Bolton - Leeds

[Hoboh]

Pleased we didn't lose upset the fooker will get another game!

It's cold it's damp at least we have not fallen much further away from the play offs so all is not totally lost just yet.

Owen man up and feck off tomorrow lose the next and we are truly up shit creek!

[Ianmooreslovechild]

Not sure why a guy, regardless of age and who's never injured, who banged two in tonight (and let's face it, what are our scoring options?) should come off the bench. In favour of who up front? He can't go on forever I agree, but till we get a goalscorer up front, what options?

Because TD his presence on the pitch dictates our one dimensional method of play. It negates so many oyther options & other playes. It makes us predictable. It defines us and it limits us.

However well he plays, overall it detracts from our overall performance.

That is not KDs fault. The team should be mixing up the play.Just because KD is up top they do not have to knock it long. It should be an option not a mantra and it's down to the manager to get the team mixing it up.

[plymouth wanderer]

Not sure why a guy, regardless of age and who's never injured, who banged two in tonight (and let's face it, what are our scoring options?) should come off the bench. In favour of who up front? He can't go on forever I agree, but till we get a goalscorer up front, what options?

Because TD his presence on the pitch dictates our one dimensional method of play. It negates so many oyther options & other playes. It makes us predictable. It defines us and it limits us.

However well he plays, overall it detracts from our overall performance.

It's a weird one

I to think he should't be starting and we should be coming away from the hoofball style after all that is what this prick said he wanted to do

But with out SKD goals so far we'd be in fvcking trouble

Bottom line is coyle has't a clue so get rid

[officer_dibble]

Petrov on the right

[boltonboris]

We played quite well. There I said it. First half especially, we got the ball down and carved them open. Second half we looked nervous, which is to be expected when every touch that isn't perfect is met with boos and jeers.

[TANGODANCER]

Either we've conceeded 4 penalties in 4 games because there's a conspiracy against us or we coz we have defenders who can't run playing a line up near the half way line. Brum, ball in behind recovery run and 'foul' by Alonso. Palace ball down the wing, knight one on one, done for pace, tried recovery run penalty. Tonight, ball in behind, recovery run penalty. I was still inside and saw it on the screen. I can see why he gave it. Might be soft but we'd have been going mad if we hadn't got it. I wouldn't mind, but if you want to play tippy tappy you want to be playing deeper anyway to draw them out!

First half an hour was fantastic, and showed we've got good players in there. Their right back is supposedly highly rated but Eagles made him look pish. Eagles was ace. Then conceded from a poor set piece (if I Lonergan I'd be knocking on the (hopefully new) managers door). Second half was typically pish. Then brought Petrov on and stuck him on the fecking right! On purpose! At one point he and Eagles drifted to their natural sides and the daft f*cker waved them back. Unreal!

Since I only heard the game, what's your rating of the players tonight Pru?

[Ianmooreslovechild]

Either we've conceeded 4 penalties in 4 games because there's a conspiracy against us or we coz we have defenders who can't run playing a line up near the half way line. Brum, ball in behind recovery run and 'foul' by Alonso. Palace ball down the wing, knight one on one, done for pace, tried recovery run penalty. Tonight, ball in behind, recovery run penalty. I was still inside and saw it on the screen. I can see why he gave it. Might be soft but we'd have been going mad if we hadn't got it. I wouldn't mind, but if you want to play tippy tappy you want to be playing deeper anyway to draw them out!

First half an hour was fantastic, and showed we've got good players in there. Their right back is supposedly highly rated but Eagles made him look pish. Eagles was ace. Then conceded from a poor set piece (if I Lonergan I'd be knocking on the (hopefully new) managers door). Second half was typically pish. Then brought Petrov on and stuck him on the fecking right! On purpose! At one point he and Eagles drifted to their natural sides and the daft f*cker waved them back. Unreal!

I've never understood this tactic even when we did have a cenrte back with pace. I assume coyle believe it helps us to compress the opposition and maintain pressure but that theory doesnt work as we cant keep the ball and frequently our midfield dont press and chase down effectively.

With the players we have defending deeper would create running space for the likes of eagles petrov and mavis and would make it harder for teams to break at pace on us.

