I am definitely coming down with the tell-tale symptoms of football withdrawal; mild depression, blisters on my fingers (from re-playing Metal Gear Solid for the 8th time, you know… when Ocelot tortures Snake and you have to franticly tap survive), and the fact that I seem to be enjoying tennis. There are no known remedies to this ailment, the only thing that is keeping me going in this dark period is the geomagnetic storm building overhead containing a soon to be “active” transfer window, and an impending joyous pre-season schedule.

I never thought that Sandy Stewart returning to work would excite me very much, but the fact that the assistant manager returned to his office* on Wednesday has given me a realisation that another year of Bolton Wanderers is about to begin. The backroom staff have returned a few days before the players, who are back to work on Monday, and Stewart seems to share my excitement, well, kind of. “Putting the training kit on again today makes you feel like you are back and are ready to get to work.”

In a few weeks time, the Whites will set off on their USA tour. One of the games we will play (17th July) is against Orlando City. Now I know the Lions are not in the top tier of American soccer (yes I wikipedia’d them…also.. I hope that’s a real verb) but I think they are the “soccer” team I now support. I think this is because I now follow them on twitter and their tweets have sucked me in. I will choose defender, Rob Valentino as my favourite player. They also have a supporters group called “The Ruckus”. If only I could go to the game. I will profile the clubs involved in the tour before the games.

So the Gary Cahill saga is still ongoing, I don’t know if this is because the club haven’t received an offer they deem suitable, or if Gary himself is undecided. Whatever the reason I hope they get a move on as I feel it is probably holding back other potential transfers. The most recent Cahill Internet chitchat has been of a move to Arsenal, which could involve either Henri Lansbury or Nicklas Bendtner heading this way. I’m sure either of these players would be welcomed at the Reebok and I feel this would be a better deal than the other crazy swap that has been discussed this week. You know, the one that involves Spurs giving us Keane, Jenas, Bassong and Hutton. I would take Bassong, perhaps Hutton, however, I’m not sure about the other two, especially in relation to the wages they would probably demand.

Sam Rickets has learned how to walk again. I fully understand that this is a bizarre sentence but he has said, “I lost my walking technique and I had to learn all over again”. I guess I take my walking technique for granted, for the record I think my technique is pretty good, probably one of the best around. I hope Sam gets himself running soon enough as we need him to give Steinsson some competition, especially if no right-back is signed over the summer.

News in Bulletpoints (again).

• Bolton chairman Phil Gartside re-tweeted the Dalai Lama. (not sure what I find stranger, Gartside quoting his holiness, or the fact that the Dalai Lama has a verified twitter account.

• Stoke are now winning in the chase for Cameron Jerome. (Or losing, however you look at it)

• Zat Knight has said his mate Shaun Wright-Phillips could come to Bolton. I don’t know what my opinion on this move is. Honest. The fence I am on. He could be awesome / he could not.

• Sammy Lee was trending on Twitter.

• Aussie defender Rhys Williams is still being talked about.

• Stuart Holden has said he is “Back in the swing of things”. This is a great and wonderful thing.

Anyway, I must go and defeat Sniper Wolf, lets hope there will be something with more substance to talk about soon enough.

P.S
I need Twitter followers so here is a shameful beg.
Follow me!!!

twitter.com/mcskimming

*In my head his office is like Don Drapers, complete with endless spirits and a lovely receptionist that occasionally gets pestered by certain members of the squad. (This is my imagination; I am in no way suggesting he has a drink problem.)

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