Allardyces Bolton

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

It’s only a one off at this stage. But the signing of Walker reminded me of some of the players Bolton signed under Allerdyce. Experienced, very talented players at the tail end of their career but still with an attitude and desire to play at the top. And forgetting Okocha, Hierro and Campo. They actually signed top players in their prime. Granted they had issues - ie Anelka and Diouf. Young players still with a point to prove. Paired with experienced hard working pros like Davies, Nolan etc.

What is it that they were doing to attract these players back then? Is it an approach we can take? And it only fell apart after Big Sam left. Like Blackburn and Newcastle among others.

Surely it wasn’t purely money. They can’t have been paying that much more than other clubs? Was it the lure and exposure / platform of the premier league?


It feels like they had an approach that could work for us. A blend of physical, experienced, grafters. And a smattering of talent who are either potential or misfits elsewhere. With a point to prove.

Signing Anelka at 27 was ridiculous. I can’t even think of a comparison for what it would be like now who we could sign. Diouf would be like us signing Sancho. And perhaps Anelka an Icardi or Oshimen.

He was a world class player albeit with a reputation - he had literally been at Arsenal, Real Madrid, PSG, Liverpool, Man City and Fenerbache and was still a France first choice striker. Moving for mega money relatively speaking at the time before ending up at Bolton.

The game has moved on a bit. Not four top eight finishes and a couple of European trips. But I’d like to think it’s an approach that could work for us.

[Chester Perry]

It’s only a one off at this stage. But the signing of Walker reminded me of some of the players Bolton signed under Allerdyce. Experienced, very talented players at the tail end of their career but still with an attitude and desire to play at the top. And forgetting Okocha, Hierro and Campo. They actually signed top players in their prime. Granted they had issues - ie Anelka and Diouf. Young players still with a point to prove. Paired with experienced hard working pros like Davies, Nolan etc.

What is it that they were doing to attract these players back then? Is it an approach we can take? And it only fell apart after Big Sam left. Like Blackburn and Newcastle among others.

Surely it wasn’t purely money. They can’t have been paying that much more than other clubs? Was it the lure and exposure / platform of the premier league?


It feels like they had an approach that could work for us. A blend of physical, experienced, grafters. And a smattering of talent who are either potential or misfits elsewhere. With a point to prove.

Signing Anelka at 27 was ridiculous. I can’t even think of a comparison for what it would be like now who we could sign. Diouf would be like us signing Sancho. And perhaps Anelka an Icardi or Oshimen.

He was a world class player albeit with a reputation - he had literally been at Arsenal, Real Madrid, PSG, Liverpool, Man City and Fenerbache and was still a France first choice striker. Moving for mega money relatively speaking at the time before ending up at Bolton.

The game has moved on a bit. Not four top eight finishes and a couple of European trips. But I’d like to think it’s an approach that could work for us.

the first thing to note is that all this was pre- financial rules in football

the second that it is also before the TV deals exploded and bar a big 4 of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea everyone else were operating at a much more even level

the third (directly related to the 1st) is that losses were effectively underwritten by Eddie Davies

[burnmark]

A mate of mine has just had his book published on this very subject

[distortiondave]

Oh, I can't wait to read that!

[Spike]

God forbid we sign strikers

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

A mate of mine has just had his book published on this very subject

Love it fair play. will have a look at this. Have listened to a few podcasts with players from that era (Nicky Hunt among others) and always a fascinating listen.

Allerdyce was much like Dyche in that he rightly got questioned in some aspects but was massively underestimated in others. Both played far better football with the resources they had than credit they got.

[claretburns]

Love it fair play. will have a look at this. Have listened to a few podcasts with players from that era (Nicky Hunt among others) and always a fascinating listen.

Allerdyce was much like Dyche in that he rightly got questioned in some aspects but was massively underestimated in others. Both played far better football with the resources they had than credit they got.

Another thing of players for Dyche, Allardyce and others such as Warnock, McCarthy, Pulis (the "dinosaurs") is that the vast majority of players who have played for them enjoyed their time, which goes to show you can have all the facilities, money, staff, best players etc in abundance but you also need that man management element and the ability to build a strong cohesive dressing room with no cliques.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Another thing of players for Dyche, Allardyce and others such as Warnock, McCarthy, Pulis (the "dinosaurs") is that the vast majority of players who have played for them enjoyed their time, which goes to show you can have all the facilities, money, staff, best players etc in abundance but you also need that man management element and the ability to build a strong cohesive dressing room with no cliques.

100% - almost every one you listen to loves their time there and became better players - and people for it!

I see similarities in Parker.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Screenshot_20250716_232319_Chrome.jpg (193.54 KiB) Viewed 1439 times

Like Walker at Rovers, he covered the losses and after he sold up/passed away, the club collapsed because the main cause of the debt (the wage bill) was still there after the debt to their owner was wiped out

They spaffed money on some really good players, chucked money at a lot of average players as a result because players want parity in wages and their debts spiralled as a result

Same thing has happened in football for years, it still does at clubs like Brighton, their owner covers their huge losses

[Damo]

I hate PSR but if there ever was an argument for it, this would be it

[RammyClaret61]

I hate Bolton. They had the whinging Gartside who would regularly push a premier League division two every time Bolton looked in danger of relegation. You could set your clocks. And Allardyce was the master at bending every rule. I remember when the league changed the offside rule, that any player moving away from goal couldn’t be offside. One match I saw, every time a free kick was given about 20-25 yards out. Bolton would put 2 played right in front of the goalkeeper. Just as the free kick was about to be taken, they would slowly start walking towards their own half.