[Prufrock]

First half we played really well. For half an hour anyway. There are plenty wankers in the crowd but I'm not having that as an excuse for a professional footballer just aimlessly twatting it forward. They'd get more sympathy if they f*cked it up showing some backbone and trying to get it down.

TD the reason SKD shouldn't be starting is because he can't run. I'm not going to knock him, he doesn't pick himself and he has had good games this year, today as well. However we are at our best when the likes of Eagles get at teams between midfield and defence. That doesn't happen (considering we can't actually play ourselves) unless you have folk running in behind. Otherwise their defence just stand five yards behind their midfield and there is no space.

A proper manager would not have them playing such a high line. He'd pick a team that gave us at least width OR depth, preferably both. He'd not shove a bloke whose only attribute is knocking it down the line and whipping it in with his dream of a left foot on the fecking right wing. At least he picked the same back four for two games in a row...

Lonergan

Mears/Ricketts - Ricketts/Mills - Knight - Warnock

---------Spearing-------Andrews-------

Lee/Eagles-------------Eagles/Mavies--------Petrov/Eagles

-------------------N'Goggers-------------------------------

And stick with it. And stop them defending so high. And when we lost it, if you can't win it back straight away, get behind the ball, get organised and don't concede. When you do have it don't aimlessly nice person it forward. Move it about, at pace, and try to get our attacking players one on one. If you can't keep it, and try again.

[CAPSLOCK]

Not sure why a guy, regardless of age and who's never injured, who banged two in tonight (and let's face it, what are our scoring options?) should come off the bench. In favour of who up front? He can't go on forever I agree, but till we get a goalscorer up front, what options?

Because TD his presence on the pitch dictates our one dimensional method of play. It negates so many oyther options & other playes. It makes us predictable. It defines us and it limits us.

However well he plays, overall it detracts from our overall performance.

That is not KDs fault. The team should be mixing up the play.Just because KD is up top they do not have to knock it long. It should be an option not a mantra and it's down to the manager to get the team mixing it up.

They do if he offers no other options

Get him benched

The two he scored tonight, he could have scored if he was playing right back

He offers nowt in open play

Carthorse

[Worthy4England]

First half we played really well. For half an hour anyway. There are plenty wankers in the crowd but I'm not having that as an excuse for a professional footballer just aimlessly twatting it forward. They'd get more sympathy if they f*cked it up showing some backbone and trying to get it down.

TD the reason SKD shouldn't be starting is because he can't run. I'm not going to knock him, he doesn't pick himself and he has had good games this year, today as well. However we are at our best when the likes of Eagles get at teams between midfield and defence. That doesn't happen (considering we can't actually play ourselves) unless you have folk running in behind. Otherwise their defence just stand five yards behind their midfield and there is no space.

A proper manager would not have them playing such a high line. He'd pick a team that gave us at least width OR depth, preferably both. He'd not shove a bloke whose only attribute is knocking it down the line and whipping it in with his dream of a left foot on the fecking right wing. At least he picked the same back four for two games in a row...

Lonergan

Mears/Ricketts - Ricketts/Mills - Knight - Warnock

---------Spearing-------Andrews-------

Lee/Eagles-------------Eagles/Mavies--------Petrov/Eagles

-------------------N'Goggers-------------------------------

And stick with it. And stop them defending so high. And when we lost it, if you can't win it back straight away, get behind the ball, get organised and don't concede. When you do have it don't aimlessly tw*t it forward. Move it about, at pace, and try to get our attacking players one on one. If you can't keep it, and try again.

Didn't see tonight's match, but the high line thing - we seemed to try that last season a few games (high, as in, on the half way line). Both CD's got caught out a number of times (Wheater/Knight) as they've both got a turning circle like the QE2. Think Wheater got sent off in one match? and booked in another, because he doesn't have the pace to deal with it.

Coyle (still) out!

[CAPSLOCK]

Lonergan

Mears/Ricketts - Ricketts/Mills - Knight - Warnock

---------Spearing-------Andrews-------

Lee/Eagles-------------Eagles/Mavies--------Petrov/Eagles

-------------------N'Goggers-------------------------------

I'd be talking to Bogdan and finding out where his head is

If he's OK, I'd stick with him

I'd stick with Mears for now and give him a chance playing in a sensible formation, which oddly enough is exactly what you've got, and even more oddly, with the same personnel

Mills is growing on me, so he stays in - Ricketts can wait

For now Eagles would get the attacking MF spot, ahead of Davies

Just a change of manager

[BWFC_Insane]

Pru has nailed the system and team we should be playing.

