WE asked Wanderers fans to rate the club’s players on their performances in League One this season… And they haven’t pulled any punches!
Thousands of supporters responded to our request online to give a mark out of 10 to the players who had started 10 games or more.
And it is perhaps a sign of the general disappointment around the fanbase that no player ended up with an average rating of more than seven.
Our chief football writer Marc Iles has left the scoring to you – but has supplied his own comments on each player listed below.
VICTOR ADEBOYEJO
Fans’ verdict: 3.43
Marc's view: Started just 17 games and in the very early days, he was unlucky to find himself on the bench after an impressive summer. Confidence eventually eroded and when his season was ended by a knee injury in mid-February he had just four goals to his name. Now missing until Christmas, it is a long road back.
SCOTT ARFIELD 1.75
A frankly disastrous spell with Bolton was cut short on January deadline day, facilitating a return to his former club Falkirk, where he has rediscovered a spark and helped them to promotion. He arrived after a full season in MLS and never looked anything like ready to play regularly. Will go down as one of Ian Evatt’s most ill-judged additions.
NATHAN BAXTER 4.62
He had been labelled the best goalkeeper in League One after a stunning save at Leyton Orient on the opening weekend but his performances dwindled under the intense pressure, and his distribution in particular became an issue. Always a fine shot-stopper – a factor which led to his return under Steven Schumacher – but a major mistake at Lincoln may have spelled the end of his time with the club.
CARLOS MENDES GOMES 3.85
Luck has never really been on the versatile forward’s side since signing for Bolton. Having fought back from a nasty Achilles injury he just started to gain moment before succumbing to a torn hamstring. With Wanderers changing all around him, he is one of a few players whose future is now hard to determine under new management.
DION CHARLES (now at Huddersfield) 4.67
Struggled to get himself firing like the striker who had bagged 20 goals in each of the last two seasons, and Bolton began to circulate his name as early as last summer to try and cash in. Huddersfield took the bait in January – but Dion had not got close to his best form, and that lull has continued for the Terriers. The decision not to sign a replacement, however, proved short-sighted.
AARON COLLINS 6.14
Batteries ran low in the last few months of the season as he and McAtee were being asked to play slightly unfamiliar attacking roles. Won’t be disappointed with 19 goals and 20-plus goal involvements this season but will know his haul could have been much greater. Got caught up in the fans’ fury towards the end but still voted player of the year.
JOSH DACRES-COGLEY 5.83
As consistent performer as Bolton have got. Hasn’t met with the fans’ appreciation all the time but usually judged on his attacking returns. Dacres-Cogley’s best work has been in a back four in his natural position as a full-back, or on the right side of a back three. His pace is something the Whites don’t have in abundance.
KYLE DEMPSEY 5.24
Would things have been better had Bolton been able to call on their midfield warrior more often this season? Respected by the supporters, without question, but Dempsey’s time with the club has been a catalogue of injuries and absences, which has to be addressed.
CHRIS FORINO 6.33
We have seen since Steven Schumacher’s arrival that the former Wycombe man has plenty to give. The trick is now keeping him fit regularly so that he can be a player around which Schumacher can build his defence. Has shown leadership skills to suggest he could be a key man in the future.
WILL FORRESTER 6.73
Injured in April when his Bolton stock had never been higher. Like Dempsey, Forrester’s Wanderers career was starting to feel like a list of injuries but with Schumacher showing some faith in the former Port Vale man, he came good, suggesting there is regular football ahead for him next season.
GEORGE JOHNSTON 5.29
Shouldn’t have been able to feature as regularly as he has done after a long time out with a knee injury but that does tell you a lot about his character. Hasn’t been at his very best – and hopefully that will come – but Johnston leaves it all out there on a weekly basis.
GETHIN JONES 3.65
After missing a big chunk of the start of the season, natural leader Jones made a positive impact on his return but soon got bogged down by the issues that were swirling around the Toughsheet. As a long-standing member of Team Evatt, he was guilty by implication in some people’s eyes. Confidence has been an issue, and this seems like a natural conclusion.
