Door Closing on Europe for Bolton
Posted by Ratbert in Bolton, Sam Aladyce, Steve McClaren | 2 May 2006
Post match musings: Spurs 1 Bolton 0, and match preview: Bolton v Middlesbrough, Wednesday 3 May, 8.00pm
I only heard Sunday’s game on the radio, but by all counts we had the better of the action and two cast-iron penalties rejected. Still, it matters not as we lost 1-0 and, barring a remarkable finale, our route to Europe is now steeper than the same Mount Everest Big Sam plans to ascend. The thought of Robbie Savage playing European football: hideous and unjustified. Still, petty hates aside, there’s always the Intertoto Cup. It’s like the dear old Freight Rover Trophy all over again. But if it works, it works.
We have deserved a second season of European football, in my opinion, as the team has moved largely forward in a positive sense. There has been more progression of individual players, more sense of cohesion and a growing belief that Bolton’s stay in the top flight is not just a blip (unlike dear old Birmingham City, who believed they were a regular top six side; oops). For those still harping on that we are ‘bullies’ and a ‘long ball team’ look at the fact that most of our goals came from midfield this season. That a midfield player, Kevin Nolan, has been consistently championed for England. And that we have had an outstanding candidate for said national team manager. For the many out there who regard this season as a failure and a backward, step, pish. Who else in Bolton’s recent history could embrace such accolades? Michael Ricketts? OK then, fair cop.
Speaking of Big Sam and England, the phrase ‘whistling in the dark’ springs to mind. For all McClaren’s ginger barnet and gaping hole where the charisma should be, he’s ahead of Sam in the queue, and deservedly so. A Carling Cup, knowledge of the England set-up and a UEFA Cup final puts him head and shoulders above the domestic-bred field. So Sam, stop embarrassing us with your Oliver Twist-style pleading and get us back into the playing fields of the continent, thanks.
So tomorrow night comes the last game in hand against – well get this! Middlesbrough. The next England manager vs the wannabe. It has to be said Boro’ seem to get the better of us when it comes down to it, be it jobs, trophies and competitions. And sometimes results. The recent 4-3 reverse at the Riverside was, for me, the point the scales tipped away from us. So can we grab a win and keep our hopes alive? Play like we have the last two games, and a win is possible, Boro’ must feel tired soon given their recent exertions and it would be nice to have a weakened team to play against, especially as that seems to be the only way we can put away chances right now. The big team news is that arguably our best player of late, Ricardo Gardner, misses this and possibly Birmingham – Nolan may or may not be out again (rib injury, apparently) and Diouf is persona non grata at the moment. Otherwise, expect the usual Borgetti/Vaz te/Okocha/Stelios merry-go-round again.
And we win 2-0, Blackburn lose to the champs, and City do us a favour on the last day?