Tonight was another example of how once our initial bluster wore out we couldnt control the game, couldn't defend, had no pattern or shape and resorted to lumping it.

Crowd was about as disinterested as I can remember. Goals barely celebrated. It just feels like sleepwalking our way to oblivion.

Wakey Wakey Gartside!

[89bwfc89]

I thought Mears had a much better game tonight, seemed to want the ball more and looked more confident.

I'm a big fan of Eagles and Spearing.

I've really wanted Sordell to have a chance, I'll be honest, he was some kind of "wonder kid" in my head. He really peed me off tonight, Eagles had a proper go at one point (rightly so) and he just put his head down and put in even less effort, in my opinion.

Agree with Insane re the crowd, I still go mad and jump around when we score, people were looking at me like I was mad!

[Prufrock]

Either we've conceeded 4 penalties in 4 games because there's a conspiracy against us or we coz we have defenders who can't run playing a line up near the half way line. Brum, ball in behind recovery run and 'foul' by Alonso. Palace ball down the wing, knight one on one, done for pace, tried recovery run penalty. Tonight, ball in behind, recovery run penalty. I was still inside and saw it on the screen. I can see why he gave it. Might be soft but we'd have been going mad if we hadn't got it. I wouldn't mind, but if you want to play tippy tappy you want to be playing deeper anyway to draw them out!

First half an hour was fantastic, and showed we've got good players in there. Their right back is supposedly highly rated but Eagles made him look pish. Eagles was ace. Then conceded from a poor set piece (if I Lonergan I'd be knocking on the (hopefully new) managers door). Second half was typically pish. Then brought Petrov on and stuck him on the fecking right! On purpose! At one point he and Eagles drifted to their natural sides and the daft f*cker waved them back. Unreal!

Since I only heard the game, what's your rating of the players tonight Pru?

Bogdan. Soo unconvincing. As Diouf rocked up to take the free kick he was stood kicking his near post, it looked in frustration at the wall, as it came across he took one step back towards the middle then watched them nod it in. I don't know if he could have got there, but he never gave himself a chance. Also came, went back, came again and got nowhere near in the first half and they probably should have scored. Defenders don't seem to have confidence in him. I still think he could be a good 'un, but I think he needs taking out of the firing line for a bit. Did massively improve in the second half in fairness, and was commanding coming getting things. Nowt he could do for the pen. 6

Mears- Looked much better going forward, positive. Bit unimaginitive without space to run into, just nice people it forward, but it is difficult when you don't have anyone in front of you as Davies drifts inside. Defensively not convinced. Gives fouls away constantly and just goes wandering off. Not terrible by any means though. 6

Mills- Must admit I thought he'd given the penalty away but others have said it was Warnock. Assuming so - much better on the ball, at least tried to go forward before aimlessly twatting it. I don't mind AS much when centre-halves play it safe particularly if the ball is coming at speed. Got lambasted by the crowd for clearing one in the first half that came at him low, at speed from midfield with no time to look around. Harsh. Seconds later, the Leeds defence having twatted Mills' clearance high, high towards Knight in acres, no-one around, time to look he headed it off to no-one. Knight got lambasted. Fair(er). Handled Becchio well I thought. So so slow, but not his fault if they're being told to play as high a line as they must be. 7

Knight- Hard to blame him. Struggles so much with balls down the channel and does not like coming out wide. Can't help it though. Had a horror moment when he made a similar tackle to Saturday but thankfully missed man AND ball this time. Looks so comfortable when the opposition are reduced to lumping it forward. 7

Warnock- Enthusiastic, wants to link with his winger. Energetic. Did OK. If he did give the penalty away he was the only one tracking but did look clumsy. 7

Spearing- He and Andrews bossed it first half an hour. Had more than a few wobbles with first touch and attempted clearances but he does protect the space in front of the back four well. Late on Diouf but didn't look that bad until the cartwheel following. Presume he was subbed coz he'd been booked...7

Andrews- Best game yet, though not stellar. Tidy and efficient first half, kept it ticking over with Spearing. Probably should have done better when he got forward in the first half and drew a decent save from Kenny. Drifted out second half as things went over his head. Another one guilty of hiding behind an aimless punt rather than trying to get it down. 6

Mavies- Anonymous out on the wing, again. Did well to make space for Mears down that wing but never in it himself. Moved inside second half and got more involved. One of the few who at least showed for the ball when moved inside in the second half. Didn't really ever get it in a position where he could hurt them, but that was more to do with where he was playing. 6

Eagles- Best player on the pitch. Positive, ran at their right back, went inside, went outside, hit the post with a beauty of a shot in the first half, drew another good save from Kenny. Everything good we did came from him, including set piece delivery. 9.

