DMB Match Thread

[William the White]

Between Knight and Elmander for MotM for me - with Knight edging it

I really don't get this. In the moments that really mattered Knight may as well have produced a basket of rose petals to toss at Nani's feet and Elmander, for him not to at least put his embarrassing effort on target was unforgivable. Absolute shit.

Such as Bolton 1 FRS 0? Nani's goal was exceptional work - if one of ours had scored it we'd be talking about it for as long as we've recalled JJ's against WHU. Knight only v partially culpable, along with others.

Elmander's miss was not good. But the rest of his game was excellent. My first game of the season and he looked a totally changed player.

[Lord Kangana]

Between Knight and Elmander for MotM for me - with Knight edging it

I really don't get this. In the moments that really mattered Knight may as well have produced a basket of rose petals to toss at Nani's feet and Elmander, for him not to at least put his embarrassing effort on target was unforgivable. Absolute shit.

Whilst I agree that in the cold hard light of Premiership games, scoring and not scoring those chances ultimately sorts the shit from the alreet, would you not say that Elmander has come on leaps and bounds in the last few months (and particularly the last few weeks)?

I might add that I just disagree about Knight, he's seldom had a bad game in the last 9 months, and the midfield stood off Nani for far too long today, they should have had him clobbered long before he cockd the trigger.

[boltonboris]

Great post ICB. I agree specifically about Robinson. The most underrated player in our team. Best defender at the club for me. No nonsense, leader and good distribution. Apart from City away, I don't remember a bad game from him

[General Mannerheim]

Great post ICB. I agree specifically about Robinson. The most underrated player in our team. Best defender at the club for me. No nonsense, leader and good distribution. Apart from City away, I don't remember a bad game from him

yep, maybe going a bit far with 'best defender at the club' but am certainly a big fan!

[boltonboris]

Great post ICB. I agree specifically about Robinson. The most underrated player in our team. Best defender at the club for me. No nonsense, leader and good distribution. Apart from City away, I don't remember a bad game from him

yep, maybe going a bit far with 'best defender at the club' but am certainly a big fan!

In terms of just 'getting the job done' i don't think anybody at Bolton is better than him

[Lord Kangana]

Gets done for pace and by trickery far too often to be our best. Certainly no better than any of the rest of our back four. Pumps his fists, shouts and scowls a lot though, so kudos.

[t_o_molloy]

The chance that Elmo missed was all from his own craft anyway. If he wasn't playing, there wouldn't have even been that chance, he raped Vidic today.

[TANGODANCER]

Worthy4England offers up a mixed salad of view:

http://www.the-wanderer.co.uk/index.php

[Bruce Rioja]

Between Knight and Elmander for MotM for me - with Knight edging it

I really don't get this. In the moments that really mattered Knight may as well have produced a basket of rose petals to toss at Nani's feet and Elmander, for him not to at least put his embarrassing effort on target was unforgivable. Absolute shit.

There is some real buggery titwankery nonsense posted on this as with all other messageboards.

But I think this post takes the prize and that includes all of Sir Nutcase's posts.

Yes, anything that doesn't tally with your opinion usually does.

Key moments. Key moments. That's twice now in one week for Elmander. He hit the three-pointer straight at Friedel last Saturday, today he belted it into the upper tier.

Go on, defend that you over-opinionated so-and-so.

[Bruce Rioja]

I might add that I just disagree about Knight, he's seldom had a bad game in the last 9 months,

You obviously weren't at Villa Park last week then, Kangana. He was an absolute embarrassment.

[BWFC_Insane]

Yes, anything that doesn't tally with your opinion usually does.

Key moments. Key moments. That's twice now in one week for Elmander. He hit the three-pointer straight at Friedel last Saturday, today he belted it into the upper tier.

Go on, defend that you over-opinionated so-and-so.[/quote]

Yeah you're right I mean people like Dixon and Ginola are just itching to pick out Elmander as the outstanding player of the game aren't they?

They'll do that just to spite you.

Coyle did the same. He's obviously clueless.

I don't have to defend owt, he should have scored, but all round he was fooking excellent and a big part of us getting the draw. Including the assist for the second. In terms of actual "end product" he was far in excess of Davies today, who also had a good game.

[truewhite15]

Between Knight and Elmander for MotM for me - with Knight edging it

I really don't get this. In the moments that really mattered Knight may as well have produced a basket of rose petals to toss at Nani's feet and Elmander, for him not to at least put his embarrassing effort on target was unforgivable. Absolute shit.

There is some real buggery titwankery nonsense posted on this as with all other messageboards.

But I think this post takes the prize and that includes all of Sir Nutcase's posts.

Yes, anything that doesn't tally with your opinion usually does.

Key moments. Key moments. That's twice now in one week for Elmander. He hit the three-pointer straight at Friedel last Saturday, today he belted it into the upper tier.

Go on, defend that you over-opinionated so-and-so.

