Breaking pots... Home v Port Vale Sat 20th Apr. 3-0'Clock.

[TANGODANCER]

With four losses and a draw in the last five, and propping up the league, Port Vale have absolutely nothing to lose. All the more reason for keeping things in proportion' We can be sympathetic with their problems any time but tomorrow, when we need to be realistic , keep things in proportion and be merciless. For once, I'll throw caution to the winds and say, losing just isn't an option and excuses not to be tolerated. Ae you listening Mr Evatt? P.V are from the Potteries and close neighbours to the Peaky Blinders, so "caution to the winds" is me, not the team. Are we professional? Time to find out. Step up you Whites and get the job done.

[Worthy4England]

Port Vale do have nothing to lose, but could still stay up. Another test of who wants the three points more. Not expecting a beach towel parade from the oppo.

COYWM.

[The_Gun]

Really hoping we don't risk Santos - he's too important to our playoff hopes and you don't feck about with calf injuries.

[Worthy4England]

Really hoping we don't risk Santos - he's too important to our playoff hopes and you don't feck about with calf injuries.

Yeah, whilst I want our strongest team out and try and win the game, it's not without considering how fit any bugger is.

[The_Gun]

Baxter

Jones Toal Iredale

Sheehan (if fit, otherwise Morley)

JDC Dempsey Maghoma Williams

Jerome Charles

[BWFC_Insane]

I mean I want to win the game but would be delighted to lose it and the next if we won the three after that.

We’ve had a massive slew of absolute crunch must win games in the last month or so. We’ve not won many (any?) of the most critical.

I am pretty relaxed about the next two. No more injuries, don’t risk players who ar carrying stuff, get Charles et al up to speed by giving them minutes.

Clearly I don’t want to lose the games but win them both end up in the play offs anyway and lose the semi final and nobody will give two hoots we beat Port Vale or Posh.

I would say that this is almost like a pre season. We need a massive reset in terms of attitude and confidence and use this time to achieve it. The play offs are nothing like the regular season and require a much more focussed mentality. Deliver now. On this day, there isn’t another round the corner.

Yes it would be nice to go in on form but this team….it wins 5-0 but then fails to take that into the next game. What good to us is form?

[Worthy4England]

We're three points behind with 2 to play. I'd be delighted if we won both and Derby didn't! Whilst I think that's unlikely, it would be stupid and defeatist to put a half assed team out tomorrow, only to find Derby slip up. As others have said, we got automatics, coming up from the 4th Div on the last day, went down to the last day in Parky's promotion season. So I'm not ready to throw in the towel before 17:00 tomorrow.

[officer_dibble]

We shouldn’t need Santos tomorrow - Toal in the middle. Would like to see a more attacking player than Forester playing, so hope Jones is fit. If not let’s get Dacres Cogley in there and play Randell or even Ramsay. They will just do what Shrewsbury did and let Forester and Toal have the ball.

Dempsey. Woeful first half, much better second. Would another start help him?

Should be able to put out a team capable of winning….

[Harry Genshaw]

I'd be tempted to leave Santos out too. Give those 3 another chance to redeem themselves. Morley to start at DM too. Charles and Dan to get another 20 or so minutes off the bench.

Moore's been a disaster at Vale. He's always come across as a decent man and a reasonable manager but I was shocked at the 5 year deal they gave him and I expect there's some buyers remorse floating around the Potteries right now. If he's done his homework, they could be problematic for us but I suspect he hasn't. 3-0 win for the whites.

[boltonboris]

We're three points behind with 2 to play. I'd be delighted if we won both and Derby didn't! Whilst I think that's unlikely, it would be stupid and defeatist to put a half assed team out tomorrow, only to find Derby slip up. As others have said, we got automatics, coming up from the 4th Div on the last day, went down to the last day in Parky's promotion season. So I'm not ready to throw in the towel before 17:00 tomorrow.

Agreed. Imagine if we put a half ass team out, drew and Derby slipped up. Evatt would be chased out of town

[boltonboris]

If we get the first goal, fairly early, they HAVE to play higher up the pitch and we could get a good few more. Play the game like we need to. Strong, fast and into em

[BWFC_Insane]

We're three points behind with 2 to play. I'd be delighted if we won both and Derby didn't! Whilst I think that's unlikely, it would be stupid and defeatist to put a half assed team out tomorrow, only to find Derby slip up. As others have said, we got automatics, coming up from the 4th Div on the last day, went down to the last day in Parky's promotion season. So I'm not ready to throw in the towel before 17:00 tomorrow.

Sure but bar some significant goal difference turnaround Derby only really need to beat Carlisle. On the last day who are already gone. I know we couldn’t and strange things happen in football….but I’m having a hard time imaging Derby not winning it.

It’s a weird scenario we are in for sure. Mathematically it’s on. Were Derby playing a more challenging two fixtures we’d not even be saying anything else. It just doesn’t really feel like it’s on though.

Santos is carrying a calf injury and will for the rest of the season likely need painkilling injections to play would you play him in these two games, potentially risk the tear getting worse or going completely…or keep him for the play offs? I mean sure we could win the next two and Derby slip up but equally that doesn’t happen, Santos ruptures his calf and play offs suddenly look even harder….which way would you go?

