Five Things: Bolton Wanderers 3-1 MK Dons

Well what a terrific afternoon that was. It was almost like the old days - if the old days to you involve Bolton Wanderers comfortably defeating an inferior opponent - pretty much like every time we welcome Wigan Athletic to the Reebok Stadium.

So, onto my five talking points:

1) Is Rob Holding the Real Deal?

I think he might be, you know.

The 20 year old Tameside native had been performing superbly as a makeshift right-back in recent weeks, and moved into the centre of defence recently and continued this good form, which led to him keeping his place against MK Dons over Derik Osede. What a good call that was.

Holding was a calming influence to all around him. Impressive in the air, and even better on the ground against, admittedly, piss poor opposition, he was a clear candidate for Man of the Match.

A couple of lung-bursting runs forward accompanied his debut goal for the club, and capped a genuinely impressive all-round display from the academy graduate. He almost made Dorian Dervite look moderately competent. Almost.

2) Liam Feeney and Wellington Silva

A pair of more frustrating wingers you could ever wish to see - but both had superb games against MK Dons, for different reasons.

Starting with the on-loan Arsenal man, who couldn't make the game more complicated if he tried - he had his best game for Bolton Wanderers. Every trick worked and every jinking run led to a chance on goal for himself or a chance for a teammate. It was the perfect reply to those who have expressed frustration lately at his unpredictable style.

Liam Feeney on the other hand, played a really simplistic and basic game - and was all the better for it. He cut out the messing around on the ball, and the left-footed nonsense he tries on a regular basis. Instead he received the ball, ran at his man and crossed it into the middle.

Wing play is easy, but sometimes our lads make it look harder than it should be. Saturday saw a perfect combination of trickery and straightforward wing play and we looked all the better for it.

3) Gary Madine

The ex-Sheffield Wednesday man is an enigma.

He's clearly trying hard, and working just as hard (if a little in the Johan Elmander style of making it look like you're doing more than you actually are), but it's just not working for him.

Liam Feeney and Wellington Silva, amongst others (honourable mention to Dean Moxey), put in some superb crosses into the centre, but each time Madine struggled to get the best of the MK Dons defence which was frustrating, as he won every single header outside the box.

I know that we forgave Kevin Davies for his profligacy in front of goal, on account of his hard work outside of the penalty area, but that particular Bolton side found goals from elsewhere to compensate. When the team struggles and Madine is off his regular game then he's a passenger and one we can't afford.

Shola Ameobi came on late in the game and played the sort of penalty box game that we could do with Madine learning.

4) Liam Trotter's Triumphant Return

In addition to Wellington Silva and Liam Feeney having perhaps their best games for Bolton Wanderers, so did Liam Trotter.

The former Ipswich Town man sat on the halfway line and mopped up everything that MK Dons tried to throw at him.

For once he used his physique and as a result he showed a promise that has seldom been seen in his 18 months at the club.

Granted the opposition wasn't worth a damn, but Trotter dealt well with what was in front of him, and could even have nicked a goal had his second half shot not been deflected away by the Dons defence.

A hugely encouraging performance from another player who benefitted from taking a more simplistic approach to his own game.

5) The Takeover

It needs to happen and soon.

The club is existing in a state of flux, with information received about deadlines proving to be out of date almost as soon as it is posted. Changes to deadlines and to the type of deal being negotiated has caused huge delay and embarrassment to the club and to the fans who have to deal with the day to day nonsense that is part and parcel of being a Bolton Wanderers fan in 2016.

The recent debacle surrounding employee pay was another nail in the coffin, and the club barely dealt with the fallout of that particular shitshow.

As it stands and as I write this on Sunday night, whilst watching the 2005 Royal Rumble, the takeover has yet to be ratified and we remain up shit creek - if any of the interested parties are reading this (and lets face it, you are) then I implore you to take this great club and make it happen. We have the best fans in the world (except for those who use Twitter), and the potential that exists is formidable.

We're all sick to the back teeth of the present situation, and can only hope and pray that something changes, and changes soon.