Kev- Did what was asked of him. Probably next best after Eagles. Took them both really well, won his headers. Got booked. Fairly standard. 8

Afobe- Better than I was expecting but not great. Looked willing at least Ran the channels fairly well, but missed an absolute sitter. 6

Subs: Petrov- What the feck was he doing on the right wing?! When finally moved left he tried to stick early balls into the box. His delivery was generally pish though. Did get one right though, and that was the corner for Kev's second. 6

Sordell: So short of confidence. Got a bollocking from Eagles from not chasing a Kev flick on but he'd pulled off his marker well and they just weren't on the same wavelength. Not one to run in behind. I'm not sure where he fits in. 6

[Harry Genshaw]

I thought the game sort of summed things up nicely. We are capable of playing some really good stuff and tonight we should have been out of sight after 30 minutes. First 30 minutes of the 2nd half we looked ponderous and bereft of ideas before a good last 10 minutes when we could have won it. of course, we still nearly lost it with almost the last kick of the game when they walked through our defence and hit the bar.

SKD - I just dont get the negative opinion on him. He holds the ball up well and works his bollox off like he always has done but now he's scoring goals as well. What more do folk want? If some of our lesser footballers resort to playing the easy lump it approach then its up to Coyle to get through to them - not drop one of the few goal threats we have.

Eagles was excellent tonight. For me Mark Davies went missing again too often. I just cant decide whether its him or the system.

[officer_dibble]

Coyle hasnt got a fckingclue what to do with mark davies, harry.

[Prufrock]

Either we've conceeded 4 penalties in 4 games because there's a conspiracy against us or we coz we have defenders who can't run playing a line up near the half way line. Brum, ball in behind recovery run and 'foul' by Alonso. Palace ball down the wing, knight one on one, done for pace, tried recovery run penalty. Tonight, ball in behind, recovery run penalty. I was still inside and saw it on the screen. I can see why he gave it. Might be soft but we'd have been going mad if we hadn't got it. I wouldn't mind, but if you want to play tippy tappy you want to be playing deeper anyway to draw them out!

First half an hour was fantastic, and showed we've got good players in there. Their right back is supposedly highly rated but Eagles made him look pish. Eagles was ace. Then conceded from a poor set piece (if I Lonergan I'd be knocking on the (hopefully new) managers door). Second half was typically pish. Then brought Petrov on and stuck him on the fecking right! On purpose! At one point he and Eagles drifted to their natural sides and the daft f*cker waved them back. Unreal!

I've never understood this tactic even when we did have a cenrte back with pace. I assume coyle believe it helps us to compress the opposition and maintain pressure but that theory doesnt work as we cant keep the ball and frequently our midfield dont press and chase down effectively.

With the players we have defending deeper would create running space for the likes of eagles petrov and mavis and would make it harder for teams to break at pace on us.

To press teams high up the pitch you need to be ludicrously well-organised. First thing you need is constant pressure on the ball. If you give the other teams midfielders time they'll pick you off with easy balls down the channels or wide through the gap in the centre halves. Even with all the pressure in the world it helps to have pace at the back too for any hopefull balls knocked around the corner. And ideally a confident keeper who'll come flying out to clear any sloppy ones. We have none of that. We do have two big strong centre halves and two capable of sitting in front of them. Can't get behind, can't get through the middle, much more solid.

[Prufrock]

First half we played really well. For half an hour anyway. There are plenty wankers in the crowd but I'm not having that as an excuse for a professional footballer just aimlessly twatting it forward. They'd get more sympathy if they f*cked it up showing some backbone and trying to get it down.

