Under Sammy Lee we've looked like a completely different team and I cannot really understand why. Defensively we have been woeful and a clean sheet looks virtually unthinkable at the moment. A lot of the players in the team are the same as last season and you don't just forget how to do basic defending just because the managers changed. We looked awful at the back on Saturday against Portsmouth.
Gerald Cid is definitely not ready for the Premiership just yet and although he may turn into another gem, you can't help but think Big Sam would have gradually brought him into the team to acclimatise to the Premier League, like he did with so many other players at the club.
Abdoulaye Faye is in my opinion the best defender in the squad and is being flogged to Newcastle in a deal worth nowhere near his real value. The fact the manager thinks it's ok to sell Big Abdoulaye is beyond me and by replacing him with Andy O'Brien, with all due respect, is not a step forward in my opinion. Surely if he won't sign the new contract offered, we would be better to have the same scenario as with Tal Ben Haim. Keep him until the end of the season and hope he changes his mind. If he does go, at least we had his services for the season - which at this current point in time could mean him saving us more than the £2million offered if you know what I mean!
As for the rest of the defence - Nicky Hunt again this season looks out of his depth, Abdoulaye Meite looks jaded and isolated, while Jlloyd Samuel's been pretty impressive so far. These four players, to be fair to them haven't played together much and are definitely not playing as a unit. Having said that, it's not just the defences fault for this bad start to the 2007/08 campaign. Good defensive teams defend from the front and the fact we're missing Kevin Davies isn't helpful. He's the cog that keeps the team in working order and we need him back asap. The midfield has changed from a '5' to a '4' and the protection given to the defence this season compared to last is very little. The loss of the holding midfield player and the different positioning of the entire quartet is possibly the reason for this.
Looking at the new signings made by Sammy, some have excited the fans, others have frustrated them. Alonso looks a useful player, Samuel as I said looks decent, Helguson was a good steal and Gerald Cid has got potential but the rest still have a lot to prove. Wilhelmsson and Braaten both seem to be great signings but need time to get used to English football and are not going to drag us out of this hole we've found ourselves in. Danny Guthrie is yet to be seen, while Gavin McCann and Andy O'Brien are stereotypical journeymen who aren't likely to take this club forward.
Other negative signs include the fact Ivan Campo is nowhere to be seen, Captain Kevin Nolan is struggling for confidence and anymore displays like Saturday will see off Anelka and Diouf before September.
There were a few positives to take out of Saturday's game. It was good to see Andranik back in fold, some very good attacking football at times and I was proud to see Gary Speed wearing our shirt - playing with the effort and pride that we'd like to see from all the players.
I hate criticising any Bolton manager, and to be honest I expected a very poor start compared to recent seasons, but the manner we've lost the games so far is the greatest worry. Sammy Lee has never managed before, he is learning all the time and we should give him a decent amount of time to turn it around. Don't get on his back and give him some support, if we're still bottom at Christmas it may be a different story, but until then give him a chance.
It takes a long, long time to build something up, but sometimes it doesn't take minute to decimate it into small little pieces. Please Sammy, make us come good.
Got a comment on this story? Have your say on our messageboard!