No one likes them, do we care? Millwall Home.

[Tails07]

And pretty much safety . Sounded like walker did quite well. Three home grown players coming through in one season . Unheard of !

I think Walker's introduction is more down to the combination of injures, no money and can't play a team of loanees. Clough and Vela definitely are first teamers for next season though.

[danardif1]

And pretty much safety . Sounded like walker did quite well. Three home grown players coming through in one season . Unheard of !

I think Walker's introduction is more down to the combination of injures, no money and can't play a team of loanees. Clough and Vela definitely are first teamers for next season though.

Clough is the player we build the whole side around!

[Loyal White]

Some thoughts.

A very welcome 3 points.

Milwall were awful and we made hard work of it, but two great finishes from Le Fondre.

Walker started brightly, gave the ball away a few times and hid until half time. Second half he was much better, happy to play the simple ball, was direct when needed and was unlucky with his free-kick. He's not at the same level as Clough, but the boy has something about him.

Danns was very lucky to stay on the pitch, but as poor as he has been recently we missed him 2nd half.

Impressed with McCarthy. Bannan MOTM for me.

[TANGODANCER]

The match commentators said that Ream hardly put a foot wrong all game. Is this the view of those that went?

[truewhite15]

The match commentators said that Ream hardly put a foot wrong all game. Is this the view of those that went?

It is for me, but then I'm a Ream fan. He made perhaps one error when trying to go round their man once, but recovered quickly.

[jaffka]

We won, which is what today was all about.

At least we didn't concede but we did our best to let them in, Amos with 3 great saves. The weakness is a right back, we need to strengthen this area and only have vela there in an emergency.

ALF with quality finishes, his second was especialy good. I really like him, he has a good work ethic and a good footballing brain. Be great if he was here again next season.

Walker in patches did well. He started well with a great turn to beat two men but then lost confidence with a couple of mistakes. Second half he was better when the game was opened up due to them having to do something more than pack the defence. He has a good physical presence and has good feet, he has potential.

Paddy McCarthy again did his job well, nothing spectacular but he is committed.

Coke again like on Wednesday losing the ball in dangerous places. Still not sure.

Anyway we got the points and are closer to staying up.

[plymouth wanderer]

I can just Imagine Clough, Alf, Clayton,Eidur all banging the goals in next season! would love to be able to do a deal for Alfie

Match goers!! get on Lennons case!

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

And pretty much safety . Sounded like walker did quite well. Three home grown players coming through in one season . Unheard of !

I think Walker's introduction is more down to the combination of injures, no money and can't play a team of loanees. Clough and Vela definitely are first teamers for next season though.

Clough is the player we build the whole side around!

Said it before on here...

If Clough is half as good as we think he is, then he wont be here long enough to build around him. The business model of Chelsea et al is now to hoover up young promising players and sell them on for a profit to fund the megastars. Best we can hope for I think is have him next season and then get him back on a season loan from whoever chucks money at us for him.

[Jonah]

It ain't necessarily so . He has a three year contract so he won't go anywhere unless we want him to and I'd expect him to be here at least two seasons . There's no real point in players moving to big clubs to play in the stiffs so unless he really develops and is at a premier league level in two years time I can't see him going anywhere . I'm not convinced he has the pace or strength to really make it at the very highest level though his intelligence and footwork wouldn't be out of place in a mid table premier team .the direction he goes will depend on the progress the wanderers make . It will be interesting to see how he fits into the side next season. If we kept alf lennon would want someone bigger alongside him, he's not strong enough to be in a midfield two and is a bit wasted out wide . His best position really is the number ten a bit deeper than an orthodox striker and bit playing with his back to goal. He's still an asset in other roles but it will be interesting to see if Lennon does create a system to suit him . It may well be that he starts games at home and is used as a sub away. Folk on here may grind their teeth at the idea and want him starting every match but it may prove the best way to keep him fresh and maintain the physicality needed away. He would provide the guile and spark to win to come on and win points in games provided we've been solid enough in the first hour to be in them .

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Do you honestly think that we'd be able to turn down say 7m? Do you honestly think the lad wont be tempted with all the promises and money from a top club?

He'll get bought, then loaned out to a lower prem club or top championship side. If he's anything less than stellar he'll end up at Villa or Everton for a small profit.

[Worthy4England]

I think what you've said there is about right footballwise. Then I look at our money situation and reckon that no serious offer for any of our players would be turned away. FFP doesn't help us in a declining situation (because we're servicing a large debt). So I think if anyone came in with a decent offer, he'd be off...

[Jonah]

I think if he likes playing for the manager and has good advisors he will be looking at developing and establishing himself at a level where he is played regularly and appreciated without having immense pressure . All Lennon needs to do us point at the increasing number of youngsters whose careers have stalled due to moving too early. Two effective eye catching years here would earn him a decent move if he's good enough and a better deal than if he moved too early so yes my view is that he will have at least a couple of seasons here. He is the best young player we've produced in years but whether he has the all round game for the highest level remains to be seen . I'm not sure he will . He has great feet , is a brilliant finisher and will be a very intelligent player as he gains experience but his pace isn't blistering and he is a bit lightweight . If he had a yard more pace he could play at the very highest level but I can't see how you can give him that. They could work on his upper body strength but it won't make him any faster . Pace and strength are hugely important in stepping up the the top level and good as he is I'm not sure he will make that level . An exceptional championship player and a good mid table premiership player is where I see him and hopefully he can be a decent premier league player for us within the contract he has . Mind you getting out of the championship is going to be difficult even with the improvements lennon will bring . There will be three strong financially advantaged teams coming down and four strong teams missing out on promotion who are already ahead of the championship pack this season .

