Our first game is only two weeks away. Are the Wanderers going to make Beliebers out of you?
Regardless of view or stance, if we search our souls, we`d have to admit, these are indifferent times to be a Bolton Wanderers supporter. The excitement and intrigue of the Championship is partnered by the uncertainty and apprehension of our spiralling monetary misfortunes.
So what are you goin` to do about it? Sing and dance? Or whine and moan?
OK, we`re not in the Premier League anymore. We`re in the Championship? Sorry Sky Bet Championship. But getting back to the Premier League is still our goal and we have a bloody good shot at it. I don`t mean because we`re in a certain league we have a chance to win it. We aren`t a Fulham with a shot at winning the Premiership title. We have a ‘Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea` shot at getting promoted back to the VIP lounge and I honestly believe we can do it. Until then, I`m going to thoroughly enjoy the Championship.
Our time in this league has brought mystery, optimism and arrogance in my football team, long been absent. We`re in a league of our peers on an equal footing. Not only that, we`re one of the top-dogs. We can confidently bark our superiority at the majority of the opposition without feeling grubby afterwards, like some internet troll. In all fairness, this is the league we belong, it just feels right, like an old slipper. It`s not quite pipe and slippers time yet though and by no means were we out of place on the dance floors of the Premier League. Managed and steered correctly, there`s no reason we can`t be like a Norwich, West Brom or Swansea again.
It`s very easy to whinge about our current predicament. This time a decade ago, we were looking forward to a top flight campaign with a team that resembled a Champions League winner`s reserve squad. We might not have known it at the time- or if we did, slid it to the back of our minds- but keeping such a trophy-wife on our salary just wasn`t sustainable. We may have looked alluring to the European stunners after our modest lottery win, but as soon as the funds fizzled so did our attraction.
I moan at times when it`s not warranted and I gush occasionally when my team barely deserve it. But the reality of the situation soon comes into focus after my footballing brain tallies up the intangibles. I`ve even moaned at my favourite player of all time, back in the day, a Mr Andy Walker. But my true feelings for the guy were unavoidable after I passed him in the precinct. I was like a prepubescent ‘Belieber`, holding backstage passes, stood outside the dressing room.
Testing times for Bolton fans, but these are great times to be a football supporter. The excitement the money brings to the game throws out an abundance of opportunities for glory and euphoria. We`ve witnessed the Wanderers amongst this snobbery and beaten them all. Now, we have to get behind our glory-hunters again, to try and do our part as fans, fundamental to the future whereabouts of our football club.
I believe we have the right manager.
I believe we have the right squad.
Let`s show them they have the White Army.