Pre-season 2023-24

[GhostoftheBok]

Certainly some bright spots, a bit cut open on occasion, Baxter made a couple of decent saves

I think the "cut open" bit is correct and we still struggle with midfield recoveries. We played some lovely stuff, but when we lost the ball their Premier League athleticism showed.

Jones, Sheehan and Dempsey all struggle with covering ground at times. They all have loads of up-side to them and are all willing runners, but if a player gets beyond them they're unlikely to get back at them.

We need that covering, tackling midfielder to complement what we have in that compartment. When Thomason came on he offered us that and I think he's got another level to his game, but he's still not ready to be the main man in a promotion campaign for us.

We are really close.

[Mar]

A lot of positives tonight. Same issue in terms of being clinical. Impressed with the likes of Dacres-Cogley and Baxter.

Carlos Mendes Gomes seemed to struggle. I've seen him before so I know he's decent.

On a different day we would've scored. Decent runs by Charles and Adeboyejo. Plenty of effective pressing.


Seemed like Everton struggled to get interested in the game in the first half.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Sounds like I missed a good ‘un. Although our most pessimistic posters are absent.

[Mar]

Sounds like I missed a good ‘un. Although our most pessimistic posters are absent.

You did. Was one of our more entertaining 0-0s. 75 mins of good football in there.

[BWFC_Insane]

I don’t think it was vastly different to how we started last season. The runners were good. Vic was better but to me still looks very clumsy on the ball. But signs of improvement at last. Randy looks much better this pre season than last season and it is to be expected with his injury. I hope he keeps progressing this way as he was a talent pre injury.

I’m not convinced that JDC can be a right wing back as a first option all season if we want to go up and it’s essential we recruit another in the next few weeks. Probably even more essential in a couple of midfield players. To me that midfield now it’s lost Lee is even more exposed and it simply needs that mobile interceptor type and probably a commanding type as well. It is too lightweight as it stands and to be honest without being mean for the roles required there are at least two players I think are clearly short of the levels you need for promotion from this league.

Having said that - you’d have to be worried if you were an Everton fan. Blimey.

[boltonboris]

Nice to hear Sheehan had a good game. I went to Salford and wasn't too impressed. Takes the ball well, but a little too safe at times. At Salford we kind of played an advanced box and he didn't look familiar with it.

Presume with Morley playing higher up last night we did the same

Square 4 of Charles, Vic, Sheehan, Morley and interchanging positions?

[TANGODANCER]

Watched some decent highlights (heavily home-based by Everton T.V, no surprise) and Everton played some impressive football at times and created a few scoreable chances. We do seen to leave ourselves wide open to cross field balls quite a lot, but a creditable draw against a Premier league side, but as I said, The Gladys Street boys only ever see themselves and always have done. (I worked in Bootle for a lot of years at one time)

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Small sample size I know, but how did Ashworth look in his 20 minutes or so at wing-back?

[GhostoftheBok]

Small sample size I know, but how did Ashworth look in his 20 minutes or so at wing-back?

"Safe", would be the word I'd use.

Did the job that was asked of him, showed composure on the ball and good touch; but no attacking spark of the kind Williams was offering. Looks well capable of getting forward and causing problems with some neat interchange, but felt very much like an attacking fullback rather than a defensive winger.

I really like the kid thus far, though. He doesn't take any shit. Everton tried to rough him up a couple of times and he gave better than he got. No issue there with a young player wilting under pressure.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Small sample size I know, but how did Ashworth look in his 20 minutes or so at wing-back?

"Safe", would be the word I'd use.

Did the job that was asked of him, showed composure on the ball and good touch; but no attacking spark of the kind Williams was offering. Looks well capable of getting forward and causing problems with some neat interchange, but felt very much like an attacking fullback rather than a defensive winger.

I really like the kid thus far, though. He doesn't take any shit. Everton tried to rough him up a couple of times and he gave better than he got. No issue there with a young player wilting under pressure.

Cheers. On the latter, grand to hear.

On the former, not a great surprise; for our "attacking" wingbacks we're basically seeking Wingers Who'll Track Back - Randell, maybe CMG in certain circumstances; another attacker, essentially, but one who won't gaze on from afar while his team-mates defend.

Ashworth probably more likely to be the dedicated "defensive" or at least systemic wingback; think more Iredale than John, more Jones than Fossey. Might not produce a jaw-dropping moment of magic, but will take full part in the patterns of play.

[Worthy4England]

^^ Yeah, I'd sort of concur with what Ghost said, albeit I'm less sure about the "attacking bit" of attacking full back, I think it might be more in the "maybe capable" category rather than the "actually evidenced " one. Not sure how often he bombed over the halfway, it didn't feel like many...

[GhostoftheBok]

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

To be clear - we have to have a Wanderers TV pass (£50 a year or £5 a month) to be able to watch the iFollow that's no longer iFollow (if we pay extra per game)?

[GhostoftheBok]

To be clear - we have to have a Wanderers TV pass (£50 a year or £5 a month) to be able to watch the iFollow that's no longer iFollow (if we pay extra per game)?

From the end of the month, yes. Right now it's free for people to try out.

After that everything goes behind a paywall, including loads of stuff that was free on youtube.

That seems to be it, anyway.

[officer_dibble]

Had not appreciated the need to subscribe… you can see how this is very quickly going to turn heads towards Saturday 3pms being included.

How many games are likely to be on iFollow to spread the cost of the 50 over? Looks like two non 3pm Saturdays a month.

[MattySlug]

So do I need to find $100+¢ for 1 years worth of BWFC games LIVE I try but we have 6+ Streaming Services @ this moment
I try look it up later see if I can hopefully watch all Bolton games this Season

I watched the 0-0 home to Everton highlights on BeInSports YouTube Page was going to post it here but haven’t as it may be only viewable in Australia I dunno

[MattySlug]

77E10AE5-EC7B-46DE-B934-AA2ACD0BD83A.jpeg (233.94 KiB) Viewed 12915 times

Ah I out so far £140 is amazing

I been thinking to start new bank account maybe I better for saving £140 before early bird price disappear

[officer_dibble]

I’m on holiday first game of season - I’m assuming to watch the game I’ll need to pay my subscription then a tenner as well. Will see how that goes!

Also worth noting cup games are excluded - suspect pizza cup will be OK.

[boltonboris]

I’m on holiday first game of season - I’m assuming to watch the game I’ll need to pay my subscription then a tenner as well. Will see how that goes!

Also worth noting cup games are excluded - suspect pizza cup will be OK.

I believe you can buy a £10 match pass without having to pay the monthly subscription

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Perhaps not the thread for this, but the EFL has confirmed/published its rule changes including anti-timewasting measures:

https://www.efl.com/news/2023/july/matc ... 24-season/