Former Everton Centre Forward Duncan Ferguson steps into management.....

[The Penalty Box Dancer]

TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY

Duncan Ferguson was busy from morning until night trying to seal deals for players to help bolster the second half of the Championship campaign and Bolton's bid for survival. 36 year old Jamie Vardy was a name linked with Bolton but Troyes of Ligue 1 stated the player was not for sale. Everton's 34 year old full back Seamus Coleman was also a proposed target for Ferguson but instead signed for FC Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League. As the day progressed Celtic made a bid for young attacking midfielder Jim Molyneux which was rejected but a few hours later an improved bid of £200k came in and with the player reportedly wanting to move to the Scottish Premiership, the bid was accepted. Ferguson was quick to replace and brought in Jake Jones from Southampton on loan and pulled off a late transfer for Vitesse right back Nathan Byrne previously of Wigan Athletic. With time ticking down, Ferguson was keen to bring a Centre Forward to the club and a last minute loan deal was struck with Arsenal for Tyrese John-Jules. The 21 year old was interested in the loan move up North and the deal got over the line in time for the 11pm deadline.


INS



OUTS

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[The Penalty Box Dancer]

TOUGH START FOR FERGUSON



After the shock defeat to Swansea City there was still optimism at the University of Bolton Stadium. A sell-out crowd was keen to see Ferguson in action and 6th place QPR were the visitors. Bolton were up against it from the off and but Bolton were focused and defended well. QPR had two chances decided by goal line technology with the ball not fully crossing the line on both occasions. Ben Amos made some spectacular saves in goal to keep The Trotters in the game and it was enough to take a point against tough opposition.



Three days later Bolton were hosts to League leaders Newcastle United. 17 minutes in when the deadlock was broken as Xhedan Shakiri swung in a cross to the far post for the head of Sander Berge to rise above the defence and make it 1-0. Bolton looked good at times when they were in possession and attacking midfielder Oztumer had two shots in the first half from range that just narrowly missed the goal. Shakiri scored a wonderful free-kick on 35 minutes to give the magpies a 2-0 lead and at this point going into half-time seemed in full control. Bolton had a corner whipped in and as Rafael Mir went for the ball he was pushed to the ground by Lanzini. Oztumer took the penalty but Dubravka guessed right and palmed the ball to safety. Bolton were devastated not to score. 13 minute after the break and Oztumer crossed in the free-kick to the far post to find centre back Bellusci who knocked it down for Greg Doherty to poke into the net. 2-1 and a way back for Bolton. It wasn't for long as Newcastle put Bolton under pressure, Muto could not find his way through the packed Bolton defence so had a shot which took a harsh deflection off centre back Streete and wrong-footed Amos in goal to give Newcastle a 2 goal cushion. To finish the game off, in the 80th minute Muto turned provider when he crossed for El Mhassani who headed past Amos to make it 4-1. Aerial balls certainly a problem for Bolton. Striker Mason Murphy had a chance to grab a consolation goal but blazed his shot well over the bar. Newcastle looked solid away from home and Bolton - a defensive shambles.




Barnsley vs Bolton as Oakwell and a good start ensued for Bolton, getting the ball forward early and looking to create chances but Barnsley held their nerve and were the team to eventually break the deadlock on 28 minutes. Amaechi crossed into the box but Amos maanged to get hold of the ball but dropped it into the path of Srbeny who reacted quickly to knock it over the line. A poor way to concede and two minutes later another cross came in for Eliasson who was unmarked at the far post to stab the ball into the net. Defensively terrible once again from crosses. All goals of the game came in the first half and Daniel Batty laid one into the path of his midfield partner Greg Doherty who blasted in from long range into the bottom corner but Bolton were unable to grab an equaliser. Greg Doherty had a fine game in the centre of the park but the rest of the team failed to play on the same wavelength. On loan striker John-Jules still waiting to recover from a minor injury before making his Bolton debut.

DF: It's not the start I had in mind, we have identified some weaknesses in our game and we have got to get better. The goals are not coming and this is an issue. The strikers on the field are not doing enough and that was one area I tried to rectify on deadline day. I'm not criticising Mason Murphy or Rafael Mir here but I am expecting them to step up their game. I am expecting the defence to unite and step up their game. We are making too many errors at the back and concentration levels are an issue. I will get this right, this is why I am here.

CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE AFTER 33 GAMES


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[Yarrgh]

Really tough run of fixtures. A real baptism of fire.

 

[The Penalty Box Dancer]

ZIDANE LEAVES UNITED

Carlo Ancelotti has been sacked as manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Zinedine Zidane has taken over at White Hart Lane.

Champions of England Manchester United are currently looking for a new manager to help the side in third place push league leaders Liverpool who are 8 points clear at the top.

Tottenham sit in fourth place 5 points behind United hoping to stake their claim for a Champions League place this season. Bournemouth are in fifth, 2 points behind Spurs.

