Liams Weekly Column part I

27/08/15 Liam's Weekly Column: Part I

As Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers have selfishly decided to encroach into the slot normally reserved for myself and my Friday evening wine-infused ramblings, I have decided to nobly step aside and split my column into two smaller sections, allowing me to both look at the bigger picture and react to our biggest fixture so far.

Positivity: I seem to be in a rare camp that is actually quite pleased with how we have started. We seem a lot more solid than we have in recent years and with Derik Osede to be introduced amongst the squad again we can only get better.

New signing Prince-Désir Gouano in particular has impressed, although I still largely disagree with 7/1 first goalscorer odds placed on the defender (He's a defender Paddy Power, please take note).

It is widely reported that Prince has been signed in principle after his initial loan deal, wonderful stuff. Also, I have been impressed with Lawrie Wilson in the Right Back role. Wilson has grabbed his oppurtunity with both hands as Neil Lennon finalises recruitment in that position. Wilson has stood up to everyone he has faced aside from Nottingham Forest's talented winger Michail Antonio but even the harshest judge can let that slip. Keep up the good work Lawrie!

Another more positive note is how nice it has been seeing Jay Spearing back in a Bolton shirt. I like Spearing and I have been critical of him in the past only becuase I feel he is capable of becomming a top player with his unique skill set.

Cruicially, the former-Liverpool man has been much crisper in the passing department and with this he is far more complete and I suppose we have Gary Bowyer and Blackburn Rovers to thank for that.

Who else has been impressed when Emile Heskey has been thrown in? The big man looks leaner and meaner and I think off the bench, he can have a real impact this season.

Negativity: Goals, although I think we have been unlucky. In terms of performance, we are doing everything right and I cannot help but shake my head in dismay at the simplistic view of many that only results matter, It is August for fucks sake.

We are getting there and I'm confident that both Gary Madine and Zach Clough will begin to find the net regularly. Another real dissapointment so far this season is Josh Vela. Vela was surprisingly left out of early contention but after he was introduced, it could be seen why Lennon was perhaps reluctant to throw him in. When called upon, I have said in the past that I felt that Vela was a better right back than central midfielder and I starting to become sure of it and would hope to see some real improvement from Vela.

Blackburn: I fancy this one after we finally broke our goalscoring duck as Stephen Dobbie prevented Dougie Freedman from getting one over his former club. Blackburn Rovers despite the hard work of Gary Bowyer, a man too good for that club, have had a difficult start and I always fancy us on any trip to Ewood Park.

We will win, convincingly 4-0, you heard it here first.