Zab Simons and Final Listener Emails

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And if you've forgotten where that is for some reason all you have to do you've got to go past Birmingham, head south, and then I think it's like on your left, it's like this big arch thing this big white arch thing if you've hit the houses of parliament you've probably you've probably gone too far um but if you're wondering what's coming up on the buff this week then we've got a big one for you it's the first of two installments by the way uh we're gonna be talking about colours we're gonna be talking about crowds we're gonna be talking about what we made of the semi final against Bradford. and why Stotport County go all gooey about Louis. But most importantly. The most important thing we're going to get through is what did Troy Deaney make of Bolton this season a team that he's absolutely Definitely. Lots and lots of times. All that is to come, but first of all. First of all, I'm gonna press a button and Yes, I'm going to be introducing a co-host. of the Buff Podcast, a long held co host of the podcast, a guy whose knees have gone all trembly, but not because he's gone to Wembley. It's because he's just stone some Lego. It's Henry Hewitt. Yes, we've two young kids. Actually Lego is too small. I think um Sticklebelt. Yeah, those things. Um good. I've been I've been doing this podcast that long, Matt. It's this is our third trip to Wemberley whilst I've been doing it. Wow. Both veterans of the Wembley Wembley scene. Um it's not been all good though, has it? Let's be honest. No. Hopefully we can uh we can have a S H I T Sandwich and the the The top of the bread. is a b defeat of Stport to go with our Plymouth. Button. Yeah. I mean that's that's something to think about there, ladies and gentlemen. Try and figure that one out. We're definitely going to Wembley. First of all, then let's start with the semi-final second leg against Bradford. It was not a pretty game. I'd venture to suggest that Bolton didn't play at their very top level, but they did enough on the night. We did I thought Steven Jim I guess set up brilliantly. I thought we could have easily uh stepped back. We could have tried to defend our lead and you know what? I think Bolton Well did what teams do to us. Um and it started before the game even uh kicked off, Mark. And something I noticed, I didn't mention it on the last word, I forgot. And I've not seen many people I've not seen many people m mention this. But it's the first time I think I've seen Bolton turn the opposition round at the kick off. And yeah. I know the uh obviously the Bolton fans were on that side, so we'll be attacking to them, but Um Yeah, I thought when he did that and then the way we started, I I was like this is Really. So much so actually. I didn't I didn't have any tea because I was a bit nervous and I thought well I don't wanna we put the kids down and I don't really wanna be having something during the game. Twenty five minutes in, I when I made some toast, I was like, Oh, this is this is fine, we'll be fine, we'll be all right. Apart from ten minutes in the second half where that toast nearly reappeared, but um You know, other than that, I thought we dealt with it very well. You're saying that you're some type of soothsayer that's got a magic stomach. Like all the octopus. Yes. I'll I'll do my prediction. I'll uh I don't know. Oh nose. uh a ping pong ball into a bucket and we'll see if it's bolting our stop, but Uh well, I mean that sounds like a different type of podcast, but yeah, I'm getting I'm getting whatever can create some content for the YouTube. It doesn't really matter, really. Um, I thought I thought it was interesting. Yeah, when I'm thinking back at the warm-ups as well, there was a moment where because of the situation of the Bolton fans on the stand side near the corner flag. you know, for that for that sort of wing, if you will, um half half of that wing. Bolton had to run. um into the Bradford half on the warm-up to be able to say hello to their fans and to to give them a clap. And the way they did that, they absolutely disrupted everything Bradford were doing. It just ran straight through him. And I thought, oh, that's a brave move. I've not seen that before. It was kind of like you were disrupting things early doors and and just no. That like you say, that sort of stuff that people tend to do to Bolton to to put them out of their game and I like it. I like it a lot. Well, we might have to do it if we get promoted to the championship a lot more next year. Especially at the London Stadium. That'd be nice to visit. Tell you what, the London Stadium if we get promoted or beat Burton, won't it? Um just a bit. Yeah. Yeah. The uh the retail park on the uh outskirts of Burton isn't quite as nice, but Uh I don't want to think about that. My uh my wife actually asked me yesterday, she's like, is it really worth it going up? Because I mean if you go to the championship, don't don't you lose a lot more games and then people will be pointing at you and saying it's your fault and not talking to you as normal. She knows the way it goes. And I thought, uh, you know, yeah, I do like the idea of Baltimore in lots of games because it does make things slightly easier to report on. Um However. Been to Stevenage now. How many times? I mean, I actually know. I know the land, uh the the layer of the land in Burton. You know, I I know how to get to Exeter. And people shouldn't know that. People really shouldn't know that. It shouldn't be something that you can you can rattle off your three favorite cafes in Exeter. Tell you what, there's a summer supplement for you when uh when the content's gone dry. If we lose on Sunday and no one wants to talk to you and no one wants to do anything there, there you go. Three best cafes in Exeter. The uh the best bacon butty in Plymouth, Barnum. I can tell you where it is. Uh yes. Uh we looking ahead now then. I mean I I I think that Bradford, Bradford sorted itself out in the end. It was it was a bit flawed. I was really happy about um about Zav Simons, by the way, to to get his moment. We keep on talking about moments, don't we? And you said that on the on the last word. We actually we actually got got one