Bolton Dare to Dream — Part Eleven: Get In The Mix

What a turnaround. 12 league games unbeaten have seen us rocket from mid table to just three points from getting into the top four. The team is fit and firing. Nkubi and Rooney are banging in the goals, Eldar running the show in midfield, the defence solid as a rock. Batigol scored a goal!

The last time we lost in any competition was against Tottenham in the FA Cup, and it’s them we welcome next. Rooney is given a start up top as I give Batigol a break, while Tonton returns from injury and replaces Justin Walker. Let’s keep this show running, lads.

And just like that, the run is over. It all started so well — Dean Richards fouled Tonton in the box after three minutes and Kalogeras fired home the spot kick, but five minutes later Luke Beckett equalised and Spurs started to dominate. Ronald De Boer ran the show from right-back and wayward shooting as much as Rhys Evans was the only thing stopping them from taking the lead. Some desperate changes in the last quarter of the game helped as Michael Ricketts, replacing an uncharacteristically poor Nkubi, almost got the lead back. Going into injury time, Evans made a superb reaction save from Christian Ziege and I thought we’d held on. But the dam broke, Kalogeras’ clearance was intercepted by Keane, who flicked the ball on to Nicky Butt. He went down the right flanked, fed De Boer, and the Dutchman crossed for substitute Steffen Iversen to head home and break our hearts. Fair play Spurs, you worked for it and got the reward. It wasn’t a capitulation — we had nine shots in the game and held on very well, but the midfield didn’t quite perform today. They overtake us in the league as we fall to sixth. It’s not a disaster, just a setback.

Shrewsbury beat Macclesfield 4–1 in their FA Cup replay, so we’ll travel to their place for our third round tie. First, though, we have to dust ourselves off and prepare to face Fulham. After their mammoth exertions the team is knackered, so I rotate and give chances to the seconds, with only Evans retaining his place.

From the start of this game I’m convinced it’s going to be a blowout. Fulham are getting in attack after attack, Steve Marlet looks in red-hot form, and only the superb skills of Evans, one of the signings of the season, keeps it goalless, with Teddy Lucic limping off injured to compound our issues. Then we get an attack at the end of the half, Walker crosses in, and Michael Ricketts, with our first attempt on target, powers a header past Jerzy Dudek, who’s swapped Merseyside for the side of the Thames, to make it 1–0. Marlet goes off injured at the start of the second half, and perhaps boldened by this, we score again — Rhys Weston lofts a great ball into the box, and this time it’s Cristiano Ronaldo who heads home. That’s job done, and from a shaky start, we’re back on the horse.

Lucic is out for three weeks, which could be a problem if we need defensive depth, but with the current starters going very well it’ll be alright… ah, Rhys Weston’s injured himself in training. He’s out for three weeks. Do we have some easy games coming up at least?

We’re playing Man United next. At Old Trafford. Yay.

The Manchester Reds finished runner up in the league in 01/02 before winning last season and are currently leading by three points over Liverpool. With their usual massive reserves they have been upgrading over the summer, signing Alex from Parma and Pavel Nedved from Juventus, while selling Juan Sebastian to Real Madrid for an eye-watering £27m. Los Blancos have been splashing the cash this summer, signing Veron, Alessandro Nesta and Sami Hyypia for a combined £76m. Veron and Hyypia have played just twice each. Mental.

While browsing the United squad screen, I notice something unusual — an Unhappy sign next to Wes Brown. I check his profile: United have only started him once this season alongside five sub appearances, and he wants first team appearances. He’s valued at just £2m, and I’m immediately bidding. Brown is still young at 24, already has six England caps, and I’ve seen Barcelona sign him on previous games. Hill and Andrielos have been superb and we’ve got plenty of reserve options but he’d be a good one to add to the mix.

Against United their ex-players seemed to do pretty well when playing for us, and while we don’t have any in the team we do have two future United players in Rooney and Ronaldo, so they both start. It’s your usual choices in defence, with Tonton and Eldar both picked in midfield. Nkubi gets the nod to start up front and Batigol is on the bench when needed.

