Is survival the best that Bolton and Wigan can hope for next season?

With the season nearly done and the relegation battle finished what next for the likes of Bolton and Wigan?

These are teams that are never really going to challenge for the European places yet they hang around the Premier League.

Struggled

This season has been a struggle for Bolton and the schizophrenic Wigan. Wigan are one of those sides that you just never know what you’re going to get.

Bolton have appointed a relatively new manager in Owen Coyle and Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was only appointed at the start of the season.

Coyle has tried to enforce his passing philosophy on the Wanderers squad. Unfortunately for the Scot it’s going to take his players awhile to get used to passing the ball instead of taking the more direct route to goal.

Location

A problem that the pair have to contend with is their locations. They have to compete with major clubs for fans and they tend to lose out. In Wigan town city centre you are likely to see far too many Everton, Manchester United and Liverpool shirts.

This is a major problem for the Latics as it means that they have a very small fanbase, in turn they have very small attendances apart from when the big boys visit. I know when Everton visit the DW Stadium there are almost as many Evertonians in the ground as Athletic supporters.

Bolton also have very low attendances figures because of the fact they are in the Greater Manchester area. They also have to compete with the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City for fans and at the moment they are not going to come out on top.

Tiers

The Premier League is now very much split into four tiers. The first tier is the sides who are going to compete for the title such as Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. Then there are the clubs who are in with a chance of European places Manchester City, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton.

Then the midtable teams of Fulham, Sunderland, Birmingham and Stoke. Then there are the bottom tier teams who are going to be fighting for their lives, Bolton, Wigan, Wolves and West Ham. And also the three relegated sides Hull, Burnley and Portsmouth.

These tiers don’t often change and only occasionally does a club move up. Wigan and Bolton have been in the middle tier in the past but I can’t see them challenging for a top half position in the league next season.

Summer

This summer is vital for both sides and they have to strengthen heavily or they will be in for their usual battle for survival next season. Owen Coyle will want to bring in players that can play good passing football but he may not have much to spend.

Bolton boss Coyle faces an uphill struggle to sign the players he needs to strengthen his combative squad. He needs to get rid of the high ball game that has proved a relatively successful style at the Reebok Stadium in recent years.

High ball is not in Coyle’s vocabulary. The Scot managed to find bargains as Burnley manager but that was in the Championship. He now faces the challenge of signing players capable of playing in the top flight.

Martinez is in exactly the same situation. Martinez who has done a good job on a tight budget likes his sides to play a passing style and this season they have in patches. I have to admit I believe they have more players capable of doing that than the Wanderers.

Martinez faces a fight to keep his best players this summer. The likes of Charles N’Zogbia and Hugo Rodallega have been heavily linked with summer moves and Arsenal are believed to be set to make a double summer swoop. Martinez needs to spend the money wisely if he sells the pair and his track record is decent.

Same

I can’t see much changing at these two clubs next season. I can see them fighting for their lives again and not really progressing. It must be really frustrating for their fans. Their only hope for the season is survival. Then again I suppose it’s better than languishing in the Championship.

Would our readers be happy for their team to just fight for their lives every season?