right this time that Zav Simons did have his moment. And fair play to uh McCarty as well for his involvement in the build up. Oh, him. Jerry Gale did well. Um, as you said, uh that moment where the fans thought the ball had run out of play when Gail first touched it and then pulled it back, it was just marvelous. Marvelous. That uh just obviously I I watched it on Sky so I didn't hear uh Derek Clark and John McGinley's commentary, but hearing that back afterwards were the Bradford fan. basically jumped into the uh press box and cheered. So for that to happen Whatever it was, a minute afterwards. Just the the whole thing was uh yeah, very it it'll go down as One of the great uh modern day bolted knights, I think. Um And as well, the you know, we've won both legs of the playoffs. Like we talk about Steven Shimacher you know, breaking these records. Bolton, amazingly, considering this was our tenth appearance in the playoffs, hadn't done that before. So he's he's even knock that one off. Yeah, it is amazing. Exactly. Yeah. It was a it was a fine lead going into that second game, and we were all a little bit concerned about what happened if Bradford scored that early goal. But actually For a good hour of that contest, there was no worries whatsoever. And the many, many, many, many um X players and players families and everything that was circling around me in the press box because there's about five journalists and about four hundred members of uh members of Bradford staff. Um Yeah they were they were all moaning and you know, they would they were worried about uh about not even getting a shot on target. Yes, they did have that kind of purple patch and you know, but for Jack Bonham and again another moment there. It could have been different. But um no, I thought they deserved it over the the course of the two games and yeah, uh they deserve now to be looking forward to a Big trip to Wembley, uh we know. we'll know as we're recording this, we'll know in about five, ten minutes, uh that's twenty thousand people. have already snapped up their tickets, two of them. Our name to it. Yes. Yes it is. Me and my dad got ours. Um Yeah, just uh I mean I must have pressed on about half of half of Wembley Stadium, uh and it wouldn't let me put it in my basket until I eventually got two, so uh I did eventually get there. It took a lot longer than the two minutes I was hoping for. But um No, yeah it's um I mean it d I've I've seen a somebody tweeted this week saying wonder what Balton and Stockport fans think, having to go all the way down to London. Will it be easier playing in Manchester and Yeah, I mean if you lose. part of you does wish it was at old Trafford so you'd be home in twenty minutes. But um No, I I think it's the whole thing at Wembley Stadium, isn't it? You you wanna big occasion. It's it's it and it and to be fair to you know, yeah, Bolton and Bradford as a spectacle as an attendance would have been a lot. better for the final, but I think overall if you're looking at the best of the rest in terms of squads in this league, you're probably looking at Bolton and Stotport. So You know, whoever goes up I don't think you There's no like like last year, Charlton and Late Tonori, you're probably looking and going, Well Late Tonari will probably come straight back down or they're they've got their own good momentum. think on the whole, yeah, Baltimore Stop ball are probably the two that would give it. The best goal in the championship. Yeah, definitely. Bolton will be wearing white as well, we can tell you that much. Lots of worries about pink, Henry. Yes. I uh after the game Sky showed the goals from this uh this season's games between Bolton Stockport and it reminded me on the first day where we were pink and I thought know if I'd be able to deal with us wearing pink at Wembley and losing. So I'm glad we're in white. Yeah, I'm glad. I'm glad. I've had a a nightmare in terms of the accreditation for getting into Wembley is just horrific for for journalists as well as fans. Um, yes, we don't have to pay for our ticket, but bloody hell they don't have to make you pay for it in terms of man hours and and and jumping through hoops to get in there. um trying to get people in there peripheral staff and all that kind of stuff. Um damn bars doesn't lift a finger, honestly. Doesn't lift a chuffing finger. Um but the uh the the the logistics as well. We're thinking of hotels, like what what's the best thing? We don't want to be travelling on the morning of the game just in case. So I've had to stay on the Saturday night. Of course this me being kind of one eyed and not realising. I had no idea there was a playoff final going on the day before Bolton's game. I'm thinking, how on earth is it this expensive to stay in London? This is ridiculous. So I I'm I'm basically spending like Dubai prices. uh to stay in Uxbridge on on Saturday night. Um it better be nice. There better be a bloody weather spoons or something. I know that. Um you're a man of uh you're not a man of fine taste, Mark. Uh a man of cheap wallets. I'm a man of small wage. Uh well the day before I'm actually working down in Warwickshire. So it this works all right because I I'll stay there on the Saturday and then my dad will pick me up on the way. And we'll be stopping about there for services anyway. So it's that's worked out well. If it was I mean imagine working in Carlisle on Saturday, somewhere like that. Yeah. It's a bit of Carlisle just generally. True. Yeah. So uh so yeah, we'll be driving down and um Yeah, it's um you know, the whole day of it will be great and and obviously we've in recent history we've had a defeat there, we've had a win there, and yeah, the win is is great and it It's it's so funny, isn't it, the playoffs because I was thinking the other day when we played Bradford. Oh I said to my mate, I said This is the thing with a playoff semis, you don't know what's gonna happen. Like my I said, my Monday morning will either be trying to get a tick for Wembley are waiting for our retain list to be released. Like there's there's nothing in the middle. So um I'm glad that it was to try to get a Wembley ticket, but at least with this you you know. Okay, after it the season is done. Um whether it be a happy