Dem Bones, Dem Bones, Dem Bare Bones....

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I see the Rotherham fixture set for this Saturday has been rearranged for the 21st January. Both ourselves and Rotherham were knocked out of the FA cup leaving the 30th November an available date for the fixture.

Maybe the reasoning behind this date is to make it easier for fans to plan, but in terms of making it more accessible, surely a 3pm kick off would benefit us in November rather than a winter month.

Perhaps we're hoping we'll be able to improve between now and January.

Either way, this doesn't seem sensible to stockpile fixtures later in the season when we've got a free Saturday ready to go.

Rotherham are in shit form - 12pts from last 10 games - with key injuries. They won't have wanted to play it, and both clubs need to agree. I strongly suspect that after Saturday's shellacking we've agreed to wait. I think that might be a sensible decision.

What's perhaps worse is that we're now going to Rotherham four days before a lunchtime trip to Huddersfield, and I suspect both those sides will strengthen in January. (Related, it also means we've got another fixture in the final third of the transfer window, which doesn't help get things done.)

[officer_dibble]

Both mangers under pressure and trying to keep as low a crowd as possible

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Toal & Demps back on the grass but probz not available this side of Santa.

“Kyle and Eoin have just started back on the grass in their build-up to returning, but they are probably still three weeks away.”

[Mar]

Toal & Demps back on the grass but probz not available this side of Santa.

“Kyle and Eoin have just started back on the grass in their build-up to returning, but they are probably still three weeks away.”

That's an early Christmas present that is. Shame it comes a week too late. Those two would've been decent contributors against the Wigan and Wycombe fixtures.

[boltonboris]

Toal & Demps back on the grass but probz not available this side of Santa.

“Kyle and Eoin have just started back on the grass in their build-up to returning, but they are probably still three weeks away.”

That's an early Christmas present that is. Shame it comes a week too late. Those two would've been decent contributors against the Wigan and Wycombe defeats.

Fixed it for you

[Mar]

Toal & Demps back on the grass but probz not available this side of Santa.

“Kyle and Eoin have just started back on the grass in their build-up to returning, but they are probably still three weeks away.”

That's an early Christmas present that is. Shame it comes a week too late. Those two would've been decent contributors against the Wigan and Wycombe defeats.

Fixed it for you

Oddly enough, I wouldn't put it past Evatt to win the match against Wigan and Wycombe but still end up leaving us outside the play offs come Christmas. Almost like he's showing signs of improvement but not fully delivering enough to actually make it count.

[officer_dibble]

If we beat Wigan I’ll eat my hat baked in a pie!

[TANGODANCER]

If we beat Wigan I’ll eat my hat baked in a pie!

Oh dear Officer, You are beginning to make Insaney sound like a fan..

[Mar]

If we beat Wigan I’ll eat my hat baked in a pie!

We'll have to hold you to that. What type of crust do you prefer?

We came dominant last time and managed to throw it away. We could do similar similar this time and not be as crap in front of goal.

[The_Gun]

Good news for Insano, as Evatt confirms that Sheehan is injured and will miss the next 2-3 weeks…

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Good news for Insano, as Evatt confirms that Sheehan is injured and will miss the next 2-3 weeks…

McAtee as ersatz midfielder again, then.

Also no cover at centre-back until the new year, unless we count JDC.

Not quite down to the bones of the arse but we've got 7 games in 26 days starting tomorrow....

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... team-news/

[Mar]

Not sure what is going on at Peterborough, but that's them losing to relegation threatened Northampton, and here was me thinking we had a hangover from the play offs.

[officer_dibble]

Also no cover at centre-back until the new year, unless we count JDC.

Is Forester broken again then?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Also no cover at centre-back until the new year, unless we count JDC.

Is Forester broken again then?

ha yeah judging by Stockport….

[Worthy4England]

I know we've spun this wheel before, but when we're going through the "big spreadsheet of footballers attributes," is ability to cough without needing a month off about 300th on the list?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I know we've spun this wheel before, but when we're going through the "big spreadsheet of footballers attributes," is ability to cough without needing a month off about 300th on the list?

Heh! Evatt specifically said of Osei-Tutu “The reason we have got a player of that quality and calibre, who was playing in the Bundesliga two years ago, is because there is a bit of a history in terms of injuries."

Last summer, same position, we decided not to proceed with Kane Wilson, and he played in 41 league games last term (even if he only lasted the 90 on 15 occasions). I guess they're all calculated gambles.

I make it Sheehan is our fifth hamstring injuury this season, after Arfield (briefly), Thomason, Toal and Forino. Baxter's thigh problem was also muscular. Those could add up to an environmental concern (overtraining? on heavy pitches?). The knee injuries that have kept out Jones, JOT and Dempsey might be more down to bad luck, as might Lolos's attacked ankle and CMG's achilles tear, while the injuries to Forrester (falling downstairs) and Victor (sneezing) are surely in the all-time clickbait top 10.

[officer_dibble]

Forrester has missed a lot of his career here and has gone from promising to probably being written off as a result. That Stockport performance was atrocious- he was up against an excellent player at this level but he was abysmal. And Jones has come back and he’s not had a minute since.

Forino looks a complete waste of time. Had a history of injuries, signed injured, got fit then got injured.

Schon and McAtee have been (touch wood) the best of the summers business for being available. Matete has been good as well Albeit it took him a while to get up to speed with how we play.

Tutu all we keep being told is he can’t be risked to start - so that’s half a season he’s not been available to start. Which doesn’t look like good business to me, although he looks a good player.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Forrester has missed a lot of his career here and has gone from promising to probably being written off as a result. That Stockport performance was atrocious- he was up against an excellent player at this level but he was abysmal. And Jones has come back and he’s not had a minute since.

According to my records, Forrester 'only' missed about four weeks last season. Before an injury (hamstring, of course) in January cost him three of those weeks, he was in the matchday squad 30 times – but after January he slipped behind Caleb Taylor and rarely featured.

It's felt like he's always been behind (a rotating combination of) Santos, Toal, Johnston, Geth and Iredale. Possibly Forino, although the two have never been fit at the same time, which tells its own tale. We signed him for promise, he hasn't fully kicked on, it happens. Whether he was worth the fee we paid Vale, that's for fans to argue about and the signings committee to take note of.

Wouldn't surprise me if he left on loan next month - he's contracted until 2026 so he could do with a strong spell elsewhere to convince us he's worth it. If he doesn't, he's probably among the closest to a permanent exit. Note we bid (per Iles) for Liam Cooper in the last window, although TBF by the window's end we had Forrester, Jones and Toal all injured.

[Worthy4England]

I look at our squad and there's prolly 8 of 'em you wouldn't notice had gone...

Coleman
Forrester
Matheson
Hutchinson
Morley
Arfield
CMG
N'lundulu

Prolly unfair on Morley and CMG for different reasons.

But the if you look at "should start"

Baxter
Santos
Johnson
Schon
Thomo
Sheehan
Demps
Dion


Then a few very debateables...

Not overly brilliant. We need a good Jan to set us up for next season.

[officer_dibble]

But like you said the transfer window spreadhseet needs a reset - injury proneness and leadership/bottle/character need adding in for me.

Baxter and Santos will be off as well so we will be looking for replacements.