Oh.. W**** W****………

[Rowls]

Wasn’t it to do with something called “serviceable debt”?

[NottsClaret]

Every club has well informed fans keen to tell you how huge debts are actually great and won’t ever be a problem. Bolton did, Leeds, Blackburn.. Man Utd (well actually to be fair, they did see a problem coming).

Not like us though, our vast debt really is practical and manageable. It’s actually a good thing, right?

[Guller Bull]

Every club has well informed fans keen to tell you how huge debts are actually great and won’t ever be a problem. Bolton did, Leeds, Blackburn.. Man Utd (well actually to be fair, they did see a problem coming).

Not like us though, our vast debt really is practical and manageable. It’s actually a good thing, right?

I bet they also had a good few well informed fans that couldn’t wait to to say ´ this as bin comin, it was barnd t happen ´

I’ve a feeling we might have a few of them when it goes titsup. Tapping their knowledgeable snecks.

As a mere punter, football is fairground ride. Just enjoy the up and downs. The eighties for us were pretty glum without any investment. The last 20 years have been pretty bloody good with various levels of investment. Who knows what’s round the corner. I’m sure the Wanderers fans loved their turn in the spotlight. Plus they were 10 years ahead of us!

[NottsClaret]

I bet they also had a good few well informed fans that couldn’t wait to to say ´ this as bin comin, it was barnd t happen ´

I’ve a feeling we might have a few of them when it goes titsup. Tapping their knowledgeable snecks.

As a mere punter, football is fairground ride. Just enjoy the up and downs. The eighties for us were pretty glum without any investment. The last 20 years have been pretty bloody good with various levels of investment. Who knows what’s round the corner. I’m sure the Wanderers fans loved their turn in the spotlight. Plus they were 10 years ahead of us!

Absolutely, I’ve no problem with it. I stopped caring about that years ago, it’s not my money. Let’s enjoy it right now, and when it hits the fan further down the line, we can enjoy the gallows humour.

Unfortunately if you play by all the rules and live within your means, you’ll end up in League One anyway. Might as well live the dream for a while.

[No Ney Never]

A mate of mine has just had his book published on this very subject

Create the market then offer the goods, a tried and proven sales tactic from the 'how to manual'. Good luck, hope you sell a few.

[aggi]

Would be interesting to hear whether Bolton fans would have swapped being an average yo-yo club with having those highs and then the subsequent downfall.

Gretna were probably the best example of what happens when your owner gives massive levels of funding and that is suddenly cut off.

[Guller Bull]

Would be interesting to hear whether Bolton fans would have swapped being an average yo-yo club with having those highs and then the subsequent downfall.

Gretna were probably the best example of what happens when your owner gives massive levels of funding and that is suddenly cut off.

Living close to Gretna during that time, we used to get free tickets for games at our lads school, so followed them on their journey up the leagues from 150+ on a midweek night match to promotion to Scottish Prem and Cup final at Hampden. It was crazy fantastic times all stopped short by the lack of ability to develop a decent home ground (Planning I believe). I never went one of their Scottish Prem games as they were havng to travel 75 miles to Motherwell.

Just phenomenal times with Big Kenny Deuchar and Ryan Baldechino et al. Went up to the Cup final with my lads and a pal who was up visiting. Great day out. Unfortunate to lose. Nest day went out for Sunday lunch at a local pub in Lockerbie and we are sat at the next table to Rowan Alexander and Kenny Irons!!! (Manager and Assistant)

You drive past Raydale now and it is just like it never happened. but you can never take away those memories!!

[Woodleyclaret]

Stoke did it very successfully for years Stanley Matthews and Jimmy Mac being two who spent there twilight years there

[Dyched]

Love it fair play. will have a look at this. Have listened to a few podcasts with players from that era (Nicky Hunt among others) and always a fascinating listen.

Allerdyce was much like Dyche in that he rightly got questioned in some aspects but was massively underestimated in others. Both played far better football with the resources they had than credit they got.

Resources?!? Gartside/Bolton?

[ecc]

Stoke did it very successfully for years Stanley Matthews and Jimmy Mac being two who spent there twilight years there

They did it again in the early-seventies, to a lesser extent, with Shilton, Hudson and Salmon. I recall the London media's amazement when Hudson left Chelsea to join Stoke...

[Spike]

Allardyce was always and will always be dodgy . My opinion of him rhymes with the aforementioned Nicky Hunt

[burnmark]

Create the market then offer the goods, a tried and proven sales tactic from the 'how to manual'. Good luck, hope you sell a few.

Apologies if I’ve misread the tone of your reply, but I’ve not created any market or written any books? It’s a former colleague who has written the book about his favourite era of his team.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Apologies if I’ve misread the tone of your reply, but I’ve not created any market or written any books? It’s a former colleague who has written the book about his favourite era of his team.

I think the suggestion was you had coordinated the thread on the back of your book being released