end or a sad end, you you then look to August and think, right, who we're playing? Are we playing Bromley? Are we playing But yeah, but um that's all iteration that's better, Henry, I've got to be honest. Thank you. Um we're recording this at one o'clock, so I've I've I've slept and I'm I'm ready to go. Um, but yeah, no, it'd be a great day. And um to hear that over twenty thousand Bolton have sold that m many already. You're probably looking at twenty five high twenties at the very least. Yeah with Bolton, it'll be a yeah, it'd be a A great day, so who knows? Hopefully the the players have learnt the lessons from last time and uh and and Steven Schib has learned his lessons from last time. Over the line. Well, we may well have a another chat. We're we're planning, hopefully, fingers crossed, to be able to split this podcast into two so that we have a little bit to to insert in before. the game itself release it on the on the weekend, maybe on the Saturday. So Let's see how that one goes. But I'll tell you one thing that is definitely happening on Saturday, and that is that the Baltimore News are going to be printing a sixteen page. playoff final supplement special with loads of exclusive stuff in there, loads of interviews. I ran round like a blue ass fly. On Thursday night in the dark, trying to find Josh Sheehan and Chris Farino and uh Mason Burstow and and all the other lads trying to get some uh some nuggets of news out of them. Um and hopefully, um, assuming I don't pass out at some point between now and the end of the week, uh, they will be. 16 pages of lovely, lovely features and interviews in there for you to read. So make sure if you're jumping on board a train or you're getting in the car. Get yourself a copy. A real Print a copy of the Balton News to uh yourself company. Okay. We're gonna bring you some headlines. Just as long as I can find the Chingle Headlines. Can I call them headlines? Headlines, indeed. Henry has dug out uh what what what little news we've managed to mine over the weekend since the playoff semi-final. Uh, but there are some big stories in there, so take it away, Henry. Right, first of all, Owen Toll, will he be joining us at Wembley? Uh in the stands, uh will he be joining us on the pitch? Not telling you. Next question. Um, I think it doesn't look good, does it? I think the the fact that what the big uh downside to that semi-final was the fact that he pulled up. And it was so annoying I was at the end of that mazey run where he he suddenly turned into, you know. Pafu. and started breaking into the uh Bradford half. Really decent run. And he'd been having a good game at that point as well. Um, so yeah, I'm thinking I think with hamstrings, I think everybody appreciates it's probably gonna be a a bad news. No, we won't know until the press conference on Thursday. think it's Thursday this week. Um and even then we we know that Steven Schumacher might not want to play that card, just in case there is any chance of it happening. Um But you know, my gut feeling at this moment is time is is that they will have to play George Johnson at center half and bring Max Conway in at left back. Is that the way that you would see it? Probably, yeah, but who who else is there to come in? What other options do we have? Cyrus Christie, I suppose, and put Ossie Two two as a left side. How? Yeah, maybe. Um Or you could play how done. Well, we'll uh Yeah, I mean Steven Schumacher, to be fair to him, I think he's more tactically astute Well, maybe that's harsh, but I I feel the last playoff final we went into, you could pretty and des Buckingham said that, you know how Bolton are gonna play, you know what the setup's gonna be. I think Schumaker has got something a more about him where he can change it up and Uh and and stuff. So w should that have to be an option then? You've got to trust that we um you know, they'll be ready to play it. But uh yeah, massive loss with Owen Toll and You know, I I I think he's I think as well in this game you want that big game experience. Owen so a lot has obviously played it. Uh Wembley twice with us. He's played on the international stage as well. So when you've got other players like you Max Conway is in there who who hasn't had that experience yet it You know, you you want him supporting him. So it'd be a shame if he's not there. And also I think for Owen Tole, I know he played against Oxford, but I think there's After what happened at the end of the Plymouth game, there's still something there with Owen Told just as a bit of a redemption argue. Uh at Swembley, so it's a shame that he won't play. Yeah, I think John O did a good job when he went in at centre half, to be fair, and and and Conway ditto a a left back. I I don't think I don't have any major problems. the way that it will work. I I still think it's not a It's not really a Johnny Kenney situation where, okay, well, there's nobody that's going to replace him. It will involve a little bit of shuffling, but I don't think it's something that's catastrophic for Bolton. I don't think it'll be judged that way by the fans either. No, it won't. Uh right, speaking of Johnny Kenny replacement, Mason Burstow has been talking about his future. Yes, yes. I did grab him after the Bradford game and and had a chat with him. He was talking about the kind of the highs and the lows of his season, um, which has been a a real roller coaster for him. Obviously, set off like a an absolute train at the start of the season scored all those goals. Then when that long time without scoring anything at all, and we were all kind of wondering what had happened. But I think In the last few months, he's come good. He's had to play slightly different positions. He's been moved around a bit. Whether or not that's a clear a popular thing for him, I I don't know. I don't think it is. think he wanted to to prove himself as a number nine at Bolton. But The one thing we've never questioned with Mason is that he is, you know, he's got full full of energy, he's got the right attitude and he really wants to see this over the line. And that came through speaking to him. I said, you know, what's the situation? in the summer he's still got a couple of years left of his contract at Hull, but of course Hull by