Welcome to Bolton. Wrexham (h), 18/08, 3pm

[truewhite15]

Looks like it could well be a bumper crowd for our home opener against Ryan Reynolds' Welsh franchise. We welcome back Phil Parkinson, who deserves a great deal of respect, plus James McClean, who deserves bugger all.

There's still a lot of settling down to do within our team. McAtee and Adeboyejo will both be clamouring for starting berths, as will George Johnston, who looks better with each appearance. Jay Matete, meanwhile, will be wondering whether he's done enough to oust Josh Sheehan - George Thomason's cameo tonight rather confirmed him as our best midfielder right now...

[sonicthewhite]

I'm thinking it's a tight call between Jack or George, will all depend on the assessment of Georges fitness after tonight but if he's deemed fit then he replaces Jack. Jack can sit the bench with Randy & Tutu and I also think Matete will have to start on the bench as well. Reckon Evatt will stick with Sheehan and Thommo for centre mid. Then the front three for me should be Collins, Dion and Vic. Lets give them a broadside from our big guns. That would leave Dempsey, McAtee and Arfield to fill the attacking places on the bench.

So after all that what I'm saying is a team as follows;

Baxter
Toal - Santos - George
JDC Schon
Thommo Josh
Dion Aaron
Vic

Bench:- Southwood (or Forino), Iredale (or Randy), Tutu, Matete, Dempsey, Arfield, McAtee
Gets my vote

[Prufrock]

Outgoings notwithstanding, McAtee the only change I realistically see for Sunday (and still probably not). George and Randy got 90 in and will be knocking in the door. And Matete and Tutu not far behind. The rest a long way off I think.

I saw the first 15 and last 30. Forino looked a stone cold donkey but off 15 mins so unfair. The rest of the newbies all had something to offer.

[Mar]

I'm getting Wigan vibes from this. I suspect Parky will send his team out to be as physical as possible and get into our face, giving us no time on the ball.

We don't like being unsettled and I suspect that's exactly what's going to happen against Wrexham.

Hopefully the changes we've made to the squad give us a bit more bite in our game to counter games like these.

[BWFC_Insane]

Outgoings notwithstanding, McAtee the only change I realistically see for Sunday (and still probably not). George and Randy got 90 in and will be knocking in the door. And Matete and Tutu not far behind. The rest a long way off I think.

I saw the first 15 and last 30. Forino looked a stone cold donkey but off 15 mins so unfair. The rest of the newbies all had something to offer.

Mcatee not yet based on last night. Matete absolutely imho looks the part and looks ready.

[Bertie Wooster]

I suspect it will be physical therefore we need Thomason & Matete as the 2No DM's on Saturday, these are the type of games that Sheehan normally struggles in.

[The_Gun]

Matete played the full game last night, so I think it’s safe to assume he won’t be starting on Sunday.

[BWFC_Insane]

Big game this. Big crowd. Newly promoted Wrexham with all their razzmatazz and of course Parky and villain McLean.

First big test as to whether we’ve managed to fix our big game problems. Problems that Evatt has admitted to in a recent interview before anyone screams that they don’t exist.

Big test. Pressure. The time to stand up and be counted was of course long ago….but another chance to show they are able.

[BWFC_Insane]

Matete played the full game last night, so I think it’s safe to assume he won’t be starting on Sunday.

I will be very surprised if he doesn’t start alongside Thomason. Very surprised.

[Bertie Wooster]

Big game this. Big crowd. Newly promoted Wrexham with all their razzmatazz and of course Parky and villain McLean.

First big test as to whether we’ve managed to fix our big game problems. Problems that Evatt has admitted to in a recent interview before anyone screams that they don’t exist.

Big test. Pressure. The time to stand up and be counted was of course long ago….but another chance to show they are able.

They are a physical side, it will be similar to the recent Wigan home games - therefore we need to match them physically to have a chance of winning this. Matete has plenty of time to recover from last night, he has to start.

