Sussex by the sea!

[BL3]

Doesn't leave a lot of room for Petrov

There was room for him last week but he chose to play N'gog on the wing instead.

[Gooner Girl]

We've not really seen a huge amount of Afobe, but in the few games he's played, he's looked a bit lost really. Not sure if any of the people who went can comment on how he played yesterday...

The Petrov problem is thus:

He isn't playing as good as Eagles - so can't get in there
Mark Davies seems to be flavour of the month - so no room there either.
We generally need two more defiensive players in MF in a four - so perm any 2 from Spearing, Ream (seemingly), Andrews, Pratley - although he's flippin headless and if we shift to a 5 man MF, we seem to prefer to drop one of the forwards into a wider MF role.

Doesn't leave a lot of room for Petrov (unless you shunted probably Mavies for me).

I'd be surprised if we saw Holden this side of Feb - but he is back in training.

There were some people trying to convince me that N'gog as a "link man" was a better idea than Klasnic (who only puts the ball in the net). They were wrong.

Shame re Afobe, he started off ok IIRC.

Who will be dropped for Holden when he's back d'ya think?

Any more new signings likely in next transfer window? I bet there will be, new manager usually likes to bring some new players in, which means he may well offload some dead wood too to make way and money too.... Could be an intresting window for Bolton. Can't see Wenger going mad in it (though when does he ever?)

[Worthy4England]

Doesn't leave a lot of room for Petrov

There was room for him last week but he chose to play N'gog on the wing instead.

That's what I said.

if we shift to a 5 man MF, we seem to prefer to drop one of the forwards into a wider MF role

[Worthy4England]

We've not really seen a huge amount of Afobe, but in the few games he's played, he's looked a bit lost really. Not sure if any of the people who went can comment on how he played yesterday...

The Petrov problem is thus:

He isn't playing as good as Eagles - so can't get in there
Mark Davies seems to be flavour of the month - so no room there either.
We generally need two more defiensive players in MF in a four - so perm any 2 from Spearing, Ream (seemingly), Andrews, Pratley - although he's flippin headless and if we shift to a 5 man MF, we seem to prefer to drop one of the forwards into a wider MF role.

Doesn't leave a lot of room for Petrov (unless you shunted probably Mavies for me).

I'd be surprised if we saw Holden this side of Feb - but he is back in training.

There were some people trying to convince me that N'gog as a "link man" was a better idea than Klasnic (who only puts the ball in the net). They were wrong.

Shame re Afobe, he started off ok IIRC.

Who will be dropped for Holden when he's back d'ya think?

Any more new signings likely in next transfer window? I bet there will be, new manager usually likes to bring some new players in, which means he may well offload some dead wood too to make way and money too.... Could be an intresting window for Bolton. Can't see Wenger going mad in it (though when does he ever?)

Afobe showed good skillz in one of the pre-season games, he's not shown much in the League games yet.

If Holden comes back anything like he was (and there's plenty of doubts about that - CYL doesn't appear to have come back in anything like the same sort of shape), then he walks in the team ahead of Spearing, Andrews, Ream etc. who have been playing in a more defensive role.

I think Coyle's philosophy was to try and get 2 players for each position, unfortunately they tended to be 2 decidedly average Championship players. Allardyce tended to go for the best player we could afford for each position, and then some fairly ropey back up in a few positions.

Freedman appears to already have signalled his intent to cut the 40 man squad (I think was his words) unload deadwood and the uncommitted, and bring in fewer, better players.

[Harry Genshaw]

Doesn't leave a lot of room for Petrov

There was room for him last week but he chose to play N'gog on the wing instead.

Funny how quick you are to point that out again and again, and yet how quick you are to scuttle off whenever anyone asks THAT question.

[BL3]

Who will be dropped for Holden when he's back d'ya think?

Bogdan.

[Gooner Girl]

I think Coyle's philosophy was to try and get 2 players for each position, unfortunately they tended to be 2 decidedly average Championship players. Allardyce tended to go for the best player we could afford for each position, and then some fairly ropey back up in a few positions.

Freedman appears to already have signalled his intent to cut the 40 man squad (I think was his words) unload deadwood and the uncommitted, and bring in fewer, better players.

Well given Allardyce had far more success then Coyle i'd say Freedmans pan isn't a bad one, though obviously if you're unlucky with injuries Holden style then you'd be stuffed. Bit more risky i suppose, but perhaps you have to take some risks to get back to the PL. Exciting times ahead then!

[Enoch]

Afobe showed good skillz in one of the pre-season games, he's not shown much in the League games yet.

I reckon he comes on here and reads some of the shit that's posted!

The lad's probably scared of his shadow.

[bobo the clown]

Afobe showed good skillz in one of the pre-season games, he's not shown much in the League games yet.

