Lion Of Vienna Suite: All Posts by Chris ManningThe World's Number One Bolton Wanderers Websitehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50739/lovs-fav.png2021-10-23T09:35:02+01:00https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/authors/chris-manning/rss2021-10-23T09:35:02+01:002021-10-23T09:35:02+01:00LOVpod Episode 169
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<img alt="Charlton Athletic v Bolton Wanderers - Sky Bet League One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oeAmloO6tk1MI37iCExIClIcVdM=/62x0:4748x3124/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70034507/1235572014.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Reaction to Sarcevic’s surprising exit</p> <p id="9D9nHC">Well it was quite the day yesterday wasn’t it?</p>
<p id="cVfjSk">Everyone was plodding along nicely until about lunchtime when news broke that <a href="https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com">Bolton Wanderers</a> captain Antoni Sarcevic was leaving us. That in itself was shocking enough in isolation but that he was leaving to drop however many divisions to play for STOCKPORT FLIPPIN COUNTY provided the biggest shock of all.</p>
<p id="6fkAev">With that being a done deal come mid afternoon, the LOV boys - James, Tom and Chris quickly convened for your listening pleasure to discuss the shocking turn of events and to offer their thoughts on where Wanderers go from here.</p>
<p id="aB4gTa">We also briefly touch on both defeats since we last spoke, against Wigan Athletic and Plymouth Argyle but let’s face it, emergency podcasts are all about the issue of the day.</p>
<p id="tJELtA">It’s a mad mad mad world. Join us.</p>
<div id="NuMSNq"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://playlist.megaphone.fm?p=VMP3541439853" width="100%" height="482"></iframe></div>
https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/2021/10/23/22741624/lovpod-episode-169Chris Manning2021-10-16T21:40:41+01:002021-10-16T21:40:41+01:00Ratings: Bolton Wanderers 0-4 Wigan Athletic
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<img alt="Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic - Sky Bet League One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XqO8auL-8HHmIkOJ1gNfzEyH2lA=/0x0:3203x2135/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70004769/1235917355.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dave Howarth - CameraSport via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="2nbMkb">Joel Dixon 5 - no chance with the goals and looks incredibly uncomfortable with the ball at his feet. Another victim of Evatt’s insistence that we play out at all times, despite being wholly unsuitable for it.</p>
<p id="TgiNWN">Harry Brockbank 4 - felt bad for the kid. Will get pelters from many and did play poorly, but was completely hung out to dry by Santos and Bakayoko.</p>
<p id="9ZWnyP">Ricardo Santos 4 - bullied by Wyke from start to finish. Poorest performance since he joined.</p>
<p id="ar3uTa">George Johnston 4 - see above. Didn’t win a header all day. A big step backwards.</p>
<p id="S8eSvj">Liam Gordon 5 - at least tried to get on the front foot.</p>
<p id="u9SmcI">Josh Sheehan 4 - so quiet I actually wrote this out and forgot to include him. Neat and tidy on the ball at times but contains pretty much zero creative spark which our midfield sorely lacks.</p>
<p id="tRAFc6">MJ Williams 4 - deeply unimpressive. His first half was a woeful example of overly cautious play. Improved as the game wore on but besides tackling his game is rather limited.</p>
<p id="jRku0n">Antoni Sarcevic 4 - physically and technically not up to the job. We discussed his qualities on the latest podcast and whilst clearly a nice guy and probably a good captain, he’s not up to this division. Lucky we don’t have any strength in depth at all.</p>
<p id="iB5ILN">Dapo Afolayan 5 - few good moments but that’s it. Uncharacteristically quiet.</p>
<p id="aJhIdz">Amadou Bakayoko 4 - another one who isn’t up to this level. Killed Brocky with some woeful passing and shocking decision making when on the ball. Can get back to the bench for me.</p>
<p id="NGEAND">Eoin Doyle 4 - his usual anonymous self. Unfathomable to think he saw out the game but then again we have all the strength in depth of the last episode of Squid Game. Rubbish.</p>
<p id="3MKBmp">Ian Evatt 4 - needs to tone it down a bit. I think if he wasn’t our manager we’d be quite anti-him given his proclivity for running his gob. A plan B would be nice</p>
https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/2021/10/16/22730160/ratings-bolton-wanderers-0-4-wigan-athleticChris Manning2021-10-15T18:00:00+01:002021-10-15T18:00:00+01:00LOVpod Episode 168