that point in time could be a Premier League team. um and the chances of him going in the Premier League level are quite Quite slim, you'd say. They're also in a transfer embargo at the moment. That is going to be lifted by the summer. So there'll be more players coming in. Um, so I think he realizes he's got some big decisions to make. Um, he's not ruled out the idea of that being Bolton. um nor has he necessarily said, you know, that is where I want to play. I think he's he's basically quite open to suggestion. Um how about you? I mean we you know if If the budget allowed to bring Mason Burston back Burstow back and Bolton did get into the championship, do you think that would be a positive move? Um think it can be. I mean I I suppose you'd have to look at other options. If you give me a list of Mason Burst though plus other options, it might be that um you say, Well thanks, Mason, for what you've done, but we're gonna go in a different route. But you know, I think he's done well this season. I think he he started off brilliantly and some of his finishes have been fantastic. You can really tell that he's from higher up the ladder. But yeah, there there was a part of the season where it it dropped off for him and he he weren't playing as many minutes. Um So Yeah, I d I don't know. I I think he is a good player. I think you know, this Paramid of things is League One sort of at the moment his level. Does he need to have a few seasons here scoring ten or plus goals? with whether that'd be Bolton if we we stay in League One or whether it be someone else. Um I don't know, but Yeah, I think If you ask me about Johnny Kenny, for example, I say, yeah, no brain, to get Johnny Kenny, I think he can do it in the championship. Are we Yeah, I think there could be better options if if we get promoted than Mason Burstow, but we'll have to wait and see. Interesting times. Should we have another headline? Yeah, so Josh Sheehan spoke after the game, um, and he was one of the players obviously that was there against Oxford and he mentioned the over celebrating um, you know, in after that second lug victory against Barnsley. I mean, it all looked very low key. Obviously they were celebrating in front of the fans and stuff, but then they came off. That's until Thierry Gale released a video on his Instagram of Sizoko dancing in the dressing room, so Um, weren't weren't so low key the celebrations in the dressing room, but I think the whole thing having beers on the pitch or in the stand or whatever It was last time. I think they have learnt from that and um it's good to see and it I think it just It's the r it is the right attitude because Yeah, the job isn't done. Like it's not done. You've you've got one more game and if if Baltimore losing in Stockport, you might as well have lost in the playoffs, do you know, in the semis because it it means exactly the same really. So Yeah, refreshing to see. Do you think that's the how what Bolton needed to do the sort of Uh what the players needed to be saying, or do you think we they could have let the hair down a bit more? Uh no, I mean I I dare say they've they've really enjoyed their coach ride back um back home over the sixty two. Um they might have even stopped at Hearts Ed more services and grabbed themselves a couple of cans of strongbow potentially, but um I don't think I don't think they've gone off the leash. Um I mean you we think back all the way uh to uh the the FA Cup semi-final and stoke. For example. Um of of how you can have your uh uh preparations affected by giving players too much leeway. And that's what happened with Owen Coyle and his team. They they basically went missing until the Friday before the game. uh turned up for the training ground where there was also media duties to do as well. It was a right free for all. So I think with the with the inevitable team. I I don't think there was necessarily a big impact on the the the prepared preparations, I should say. I think yes, they did have the beers afterwards and and I think that was also partly because they were in front of their own fans. Maybe that worked in Bolton's favor that they only had, you know, the the away fans to to party in front of and Then get out the way and and get, you know, into Somewhere a bit quieter. Um and certainly Sheehan backed that up, back that view up. He was he was very much of a mind that, you know, they did too much. after the Barnsley playoff. Um but I think Generally speaking, last time it was it was more a case of just the perception. And maybe it fed into that idea that Baltimore gonna go and just turn Oxford over. That is very much different this time. The the vibes are very, very different. Um talk a bit more later on about Stephen Schema and his kind of Zen like calmness and everything is nice and Steady and prepared. Um, and and that's sort of filtered right the way through the players. There's no kind of braggadocious stuff. There's no, you know, we deserve to be in the championship, this, that, and the other. There's no hyperbole. It's just focus and uh and that came across and then she instantly he's best placed really to be able to to assess the the two build ups really 'cause he's been he's one of the few that's been involved in in both games. Yeah, and I think last time everything um Everything went Bolton's way before it if you think about the year before they've been to Wembley won four nil, they've beaten Oxford five nil a few weeks before, they finished third and it was like a three at the top all season. So everything seemed to be This is Bolton's time. And I think everyone just got caught up in that. You know, I I remember the morning of the Oxford game, looking down the championship table and going, Oh, well that'd be good to play them again and we've not played that, you know, like It completely just no one even thought that Bolson were gonna lose that game. So I think even with even with the the DFA Cup semi-final, you had Nat had passed away, of course, and everybody felt that was Bolton's name on the cup. Yeah. Um Yeah, United were in the other semi, weren't they? So if there's that. But um Yeah, the um I I just think this time, obviously we've got the what happening in Soxford in our minds. We haven't beaten