Take A Deep Breath, Please...

I'm fishing for positives and a reason to convince myself that all is not lost so early in the season. So, after looking over our fixture list, breaking it down by month, factoring in returning players and new signings, I'm beginning to feel slightly more hopeful.

December
Despite our dismal form I still see all remaining December games as winnable providing we can get the first goal. Although we desperately need a win, a draw (I know!) away at Fulham would be a decent point in my opinion. 6 points against relegation fodder, Blackburn and Wolves (no offense to them intended - I put us into that category too) is absolutely necessary. Newcastle IMO are currently 'punching above their weight' and I think at least a point is a distinct possibility. This could possibly keep us within touching distance of 4th from bottom and give us the lifeline needed to convince the squad that we can actually get out of this mess.

Fulham (A)
Blackburn (A)
Newcastle (H)
Wolves (H)

January
Horrific fixtures and in all honesty I don't see us getting a single point from these 4 fixtures. However, there are a couple of positives to be looked at:

1) The January transfer window
- We desperately need a left back and I can't see Coyle taking long to get someone in. Only an idiot would keep faith with Robinson given the way he is targeted by our opposition week in, week out. And, only a double-idiot would be reliant on Alonso returning from injury and being the player we need in that position.

- Cahill will probably be gone and quite frankly on current form I'm not convinced it will be the end of the world. The guy's body language is as bad as anything I've seen in a long time and I think to be fair to everyone he should be allowed to go in January in hope that he can keep his place in the England team. With his departure, there is no way on God's earth that Gartside and Co will leave us wanting in this position. If we don't replace him with a quality center half we are dead and buried.

- It's pointless guessing who else we will see arrive before the window closes and I'm not confident we will see much strengthening other than the above but you never know. Coyle, Garty etc. may just surprise us!

2) The long awaited return of potentially key players.
- Finger's crossed, Sam Ricketts, Joe Riley and Sean Davis will be match fit. I know we were all split down the middle on the Ricketts/Steinsson debate but given Steinsson's recent form and current relationship with Coyle, Rickett's will make a very welcome return. Riley will provide good cover too and between them they give me more confidence in shutting down the relentless attacks down that side. I know Sean Davis isn't the kind of player we should be pinning our hopes on, especially having spent so long on the injury list, but if he can get back to his Portsmouth form during the January fixtures he could be just what we need. He won't set the world alight but I'm told he had a big impact on Portsmouth's win ratio when playing.

Everton (H)
Man Utd (A)
Liverpool (H)
Arsenal (H)

February
Huge in terms of being able to acquire a realistic 6 points from 2 teams that will no doubt be struggling at the wrong end of the table come February. Chelsea will murder us but I see this as the genuine turning point of our season and the opportunity to gradually claw our way our of serious trouble.

Norwich (A)
Wigan (H)
Chelsea (A)

March
One or two lost causes here but this begins our run-in to an easier fixture list for the remainer of the season. We can take something from Villa and QPR. Blackburn and Wolves must win games and definitely an opportunity to climb the table.
We may also see the return of Holden, Lee and Mears mid-March although I seriously doubt they'll have much impact on the outcome of these games.

Man City (A)
QPR (H)
Villa (A)
Blackburn (H)
Wolves (A)

April
With the momentum of a few wins, confidence swelling and Holden and Lee with a couple of games under their belts we'll see a decent points haul from these games. Nothing much to worry about here other than Tottenham's battle to finish in the Champions League places.

Fulham (H)
Newcastle (A)
Tottenham (H)
Swansea (H)
Sunderland (A)

May
Win. Win. Down to the wire but Mr. Coyle will be back in our good books and you'll all be saying 'I told you so' yet again.

West Brom (H)
Stoke (A)

Call me foolish and challenge my points but I'm keeping the faith. December is MASSIVE for Bolton Wanderers and they'll have to dig very deep as a unit to keep us in touch during a nasty January.

COYW!