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<img alt="Sheffield Wednesday v Bolton Wanderers - Sky Bet League One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qbK9hdeX80c_l1-9vRZvFMHn940=/0x0:4108x2739/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70000289/1235799152.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Chris, Lee and James discuss all things Wanderers </p> <p id="CCPNts">The Lion of Vienna Suite team have combined once again to bring you the finest minds in all of sports podcasting. Especially now Tom is too busy.</p>
<p id="9UtH9W">Covering the weird, wild and wonderful world that <a href="https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com">Bolton Wanderers</a> exists within, your double vaccinated and double sexy hosts talk everything relating to the Super Whites throughout their somewhat up-and-down late September and early October.</p>
<p id="IhGkGV">Join James, Lee and Chris to hear what they think about the club making their feelings known about associating with gambling companies at the Reebok, about Sarcevic having a place in League One and what would the lads do with a problem like Eoin Doyle?</p>
<p id="J9kDEX">You’ll get no spoilers from me, but give us an hour of your time and in return you’ll be rewarded with so much insight and nuance that your ears will spring forth and thank you for being so considerate to them.</p>
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https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/2021/10/15/22728318/lovpod-episode-168Chris Manning2021-03-02T22:32:13+00:002021-03-02T22:32:13+00:00The Maverick we needed
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<img alt="Oldham Athletic v Bolton Wanderers - Sky Bet League Two" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BcflXLK6q_HWAuMBd-KzUew25b4=/0x0:5081x3387/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68900345/1231478438.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Chris is a big fan of a certain West Ham loanee</p> <p id="6ud6zu">Marcus Maddison arrived at <a href="https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com">Bolton Wanderers</a> on loan from Charlton Athletic to great fanfare. The fans were excited, the club twitter account was excited. We were all excited.</p>
<p id="HTyZrh">Ian Evatt’s team which, at the time, was struggling somewhat for inspiration, had found their maverick. Ian Evatt’s team had found their creative and inspirational spark in the form of an attacking player from a higher division who arrived at the club with something to prove.</p>
<p id="bZDkGv">Well, that definitely happened, but that maverick most certainly isn’t Marcus Maddison.</p>
<p id="TtetMc">Step forward Dapo Afolayan.</p>
<p id="MDrACy">I confess to never having heard of him before he signed, but without doubt Dapo has become the key to our attacking hopes. Since joining on loan from West Ham United, the forward has played across the front line and been really impressive no matter where he has lined up. With an attacking verve not seen in these parts for may a season, Dapo has the skill, the pace and the direct approach that opposition defenders clearly hate and clearly cannot cope with.</p>
<p id="oMBYae">I’ve been really impressed with his build-up play and his ability to attack the ball in key spaces on the front foot. Lloyd Isgrove has his plus points but he’s not half as dynamic as Dapo and the loanee is very much worthy of his place in the side. I would love us to make his move permanent and hope that he continues in this rich vein of form. All that’s missing is a goal from his game and whilst he’s come really close lately it just hasn’t quite happened.</p>
<p id="rI9Gl7">We’ve got a maverick on our hands. It’s not the one we expected, but it’s definitely the one we needed.</p>
https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/2021/3/2/22310106/the-maverick-we-neededChris Manning2021-01-31T08:00:00+00:002021-01-31T08:00:00+00:00Ratings: Bolton Wanderers 2-0 Leyton Orient
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<img alt="Bolton Wanderers v Leyton Orient - Sky Bet League Two" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DrPX4XG2NB-T612-Ic9FXqUBApE=/0x0:4627x3085/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68746813/1299501945.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Chris rates yesterdays winning performance</p> <p id="fL6hIO">Gilks 6 - Had nothing to do. All that shouting is getting a bit much. Easy afternoon’s work for the old timer. </p>
<p id="qW1Znz">Brockbank 7 - Gets an unnecessarily rough ride. Better going forward than Jones and stronger defensively than Kioso. The fact he’s a no-frills kind of guy does him a disservice. </p>
<p id="2t9caf">Jackson 6 - Another who was absolutely fine. Left back is the position for the daft kid but this one seems less daft than previous incumbents. His final ball could do with improving.</p>
