Norwich v Horwich

[jimbo]

Typical. Players show good form then get injured. It never happens to our players when they are playing shite.

Ok then, assuming he doesn't play, what are the options?

1) Straight swap Riley
2) Stick Boyata there
3) Mears if he is fit
4) Ricketts to RB, then Robinson back

Of those, have to say Riley is the one that fills me least with dread. He's looked capable when he's come in in the last few cup games.

[Beefheart]

Typical. Players show good form then get injured. It never happens to our players when they are playing shite.

Ok then, assuming he doesn't play, what are the options?

1) Straight swap Riley
2) Stick Boyata there
3) Mears if he is fit
4) Ricketts to RB, then Robinson back

Of those, have to say Riley is the one that fills me least with dread. He's looked capable when he's come in in the last few cup games.

When is Alonso back? I'd put Ricketts RB if he's fit. Anything but having Robbo back in the team though.

[boltonboris]

Mears will play of Steinsson out. 1 change needed. Not 2.

[Little Green Man]

Steinsson will miss the game.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... nsson_out/

[TANGODANCER]

Could be entirely wrong, but with Mears not having played a league game since his injury, I'd expect Riley to start with Mears on the bench, to see how it goes. Rest should be as is. Rickets is doing too well at left back to move and Riley's played decently and got one or two forward runs going.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Difficult. Riley has done well, particularly in defensive rather than attacking situations, whereas Steinsson offers more going forward – and I get the impression Mears is also forward-ranging, and in the Moo/NRC double-pivot system we want attacking full-backs.

Then again, it's an away game, which perhaps leans towards Riley rather than Mears, who has yet to play a minute.

Then again again, Norwich frequently play with a narrow midfield diamond, which means the opposition full-backs don't actually have anyone to directly mark and should have space to run into, which might favour Mears.

Then again again again, Norwich have changed their formation more readily (and successfully) than any other team this season, so you can never be quite sure what they'll do.

Hmmm...

[Hoboh]

Get in at them and push on with pace we can do them, they just need unsettling from the off, the "Bolton" way.

[BWFC_Insane]

Difficult. Riley has done well, particularly in defensive rather than attacking situations, whereas Steinsson offers more going forward – and I get the impression Mears is also forward-ranging, and in the Moo/NRC double-pivot system we want attacking full-backs.

Then again, it's an away game, which perhaps leans towards Riley rather than Mears, who has yet to play a minute.

Then again again, Norwich frequently play with a narrow midfield diamond, which means the opposition full-backs don't actually have anyone to directly mark and should have space to run into, which might favour Mears.

Then again again again, Norwich have changed their formation more readily (and successfully) than any other team this season, so you can never be quite sure what they'll do.

Hmmm...

Not sure I entirely agree with that.

Riley is the best fullback we have seen (obviously Mears excluded) going forwards.

Defensively Riley has struggled at times, West Brom away as an example.

Steinsson is our best defensive right back IMO.

[thebish]

I'm sure Owen has excogitated all the options - and has come up with a plan to surprise us all!

[Lord Kangana]

Robinson (sigh).

Can we not just give him away BOGOF with Cahill?

[BWFC_Insane]

Robinson (sigh).

Can we not just give him away BOGOF with Cahill?

Players like Steinsson and Knight seem to be recapturing form from early last season. Perhaps Robinson will too? The form that led us to desperately protect him from being banned from the semi final?

[Lord Kangana]

He's always been shit.

He's not changing that now.

Thank god we have a manager who's capable of changing his ways and accepting his mistakes eh?

[BWFC_Insane]

He's always been shit.
He's not changing that now.

Thank god we have a manager who's capable of changing his ways and accepting his mistakes eh?

Like I say, he was very good for large parts of last season. So much so that he was left out so he wouldn't be suspended for the Stoke game.

Steinsson has been dire for a time now, but suddenly has recaptured old form.

If Robinson went back to form of last season then that would only be a good thing for us. At times last season he would have been one of the first names on the teamsheet!

[boltonboris]

Young Naughton likes to get forward from Right back (he's been playing on the left, but I hear Tieney - The Klasnic 'victim' is due to start after injury). So a Ricketts / Petrov combination will be better suited to defending against any overlapping runs, than a Robinson / Petrov combination, that has shown itself to jaw droppingly bad at times.

For me, Mears is as similar to Steinsson as we'll possibly get (with the exception of attacking set-pieces, where steiner is useful). so for that reason I'd use him. Using Riley would hardly be a disaster though.

[BWFC_Insane]

If Mears is ready then use him, or Riley. Don't tinker around with owt else.

[officer_dibble]

is it me or does steinson have a lot of these injuries that means he miss the odd game?

Riley back in the side. We are well stocked for right backs so it shouldnt be a problem.

[Prufrock]

All the best of Riley I have seen has been going forward. Gets great shape on his crosses. Shame we still have nobody in there to fecking attack them.

[boltonboris]

His crosses tend to come from deep though. Steinsson prefers to get beyond his man and swing 'em in from nearer the byline.

[Hoboh]

He's always been shit.
He's not changing that now.

Thank god we have a manager who's capable of changing his ways and accepting his mistakes eh?

Like I say, he was very good for large parts of last season. So much so that he was left out so he wouldn't be suspended for the Stoke game.

Steinsson has been dire for a time now, but suddenly has recaptured old form.

If Robinson went back to form of last season then that would only be a good thing for us. At times last season he would have been one of the first names on the teamsheet!

If pigs had wings................................................................................

[TANGODANCER]

is it me or does steinson have a lot of these injuries that means he miss the odd game?

Riley back in the side. We are well stocked for right backs so it shouldnt be a problem.

Aye, but we need to decide on one for ninety minutes. Be a shame if we had to use a substitution on a full back unless we're in front and one is obviously struggling. We need all the firepower we can muster because we aren't exactly hitting the net that much right now.