Should I(E) stay or should I(E) go?

[GhostoftheBok]

I have a distant memory of the Charlton home game last season, and I was really impressed with their midfield going forward with the ball - their movement, mobility, pace and how quickly they moved the ball. We are very slow at moving the ball & lack intensity in a lot of games.

Have to say I'm absolutely delighted we didn't play as well as Charlton this season.

[Worthy4England]

I have a distant memory of the Charlton home game last season, and I was really impressed with their midfield going forward with the ball - their movement, mobility, pace and how quickly they moved the ball. We are very slow at moving the ball & lack intensity in a lot of games.

Have to say I'm absolutely delighted we didn't play as well as Charlton this season.

As delighted as when they scored three at our gaff?

[GhostoftheBok]

As delighted as when they scored three at our gaff?

Interesting example, given the topic. Very rarely seen a team miss a player as much as we missed Santos in that one.

Overall I'd say I'm precisely as delighted as you get to be by finishing 34 points above a team that's spending more money than you are.

I have absolutely no desire to steal any part of Charlton's footballing or financial model, despite the fact I think they'll improve dramatically next season.

For any failings in our midfield, it's been miles better than Charlton's has for a very long time and consistently (oh, that word) one of the best in the division this season.

[Worthy4England]

As delighted as when they scored three at our gaff?

Interesting example, given the topic. Very rarely seen a team miss a player as much as we missed Santos in that one.

Overall I'd say I'm precisely as delighted as you get to be by finishing 34 points above a team that's spending more money than you are.

I have absolutely no desire to steal any part of Charlton's footballing or financial model, despite the fact I think they'll improve dramatically next season.

For any failings in our midfield, it's been miles better than Charlton's has for a very long time and consistently (oh, that word) one of the best in the division this season.

I don't think anyone suggested buying (or stealing) them? I think they were being used an an example, from a specific game - they were quite clearly a lot shitter, a lot of the time. I would be proper shouting at them slackers, might even do a bedsheet!

[BWFC_Insane]

I have a problems with the modern football use of ‘models’. Oh our model is much better. It might be but is losing £5.6M on the second highest turnover in the league sustainable? Only whilst people put money in. And we all know whatever anyone says that’s a finite resource.

So our ‘model’ is pretty much what every other clubs model is. Lose money and hope we find success on the field to justify it and grow revenue through higher league tv money etc.

Now I wouldn’t have fancied oxfords model when the finished 19th. Yet last season they went up and we didn’t. So I’d far rather be them than us at this stage. It Charlton go past us next season then same goes.

We can pretend to be in a better position than a lot of clubs but until we actually are it is a pretence. Sharon is a good owner and brought stability and seemingly investment in. But that’s only worth anything if it pays off on the field. And it’s in danger right now of not doing.

If the argument as I’ve seen is we give Evatt another season but if we don’t go up probably have to rip it up start again and with less money - what model are we then saying ‘but at least we’ve got a better model than X’?

[Bertie Wooster]

As delighted as when they scored three at our gaff?

Interesting example, given the topic. Very rarely seen a team miss a player as much as we missed Santos in that one.

Overall I'd say I'm precisely as delighted as you get to be by finishing 34 points above a team that's spending more money than you are.

I have absolutely no desire to steal any part of Charlton's footballing or financial model, despite the fact I think they'll improve dramatically next season.

For any failings in our midfield, it's been miles better than Charlton's has for a very long time and consistently (oh, that word) one of the best in the division this season.

I'm not suggesting buying any of Charlton's midfield, I simply said that in that specific game I thought that their midfield played well, and moved the ball in a way that I wish ours did - but then again you know that & twist things to suit as you normally do.

I will say as I've said previously that I don't rate our midfield at all, and think that its the weakest part of our team.

[Prufrock]

We quite clearly are in a better position than Charlton! There's a league and everything. It's the whole point.

[GhostoftheBok]

I will say as I've said previously that I don't rate our midfield at all, and think that its the weakest part of our team.