<p id="YpSEeW">Santos 8 - Imperious. We’ve had some absolute stumps at centre back lately, from Meite to Knight but this lad is in great form at the moment and is key to us hopefully having a really good second half of the season. He’s been really good on the ball lately too, showing great improvement from his form at the start of the season. I really like him.</p>
<p id="loAgEX">Baptiste 8 - Showing everyone that Delaney being out was no loss (as if you’d be stupid enough to think that anyway). He’s a million times better on the ball than the Irishman and his experience is essential during games like these. Really good performance.</p>
<p id="1C4rDJ">Lee 7 - Quiet in the first half, but more effective as the game wore on. On this form there is no way that Sarcevic gets back in this team, regardless of how much smoke Evatt blows up his gigantic backside. Lee is everything that ‘Sarce’ isn’t. He’s efficient, energetic and composed on the ball. Hopefully the sign of things to come.</p>
<p id="jLKUhP">Thomason 7 - Another one who gets some baffling stick from the online fandom. Always looks to move forward and not shy about getting stuck in. He gets better every week for me and is an upgrade on Tutte.</p>
<p id="fX0Pnx">Delfouneso 6 - A quiet afternoon. For someone with his pedigree then it’s really disappointing to see him struggle so much. Could have scored a couple and was largely anonymous otherwise.</p>
<p id="GRiKjz">Isgrove 7 - A right pest but one who, for me, needs to be more involved where it counts. Has lots of the ball in key areas but at the same time it doesn’t really tend to lead to much. That said, I like his energy and he’s deserving of his place in the starting line-up.</p>
<p id="GR2vY1">Gnahoua 8 - I really like him. The unbridled enthusiasm and exuberance will sometimes lead him down blind alleys but I’d rather that than someone like Elbouzedi doing absolutely nothing. He’s a must-pick on this form.</p>
<p id="gkWgum">Doyle 7 - A terrible first half was redeemed by a superb second. Took his goal well despite the keeper perhaps wishing he had the chance to do better. You’d do well to persuade me that he hasn’t been an overall disappointment in my opinion. On another day he’d have scored three, but that sums up his Bolton career in general.</p>
<h3 id="7CcmOE"><strong>Subs</strong></h3>
<p id="KvIjwa">Elbouzedi n/a - Tough to give a score, but his time on the pitch was very much in line with his time with us so far. Uninspiring.</p>
<p id="QhguTa">John n/a - I honestly don’t remember him touching the ball.</p>
<h3 id="tkFVVX"><strong>Manager</strong></h3>
<p id="8tLpPn">Evatt 8 - I’m not personally convinced by him and would not be upset if he was sacked, but he deserves credit for going gung-ho yesterday and it paid off. More of the same, please.</p>
https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/2021/1/31/22258350/ratings-bolton-wanderers-2-0-leyton-orientChris Manning2021-01-25T08:00:00+00:002021-01-25T08:00:00+00:00Five Things: Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
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<img alt="Tranmere Rovers v Bolton Wanderers - Sky Bet League Two" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/0yCXJ8ZtsgorP4QKZ1Gz1a69yXI=/0x69:3240x2229/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68715720/1230758574.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Dave Howarth - CameraSport via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Chris shares his five things from Saturdays defeat</p> <p id="JcAxPU"><strong>1) Soft Centre</strong></p>
<p id="1saa7x">It is obvious that we lack bite. Crawford, Tutte and Sarcevic aren’t exactly your midfield-enforcer type. Evatt obviously thinks we don’t need one - I respectfully disagree.</p>
<p id="BADYan">Yesterday saw our midfield yet again coast through another match, unable (or incapable) of doing the dirty side of midfield play.</p>
<p id="GJpwPM">Jay Spearing is hardly prime Makelele, but he would comfortably be the best player in our midfield. I mean, on current form, so would Liam Trotter, but that’s an easy shot to take.</p>
<p id="XCMKuU">Crawford has been poor since he re-signed and whilst Tutte embodies the ‘lower league grafter’ stereotype, there can be little argument that Sarcevic has been anything but a massive disappointment since he signed for Bolton. He took his goal well but again it was a brief flicker of quality in yet another fairly anonymous performance. It would be easy to take a pot shot at his stamina but why does he only come alive with 25 minutes to go? </p>
<p id="wK23td"><strong>2) Lack of Fight. Lack of Bite</strong></p>
<p id="d272Tt">Wanderers weren’t outplayed by Tranmere but they were outfought. The aforementioned midfield trio aside, our entire team lacks bite.</p>