Stockport. since they've come back into our radar. uh we've drawn a lot of games this season and even though we score late on Bolton never really had that sort of feeling that they're gonna go into every game and And win. So I think it all adds up to it. And I think stop port as well, as I said. Probably Bolton or Stockport the two. Two teams that we deserve. to go up. So I think all of that into it. Um I think people can be confident, but I don't think anyone's gonna be overly confident this time. Should we try another headline? Yes. Uh try Deanie, the uh footballing Behemoth. Troidini has been having his say on Bolshev Wanderers. This t this knows you're in the but potentially to go into the big leagues when Tri Dini you're on b on on his radar. Well he was on US T V and he's he's give his opinions on what's gonna happen in the final. Um And I also said that A few things on how Bolson plays. So can you dissect his quotes for us? Um Don't think I can. I it sounds very much like a man who was put on the spot to give an opinion on something he didn't really have an opinion about. Barring the ninety minutes he'd just watched. Bolton play. I don't think The biggest critic of Any of the Bolton players or the Bolton manager could turn around and say that that 90 minutes against Bradford represented Bolton and the way they've played this season. Um, I think one of the things he said was that stop will play a more expansive style. Now, if you'd have seen just the playoff games, that's probably true. Because Stockwall playing against Stevenich. And to be fair, you know Ragass Rovers would look like you know a a s an expansive team against uh against Stevenage because they that's the way they play. Um and Sotport can play expansively. You know, then they do have the the ability to control games and to control possession. They can play wide. They've got. That's one of their great strengths, as I said on social media the other day, they can actually mix it up. in the past, they've actually caused balls more problems by being direct and to, you know, especially kind of those balls down the the um the in behind Bakers Cogley, ironically, um in that in that infamous five nil game. Um So look, it's gonna be a really, really interesting tactical battle. You don't know which way Stock Paul are gonna go. That's one of the great strengths they've got, um, but I don't think Chuckini, to be honest, is who I would be listening to for any great amount of analysis on that one. Weirdly enough, I've just had an email from um a gentleman um asking if I wanted uh Kevin Phillips' thoughts. on the playoff final. And you know, I thought, well, fair enough, I'll I'll give him some questions, see what he says. And and you get these things. Obviously, footballers, particularly ex footballers, do tend to surrender themselves to gambling firms, you know, that kind of thing. um to get them a bit of cheap advertising by offering their opinion. Emil Heskey does it a lot. Yeah. Emil Heskey will offer you an opinion on pretty much everything nowadays and because he's he's he's in with a couple of different uh different firms. Sometimes they're good. Sometimes they're really interesting. Um Big Sam's another one do do just quite a bit of that. Um, sometimes they're really interesting. when they've actually watched the watched the team or watch the watch the uh the players involved. I'm not too sure Troy Deane has watched much to League One football. Um, especially from an American T V studio with Jeff Swees. Yeah, well Jeff Shreves kinda said He started saying how how good Stockport were and then alluded to that Dave Channel and his m is his mate. So uh Even with that. But um no it yeah, it is what it is. It's yeah I don't think it's even worth put you know, sometimes some people say stuff you all plaster all over the dressing room walls. It's yeah, Tridene isn't interested in Bolton and uh He was put on the spot. He'd watch that game and um Is it better or being the favourite? I think it is. I think it is, to be honest. Um so I'm happy for him to say that sort of stuff. I think it It comes. things down a little bit and Yeah, in reality is for me, and we'll go on about this in the next podcast.got in a few days, but the reality is it probably a fifty fifty match for me. So Bolton have as good a chance of winning as they are losing. So um Yeah, maybe if expectations are a bit less, then it won't be as big of a meltdown. It was in Oxford. Uh don't you want to think about it. Another headline. Another headline. Uh right, well away from the playoffs, um, Andy Taylor that is left the B team now, uh as we record this on Monday morning, well, Monday afternoon you Uh and the club announced this about an hour ago. So uh why? What's happening? What's happening? Um interesting, isn't it? The timing of it is very interesting. I'm not too sure. Uh whether or not I would have released staff member going on the build up to the playoff final. I'm not sure, but anyway. I think uh the What what I'm gaining from it is that there's gonna be changes at the academy. We know Andy Taylor was in i inevit's man. Obviously he played with him at Blackpool. So there is always that aspect as well. You always expect to see changes in staff over time, once a a a head coach sporting direct uh once once everybody their own people in eventually. That's just what happens at football clubs. particularly this sum with Bolton. We are expecting them uh to go up to category two Academy. So that will involve a very different type of uh second tier, they won't be a won't necessarily be a B team. um it will be a professional development squad again in the same way as it was when David Lee was around. Yeah. coaching that particular team. So there'll be younger players. developing their younger players. Um so That's how I read it. I think that there is something there's something linked here. They know there's gonna be changes. Taylor probably has coaching ambitions of his own as well. I think that um it would not be the greatest surprise in the world to see him pitch up at at Blackpool again, um, with with Everett being there and with with Everett having kind of got his feet under the table there now. So and you know how he likes to collect Blackpool players. So