August Awaits: Bolton First, Then Seven from Nine

Pre-Season Is Over, the Pressure Is Not

Welcome back to The 1867 Post. Football is finally back. In this edition we’re going to discuss the first four games of the season, starting in the League Cup on Saturday. Pre-season finishes tomorrow and I wonder if the gaffer has made his mind up on Saturday’s starting XI.

Henrik Pedersen hasn’t won many supporters over after last weekend’s poor showing at Accrington and Oldham, and I did wonder if a split squad was an attempt to cram in as much game time as possible. That’s all in the rear-view mirror and Saturday gives us an opportunity to see how far the squad has come, or how far it has to go.

I sat down with my brother in midweek and he’s convinced Pedersen is under huge pressure to get a result this weekend. Football is a simple game on paper, retain possession and create chances for the forwards.

Wednesday haven’t created too many chances in pre-season, but I will take the stance that there are lots of places up for grabs.

Our 1st Round tie will not be an easy fixture, and Steven Schumacher will look to build on last season’s play-off win. He also wants to ruin ‘Wednesday’s rebirth’.

“We’re not taking it as a pre-season game, where we can get knocked out and not give a good performance, then have to regroup for the opening day.

We’ll go there and do our very best against a really motivated and well organised team.” Steven Schumacher (source)

Bolton have been building a squad capable of competing in the Championship. Former Wednesday player Akin Famewo arrived from Hull City. Joining Famewo is David Watson (central midfield, from Kilmarnock), Luca Stephenson (right back, from Liverpool, around £0.7m), Ben Davies (centre back, free from Rangers), Kyliane Dong (left winger, on loan from Augsburg) and Gaizka Larrazabal (right back, free from Casa Pia).

Bolton beat Dutch side NAC Breda 1-0 last week, thanks to a Ruben Rodrigues strike. That was Rodrigues’s fourth goal of pre-season, and I’d expect him to start at Hillsborough this weekend.

Prediction: 2-1

My heart says we will win this game, my head says otherwise, but I refuse to start the new season by predicting we will lose. One or two players might surprise us and I am looking forward to watching some familiar faces and some new.

Could we see Billy Mitchell and Callum Slattery lining up alongside Barry Bannan this weekend? Saturday’s starting XI could give us some clues as to who will start at Leyton Orient next Saturday in front of a sell-out away end.

The Bolton game I am looking forward to for many reasons. There’s something about football in August.

At the time of writing, Wednesday are 9/4 to win, with Bolton priced at 11/10.

Tyler Onyango could arrive at S6 before Saturday’s game. According to The Star, the deal to bring in Onyango is almost done. The 23-year-old could be our 13th signing of the season.

Looking ahead to our other games this month, I expect us to pick up three points against Leyton Orient. That would be the perfect preparations for a tough Yorkshire derby in front of the TV cameras. A point against The Bantams would put us in a strong position for Bromley’s arrival later this month. Wednesday’s target of seven points from nine is achievable. I’ll be analysing the games in detail over the coming weeks.

The gaffer is carrying the weight of expectation. Can he deliver?

Safe travels to everyone making their way to Hillsborough this weekend.

UTO 🦉