[GhostoftheBok]

I saw the first 15 and last 30. Forino looked a stone cold donkey but off 15 mins so unfair.

Yeah, remarkably unfair given his overall display.

Clearly not up to speed with what we do and hasn't had the benefit of our training methods, but lots to like. Good pace, reads the game well and can mark. Got caught out a couple of times, but showed determination and that aforementioned pace to recover well. Tackles beautifully.

Far from perfect and if it was a midseason performance you'd have every right to nitpick that display, but it's right to call it a solid enough debut.

I think, generally, that's true of all of them. Lots to like, but would expect them all to improve a lot in short order.

[BWFC_Insane]

I saw the first 15 and last 30. Forino looked a stone cold donkey but off 15 mins so unfair.

Yeah, remarkably unfair given his overall display.

Clearly not up to speed with what we do and hasn't had the benefit of our training methods, but lots to like. Good pace, reads the game well and can mark. Got caught out a couple of times, but showed determination and that aforementioned pace to recover well. Tackles beautifully.

Far from perfect and if it was a midseason performance you'd have every right to nitpick that display, but it's right to call it a solid enough debut.

I think, generally, that's true of all of them. Lots to like, but would expect them all to improve a lot in short order.

Thought he looked good myself. His passing was a bit all over the show but defensively he’s got pace, got stuck in and looked solid.

[officer_dibble]

I was a bit worried about how often he dived into tackles but thought generally he looked defensively sound.

[Prufrock]

I'm glad he improved! As I say v harsh to start making a call off 15 minutes, but I've got to pass the time somehow

[BWFC_Insane]

I'm glad he improved! As I say v harsh to start making a call off 15 minutes, but I've got to pass the time somehow

He was better at all points than Iredale was on Saturday. Seems to have divided the crowd as some saying he must start Sunday he was that good others think he was dreadful. I’d err towards the middle of those opinions but feel he was more solid than bad.

[officer_dibble]

He looked a fair bit short on match fitness to me - can’t see him in the XI before September. And it’s Toals place he will be competing for.

[GhostoftheBok]

Watching Wrexham's last two games, they are capable of causing us a lot of problems in areas where we are currently weak.

The young lad Revan, who they picked up from Villa, is a phenomenal athlete and clever runner. He's likely to exploit that uncertainty on our right if it crops up on Sunday and I'd suggest that makes Cogley a starter, despite Tutu playing well.

Cogley and Toal are more likely to keep those gaps to a minimum, even if everyone's not 100% yet on the triggers and pick-ups.

As others have said, they will look to rough us up and knock us out of our comfort zones. Parky will be desperate to beat us and the likes of McClean will have no trouble getting up for the game.

It'll hopefully be a cracking match and a good win for us.

[TANGODANCER]

Why a Sunday fixture?

[GhostoftheBok]

Why a Sunday fixture?

TV.

[BWFC_Insane]

Watching Wrexham's last two games, they are capable of causing us a lot of problems in areas where we are currently weak.

The young lad Revan, who they picked up from Villa, is a phenomenal athlete and clever runner. He's likely to exploit that uncertainty on our right if it crops up on Sunday and I'd suggest that makes Cogley a starter, despite Tutu playing well.

Cogley and Toal are more likely to keep those gaps to a minimum, even if everyone's not 100% yet on the triggers and pick-ups.

As others have said, they will look to rough us up and knock us out of our comfort zones. Parky will be desperate to beat us and the likes of McClean will have no trouble getting up for the game.

It'll hopefully be a cracking match and a good win for us.

Its a game where ever player has to do the basics right. Win their physical battles, deal with their one on ones. Show the commitment and running. Without that a Parky side even like Wrexham where they are behind us right now quality wise, will cause us issues.

Last season we failed to do the basics in big games - one might argue because we got carried away with ourselves. But first things first in a football match you have to be up for it and win your physical battle and impose yourself on your opponent. Every single player has to do that and if they do we have a great chance of winning. If they think its a tiki taka open them up at will and show off game - we won't.