The Beginning of the End for Sam?
Posted by Ratbert in Bolton, Sam Aladyce | 6 April 2006
So, the awesome spectre of December 2004 raises its ugly head again. Remember then? Six defeats in a row, yet we still made Europe. After Tuesday night’s debacle, that’s looking less likely.
What’s gone wrong? Since this blog started (am I a walking curse?), the Wanderers’ form has been extremely patchy – as well as our bad run, two cup competitions have gone to dust and Sam seems more interested in the England job than anything else (and he’s rumoured to be on the final shortlist, so maybe his pleading wasn’t quite in vain).
Let’s look at the unfolding, unravelling scenario…
Birmingham the other night was cold, chaotic and uninspired. Both teams looked nervous and shaky, which probably explained the poor passing, lack of shots on goal (Jarosik’s being the honourable exception) and frequent aerial knock-abouts. They probably wanted it a little bit more, which was understandable, but playing deep, shackling Stelios and trying to force throw-ins (something the linesman wised up to) wasn’t going to get a point. The inexplicable arrival of Hunt for O’Brien had collective shoulders slumping, Borgetti’s extended-more-than-usual cameo showed why he isn’t up to a first team start, and why leave Vaz Te so late? Sam has to admit he got it wrong, though the team didn’t aid the cause.
It could be they are tired, or deflated and aimless after all the other exploits of the season so far. Or perhaps all Sam’s paper talk is unsettling the lads more than he realises. Either way, I found myself asking the question; has Sam jumped the shark, has he peaked at Bolton and we are now at the start of the dip downwards? Have we gone as far as we can under his stewardship? Truth be told, it is too early to judge that. It will take events in the summer transfer market, the budget provided and the players towards the top of the wish list actually signed, to determine how the next campaign will unfurl.
Back to the coming weeks, then. Liverpool away. Great! Then Chelsea home – another fixture with a less then glowing recent record for us, followed by a trip to see a West Brom team fighting for their lives. Not terribly encouraging to the pessimist in us.
But how many times have Bolton achieved the unexpected? One good draw could set the ball rolling again, one scrappy win would be a landslide in our favour. Keep the faith!!
