So how are you all after the international break? Miss watching our team lose and play horribly? Yeah me too. Luckily however this weekend we're playing some neighbors who are in much the same habit, managed by dear old Big Sam (maybe that was too many adjectives for one guy?). Blackburn are on a run of ten straight losses in away games, however they haven't lost at the Reebok

since 2001 (though really statistics like that don't mean that much).

Sorry I haven't been around lately, it's been a bit hectic over here recently. Luckily it was an international break and nothing much happened in my absence, but I now dutifully bring you what did.

As you may have read in TheSpoiler (highly recommended by the way), Darius Vassell, ex-Man City striker, has been experience a few bumps over in Turkey.

Well I'm sure you've seen the score by now. I don't really have the heart to repeat it. You may have noted that this is incredibly late. As I said previously I had to visit England to visit my dying grandmother (she passed late Monday night), I got home yesterday at midnight Texas time, 6 AM my body clock time, after no less than 24 hours of traveling.

So this is probably the earliest I've ever done a match report (3 whole days in advance) and so I can't link you to the BBC statistics report. You'll just have to go find it yourself, it'll be on this page probably by Saturday. Like I said a little earlier, I'm going over to England and won't have internet until I get back (I'm staying at my grandmother's house and she doesn't allow any technology made after 1972 in), so don't expect any new posts from me until Tuesday at the earliest (there there love, don't pine, you can always go through my archives or go read some of my posts on England World Cup Blog if you miss me too much).

The one and only Matty Taylor spins us a little yarn on why young boys should not be allowed to have nice cars. I highly recommend checking out the extensive Channelbee Football section. Many hilarious videos.

Some pretty pedestrian stuff so far this week, perhaps everyone still in shock after our thrashing on Saturday. First of all a surprising statistic has been released: Bolton's attendances rose last season by 8%, one of only two clubs to see a rise in attendance. I don't know if you noticed but last season (and more so this current season) the Reebok has been looking strikingly empty.

As I mentioned earlier, my father was at the Chelsea game this past Saturday. I had him write my a little guest blog, and as promised here it is.
I arrived at the Reebok in gentle late afternoon sunshine. No, that's not a joke. In fact, you can tell that the stadium was not built with sunshine in mind, since for the first half an hour or so I was there, it was shining directly into my eyes (at first I was so surprised by the unaccustomed glow I thought Wigan must be on fire – no such luck, however), making it hard to concentrate on the cheerleaders.

It has been dawning on me slowly but surely that supporting Bolton is like being in an abusive relationship. Every weekend they hurt me and then I go through several stages. First I'm angry with them, I question our relationship and whether it's worth it. Then I begin to start qualifying and saying to myself "Well, it wasn't too bad," I convince myself they'll change.

Yes Kevin dear, you are number 1.

Hello again, it seems as though I've been posting a lot lately, to match the Trotter's busy schedule. Chelsea will be paying us a visit this Saturday, a mere 72 hours after we saw them last. And trust me, I haven't missed them. Here's a link to the BBC's preview of the match.

First, and most importantly, there is some sad news for the Wanderers World. Our dear Jussi is retiring from his international career. His Finnish team failed to make South Africa 2010, and Jaaskelainen announced his retirement earlier today. He was first capped in 1998, and has earned 55 since. Jussi, pure class as ever, came out with this statement:

"I have considered this decision long and hard, and I believe that it is now the right time to give younger Finnish goalkeepers the chance to play on the international stage.

I haven't been able to find highlights but I did find a video of all four goals. The emotionally unstable amongst us may not want to watch it as it's pretty depressing. As my father said the only positive thing to take away from that match is the fact that we can't do any worse on Saturday. Now I must say I didn't really expect a win, I don't think any Wanderer did, but 4-0?

I was unable to watch the game today because I had to write a history essay (though the game probably would have been just as painful). I've just been reading some reports (as of now no video is out) and things don't look good do they? Even Gary Megson called us crap and he barely ever does that (even though we quite often are crap).

Reports have come out that 4 players at the club have contracted the dreaded swine. However Megson refuses to reveal who the players in question are. Now of course I'm not worried about them dropping dead or anything, but the swine flu is still the flu, and can be quite debilitating if you want to, say, chase up and down after a ball for 90 minutes.

So far I haven't been able to find full highlights unfortunately, though I have found a video of all the goals (you'll have to watch an advert about toothbrushes, but it's worth it). I will admit, I did not see the match, nor have I been able to watch full highlights (I was playing rugby), so this report will be a bit of an amalgamation of tidbits I stole form other reports.

A mere three days after our match against the Toffees, our lovely Wanderers will be wandering their way down to Stamford Bridge. I;m not particularly relishing the prospect as the Carling Cup is the only silverware we even have a slight chance of winning, since most clubs treat it like a joke.