10 Question with a Wycombe Wanderer

Thanks to Chairboy fan Jon Hogg for his honest replies.

1. How did week one of the league campaign start for Wycombe?

We had a superb start last weekend against Burton Albion, three goals up by half time, game over and top of the league!

2. What are your expectations for this season after coming so close last season?

If I'm honest, I'm not really sure about this season, we have lost the massive (in all senses of the word) influence of The Beast – Bayo Akinfenwa, who has now retired, although he only played a bit-part role anyway last season. Its more his influence at the club that we'll miss. We have also lost Anthony Stewart to Aberdeen and David Stockdale to Sheffield Wednesday. We definitely need a new senior keeper. However, most of the out-of-contract players have signed on... it was important to keep the likes of Jacobson, Wing, Gape and Vokes. Concern is we haven't really added to the squad aside from a couple of non-league players. But the most important signing was manager Gareth Ainsworth, shunning any chance to move on.

3. Have you any players for us to look out for?

Players to look out for – Anis Mehmeti, very tricky Albanian international midfielder, Gareth McLeary is always full of tricks, Jacobsen's set-piece deliveries and Vokes up top.

4. Last season you finished 6th in a strong division, beat the form team MK Dons in a play-off semi and reached Wembley, how did the day go?

Fantastic day at Wembley in May. Did a job on MK Dons to get there but we were beaten fair and square by the better team on the day… Sunderland were comfortable and deserving winners.

5. Was this Wycombe’s first trip to the national stadium?

It certainly wasn't our first time at Wembley… we beat Oxford United in the play-off final in 2020 but of course no fans were allowed due to the pandemic. Also, back in 2015 we lost the league two play-off final to Southend... 7-6 on penalties, after conceding an equaliser in the last minute of extra time.

6. Looking at some of your results last season, you looked like you travelled well. How was it?

We had a great away record last season, one of best in league… drawing at high-flyers Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham and Wigan, whilst beating both Plymouth at Home Park and of course Bolton at the Unibol. Not bad going. Personally I didn't manage to get to any of those but went to the likes of Cambridge, Stevenage, Ipswich and Crewe – only witnessing defeat at Ipswich.

7. Your record against Bolton, ouch. Expecting to continue it?

I would like to think we can keep up our great record of played 4, won 4, drawn 0, lost 0, goals for 7, goals against 0. Not bad!!!! We enjoy playing the Trotters.

8. Winning the first ever match between Bolton and Wycombe at Adams Park in August 2019 was at a time when Bolton were on the brink of going out of business. Your club and your fans were so respectful of the situation and didn’t goad us… quite the opposite. Is this something you’d come to expect from your fan base?

Yes Chairboys fans are a respectful bunch, glad that Bolton fans appreciated that. We have an excellent rapport with Sheffield Wednesday and their fans, as our last away game a few years ago was at Hillsborough and we celebrated with them when they got promoted. Ever since then there has been a great mutual respect and we were gutted they lost to Sunderland in the play-off semi last season as would have been great to share the day at Wembley with the Owls fans.

9. Historically Bolton have been a much, much bigger club, with four F.A. Cup wins, a couple of seasons competing in Europe, having the likes of Okocha, Djorkaeff, Campo, Hierro, Anelka in our team… do you as a club/supporter sometimes have to pinch yourself when you are coming up against, matching and ultimately bettering team’s of this stature?

Yes it's great to be mixing it with the likes of Bolton, Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland and of course the season we had in the Championship with the likes of Notts Forest, Sheffield United and Blackburn. All big clubs with European experience and plenty of silverware.

10. What score are you predicting for Saturday?

I'm gonna go for us to continue our clean sheet sweep and will predict a narrow 1-0 win for the Chairboys. COYC!!

Thanks once again to Jon! Sorry mate, your 1-0 ain’t gonna happen!!

The View From t’Other Side

10 Question with a Wycombe Wanderer

The View From t’Other Side – Port Vale (A)

Ipswich (A)