that's uh that doesn't make um it isn't a great leap, rather. But I think he's done an all right job, Andy Taylor. It's just such a difficult gig to be team. It it's really it's been very difficult to pitch like the quality of it and. At first we were quite excited at the idea of having another Bolton and and being able to analyse, you know, what they were doing. the real the realistic. viewers that A, the games have been of poor quality. on poor pitches. And then eventually the club decided nobody else is coming in to watch him. And so that that kind of hides away any any any excitement or interest that the fans have really had in it. So it has been disappointing. Yeah, it does I yeah, in on this one I'll be honest, I can't really offer much. I don't You know, I I I think Exactly. Uh yeah, I I know. team are doing but that's if I happen to be on social media on an afternoon when they've played I see the score but if you ask me two days later what scores I'll probably forget but um if that is the case if the if the club are sort of ramping it up, if they're gonna be investing more money into it and going into the a different category then. Of course, you you want a coach that is going to reflect that. Um, I'm not saying Andy Taylor isn't, I'm just saying that if it's all part of a bigger plan. Um then yeah, go for it. And it uh I think this is the thing, is it is difficult because you see that The B team especially. Used really as um Sometimes during the season it's used to get first team players Some uh match fitness. So It must be difficult for a coach to be then coaching first team players when they'll look and go just Let me do what I do. I d I'm not gonna listen to you. So uh Yeah, we'll have to wait and see. I'm sure that'll be a a a story for over the summer and and The direction we take it, I'm off to keep an eye on it. I'll be analysing that to death if the drawers doesn't go well at Wembley. I'll be I'll be writing about that every other day. Um final headline. Uh Shabishan has won the Hungary League, the Hungarian League. So well done to Shabby. Um I I I find it very difficult when he's gonna come back to Bolson, don't you? Well, this is it, isn't it? I I suppose um first of all, congratulations to Zabby. Um ET ETL, I think they're called. Um I'm not gonna try and make a stab at the town name, but uh I did watch. a little bit of footage and they went mad. They were playing away from home. Um Weirdly, like the players' girlfriends were like in the away end and at the end. They've just kept they were being passed over a little bit like you know like onto the pitch like prizes like being dropped onto the pitch from the away end. Um and I did see a picture of of Zabby's uh girlfriend. Um running across uh to see him. which was very, very nice. Um there was players on massive big cigars. It was very central European anyway. Um but yeah, they've they've done very well. I think it's only their second year back in the top flight in Hungary as well, and they've beaten some of the big names very varosh, etc. uh to uh to to make sure they'll be playing champions league football next season. So so Zabby uh the meal the the move has really worked for him. He's got back into the hungry squad. He scored some goals. He's played played plenty of football. I would expect that Bolton will be able to charge a reasonable fee for him now. Um, and I I would expect that they will want to do that as well, I think. he doesn't fit into the current system. Bolton haven't really played wing backs much at all this this season, if they did, Max Conway would probably be ahead of him anyway. So the last thing he really wants to do is to continue that. He's got a couple of years left on his deal. I think Bolton in a good position and and there'll be clubs around Europe that have looked at him and and obviously with him playing at at quite a high level there. um maybe maybe some interest. So uh it's all worked w out quite well, I think, for Bolton and Um I mean it What did what did you make of him when he was here, I mean I I always thought he was always a reasonably technical player. Yeah, I I I think it character wise, he were great, and him and John McAtee became best buddies, but um Yeah, I think um Yeah, I I thought he was all right. I d I I didn't look at him last season and go, We need to get rid of him. He's he's the reason we finished nine. Um, so I was quite surprised. And all the indications in the summer he was doing interviews with a club and stuff like that in the pre season. So that was telling me that actually they were gonna have a missed season. So I don't think we've missed him. Not by any means. But um yeah, I think he's a decent player. But I I yeah, having gone and won the league in Hungary that team's now gonna play Champions League. I I very much doubt he's coming back even if it's in the championship. So uh So yeah, so uh good luck to him. Absolutely, absolutely. I do actually remember uh when they played in Mar Bayer against the South African team whose name has escaped me. Orlando Pirates? That's the one. That's the one. Was it not Kaiser Chiefs, was it? Was it Orlando Pirates? I think it's Orlando Pirates. Yeah, I think it was. Um I d I I sat with him for a bit. whilst before the game and uh I said, What do you reckon this season you're gonna be smashing it or what? And uh And he just kind of looked, he went. They might do, but I won't make it. I was like, I see. So I think he knew the item was on the wall there. Um, a very honest chap. But uh no, good luck to him. Good luck to him. And I think Bolton um should be able to get some, if not all, of their money back. um that they paid for him last summer for last. Um is that the doorbell? It's Philip Morris, who was also at Bradford, by the way. the number of X players that turned up to watch that game. It was uh it was like reading like the squadless from Championship Manager 10 years ago and like, oh my God, I forgot he was there. I was gonna there was so many uh comp tickets waiting to be uh had at that. game is incredible. Anyway, uh one of our favourite segments and the last segment of this particular bit of podcasting. Um will be emails. Um and the first email we've got. has been sent by James because I