To be continued. Home to Cheltenham, Tues Jan 23rd , 7-45.

[GhostoftheBok]

We feel a bit light but that's the purpose of having a b team. Matheson can come in aswell as Ashworth, CMG has covered RWB aswell so there's a few extra to come in.

Central defence is coming a concern as there's seemingly little respite in the wake of Jones being away. Budgetarily speaking they probably made the right call as it was an outside chance for either Jones or Iredale to get called up. Similarly an outside chance for CMG to get called up.

They will feel like they made the right call.

My position when we left the window was that we were short and I didn't like it, but we'd probably get away with it. We're now no longer getting away with it.

It's arguably cost us a few points this season, but the finances are what they are and they will take a few points hit if it means having the time to get stuff right. That means getting it right, though. Last January really benefitted us, but not until the summer - which was kind of what I expected at the time.

This January we have to have one eye on the Championship, but we also need impact within a few weeks and preferably immediately.

We can't "break the bank", because we'll break the club; but this is our best chance to get out of this division and we need to give Evatt every possible chance. Every player we lose needs replacing and then we also need to add what we missed in the summer. Nothing less.

If these panned deals fall through (god forbid) we absolutely cannot leave it. We'll just have to do our best on reflex.

[GhostoftheBok]

"Unstoppable" Derby apparently put in a poor performance today too...except they lost.

Screenshot 2024-01-24 015710.png (85.27 KiB) Viewed 584 times

These wins make a difference. We've won the most games this season, despite playing the fewest games.

I'm travelling up to Carlisle on Friday. I sincerely hope it's a better display, but if we're shite and win I will be delighted.

[nicholaldo]

According to Evatt, the referee disallowed their goal because one of their players blocked one of ours from getting to the ball.

[officer_dibble]

Santos will be the one blocked - he didn’t get anywhere near as many headers away from set pieces - I think they did their homework on him. I’m also not convinced he was 100% fit. Ref did well to spot it if that was the case - and told the liner to flag. I had it the other way round on the stream…thought the ref was trying to allow it.

[BWFC_Insane]

According to Evatt, the referee disallowed their goal because one of their players blocked one of ours from getting to the ball.

The player who did was offside I think. You wonder whether they really did spot that or it was just an erroneous flag and then a later spot and justification of the decision?

Either way I think it was the right call but most of the time one we wouldn’t get.

[BWFC_Insane]

Santos will be the one blocked - he didn’t get anywhere near as many headers away from set pieces - I think they did their homework on him. I’m also not convinced he was 100% fit. Ref did well to spot it if that was the case - and told the liner to flag. I had it the other way round on the stream…thought the ref was trying to allow it.

Yeah he looks leggy to me santos. I don’t think Charles is on top form either. Working hard for sure but especially first half he seemed to struggle to keep the ball.

I suspect Rico is carrying something as he physically looks to be struggling. Charles maybe just going through a sticky period. But I suspect when half the core of your team is struggling it does make it harder. Sheehan also struggled for the first time in a while!

[nicholaldo]

According to Evatt, the referee disallowed their goal because one of their players blocked one of ours from getting to the ball.

The player who did was offside I think. You wonder whether they really did spot that or it was just an erroneous flag and then a later spot and justification of the decision?

Either way I think it was the right call but most of the time one we wouldn’t get.

It was the referee who gave it, I think.

[TANGODANCER]

We spend too long in our own half. Call that a fact or a stat, it's a reality. .....

Dion Charles is having to play too deep and consequently making runs from defensive rather than offensive positions. Is he, despite being leading goal scorer, a striker or an offensive midfielder? He does very little wrong, indeed runs himself gormless for the team, but in terms of a striker, he's not number one; Vic has stepped up to that slot. Bod, despite his skills and good football brain, seems just a little light against defenders who run at players and hit them (count most of this league). I like the man, and maybe it's just a temporary failing like the rest, so maybe Vic and Bod up front with Dion running poacher? If Dion starts to score again, I doubt he'll care what number he is. As a striker, he's currently our best box to box man. In short, we need a little more muscle up front (always assuming our defence wake up from mince pies and brandy pudding of course).Get on it Mr Evatt.

Edit: Bolton play brilliantly against Premier Luton, lose and are praised to the skies. Play rubbish against Cheltenham, win and get slated. Lesson somewhere? Funny old game football, innit?

