Tyking the Mickey? Home to Barnsley, Boxing Day, Dec 26th 3-0'clock

[Harry Genshaw]

Just back. Absolutely awful. Briefly thought we might hang on for a very lucky 1-0 win. I can only imagine the heating was too high in our dressing room at half time, or they were eating turkey leftovers as we were half asleep for most of that 2nd half. They had 3 corners and hit the post in the first 2 minutes of the 2nd half. We couldn't string 2 passes together.

Thinking back to this time last year, how have we got so bad, individually and collectively.

If this board give him another penny this next window, then they must be crackers.

[BWFC_Insane]

Can’t comment on the game. Which feels a relief to be honest. No idea if we were unlucky or not though a swiftie through this site sounds like not.

Results all on Brittan though. All on her.

[Mar]

Can’t comment on the game. Which feels a relief to be honest. No idea if we were unlucky or not though a swiftie through this site sounds like not.

Results all on Brittan though. All on her.

Just imagine your usual self being livid at Evatt's tactics and you wouldn't go far wrong.

The only thing of note that you missed is that we actually tried to score in the first half (and succeeded) which made a positive change. The second half which we've usually been better at this season, was as inept as most of our first half games.

On reflection Barnsley probably deserved it.

[BWFC_Insane]

Can’t comment on the game. Which feels a relief to be honest. No idea if we were unlucky or not though a swiftie through this site sounds like not.

Results all on Brittan though. All on her.

Just imagine your usual self being livid at Evatt's tactics and you wouldn't go far wrong.

The only thing of note that you missed is that we actually tried to score in the first half (and succeeded) which made a positive change. The second half which we've usually been better at this season, was as inept as most of our first half games.

On reflection Barnsley probably deserved it.

I don’t think our failings are all that tactical. If you are cowardly as a leader it transmits down. Tactics are overstated imo a lot of the time. It’s about motivating and building the sort of team unit and bravery.

[irie Cee Bee]

First half I thought tactically we got it right. We negated their press early by playing it foward quickly in behind to our 2 runners. Collins..worse miss of the season by a mile. They had a perfectly good goal chalked off by the ref. We scored a really good goal through Lolas and played some good stuff.

Barnsley changed up by going through our 1 man middle and took over the game. We gave up by correctly taking off Artfield who did not do enough in my opinion and then messing that up by replacing him with JDC in midfield. Who would have thought that?? JDC has never played there before for us. We were passengers after that and inevatably lost.

A nice exciting 1st half, a damp squid in the 2nd. We are a mid-table team at best due to the poor summer recruitment. We have no choice to to sell Morely and Ade to earn some money as the board would be mad to give Evatt more. After those sales, Evatt and his data scientists can do the rest.

[Mar]

Can’t comment on the game. Which feels a relief to be honest. No idea if we were unlucky or not though a swiftie through this site sounds like not.

Results all on Brittan though. All on her.

Just imagine your usual self being livid at Evatt's tactics and you wouldn't go far wrong.

The only thing of note that you missed is that we actually tried to score in the first half (and succeeded) which made a positive change. The second half which we've usually been better at this season, was as inept as most of our first half games.

On reflection Barnsley probably deserved it.

I don’t think our failings are all that tactical. If you are cowardly as a leader it transmits down. Tactics are overstated imo a lot of the time. It’s about motivating and building the sort of team unit and bravery.

Fair enough, and i'd agree. I was trying to say, the usual things that Evatt does to trigger you were on show today.

[Mar]

Barnsley changed up by going through our 1 man middle and took over the game. We gave up by correctly taking off Artfield who did not do enough in my opinion and then messing that up by replacing him with JDC in midfield. Who would have thought that?? JDC has never played there before for us. We were passengers after that and inevatably lost.

I thought Arfield had one of his better games. He's not a dominant midfielder by any stretch, but in terms of his usual output I thought he did better.

The clear lack of midfielders on the bench and on the pitch has bitten us in the arse yet again. Whoever was responsible for the transfer signings over summer deserves much criticism. Sounds like we've already put the blame out there, but we've clearly dropped a bollock by not having enough midfielders.


As for subs today, I don't think any of them could put their hand up and say they improved the game.

[Worthy4England]

Can’t comment on the game. Which feels a relief to be honest. No idea if we were unlucky or not though a swiftie through this site sounds like not.

Results all on Brittan though. All on her.

Just imagine your usual self being livid at Evatt's tactics and you wouldn't go far wrong.

