'Belief in him' - The Bolton Wanderers perspective on Blackpool's newest addition
The Bolton News' Dan Barnes discusses what Blackpool can expect from Joel Randall following his loan move to Bloomfield Road from the Trotters.
Ian Evatt has reunited with his former Bolton Wanderers colleague Joel Randall - who has made the move to Blackpool on loan for the remainder of the season.
The attacking midfielder has made the move to Bloomfield Road on loan from Bolton Wanderers for the remainder of the season, and arrives at an important time following an injury to Albie Morgan.
Evatt initially signed Randall for the Trotters last January, before departing the club a few weeks later.
Things ultimately haven’t worked out as hoped for the 26-year-old following his move to the Toughsheet Community Stadium from Peterborough United for a substantial fee.
Providing insight into what Blackpool could now expect, The Bolton News’ Dan Barnes said: “It’s an interesting one. Ian Evatt brought him to Bolton, and he scored his first goal in what was his last game in charge against Charlton.
“Suddenly everything he’d been sold about the club was all different. Julian Darby came in and had a couple of games as caretaker manager, and then Steven Schumacher came in.
“Joel still had some time in the team in the second half, and still had opportunities in the team this season, but it just hasn’t clicked for him and he hasn’t been able to nail down his place in the team.
“Obviously from his time at Peterborough, it’s clear he’s got the quality and the talent to be effective at this level, but for whatever reason it just hasn’t worked out.
“Bolton have switched up the system in the last couple of games, which has contributed to it, so it felt inevitable that there might be a loan for him to suit both parties.”
How Randall will fit in
Barnes believes Randall will suit what Evatt wants, and be the player the ex-Bolton boss envisioned last year.
“He’s someone who is good on the ball and very much tries to play between the lines or slip those passes into the forwards who might be playing on the shoulder,” he added.
“Looking at the Blackpool squad from an outside point of view, it seems like a good fit. He’s pretty much exclusively played as a number 10 at Bolton, but I believe he’s played out on the left at Posh, and a bit deeper in midfield as well.
“The main thing is having Ian Evatt in charge - someone who has signed him for two clubs now so clearly has that belief in him.
“That consistent run of games could be really good for him, and I think he’ll kick on for Blackpool.
“You’ve seen snippets. There’s been a few good games where you think he’s going to kick on, and it’s just never happened.
“Ian Evatt wanted him the summer before he signed him, and kept that interest going in the January, so he clearly believes in the player.
“At one stage they were talking about a price tag not too far off £2million, and ended up still being a seven-figure fee that Bolton paid for him in the end. From that perspective it’s been disappointing because it’s been the biggest amount the club has spent since Football Ventures took over.
“It shows the high hopes they had for him and how desperate they were to get him in the squad. He’s still under contract for a couple more years so it’s not like this is definitely the end or anything like that.”
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