[TANGODANCER]

It'll very likely be a repeat of lately with an all out bombarding of our box, goal kicks, long throws and the rest of the "how to beat Bolton" manual. I'm expecting a degree of bully boy tactics so we need to avoid injury as a must, but priority has to be win at all costs. We need to get two ahead as early as possible, more if we can. Personally, with JDBOD out of contention, I'd start Charles with Jerome up front and Collins in a free role. Where's Ogbeta figuring, coming on later for Maghoma?

[Worthy4England]

We're three points behind with 2 to play. I'd be delighted if we won both and Derby didn't! Whilst I think that's unlikely, it would be stupid and defeatist to put a half assed team out tomorrow, only to find Derby slip up. As others have said, we got automatics, coming up from the 4th Div on the last day, went down to the last day in Parky's promotion season. So I'm not ready to throw in the towel before 17:00 tomorrow.

Sure but bar some significant goal difference turnaround Derby only really need to beat Carlisle. On the last day who are already gone. I know we couldn’t and strange things happen in football….but I’m having a hard time imaging Derby not winning it.

It’s a weird scenario we are in for sure. Mathematically it’s on. Were Derby playing a more challenging two fixtures we’d not even be saying anything else. It just doesn’t really feel like it’s on though.

Santos is carrying a calf injury and will for the rest of the season likely need painkilling injections to play would you play him in these two games, potentially risk the tear getting worse or going completely…or keep him for the play offs? I mean sure we could win the next two and Derby slip up but equally that doesn’t happen, Santos ruptures his calf and play offs suddenly look even harder….which way would you go?

I'm with you mate, in the sense that I think us overtaking Derby from here is unlikely, I had us as third at the start of the season and I've seen nowt much to dissuade me from that. But I'm also with Boris, in that if he played a very weakened team and Derby were to slip up, he'd be escorted off the premises. In terms of GD, if Derby were to lose and we were to win decently - it might be down to 1 or 2.

To Santos - it's clearly a medical judgement that the Club are closer to than us, so I'm happy for them to make a pick (as with any other player) - I wouldn't leave him out if he was "pretty near fit."

[officer_dibble]

Santos looked fecked at the end of Pompey - we did well to get that out of him. Leave him this weekend.

[BWFC_Insane]

We're three points behind with 2 to play. I'd be delighted if we won both and Derby didn't! Whilst I think that's unlikely, it would be stupid and defeatist to put a half assed team out tomorrow, only to find Derby slip up. As others have said, we got automatics, coming up from the 4th Div on the last day, went down to the last day in Parky's promotion season. So I'm not ready to throw in the towel before 17:00 tomorrow.

Sure but bar some significant goal difference turnaround Derby only really need to beat Carlisle. On the last day who are already gone. I know we couldn’t and strange things happen in football….but I’m having a hard time imaging Derby not winning it.

It’s a weird scenario we are in for sure. Mathematically it’s on. Were Derby playing a more challenging two fixtures we’d not even be saying anything else. It just doesn’t really feel like it’s on though.

Santos is carrying a calf injury and will for the rest of the season likely need painkilling injections to play would you play him in these two games, potentially risk the tear getting worse or going completely…or keep him for the play offs? I mean sure we could win the next two and Derby slip up but equally that doesn’t happen, Santos ruptures his calf and play offs suddenly look even harder….which way would you go?

I'm with you mate, in the sense that I think us overtaking Derby from here is unlikely, I had us as third at the start of the season and I've seen nowt much to dissuade me from that. But I'm also with Boris, in that if he played a very weakened team and Derby were to slip up, he'd be escorted off the premises. In terms of GD, if Derby were to lose and we were to win decently - it might be down to 1 or 2.

To Santos - it's clearly a medical judgement that the Club are closer to than us, so I'm happy for them to make a pick (as with any other player) - I wouldn't leave him out if he was "pretty near fit."

What if it’s not a medical judgement. He has a tear. He can play through it with injections. But could make it worse. And could go completely.

So medical judgement is he needs a months rest. But can play.

Then it’s a strategic choice…play him now and take the risk…keep him for the play offs?

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

We go for it, but don't risk anyone unnecessarily. I mean, if we can't be up for it and beat PV at home without Santos then we might as well forget about going up. We have an assortment of defenders that are supposedly at least half decent.

[irie Cee Bee]

I am quite surprised how optimistic we are. Bolton really has some great fans. For me, we focus now on the playoffs because thats what it will be. Some minutes now for those coming in, some psychological work to win those 3 playoff games, get the niggles sorted out for our key players, and have a settled playoff team which must include Santos and Sheehan. Don't risk them. Derby will not throw it away.

[officer_dibble]

Derby aren’t great. Still, that last game is an absolute gimme.

[Prufrock]

We go for it, but don't risk anyone unnecessarily. I mean, if we can't be up for it and beat PV at home without Santos then we might as well forget about going up. We have an assortment of defenders that are supposedly at least half decent.

That's where I'm at. Minutes in the legs of Dion, don't risk anyone unnecessarily, otherwise go for it. Plenty of rest between games from here on in, keep Derby honest, and be set for the play offs.