That has to be the result of the season. Not only did we beat the league leaders, we did it by a comfortable margin and looked good value for it. It’s a cracking performance from all departments — the only downsides being a two week injury for Rooney and a two game for Andrielos — and look at that: we’re into the top four!

I don’t want to get too overexcited, and we’re still only halfway through the season, but we’re only six points off top spot. Could we have an outside chance at the title? Two of our rivals would be Liverpool and Newcastle, both of whom beat us this season, but the team is absolutely steamrolling through now.

United accept our offer for Wes Brown but he rejects the move, saying he doesn’t want to leave. I understand, Wes, we’ll try again in the summer. Now, I need to assemble a side to play… Tottenham again, less than two weeks after we played them at home. Whoever scheduled that should be sacked.

It’s a heavily rotated side — only Evans, the back four, and Nkubi retain their places. Inamoto is given a go at DMC, Youri returns to captain the side as part of a midfield three with Brebner and Johnson, and Batigol replaces the injured Rooney.

We’re a great team but I think Spurs might be our weakness. Patrik Berger gives them the lead after five minutes, though in typical style we press on and grab an equaliser with ten minutes to go before half time, when Batigol sets up Johnson for his first goal of the season. But it seems that the team isn’t clicking today as Luke Beckett scores before Berger nets a second to take Spurs to victory. Evans didn’t have the best day in goal, though it’s the first time he’s conceded three goals in a game while at the club, which gives you an idea of how good he is.

It’s one of the best times of year — Bosman season, where contracts are expiring in six months, and one in particular has caught my eye. A former favourite in Bluebirds to Glory, stalwart in defence and guaranteed to work his socks off to get the job done. He’s hoping to impress the scouts, he wants a new challenge and you’d need a whole filing cabinet to store his international caps — Wanderers, Marcel Desailly.

He has no interest, which rather spoils the hype I’d given him, but a lot of players change their mind once they’re out of contract. Hopefully, we can sign him in the summer as a backup to Niko and Clint.

Despite the Spurs defeat I still bag Manager of the Month, which is great for the club. We’re on the road to face Shrewsbury and because we’ve got Liverpool at Anfield four days after most of the starters have stayed at home. I make seven changes to the side and hope there’s not an upset.

I trial a new strike partnership and within 15 minutes both have scored to put us in the driving seat. Shrewsbury don’t even have a shot as we dominate, with David Ginola netting a vintage brace. We don’t even break sweat on our way to the fourth round. Also nice to see ex-Reading striker Martin Butler — famously nicknamed “the Bastard” by me during Bluebirds to Glory because he always seemed to score against Cardiff — in the Shrewsbury lineup.

After that lovely stroll in the Meadow, we’re immediately back to business. The next game is a massive one for our European hopes, Liverpool at Anfield. Unfortunately Wazza will miss out so I won’t get to unleash him upon Everton’s city rivals, but all our other starters are fit. Ricketts and Ronaldo keep their places in the side, though Ronnie is moved to the midfield as Isaac Nkubi returns, with Batigol on the bench.

I am so fucking annoyed. We had a great game, matching Liverpool in the shots tally and keeping it even. Gerrard gave them the lead after 25 minutes, Nkubi equalised just before half time. With 15 minutes to go he was denied a stonewall penalty and Liverpool got away with several dodgy fouls. Then with two minutes to go they won a free kick, and Marco fucking Materazzi puts it into the top corner, his first goal for Liverpool. Of course.

The FA do at least agree that my referee complaint was valid, but it’s little consolation. Liverpool are top of the league and now we’re down in sixth, though there’s only two points separating us from Arsenal in fourth.

At least Southampton away should be a good place to respond. Batigol is ruled out of our next two games with a training injury, and with Rooney still unfit Ricketts keeps his place, with Eldar trusted as backup striker. Niko’s suspension rules him out so he’s replaced by Hysen for this match. There’s a shuffle in the midfield as we rest some tired players — Youri, Brebner and Walker come in.

