Bolton Wanderers Question Time: Bristol City

Bolton Wanderers face off against Bristol City tomorrow, in another "must win do-or-die relegation scrap" for the Whites after they slumped to a midweek defeat away at Ipswich Town.

To get the lowdown on the next opponents who will no doubt easily brush Wanderers aside, I talked to City fan Freddie Blake:

1) How do you rate your start of the season?

Pretty awful. Our terrible transfer window has left us seriously lacking options and weak in the midfield. We've played well in most matches but we constantly get exposed by far more ruthless opposition. However, recently things have picked up with 8 points in the past 6 games and one of those defeats being away to Brighton. Our depressing tendency to concede late appears to have finally started to go away.

2) Why have you gone from being able to play such attractive football in League One to struggling in the Championship?

Unsurprisingly after the transfer window (see answer on that below) we had we have been trying to catch up ever since. Key players from last season like Joe Bryan, Luke Freeman and Aden Flint have looked out of their depth while we have an unfortunate predisposition to miss chances and see the opposition take theirs, the 4-1 defeat to Fulham being a ruthless example.

3) Is Steve Cotterill the right man to keep you up?

When he arrived the club we were at rock bottom, I remember watching the game before he started: a dire 1-0 defeat away to Preston which saw us rooted to the foot of League One having had a single league win in the previous 9 months. Since his appointment the response was exceptional, an incredible end to the 13-14 season saw us go from 24th to 10th and with canny recruitment League One and the Johnston's Paint Trophy were taken with ease last year, even after losing top scorer Sam Baldock. However, his inability to be flexible during a match or make proactive substitutions is making me increasingly worried that he is out of his depth in the Championship.

4) How was your summer of recruitment, you didn't manage to bring many players in despite making several crazy bids for players?

Simply abysmal, and almost laughable. After winning League One at a canter, clinching the title with a 6-0 win at Bradford in April, the transfer window was an unmitigated disaster. Despite having months after promotion to secure new talent the club proceeded to fail in every area they tried to strengthen culminating in the desperate £9 million bids for strikers Andre Grey and Dwight Gayle. We even had a loanee leave us after one month with rumours of a training ground bust up trailing in his wake. Coupled with the loss of players like Wade Elliott and Jay Emmanuel Thomas (why he was released no one knows) the window left an already small squad looking threadbare and ensured we couldn't even fill the subs bench. Still waiting for our chairman Steve Lansdown (worth around $1.75bn) to finally spend some on the squad, to be fair though he is ploughing £50m into upgrading the stadium.

5) One player you did sign, Jonathan Kodjia, has been scoring a few this year, what's he like?

Sadly Kodjia won't be with us for much longer, French League 2 player of the season last year the £2.1m cost of buying him looks increasingly like a masterstroke. Quick, incredibly strong and excellent with the ball at his feet the only thing he lacks is a clinical edge. He makes the rest of our attack look ordinary and it must be incredibly frustrating for him having to play with them! Expect to see him in the Premier League soon.

6) Remember Nicky Hunt? Why do Bristol fans hate him?

My Dad, who has watched football for over 40 years and was a Manchester United season ticket holder in the 80s summed it up when he came to a match: Nicky Hunt is quite simply the worst player he has ever seen on a pitch. When I say he would not make Sunday League that is the truth. The final nail in the coffin was when he came on at Elland Road with the scores at 1-1. In ten minutes Leeds has got two, both down his side. Also, I don't think he ever made a tackle. Widly regarded as the worse City player ever, perhaps with only Bas Savage (who tripped over what looked like his own shadow once when he was clean through on goal) rivalling him.

7) Aside from Kodjia, who are your best players?

Last season Freeman, our attacking midfielder was exceptional but he's been off the boil this term. It might sound boring but our loanee Nathan Baker from Aston Villa is immense in the centre back role, it was not real shock that without him last Saturday we crumbled against Fulham. The only reason he is in the Championship is to prove he can play a season without injury and it shows, a class above.

8) How will Bristol try and play on Saturday?

3-5-2 with Kodjia and either Aaron Wilbraham (god I hope not, he's simply shocking) or Kieran Agard up front. The full backs can get badly exposed when we are caught high up the pitch without the ball. Freeman, the one with long blonde hair, tries to dictate things in midfield, and has largely failed so far this year.

9) Any Bolton players you're concerned about?

To be honest I know very little about the Bolton side these days, need to get another Football Manager to brush up on my Championship players!

10) You looking forward to your trip to the Macron?

Should be good, on paper the chances are there for a decent City result and the stadium looks lovely.

11) Finally, how do you see the game going and what's your score prediction?

With such a small squad and with this being our 4th game in 11 days I don't expect much, 1-1 with Bolton getting a late equaliser.

We thank Freddie for his time!