Bolton Wanderers - SAFC Blog

Middlesbrough, Villa, Fulham, Sheffield Wed, Leeds, Norwich top six. Bristol and Burton Albion – ‘nul points’

July 6, 2017July 2, 2017 by Colin Randall

John McCormick: We're not bottom, so is it a Happy Christmas? — *John McCormick. Going for a Burton*

Should I be disappointed? Not with the goings-on at the offices and by the officers of Sunderland Football Club but with the response to my “who’ll be the top six” poll. In 2015 our “who’s going down” poll had over 7,000 votes cast, last year we had over 2,500.

This year it wasn’t until events at the club brought in new readers that we got past 1,000 votes. To date we have had perhaps 200-300 readers bothering to take part. What’s more, whereas in the past we have had interesting and entertaining comments from fans from other clubs this year we had had nothing. Is this what the championship’s like? Or is it the Ellis Short effect? I don’t know.

‘I won a few things with them and had a little bit of success’

March 24, 2017March 23, 2017 by Colin Randall

No game, and no need – or desire – for a relegation review so soon after the last one, which means I’m taking another meander around the Northwest to bring you up to date, more or less, with some of the clubs on this side of the Pennines.

I was going to title this piece “take a walk on the west side” in homage to wrinkly Pete’s propensity for including songs. You’ll find out why I didn’t at the end.

Blackpool, Bolton, Blackburn and even Morecambe. Is there a warning for us?

January 27, 2017 by Colin Randall

John McCormick writes: I was thinking of updating our “Relegation watch” this weekend, seeing as there’s no football on, but with a couple of days to go before the transfer window shuts it feels like it’s too early to complete the “before and after” picture. I could have given you my view of Deloitte’s Money Football League but in recent seasons that has been pushed into the summer and I like it there. So I’ve decided to do another of my occasional visits to clubs on this side of the Pennines, where there is plenty of food for thought.

SAFC v Swansea ‘Who are You?’: 10 out of 10 for the Swans or just 9.5?

January 27, 2013January 27, 2013 by Colin Randall

Jake asks the question — Jake wants answers

Jim White* is a happy Swansea City supporter, vice-chairman of the Swans Trust that part-owns the club, the owner of his own email marketing company and the man behind the leading Swans fan website SCFC2.co.uk. He is loving life in the Premier (and since writing this a trip to Wembley – ed) just as much as when he was last here and will be flying high, up in the sky, to keep the white flag flying at the Stadium of Light …

Bolton Soapbox: at least we’re spared another cup defeat to Everton

January 16, 2013 by Colin Randall

Out with a whimper, says Jake — Was there even a whimper, asks Jake, correcting himself

Ruby Tuesday. Had Sunderland won last night, that 40th anniversary cup run would still have been on – if only until the visit of Everton that won’t now be needed. An abysmal display against Bolton Wanderers, watched by a paltry crowd of 17,500 including our own, occasionally rejoicing but less occasionally suffering Pete Sixsmith, must have had poor old Bob Stokoe spinning in his grave. Another year, at least to wait for anything resembling the 1973 adventures. Pete’s considered judgement: awful, awful, awful – why do we bother? …

Martin’s Musings on Bolton debacle: meek and mild

January 16, 2013 by Colin Randall

The only man for the job? — Reason to be less than cheerful

Martin O’Neill could have put it an awful lot more strongly. Instead, in his post-match e-mail to Monsieur Salut, he chooses a mild form of rebuke for his players after an embarrassing capitulation to Bolton Wanderers – whose fans, mocked for their no-show at the Reebok, can also chortle at the size of the Stadium of Light attendance, just 17,500 – and rues a “bitterly disappointing” and meek end to those fanciful 40th anniversary dreams …

Sixer’s Sevens: SAFC 0 Bolton 2 – from premature ecstasy to familiar misery

January 16, 2013 by Colin Randall

Did we allow ourselves to be carried away by a good display against woeful opposition? Or was this just a dreadful day at the office of the kind most people in regular employment have suffered? Either way, Bolton Wanderers – a team with reason to be more concerned about the league – came, saw the limited threat mustered against them and conquered. Pete Sixsmith, as is usually the case, weas there to bear the pain on behalf of those unable to make it and this is where you find the latest of his seven-word matchday verdicts …

What we made of Bolton Wanderers

January 15, 2013 by Colin Randall

Robert Hurst, from the Bolton Wanderers fan site Burnden Aces, answered our questions. But first we answered his: …

West Ham sliced, now for the cup: guess the Bolton score

January 14, 2013 by Colin Randall

'Tight git, giving one away but with strings', says Jake — ‘Tight git, giving one away but with strings’, says Jake

Before getting on to Bolton Wanderers and Guess the Score, here is one small piece of unfinished business from the West Ham match.

For my last words on the satisfactory afternoon’s work on Saturday, I shared with readers of the ESPN FC site the thought, already expressed on these pages, that the good, loud contingent Hammers support deserved better than the miserable display their team offered them.

Sixer’s Bolton Soapbox: Gardner and Brighton conspire to beat our Supersub’s blues

January 8, 2013January 6, 2013 by malcolm

With Pete Sixsmith otherwise engaged on family matters, once again Supersub Robert Chapman steps up to the plate with his thoughts on the game at Bolton. It’s fair to say that he wouldn’t have been the only Sunderland fan in a good mood as kick off loomed, as the not unexpected news from Brighton got the afternoon off to a fine start. Certainly the BBC Newcastle team were in upbeat mood about the Black Cats’ cahances as the teams were announced but as Nick Barnes warned, potential banana skins await the overconfident.

And so it proved, as once again the Sunderland team put its supporters through the gamut of emotions with relief and renewed expectation of a 40th anniversary FA Cup run as the final whistle blew. Mind you had we known in advance the identity of our potential 4th round opponents there may have been a little less confidence. Still bogey teams are there to be beaten but first there’s still a tricky replay to negotiate.

It's Bob Chapman on this week's soapbox but Pete's smiling anyway — It’s Bob Chapman on this week’s soapbox but Pete’s smiling anyway