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

[TANGODANCER]

I reckon Schon is the nearest thing we've had to a wing back since Fossey (who played a full back for Standard Liege). I don't expect agreement, but like Tom Jones said "that's not unusual."

[Worthy4England]

Didn't like Conor Bradley, TD?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Vic might not be a write-off:

He's seeing a really highly regarded knee specialist so we are waiting to see how that goes. Victor came into training and said he feels good, his knee feels strong, and Matt Barrass has checked it all out. We just need to have a second opinion now from the people who really know what they are looking for, so fingers crossed it isn’t too bad.

Geth would need an injection to play vs Brum. Schuey will look to rotate this week:

It is especially important in these three-game weeks as well that we do utilise the squad and keep everyone as fresh as possible, because we're asking the players to play at a real high intensity, so we've got to be able to manage that load.

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... ws-update/

[Mar]

Surely its not worth giving Geth the injection if we can avoid it. Same for risking Vic.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Surely its not worth giving Geth the injection if we can avoid it. Same for risking Vic.

I would agree. Not sure Vic is even in contention for tomorrow but it may not be season-ending surgery.

[BWFC_Insane]

Surely its not worth giving Geth the injection if we can avoid it. Same for risking Vic.

From the little bit said it sounds like could last a few weeks so might be a case of pain killing injection at some point anyway. Was said geth had this injury last season and needed pain killing injections to play through it.

[boltonboris]

I'm not sure I'd want a fit Jones squaring up against these tonight, never mind a beaten up one. Let him recover

[KeyserSoze]

Schuey has confirmed in his post match presser that Vic is out for the season and a portion of next.

[BWFC_Insane]

Schuey has confirmed in his post match presser that Vic is out for the season and a portion of next.

ACL. Not good.

[KeyserSoze]

Schuey has confirmed in his post match presser that Vic is out for the season and a portion of next.

ACL. Not good.

It seems mildly odd to go from 'yeah may be around next week you never know' to 'we will reconstruct the joint' but I suppose that's why I'm not a medical professional.

All the best to him in recovery.

[Worthy4England]

Vic mighta sneezed somewhere between the two statements. Good luck to him on recovery. He don't have much luck with injuries.

[BWFC_Insane]

Schuey has confirmed in his post match presser that Vic is out for the season and a portion of next.

ACL. Not good.

It seems mildly odd to go from 'yeah may be around next week you never know' to 'we will reconstruct the joint' but I suppose that's why I'm not a medical professional.

All the best to him in recovery.

The fact they were sending him to a knee surgeon suggested they felt something wasn’t entirely right. Sounds like he wasn’t in huge pain but sometimes that can mask the true extent.

[KeyserSoze]

Schuey has confirmed in his post match presser that Vic is out for the season and a portion of next.

ACL. Not good.

It seems mildly odd to go from 'yeah may be around next week you never know' to 'we will reconstruct the joint' but I suppose that's why I'm not a medical professional.

All the best to him in recovery.

The fact they were sending him to a knee surgeon suggested they felt something wasn’t entirely right. Sounds like he wasn’t in huge pain but sometimes that can mask the true extent.

Oh yeah for sure wasn't insinuating anything, clearly the right decision, more commenting on how it escalated as a curiosity rather than malpractice.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Poor Vic. And he'll be playing catchup again after Schuey's summer rebuild. (I see Blackpool loanee Niall Ennis has been shortlisted for Player of the Month.)

[The_Gun]

That’s a bummer regarding Vic.

Injuries would now be my primary concern when it comes to us making the playoffs. We’re incredibly light up top, and probably can’t risk playing Collins and Macca every single game.

[BWFC_Insane]

That’s a bummer regarding Vic.

Injuries would now be my primary concern when it comes to us making the playoffs. We’re incredibly light up top, and probably can’t risk playing Collins and Macca every single game.

Did have me wondering given how things have transpired - we are now serious contenders for the playoffs rather than outside bets - whether there is anyone in the free market who might do a job? Even if that job is just 20 minutes to let AC or JM rest. I mean anyone on a free will be far from ready so I’m guessing the and we will be a no and Schuey likely would have moved in that direction earlier if he felt need or there was anything worth pursuing.

But Etete being injured and Vic now done feels like a bad place to be in that one particular regard. Other areas of the squad seem to be strengthening with players returning.

I’m guessing Lolos is now a striker.

[The_Gun]

That’s a bummer regarding Vic.

Injuries would now be my primary concern when it comes to us making the playoffs. We’re incredibly light up top, and probably can’t risk playing Collins and Macca every single game.

Did have me wondering given how things have transpired - we are now serious contenders for the playoffs rather than outside bets - whether there is anyone in the free market who might do a job? Even if that job is just 20 minutes to let AC or JM rest. I mean anyone on a free will be far from ready so I’m guessing the and we will be a no and Schuey likely would have moved in that direction earlier if he felt need or there was anything worth pursuing.

But Etete being injured and Vic now done feels like a bad place to be in that one particular regard. Other areas of the squad seem to be strengthening with players returning.

I’m guessing Lolos is now a striker.

Yeah if there are any free agent strikers who are in very good shape then they’d surely be worth a look, but it seems unlikely.

The other option would be calling someone up from the Bs.

[TANGODANCER]

Regarding Etete, where exactly is he at? Seems awfully quiet. We could use another big striker

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Yeah if there are any free agent strikers who are in very good shape then they’d surely be worth a look, but it seems unlikely.

The other option would be calling someone up from the Bs.

On the other hand...

Whether we play three of four at the back, Schumacher seems to prefer "two behind one" up top - at least to start - sometimes we throw more men forward generally if we need to, but the formation usually ends in a 1. (Even if you can argue it's a 4-2-3-1, which to me sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't, that's still 1 up top.)

Currently vying for those support slots are: Collins, Osei-Tutu, CMG, Schon, Randall and Lolos, with Matete also an option (according to Schumacher himself) as a high ball-retriever - and Dempsey now back in training, albeit non-contact. Meanwhile, Schumacher appears to quietly conducting a full audit of his squad - and being impressed with what he finds. We're finally starting to play like the sum of our parts.

As for no.9, McAtee is in the box seat and chipping in goals and assists, but I think it's possible we might see Lolos coming on for the end of games, or Collins flicking up top while one of the parade of 10s comes on.

Obviously if injury strikes it becomes different, but if you think there's only one slot to fill, it becomes less worrying. Not many three-game weeks left after this burst, either.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Regarding Etete, where exactly is he at? Seems awfully quiet. We could use another big striker

https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/2 ... -loan-man/

“I think he should have enough games to make an impact, it just depends what physical condition he can come back in and how quick he can get himself up to speed.

“Now, he hasn't played any football really all season. The initial plan when we signed him, and obviously it was one day in the job for me when we signed him, was to not throw him in the deep end straight away and to keep trying to get him to slowly increase his match fitness.

“We did that and he came on for 20 minutes at Reading and unfortunately in the training week the very next week he tore his thigh, so we didn't get a chance really to build his fitness up.

“So that will have to be the case again when he does come back and he returns with the group - to build him up slowly and throw him on for 10-15 minutes here and there and try and get him to get that endurance and that robustness.

“But, yes, there probably still is time, and there's still no doubt that he's a good player. He's just got to get himself right, so hopefully he can make an impact.”