In other news Ryan Giggs has taken charge at Sunderland. ​

 

[JimmyJeffers]

ZIDANE LEAVES UNITED

Carlo Ancelotti has been sacked as manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Zinedine Zidane has taken over at White Hart Lane.

Champions of England Manchester United are currently looking for a new manager to help the side in third place push league leaders Liverpool who are 8 points clear at the top.

Tottenham sit in fourth place 5 points behind United hoping to stake their claim for a Champions League place this season. Bournemouth are in fifth, 2 points behind Spurs.

In other news Ryan Giggs has taken charge at Sunderland. ​

How are Flyde doing mate?

 

[Yarrgh]

How are Flyde doing mate?

Zidane could end up there. I'm not sure he could handle the fish bowl lifestyle of being in charge at a one football club town though.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

Zidane could end up there. I'm not sure he could handle the fish bowl lifestyle of being in charge at a one football club town though.

If Fylde bring in that breeze block head I’m truly done with the game. Awful man.

 

[Yarrgh]

If Fylde bring in that breeze block head I’m truly done with the game. Awful man.

Behave! He's the French Arsene Wenger.

 

[The Penalty Box Dancer]

FERGUSON: RESULTS WILL COME



Another poor display from Bolton Wanderers as Aston Villa cruised to victory in a one-sided game at Villa Park. Bolton conceded after 2 minutes after another ball across the face of goal was left for Alioski to come in at the far post and put into the net with a hand from Ben Amos. Bolton played the ball forward well on 39 minutes when Robertson found Doherty outside the box who fed a through ball to Rafael Mir who hit it first time against the post. The assistant referee had raised his flag as Mir miss-timed his run onto goal. A few minutes later and Hourihane scored for Villa with a free kick on the edge of the box which Amos got a hand to but could not keep it out. The game already looking over as both sides went into half-time. Bolton could not find a way into the game as Villa launched a counter attack with winger El Ghazi running unchallenged passing it forward to Hepburn-Murphy with a one touch pass to Doran who the knocked it on to Alisoski for his second. 3-0 and the game well and truly over.

DF: There is work to be done and a lot of it at that. We cannot carry on playing as we are and we were simpky not at the races today. The results will come, it's a process and there's a lot of work needed here.



Ferguson's words rang true and if this game was the benchmark then expect some solid football from Bolton Wanderers to come. They flew out of the blocks and played with a tempo Hull City could not match or get near. Sean Robertson was instrumental down the right wing as he pounced foward to supply a wonderful cross for Rafael Mir to volley into the back of the net. A rare lead for Bolton and the fans were enjoying the start. Bolton were caught on the counter when Morgan picked off Robertson to take the ball forward putting it into the mix for Martinez to scramble home. Hull back in the game and with a point looking likely it was Cavare hitting a right footed effort out of nothing to give Bolton all three points. A wonderful goal after a touch back from Robertson and Cavare unleased his foot sending the ball flying into the top corner. The whole team celebrating with manager Duncan Ferguson with The Trotters supporters in complete bewilderment at the event unfolding in front of them.



It was an away trip over to the East Coast against The Tractor Boys and Bolton had to deal with a first half of heavy pressure. Fortunately they got into the break still at 0-0 with Ipswich's terrible finishing to be thankful for. Second half started and it was much brighter for Bolton when left winger Dwight McNeill turned himself hero with a maizy run forward to launch a shot from the edge of the box clear of the hands of Ipswich keeper Sarkic. A wonder goal for the winger. With twenty minutes to go Daniel Batty whipped in the corner for Bellusci who had his shot saved by Sarkic but McNeill was on hand to finish the rebound sliding the ball over the line. 2-0 to Bolton and a rare away win. Two wins on the run for The Trotters and next up is Ryan Giggs' Sunderland at The University of Bolton stadium.

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[The Penalty Box Dancer]

AFC FYLDE ON BRINK OF RELEGATION



Joey Barton picks up one win beating Peterborough United 2-1. With the team struggling to find any form it looks inevitable The Coasters are heading back down.

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[Yarrgh]

Smashing the tractor boys and the tigers. Get in. Up the trotters.

Joey Barton is a so bad he has made Fylde look like a car crash. They deserve what they get after giving Dunc and the Huck the flick. Down with the Coasters.

 

[Zatara]

15th is decent for bolton and then need to aim for a mass clearout in the summer and to put fergusons mark on the squad

 

[The Penalty Box Dancer]

Smashing the tractor boys and the tigers. Get in. Up the trotters.

Joey Barton is a so bad he has made Fylde look like a car crash. They deserve what they get after giving Dunc and the Huck the flick. Down with the Coasters.

Chairmen and their over ambitious idealistic seasons. If they stuck with Ferguson he could've guided them to safety. Who knows?

 

[The Penalty Box Dancer]

15th is decent for bolton and then need to aim for a mass clearout in the summer and to put fergusons mark on the squad

The summer will be massive.

 

[Yarrgh]

15th is decent for bolton and then need to aim for a mass clearout in the summer and to put fergusons mark on the squad

Finger on the pulse here. Next season could see an entirely different first 11.