis prevented City taking the lead. Matthews struggled in the early stages, but as he got used to the pace of his opponent he improved and showed good defensive quality.

City, after an earful from the touchline, stepped up a gear and Wanderers were forced to become more compact. A terrier-like performance from Dylan Wolstenholme in the middle and good work from Luke Woodland, who had impressed in the Youth Cup against Southampton, meant Wanderers were hard to break down through the middle. City looked to create down the wings and succeeded in causing some problems, but Wanderers were getting joy on the counter.

As the ball was won back it found its way to Clough, who sent Woodland clean through with a good ball. The young midfielder was unlucky to have his shot saved, but the opening goal came from the resultant corner. When the ball across was poorly cleared by a City defender, centre back Oscar Threlkeld was on hand to show great technique and power it home. Threlkeld had an impressive game, and his performance on the day deserved this reward.

City immediately sought to peg Bolton back, but their attacks lacked restraint and the visitors made them pay. When the blues lost the ball forward a long ball down field found Clough away and clear. The number 10 took it on and slid it past a hapless ‘keeper to make it 2-0. The goal was a reward for Bolton’s discipline and from then on they dominated the rest of the half. Though City showed glimpses of a threat, they found themselves well marshalled by Dennis and Threlkeld in the heart of the Whites’ defence.

The Whites had chances to extend their lead, with Caton, Lester and Clough all going close. City, too, had chances, with a curling effort from City’s number 11 the pick of the bunch. The last effort of the half fell to City, who sent a free kick just over the bar. Wanderers had done well to maintain their lead, and as the home side trudged off their coaches fumed at them.

City came out for the second half determined to get on the score sheet, but Wanderers were equally determined to stop them. This was embodied by an early moment when City’s number 11 looked to get in on goal. A crunching tackle by centre back Dennis, taking man and ball, showed City what they could expect for the next 45 minutes. This was the kind of tenacious and whole-hearted display that Wanderers’ first team used to be famous for.

Wanderers seemed to have adapted their system for the second half, and Caton dropped back to play almost as a left back – freeing Mathews to man-mark City’s dangerous right winger. With Matthews dropping inside as an optional centre half, Dennis was free to push out of defence and win the ball in midfield. The tactical switch paid off, and City struggled to break Wanderers down.

When City did get a meaningful chance, it was a problem of Wanderers’ own making. Lewis Fielding had looked comfortable in goal for most of the game, but when he received a back pass under pressure the young ‘keeper made a decision that could have proven costly. Fielding tried to skilfully play out from the back, when he should have somply cleared, and he gave the ball away – finding himself in no-man’s land. Bolton scrambled to get bodies in the way, and Fielding was relieved to see the resulting shot strike Dennis in the chest.

Bolton were content to allow their rivals to have the ball in their own half, sitting back and seeking to shut down forward passing options. When Wanderers did break, it was down the wings through Caton and Chris Lester. Chris has ability, and if he can increase his work rate over the full 90 minutes he will become an influential player. The number 7’s runs down the left caused City problems, as did Caton’s on the opposite flank, but Bolton’s third goal would come from a moment of brilliance in the middle.

Luke Woodland had shown decent work rate in the middle, but he had failed to impose himself when Bolton had the ball. The midfielder is powerful and has good technical ability; if he can gain some consistency in his play you feel he’ll go from strength to strength. Woodland had shown an ability to shoot in the game vs Southampton, but that hadn’t prepared anyone for Saturday’s effort. Picking the ball up in the middle, he powered forward and bounced through a weak challenge. With no runners available, and with City slow to close down, the youngster opted to shoot. And what a shot it was; a clipped effort with his right that looped over the flailing goalkeeper from about 25 yards. A city player summed up the general reaction: “How the **** did he do that from there?”

Bolton closed the game out comfortably, and could even have added to their lead – with efforts from Lester and Iliev going wide. However, Lee and Kelly were in no mood to see their clean sheet lost, and The Whites maintained their composure to see the game out. It was a convincing win for Bolton, who must be hoping they can build on the back of this result.

Final Score: Man City 0 – Bolton 3 (Threlkeld 18, Clough 23, Woodland 71).

Bolton (4-4-2): Fielding 6, Maher 7, Threlkeld 8, Dennis 8, Matthews 7, Lester 7, Wolstenholme 7, Woodland 7, Caton 8, Clough 8, Iliev 7.