You may be right worthy if a silly offer comes in it will be a test of the ambition of the club but getting Lennon in suggests to me there is still a desire to be more than championship also rans and there are at present limits in clough s game. Bigger clubs will be watching his development but I can't see silly money coming in unless he really tears things up next season .
Even then there will be similar players available for less playing abroad . There are talented players in the upper end of the championship who haven't been snapped up. It's a big risk spending big money on a player who hasn't proven themselves in the premier league and succeeding at that level us very different to standing out at championship level.

[StaffsTrotter]

well I predicted the right scoreline. job done 3 points, not much of a game. Not sure why people are saying millwall were awful - only real difference today was ALFs finishes. Thought we would have pushed on 2nd half with the 2 goal cushion but surrendered the initiative and they had the better of it. as others have noted Amos had another good game just seems v confident and assured and does whats required. Of the back 4 mcarthy probably took the honours. Midfield - Bannan always looking for the ball and trying to make something happen. Upfront ALF for the goals.

as regards walker, thought he showed some promise. very left footed but has a nice turn and can drift past people. made a few wrong choices but overall for a debut, encouraging.

As regards Clough, without getting too giddy and ahead of ourselves, if he continues to develop his potential he will be competing with mdavies for the n10 role, so not sure if its build a team around him, as create a system that accommodates that kind of player. Really looking into the crystal ball and ideas of barca coming in to swoop for him for zillions, we all know the reality is more likely for him going off to a palace or a w brom for a couple of a million if he continues to develop

[TANGODANCER]

I think what you've said there is about right footballwise. Then I look at our money situation and reckon that no serious offer for any of our players would be turned away. FFP doesn't help us in a declining situation (because we're servicing a large debt). So I think if anyone came in with a decent offer, he'd be off...

It's got to be worrying. I'm you habitual rose-tinter, and if we didn't have that debt, even in our current position in the leagues, I could more understand having a structure plan and thinking positive. Neil Lennon must have been made fully aware of our position when offered the job, but he also must have been promised some incentive to work on a build plan and at least some finances made available to do it. Right now we're down to bare bones and having a crutches and walking-sticks barbecue with Mrs Jones's borrowed table, Albert from No 3's chairs, the mother in laws cutlery, credit from the butchers and a pile of unopened mail from the bank. Not much to plan with then, so it'll be interesting to see what miracles are going to be worked to keep Bolton Wanderers in business. Even if we own the stadium, the cost of electricity, wages for grounds-staff and general staff plus the wage bill are one big millstone against average gates of 15,000.There must be some mighty strong optimism pills somewhere in that treatment room cabinet.

[Worthy4England]

FFP is as big a worry. I think last time we went up, we averaged 16,000 or so attendances (that could be a bit out, but I don't think we were over 20k). To some extent, whilst we would have wanted the ground full, it wasn't too consequential as ED had started propping us up. Now we're averaging the same, but there's FFP and a debt to service so limited ways in which an owner could pump money in (if they wanted to)...They can pump in £8m this season (that's about what we were paying in interest). Numbers aren't adding up to anything that suggests "investment" at the minute, but Account due out shortly. They might be fairly thin the time around...

[jaffka]

We aren't under a transfer embargo unlike some clubs.

I think that the accounts might be a surprise this time round.

[Worthy4England]

We aren't under a transfer embargo unlike some clubs.

I think that the accounts might be a surprise this time round.

They clearly did a pretty good job on the Accounts over the last couple of years. So I think we've got Ops spend down to somewhere near Revenue. Problems are, we probably haven't reduced debt, so still have a bit to pay off, and unless under FFP we increase Revenue, then we'll be at about our operating level with any transfer funds needing to come from sales...

[NiceHotCuppaTea]

[Beefheart]

FFP is as big a worry. I think last time we went up, we averaged 16,000 or so attendances (that could be a bit out, but I don't think we were over 20k). To some extent, whilst we would have wanted the ground full, it wasn't too consequential as ED had started propping us up. Now we're averaging the same, but there's FFP and a debt to service so limited ways in which an owner could pump money in (if they wanted to)...They can pump in £8m this season (that's about what we were paying in interest). Numbers aren't adding up to anything that suggests "investment" at the minute, but Account due out shortly. They might be fairly thin the time around...

I was under the impression we weren't paying interest anymore?

[jaffka]

We aren't under a transfer embargo unlike some clubs.

I think that the accounts might be a surprise this time round.

They clearly did a pretty good job on the Accounts over the last couple of years. So I think we've got Ops spend down to somewhere near Revenue. Problems are, we probably haven't reduced debt, so still have a bit to pay off, and unless under FFP we increase Revenue, then we'll be at about our operating level with any transfer funds needing to come from sales...

Which is all speculation until we see the accounts.

What we do agree on, is that to avoid a transfer ban something good has happened.