Behind Enemy Lines: A Bolton Wanderers Fans View

Next up in our Behind Enemy Lines installment we meet up with Bolton fan Mark Heys who did the corresponding fixture last season. Mark runs a Bolton fan site Walking Down The Manny Road and here we get his views ahead of United's match, his thoughts on Bolton and the season ahead.

Questions compiled by Aphrodite (Tuesday 23rd August 2005)

Q: You started the season with a 2-2 draw with Aston Villa. Was it an encouraging start to the season, or a disappointment?

We have never had a decent Premiership record away to Aston Villa so a 2-2 draw was acceptable in that sense. On the other hand it could have been so much more as we had a blatant goal by Kevin Nolan ruled out in the second half for offside.

Q: The Bolton policy over the past few years appears to have been to buy 'experienced foreigners' such as Hierro, Candela and Youri Djorkaeff. Do you think the policy has paid off for Bolton?

Definitely so, I don't think anyone realised just how important the signing of Youri Djorkaeff was going to be to the future of the club. I think that a big-name signing such as that opened doors for other quality players to follow and it has worked in our favour because they are still able to perform at the top level here in England.

Q: Sam Allardyce has said that he wants to bring in five new singings before the transfer window closes. Who would you like to see at the club?

We are woefully short on defensive cover at the moment so two full backs are a necessity before the transfer window closes. Co-incidentally former Newcastle defender Olivier Bernard has been training with us recently so he could well be someone in Sam's thinking to compete with Ricardo Gardner.

Also, after Sunday's game the manager remarked about the lack of cutting edge up front so that too maybe looked at despite the recent signing of Jared Borgetti.

Q: Hidetoshi Nakata has been brought in on a season-long loan. What are your views on his singing?

I think that Hide will be an excellent signing for us and not just from a commercial point of view. His playing ability alone will help improve our squad to the fullest and keep those already in the midfield positions on their toes. Personally I feel he will make a similar impact to the Djorkaeff's, Okocha's and Hierro's of this world.

Q: Ipswich Town were relegated in a similar scenario to yours three years ago, having qualified for Europe. Do you think the squad can successfully balance European and domestic football, or will it prove to be too much?

It remains to be seen how we juggle the schedule, but the noises coming from the players and management staff over the summer are positive. The Premiership will always remain the number one target out of the two competitions but I think the lads will just go out and enjoy the UEFA Cup without pressure.

Q: Some fans felt that the Carling Cup Final against Middlesbrough was Bolton's best chance of domestic silverware since 1958. Do you think Bolton have any realistic chances of silverware this season, and if so, in what competition can you see it coming in?

Only time will tell, over the last ten years or so we have reached two finals of a major English trophy and been involved in a few Semi-Finals so as far as recent history goes the prospect of success in the cups isn't so far away. All depends on how the squad cope with both the Premiership and UEFA Cup.

Q: Ricardo Vaz Te has been touted as the 'next big thing' by some Bolton fans. Does he justify the hype?

He is by no means the finished article but there is something very special there potentially. Over the last two seasons he has been introduced bit by bit by Sam and will feature much more this season. His substitute performance against Everton on Sunday is just a brief taster of what he can do when at his best.

Q: El Hadji Diouf. A liability or an asset to the team?

A lot of opposition supporters do not take too kindly to Diouf due to the bad, sometimes justified press which he receives but he is like the Robbie Savage's, Vinnie Jones's, Paul Gascoigne's of this world in the sense that if he is playing for you he will give his all to the best of his ability regardless of whether the opposition set out to niggle him so yeah he is an asset to the team.

Q: Newcastle came calling for the services of Sam Allardyce last season. What are your opinions on the manager?

I hate him and I want him to leave as soon as possible... no in all seriousness I think Sam is the best thing to have happened to Bolton for many a year, he has an excellent style of management which seems to produce the right results season after season so whilst we continue to stay in the top flight and performing well I don't think anyone should have too many complaints.

Q: Are there any Newcastle players which you would like to have in the Bolton side?

I think Alan Shearer is a great professional and it will be sad to see him bow out at the end of the season. He is what I like to call old school but yet he can still muster up the type of performance worthy of any team in this league. Also your new signing Scott Parker is one who is an excellent bet long-term, his career stalled at Chelsea but if he can reproduce the form of his latter Charlton days then I can well see him being an England regular in the future.

Q: Which team would you love to beat this season?

Manchester United is the first name that springs to mind due to the local rivalry that exists between the two clubs, following on from that would be Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic.

Q: Which opposing player will get the most 'stick from the Bolton fans'?

Usually when we face Newcastle Craig Bellamy gets his fair share of abuse but now he has moved on to Blackburn. As for the rest of the Premiership I think Robbie Savage is our number one hate figure.

Q: Where do you think both Newcastle and Bolton will finish this season?

Top half between 6th and 9th, any lower would be deemed unsuccessful by both teams i'm sure.

Q: Any advice for the Newcastle fans traveling to the Reebok?

Sing your hearts out like you usually do and have a safe journey to and from the game.

Q: Have you been to St. James' Park? If so, what are your opinions?

I first went to St. James' Park in 1996 and was very impressed with the stadium even back then. Nowadays you have had much more redevelopment work done and the stadium is a far cry from the pre-Keegan years. Either way the atmosphere unique in itself.

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