FA Cup fourth round replay: Wigan v Bolton

[enrdentw]

It's the biggest game of the season tomorrow IMO. If we fail to win then we have nothing significant left to play for apart from the challenge of coming top in mid-table (between 8th and 12th). Eighth place would be a good achievement it is just the fact it would be the first time in many a season that we haven't been fighting relagation, in the hunt for a European spot (realistic), on a good cup run, pushing for promotion or a combination of those.

I just don't want to end up like the tottenham team when they went on a run of something like 5 or 6 seasons of finishes.in-between 9th an 11th and nothing to shout about in the cups.

[TANGODANCER]

I just don't want to end up like the tottenham team when they went on a run of something like 5 or 6 seasons of finishes.in-between 9th an 11th and nothing to shout about in the cups.

Compared to what we've had? I'd take it and so would a lot more have willingly done not long back. It'd be far better than scrapping against relegation with a Megson manual as our bibe.

[BWFC_Insane]

It's the biggest game of the season tomorrow IMO. If we fail to win then we have nothing significant left to play for apart from the challenge of coming top in mid-table (between 8th and 12th). Eighth place would be a good achievement it is just the fact it would be the first time in many a season that we haven't been fighting relagation, in the hunt for a European spot (realistic), on a good cup run, pushing for promotion or a combination of those.

I just don't want to end up like the tottenham team when they went on a run of something like 5 or 6 seasons of finishes.in-between 9th an 11th and nothing to shout about in the cups.

This is an odd attitude for me.

If we finish mid table for 5 years then great, it means we're overachieving from a historical basis.

The notion that its a "bad thing" is just a bit strange to me. Would you rather be "at the bottom" scrapping again?

As for the FA cup we'll give it a go, but should we beat Wigan we'll then have Fulham away. Odds are we'll lose one of them games at least given our away form, so its not like we've got an easy passage to the quarters should we beat Wigan anyways!

Wembley would be nice but its certainly not season defining, not this year at least.

[enrdentw]

It's difficult to put my sentiment into words BWFCI, I just just think that 5 years in mid-table wouldn't make the reebok an enjoyable experience however historical that maybe. I suppose we have to accept that it would be very unlikely for any team to break into the top 6 of man u, Chelsea, spurs, arsenal, man city or Liverpool and that has been the case for a few seasons now. Saying that, it leaves the rest of the teams to battle it out for 7th place... Which after a number of seasons could make supporting BW pretty dull, especially when you consider the rollercoaster of the last 15/16 seasons and beyond...

[BWFC_Insane]

It's the biggest game of the season tomorrow IMO. If we fail to win then we have nothing significant left to play for apart from the challenge of coming top in mid-table (between 8th and 12th). Eighth place would be a good achievement it is just the fact it would be the first time in many a season that we haven't been fighting relagation, in the hunt for a European spot (realistic), on a good cup run, pushing for promotion or a combination of those.

I just don't want to end up like the tottenham team when they went on a run of something like 5 or 6 seasons of finishes.in-between 9th an 11th and nothing to shout about in the cups.

This is an odd attitude for me.

If we finish mid table for 5 years then great, it means we're overachieving from a historical basis

It's difficult to put my sentiment into words bwfci I jus just think that 5 years in mid-table wouldn't make the reebok an enjoyable experience however historical thaat maybs.....

The notion that its a "bad thing" is just a bit strange to me. Would you rather be "at the bottom" scrapping again?

As for the FA cup we'll give it a go, but should we beat Wigan we'll then have Fulham away. Odds are we'll lose one of them games at least given our away form, so its not like we've got an easy passage to the quarters should we beat Wigan anyways!

Wembley would be nice but its certainly not season defining, not this year at least.

Given that the two alternatives are either scrapping against relegation or a rather improbable and impossible assault on the champions league places I'd ask what exactly you'd expect us to be doing?

[Lord Kangana]

Can we pay on the door?

