BOLTON WANDERERS

LAST SEASON

LEAGUE ONE 9th FA CUP First Round LEAGUE CUP Second Round TOP SCORER Oladapo Afolayan ( 14)

FAN FILE

Last season was the same as the previous one: rubbish first half, terrific second. If we can get our summer recruitment right at the third time of asking, then I hope we won’t need another January overhaul to compete. This season will be different because we have a settled squad. The players who make up our team’s spine are good ages and know each other well – our USP in a league of big spenders.

Our key player will be Dapo Afolayan. He got us through our bleak midwinter – 14 goals last term, now aiming for 20. Rumoured interest from Rangers will keep fans on tenterhooks.

I won’t be happy unless we make the play- offs. We’re easily good enough.

Our most underrated player is Jon Dadi Bodvarsson [ above]. He finished last season in red- hot form, and is my outside bet for top scorer in 2022- 23. The opposition player who grinds my

gears is David Stockdale, who doesn’t look like a footballer, gives a lot of stick to away supporters and – his worst crime of all – manages to back it up. The active player I’d love to have back is Lukas Jutkiewicz, a fantastic targetman. He wouldn’t start in this team, but what an amazing Plan B.

The thing my club really gets right is getting bums on seats. Higher- ups are making the matchday experience more engaging, and the improved style has seen a big boost in season ticket sales. I’m least looking forward to playing

Wycombe. Give them six points now.

Look out for Aaron Morley [ below] – an exceptionally talented technical midfielder who could become one of the league’s best playmakers. The opposition player I’d love here is

Oxford’s Cameron Brannagan, the kind of midfielder whose tenacity and skill would thrive in our side.

The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that he’s building something special here. We play great football thanks to Ian Evatt and he’s cut back on the arrogant statements. But it still wouldn’t shock me if we were 12th and he proclaimed we were the “best team in the league”.

The pantomime villain will be Dion Charles. An aggressive, quick and very dangerous wind- up merchant.

We’ll finish 3rd.

FFT VERDICT 4TH

Wanderers won 16 of their last 22 matches in 2020- 21 and 14 over the same period last term – stark improvements on previous form. James Trafford and Jack Iredale will help to ensure that, this time, the first 24 encounters also go to plan. Evatt’s charges look ready.