Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game
Premier Pl W D L For-Ag Pts
Home 4 3 1 0 9 - 5 10
Away 3 1 2 0 5 - 4 5
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Total(Prem) 7 4 3 0 14 - 9 15
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1) 29 17 5 7 57 - 31 39
Away (Div 1) 29 9 3 17 38 - 52 21
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Total(Div 1) 58 26 8 24 95 - 83 60
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2) 2 2 0 0 3 - 1 4
Away (Div 2) 2 1 0 1 1 - 1 2
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Total(Div 2) 4 3 0 1 4 - 2 6
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Total(Prem) 7 4 3 0 14 - 9 15
Total(Div 1) 58 26 8 24 95 - 83 60
Total(Div 2) 4 3 0 1 4 - 2 6
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Grand Total 69 33 11 25 113 - 94 81
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Saturday's results conspired to push Bolton Wanderers back into the bottom
three. All season, Bolton have, generally, played fairly well without
getting the rub of the green results-wise. Their problems have centred on
the fact that they have not been able to score goals consistently this
season. Matters were not helped by thee speculation about Michael Ricketts
future as a Bolton player, which linked him with Tottenham for most of the
autumn. It was Ricketts who scored most of their goals last season.
Ricketts has now left for Middlesbrough where he still seeks to recapture
the form that made him such a hot property last season.
Like many of the smaller clubs in the North West, Bolton have been
affected by the domination of the North West by Liverpool and Manchester
United. Bolton's glory days have long since been consigned to the history
books. Sam Allardyce is well aware he has to wheel and deal with clubs
who offload players they no longer require or pursue players from the more
unattractive areas of Europe, such as the Baltic countries.
Sam Allardyce is that rarity today : an honest manager. 'What you see is
what you get' from Sam Allardyce. Not for him the mind games played by Sir
Alex Ferguson or Monsieur Wenger. He accepts that Bolton are never going
to compete for championships or places in Europe. Survival in the
Premiership is his target for Bolton.
When I first started to watch Spurs, Bolton were a power in the old First
Division but they soon lost support as they were relegated at the end of
season 1963-64 and they have rarely been in the top flight for very long
since then. Indeed, they have experienced life in the basement in the old
4th Division.
Spurs hope to recover ground lost following their defeat against Liverpool
last weekend. They must start producing some consistent results soon if
they are to qualify for Europe next season. I am in two minds about this
because with our present squad, we have no hope of qualifying for the
later stages of any European competition, because the squad is plainly not
good enough. We need at least two more strikers. It is obvious that
Steffan Iversen is never going to provide the answer as he spends so much
time sidelined with a back injury. Elsewhere the team needs strengthening.
Above all, we need a midfield creator and a midfield ball winner. We also
need a captain who can organise, cajole and bully his team mates when
things are not going well. Oh for a Dave Mackay, Alan Mullery or Alan
Roberts in their prime!
Spurs OUGHT to win tomorrow night but they have a long history of dropping
points against teams threatened with relegation. We have only to recall
what happened at Upton Park a few weeks ago! But I think that if we can
ride out the first half hour AND concentrate when defending, we ought to
be capable of winning. But our hearts may be pounding and thumping right
up to the moment of the final whistle!!!!!
COME ON YOU SPURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers, Brian
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