The six fingered Clarets

[boltonboris]

I don't think it would have been bad luck if we'd lost. We played awfully and their fans will probably be cursing their luck that they lost. If we'd been down by three of four goals by 60 minutes, it wouldn't have been an unfair reflection on how bad we were.

I don't like fans booing, and I wouldn't do it myself, but the frustration was justified.

Burnley had 2 shots on target. How do you come to the conclusion Burnley were unlucky? Even if they had scored the 2 on target they still wouldn't have won. We had 18 shots off and 8 on.

I didn't say that Burnley were unlucky, I meant that our performance was so woeful, it was deserving of a hammering. A good side would have embarrassed us.

We simply can't afford to play that bad anymore. A complete lack of cohesion defensively, lacking structure throughout the team, no supply for the striker...it was a complete mess. I don't think a rating of 2/10 would have been unfair for the first hour.

Thankfully, Burnley were useless too.

Could you explain a lack of structure? And a lack of defensive cohesion?

Cos I thought we were pretty solid, and had a decent shape and apart from individual mistakes we defended well.

I rarely felt worried that Burnley were about to score.

"Structure" isn't just defensive you know? Where was the attacking structure? Where was the balance between midfield and attack? Where was the cohesion? Where was this defensive nous on set pieces?

[boltonboris]

I don't think we were "solid" either... They got behind us numerous times and only some last ditch blocks and clearances stopped us conceding more. We're not good defensively. In fact, we're still shit defensively.

[Bruce Rioja]

How about not waiting until we're a goal down until we take the game to the opposition? We were at home and we needed to win. We'd won 2 out of the previous 10 games prior to Saturday. His cautious nature is contributing to the problem.

Pretty much what me and the bloke next to me were saying on Saturday. We're at home in a must-win game yet are inviting the visitors onto a defence that can't defend. Of course, he was always going to switch to 4-4-2 at some point but ended doing it out of necessity. For him to stand, chest puffed out, in front of the television cameras claiming some sort of tactical masterstroke, and, for him to come out with his "That's why I'm here, to make the big decisions" was, quite frankly, an insult to the intelligence of the supporter.

[BWFC_Insane]

How about not waiting until we're a goal down until we take the game to the opposition? We were at home and we needed to win. We'd won 2 out of the previous 10 games prior to Saturday. His cautious nature is contributing to the problem.

Pretty much what me and the bloke next to me were saying on Saturday. We're at home in a must-win game yet are inviting the visitors onto a defence that can't defend. Of course, he was always going to switch to 4-4-2 at some point but ended doing it out of necessity. For him to stand, chest puffed out, in front of the television cameras claiming some sort of tactical masterstroke, and, for him to come out with his "That's why I'm here, to make the big decisions" was, quite frankly, an insult to the intelligence of the supporter.

Yeah why doesn't he just play four four two from the outset like the last guy did, cos that always worked out so well......oh.....

[Bruce Rioja]

How about not waiting until we're a goal down until we take the game to the opposition? We were at home and we needed to win. We'd won 2 out of the previous 10 games prior to Saturday. His cautious nature is contributing to the problem.

Pretty much what me and the bloke next to me were saying on Saturday. We're at home in a must-win game yet are inviting the visitors onto a defence that can't defend. Of course, he was always going to switch to 4-4-2 at some point but ended doing it out of necessity. For him to stand, chest puffed out, in front of the television cameras claiming some sort of tactical masterstroke, and, for him to come out with his "That's why I'm here, to make the big decisions" was, quite frankly, an insult to the intelligence of the supporter.

Yeah why doesn't he just play four four two from the outset like the last guy did, cos that always worked out so well......oh.....

Well that depends who you play in that formation. So stop talking shite.

[boltonboris]

How about not waiting until we're a goal down until we take the game to the opposition? We were at home and we needed to win. We'd won 2 out of the previous 10 games prior to Saturday. His cautious nature is contributing to the problem.

Pretty much what me and the bloke next to me were saying on Saturday. We're at home in a must-win game yet are inviting the visitors onto a defence that can't defend. Of course, he was always going to switch to 4-4-2 at some point but ended doing it out of necessity. For him to stand, chest puffed out, in front of the television cameras claiming some sort of tactical masterstroke, and, for him to come out with his "That's why I'm here, to make the big decisions" was, quite frankly, an insult to the intelligence of the supporter.

Yeah why doesn't he just play four four two from the outset like the last guy did, cos that always worked out so well......oh.....

If he's a master of defensive shape, discipline and defensive nous, then why can't he field a 442?? If it was a shambles, wouldn't that make him a bit like the last bloke? 4-4-2 isn't a shit formation if the managers half decent

[ChrisC]

I don't think it would have been bad luck if we'd lost. We played awfully and their fans will probably be cursing their luck that they lost. If we'd been down by three of four goals by 60 minutes, it wouldn't have been an unfair reflection on how bad we were.

