A few short weeks ago I thought Bolton had turned a corner this season with some improving performances and actual winning a game, but since then we have skidded into reverse back round the corner and normal service has been resumed with some dreadful performances shipping 15 goals in 4 games.
Well not quite normal service as for once Gary Megson is blaming the players not us, the fans, for the latest debacle. Obviously it was nothing to do with him having two left wingers in the same midfield and then pulling a masterstroke of substituting our best player on the day, Ricardo Gardner.
A certain national newspaper has stated that the club has approached the recently sacked Italian Walter Zenga as a replacement manager. While it might be amusing to have a manager on the Columbian marching powder (allegedly) whose idea of a set piece free kick is to have three players moon the opposition goalkeeper to put him off (which actually worked) the paper in question has a habit of being someway short of the truth so don't hold your breath.
Even at this stage of the season games are now becoming must win with all the trepidation that brings with the next three increasing in importance as this crisis deepens. Gary Megson is now second favourite at 7/4 for the sack with William Hill bookmakers and I have yet to see a poor bookie so they usually get things right however Phil Garside has given the manager the dreaded vote of confidence.
But the question does need to be asked with Bolton second bottom, falling attendances, a team lacking in confidence almost every department, little tactical awareness, a Manager that cannot see any of his shortcomings and blames the fans and his own players for the predicament, how bad does it need to get, how long can the board refuse to see that change is desperately needed. The only place we appear to be heading is the Championship, perhaps worse.
Now surely is the time to call time on Gary Megson at the Reebok, with thanks for keeping us up in seasons past, but with the realisation that a parting of the ways is the best, perhaps only, way forward for the club.