Once again Isaac Nkubi is our hero. He gives us the lead just before half time, then, unfazed by Paul Ifill’s equaliser, scores again after 65 minutes. Substitute Eldar adds a third with five minutes to go to cap off a hard fought but well earned win.

Clint Hill picks up a one-game ban starting on the 24th of January for being booked five times this season, so he’ll miss our next FA Cup game, which is at home against Division One Ipswich. Firstly, though, we face a crucial six-pointer against fellow Europe-chasing side Leeds, currently eighth to our fifth. With Niko suspended, Rhys Weston makes his return from injury, and I make three changes in midfield as Tonton, Ronaldo, and Eldar all start. Rooney, now fit again, partners Nkubi up front with Ricketts on the bench.

It’s a game befitting two top sides. We make a fast start thanks to Ronaldo, who scores two quick-fire goals in the first 20 minutes, one a well-placed header from a Tonton cross, the other a classic solo goal. But Leeds doggedly fight back, Dominic Matteo’s header making it 2–1 before half time, and turning provider in the second half for Miroslav Klose. Despite chances for both sides to win it, the game ends 2–2, and a point for us that could be crucial.

The top two of Liverpool and United are pulling away, but we’re level on points with Tottenham and could catch Newcastle who are only five points ahead. Due to the scheduling, we’re actually going to face Liverpool in our next league game, a week after we play Ipswich in the FA Cup. Mindful of possible injuries, I send out a rotated side for the cup.

The result is a game where a rusty midfield and strike force struggle against a Ipswich side challenging for the playoff places, but fortunately a great performance from Jussi keeps out a well-drilled attack. A goalless draw means we’ll play them again at the Reebok.

Do we at least get a good draw for the fifth round?

Oh yes we do! The only Division Three team still in the competition, Doncaster should be a breeze, having not played an opponent higher than Division One. With Ipswich a potential banana skin though I’ll be putting out a full-strength side for the replay.

However, Teddy Lucic won’t be involved, as he’s off to a new club. Kilmarnock offered up a bid of £1.1m, I accepted, and now Super Ted’s off to the Scottish Premiership. We wish him the best.

Time for round two in Merseyside. With Wazza back we’re able to add some inter-city rivalry to our forward line, but 9 other starters all played in our previous meeting with Liverpool (except Jussi, who I realised afterwards was left in by accident). Hopefully we can get some points this time.

It’s a tense start at the Reebok but the energy ramps up after 35 minutes when John Arne Riise heads home a cross from Joaquin. This immediately gets me nervous, but we’ve got Eldar, who almost immediately levels with a cracking goal of his own, assisted by Ronaldo. Then, after 55 minutes, Nkubi picks up a loose ball, beats Stephane Henchoz and Abel Xavier, and hammers his shot past Chris Kirkland to give us the lead. I’m celebrating with the coaching staff, but the Reds are only behind for five minutes before skipper Bernd Schneider scores a very fortunate goal — a shot from Joaquin hits Andrielos and deflects to the German midfielder, who’s left with an easy finish. Still, we press on, and in the last ten minutes it’s end to end stuff, with Jussi making a cracking save from Danny Murphy. We break into the Liverpool half but lose the ball… Eldar’s won it back again! He swings in a cross, Ronaldo knocks it down… NKUBI!

GOALLLLLLL WANDERERS! ISAAC NKUBI LASHES HOME TO GIVE US THE LEAD WITH JUST TWO MINUTES TO GO!

Just got to defend now lads! The ‘Pool win a throw in near our box. Riise takes it, and Joaquin returns the ball to him. Clint Hill moves over to pressure him, but the Norweigian gets a cross over to the far post. Michael Owen’s there… Owen scores. We concede again and it’s 3–3.

No shade intended to Jussi, but you can see why he was replaced by Evans. He made some great saves and all Liverpool’s goals were good, but Rhys has another level to his game where he’s able to make saves despite facing shots from all angles. Fair play to Liverpool, they were good. The draw leaves us four points away from Leeds, though with a game in hand, and if we catch them Newcastle are only ahead on goal difference. We’ve also got some more silverware as Ronaldo wins Premier League Player of the Month.

