Bolton v Derby

[Holden midfielder]

Much needed win. If we had not taken 3 points against that shower last night our "fragile" psyches would have been crushed I am sure. Let's not fool ourselves though we are dire and a shadow of what we have the potential to be. I never ever want to hear Coyle say anything but we are a route 1, direct side. This myth he spouts on about playing attacking flowing football is bollocks. What a load of .... Crap. We were very lucky last night and rode our luck, thank goodness Derby is shite or we would have taken another hiding.

[Verbal]

One thing I will say. Our set pieces. Painfully predictable. We aim it to the back stick, in the hope that one of Davies, Knight or Mills will head it back across the six yard box to be poked home. It never, ever works. Why do we never get people making runs to the near post?

Second person to say that in the thread!

We need to attack these in waves too. No point everyone charging in at the same time. One mis-hit ball and the chance has gone.

[BWFC_Insane]

Happy with the win, but I'm hoping that we can show in the Forest game that we have improved, and that this wasn't just an aberration.

Lets start from the back, shall we?

Bogdan - Didn't look overly confident, but did what he needed to and kept a clean sheet. The cries of the crowd to throw it short were genius, and finally worked - at last, Ricketts turned around to look for it. Problem was, he then passed it back to Adam, who booted it long. More throwing out, less booting required vs Forest. We look much better then.

Mears - "Mears has it...Mears has lost it." The mantra of last night. Woeful distribution, and I'm not entirely certain that him and Mills have ever seen each other. The number of times the ball came between the two of them in the first half was criminal. Either play Riley or Ricketts here next time out, please.

Mills - Ridiculously slow. Painfully slow. Dangerously slow. Grew into the match when he started attacking the first ball instead of letting it bounce; a mistake that lead a few times in the first half to Derby having decent chances.

Knight - Our best defender. Says a little something about how far we've fallen. He's still got a fifty-pence head though.

Ricketts - A shadow of last season. Poor distribution, probably helped out a bit by the fact that Derby kept targeting our right flank.

Overall, the defence was poor. Too many times, Derby would be attacking, and the back line would be a disorganised and confusing mess. Better teams WILL punish us for that if we don't improve.

Chungy - Looks like he's getting back to his best. One of our most exciting players, linked up well with the strikers, threatened the goal a couple of times. He will score plenty in this division, given the opportunity.

Andrews - Didn't impress himself upon the game in any blindingly obvious way, but went about his job quietly. We would have known about it if he wasn't in the midfield.

Sparky - Much better. Looked to make himself available. Can still improve.

Eagles - Grew into it. Excellent in the last half an hour, when we were on top. Well taken goal. His pace was a threat to Derby - when he could be arsed running.

The midfield still needs to give the defence more protection for me. There was a couple of times, especially first half, where the midfield went awol while the Rams ran straight through the middle. This needs to change, and fast.

Super Kev - Played quite well. Won every single header, though far too often there was nobody around to pick up the second ball, and looked slightly more comfortable with the ball at his feet. Good goal.

Sordell - This boy will be a huge asset in the weeks to come. His pace worried Derby, and he seemed to link up well with Chungy. I wouldn't have taken him off for Afobe, especially as we were just starting to play the ball on the ground, but I suppose the decision was vindicated.

Afobe - Promising. Very good movement, and with a little more luck, he could have bagged himself a couple of goals.

One thing I will say. Our set pieces. Painfully predictable. We aim it to the back stick, in the hope that one of Davies, Knight or Mills will head it back across the six yard box to be poked home. It never, ever works. Why do we never get people making runs to the near post?

This is a good summary. IMO Knight was better than you say here. He looked outstanding at last nights level at least. Teams with more attacking threat than Derby, will trouble Mills who looks slow, slow and slow some more.

Disagree about Sordell a bit. Thought he was poor. Afobe showed him how its done with movement across the line.

To be fair to Sordell I don't think asking him to drop into midfield all the time is doing him any favours, he needs to be further forwards. And he and Davies just don't see to 'go' yet. Maybe they'll learn. But I suspect Sordell prefers space to work in, and balls in behind, not to feet or head......

[BWFC_Insane]

Goals from last night

http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/bolton-2-derby-0/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

8 seconds in. Does the commentator call us 'The Seagulls' ?

Yes, yes he does.