Man of the Match: Oscar Threlkeld. Wanderers’ have a quality centre back pairing at this level, and both Threlkeld and Dennis were superb at the back; but Oscar’s goal gives him the edge.

Moment of the Match: Luke Woodland’s goal, hands down. It was a strike that would have graced a Champions League game and was worth the trip down on its own.

Overall view: Wanderers won this one because they worked harder than City, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a quality display. The U18s have plenty of skill to go with their determination, and they really should be inspired to kick on and win more games. All the lads have things about their games they have to improve, which is to be expected, but they also all have qualities that’ll stand them in good stead. It’s up them how far they go and what they make of themselves.

- Azreal88

Luke Moore. Won’t be looking quite so bloody smug now. Photo ©Getty Images

Bolton started brightly, with Eagles offering the most consistent threat – combining well down the right with Joe Riley, whose swashbuckling runs were dangerous all game. Swansea played a second-string, and it showed from the offing. Eagles is never shy about getting at his fullback, and he clearly meant business whenever he got the ball. However, Eagles love of a shot is not best served on the right of midfield and his attempts to cut in onto his left usually ended in pitiful efforts on goal.

It was from a set-piece that Eagles offered his first moment of creativity, but his ball into the box was headed right at the ‘keeper. Next, Eagles cut inside for another left-footed effort, and having had a few sighters the crowd expected him to worry the goalie – he instead worried the corner flag. Chris isn’t a player who lacks confidence though, and he continued to try and make things happen, winning a corner shortly after. The ball was swung in by Martin Petrov and, as the second ball dropped, Swansea were forced to throw bodies in the way to block a shot.

Wanderers were dominating the game, yet it was a subdued performance from Bolton’s central midfielders. Darren Pratley is still finding his feet at the club, and his advanced position meant Mark Davies had to play a deeper role. Davies is at his best pushing up and looking to link play and, in trying to incorporate Pratley, Wanderers lost some of their recent rhythm. Nevertheless, Swansea’s distinct lack of bite and energy in the middle meant the Whites remained comfortable for most of the game; and getting Pratley up to speed could prove vital for Bolton in the run in.

Still it was Eagles who was looking like he might force the issue, and when his dinked pass released N’Gog it brought the Reebok faithful to their feet. N’Gog took a touch and settled himself, only to put a weak shot straight at the ‘keeper. The French striker looks bereft of confidence in front of goal right now, and Bolton will need that to change if they are to continue their pushes in league and cup. What N’Gog can do, as he has shown in recent games, is hold the ball and feed runners – and that’s just what he did shortly after his miss. Pratley was released, and he in turn fed Eagles who shot just wide.

Wanderers were well on top, but their inability to put the ball away was starting to worry the crowd. Petrov had a good shot saved and the ball was released, with Swansea building from the back – the ball was played through and only a last ditch challenge from David Wheater prevented a goal. If Bolton needed another reminder of Swansea’s threat, a disallowed goal should have given them that – but Wanderers failed to take heed. As Swansea played in front of the back four, Boyata lost his head and dived into an unnecessary tackle. He failed to win the ball, and Wheater was left isolated against Luke Moore, who ran onto a simple through ball and chipped his shot over an on-rushing Bogdan. Wanderers were stunned, but it was a wound of their own making.

Bolton would once again have to show spirit and resilience to come back from behind, and they were not found wanting. It took Wanderers less than 5 minutes to find a breakthrough of their own, with Darren Pratley rising to head home a Martin Petrov corner. The sides went in level at half time, with Bolton knowing they should already have put the game to bed.

Swansea started the second half with more attacking intent than they’d shown in the first. It took a Sam Ricketts block to keep the visitors at bay just after the restart, and the Swans then saw a long range effort go just over the bar. But Bolton began to assert themselves and Nigel Reo-Coker, especially, began to dictate play. Having already played one beautiful ball out wide to start an attack just minutes earlier, the Bolton captain was at it again, feeding Martin Petrov on the left flank. Petrov ‘s powerful shot was saved by the Swansea ‘keeper, but he spilt the ball at the feet of Chris Eagles, whose shot on the turn found the bottom corner.

Eagles slots home the winner.