TD the reason SKD shouldn't be starting is because he can't run. I'm not going to knock him, he doesn't pick himself and he has had good games this year, today as well. However we are at our best when the likes of Eagles get at teams between midfield and defence. That doesn't happen (considering we can't actually play ourselves) unless you have folk running in behind. Otherwise their defence just stand five yards behind their midfield and there is no space.

A proper manager would not have them playing such a high line. He'd pick a team that gave us at least width OR depth, preferably both. He'd not shove a bloke whose only attribute is knocking it down the line and whipping it in with his dream of a left foot on the fecking right wing. At least he picked the same back four for two games in a row...

Lonergan

Mears/Ricketts - Ricketts/Mills - Knight - Warnock

---------Spearing-------Andrews-------

Lee/Eagles-------------Eagles/Mavies--------Petrov/Eagles

-------------------N'Goggers-------------------------------

And stick with it. And stop them defending so high. And when we lost it, if you can't win it back straight away, get behind the ball, get organised and don't concede. When you do have it don't aimlessly tw*t it forward. Move it about, at pace, and try to get our attacking players one on one. If you can't keep it, and try again.

Didn't see tonight's match, but the high line thing - we seemed to try that last season a few games (high, as in, on the half way line). Both CD's got caught out a number of times (Wheater/Knight) as they've both got a turning circle like the QE2. Think Wheater got sent off in one match? and booked in another, because he doesn't have the pace to deal with it.

Coyle (still) out!

A few games? All the time. We got away with it, in fact credit where due, we played it well, when we had Holden and Muamba harrying teams in midfield and Cahill's pace at the back. Mills might even be slower than Wheater. It's mental!

[Ianmooreslovechild]

Either we've conceeded 4 penalties in 4 games because there's a conspiracy against us or we coz we have defenders who can't run playing a line up near the half way line. Brum, ball in behind recovery run and 'foul' by Alonso. Palace ball down the wing, knight one on one, done for pace, tried recovery run penalty. Tonight, ball in behind, recovery run penalty. I was still inside and saw it on the screen. I can see why he gave it. Might be soft but we'd have been going mad if we hadn't got it. I wouldn't mind, but if you want to play tippy tappy you want to be playing deeper anyway to draw them out!

First half an hour was fantastic, and showed we've got good players in there. Their right back is supposedly highly rated but Eagles made him look pish. Eagles was ace. Then conceded from a poor set piece (if I Lonergan I'd be knocking on the (hopefully new) managers door). Second half was typically pish. Then brought Petrov on and stuck him on the fecking right! On purpose! At one point he and Eagles drifted to their natural sides and the daft f*cker waved them back. Unreal!

I've never understood this tactic even when we did have a cenrte back with pace. I assume coyle believe it helps us to compress the opposition and maintain pressure but that theory doesnt work as we cant keep the ball and frequently our midfield dont press and chase down effectively.

With the players we have defending deeper would create running space for the likes of eagles petrov and mavis and would make it harder for teams to break at pace on us.

To press teams high up the pitch you need to be ludicrously well-organised. First thing you need is constant pressure on the ball. If you give the other teams midfielders time they'll pick you off with easy balls down the channels or wide through the gap in the centre halves. Even with all the pressure in the world it helps to have pace at the back too for any hopefull balls knocked around the corner. And ideally a confident keeper who'll come flying out to clear any sloppy ones. We have none of that. We do have two big strong centre halves and two capable of sitting in front of them. Can't get behind, can't get through the middle, much more solid.

It's one of the areas were Jussi did excel mopping up behind a high line. We did seem to play it most of last season.Cahills pace got him out of jail at times as did Jussis anticipation but it still left us vulnerable and IMO made cahill look poorer defensively than he is. There were comments when he went to chelsea that implied the system we were using made him look suspect. Now we have even slower defenders it makes even less sense.

[50sQuiff]

Well that could've been worse!

Just to pick one vignette from the game, did anyone notice how Eagles and Petrov contrived an excuse to return to their proper wings, only for The Wanker to tell them to switch back? After Petrov had languished on the right for ten minutes or so Eagles made a mad charge across the pitch for a completely lost cause. He got nowhere near the ball but managed to park himself on the right as a consequence. At the same time Petrov skulked over to the left. After a few minutes Coyle took umbrage, gestured appropriately and they sheepishly swapped back. Finally Coyle relented and we looked like scoring once the two players were back in their natural positions.