Alright, I'll concede that at these "key moments", Elmander, and perhaps Knight, should have done better. But for their first goal there were about 5 different players who could have all had Nani on the deck, not least Holden and Ricketts, who many have touted as our two best players on the day, so Knight wasn't the only one to blame for backing off; indeed, it is exceptionally harsh to lay the blame squarely at his feet. Needless to say that Nani's strike would have put United ahead if it wasn't for Knight at the other end.
And I've always felt that a MotM should be given on the basis of all around play, not just the "key moments" - too often I have seen a player anonymous for most of the match, then banging in a goal from nowhere, claim MotM over many more suitable candidates. Today was one of those days - Petrov, who was invisible for long periods, in my opinion, was given the official sponsors title for what seemed like nothing more than an (admittedly really well set up and taken) goal.
Anyway, the point is that outside of these "key moments", and taking a wider view of the game, there were countless occasions where Knight was in the right place at the right time to clear the ball, he played positionally brilliantly, and looks top class when put next to Ricketts. It's been said that he's rarely had a bad game in 9 months. You countered that Villa last week was an example of a bad game on Knights part. That's why he said rarely...and for what it's worth, he's right. Knight has been exceptional.
Elmander was involved in the vast majority of our attacks today. He was quick, he was powerful, he was good in the air, he looked for all the world as though he was worth between £8-11M. Sure, he skied a shot that could have killed the game. But the way he got into the position in the first place was excellent, and 9 times out of the next 10, he'll bury that. He'll be kicking himself, but his all-round performance was worthy of MotM.

[Bruce Rioja]

Yes, anything that doesn't tally with your opinion usually does.

Key moments. Key moments. That's twice now in one week for Elmander. He hit the three-pointer straight at Friedel last Saturday, today he belted it into the upper tier.

Go on, defend that you over-opinionated so-and-so.

Yeah you're right I mean people like Dixon and Ginola are just itching to pick out Elmander as the outstanding player of the game aren't they?

They'll do that just to spite you.

Coyle did the same. He's obviously clueless.

I don't have to defend owt, he should have scored, but all round he was fooking excellent and a big part of us getting the draw. Including the assist for the second. In terms of actual "end product" he was far in excess of Davies today, who also had a good game.[/quote]

You said, and I quote "if he was burying all those chances quite simply he'd not be here". That, Sir, is the talk of an absolute cock. he should be, and he isn't! You've not mentioned Knight by the way. Go on, stick up for him. You weren't at Villa either, were you?

[P.O.S.]

Just got home from a long session at Greenwood after the game - brilliant afternoon. Im in no mood to pick apart performances, Im just still absolutely buzzing from Petrov's goal; stood at back of North Stand going mental, arms flying everywhere, got hit on the head by a cup full of coffee, people falling over seats and hugging like we'd just scored against Boro on the last day again. Loved it, and love feeling positive about my club again.

It was that good, people were even dancing on the tables and on the bar in the pub for hours after. Get in Whites, get in.

[Lord Kangana]

In a nutshell thats that intangible, indefinable thing. Football feels fun again, doesn't it?

[Worthy4England]

In a nutshell thats that intangible, indefinable thing. Football feels fun again, doesn't it?

Yes - much.

[midnitefooty]

Special word on Lee and Petrov. In this system, we need them to get involved, and today we are starting to see this happen. Lee is such a talented and intelligent player on the ball. When he gets it, I hold my breath, because he is like a chess player who carefully calculates all the permutations and makes the perfect play given the situation. Doesn't come off all the time, but he is a delightful little player and I am glad he plays for BW.

I can't say how much I agree with this. In any team sport you try to get your most creative players as many touches as possible and IMO we simply have not been doing that until recently. A lot has been said these past games about Lee and Petrov not really being involved and fading in and out and such but I feel like play so far has tended to favor the middle with no real conscious attempt at trying to get the ball into the wings.

Last season, when Lee first came on the scene, there was some very good passing happening on the wings between Lee/Stein/KD/Klasnic on the right and Lee was putting up cross after cross (see Arsenal game) and creating some very good chances.

When Coyle decided to put Lee in the middle (or up front, however you saw it) against l'Arse this year, he was suddenly getting more touches and got very much involved.

So I guess I'm saying, or asking, if we are now committed to passing it through our midfield instead of over and past it, shouldn't we be making an effort to get the ball to our wingers more?

[Hoboh]

I thought Elmander was good yesterday chasing, harrying, etc. Proberbly our best player but I agree with brucie as well, he should be sticking those chances away! He still looks more an attacking mid than a striker. Nani's goal wasn't the problem much as we gifted it them, it was the crocked dwarfs, that was pathetic I aint seen the tv highlights yet but it looked like he got in front of Robinson for a virtual free header.
BTW we are well up the league for putting the ball in the net, its still conceading thats the problem which suggests whatever our c/back pairing is we need to tighten up.

[Zulus Thousand of em]

Interesting comment on Liverpool forum RAWK.

Just watched Bolton V Man utd me thinks Roy could take a few days off to study this match and learn from the passion, passing and sheer determination of the Bolton players.
Until the overpaid Liverpool players put in the effort expected then LFC is going to be a mid-table team for quite a few years!

COME ON YOU WHITES!!

[clapton is god]

Yesterday, for the first time in about three years, I went totally mental when our goals went in. I don't do that any more, but I did yesterday! All around me people were going berserk and hugging total strangers. T'was fantastic.

I wouldn't single any one player out for MOTM mention. There were white shirts all over the pitch that had passion, power and a grace about them that was just wonderful to see. I think yesterday was the day that we finally swept away the old regime and ushered in Coyles new era.

More of the same please.