Swansea refused to lie down, and went on the hunt for an equaliser. A flowing move saw Luke Moore force a smart stop out of Adam Bogdan and an attack down the Bolton left saw Ricketts have to make a great tackle to deny the Swans a shot at goal. However, Wanderers still had the better of it and Reo-Coker’s passing was once again key as Bolton almost found a third. Reo-Coker sprayed a pass wide to Eagles, who flicked the ball over his opponent and sent a cross over towards Petrov, but the Bulgarian’s strike went just wide. Petrov was involved again moments later, as his cross found the head of Pratley, but the ball struck the bar and bounced clear.

Pratley was becoming more and more involved in the game, and he went close again after good work from N’Gog. The striker closed down Swansea’s defence, and Pratley showed good anticipation to intercept a sloppy back pass and flick the ball goalwards. Many fans thought it was in but, as the roar went up from the crowd, the ball trickled agonisingly wide. It was hard on Pratley, and on another night he’d have been celebrating a hat-trick.

In response to Wanderers’ renewed dominance, Brendan Rogers made two changes. On came Danny Graham and Nathan Dyer, to offer Swansea more options in attack. Dyer was immediately involved, as he was hacked down by Ricketts as he looked to skip past the Welshman. Ricketts was lucky not to have been booked for what looked a bad tackle, but on the whole the Swans’ changes were ineffective. When Bolton made their own change, it proved to be far more significant.

Kevin Davies was brought in on 74 minutes, to rapturous applause from the home crowd, and set about showing the Bolton fans that he’s still got what it takes to perform at the highest level. Davies’ first touch almost set-up another goal, as Pratley ran beyond him and received the ball from a flicked header. The burly midfielder couldn’t quite sort out his feet, and when he tussled with a Swansea player the referee harshly gave a foul against him.

Davies next contribution was a deft pass through to find the run of Nigel Reo-Coker, as the club captain found the captain for the afternoon. It was a decent enough shot from Reo-Coker, but his effort was saved. ‘Big Kev’ was there again barely a minute later, as he knocked the ball on to Eagles who found substitute Fabrice Muamba in space, only for the powerful midfielder to shoot wide. Muamba then ran onto another Davies ball, but the keeper gathered as he tried to round his marker. It was great stuff from the hosts, and especially from Kevin Davies, but Swansea weren’t quite finished yet.

The South Wales side still had time to trouble Bolton, and they forged a couple of openings before the final whistle; including hitting the post with a low drive and seeing a free kick saved and held by Bogdan. Swansea, however, were never the same threat they had been at the Liberty Stadium earlier in the season, and most of the home support seemed fairly confident that their side would triumph. There was just time for one last talking point, as Mark Davies tumbled in the box. The crowd scream for a penalty, but the referee booked the midfield dynamo for diving – it was the correct decision, as Davies had played for it.

All in all, a comfortable win for the Whites in a game they dominated. Swansea will feel they could, and perhaps should, have done better; but they can’t complain about the result. Let’s hope Bolton can keep up their, thus far, impressive 2012 form with a win against Arsenal.

Final Score: Bolton 2 (Pratley, Eagles) – Swansea 1 (Moore).

Bolton (4-5-1): Bogdan 7, Riley, 7, Wheater 6, Boyata 5, Ricketts 6, Eagles 8 (Tuncay n/a), M.Davies 6, Reo-Coker 7, Pratley 7 (Muamba 6), Petrov 7, N’Gog 5 (K.Davies 8).

Man of the Match: Chris Eagles. I seriously considered giving this to Kevin Davies, but in the end decided that would be unfair to Eagles, who worked hard, created plenty of openings and eventually got the goal he’d been after all game. A good effort from the winger, who is starting to show more consistency in a white shirt.

Player Watch: Darren Pratley. Since coming to Bolton from Swansea in the summer, nothing has gone right for the energetic midfielder; but there were signs today that he might have something to offer. Pratley looked lazy and frustrated until his goal, but in the second half he started to make good runs and play some neat stuff in the middle of the park. There’s a lot of work to be done if he’s to win over the Bolton fans, but his goal and second half display were a decent start.

What was that about!: Sometimes something happens in a game and you can’t figure out why. Today’s example was a wild challenge by Boyata that opened up Bolton’s defence for Swansea. All the big Belgian had to do was stay on his feet, but he dived in and left his defensive partner exposed. Boyata is young, which is sometimes forgotten by his critics, but he needs to start learning fast if he’s to have a role in the team.