<p id="6lCiZi">Santos was our best player on the day but despite his physicality, he’s not the bite-yer-legs type of defender that say Gerry Taggart was. That’s fine in isolation but the presence of Ryan Delaney, fresh from a stint on Blackpool beach, doesn’t do him any favours either. </p>
<p id="k1umdq">Most obvious was our pathetic reaction to each decision from the hilariously-named Neil Hair, who was presumably the recipient of the EFL’s “Be a Ref for the Day” campaign. Did we argue? Did we fight our corner? Nope, this was as pathetic a display of bottle as we’ve seen from a <a href="https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com">Bolton Wanderers</a> side since the dark days of the David Wheater-led player strike, when the playing squad took the entire fanbase for mugs.</p>
<p id="V7Auzd">I don’t expect an Andy D’Urso style scrap but I expect our players to care and on this basis, they don’t. From the keeper to the centre forward, they all need to take a long, hard look at themselves.</p>
<p id="W6HSyx"><strong>3) Ian Evatt</strong></p>
<p id="8UvMNh">What a strange man he appears to be. I don’t need to like my manager but I need him to step up when it counts. Evatt chose to distract the fanbase from another woeful performance by rounding on the referee. We all saw the game, Ian, we know the ref was shocking, but that’s just papering over the cracks.</p>
<p id="hOAdVk">Evatt flip-flops all the time. His team selection appears to be random, his post-match interviews border on the bizarre and his antics during the game smack of inexperience. I can accept being unhappy but to approach the referee was only going to end up in heartache for the man. It was naive and shouldn’t have happened.</p>
<p id="LtO0ox">He’s probably not under pressure yet, because he can point to a few easy excuses as to why things aren’t going the right way, but those excuses are looking thinner with each passing defeat.</p>
<p id="AVc5Wr"><strong>4) Crap Signings</strong></p>
<p id="2ItVUv">It was all Tobias Phoenix’s fault, apparently, that we were rubbish. Nothing to do with Evatt. </p>
<p id="9y44SI">Well he’s been gone six weeks now, and if Jackson and Elbouzedi are the sign of things to come then I really hope that someone else comes in to advise Evatt on what makes a decent signing.</p>
<p id="GYqOfR">Did anyone look at our squad and think “You know what we need, someone who looks a bit like Chris Eagles, but 10,000 times worse”? That seems to be what we’ve got in the on-loan Lincoln man who, inexplicably, is keeping Arthur Gnahoua out of the team despite him being in the form of his life.</p>
<p id="zfrbGC">I feel bad criticising Jackson because everyone knows that left-back is where you put the kid who only plays because his dad is manager, or is the kid who owns a football so you involve him out of pity, but he has been very, very bland too.</p>
<p id="JR3vYo">Don’t mind Evatt having control of the purse strings but come on, we can do better than these two.</p>
<p id="f5HfYl"><strong>5) Mansfield Town</strong></p>
<p id="pyfB5s">Change is needed. The team is drifting. </p>
<p id="dnbS06">It’s probably too late to bring in signings so based on the players we have I implore Evatt to shake things up. Drop Sarcevic, drop Crawford. Bring in Thomason and start Gnahoua.</p>
<p id="9pKveY">We need to get on the front foot and stop having the need to come back from a goal down. We need Doyle, Delfouneso and co to step up and take the game to the opposition, otherwise those virtual calls for Evatt’s head will get louder. After all, we don’t want to be coming back into the stadium and our first step being to see a team on their arse, because make no mistake, that’s where we’re heading.</p>
<p id="w5PQWJ">Evatt wants to meet the Bolton fans, apparently. Well be careful what you wish for, pal.</p>
https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/2021/1/25/22247344/five-things-tranmere-rovers-2-1-bolton-wanderersChris Manning2020-11-28T07:00:00+00:002020-11-28T07:00:00+00:00Opinion: Why Moneyball means we should enjoy Santos while we can
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<img alt="Bolton Wanderers v Salford City - Sky Bet League Two" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-F4S97TNEPPp_1DnNkvKj_Mn-1M=/0x0:4015x2677/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67992383/1285815079.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus</figcaption>
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<p>Could Wanderers cash in on the fan favourite centre back?</p> <p id="wsny8F">As we have been told, this ‘new’ <a href="https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com">Bolton Wanderers</a> has got into bed with the Moneyball principle. If you were born under a rock, this basically means that we now, as a club have recruitment model that uses statistical analysis, to help us (on the cheap) compete with clubs who have larger budgets by buying players that are undervalued by other teams and selling ones that are overvalued by other teams. </p>
