Rising in Wembley's Glow: A Bolton Wanderers Tale - Bolton vs Oxford. 18th May 2024, 4.15pm

[Worthy4England]

Other thing, Insano, they've had three main managers in that time too...but despite the spectre of hoofball and the spectre of Graeme Souness, being the next one...

[GhostoftheBok]

Oxford's manager doesn't think he changed a huge amount tactically. He tweaked their midfield set up, but has said their approach didn't change vastly since they lost to us and he's right. He's certainly not a "building a whole club in my image" manager - he's a coach that slotted into an existing set up. His job title is "Head Coach" and he rocked up in November. He's also that kind of philosophy coach you say you don't want.

Without the structure and patterns he inherited this promotion wouldn't have happened for Oxford.

Everything about Oxford is contrary to what you're saying.

[BWFC_Insane]

Oxford's manager doesn't think he changed a huge amount tactically. He tweaked their midfield set up, but has said their approach didn't change vastly since they lost to us and he's right. He's certainly not a "building a whole club in my image" manager - he's a coach that slotted into an existing set up. His job title is "Head Coach" and he rocked up in November. He's also that kind of philosophy coach you say you don't want.

Without the structure and patterns he inherited this promotion wouldn't have happened for Oxford.

Everything about Oxford is contrary to what you're saying.

He brought his own staff in and in the build up to the final said the result at our place was the catalyst for change.

Then it’s the ability to change, and we changed after Bolton. We had to.

I don’t care what image our manager has. I don’t care what they are or are perceived to be. It’s what they deliver. When it mattered Oxford found the key to promotion and the key in this league is always, always not conceding many. When it mattered we let goals in like nobody else. Oxford demonstrated in the run in exactly how you need to be setup to do well and we demonstrated the opposite.

So any manager who sets us up to concede 5 goals in 10 games and to have the sort of structure they showed in the run in will I think have more joy here.

[nicholaldo]

Days after being beaten (again) in a local derby and the day before a crucial fixture against a then promotion rival:

"I've haven't enjoyed this week... it's taken an awful lot out of me" and "I'll reset in the summer and think about what happens in the future".

A sure fire way to rally the troops.

One of the reasons I had him down as potentially (probably?) quitting is we (he) fell at the final hurdle is stuff like that.

If he didn't know when he got out of bed this morning that he had to set it right then that should probably answer his question.

He will have easier routes into the Championship on offer this summer and if he'd rather take one he should inform the board of that this morning.

What you don't want is him staying in the job purely for security until a better offer lands. Obviously for him that might be best, but for us that's the worst possible outcome.

The 24/25 season has already started. You are the manager. Get over your embarrassment of calling everyone out over "receipts" and other daft bollocks said in the media and crack on with fixing your own mess. If you can't, get out of the way and let another man fix it.

Without a doubt, whatever decisions are made hereonin, they need to be made quickly.

[GhostoftheBok]

So any manager who sets us up to concede 5 goals in 10 games and to have the sort of structure they showed in the run in will I think have more joy here.

I have no issue with that. You can play differently to how we do and still have the same basic principles in place. The new manager doesn't have to be Evatt 2.0, but they do need to be able to work with most of the group we have and make them better - which the Oxford manager has done.

I have no idea which players will be poached, but as things stand we have a lot of good players for this level.

If a team underperforms and finishes 3rd then ability isn't the issue.

[Worthy4England]

So any manager who sets us up to concede 5 goals in 10 games and to have the sort of structure they showed in the run in will I think have more joy here.

I have no issue with that. You can play differently to how we do and still have the same basic principles in place. The new manager doesn't have to be Evatt 2.0, but they do need to be able to work with most of the group we have and make them better - which the Oxford manager has done.

I have no idea which players will be poached, but as things stand we have a lot of good players for this level.

If a team underperforms and finishes 3rd then ability isn't the issue.

It is for me. Ability includes the ability not to underperform so often. The most worrying thing from where I'm sat, is if it's just one player, that happens occasionally and we deal with it. When it's most of the team on the same day, there just aren't enough subs on the bench.

[BWFC_Insane]

So any manager who sets us up to concede 5 goals in 10 games and to have the sort of structure they showed in the run in will I think have more joy here.

I have no issue with that. You can play differently to how we do and still have the same basic principles in place. The new manager doesn't have to be Evatt 2.0, but they do need to be able to work with most of the group we have and make them better - which the Oxford manager has done.

I have no idea which players will be poached, but as things stand we have a lot of good players for this level.

If a team underperforms and finishes 3rd then ability isn't the issue.

Agreed to some extent. I don’t think we lack for ability. Though I think we have put ourselves in a position where we have massively overestimated ‘how good’ some players are based on ability alone which is not the only important measure across a season.

Fundamentally we need to look at conceding fewer next season. We can also score fewer if defensively we keep clean sheets are less wide open and find a structure where we can defend in a compact manner. We simply can’t afford to insisting on stretching the pitch out as though we won’t tire trying to cover the space in behind.

