Is Big Sam the best Bolton boss ever?

[DaveBWFC]

but don't forget Rioch deserted us for Arsenal the minute the 95 play off was over.

Rioch left so he could move down south to be nearer his dying father in law. He was leaving even if he didn't get offered the Arsenal job.

Allardyce touted himself for the England job for a year then quit with a few games to go in a season. To have a break from football. Only to turn up at Newcastle a few weeks later.

I know which man I respect more.

[xmiles]

Dave I can understand which man you respect more but which do you think was the better manager?

Also the cynic in me wonders whether this is the complete truth about Rioch's move - it was awfully convenient timing.

[DaveBWFC]

I've already said I think Rioch was the better manager.

It's also a true story about his father in law. He obviously didn't mention it at the time as he didn't want a dying man reading stories in the newspaper. It's common knowledge now though.

[Paul Comstive]

No right or wrong answer here.

Rioch transformed us, no doubt about it.  From being a run-of-the-mill lower division side, suddenly EVERYONE knew about us.  Knocking the FA Cup holders on their own grounds two seasons running, along with the likes of Everton, Wolves and Aston Villa. Clubs like ours occasionally beate the big boys and made the headlines.  We were doing it regularly.  We were also doing it with exciting young players like Stubbs, McAteer and Thompson.

I can honestly say I preferred those days to those of the European campaigns more recently.

From spending years in the doldrums all of a sudden there was genuine belief that the club was going somewhere.

... and we bloody well got there.

After a few years of stalling after the work Rioch (and Todd) had put in, Allardyce came in and did a phenomenal job too, albeit in a very, very different way.

I'm just grateful that I was there to witness it all.

[scott1]

Do you remember super john scoreing a pen against P.N.E when we got promotion at burnden and every one went onto the pitch,What year was it?i was only a kid and remember it like yesterday what atmosphere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Martinbwfc]

Do you remember super john scoreing a pen against P.N.E when we got promotion at burnden and every one went onto the pitch,What year was it?i was only a kid and remember it like yesterday what atmosphere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1994 against Preston.

[scott1]

Cheers pal,was anyone there?super wanderes fans that day,i think i knew i was a WANDERER from that day on.

[DaveBWFC]

1994 against Preston.

1993 actually.

[DaveBWFC]

was anyone there?

Yes I was there. Stood on Manny Road North. Great day in the end but it was a bit of a nail biter until McGinlay scored.

[hjd]

Do you remember super john scoreing a pen against P.N.E when we got promotion at burnden and every one went onto the pitch,What year was it?i was only a kid and remember it like yesterday what atmosphere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My 2 kids went on the pitch and my son who was 11 at the time showed remarkable initiative by making a beeline for the penalty spot, scooping it up, and putting it in his pocket . I still have it in a bag somewhere.

Afterwards we went in the King Bill which was rammed and everyone was buying bottles of champagne and passing them round, I had some explaining to do when we got home and  our 14 and 11 years old were both drunk. 

[Manny]

Big Sam's West Ham have just lost to Megson's Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.