[boltonboris]

Well, we got away with one there, didn't we! Outplayed almost all over the pitch and very lucky to escape with 3 points when we didn't even deserve 1.

We need bodies in. We look jaded, short on solutions to problems that teams pose us and we're starting to look very predictable. Something needs to happen to freshen things up a bit, as we have a grueling few months in front of us.

Thank the lord for Super Nathan Baxter in Goal. I'd say he is the only one who played well. Thomason out for 2 games now with 10 yellows and he looked like he desperately wanted one last night. Did everything he could. Couple of daft tackles and a bit of a dissent thrown in. Something he needs to work on, for sure.

Pleased that Vic got the goal, we said in the pub pre-match that Dion looks like he might go on one of his everything he touched turns to shite runs for a few weeks and somebody else really needs to step up on the goal front.

Jon Dadi continues to frustrate. I know it's hard to come off the bench and even more so when the teams not playing well, but he flatters to deceive. Nice touch and some great skill, then ballses a pass up

[officer_dibble]

Thomason suspended then Saturday…Dempsey injured so all of a sudden it’s 3 from 3, just like the defence. CMG on the bench!

[BWFC_Insane]

Well, we got away with one there, didn't we! Outplayed almost all over the pitch and very lucky to escape with 3 points when we didn't even deserve 1.

We need bodies in. We look jaded, short on solutions to problems that teams pose us and we're starting to look very predictable. Something needs to happen to freshen things up a bit, as we have a grueling few months in front of us.

Thank the lord for Super Nathan Baxter in Goal. I'd say he is the only one who played well. Thomason out for 2 games now with 10 yellows and he looked like he desperately wanted one last night. Did everything he could. Couple of daft tackles and a bit of a dissent thrown in. Something he needs to work on, for sure.

Pleased that Vic got the goal, we said in the pub pre-match that Dion looks like he might go on one of his everything he touched turns to shite runs for a few weeks and somebody else really needs to step up on the goal front.

Jon Dadi continues to frustrate. I know it's hard to come off the bench and even more so when the teams not playing well, but he flatters to deceive. Nice touch and some great skill, then ballses a pass up

I thought Thomason was superb last night but last twenty looked exhausted. Picked up a knock too and was limping at the end.

Williams also played well.

Agree with the rest.

[BWFC_Insane]

Thomason suspended then Saturday…Dempsey injured so all of a sudden it’s 3 from 3, just like the defence. CMG on the bench!

Think I saw Thomason’s suspension kicks in after Saturday.

[boltonboris]

Thomason was ok. I would save "superb" for games where he has a much bigger impact

[officer_dibble]

Yeah agreed, he was fine. One of his quieter games - he’s a steady performer and can be excellent on his day so no doubting he’s our top midfielder now. His knock was self inflicted with that ridiculous tackle attempt at the end. Thankfully no mention of it after so should be OK.

[GhostoftheBok]

Santos will be the one blocked - he didn’t get anywhere near as many headers away from set pieces - I think they did their homework on him. I’m also not convinced he was 100% fit. Ref did well to spot it if that was the case - and told the liner to flag. I had it the other way round on the stream…thought the ref was trying to allow it.

They had a fairly intense conversation via the mics before his flag went up.

You'd imagine the ref asked the linesman if the blockers were offside rather than the goal scorer and when the lino said yes he was told to flag for offside.

If that's the sequence it's actually textbook. Fair play.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Thomason suspended then Saturday…Dempsey injured so all of a sudden it’s 3 from 3, just like the defence. CMG on the bench!

Think I saw Thomason’s suspension kicks in after Saturday.

Sadly not - Iles says he’s out for Carlisle and Barnsley, which at least means he can play at Blackpool.

Randell expected to be 3-4 wks but Evatt hopeful Demps injury is “neural” and thus shorter.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... sle-clash/

[TANGODANCER]

Looks like we're going to need Lady Luck on our side come Saturday.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Looks like we're going to need Lady Luck on our side come Saturday.

Can’t under FIFA rules, as she’s already played for two other teams this season

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

[GhostoftheBok]

Looks like we're going to need Lady Luck on our side come Saturday.

We're second in the division for clean sheets. One behind Pompey, who have played 2 more games.

Will happily continue that and "nick one" in a "smash and grab" to carry us over into the post-January phase, if that's what it takes.