Bannan and Madine: The 'highest-rated' Bolton Wanderers XI from the past decade

We’ve used WhoScored’s rating system, which is based on a wide range of in-game statistics, to build an XI featuring the players who have had the biggest impact on their respective squads.

Honourbale mentions go to Dapo Afolayan, David Wheater, Dorian Dervite, Tim Ream, Alex Baptiste and Aristote Nsiala, who all narrowly missed out.

James Trafford

Trafford makes the side after impressing during the second half of last season while on loan from Manchester City.

The young goalkeeper kept nine clean sheets in 22 appearances as Ian Evatt’s men finished ninth in League One.

He finished the season with a rating of 6.93, which is enough to take him above Remi Matthews’ score from 2018/19.

Marlon Fossey

Fossey also makes the cut after impressing while on loan from Fulham during the second half of last term.

The wing-back managed a goal and five assists in 16 appearances before his campaign was cut short after suffering a torn meniscus.

He finished the season with a rating of 7.20, which is higher than any other member of the Bolton squad last season.

Ricardo Santos

Santos recently signed a new three-year deal on the back of another successive campaign, but it is actually for his efforts in 2020/21 that he makes the side.

The defender was an ever-present figure as Wanderers won promotion from League Two at the first time of asking and finished with a rating of 7.14

He formed an effective partnership with Baptiste, who narrowly misses out on a place in the back four.

Matt Mills

Mills also makes the list due to his performances in the 2014/15 campaign as the Whites finished 18th in the Championship.

The defender finished the season with a rating of 7.35 but was released the following summer as part of the club’s cost-cutting measures.

Mark Beevers

Beevers is also included in the backline after impressing during the 2018/19 season, making 34 appearances in all competitions.

However, he left Wanderers the following summer at the end of his contract amid the club’s problems off the pitch.

Barry Bannan

Bannan’s rating of 7.40 during the 2014/15 campaign is the highest of any Bolton player over the past decade.

The midfielder became a regular starter after joining on loan from Crystal Place midway through the season.

Bannan went on to join Sheffield Wednesday and reminded supporters of what he is capable of with a classy display at the UniBol back in April.

Jay Spearing

Yet another high rating from the 2014/15 season as Spearing scored three goals in 35 appearances for the Whites.

The midfielder spent five seasons at Wanderers in total and went on to have spells with Blackburn and Blackpool among others.

Antoni Sarcevic

Sarcevic recorded a rating of 7.15 during the 2020/21 season as Evatt’s men finished third in League Two after remarkable run since the turn of the year.

However, the midfielder made just 16 appearances last term before making a shock move to Stockport County.

Sammy Ameobi

Ameobi also makes the side after finishing the 2017/18 campaign with a final rating of 7.23 as Wanderers escaped relegation from the Championship on the final day.

The winger left the UniBol in 2019 after cancelling the final year of his contract amid the club’s financial issues.

Daryl Murphy

Murphy also gets the nod due to his performances during the 2019/20 campaign before the season was cut short due to the pandemic.

Despite Wanderers’ struggles, Murphy scored eight goals in 26 games and finished with a rating of 7.16.

Gary Madine

Madine leads the line after an impressive return in the first half of the 2017/18 campaign, finding the net 10 times in 28 matches.

The Whites decided to cash in on the forward in the January window and he joined Cardiff for a fee in the region of £6million.

Prior to the move, he recorded a rating of 7.26 – higher than any other member of the Bolton squad that season.

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