Ipswich are here for our cup replay, and this time I’m not messing around. Only Rooney and Tonton are left out as we send in the big guns.

Not content with merely putting on a football match, both Eldar and Ulises De La Cruz decide seven minutes in that they’d rather get their training for the boxing championship in early by taking a swing at each other. The result is red cards for both and the prelude to a very dirty game by Ipswich, who have three more players booked and should definitely have conceded a penalty for a foul on Nkubi if not for the referee’s blatant bias. Of course, in games like this it’s fine margins that make the difference, and after an hour Finidi gives them the lead. Rami Shabban remains a brick wall in goal as our attacks founder, compounded by an injury to Kalogeras. We’re now out of the FA Cup and will have to hope we can qualify for Europe through the league.

Kalogeras is out for a month with a groin strain, Eldar has a three-game ban, the FA back the referee despite my complaint and with 14 games to go we’re in eight and seven points away from the Champions League places. But we’ve got games in hand on our rivals and some good fixtures coming up.

The pressure’s starting to build now though as the team plays more and more games, so I reach into the rotation bag as we face a crucial game against Blackburn, one place above us in the table. In comes Jamie Victory to replace Kalogeras, a new midfield three, and a new front pair of Michael Ricketts and Wayne Rooney.

Have I ever told you how much I love Isaac Nkubi? Twenty minutes to go, a tense game locked at 1–1 after Tugay’s first half opener was cancelled out by a Rooney header, with Tonton forced off through injury. On comes Nkubi to replace Michael Ricketts. Two minutes later, Jermaine Johnson puts a ball over the top of the defence, Nkubi gets his head to it and steers the ball past Mark Bosnich. Evans makes a brilliant save from Alan Smith in injury time, and by an inch, the game is ours.

The injury list grows as Tonton’s ruled out for three weeks. We’re holding on, but barely. Man United do us a favour by beating Leeds 3–0, so with two games in hand on them and a gap of four points, fourth place is in our sights. Our next game is also important as we face third-placed Newcastle at home. Win that match and we could overtake them too.

Evans, the defence and Rooney keep their places, but there’s changes elsewhere. We trial a new midfield trio of Johnson, Ronaldo and Eldar, while Nkubi’s heroics earn him a starting spot.

The Toon come at us like a raging bull. Evans has to be on perfect form today as shots fly at him from all angles, but he barely puts a foot wrong, his only error in the first half coming after half an hour when John De Jong’s header from a Kieron Dyer cross goes in. But we do successfully contain the great Alan Shearer, who, I note with some interest, has 11 goals this season, the same as Isaac Nkubi.

De Jong gave Newcastle the lead, and he helps us get them back, in a way. A trip on Johnson, outside the box sees the Dutchman pick up a yellow card and a free kick given. Ronaldo has a go — of course he does — and Steve Harper manages to tip it wide. Jamie Victory delivers the corner, and it’s Johnson that jumps highest to power home a header of his own and level the match.

After that, it’s end to end stuff for the second 45. Evans is sublime and really demonstrates what having a top quality keeper does for the side. But so is Harper, and we can’t get through. After an hour, we’re starting to struggle. Patrick Paauwe clears away another attack and we look to go again. Duff throws the ball in to Eldar, who swings in a cross — Ronaldo’s up for the header! PAAUWE TAKES HIM OUT IN THE AIR! PENALTY! Here’s our chance… oh fuck, I never set my penalty takers. Kalogeras is injured, who’s the AI picked.

It’s Nikos Andrielos. The tension around the Reebok has increased about ten times. C’mon Niko.

He steps up… Harper saves. Andrielos looks distraught. My fault mate, I should have planned for this earlier.