No, he says "Chriseagles then made it 2-0"

[boltonboris]

I do think Mills struggled against Nathan Tyson's pace.. But then again, any defender in this country would.. The guy is electric and Mills did a pretty good job of keeping him quiet on the whole..

[Gary the Enfield]

Goals from last night

http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/bolton-2-derby-0/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

8 seconds in. Does the commentator call us 'The Seagulls' ?

Yes, yes he does.

No, he says "Chriseagles then made it 2-0"

Hence the wink. It was a joke.

[Athers]

Most of the things can be pointed back to philosophy I feel. We seem to be more confused by the presence of the two Davies' rather than the ideal 'play both ways' which we felt like we were pulling off in November 2011.

Pleased SKD was better as I would've dropped him were I the manager after the shocker at Burnley. That said, a 3rd game in 6 days may be too much for him?

Just relief I suppose as we need to get some form at home. I still can't fathom the booing at half time, it's like these fans think we're a Premier League club just temporarily dropped into League 2 (and forget about it being the first/second game of the season)

[BWFC_Insane]

Goals from last night

http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/bolton-2-derby-0/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

8 seconds in. Does the commentator call us 'The Seagulls' ?

Yes, yes he does.

No, he says "Chriseagles then made it 2-0"

Hence the wink. It was a joke.

Ooops missed the wink.....

[boltonboris]

Most of the things can be pointed back to philosophy I feel. We seem to be more confused by the presence of the two Davies' rather than the ideal 'play both ways' which we felt like we were pulling off in November 2011.

Pleased SKD was better as I would've dropped him were I the manager after the shocker at Burnley. That said, a 3rd game in 6 days may be too much for him?

Just relief I suppose as we need to get some form at home. I still can't fathom the booing at half time, it's like these fans think we're a Premier League club just temporarily dropped into League 2 (and forget about it being the first/second game of the season)

I'm hoping our squad strength comes to the fore on Friday.

Apparently N'gog should be back, so perhaps we'll see one or both of them start. We've 2 wingers who didn;t get on the pitch aswell as 2 full backs itching to get on..

Perhaps a smaller Forest squad will be feeling it a bit and we can punish them.

Also, agree on the booing. I don't get it.. It's so counter-productive. I was frustrated at half-time and cursing under my breath, but I'd never boo them off.

Bloke next to me, actually, has an irrational hatred of Chris Eagles.. He just screams obsceneties at him for 90 minutes, but he's funny with it, so everybody lets him off. However, he didn't even celebrate his goal last night.. Looked annoyed that he had the cheek to score a decent goal. I was baffled

[BWFC_Insane]

Surely it'll be unchanged team against Forest with Afobe in for Sordell? Can't see many changes to a side that has just won?

Not Coyle's style.....

As for the booing, it happens. It's stupid in my book, but happens every club, has happened for decades. Not going to change it. End of the day if people are in the ground, they can do whatever they like so long as its legal.

[boltonboris]

True, but half the team were blowing through their backsides by full time

[Worthy4England]

and pendleton deffo needed one!

I'd deffo give her one.

[Lennon'sEleven]

Most of the things can be pointed back to philosophy I feel. We seem to be more confused by the presence of the two Davies' rather than the ideal 'play both ways' which we felt like we were pulling off in November 2011.

Pleased SKD was better as I would've dropped him were I the manager after the shocker at Burnley. That said, a 3rd game in 6 days may be too much for him?

Just relief I suppose as we need to get some form at home. I still can't fathom the booing at half time, it's like these fans think we're a Premier League club just temporarily dropped into League 2 (and forget about it being the first/second game of the season)

Hold your horses! That's not for a couple of years.

[Worthy4England]

I still can't fathom the booing at half time, it's like these fans think we're a Premier League club just temporarily dropped into League 2 (and forget about it being the first/second game of the season)

I can understand it. (I didn't and don't join in), but I can understand it.

We say every year, it's the first/second game of the season - well yes, but it was Burnley's first game of the season on Saturday and Derby's second game of the season last night too. How come Burnley hit the deck running and we say "but it's only the first game of the season?"

We say every year, "but there's new faces" - yes but generally same for every other bugger too.