had to scroll all the way down his email because I forgot to put it at the top again. He says, uh, good morning, fellas. Wow, what a night. A hell of a lot of nerves in the away in, but somehow the players seem to be as calm as ever. Every single one of them was outstanding. But a special shout out to Giorgiossi two to Chris Farino. George Johnston, solid at the back, and for Burstow who didn't stop running after everything. Really hope we can sign him in the summer. Just hope transfer embargo at hole doesn't affect it. It won't. When was the last time we started and ended the season against the same opponent? This final just feels different to last time. The players seem to be much more professional and determined. going to be a long week until Sunday. All the best and thanks for the podcast during the season. Top work says James. Actually, I do think Jordi Austin 22 and John O. credit to their uh better games I think this season. Um We've not talked too much about the the calm approach. Absolutely. Is that what's working for Bolton? They managed to just take the nerves out of everything, really. Yeah, yeah. Um just a side note, our friend BWFC Stats did answer the question. And it is the first time Bolton have started and ended the season as the same opponent. Um Yeah, I think the the calmness is I think it it it He's never gonna rub off on the fans, let's face it. Uh but I I do think Seeing Players. you know, feel that way is is refreshing. And you could tell on uh Yeah, you can tell on On Thursday, yeah, there was a few Bon. clearances that went out for throws and of one or two misplaced passes. But I think on the whole gonna get that at this level. You're never perfect. So I think you look at the bigger picture, and the bigger picture was that they went into that game and He just did exactly what they've done against Bradford before. They controlled especially in that first half, they controlled the possession. Uh had the better chances for me. Oh the opportunities. Um And uh and yeah, they all did the job and I I I agree with you, I think You know, especially R C two too. I thought he was very calm. F R E. got forward well and in in that sort of Uh, obviously on that right hand side in the second half, which is over near the camera, the amount of times you just controlled the ball down and and uh made his way past the the str you know, the winger and and got it forward. I think I think for me at the moment, Aussie Two Two is playing probably his best football he's played for us. um which is great timing going into a final. And I think he's he scored at Wembley, hasn't he? Did he score for Rotherham? He did, yeah. Uh yeah. I can't remember whether it was the equivalent of Papa John's or whether or not it was a playoff. May have been the playoff actually. Um but yeah, no, I think I wouldn't disagree with that. I think there's a couple in that situation. I think Chris Farino is also playing his best football at the minute. um for Bolton, something I asked him about. Um the other night and he said yeah I think I'm playing the best football of my career let alone just Bolton really buzzing at the moment Chris um really good interview um coming up with him I mean that supplement I talked about earlier but yeah I think that's all good isn't it uh you you're looking for players to be playing themselves in some sort of form for the times that matter and I think Bolton have got a good handful of as well as they have done this season, if not just for Ballton full stops. So That's all good. Another email from Tom. He's a short one today, he says. I've been very miserable at times this season about Baltimore Mondras, I'll be honest. Uh the last two games, the players and Stephen Schumacher deserve a lot of credit. Manage both games really well, top performances from everybody. George Johnson exceptional over 180 minutes. O two as well did a great defensive job, which isn't always his strongest. Farino incredible. Passion from Zav Simons after he scored, which was fantastic to see. Thought the referee was pretty poor though. Um so we're up against it, proud of the lads, see what Wembley Now I thought the referee was pretty good, I gotta be honest. It's it's funny how everybody sees it differently. I just love I love that all after all of that he's just got yeah referee crap. Yeah referee crap I thought referee was good. I've got to say he was strong in in a lot of instances. He was Where his name popped up. Tom Curtis. Yeah, I thought it was Thomas Cook at first. I thought there's a headline. Telescope and he just stepped off a ship. It was weird. I was gonna go on the holiday, uh Thomas Cook. It's the same thing. But um Oh, his name popped up. I can't remember what he d who who have I watched recently? Who did I watch yesterday? Sunday? Who did he play on s of Premier League? I think he might have been the your fourth officially in the Premier League. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He has done quite their Premier League stuff, yeah. Yeah, um I I didn't think he Yeah, I thought it they weren't much. I mean the the offside goal was clear as day, so did they have in Yeah. That lies wide up there. Yeah, he would have been up there with Barry Knight if he'd not. But um I mean I don't think there was anything in the game where I thought Uh You know, he he got it wrong. But um I thought the rest of what um you know what Tom said did yeah, I think the the play do deserve a lot of credit and It's it's funny with Bolton, isn't it? How You we've seen this over the season, you know, after that looting game everyone was uh pessimistic, can't keep a clean sheet and all that, and then Two games later. that AC Milan side who conceded like eight goals in our defense. Um and uh Cafu at the back in in Notissu. So uh No, it w obviously it all depends on how you finish the season, hopefully it's good. uh good vibes can continue. My one worry is that Seems to be the season that when Bolson do get ahead of himself a little bit, then there's always something around the corner. So hopefully can uh we can scrape through and and win the playoff, but Um but no if uh yeah, if you want to mention uh the George Johnson we said on the last podcast, but for for him. He's had a bit of a