Having quickly changed my takers to put Nkubi as backup, we push on. Jacek Bak nearly scores a screamer from long range but Harper parries. Then Jamie Victory loses the ball in our half and that gives Youssof Hersi a chance. He puts in the cross. Jari Litmanen, on to replace Shearer, leaps for the ball. His header is good… but Evans manages to push it wide! Corner.

Pauuwe sends it into the box. Ronald Gomez gets a foot to it, knocks it down for de Jong… and Evans gets to it again! Quickly, he kicks the ball upfield, and now we counter all the way to Newcastle’s box. Wayne Rooney surges forward into the area but can’t find a way through, so he chips the ball to Mike Duff. Duffman holds off Claus Lundevkam, then manages to get past Mario Melchiot. He’s got a chance! MIKE DUFF SHOOTS!

GOALLLLLLLLL WANDERERS!!!!! THE REEBOK ERUPTS! DUFFMAN BLASTS HOME HIS FIRST GOAL OF THE SEASON TO GIVE US A CRUCIAL LEAD!

With 20 minutes to go we might just have it!

Still, we musn’t rest on our laurels. I turn to the bench, bringing on Weston for Niko and Walker for Eldar. Immediately, Rhys almost concedes a penalty by flattening Pauuwe but our clear sighted ref turns it down. Evans makes another great save from De Jong. 10 minutes to go. Litmanen sends over a ball into the box — Gomez’s header! EVANS SAVES AGAIN!

Nkubi forces a save out of Harper at the other end, Dyer volleys over, we tick through a few more minutes, and the whistle goes! We’ve taken a famous win against Newcastle!

Johnson gets MOTM, which is well deserved but I feel is slightly unfair to Evans, who almost certainly won us the game with nine saves. Up to 7th we go, and with a game in hand on Arsenal we could take fourth with a win against Leicester. One change made — the suspended Eldar replaced by Grant Brebner.

Well that wasn’t in the script. Evans, clearly exhausted by his exploits against Newcastle, lets in two of Leicester’s three shots, while Neil Alexander holds firm, though I’d expect no less. It’s not a great blow — we’re still only three points behind the Gunners.

Our next game is against Wolves and doesn’t look tough on paper, with the away side 12th in the league. However, it’s another game where I have to rotate the team due to tiredness, with Evans, Victory, Hill and Duff the only players to retain their places. Jeff Smith starts for the first time this season.

Now is not the time to lose the bottle, lads. But this is worrying.

Evans saves us from an even worse defeat with some superb saves, but the midfield was rusty. We are still in touch of the top four, though, with Spurs and Arsenal having a classic rivalry scrap for fourth, while Man United have just overtaken Liverpool in first.

And guess what? More injuries! Batigol, just after I get a notification about his contract expiring in three months, goes down with fractured ribs and will out for one of those months. Then David Ginola, who will also be a free agent in the summer, breaks his arm and is out for two.

Our next game, against Chelsea, is crucial, as they’re eighth in the league, five points behind us in seventh. We can’t afford to lose more ground, so I bring back the starters in force, making eight changes. Johnson, Ronaldo and Tonton make up the important midfield three while Rooney and Nkubi continue their partnership up front.

At this point I am convinced the game is trying to piss me off. Nkubi chips Dida in the 13th minute and scores — offside. Ronaldo leaps to meet a Tonton cross in the 34th minute and heads home — offside. Three minutes later Tim Cahill volleys home the opener for Chelesa and Eidur Gudjohnsen adds a second in the 64th minute. The midfield have a shocker and we end the game with 10 men after an injury to Youri. We’re still only three points off Spurs and Arsenal, but they both have games in hand.

Youri’s out for a month with a twisted ankle. Now we wait for Spurs and Arsenal.

They both win, Spurs via a 90th minute goal despite Neil Alexander’s best efforts. So with nine games to go, we’re on the back foot and fighting for a place in the Champions League — perfect for a season finale.

To quote Neil Warnock, “In football you never know what’s around the corner, but by sticking together — directors, management, players and fans — we can look to do something.”

Too right Neil, too right. Now let’s get on with it, we’ve got a Champions League to qualify for.

Part Twelve coming soon!