' Josh Vela/Cardiff City? '

Josh Vela – Scout Report

Vital Bolton W

Posted By Matt Fletcher


Tuesday January 5, 2016



Bolton’s troubles have been well documented recently, with financial issues off the field and performances to boot on it, they find themselves rock bottom of the Championship at the start of the New Year. With the glory days of the Premier League seemingly a distant memory, and the serious prospect of relegation to the third tier of English football, Bolton fans will be feeling understandably pessimistic at the moment. However, one shed of light in the tunnel have been the performances of young Josh Vela this season.

The 22 year old has been one of Bolton’s more consistent performers, whether he’s played in his preferred holding midfield role, or as a right back. Vela is a successful product of the Bolton Wanderers Academy, having been at the club since he was just nine. He has been highly rated ever since a young age - underlined by Bolton rejecting a £1million bid from Liverpool when he was seventeen. Following a successful loan spell at Notts County in 2014, Vela has been in and around the Wanderer’s first team, making 15 appearances this season, scoring 1 goal.

Josh Vela is a solid, consistent performer, whose workload really endears him to the Bolton faithful. He’s a fast player with a good engine and who regularly wins the ball back for his team. When he’s in possession, he has good feet, has an exceptional passing ability, but most importantly, very rarely gives the ball away. Another important attribute the young man possesses, is his versatility. His best position is arguably in centre midfield, but he can very comfortably be deployed as a full back. Being a player who can play in more than one position is a key component of the modern day footballer, and Vela certainly fits the bill.


An area of his game that he will be keen to work on, is his positioning as he sometimes get caught out. However, unlike a number of footballers, he will at least attempt to track back and defend if he’s out of position. Also, Vela can at times struggle to cope with the physicality of the Championship, being muscled off the ball by stronger opponents. As Josh currently plays a lot of his matches at full back, if he really wants to hold down a position in midfield he may need to work on the attacking side of his game, and ultimately contribute more goals for his team.

In recent weeks, Vela has been linked with fellow Championship side Cardiff – with reports suggesting they will make a £450,000 bid for the versatile player. It will remain to be seen whether or not he will still be a Bolton player come February. But one thing is for sure, having a player progress through their academy and do so well in the first team will either help them get out of trouble on the pitch, or if they do sell him, will help their financial situation off it.

This seemed to been dying down a bit.

i expect Vela, Weghorst and a quick winger in

i expect Vela, Weghorst and a quick winger in

And Watt.

yeh watt deal was agreed as part of the loan i believe

I thought we already bid for this guy last week

i expect Vela, Weghorst and a quick winger in

I think the winger is Wright Phillips hope he's still got it

i expect Vela, Weghorst and a quick winger in

I think the winger is Wright Phillips hope he's still got it

Hope not past it get someone young in.