[Lord Kangana]

If we finish mid table for 5 years then great, it means we're overachieving from a historical basis.

No it isn't.

All time table we are midtable in the top division. Theres nothing overachieving about it, its our benchmark.

[bobo the clown]

Realistically all we can hope for is to keep comfortably away from relegation most seasons, have mid-table 'mediocrity' generally and to have occasional great years where we surprise ourselves let alone others. In the good years we have to recognise that the 'big boys' will take a shine to our better players and we must adapt to nicking good up & comings from teams at or below us.

Like the QPR of the 1980's probably.

Unless we believe we can start stealing fans from Stretford, Citeh, Liverpool Admin we can only hope to add to our number of fans by stopping the age-old drift to Manchester and picking up the odd one here & there. That'll be done by entertaining football & we should sign David Ginola up as our PR man.

[Wandering Willy]

Can we pay on the door?

Yes.

[BWFC_Insane]

If we finish mid table for 5 years then great, it means we're overachieving from a historical basis.

No it isn't.

All time table we are midtable in the top division. Theres nothing overachieving about it, its our benchmark.

14th I believe so technically if you want to take that benchmark we're overachieving.

But clearly overachieving is measured as a function of the clubs resources. If you took away every owner putting money into clubs and made every club run by their own resources, (ie gate receipts, merchandising etc) we'd be nowhere near mid table. As it is we are above an Everton side who we just beat who spent 15M on one player in that team. Plenty of the teams currently below us have more spending power and will carry on doing so in the future.

Coyle is obviously very very good at getting the best out of players and bringing in younger players. Similar to Allardyce exploiting the other end of the market, the talented but wayward older pro's and turning them round. Its a niche that suits us very well, but soon other clubs will cotton on and we'll be back in the pack so to speak.

I know folk don't like the word "overachieving" as they feel it belittles us. But the danger of not viewing things in that way is unrealistic expectations driving supporter unrest and causing gates to drop yet further. I think the younger generation of fan sees everything in a Sky Top 4 window and its important for them to realise that Bolton are not likely to ever be about that, but we're still the best team in the world!

[ratbert]

Anyone going, please write about it for us. Thanks.

[TANGODANCER]

So, predictions? The Pies fans seem to think they're going to win because Sturridge isn't playing, and definitely if we don't play KD. I reckon we're due a scoring run, 3-0 us.

[Verbal]

I'm going with prufrock. Can see a close win, and then a headache as to whether I should go on Sunday or not.

[Wandering Willy]

Hoping to see a strong team out for this one so 3-0 Whites.

[Armchair Wanderer]

I think we might scrape this one too.

Would almost prefer to lose to Wigan and stuff Newcastle away in the league, but we need momentum... so we'll have to beat them both!

[Prufrock]

I'm going with prufrock. Can see a close win, and then a headache as to whether I should go on Sunday or not.

Its for Nat. We'll shit 'em. Only been there once, to see them dick Preston 5-0 with Preston fan mate. Marlon Broomes gave away a late penalty for the fifth and the Preston fans started shouting 'Off off off'. Hopefully this is amusing. Cannae do the London trip though. And I must be one of the very very few Wanderers to have a 100% (albeit AET get in Danny boy) record at t'Cottage?

[newboy]

just seen tonights refs statistics 21 games 63 yellows 6 reds should be a nice flowing game with both teams finishing with a full compliment.

[Latham8wfc]

Not particularly optimistic about tonght tbh, i'm expecting a significantly weaker XI and we haven't exactly got the greatest record at Wiggin in recently years......think are only chance is via extra time / penalties.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

Jussi
Ricketts
Cahill
Weater
Alonso
Petrov
Cohen
Mavies
Moreno
Elmo
Klasnic

I like this line up, we'll either get dicked 6-0 or win 5-3 !
However i would rest Cahill, put Ricketts in t'centre and insert (ooh) Steinner at RB.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Cohen
Elmander