Pro-Coyle (James Peach)

Firstly, I do accept that performances so far this year have not been great. Very few, if any, players have stood out and the results aren’t exactly going how we expected. However, we have only three games into the NPower Championship season. That is way too early to be putting heads on chopping blocks.

I have had a lot of people argue that it isn’t just three games though, it’s been like this for over a season. If the board were to sack Coyle for relegation, the time to do that was before July, so a new man could be brought in to shape the squad how he sees fit. Gartside and co. decided to keep Coyle on though as he is a proven manager when it comes to getting sides into the Premier League.

So the decision was made to stick by the manager and let him sort the squad how he wanted. Coyle released, sold and bought the players he wanted and is left with the team he believes can do the job. This is Owen’s squad and so he should be the man in charge of them.

Going by the theory that it’s too late to fire him for last season, that means we can only look at this campaign. That means surely we must wait for the ten game ratio. If after ten games in the Championship we are still in this situation, then I’d fully understand people wanting OC out. However, we’re not even a third of the way to that stat, so hold on. When writing this, we are still inside the transfer window, squads are still adapting and adjusting. Heck, we just brought in Jay Spearing, so the holding midfield gap may be plugged now.

Seven more games is all I ask. Be patient and wait for everything to gel together, the results will come. If I’m wrong and we’re in trouble come the end of October I’ll hold my hands up and admit I was wrong. I however, do not see that happening.

Anti-Coyle (Craig Walsh)

First of all i want to clear one thing up, I like Owen Coyle! The way he represented BWFC during the Muamba ordeal was admirable, but as a manager he leaves a lot to be desired. His signings are questionable, this could be blamed on funds but other clubs have signed quality on similar budgets (e.g Swansea)

Coyle is a gentleman, but as a man motivator and tactician he is shocking. He inherited a decent team left behind by Megson, but Megson’s problem is he never got the fans onside. Since we lost to Stoke in the cup things have gone downhill rapid and Coyle can’t find the Breaks.

This club is not the richest and I may be biased, but we have great if not the best fans, who deserve better! I think Gartside’s position within the club is pointless. He sits and watches a Premier League club erode into a poor Championship side, he has been completly idle, maybe he has taken his eye off the ball targeting a plush FA job?

In my opinion a firm, if not flamboyant manager like Mick McCarthy could steady Bolton and raise the players game considerably. Although there are lots of games left, Davis/Gartside need to act now as it is already 10 months too late.

Bolton is a fantastic club for the people with a great stadium and proud history with fans who deserve more.