[GhostoftheBok]

It is for me. Ability includes the ability not to underperform so often. The most worrying thing from where I'm sat, is if it's just one player, that happens occasionally and we deal with it. When it's most of the team on the same day, there just aren't enough subs on the bench.

Most footballers are bad at handling pressure - just like most people are generally. Most at Pompey, most at Derby, etc. You don't usually end up with 15-18 self-motivated and bomb-proof lads anywhere below the most elite levels.

It's worth remembering that all the promoted managers have had fans calling for their heads at points this season and all those teams have been called bottle jobs.

You need a leadership group that understands how to take pressure off and get performances out of the lads who struggle. When you don't have that, the entire group will look shakey.

From the outside you have no idea who can and can't cope in the right set-up, because to us watching it looks the same.

I don't think a manager arriving tomorrow would be demanding 20 new players.

[Worthy4England]

I don't doubt the veracity of that. It's often least loss of bottle takes the booty. I'm not suggesting 20 new players nor that pressure gets to players. As ever we head to the extremes to try and land a point.

But you do need sufficient on your half of the pitch to get the right outcome.

If I look across our backline, I don't see much and actually, in the face of a poor goal, sometimes big Ric looks the most lost.

Similar in MF, I'd hope that the elder statesman would have some input (not necessarily screaming, pointing and shouting) but just helping with that side of the game.

Don't have much to say about upfront, if we give some service, they will score.

[GhostoftheBok]

I don't doubt the veracity of that. It's often least loss of bottle takes the booty. I'm not suggesting 20 new players nor that pressure gets to players. As ever we head to the extremes to try and land a point.

But you do need sufficient on your half of the pitch to get the right outcome.

If I look across our backline, I don't see much and actually, in the face of a poor goal, sometimes big Ric looks the most lost.

Similar in MF, I'd hope that the elder statesman would have some input (not necessarily screaming, pointing and shouting) but just helping with that side of the game.

Don't have much to say about upfront, if we give some service, they will score.

All fair, I think.

[Prufrock]

A huge amount of it is the system, IMO. Too many "failure" points where if that goes wrong we are knackered.

Sheehan is excellent, but lacks physically, and even if any of the others wanted the ball in our half we can't do that because they are needed to get up and support the front two/be close to the wing backs for 2v1s. So if you stop Sheehan, you've a good chance of stopping us.

And the wing backs, it's asking too much of them. If you can recruit right you have a shout but you're asking so much of a league one full back. The wingers can't defend, and the full backs can't offer enough going forward. Stop the wing backs and you stop us.

Stop Sheehan AND the wing backs, and we're horrible.

It also doesn't really work from a pressing point of you as you ask too much of the front two and the wing backs. Meaning you have to change both strikers (so need 4 good ones, minimum) and the wing backs tire and drop off meaning the whole press goes and we can't get out.

[Worthy4England]

^^

[GhostoftheBok]

I'm currently watching Arsenal being "thanked" by their fans for a season where they've spent a couple of hundred million and won nothing.

Think I'd rather see drunk idiots screaming vile abuse at Evatt (in front of their 4-year-old children) again than that.

[Prufrock]

Given I live about a mile from the ground I was thrilled city win yesterday. Last thing I needed was a week long street party. Saw photos on twitter of their forlorn looking victory arch

[GhostoftheBok]

Given I live about a mile from the ground I was thrilled city win yesterday. Last thing I needed was a week long street party. Saw photos on twitter of their forlorn looking victory arch

I think going around and applauding and stuff is fitting. They have played some great stuff and it's been exciting for their fans. Everyone is doing a good job, by the looks of things. The lap of honour was obviously fine.

However, having players fawningly thanked when nothing was won made me cringe.

Maybe I'm just old.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

However, having players fawningly thanked when nothing was won made me cringe.

Sarcastic DSB says Wenger preferred top-four finishes to cup wins.
Non-sarcastic DSB hopes they win it next year. Or anyone but Citeh (or MU, obvz). Not that I dislike Citeh, but it's a bit dull now - even with the #115charges.

[GhostoftheBok]

even with the #115charges.

The 115 charges thing is valid, but that's on the money men. To win 4 in a row, even with a financial advantage, is incredible work from the football staff and players.

It's not like Man Utd didn't have a vast, vast advantage in money when they were kings of England. There were just fewer rules.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Oh sure. Still want someone else to win.

[nicholaldo]

This is a bit shambolic.

[GhostoftheBok]

This is a bit shambolic.

The whole thing was a shambles.

The ticket mess up, the logistics around flags/clappers, parking, etc.

You can blame the short turn around time, but there's no way stuff like parking shouldn't have been worked out way in advance and nailed down.

"Sort out your own refunds" is a nice tough too. I wonder how much money the parking firm will keep from people who don't see these notices.