Most important thing first. Hope everyone had a great Christmas Day and enjoying the festive season. On to the football. Today its Parkinson v Hill as Bolton hit the road and travel to Sunderland for the boxing day fixture. The 2nd fixture between the clubs this season. Looking back to September at the unibol an injury time mcgeady pen cancelled out jack Hobbs goal. Sunderland then managed by jack ross were 5th and looked well set for at least a push for the play offs. Fast forward to today Phil Parkinson seems to be taking the club backwards. Seems familiar? 2 wins from 13 and 6 points off 6th place Sunderland fans are getting restless. From a Bolton point of view we were 15 points from safety after that game the same as today. Despite hill and flitcrofts hard work and the decent home form the away record of 1 win and 7 defeats is stopping Bolton making progress. Games are running out, a big game for both clubs. Team news. Key players alnwick, Crawford, Hobbs, Buckley and bunney still injured, brockbank not far from a return. 1 likely change today. Chicksen at left back with earl moving to cb and bridcutt to midfield. My thoughts. A well organised parky side to exploit Bolton's weakness at centre half/keeper and be too strong for Bolton at the back. Temporary reprieve for parky. 1-0 Sunderland. Hope I'm wrong.
Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers
posted on 27/12/19
Ben Alnwick has had the rest of his contract cancelled by mutual consent and left the club. The ghost of Gerard cid called this one on another thread. Opens up a squad place. Will he be replaced like for like or keep Alexander as back up?
posted on 27/12/19
https://www.sunderlandecho.com/sport/football/sunderland-afc/latest-sunderland-afc-news/phil-parkinson-explains-decision-bring-laurens-de-bock-tom-flanagan-after-sunderland-fans-slam-tactics-1350362
🤣🤣🤣
posted on 27/12/19
I thought Parkinson was a lot better than that especially at this level. Maybe, just maybe the issue is with Sunderland here.
As for Alnwick I think the strain of travelling back and forward to family along with not being paid for huge spells finally got to him. I wish him all the best but I do suspect we've already got a replacement lined up.
posted on 27/12/19
My own thoughts are sooner or later give our own young keepers a go. Jussi junior is doing well at crewe. Alexander looks a good prospect so would seem strange getting another one in when restricted to 23 pros. Usually allowed an emergency loan outside the window anyway if haven't got a fit keeper so no point stocking up on 3 of them.
posted on 27/12/19
There is going to be a big recruitment drive next summer, how many players have we got contracted past summer, 2 or 3 is it?
It is going to be a long and well travelled road ahead.
posted on 27/12/19
The embargo affects the scholars so Buckley out darcy in. The rest don't see any other worth a pro contract at the moment .
posted on 28/12/19
comment by Isaac Hunt (Just like Them) (U2586)
posted 11 hours, 52 minutes ago
There is going to be a big recruitment drive next summer, how many players have we got contracted past summer, 2 or 3 is it?
It is going to be a long and well-traveled road ahead.
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Maybe the player who have a one year contract will decide to stay if Hill deems them good enough.
posted on 28/12/19
comment by SUPERWHITEINEXILE (U2020)
posted 8 hours, 3 minutes ago
comment by Isaac Hunt (Just like Them) (U2586)
posted 11 hours, 52 minutes ago
There is going to be a big recruitment drive next summer, how many players have we got contracted past summer, 2 or 3 is it?
It is going to be a long and well-traveled road ahead.
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Maybe the player who have a one year contract will decide to stay if Hill deems them good enough.
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I would have thought 💠with a one year contract they would be staying anyway, isn’t that why they have a contract for one year. 😉
posted on 28/12/19
https://www.burndenaces.co.uk/bolton-wanderers-squad-list/
take your pick
posted on 28/12/19
Buckley has to go, chicksen looks vulnerable if earl stays. May come down to money, cheaper extending a loan than give new contracts out. Tough one as looks good going forward but defensively poor. Also depend when bunney is back.