KLAIDI LOLOS 3.28
Impressed in pre-season but injured on the opening day with a reckless challenge at Leyton Orient, Lolos has been playing catch-up ever since. He has never quite found his niche in the team and doesn’t seem to have found favour under Schumacher, who had also worked with him at Plymouth.
JAY MATETE 4.69
Has shown a few glimpses of real quality and has the ability to pick up and carry the ball in midfield like no other Bolton player is able to do but the Sunderland loanee hasn’t really done enough to suggest this will be a long-term relationship with Wanderers and is prone to giving the ball away in some risky areas.
JOHN MCATEE 4.64
Hasn’t gone to plan for the big money summer signing. Used in a deeper role at the start of the season, then saw out the year as a makeshift number nine, it is also fair to say that Bolton haven’t helped him, tactically. But for all the flicks and gestures, substance has been lacking and Wanderers needed something real up front.
AARON MORLEY 6.69
Sent off to Wycombe at a time when he was miles away from a starting spot but then brought back in an effort to save Bolton’s season. Proved his point to Evatt and then became one of Schumacher’s most consistent performers until an ankle injury struck. Definitely one the club will want to hold on to.
ALEX MURPHY 3.87
In a more consistent team, or more favourable circumstances, Murphy might have fared better on his loan from Newcastle United but the truth is, he has too often looked like a centre-half playing at full-back. Mistakes have rocked his confidence on what is his first big loan away but there is a player in there, for certain.
JORDI OSEI-TUTU 5.61
On his day, an absolute match-winner for Bolton, but those occasions are frustratingly few and far between. Concerns over his fitness have been there throughout, and it seems the winger doesn’t necessarily trust his own body after so many setbacks. If Bolton can get him right, he can be a real game-changer.
JOEL RANDALL 3.34
Arrived at a club in turmoil for a big fee and with supporters asking why the money had not been spent elsewhere, which was a recipe for disaster. Didn’t cover himself in glory early on but has actually shown some improvement under Schumacher, so don’t write him off yet. If he can find a spot for him next season, there is talent to be honed.
RICARDO SANTOS 3.37
After four years as the main man under Ian Evatt, the foundations started to crumble for the big defender this season. Some unsavoury issues on social media didn’t help but a persistent pelvic injury left him unable to get to 100 per cent, and by the time he returned for the new boss there was no time for a comeback.
SZABI SCHON 5.79
Struck a chord with many supporters with fire in his belly and a never-ending supply of energy but, ultimately, he was a specialist winger playing wing-back for most of the season and his defensive frailties and lack of physicality have been an issue, particularly in some of the League One slug-fests.
JOSH SHEEHAN 5.71
Scored some spectacular goals, worked his way into the Wales side as a regular starter under Craig Bellamy, but at Bolton there are still question marks hanging over the midfielder, particularly on the big pressure or physically demanding occasions. At his best, one of the classiest operators in the squad.
LUKE SOUTHWOOD 5.70
Made a confident start this season as an alternate to Nathan Baxter and then took on the number one role in January, where his distribution skills looked to have set him apart from his rival. Schumacher chopped and changed trying to find form – but Southwood looks like being the last keeper standing.
GEORGE THOMASON 5.29
Took on the captain’s role unexpectedly from Ricardo Santos and admits himself that the job has come with added pressures. On the pitch, Thomason hasn’t hit the heights he did in the previous 18 months but has added another string to his bow, filling in as a left-sided defender. Never lets you down for effort.
EOIN TOAL 5.59
Been such a changeable season for the Northern Irishman, who has suffered some horrendous luck with injuries. At his best, there are signs he is really developing into a natural leader and a top-class defender but since October he has not had a proper run of starts thanks to hamstring problems which must be conquered this summer.
RANDELL WILLIAMS (now at Leyton Orient) 3.84
Ended up reaching the play-offs with Leyton Orient after being sold in January as a fringe player at Bolton. Given the issues Schumacher has had with injuries, a fit and versatile Williams really could have come in handy.
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