By Order of The Peaky Blinders. Away to Brum Tues Oct 22nd 19-45.

[Worthy4England]

Yeah - I'm not sure of the wisdom of leaving three up front. They'd pass through that more often than not, methinks. The other half of the equation - quick transition (rather than "punt"), I'm all for - we seem to have a bit of an identity crisis the last couple of games since the big yahoo against Reading, you can see "brand" sneaking back in...

Bizarrely, I'm feeling a bit giddy about the game. We're not incapable, albeit struggling with consistency. I think Thommo will be a big loss for 6-8 weeks, so I think we need 90 from Matete. Having let our 60th goal in this year, at weekend, that side of the equation is a worry. Feels like everything has to drop right for us, but not impossible that it does.

[TANGODANCER]

If we can but inspire a "shoot on sight" mentality into our Riverdance Rovers forwards we may well catch fire. We need more of a "leather it" mindset with some accuracy of course, than keep trying to walk the ball home. Who wants to be known as "Ole" passing champions when losing 1-0? That's okay for summer in Malaga, but not much use for November in Rivington. Let's leave the bull shxt to the bulls. Come on you Whites

[Prufrock]

They're favourites, obviously, but we're going to have to win some games we're not expected to to make up. He's behind the curve and needs to find something.

Fully expect to be talking about a "good performance but unlucky to lose".

[Harry Genshaw]

It would be the most Bolton thing to do, to go and win tonight. It's that hope and unpredictability that keeps us going. However, Evatt's Bolton haven't won games like this before. It's quite telling that they've played most of the top teams already and are sitting at the summit.

It's not season defining or even an Evatt defining game but please God, we show something tonight and not a meek collapse.

[HMX]

Stick this headline up around the away dressing room and set a fire under the lads:
"Birmingham are 'too good' for League One - Bielik"

"We're League One but I don't think there are any players in this team who are League One players," he said.

"All of them are at a higher level. In six months time we'll be a Championship team and a different animal.

"We stay humble and keep our feet on the ground and we don't want to choke on it. But the reality is we're too good for League One."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... y3pj06wkpo

[sonicthewhite]

Fully expect to get home from college tonight to an "Ah well! No surprise there really!"

[TANGODANCER]

Stick this headline up around the away dressing room and set a fire under the lads:
"Birmingham are 'too good' for League One - Bielik"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar ... y3pj06wkpo

Not a good one for them to lose then,?

[BWFC_Insane]

It would be the most Bolton thing to do, to go and win tonight. It's that hope and unpredictability that keeps us going. However, Evatt's Bolton haven't won games like this before. It's quite telling that they've played most of the top teams already and are sitting at the summit.

It's not season defining or even an Evatt defining game but please God, we show something tonight and not a meek collapse.

If we were second then tonight is a big game and pressurised - which we don’t do well in. But we are not and in a weird way makes this much less pressurised. So in theory I think it’s possible we spring a surprise. We have excellent quality up front that will win games for us without necessarily needing to play well if we click. And I think we are also far better away than at home.

[The_Gun]

I’ll admit to having become slightly disenchanted over the course of the summer and early season. Consequently I haven’t paid as much attention of late as I have over recent years.

Do we think that Evatt is maybe being coy regarding some of our absentees and we might get some surprise appearances tonight? Toal and Baxter I’m sure will be given every chance. It’s been suspiciously quiet regarding Jones, Forrester, CMG and Tutu, which makes me think that either they haven’t made good progress, or Evatt is intentionally suppressing news.

Anyway, it will be a surprise if we don’t lose tonight, especially so if we don’t have Toal or Baxter. A point would be big for us, a win huge.

3-1 Birmingham.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I wonder whether it will be a fourth successive league game for Lolos, having rushed back from injury, to pick splinters out of his arse as he sits unused on the bench.

[TANGODANCER]

Football isn't about losing when you're referring to league positions. A loss tonight will just make it harder to bridge the gap between the Brum and the rest. All three of their latest goals were achieved by one-touch shoot and score and not by Mr Tap-toe hesitation , and since they're at home to what was once called Small Heath, home of the notorious "Peakies", the locals will see anything less than three points as failure. Much as playing well may be heralded as welcome, it won't help our case unless we get points. We need to tighten up those gaping holes we leave just waiting a fumbled back-pass from any one of our Mr Blobby footed defenders and we're looking up Mount Everest.

Playing well and losing any game you like is a fact of life that happens...but not tonight please. Playing well and winning will be as welcome as finding all those around us have lost. A real "Cometh the hour" night needed lads, so get amongst em...

[BWFC_Insane]

I wonder whether it will be a fourth successive league game for Lolos, having rushed back from injury, to pick splinters out of his arse as he sits unused on the bench.

Where would he play in the system we have reverted to?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I wonder whether it will be a fourth successive league game for Lolos, having rushed back from injury, to pick splinters out of his arse as he sits unused on the bench.

Where would he play in the system we have reverted to?

If he won't, why's he on the bench?

Evatt said he could play at 8, 9 or 10. So, I'd guess, one of those...

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... idi-lolos/

He's a very talented boy, physically really good – 6ft 1in – aggressive with and without the ball and extremely technical. He'll give us options because he can play multiple positions really well. He is a creator and a goal-scorer, both-footed, and there is improvement to come...
...he is so multi-dimensional – he can play as an eight, a 10, a nine, and we’re talking about having a different part of our plan. He gives us the flexibility to do that. He's a really talented player who can lead the line, build from deeper, receive in tight spaces and play forwards. He is an exciting player who we are looking forward to working with.

8, 9, 10.... or 12. (For the older readers)

[officer_dibble]

The place McAtee (a forward) played on Saturday basically. I’d be dubious about trying that one out again tonight.

I have to say I wasn’t impressed with Lolos against Villa under 21s. Should have been far more imposing than he was.

[Worthy4England]

Is anyone quite sure what system we've reverted to?

[Spartan2]

Is anyone quite sure what system we've reverted to?

If you do please let the players know.

[Worthy4England]

Is anyone quite sure what system we've reverted to?

If you do please let the players know.

Well - since the "big Sunday pow wow, where Evatt was "seeking talks with the Club hierarchy" (he wouldn't have to have sought them very hard were it me)" I think you might run with:

Reading - the Adrenaline formation - possession 45.1% - Won
Crawley - the embed the Reading belief formation - possession 32% - Won
Northampton - lets see if they notice we've sneaked back in some fannying about formation - possession - 52% - Won
Shrewsbury - Brand relaunch formation full on fannying - possession - 71% - Drew
Burton - NFI formation - possession - 54% - Won.

[officer_dibble]

Just been reminded of the 3-2 FA Cup win. One of my favourite away games. I still think that’s the last game where we were flying before it went wrong. Holden injured thereafter and the Coyle drop off followed.

[The_Gun]

Yeah, we’re going to get destroyed.

[Worthy4England]

Oh.