Wanderers have frequently failed to fill their stadium. Is this due to a lack of interest, too many games, or inflated prices?
The answer is probably a mixture of all three, but perhaps it should also be remembered that as a club Bolton have performed beyond their apparent means for some seasons.
Sam Allardyce has established Bolton as a top ten club for several years on minimal resources.
It is fair to assume that the fans have similar minimal resources in comparable terms too. A typical Chelsea or Man Utd fan is viewed in many circles as a rich aristocrat who picks and chooses the game he goes to according to his interest.
Without wishing to do a disservice to die-hard Bolton fans, the comparable view must be that they choose the games they go to according to their means.
Of course, fan base, ticket prices, size of stadium and many other variables must be taken into account, but just because a club performs beyond its means, it does not necessarily follow that the fans can fork out extra money for a Cup run or more games of greater importance.
Wigan are another club who have struggled with attendances despite performing admirably in the Premiership. Fulham consistently offer cheap seats to families to get bums on seats, while Blackburn offered a similar deal for their UEFA Cup match with Leverkusen last night.
This is why David Sullivan's criticism of the Birmingham fans was disappointing. I do not profess to know the ins and outs of the club, but having a pop at fans who pay good money to watch matches is no way to arrest the decline.
It remains to be seen what impact the mega-money TV deal will have when it kicks in next season, but more clubs must follow the example of Bolton, Chelsea (it is perhaps easier to freeze prices when they are among the highest in the country) and the like.
If reports are to be believed, the players are not helping the situation either. Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said recently that top players at the club want massive pay hikes to get their share of the TV money.
But that money should not be theirs. It should be re-invested to help the fans go to matches and continue to make the players the stars they are.
On the betting front, it makes sense to focus on the sides who have emerged from European battle this week as it should be theoretically easier to gauge what shape they are in.
Blackburn were woeful on Thursday night and have to pick themselves up for the visit of Portsmouth. They may well have one eye on the visit of Arsenal in the FA Cup on Wednesday, and Harry Redknapp's side can do the double over Mark Hughes' men.
The Carling Cup final is a tricky betting proposition. Arsenal's youth team against a strong Chelsea side is the first ever all-London League Cup final, and much depends on how well the young Gunners rise to the occasion.
A tentative selection of under 2.5 goals in 90 minutes is advised, as Jose Mourinho's side quite often like to give nothing away in the big matches and grind opponents down. The immovable object could quite feasibly stall the irresistible force.
Insight
2pts Portsmouth to beat Blackburn 9-4 (Premier Bet)
2pts under 2.5 goals Chelsea v Arsenal 8-13 (general)
Staking Plan
Min 0.5pt
Max 5pt
*Last Week's Results
Manchester City were undoubtedly flattered by the 3-1 scoreline against Preston, who gave us a good run for our money.
David Nugent's early opener promised much, but the Championship side could not quite find the cutting edge in the final third to make their possession pay.
Our second bet was a winner as Tottenham crushed Fulham 4-0 at Craven Cottage, bringing in the green for our over 2.5 goals bet.
While it was assumed Spurs would concede, they actually managed to keep a rare clean sheet, but who cares? The decent Spurs side got off the bus last Sunday, and meant we ended up slightly in profit for the weekend.