stick this season. I do think sometimes with George Johnson it is just you've been here the longest, so you face You face the m the the music quite a bit. Um You know. supposed to actually like freshness, but I think he was very solid the last two games. Yeah, I thought the goal celebration as well, you mentioned it there as Simon's was was remarkable. Um, pure passion, really. I mean, the noise coming off that away end was just unbelievable. Um and I mean I'm sure the the club of of managed to find some angle that they've not previously published about it. Um Marcus Harrison, I don't know how many cameras he owns, but like the stadium is like a branch of Dixons before a ball is kicked. There's just This camera is absolutely everywhere. You can't move for cameras just so Marcus can get his reaction shots. It's unbelievable. Um I uh here's it's something we're not mentioned yet, actually, for you. Um Did The in the build up to the game, everyone was saying, Oh, it's Bradford, twenty thousand fans is gonna be a bit Raucio's Bolson really needs help the game. Do you think that actually works in Bolton's favor? 'Cause the fans seem to turn up and be like, Right, well if you're gonna sound like twenty thousand, we're gonna sound like twenty thousand and I know the the microphones People have had a bit of bounce online, but yeah, the microphones Um obviously the it's coming through the commentators Um Well were the comments on your side, Mark, or were they on Bolson's side? Yeah, they're all on the same side. Yeah. Yeah. My ears are still ringing from Jack Deer and being within ten square feet of me, to be fair. But um you know, I I do think that yeah, the sky microphones clearly over on Bolson's side because it would it was Like a home game, but I don't think I I think the fans really turned up and went and Probably on the back of being told that Bradford are gonna make it like Galatasarai are. You know, uh a stower bucarest. you know, atmosphere. Um but no, it was all Baltimore's credit to the fans. I've gotta say Bradford All banter aside, top class club, uh start to finish. A way like dealing with them, fantastic. Home leg. They couldn't have been more helpful, especially kind of the the the length of we had to go to after the game to try and get everything sorted. They were really, really helpful. Past midnight, we were in still in Valley Parade and they were uh they were really great um with with us. The the atmosphere was great. It was I I think it was possibly better on the league game. Obviously that was a tribute and and there was maybe a little bit more emotional. This was more kind of urgency and more kind of visceral. They had all the flags and that sort of which look it looked nice. It looked good. But we talked about the pageantry of things and whether or not that maybe just takes your eye off the Or a little bit. And I think it possibly does. I think maybe if you just treat it like a game. Um that you you could maybe just get yourself a little bit more focus and and I don't know, maybe that did or it didn't, but Look, they I thought they were really classy towards the end, 'cause right at the very end, obviously Boldness fans are going uh alri in the the final there too null up with you know seconds left to play. But the Bradford fans just spontaneously just burst into song and did, you know, a proper rousing, you know, thank you almost to to the players. And I thought that was really classy because it would have been dead easy to mope and go home. They didn't, you know, you didn't see too many empty seats there, even though the the tie was lost. So Um no I I think all football banter aside, I think we should respect that because there are not many clubs at this level. who like Bolton can can pull that sort of thing off. No, I I think for Bradford it was probably like we were with Barnsley a few years ago when we lost there, you know, like you you're on your journey, kind of. Um And if you remember after that game with Trafford and Bradley's last game and the fans Really, you know. Uh Chanting and and thanking the players. So I think they're kind of in a similar place, but Yeah, Bradford are a good club. I I like Bradford, I think. Um There's a lot of There's a lot of worse club the worse clubs from League One who could go up. part of the championship. Um stop being one of them for me. So uh let's uh let's hope that we don't we we we can be the ones who go up, but Yeah, um I I just hope that uh we aren't now stuck in a Baltim Bradford. Kind of. relationship like we were with Barnsley. Uh, I hope we can get out of this league and and move on. Who another York, Sheffield United. Let's just start it with. Just seem to be collecting these with Yorkshire clubs. Oh yeah, I could I could sit there and listen to greasy chip buttons time and time again. Uh, used to live next to all but one. to uh Sheffield United. Wow. Back in the day. Um, right. Okay. Well, we're gonna cut it there. We're gonna cut it there because this is the end of this particular podcast. Um, we're going to come back. with a bit more before the weekend. But luckily, and I'm really excited about this because uh in true Wembley tradition, um Henry is gonna sing for the first time. uh his cup final uh song, his playoff final song. Uh so take it away, Henry. Bit of a blow actually, because I had Simon Cowell. Listening in. Um and sorry, Simon. It just doesn't want to do it, mate. You're just gonna have to you're just gonna have to sign somebody else. I know it's a blow. You can have to go and I don't know, reform uh whoever did pure and simple. I forget what it was now. Anyway. HSA. There they go. I knew I could I knew I could rely on you to chip in with some horrible plastic 90s pop or whatever it was. There we go. Um okay better sign off the normal way then. Uh so I have been Mark Hiles. I've been Henry Hewitt and this has been Buff Part 1. If watching Wanderers is stressing you out, then why not book a nice break with our podcast sponsors, Destinology? an award-winning Balkan based company and proud sponsor of Baltim Wanderers FC, specialising in crafting exceptional holidays that blend expert knowledge, luxury accommodation and exclusive perks. 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