Bolton Wanderers

The most famous Bolton player at the Reebok Stadium last Saturday wasn’t on the pitch. He was a spectator. His name is Nat Lofthouse, he is 79 (though he certainly doesn’t look it) and he has served his home town club for some 60 years, including a distinguished playing career marked by over 500 games and 285 goals before injury forced him to hang up his boots in December 1960, almost 45 years ago. By then he had captained Bolton’s cup winning side, scoring both goals in the 2-0 defeat of Manchester United in 1958, the year after he was voted Footballer of the Year. He had also played 33 times for England, earning the nickname ‘The Lion of Vienna’ for his match winning performance in the 3-2 victory over Austria in 1952. In the true sense of an overworked and much abused word, Nat Lofthouse is a legend.

As for the Bolton side that deservedly beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Reebok on 3rd December 2005, it is doubtful whether any of them will ever attain legendary status, or even in their time become household names outside Lancashire. And given the choice, it is also doubtful whether Arsene Wenger would consider any of them good enough to represent Arsenal.

So why did they win? Was it that Arsenal had an off-day, while Bolton played above themselves? Too simple. The truth is that they were extremely well prepared, they played to their strengths and they showed greater commitment than their opponents, whose weaknesses they knew and exploited effectively, particularly at set pieces. All of which reflects great credit upon the players, the team and especially the manager.

If management is largely about getting the best out of your players, individually and collectively, even when financial resources are limited, then Sam Allardyce is as good at it as most. After a playing career which embraced four divisions and a spell in America, the man whose chief attribute was once cynically described as ‘kicking lumps out of opposing players’ has been transformed into a thoroughly modern manager, keen to embrace all aspects of sports science, and to employ dieticians, fitness coaches psychologists – anyone who can give his team the advantage. What’s more, it works.

As for Arsenal, perhaps it should be stressed that gifted players are the ones who can do things others can’t, but their talent does not absolve them from the duty of doing the things that lesser players can. Commitment is not an option.