<p id="kCTvJO">Look at how the Gary Madine deal worked, as a practical example. In my opinion, a very poor player who couldn’t get a game anywhere else because he was a complete donkey joined Bolton and with the benefit of a few penalties and tap-ins was magically turned into a £6m striker. I know, I know, it’s still absolutely hilarious.</p>
<p id="lBkQnF">However it also means that us, as fans, are going to have to get used to the club flipping players at the peak of their powers. Ricardo Santos being the prime example. We have all seen how he has transformed from an absolute no-hoper into a very decent player for the club. I’ve seen some even claim that he’s a Premier League player in waiting, but we’ll leave that sort of stupidity on social media where it belongs.</p>
<p id="zrlEbv">Santos is currently in the form of his life. This sort of form normally does not go unnoticed and this might mean, according to Moneyball principles, that the Bolton Wanderers board might well have a hard decision to make should any club with deeper pockets than ours come along in January. Given how tight we all know our budget to be, you would have to think that an offer of at least £250,000 for someone we signed for nothing a few months ago would be very hard to turn down.</p>
<p id="yZe6mA">It’s not a good idea to get connected to players in the modern game, such is the turnover of staff, but in the Moneyball era we have to realise, as supporters, that not every deal we do is ‘asset stripping’ the club. Tough decisions have to be made, at this level, and if that means cashing in on someone who is an asset at the peak of their powers - especially someone like Santos who has shown that he is also capable of going the other way, then so be it.</p>
https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/2020/11/28/21722926/opinion-why-moneyball-means-we-should-enjoy-santos-while-we-canChris Manning2020-10-19T15:00:00+01:002020-10-19T15:00:00+01:00Opinion: Phoenix Nights
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<img alt="Bolton Wanderers v Fleetwood Town - Sky Bet Leauge One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bJ3arkUxMKSX3YHKXrpoyAM2hmg=/0x0:5287x3525/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67653793/1179701633.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Tim Markland/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Chris discusses the role of our Head of football operations</p> <p id="Rwv6GR">When Tobias Phoenix was appointed as <a href="https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com">Bolton Wanderers</a>’ very own “job title is irrelevant” in February 2020, the fanbase could be heard far and wide asking one another “who?”.</p>
<p id="hmtSxZ">Now, over 250 days since, we are still wondering. A not-very-insightful article in the Bolton Evening News attempted to give us some meat on the bones regarding his pedigree. His sporting chops (enough with the meat puns) had been called into question since day one, given the absolute (and some would say unnerving) lack of information about who he is, who he was, what he does and how on earth he managed to get the job in the first place.</p>
<p id="iaX8Go">Which leads us to today. Over 250 days since his appointment. With the club floundering at the wrong end of League Two, with a young up-and-coming manager struggling to make the impact that he (and Tobias Phoenix) expected, where did it all go wrong? </p>
<p id="w3xCcE">The signing of Ian Evatt was lauded as the most forward-thinking appointment that the club had made in years. There was little to dissuade the fans, at that point, from planning where they were going to be in March 2021 when the title was confirmed at the earliest possible moment. Since then, each new signing has been announced to great fanfare and the virtues of each has been extolled in the strongest terms by Evatt as he began to put into place the chess pieces that Mr Phoenix had given to him.</p>
<p id="u5cvcJ">For example - </p>
<p id="j2mxap">Ricardo Santos: <em>“Ricardo has all the attributes required to be an outstanding centre back for this football club”</em></p>
<p id="5vXabz">Billy Crellin: <em>“He is the modern day goalkeeper who is very agile, great with the ball at his feet and commands his area well”</em></p>
<p id="t38SHQ">Antoni Sarcevic and Eoin Doyle: <em>“Of course Eoin and Antoni with their records in this division set that standard that we need to get to. ‘Bringing them two in kind of sends shockwaves to everyone else that we’re here and we mean business and we certainly do this season, there is no doubt about it.”</em></p>
<p id="vqQKKB">Brandon Comley: <em>“Brandon is a technically gifted midfield player who can build attacks with his range of passing as well as be dynamic out of possession”</em></p>