Bottom line isn't the expectation that the team plays like Barca every week, but you should quite rightly expect that a team with aspirations of trying to get back to the Prem, can pass, tackle and head in approximately the direction they're intending to. Whilst we might not be in the Prem anymore, we're not in the Salford Sunday either. They're fooking professional footballers and for 45 minutes, the standard was generally, incredibly low with a couple of exceptions.

Bloke next to me (and I'm not exactly 10 St) took up a seat and a half. He gave Davo stick for being a "fat usless lump" all night, and when Sordell was subbed off (correctly IMO), stood up to shout about why the fat useless lump hadn't been subbed off. Flip side, he was up singing Super Kev, before the fecking ball had hit the back of the net...

I'm all for criticising Davo when he plays badly - along with every other player. But, Sordell seems to get credit for "not being Davo" - I hope he'll be fine, but in the scheme of things didn't offer much Saturday and offered even less last night.

[ChrisC]

I cannot believe some of the comments, it is not a confidence issue it is a tactics issue! Ever since Big Sam put his master plan in place (hoof it to Davies and feed off the 2nd ball) this is how we have played ever since.

Bogdan wanted to throw it out last night but has obviously been told to kick it up to Davies, the reason this no longer works is because Coyle has bought smaller players to play in a pass and move game not a kick and rush game. I would like Coyle to explain why we are not playing a pass and move game he has been bleating about all summer and why Vela, Riley are not getting a game as Baby Davies is not interested and seniorKD is no longer capable.

We were extremely lucky that last night we came up against a team who had one decent player (Connor Salmon) we were awful in the first half very disjointed. The couple of occasions we got through for a shot on goal we played pass and move though the centre of midfield.

The second half was marginally better but why KD stayed on the pitch for so long is beyond me as he moved slower and slower (could not miss for the goal from 3 yards out) Eagles was by far the best outfield player and deserved his goal which he scored running down the middle.

A few observations from last night SeniorKD is a spent force (don't let the goal fool you). Eagles best position is playing down the middle of the front man. Baby Davies is not interested so sell him now whilst we can get some money for him. Mills is the slowest most ponderous defender I have seen in a long time and not in the same league as Ream. We should play more of a passing game as it suits the players we have.

In summary we were lucky and will have to play much better on Friday to get anything from the game as Forest look a much better outfit!!

Mavies didn't look uninterested from where i was sitting last night.. put himself about a fair bit and even won a good few headers for a small man. He spread the play well at times and was involved in most of our attacks.

Also regarding Davo, i am in the same camp as most but give the guy credit for getting his head on the ball and on target and the finish when it came back to him was far from simple. Good reactions for an old timer . If he had scored from a Wayne Rooney style overhead kick i am sure some would still find the negatives. Davo did nothing wrong last night in the game, his main job all night was to win the hoofs from Boggers and he did that for most of the game. Almost forget his ball over to Afobe aswell..

[TKIZ!]

Surely it'll be unchanged team against Forest with Afobe in for Sordell? Can't see many changes to a side that has just won?

Not Coyle's style.....

As for the booing, it happens. It's stupid in my book, but happens every club, has happened for decades. Not going to change it. End of the day if people are in the ground, they can do whatever they like so long as its legal.

Agree with all of this post.

I really don't get what booing achieves at half time, if it's 0-0?

Guy at the left hand side of me last night didn't celebrate either goal, berated Eagles and SKD the entire game and I think he left just as Eagles grabbed the second. To me that's strange behaviour

[Chrisfu]

To me that's strange behaviour

That's rare in Bolton...

[TKIZ!]

To me that's strange behaviour

That's rare in Bolton...

Chungy has his say on the game, even he's saying if the ball is down on the deck we'll play better.

http://www.bwfc.co.uk//news/article/chu ... 28330.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;?

[boltonboris]

Surely it'll be unchanged team against Forest with Afobe in for Sordell? Can't see many changes to a side that has just won?

Not Coyle's style.....

As for the booing, it happens. It's stupid in my book, but happens every club, has happened for decades. Not going to change it. End of the day if people are in the ground, they can do whatever they like so long as its legal.

Agree with all of this post.

I really don't get what booing achieves at half time, if it's 0-0?

Guy at the left hand side of me last night didn't celebrate either goal, berated Eagles and SKD the entire game and I think he left just as Eagles grabbed the second. To me that's strange behaviour

Is he Scottish, by any chance?

[TKIZ!]

Didn't think he was, no. He sounded Boltonian through all the shouting he did