A Novel affair. Home to Mansfield Town Tues 3rd Dec. 1945

[irie Cee Bee]

Mansfield at home is a must-win.

We've played 7 league games against teams now in the top half. We beat Reading 5-2 but apart from that we're D1 L5, F0 A15.

Oh and in 11 home games (all comps), we've scored 5 first-half goals - but 4 were against Reading. Nine times we've reached the oranges without scoring. Under the circs I think the home crowd has been quiet patient.

Excellent analysis DSB. Send a copy to Evatt who believes our recent points hall from last 11 games is title contender returns. He clearly underrates our ability to analyze.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Good write up as always DSB.

Beating Mansfield may represent beating a top half team, but they're firmly midtable as it stands and may possibly end up being bottom half in no time at all given their current form, so even a win wouldn't necessarily scream back on track.

It's a must win if we're going to be getting into the top places.

Cheers. Fully agree Mansfield is a must-win. In fact, for the record, and right now, here's what I think of December:

• Mansfield (H) - must-win
• Bristol Rovers (A, but 14th) - probably a must-win, at the very least a must-not-lose
• Wigan (H) - must-win (even a heroic Pie-baiting late equaliser wouldn't be enough)
• Wycombe (A) - must not lose, although a draw doesn't manifestly help us reel in what is currently an 11pt lead over us
• Barnsley (H) - must-win - home draws don't get us up
• Lincoln (H) - must-win - home draws don't get us up

Sure, 16pts from 18 might be a tall order, but that would be promotion form - not mopping up against also-rans and drop-dodgers. Even taking 16pts from the next six games would only take us to 43pts from 22 games - STILL not 2ppg over the season.

And as I keep saying, it's not just mathematical, it's a PR war and Evatt will be in the defensive trenches until we stop shooting ourselves in foot. Beating Reading, Crawley and Northampton didn't save the anguish when we were then 2-0 down at halftime to second-bottom Shrewsbury. Beating Stevenage, Burton and even Peterborough didn't earn Evatt much slack when we were then humiliated at Stockport. Trust is hard to win and easy to lose, and to banish doubt he has to keep winning for a long time.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Anyway. Within the limited scope available, what changes would y'all make? Assuming Matete in for the suspended Thomason, I'd be tempted to go with the double-6 formation - him and Sheehan sitting.

That would give us scope to have the returning Schön on one side and Jordi Osei-Tutu on the other. JOT is yet to start a league game for us, but with Dacres-Cogley likelier to start the Bristol Rovers, Wigan and Wycombe games, this is the one I'd be trying him in.

With two attack-minded wing-backs, I'd pick "one behind two" up top. Probably Collins behind Dion and Victor - which, as far as I can see, is not a trio that's ever started a game together. In fact, as far as I can tell, they've only ever played together for the last 25 minutes of the Exeter home game - Vic and Aaron coming on when we were already 2-0 down.

[Mar]

And as I keep saying, it's not just mathematical, it's a PR war and Evatt will be in the defensive trenches until we stop shooting ourselves in foot.

Trust is hard to win and easy to lose, and to banish doubt he has to keep winning for a long time.

Totally agree. I think we're still dealing with the aftermath of the Oxford United game, and the lack of action after the game. We were left in the dark and no public response, that connection to the club was severed and no clear plan put forward in how to address the discontent between the club and the fans.

At the minute, we're very much waiting with bated breath for either the fans to start booing, or the players to start playing. Rather than waiting for the positivity.

Anyway. Within the limited scope available, what changes would y'all make? Assuming Matete in for the suspended Thomason, I'd be tempted to go with the double-6 formation - him and Sheehan sitting.

That would give us scope to have the returning Schön on one side and Jordi Osei-Tutu on the other. JOT is yet to start a league game for us, but with Dacres-Cogley likelier to start the Bristol Rovers, Wigan and Wycombe games, this is the one I'd be trying him in.

With two attack-minded wing-backs, I'd pick "one behind two" up top. Probably Collins behind Dion and Victor - which, as far as I can see, is not a trio that's ever started a game together. In fact, as far as I can tell, they've only ever played together for the last 25 minutes of the Exeter home game - Vic and Aaron coming on when we were already 2-0 down.

I like the idea of Collins behind Dion and Vic, giving him free reign to drift into different parts of the pitch and dig in during the defensive duties (not that I think it suits him, but something that I think would improve us instead of three up top).

[The_Gun]

Not sure Collins would be my first choice in the 10 role. His passing has been abysmal recently, and he’s also our best finisher, so I kind of want him as close to goal as possible. Who to partner alongside him is another question. We definitely haven’t established any effective striking partnerships thus far.

Although Lolos is yet to show much in a Bolton shirt, I believe sitting behind the strikers is his ‘natural’ position, so I’d be inclined to give him another go. Thomason will almost certainly lock that role down going forward anyway.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

CBA starting a new thread but the Charlton home game on Sat 11 Jan has been postponed. They're in the Cup.

[TonyDomingos]

CBA starting a new thread but the Charlton home game on Sat 11 Jan has been postponed. They're in the Cup.

In the Cup because they hammered Walsall 0-4

[irie Cee Bee]

For me, Collins is our best player at the moment. His best role for me is as a striker coming in from wide. He plays best in a 2. As a 10, don't think so. Given Dempsey's absence, McATee may be our best option there with Charles and Collins ahead of him.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

CBA starting a new thread but the Charlton home game on Sat 11 Jan has been postponed. They're in the Cup.

In the Cup because they hammered Walsall 0-4

Ah really? We must've softened 'em up.

[TonyDomingos]

CBA starting a new thread but the Charlton home game on Sat 11 Jan has been postponed. They're in the Cup.

In the Cup because they hammered Walsall 0-4

Ah really? We must've softened 'em up.

I think you'll find it was the mighty Bromley who softened them up in midweek.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

CBA starting a new thread but the Charlton home game on Sat 11 Jan has been postponed. They're in the Cup.

In the Cup because they hammered Walsall 0-4

Ah really? We must've softened 'em up.

I think you'll find it was the mighty Bromley who softened them up in midweek.

Honestly, you sneak a fortnight off and the world turns upside down.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

the Charlton home game on Sat 11 Jan has been postponed.

Just realised this leaves us with a full two-week break in January after the Sat 4 trip to Exeter. And then we play 5 games in 15 days including trips to Rotherham, Huddersfield and Reading

[officer_dibble]

There appears to be scope to play the Rotherham game on the Saturday instead of a shitty Tuesday night. Think I have to go to that one.

[officer_dibble]

Cogley starts (of course he does)
Mcatee in the ‘10’
Charles dropped (can’t be tired we didn’t play at the weekend)
Sighs

[Worthy4England]

When did we sign Frankie Boyle to the commentary team? Well done, Ian!

Commentators.jpg (133.5 KiB) Viewed 1392 times

[officer_dibble]

I notice he has an orange beard, another Blackpool link

[Mar]

There appears to be scope to play the Rotherham game on the Saturday instead of a shitty Tuesday night. Think I have to go to that one.

Would make sense to put the Rotherham game to the 11th. Rotherham's fixture against Wycombe has been postponed due to them being in the cup, so would make sense for both us and Rotherham.

[Mar]

Decent line up.

Vic really needs to step up tonight if we're going to see the best of him. Getting to that part of his Bolton career where it's making the club make a decision on him.

[Worthy4England]

I notice he has an orange beard, another Blackpool link

Quite - proper pi$$ take.

[BorsdaneWhite]

I hesitate to ask—I’d normally be there, but have parents’ evening (currently an attritional draw)—but will there be a couch this evening?