<p id="bRuAfO">Is it any wonder that fans were excited? I have no doubt that Evatt signed off on these signings, but given the model that we are supposed to be employing, then the fingerprints of Tobias Phoenix are all over these new boys. It would be a stretch to say that any of them have impressed on a consistent basis thus far.</p>
<p id="jhic3Z">So what next? As each poor result comes and goes so do the cries from the e-terraces for a change. Evatt appears to be the most likely at this time, not that we can afford to pot him, but are we looking in the wrong place? There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to adhere to a sporting philosophy, but there should also be an understanding that in this most competitive of leagues we need to do whatever it is we have to do to get points on board.</p>
<p id="z9aou8">Dispensing with the ‘project’ is one way of changing things. It might not bring about immediate change on the field, but I think it would be a show of faith in a manager who is under pressure. Phoenix is the easy choice. He’s had time to get it right and whilst it might be too soon to say that his choices in terms of manager and playing staff are poor ones, can we afford to wait any longer?</p>
https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/2020/10/19/21522969/opinion-phoenix-nightsChris Manning2020-02-03T14:55:00+00:002020-02-03T14:55:00+00:00Are Bolton Wanderers a better side without Ronan Darcy?
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<img alt="Bolton Wanderers v Bristol Rovers - Sky Bet League One" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RaR_rpeAA4Rm2xjVWTfUkSBGLT8=/0x0:3863x2575/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66239048/1197303439.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Andrew Kearns - CameraSport via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Usual caveats apply</p> <p id="lBMp71">Before you get all frothy-mouthed let me be very clear. I totally rate Ronan Darcy and think he’s an excellent footballer.</p>
<p id="xbZ2FO">That said, on the evidence of yesterday’s game, are we a better side without him in the starting XI?</p>
<p id="eaxIcq">The midfield of <span>Jason Lowe</span>, Luke Murphy and Ethan Hamilton dominated an extremely poor Tranmere Rovers side, allowing the mighty <a href="https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/">Bolton Wanderers</a> to romp home with a straightforward 2-0 win.</p>
<p id="TPSIaW">The lack of quality from our opponent should not, in my opinion, detract from what an excellent all-round team performance but it was the midfield that particularly caught my attention. </p>
<p id="tiYT4a">In previous games, with Darcy in the side, I have felt that we have been too open in midfield, with his somewhat lightweight presence being largely ineffective in a division full of physicality. Would he be a more effective player for us in a higher league? I think so.</p>
<p id="zbpNwz">Hamilton, Lowe and Murphy have the experience and ability to be amongst the better players in this league and despite previous periods of underperforming are all playing quite well at the moment. Having Darcy in the team forces these water-carriers into being a little more cute with their passes, exposing weaknesses in their game and making our attack more predictable.</p>
<p id="nydPeD">Our strengths at the moment lie in our ability to have our full-backs push up, as is the modern fashion, providing service to the likes of Daryl Murphy and, yesterday, Chris O’Grady who can use their height and power where it is most needed. The presence of Darcy behind the central striker means that we sometimes have little choice but to try and play through opposition lines when a more direct route might lead to more chances.</p>
<p id="4sjrT0">So now that you’ve calmed down a bit, having taken the time to read more than just the headline, I’m glad that you agree with me. </p>
<p id="4G2iWG">Ronan Darcy is a tremendous footballer who may well go on to have a fantastic career at a much higher level than we can provide, but for the next few weeks with some tough games on the horizon, it might be better for the team to keep him on the bench and ensure that we’re playing fully to our collective strengths.</p>
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https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/2020/2/3/21119035/are-bolton-wanderers-a-better-side-without-ronan-darcyChris Manning2019-11-30T23:49:08+00:002019-11-30T23:49:08+00:00My Own Personal Bolton Wanderers’ Mount Rushmore
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<img alt="93rd Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mDKt9PyYqCWD_1IF69bf0ZJCO_U=/5x0:4496x2994/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65802012/1190785575.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>My four favourites</p> <p id="Oof15N">Mount Rushmore. Found in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA.</p>