Game of opinions, as they say.

Have to say I find that one pretty amazing.

Sheehan clearly our player of the season. Paris got young player. Thommo being talked of as a future captain.

Weakest part of the team is a take.

[BWFC_Insane]

We quite clearly are in a better position than Charlton! There's a league and everything. It's the whole point.

If Charlton finish above us next season then we aren’t.

[Bertie Wooster]

It's my opinion based on what I see live watching us play. Just because some people are talking about Thomason being a future captain, doesn't mean that he's good enough for a top 2 league 1 team (I'd say that he's a decent mid table player), same with Maghoma who's a decent player but again I don't think that he's a top 2 league 1 level midfielder.

Sheehan did get in the EFL League 1 team of the year, which fair enough means that many others like him - unfortunately I don't as he goes hiding in the important games - again though its my personal opinion, its not in any way a piss take.

What makes you think that you are right & others opinions are wrong ?

[Bertie Wooster]

We quite clearly are in a better position than Charlton! There's a league and everything. It's the whole point.

If Charlton finish above us next season then we aren’t.

Thing is I never said or claimed that Charlton are better than us, all I said is that against us last season at the Reebok I was impressed with their midfield and how they ran & moved with the ball - that's it just the one game.

[GhostoftheBok]

its not in any way a piss take.

A take...as in a bold opinion. Not as in a "piss take", Bertie.

I obviously don't agree with you, but I don't begrudge you your view. I hold a lot of views about football that would have me in a minority, I'd suggest this is one of yours. I think most Bolton fans would say we've seen a very good midfield three this last year.

I'm not particularly arguing for or against, I just think it's an interesting view.

[Bertie Wooster]

A take...as in a bold opinion. Not as in a "piss take", Bertie.

I obviously don't agree with you, but I don't begrudge you your view. I hold a lot of views about football that would have me in a minority, I'd suggest this is one of yours. I think most Bolton fans would say we've seen a very good midfield three this last year.

I'm not particularly arguing for or against, I just think it's an interesting view.

Ok fair enough.

Many fans may think that we've seen a very good midfield this season, but it wasn't good enough to get us out of League 1 was it. Hence needing better.

[GhostoftheBok]

Hard to prove a counterfactual, but I'd be fairly confident in putting that midfield in a team that worked properly everywhere else. Easily good enough to slot into a top League One side.

Doesn't matter now, with Paris gone.

We can only look at next season now.

I'd not be getting rid of what we have in midfield. We certainly have got to add to it, though.

[GhostoftheBok]

I'm enjoying this little Twitter storm between the ex-players and Wolves.

Macca laying into them now.

[Prufrock]

We quite clearly are in a better position than Charlton! There's a league and everything. It's the whole point.

If Charlton finish above us next season then we aren’t.

At the risk of getting all "he's 28 until he's 29" ...no.

If Charlton finish above us next season then we will no longer be. We are now. There's a league table. It's been a whole thing!

[GhostoftheBok]

Charlton won 11 games last season - the fewest of any team outside the bottom 3. If you can't say we're better placed than them at the minute then you can't make any qualitative statements of any kind about football.

This is not a conversation that needs to be had.

[BWFC_Insane]

Charlton won 11 games last season - the fewest of any team outside the bottom 3. If you can't say we're better placed than them at the minute then you can't make any qualitative statements of any kind about football.

This is not a conversation that needs to be had.

Oxford finished 19th the year before. They then have gone up and are a league above us now.

Three teams finished below us last season and we were better placed than all 3 to go up yet they did and we didn’t.

[Worthy4England]

We voted Tim Ream POTY, one year (I use "we" with plenty of leeway for those who didn't get it either). 'Nuff said.

The more I've looked back at some of our conceded goals, the less convinced I am by "stop them on the flanks." There are way too many right down the middle of the gun-barrel for me.

[sonicthewhite]

I'm enjoying this little Twitter storm between the ex-players and Wolves.

Macca laying into them now.

Any links?