The only thing of note that you missed is that we actually tried to score in the first half (and succeeded) which made a positive change. The second half which we've usually been better at this season, was as inept as most of our first half games.

On reflection Barnsley probably deserved it.

I don’t think our failings are all that tactical. If you are cowardly as a leader it transmits down. Tactics are overstated imo a lot of the time. It’s about motivating and building the sort of team unit and bravery.

Fair enough, and i'd agree. I was trying to say, the usual things that Evatt does to trigger you were on show today.

Think you might have missed the start of the Crusade. Evatt still here, but it's Sharon's cowardly decision that's the root of all evil. I'd contend that sticking with Evatt is a much tougher decision in the face of increasing fan pressure (that's not meant to be my agreement that I think it's the right decision.) It'll only get back to players and tactics, when Evatt finally departs.

Should have gone in Summer for me, and certainly after 5 games, but even then there were a good few (as demonstrated by the poll) still in favour of sticking.

[Mar]

Think you might have missed the start of the Crusade. Evatt still here, but it's Sharon's cowardly decision that's the root of all evil. I'd contend that sticking with Evatt is a much tougher decision in the face of increasing fan pressure (that's not meant to be my agreement that I think it's the right decision.) It'll only get back to players and tactics, when Evatt finally departs.

Should have gone in Summer for me, and certainly after 5 games, but even then there were a good few (as demonstrated by the poll) still in favour of sticking.

No crusade missed from my perspective.

Those running the club should've parted company with the manager several times over. Can't blame Evatt for their decision making.

Heck we've gone from expecting to challenge for the top spots to thinking getting a 0-0 result against Wycombe was a good result. Fk that. Evatt out.


Onto Lincoln, which is neither a northern derby nor a play off side. They're close so there's always the risk, but dare I say it, this is a game we should be getting a win from.

[KeyserSoze]

Quite enjoyed the first half. We were energetic, looked positive and threatening, if not entirely perfect. Schon exemplified this for me; bundles of running but a brain five yards behind his legs (nearly cost us on the counter but recovered 1v1 well). It was my first time seeing Arfield but can't help feel his legs are five yards behind his brain.

Plan was clearly to get behind them on the flanks - Tomo was doing a v specific drill pre game trying to hit an area in that space - and we had some success I thought. Some hairy moments in defence but we looked alright. Lolos' goal came from a good two-three minute spell of pressure and recycling, which was nice. I cant bring myself to watch the Collins miss again. A decent 45, I thought.

Then they had three corners, hit the post and missed an equally egregious sitter in the first five mins of the second half. I was naive to hope that that would wake us up from our slumber.

We became rudderless. I was happy arfield went off but why replace him with cogley if no one is going to pass to him. Collins becoming a target man was not sparking joy. Our play became so narrow which was surprising after the first half. Credit Barnsley for combating that, but it is up to us to adjust properly.

First barnsley goal hard to see whether defensively frail or a good goal (could of course be both). Second goal...asleep at the wheel. But it was not undeserved.

Looking forward to another disappointing son and dad outing on Sunday.

[Worthy4England]

The problem I have with it (Mar) is when we didn't part in the summer, Evatt and Markham effectively then had the summer budget. Whilst I reckon our first 5 games sealed our fate in terms of automatics, there were still plenty of people wanted to stick not twist as evidenced by the poll you suggested redoing. Whilst I disagreed then and now, there were still 21 people voted for various levels of stay. What was the tipping point, November? Later? Early December?

I doubt Sharon takes decisions unilaterally and I doubt she takes them without others advising. We need to root them out whilst we're about it. Realistically, none of us know whether not going up would be any shade of financial disaster vs how ever many people would need to be paid off. Do I reckon it's worth the gamble? Aye. But that's only me looking in one dimension. What if Sharon went and Lucock decided he'd go with her, taking his brother's Swiss Consortium too? Maybe the folks eager to get shut of Sharon would put in a few mill a year, but I very much doubt it.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Iles: “some angry scenes also witnessed at the front of the stadium later in the evening”

[BWFC_Insane]

The problem I have with it (Mar) is when we didn't part in the summer, Evatt and Markham effectively then had the summer budget. Whilst I reckon our first 5 games sealed our fate in terms of automatics, there were still plenty of people wanted to stick not twist as evidenced by the poll you suggested redoing. Whilst I disagreed then and now, there were still 21 people voted for various levels of stay. What was the tipping point, November? Later? Early December?