<p id="wqE4KA">Hewn into rock you’ll find the faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln in 60ft granite relief.</p>
<p id="Ktrqh5">A tangible space, yet often used as a metaphorical cipher for brilliance, respect and prominence. Deeply, deeply impressive. A spectacle and a marvel of the modern world.</p>
<p id="qv1ooH">People speak about their own personal Mount Rushmore as being the sort of space that separates the legend from the ordinary. The icon from the figure. It’s inspiring.</p>
<p id="oz4NNv">So, with that in mind, I’ve narrowed down my <a href="https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/">Bolton Wanderers</a>’ Mount Rushmore to the following four. You probably won’t agree. I don’t care about that.</p>
<p id="1VE1I7">Let’s go:</p>
<blockquote><p id="hpdI0N"><strong>1) </strong><span><strong>Sam Allardyce</strong></span></p></blockquote>
<p id="ncjpFo">A divisive figure but one who was key to the most enjoyable time in my time supporting Bolton Wanderers. Yeah people will tell you that he’s a wrongun but if you choose to only see that side of the man then to me you’re missing the point.</p>
<p id="oSTQ4f">His work at Bolton was revolutionary and to my mind speaks for the underlying modernity of English football today. Sports science, rehab, intelligence in the transfer market - all key tenets of Sam’s time at Bolton. </p>
<p id="zCwtGq">Often copied, rarely bettered.</p>
<blockquote><p id="Mq70nA"><strong>2) John McGinlay</strong></p></blockquote>
<p id="vF2VMZ">For years my absolute favourite human being and footballer.</p>
<p id="CC5ya9">I loved SJM. He was my favourite Wanderer back when I was a nipper heading to the match before I knew what it was to be a football supporter. </p>
<p id="jIbnIZ">To laugh at him joining the warm-up once the running was finished was to ignore what he had to bring to the table as a player. That oft-repeated goal against <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> in our sole Premier League season at Burnden Park speaks to a rare talent.</p>
<p id="Y5uo6Q">A short while ago I was lucky enough to speak to him as part of this site’s podcast. It was a very special experience and one I’ll never ever forget.</p>
<blockquote><p id="jXpoNH"><strong>3) Ivan Campo</strong></p></blockquote>
<p id="UDAHb0">I remember exactly where I was when he joined us. I was at the bar at the (now defunct) University Tavern at UCLAN, Preston.</p>
<p id="0WUNpd">To think that Bolton had signed someone who had won the European Cup with Real Madrid not two seasons prior was beyond comprehension. </p>
<p id="YTtUce">Campo was a wonderful player but more he was a wonderful person. An obviously committed soul, Ivan was a fan favourite at a time when we had a list of half a dozen who could easily have borne that title.</p>
<p id="IaWGPj">The nature of his departure still leaves a sour taste and I cannot wait for the day that he returns to the Reebok. My absolute man.</p>
<blockquote><p id="ESfynI"><strong>4) </strong><span><strong>Kevin Davies</strong></span></p></blockquote>
<p id="WF4YIt">Yeah a massive FU to those who may think this overly sentimental but in the interest of full disclosure there isn’t much that I particularly like about Bolton Wanderers in 2019.</p>
<p id="42eQBp">I don’t really like many of the players and I don’t really like the manager, meaning that all I have is the past.</p>
<p id="PLX0dM">Davies was a player who arrived with barely any fanfare but was someone who sheer force of will ended up being, in my opinion, one of the best players we’ve had in many, many a year.</p>
<p id="fuSDWF">His commitment, desire and obvious love of the club and town was apparent from day one and I loved every one of his appearances and goals for the side. There can be few players in recent years who match SKD’s desire and achievements whilst playing and captaining this club and I will love him forever as a result.</p>
<p id="FDhnX2">I don’t often miss writing for this site these days, it’s not quite the same place as the one I left behind and that’s on me, I totally accept that - the new broom has its own style, but I was jealous when the lads got to interview Kev. I would’ve given my right arm to be there for that show. He came across as a top guy and I was so happy to hear his stories. I bet there are a thousand more to be told.</p>
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<p id="r5MDMY">So there you go. My personal Mount Rushmore. I bet you don’t agree.</p>
<p id="5tCRfA">I don’t care. This is my list. There are many like it, but this one is mine.</p>
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https://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/2019/11/30/20989602/my-own-personal-bolton-wanderers-mount-rushmoreChris Manning