Season Expectations
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- BWFC_Insane
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Re: Season Expectations
I'd say virtually every league 2 side will be in a similar boat - keep key players fit is key. I guess weakness we have is we have to loan are younger pros out to balance squad numbers. BUT still there isn't a squad in this division without some issues.irie Cee Bee wrote: ↑Tue Sep 01, 2020 8:37 pmTop 6 is my expectation. Promotion through Playoffs a possibility but not likely given that the squad looks light to me. Needs more depth than it has now for me to predict outright promotion.
- Dave Sutton's barnet
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Re: Season Expectations
They also minimise losses, so those who will get backed most heavily tend to have lower odds than might be realistic. That's why England are usually in the top three favourites for any tournament they're in, even if they couldn't hit a barn door with a shovel. So our price will be brought in by our relatively large fanbase - not to mention that many of them happily clambered aboard HMS Piss The League: I saw one tweeted betting slip that had backed us to go the season unbeaten.The_Gun wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2020 9:05 amI don’t know whether this has been mentioned elsewhere, but the bookies have priced us as quite strong favourites to win the league (best priced 5/1). The traders pricing these markets up are clearly working with less complete data than usual, but they generally do know their onions, so have obviously been impressed with what’s been going on at the UniBol. Whatever our more tempered internal expectations are, there can’t be any doubt that we’re going to be the biggest scalp for all our opponents this season.
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Re: Season Expectations
I saw that slip as wellDave Sutton's barnet wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2020 9:50 amThey also minimise losses, so those who will get backed most heavily tend to have lower odds than might be realistic. That's why England are usually in the top three favourites for any tournament they're in, even if they couldn't hit a barn door with a shovel. So our price will be brought in by our relatively large fanbase - not to mention that many of them happily clambered aboard HMS Piss The League: I saw one tweeted betting slip that had backed us to go the season unbeaten.The_Gun wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2020 9:05 amI don’t know whether this has been mentioned elsewhere, but the bookies have priced us as quite strong favourites to win the league (best priced 5/1). The traders pricing these markets up are clearly working with less complete data than usual, but they generally do know their onions, so have obviously been impressed with what’s been going on at the UniBol. Whatever our more tempered internal expectations are, there can’t be any doubt that we’re going to be the biggest scalp for all our opponents this season.
Will be delighted to apologise to said Twitterer for laughing at him if he turns out to be correct.
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Re: Season Expectations
Arse and town hall steps spring to mindLeverEnd wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:10 amI saw that slip as wellDave Sutton's barnet wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2020 9:50 amThey also minimise losses, so those who will get backed most heavily tend to have lower odds than might be realistic. That's why England are usually in the top three favourites for any tournament they're in, even if they couldn't hit a barn door with a shovel. So our price will be brought in by our relatively large fanbase - not to mention that many of them happily clambered aboard HMS Piss The League: I saw one tweeted betting slip that had backed us to go the season unbeaten.The_Gun wrote: ↑Wed Sep 02, 2020 9:05 amI don’t know whether this has been mentioned elsewhere, but the bookies have priced us as quite strong favourites to win the league (best priced 5/1). The traders pricing these markets up are clearly working with less complete data than usual, but they generally do know their onions, so have obviously been impressed with what’s been going on at the UniBol. Whatever our more tempered internal expectations are, there can’t be any doubt that we’re going to be the biggest scalp for all our opponents this season.
Will be delighted to apologise to said Twitterer for laughing at him if he turns out to be correct.
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Re: Season Expectations
Yeah I think we may struggle early doors but get stronger. We've built a new team, a new coaching setup and whilst they've mainly had a full pre season, a luxury we've rarely had - it still takes time to adjust to surroundings and each other and form that sort of really strong team bond and understanding.
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Re: Season Expectations
Yup, but if Evatt can pick up some early results it should be that mid-term he is in a much stronger position than a lot of managers, because he is only dealing with players he chose himself plus the youth system. A lot of managers start okay with the bounce and then fade a bit. Some never recover, but others come roaring back once the previous manager's lot leave over time and they can impose their own identity. IE won't have those "developing his own squad" and "let's see how he does once he has his own team" excuses (he's basically playing Championship Manager), but he should be able to play his brand of football from the get go.BWFC_Insane wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 11:39 amYeah I think we may struggle early doors but get stronger. We've built a new team, a new coaching setup and whilst they've mainly had a full pre season, a luxury we've rarely had - it still takes time to adjust to surroundings and each other and form that sort of really strong team bond and understanding.
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Re: Season Expectations
Guess his excuse would be “embargo” and/or “entrenched losing mentality established over the worst half-decade of the club’s existence.” But let’s hope no excuse is needed..
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Re: Season Expectations
Excellent excuses if they are needed, though.Dave Sutton's barnet wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 4:41 pmGuess his excuse would be “embargo” and/or “entrenched losing mentality established over the worst half-decade of the club’s existence.” But let’s hope no excuse is needed..