I don't like fans booing, and I wouldn't do it myself, but the frustration was justified.

Burnley had 2 shots on target. How do you come to the conclusion Burnley were unlucky? Even if they had scored the 2 on target they still wouldn't have won. We had 18 shots off and 8 on.

I didn't say that Burnley were unlucky, I meant that our performance was so woeful, it was deserving of a hammering. A good side would have embarrassed us.

We simply can't afford to play that bad anymore. A complete lack of cohesion defensively, lacking structure throughout the team, no supply for the striker...it was a complete mess. I don't think a rating of 2/10 would have been unfair for the first hour.

Thankfully, Burnley were useless too.

How is that not saying Burnley were unlucky?

[TKIZ!]

Let's be honest since BSA we've always 'invited' the opposition on to us at home, even in the games we won we still had a very low percentage of possession.

[BWFC_Insane]

How about not waiting until we're a goal down until we take the game to the opposition? We were at home and we needed to win. We'd won 2 out of the previous 10 games prior to Saturday. His cautious nature is contributing to the problem.

Pretty much what me and the bloke next to me were saying on Saturday. We're at home in a must-win game yet are inviting the visitors onto a defence that can't defend. Of course, he was always going to switch to 4-4-2 at some point but ended doing it out of necessity. For him to stand, chest puffed out, in front of the television cameras claiming some sort of tactical masterstroke, and, for him to come out with his "That's why I'm here, to make the big decisions" was, quite frankly, an insult to the intelligence of the supporter.

Yeah why doesn't he just play four four two from the outset like the last guy did, cos that always worked out so well......oh.....

Well that depends who you play in that formation. So stop talking shite.

And out of our fit midfield players on Saturday, which do you think he should have played in a 4-4-2?

I think this is Dougies biggest problem. Bolton fans are obsessed with 4-4-fecking 2 despite Coyle's determination to show how playing that week in week in ends unless you have an absolutely worldie central midfield.

Sure there are times you have to go two up. But almost every time we've gone two up front from the start we've lost. Sheff Weds at home springs to mind.

There was nowt wrong with the system. Our wide players and Eagles weren't on form, created nowt for Sordell. We changed it, but actually played a similar system with Ngog operating behind Craig Davies as Eagles was before.

[Sponge]

How about not waiting until we're a goal down until we take the game to the opposition? We were at home and we needed to win. We'd won 2 out of the previous 10 games prior to Saturday. His cautious nature is contributing to the problem.

Pretty much what me and the bloke next to me were saying on Saturday. We're at home in a must-win game yet are inviting the visitors onto a defence that can't defend. Of course, he was always going to switch to 4-4-2 at some point but ended doing it out of necessity. For him to stand, chest puffed out, in front of the television cameras claiming some sort of tactical masterstroke, and, for him to come out with his "That's why I'm here, to make the big decisions" was, quite frankly, an insult to the intelligence of the supporter.

When did he "claim some kind of tactical masterstroke"? Perhaps you can point me to that moment.

[Enoch]

I'm a little surprised anyone thought we reverted to 4-4-2 against Burnley.

[boltonboris]

How about not waiting until we're a goal down until we take the game to the opposition? We were at home and we needed to win. We'd won 2 out of the previous 10 games prior to Saturday. His cautious nature is contributing to the problem.

Pretty much what me and the bloke next to me were saying on Saturday. We're at home in a must-win game yet are inviting the visitors onto a defence that can't defend. Of course, he was always going to switch to 4-4-2 at some point but ended doing it out of necessity. For him to stand, chest puffed out, in front of the television cameras claiming some sort of tactical masterstroke, and, for him to come out with his "That's why I'm here, to make the big decisions" was, quite frankly, an insult to the intelligence of the supporter.

Yeah why doesn't he just play four four two from the outset like the last guy did, cos that always worked out so well......oh.....

Well that depends who you play in that formation. So stop talking shite.

Bolton fans are obsessed with 4-4-fecking 2

Absolute, unadulterated, massive hairy bollocks

[boltonboris]

I'm a little surprised anyone thought we reverted to 4-4-2 against Burnley.

What did we revert to then? Please don't say 4-4-1-1.. Because its the same bloody thing.

[Sponge]

A post from a Southampton fan on that Guardian blog, which pretty much sums up my impression of de Ridder from Saturday:

As a Saints fan I originally thought we'd done a blinder when we brought him in, with Puncheon both erratic in form and seemingly wanting to leave Southampton. But then you realise De Ridder's been featured a dozen games, scored one goal and had one assist.

