Following a slow start to life in the second tier of English football, Bolton fans have started to criticise manager Owen Coyle; however Bolton would be mad to get rid of him!
Coyle surprisingly guided Burnley into the Premier League in 2009; however his move to Bolton came as more of a shock! Many felt that Coyle was destined for greater things, with his name being touted with sides in around the European qualification positions. Bolton were struggling at the time, and when Gary Megson was relieved of his duties, they found themselves in the bottom three; however Coyle, whom once played for Bolton, was ready to join the strugglers.
Needless to say, Bolton survived and Burnley, under Brian Laws didn’t.
Coyle has a refreshing approach to the game, and his sides always play attractive attacking football. This is one of the main reasons why bigger clubs often lend Coyle their youngsters because not only will they get game time, Coyle will also nourish them into becoming better footballers. The likes of Ryo Miyaichi, Daniel Sturridge and Jack Wilshere have all played at the Reebok in the last three seasons, with the latter only have good words to say about Coyle.
Despite relegation last year, I do believe if it wasn’t for horror injury and health problems to key players, i.e Stuart Holden and Lee Chung-Yong, whom both missed the whole of the 2011-12 campaign, added to the horrific cardiac arrest Fabrice Muamba suffered at White Hart Lane in the FA Cup, they would’ve survived.
Granted they got away with one against QPR when Clint Hill’s header was wrongly adjudged not to have crossed the line; but Bolton were frequently on the wrong end of decisions last season, with both goals Stoke scored on the final day of the season more than dubious.
Coyle is not only a likeable character, but he is also an excellent manager, and I’m almost certain they will make an immediate return to the Barclays Premier League with him at the helm.
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