I reckon he comes on here and reads some of the shit that's posted!

The lad's probably scared of his shadow.

Or shite.

a). Fearful
b). Shite

Maybe we should do a survey ? Where's Dan when you 'need' him ?

[BWFC_Insane]

Could it not be that today's team selection was, in part, influenced by the fact that we have a game mid-week against our local rivals?

That doesn't explain Petrov's absence. He didn't play last week either. How much 'rest' does he need?

So I will ask yet again, and no doubt you'll dodge it.

If this squad is so good, why did Coyle, a manager you defended to the hilt, leave if so low in the league when he was sacked?

[William the White]

Had a great weekend in Brighton, 3 season ticket holders and partners. Inside info from a nephew Brighton fan got us pointed to good pubs and food. Hotel very good. Brighton pier breezy but fun. Brighton Pavilion glorious testament to the taste of excess of Regency Britain.

the women enjoyed spa stuff.

The men - had to watch the most inept display from Bolton Wanderers in quite a long time.

We didn't believe the line up when announced.

We don't believe it still.

Bogdan magnificent. Knight very good and essential.

Ream, Mears and Afobe had three different phases to their game. First, a disaster about to happen, then a disaster happening and finally - for two of them - a disaster substituted.

It was the luckiest piece of daylight robbery since Gary Speed got us a penalty winner away at Man City when they hit the woodwork six times.

And a tremendous moment of unearned and undeserved joy when Ngog's slightly mishit shot finally went in - off the post, i think.

Freedman's selection was incomprehensible. His subs each improved the team. since he made those subs, and we got a point, he gets credit. Since he made the selection he gets fingers crossed that in the future he keeps away from the hallucinogenics on Friday nights.

[TKIZ!]

He scores when he wants.
He scores when he waaaaannntssssss.
David N'Gog
He scores when he wants. Hahahaha

They can take our land. But they'll never take our Freedman

[CAPSLOCK]

The men - had to watch the most inept display from Bolton Wanderers in quite a long time

It was dreadful, but it wasn't even the worst since September

A great away day

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

The men - had to watch the most inept display from Bolton Wanderers in quite a long time

It was dreadful, but it wasn't even the worst since September

A great away day

What was the trouble with the not rights behind you at the back of the stand?

It was a good day. We were terrible, but there's no better feeling than stealing something undeserved with the last kick.

Far too much room for them to drive at us in the 20 yards in front of our area. What on earth was Ream doing there when Spearing was available (answer: not very much)? Why Afobe doing nothing when Petrov was available? Yet again Eagles looking the only one looking like creating much and again SKD having a very positive impact when he came on.

Good to see Pru, Will and 50sQuiff, complete with charming blonde American girlfriend.

Good set up they have at Brighton too. Nice new stadium. Guest ale for every visiting team is a nice touch - Wainwright's for us this week.

[boltonboris]

How long do you we keep claiming 'progress for' when we still struggle to keep clean sheets, despite defending deeper than San Marino would against Brazil and then struggling to get out if our own half..

We're woefully boring.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

I'm going to state my opinions just to avoid being accused of jumping on any bandwagons or the like.

1. Coyle (as a manager) was a prat.
2. The (current) squad isn't half as good as some people think. In fact some of its members are borderline League One status.
3. I was surprised to see Freedman appointed, and not overly happy about it.
4. After just five games the initial, tentative, preliminary, provisional, unconfirmed-as-yet feeling I have is that Dougie Freedman is Owen Coyle and I claim my £5

I hope to fxck I'm wrong about point 4. Truly. But I'm getting more nervous, not less, with each passing match.

[CrazyHorse]

2. The (current) squad isn't half as good as some people think. In fact some of its members are borderline League One status.

That's actually a good thing though, cos between them Owen and Douglas have made the club borderline League One status too.

[50sQuiff]

Nice to meet you Prufrock and good to see you again Mummy. It was a miserable day and the game was appalling but that equaliser - and attendant wild celebrations - were sufficient that my missus wants to come to the next game!

But just in case she got the wrong impression from Pru and Mummy that Bolton fans are civilized chaps, a good number outdid themselves by chanting homophobic abuse all game, then kicking off with the stewards.

That team selection was as bad as we ever saw from Coyle, but I remain hopeful that Dougie isn't so delusional that he can't see his own mistakes. For the first time this season I realised just how weak an 11 we are capable of fielding. That team will never be promotion material. On the plus side our players must be building some confidence and shedding the losing mentality by... not losing.

[William the White]

The men - had to watch the most inept display from Bolton Wanderers in quite a long time

It was dreadful, but it wasn't even the worst since September

A great away day

It was a good day. We were terrible, but there's no better feeling than stealing something undeserved with the last kick.

There speaks the lawyer...

[Wandering Willy]