Not between the lines...V Reading at home Monday Apr 1st 3-0;clock

[TANGODANCER]

I could have used April fools or April showers as a headline, but we don't want either to apply. We've had enough rain to refill the Thames lately, and neither us nor Reading will be fooling ourselves as to this being a literary affair. It will be war, believe it. It's another Bank Holiday fixture before a five day gap going south of the border to Bristol. With four home games out of five we should be looking to picking up points. Colonel Custard in the library with a copy of War and Peace might make for an affair that surely won't be an Agatha mystery. Time to mount up and charge forth. It's now or never...

[Worthy4England]

I do think the crowd (not all of it, but enough) could get quite jittery early, if it doesn't click, so hoping for a fast start....

We wouldn't want to watch them play themselves into contention as they did at theirs, coz we saw where that could lead.

[Mar]

Quite confident with this one. Think we'll set out to get ahead early and really take it to them. Our home form is decent and we'll be up for it.

[TANGODANCER]

Sounds like Dion has caused a few ripples in the camp by his decision to put N.I supporting over fitness training with the Whites. I love the man's playing, but he does seem to have a few attitude problems. Hope I.E can sort it soon.

[Bertie Wooster]

2-2

[TANGODANCER]

2-2

Won't do Bertie, we need the win and points. We're at home and Reading have lost two of the last five games. Bristol have only won one of their last five and both are mid-table. Doesn't prove anything on the day, but we have to win.

[TANGODANCER]

Time to focus on now-today and beating Reading. At 4-45 we need to ignore what others have done and just have attained those three valuable points. Talk's cheap, you have to buy whiskey (as the saying goes, although I've been tee-total for years) so let's get out there and show some pride. COME ON YOU WHITES.....

[Bertie Wooster]

I see Evatt's come out with another pre game motivational speech - he never learns.

[nicholaldo]

I see Evatt's come out with another pre game motivational speech - he never learns.

It's certain to rouse the troops, isn't it?

[Bertie Wooster]

If Collins or JDB score today they should run over to Evatt & squirt water in his face.

A packed out expectant home BH crowd, and he comes out with this - its always excuses from him, as you say Nicho the players will certainly be up for the game after this....not !

Very poor management before an important must win game.

[officer_dibble]

I suppose the alternative view is he is taking the pressure off 3 lads who clearly aren’t delivering the goods.

[Bertie Wooster]

I suppose the alternative view is he is taking the pressure off 3 lads who clearly aren’t delivering the goods.

Surely he should be firing them up - motivating the lads, telling them how good they are, yes we have injuries but he should be saying that he has so much confidence in them.

If a £750k player, one of the League 1 players of the year last season is a water pistol then ?

Hopefully its reverse psychology and we get a good result this afternoon.

[officer_dibble]

Mate it’s not what I would have said - particularly when I begged for £750k to blow on Collins to ‘get us over the line’ and my bosses are listening, but I’m just trying to see his side!

[DJBlu]

If Collins or JDB score today they should run over to Evatt & squirt water in his face.

A packed out expectant home BH crowd, and he comes out with this - its always excuses from him, as you say Nicho the players will certainly be up for the game after this....not !

Very poor management before an important must win game.

Why? If we're all like yourself then we'll be expecting nothing but a draw or defeat. The language is geared towards Charles and his comeback. Some might say because he's precious.

You think JDB and Jerome care what he's said? Probably not as they're in the twilight of their careers.

Doesn't matter what Ian says as people have made their minds up about him.
If he Comes out and says we have to play with what we've got and it's a shame the results are poor. What's that? Excuse or not.
We have players capable of getting us over the line and they'll do it. What's said to this. Aye Ian, pull the other one, why aren't they?
I'd prefer he say nothing and it's all said behind closed doors but then you have people complaining he's not saying anything.

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

If you are honest with yourself would you have the team we have out now if everyone was fit?

Doubt it, maybe you wouldn't call your strikers water pistols but on their showing I'd say he's being generous.

Also I think it's genius management. We're all against the manager now but in fairness who would have our current lot up top in their team of the season?

[sonicthewhite]

Out all day for this one but hopefully we can bounce back.

[Worthy4England]

Two changes - JDB and Iredale in...

[dave the minion]

Fairy nuff. Jerome and Forrester did a politely nothing wrong on Friday at all, but no issue with either of the replacements and will be good to give them a run out...

[nicholaldo]

COYW

The people of Bolton have backed them in their droves today.

No excuses.

[Mar]

Yet again no Baxter or Charles. Wishful thinking to think they'll be back at it. Looks like next week.

Come on Bolton!

[Mar]

Getting the impression we're either in for a barnstorming win or a shocking mistake and a frustrating points drop scenario.