No-one can fault his effort. He runs hard, runs fast, runs constantly and often scares defenders. The issue is there's no end product. His crossing isn't great and he normally doesn't put himself in position to cross and his finishing and pass selection is pretty poor; he'll cut inside, run at defenders and then either miss the goal by a mile, pick out the corner flag to aim at or pass to the nearest (opposition) midfielder.

I don't dislike him; as I say he never seemed to give less than 100% for us (despite coming off the bench), but he's just not a player who makes a huge impact. Paradoxically to that statement, he's probably best used as an impact sub; not for what he himself can do but his workrate and threatening runs when he does have the ball (even if he doesn't do anything with them) generally fires up the rest of the team and the fans, especially in a game that's drifting.

[BWFC_Insane]

I'm a little surprised anyone thought we reverted to 4-4-2 against Burnley.

What did we revert to then? Please don't say 4-4-1-1.. Because its the same bloody thing.

When Ngog and Craig Davies came on the system stayed the same.

[boltonboris]

I'm a little surprised anyone thought we reverted to 4-4-2 against Burnley.

What did we revert to then? Please don't say 4-4-1-1.. Because its the same bloody thing.

When Ngog and Craig Davies came on the system stayed the same.

So when Dougie said "we had to change our shape and put an extra man up to give us more up front"

Was he lying?

[BWFC_Insane]

I'm a little surprised anyone thought we reverted to 4-4-2 against Burnley.

What did we revert to then? Please don't say 4-4-1-1.. Because its the same bloody thing.

When Ngog and Craig Davies came on the system stayed the same.

So when Dougie said "we had to change our shape and put an extra man up to give us more up front"

Was he lying?

I don't know. But equally here and on the official site he is quoted as saying Ngog floating around 'in midfield' changed the game.

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... s/10218955._/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Have to say I haven't seen the quote you mentione attributed to Freedman anywhere!

[Bruce Rioja]

How about not waiting until we're a goal down until we take the game to the opposition? We were at home and we needed to win. We'd won 2 out of the previous 10 games prior to Saturday. His cautious nature is contributing to the problem.

Pretty much what me and the bloke next to me were saying on Saturday. We're at home in a must-win game yet are inviting the visitors onto a defence that can't defend. Of course, he was always going to switch to 4-4-2 at some point but ended doing it out of necessity. For him to stand, chest puffed out, in front of the television cameras claiming some sort of tactical masterstroke, and, for him to come out with his "That's why I'm here, to make the big decisions" was, quite frankly, an insult to the intelligence of the supporter.

When did he "claim some kind of tactical masterstroke"? Perhaps you can point me to that moment.

On his post match interview on the football league show.

[Bruce Rioja]

How about not waiting until we're a goal down until we take the game to the opposition? We were at home and we needed to win. We'd won 2 out of the previous 10 games prior to Saturday. His cautious nature is contributing to the problem.

Pretty much what me and the bloke next to me were saying on Saturday. We're at home in a must-win game yet are inviting the visitors onto a defence that can't defend. Of course, he was always going to switch to 4-4-2 at some point but ended doing it out of necessity. For him to stand, chest puffed out, in front of the television cameras claiming some sort of tactical masterstroke, and, for him to come out with his "That's why I'm here, to make the big decisions" was, quite frankly, an insult to the intelligence of the supporter.

Yeah why doesn't he just play four four two from the outset like the last guy did, cos that always worked out so well......oh.....

Stop talking shite,you plum
Well that depends who you play in that formation. So stop talking shite.

And out of our fit midfield players on Saturday, which do you think he should have played in a 4-4-2?

I think this is Dougies biggest problem. Bolton fans are obsessed with 4-4-fecking 2 despite Coyle's determination to show how playing that week in week in ends unless you have an absolutely worldie central midfield.

Sure there are times you have to go two up. But almost every time we've gone two up front from the start we've lost. Sheff Weds at home springs to mind.

There was nowt wrong with the system. Our wide players and Eagles weren't on form, created nowt for Sordell. We changed it, but actually played a similar system with Ngog operating behind Craig Davies as Eagles was before.

[chester white]

How about not waiting until we're a goal down until we take the game to the opposition? We were at home and we needed to win. We'd won 2 out of the previous 10 games prior to Saturday. His cautious nature is contributing to the problem.

Pretty much what me and the bloke next to me were saying on Saturday. We're at home in a must-win game yet are inviting the visitors onto a defence that can't defend. Of course, he was always going to switch to 4-4-2 at some point but ended doing it out of necessity. For him to stand, chest puffed out, in front of the television cameras claiming some sort of tactical masterstroke, and, for him to come out with his "That's why I'm here, to make the big decisions" was, quite frankly, an insult to the intelligence of the supporter.

When did he "claim some kind of tactical masterstroke"? Perhaps you can point me to that moment.

On his post match interview on the football league show.

You listened to a different one to me then. I thought he was very restrained considering the subs he made and got pelters off the fans for ultimately changed the game.