Afternoon folks,
Caught Big Sam speaking on the Sports Breakfast on talkSport this morning. He touched on his days with us and in particular in Europe saying the away days were the best thing ever in his managerial career.
It just took me back, along with today's draw, about "those days". We only had a small squad back then, but obviously it was full of international players who had been there and done it. I also remember up to last season we were always fortunate with injuries, in these 10/11 years in the Premier League; we never really had players out long term, just a few weeks. Its like we are now paying the price with all these long term injuries at once.
I remember before a home game years ago on the big screen at the Reebok it had our record in Europe. I remember it having statements like: "Unbeaten in the group stage. Unbeaten in all home games in Europe. Only English team to win at Red Star Belgrade". There was probably more but I remember these three and by god, I felt immensely proud. How times have changed eh?
By the way, Sam was asked to name his three best signings.
"Simple". He said.
"Jay Jay Okocha"
"Youri Djorkaeff" ( or Jorkaeff as Big Sam used to pronounce it which made me chuckle )
"Fernando Hierro".
Oh how I wish we had these three available tomorrrow. Then again,didn't Jay Jay make his debut against Fulham and was taken off after 45 mins, because he was that poor and off the pace.
He didn't look back after that...
How times can change...
posted on 16/12/11
Bolton will always be in his heart.
I'd certainly not be adverse to his return. But as said above, he won't while Phil Gartside is here...
posted on 16/12/11
Gettin' BSA back ...what massive boost that would be, if it ever becomes a possibility
...then we could ' do it all again !! Come back up from the Championship wilderness, be feared and respected once more in the Prem .... and everything else those halycon days gave to Bolton fans!
24 carat times indeed ..... as opposed to the 24 carrot times we get served up today
posted on 16/12/11
Funny that all 3 players he named were Lauras that could dictate a game.
Comfortable on the ball, composed, made the right decisions, not rushing to get forward all the time.
As much as people say that Allardyce is a one trick pony, he built a team that could play for a win or a draw. Compare that with Coyle and he will only play his way. To win all the time.
By god, it must have been easy being a manager back then, with the likes of those 3 in your team.
Unfortunately though, we are literally paying the price for that success now.
posted on 16/12/11
My shout out to Laura should say 'players'. Don't know how that happened.
posted on 16/12/11
Good player that Laura until her glass back snapped...
posted on 16/12/11
More like 'playa', LW
posted on 16/12/11
Oh to be back to those days - Bolton doing well, all my mates working together again, and of course the women weren't bad either back then. And I had a better user name on the BBC forerunner to this!!!
posted on 16/12/11
I miss my old username..... 🇪🇸
posted on 16/12/11
What was it ?
posted on 16/12/11
LW you are Dave Pundit and I claim my £5 (because I spotted the deliberate mistakes - see Euro away fixtures - Red Star Belgrade)