A Borderline affair.Bolton v Carlisle, Home 20-04-21. 1900..

[BWFC_Insane]

No-one is happy with it. It was a bad performance. It happens. I'm glad the manager isn't just saying it's fine, but it's always going to happen over a course of games. Certainly since January we should be looking to win every game individually, but you can't expect that will actually happen. They've got plenty credit in the bank.

But there is no doubt we’ve not played all that well in the past month or so and given our 4 remaining games if we are to go up our performances will need to improve. That’s all I was saying.

[TANGODANCER]

I know; let's go in as underdogs and pretend Carlisle are Red Star Belgrade, or Athletico Madrid or somebody. Let's be satisfied with a one goal win and the points. That way we may just not be surprised when we don't score eight or nine past lowly Carlisle. A win's a win, after all.

[Jakerbeef]

Haggis is quite tasty. If we play like it and throw in a nice malt we'll be laughing.

[irie Cee Bee]

First 5 mins will tell the tale . Will we be confident or very nervy! The mental pressure on the players will be enormous. So close. Need calm heads. Lee and MJ. No need to change things up at this stage. Stick with the players who got us back to the top. Too late to be experimenting. The left of the attacking three is a concern. Maybe the only change. Delf or Zack must have a look in.

IE, Dont wait until the 70 min to change if Doyle, John etc are not up for it. Give the likes of Miller 30 - 45 mins to turn the game if necessary. A crucial match. We must keep promotion in our hands.

[TANGODANCER]

From B.N: " Carlisle also head down the M6 having not won at Bolton in 44 years."

This is just the sort of fact that whilst true, puts wrong priorities in ours and players heads. The only thing that really matters is the next game, not a history of past glories. How many of those years have we actually played in the same league as Carlisle? Lets play a cup final and concentrate on the here and now.......COME ON YOU WHITES...!....

[officer_dibble]

Meh
Still not worried. Whatever will be, will be. I’m just pleased we are in for some good excitement this month. Beats the monotony of the past decade.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Meh
Still not worried. Whatever will be, will be. I’m just pleased we are in for some good excitement this month. Beats the monotony of the past decade.

True. Worst kind of monotony, too: monotonous misery.

Can't pretend I'm not nervous, but let's call it anticipation. At least I've got a busy day top keep me occupied.

I don't know what side I'd put out tonight, either in isolation or bearing in mind last Saturday's exertions and next Saturday's key game. Some of them did look leggy on Saturday and of course the Hindsight Choir ruffled through its hymnsheets for "Why didn't he change the team?", the popular aria that never seems to get a recital in the same performance as "Why did he weaken the team?" He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't – but only if the result's not there. Let's hope it is.

[jmjhb]

Carlisle must be absolutely knackered. Played twice a week for the last 9 weeks I think. 2-0 win

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Carlisle must be absolutely knackered. Played twice a week for the last 9 weeks I think. 2-0 win

Aye - this'll be their 19th game in 63 days since Feb 16th.

It may or may not be related that Carlisle have the division's second-lowest PPG when the oppo scores first; that's happened 14 times and they've got 2pts from them, although they've only conceded 23 in those 14.

[Worthy4England]

Carlisle must be absolutely knackered. Played twice a week for the last 9 weeks I think. 2-0 win

Aye - this'll be their 19th game in 63 days since Feb 16th.

It may or may not be related that Carlisle have the division's second-lowest PPG when the oppo scores first; that's happened 14 times and they've got 2pts from them, although they've only conceded 23 in those 14.

It's sort of interesting when we're discussing our form (or lack thereof) and our ability to score. We compare pretty well with those around us, with a couple of outliers, they're all sorta bunched. If you look at last 6 form, Cambridge, Carlisle (by three and two points) in front of us. Morecambe, Cheltenham on 10 points like us, Exeter below us, and in three out of the last 5 places are Newport, Tranmere and FGR (the last two in 23rd and 24th respectively). I keep coming back to "fine margins"...against an expectation of HMS pi$$theleague...

[Harry Genshaw]

Meh
Still not worried. Whatever will be, will be. I’m just pleased we are in for some good excitement this month. Beats the monotony of the past decade.

That's where I'm at. All this talk of super leagues has me thinking lets just enjoy this ride and see what happens.

Of course, come 7pm I'll be effing and jeffing at the laptop and bricking it for the following 90 minutes

[officer_dibble]

Ditto - I think the Southend game I surprised myself with how animated I got. COYWM

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Someone (sorry, forgot who, maybe LE?) said a few days ago we have two options:

(1) We go up, against all expectations
(2) We get another go next season, hopefully with us in the (new-to-us) grounds and maintaining the momentum of the last few months

I don't think I'm overstepping my limit by supposing we all want the first option, but I can't deny the second has its own appeal. Not been often in the last 10/15 years that we could ask Summer Santa for "More of the same, please."

[DJBlu]

From B.N: " Carlisle also head down the M6 having not won at Bolton in 44 years."

This is just the sort of fact that whilst true, puts wrong priorities in ours and players heads. The only thing that really matters is the next game, not a history of past glories. How many of those years have we actually played in the same league as Carlisle? Lets play a cup final and concentrate on the here and now.......COME ON YOU WHITES...!....

Just seen this on Bolton's twitter account. Rolled my eyes as it's unnecessary pressure to continue the run. I don't know why the club do it. Evatt himself has said he's sick of the past being dragged up. Let's do the job and then celebrate the past.

As a side note, I think we might see Sarce on the bench tonight.

[Harry Genshaw]

^^ ignoring the obvious 3rd option there DSB

We stay down, lose momentum and become the new Oldham!

FWIW I can't see us getting into grounds as away fans for quite a while yet. Please God we just get up and leave this place behind. We can always go to these exotic new grounds in the cups

[DJBlu]

^^ ignoring the obvious 3rd option there DSB

We stay down, lose momentum and become the new Oldham!

FWIW I can't see us getting into grounds as away fans for quite a while yet. Please God we just get up and leave this place behind. We can always go to these exotic new grounds in the cups

Might be one of the 6 that go up to replace the League One six who replace the Championship 6.

Go ESL!

[BWFC_Insane]

Someone (sorry, forgot who, maybe LE?) said a few days ago we have two options:

(1) We go up, against all expectations
(2) We get another go next season, hopefully with us in the (new-to-us) grounds and maintaining the momentum of the last few months

I don't think I'm overstepping my limit by supposing we all want the first option, but I can't deny the second has its own appeal. Not been often in the last 10/15 years that we could ask Summer Santa for "More of the same, please."

If we had a guarantee of a great team and a promotion then 2 is clearly the best option for all of us as fans. A league 2 tour with promotion at the end of it and us in the grounds. We'd take that for sure. The problem is we don't have that guarantee and inspite of what FV might say I'm pretty sure their business plan isn't contingent on bailing us out in league 2 for very much longer especially with potential covid lowered crowds in for next season.

And there are no guarantees, injuries, sales, players wanting to move on - transfers falling through - easily we could end up starting next season like this and fall short. We may not but I'd rather test the theory out in league 1. For me IF we got promoted next season would be about survival, hopefully from a relatively comfortable mid table placing but I'd say no more than that. For first season with fans back an L2 promotion party would be better - BUT worst case scenario and potential disaster would be something short of that.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Oh, you and your worst-case scenarios

[Worthy4England]

Bird in the hand is worth something or other. Promotion, please. We'll never get to the ESL at this rate.

[BWFC_Insane]

Oh, you and your worst-case scenarios

Its not a fanciful one though. If we can go up this season it could be the start of a magical rise all the way up to 4th bottom in the championship!