I doubt Sharon takes decisions unilaterally and I doubt she takes them without others advising. We need to root them out whilst we're about it. Realistically, none of us know whether not going up would be any shade of financial disaster vs how ever many people would need to be paid off. Do I reckon it's worth the gamble? Aye. But that's only me looking in one dimension. What if Sharon went and Lucock decided he'd go with her, taking his brother's Swiss Consortium too? Maybe the folks eager to get shut of Sharon would put in a few mill a year, but I very much doubt it.

Sharon can define whatever measures of success or otherwise she likes for her business. And operate it accordingly. It’s just that fans can also decide they stink and act accordingly too.

Which is what seems to be happening. A load like me didn’t bother today, people who do week in week out. And I suspect it will get worse. Spoke to a mate who went and their words were ‘not even angry I just am losing any interest’.

[GhostoftheBok]

I thought Arfield had one of his better games. He's not a dominant midfielder by any stretch, but in terms of his usual output I thought he did better.

I think that's more down to how low the standard has been to compare it to.

He is phoning his entire season in.

"Oh, a player is near me. I'll move my foot in a tackling motion."
"Oh, the opposition goal...I will kick the ball towards it."

No conviction in any of it.

He's made a career of wanting it more than most players on the pitch. He looks for all the world like he's here to pick up a cheque before he hangs his boots up.

[Worthy4England]

Of course the fans can decide for theselves Insano. Everyones prerogative to vote with their feet. I hardly bother, because I don't like shite "modern football." There looked like a decentish crowd on, today, but we're 20 games in and I've only seen real commitmenf in one of them.

We're both in the same place on Evatt. I'd probably dump some spreadsheets too. Bit different for me on people putting money in. We were blessed with Eddie. Then we had car crash and ended up with Shaz, who I think probably does a decent job, when I weigh it across a few years of progress.

[BWFC_Insane]

Of course the fans can decide for theselves Insano. Everyones prerogative to vote with their feet. I hardly bother, because I don't like shite "modern football." There looked like a decentish crowd on, today, but we're 20 games in and I've only seen real commitmenf in one of them.

We're both in the same place on Evatt. I'd probably dump some spreadsheets too. Bit different for me on people putting money in. We were blessed with Eddie. Then we had car crash and ended up with Shaz, who I think probably does a decent job, when I weigh it across a few years of progress.

There is a bit of a difference in that Eddie wasn’t running the club. He may have made decisions but certainly wasn’t paid to do so. Sharon might be part owner but she also is chairwoman so - is responsible. And therefore it’s her failings - and we are suffering for them.

[Worthy4England]

I thought we had a COO? And until fairly recently a CEO...

[MattySlug]

i just checked app then took screenshot of Table from BWFC to Wrexham, but i won’t post it to save on bandwidth Ah
The next game this coming 30th of December is lovely game if we get to win as then we will be above Lincoln City but also within the bottom of the playoff promotion places with a game in hand on a few others not including Mansfield Town.

I’ll maybe get the paid radio listen but having just checked fixtures maybe i get radio listen in a few weeks as there then are better kickoff times for myself; the next game kickoff for me is 2AM so if i awake at that night I’ll get the radio app going with given £’s.

Ah well Barnsley won I’ll check where Barnsley are, oh they overtook BWFC on the table with their win.

[Mar]

Ian Evatt press conference with BN:
Our game decisions and game management were so poor, and rather than relieve pressure and have a 5 minute spell of putting the ball into good areas and taking the sting out of them for a little bit we continue to play short and play loose and play into trouble which just builds their momentum.


https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... d-podcast/ <--- 19 mins in


Not sure what Evatt means by putting the ball into good areas? Is that just getting rid of the ball, or is it playing out of the back into good areas?

I certainly didn't get the impression that the second half we were trying to get rid of the ball, we very much looked like we were trying to play our usual stuff, out from the back. Maddening that we dropped off at HT. Evatt's trained us to play out from the back, so I don't know how he can think we're doing the right things? Tactically, playing out from the back is inherently riskier than putting it into the far corner of the pitch.

Evatt is criticising the players. It's long overdue. If they want to keep him in charge, they need to step up and deliver. No point backing the manager but then consistently underperforming.

[dave the minion]

Yeah, heard his interview on GMR on the way home from the match - weirdly refreshingly honest and for the first time laid into the players quite a bit - which is long overdue. He's far from perfect as a manager, but he is continually being let down by the players on the pitch - was good to hear him giving them a bit as well for once.

What impact it will have I don't know, but I guess we'll see on Sunday.....