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- TonyDomingos
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Re: Season Expectations
But, who has the "entrenched losing mentality"? The ball boys?
Às armas, às armas!
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Pela Pátria lutar!
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Sobre a terra, sobre o mar,
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Pela Pátria lutar!
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Re: Season Expectations
The fans, arguably, for a start. A couple of bad results and a good section of the crowd turn. We have had bloody negative fans for at least as long as I've been going and I'm told longer - though it's got worse since Big Sam left. We assume the worst and have to be won over, instead of starting out supporting and people losing that support. It can't help the lads on the pitch and certainly doesn't help our relationships with the players.TonyDomingos wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:41 pmBut, who has the "entrenched losing mentality"? The ball boys?
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Re: Season Expectations
GhostoftheBok wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:01 pmThe fans, arguably, for a start. A couple of bad results and a good section of the crowd turn. We have had bloody negative fans for at least as long as I've been going and I'm told longer - though it's got worse since Big Sam left. We assume the worst and have to be won over, instead of starting out supporting and people losing that support. It can't help the lads on the pitch and certainly doesn't help our relationships with the players.TonyDomingos wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 9:41 pmBut, who has the "entrenched losing mentality"? The ball boys?
Yes, I agree entirely that it's the fans who understand the history and, therefore, have a certain mentality. But, while we're playing behind closed doors, I can't really understand why entirely new owners, management and players would have a losing mentality. Not trying to cause an argument, just not clear why past failings would impact an entirely new set-up (other than the ball boys ).
Às armas, às armas!
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar,
Às armas, às armas!
Pela Pátria lutar!
Contra os canhões marchar, marchar!
Sobre a terra, sobre o mar,
Às armas, às armas!
Pela Pátria lutar!
Contra os canhões marchar, marchar!
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Re: Season Expectations
I don't think it's argumentative, seems like a reasonable question to me.TonyDomingos wrote: ↑Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:24 pm
Yes, I agree entirely that it's the fans who understand the history and, therefore, have a certain mentality. But, while we're playing behind closed doors, I can't really understand why entirely new owners, management and players would have a losing mentality. Not trying to cause an argument, just not clear why past failings would impact an entirely new set-up (other than the ball boys ).
There are certainly legacy issues that are worth looking at.
We are clearly a big club at this level and that puts pressure on everyone in the building. The idea that Bolton is a club on the way down is pretty ingrained in football at the moment. Regardless of the turnover of owners and staff, that image of the club can still play a part in the backs of people's minds. That's the legacy we have to shake off this season.
The players we have brought in have all been keen to say what a "massive" club we are and it'll be interesting to see if that's a good or bad thing. These are lads who will see this is as their big break in the game, the chance to play for Bolton Wanderers instead of Dulwich Hamlet. That's its own pressure and I think that's one of the big reasons we are looking at lads who have come through the academies at big clubs. Not just because it gives them a technical grounding, but also because they will have some experience of the pressure involved here. If there are enough players who can't hack the demands then that is no only a mentality issue, it's also a legacy of previous failure.
I think there are lots of psychological walls we will have to break down in order for players, staff and fans to begin to see us as a club on the way up, rather than the way down.
The legacy of previous failures won't be broken just by getting rid of the people who oversaw it. The club has a living identity. Only winning will change the shape of it, for me. The manager can knock down some of the walls, but not all of them. We'll see whether everyone is able to handle the pressure.
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Re: Season Expectations
Anyone changed their minds or tweaked their ideas off the back of today's game?
- brommers95
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Re: Season Expectations
Nah it'll be reet. I still think we'll get playoffs at least. There were enough signs today to suggest that Evatt is getting through to them on the training pitch on how he wants to play.
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Re: Season Expectations
I think we’ll start slower than I hoped! I do think we need a presence up front. Sign someone to tick that box and I’ll be happier!
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Re: Season Expectations
We have someone who ticks that box. Despite some intricate midfield play he got fcuk all service today.officer_dibble wrote: ↑Sat Sep 05, 2020 9:52 pmI think we’ll start slower than I hoped! I do think we need a presence up front. Sign someone to tick that box and I’ll be happier!
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Re: Season Expectations
Expectations are not changed by reality. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to expect promotion. Also perfectly likely it won’t be possible to achieve.
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Re: Season Expectations
Not really. You are right that we did Doyle absolutely no favours today, but he's not the sort to make himself felt and ruffle feathers. He'd have liked the stuff Novak got, but when we had lads turn in midfield to pass you didn't see Bradford looking uncomfortable. Delfouneso caused them far more problems than Doyle did.Worthy4England wrote: ↑Sat Sep 05, 2020 10:30 pmWe have someone who ticks that box. Despite some intricate midfield play he got fcuk all service today.
Doyle isn't a presence, he's a threat, if you see what I mean. Get him the ball and he'll bag you a few. Without service he's a passenger
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