Are you ready yet?

Now that the Euros is over - are you ready for the upcoming season for Wanderers?

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I’m writing this the morning after the 2024 Euros final, where England saw their dreams of a first major trophy since 1966 dashed by a brilliant Spain side.

In all honesty, Spain had been the best team throughout the tournament and were deserved winners. Lamine Yamal is destined to be one of the next future superstars of the game. He’s already been anointed to be by Lionel Messi himself.

Whilst Spain have been mightily impressive over the past month, it doesn’t mean the result wasn’t completely devastating in the moment.

Couple being an England fan with being a Bolton Wanderers fan, it’s like listening to R.E.M’s Everybody Hurts & Mad World by Gary Jules on an infinite loop until you drive yourself insane.

Speaking of Bolton Wanderers - how are you feeling about the upcoming season?

The other week I arrived home to find a souvenir ticket had been sent in the post. Not only did they arrive two months late, it was an unwanted reminder of how woeful Wanderers were that day at Wembley. Zero shots on target in a play-off final. Only us, only us.

Whether you’re ready for the season or not, it’s fast approaching.

So far, we’ve made four new signings in the shape of Chris Forino, Luke Southwood, Klaidi Lolos & Scott Arfield.

Provided they can prove their fitness and stay injury free, Forino and Southwood look to be good signings with plenty of League One experience. Forino could well be in contention for a place in defence and having started two seasons for Cheltenham, Southwood would be a suitable number two for Baxter.

Lolos could be an exciting prospect, having shone for Crawley last season playing as an attacking midfielder. After leaving Plymouth and heading to non-league, Lolos has worked his way back up the leagues and rightly earned the move to Bolton.

With Scott Arfield, hopefully the Canadian international’s experience helps the team on and off the pitch. Two years on from playing in the Europa League final, Arfield is now 35 and has left MLS outfit Charlotte FC in search of more game time.

There were rumours that Wanderers were interested last year before Arfield opted for the Queen City instead. Let’s hope he can still play a part and have a positive impact this season.

There’s still work to be done with the team, given the injuries we already have. Wing back remains a priority position and we desperately do need players bringing in, certainly on the left side given the fact that Randell Williams is sidelined and Ogbeta and Ashworth have left.

Ian Evatt’s comments from the charity Q&A last week were interesting. It seems that Wanderers are casting their net further with an eye on European talent. Supposedly, Wanderers do have a couple of seven figure bids in for targets. Fingers crossed those deals progress over the coming weeks.

It’s a big season for Bolton. It’s a big season for Evatt.

Whether you’re ready for it or not, it’ll be here before you know it.