The Bourne(mouth) Ultimatum

[Mar]

Freedman: "Sometimes you have to take one of two steps back to move forward and that's what we seem to be doing, on and off the field."

I would hope that as the manager of the club that there would be better ways of achieving progression other than taking steps backwards. If he thinks that anyone is going to be gullible enough to believe that heading in the wrong direction will put us on the right track then he must be day dreaming.

On the other hand i'm pretty sure he's running out of things to say in post match interviews regarding Bolton's missed opportunities and losses so I guess this is what happens.

[wonka]

OK, now I've got it off my chest, so despite our manager succeeding in snatching a draw from the jaws of victory, I thought there were some positives to take out of the match yesterday.

Bournemouth looked pretty decent, but apart from their freak goal in the first half we dominated and controlled that half. The second half I shall skip over... considering our knob of a manager did his best to assist the opposition we really didn't stand much chance.

The new striker impressed me actually. Wotsisname? Junkiwich? I was expecting to be underwhelmed and disappointed, but I really liked the way he held the ball up, in fact he seemed to have the beating of their centre-halves. He's a grafter, and has quite a good touch. Reminded me a little of Davo. Took his goal well, in fact very well - to control a long-ball facing away from goal, under challenge, swivel, then lob the keeper, is something that not even Davo managed in all his time here. (Teed up by Knight too.... blimey).

No idea who he is mind, I thought he was a Pole, but a quick peek at Wikipedia shows him to be a Brit, who Everton paid £1m for. On reflection, very pleased to have him instead of Craig Davies so far.

One irritant - he won so many headers yesterday, but there was nobody up front to latch onto them. WTF? Would be good to see him partner Beckford, could be a great pairing. Little chance of that though.

Let's hope he can keep it up for the rest of the season, and if so maybe worth a punt in the summer.

[TANGODANCER]

The new striker impressed me actually. Wotsisname? Junkiwich? I was expecting to be underwhelmed and disappointed, but I really liked the way he held the ball up, in fact he seemed to have the beating of their centre-halves. He's a grafter, and has quite a good touch. Reminded me a little of Davo. Took his goal well, in fact very well - to control a long-ball facing away from goal, under challenge, swivel, then lob the keeper, is something that not even Davo managed in all his time here. (Teed up by Knight too.... blimey).

Possibly receiving a pass, nutmegging Rio Ferdinand and scoring against Man U might just compete?

[Worthy4England]

The new striker impressed me actually. Wotsisname? Junkiwich? I was expecting to be underwhelmed and disappointed, but I really liked the way he held the ball up, in fact he seemed to have the beating of their centre-halves. He's a grafter, and has quite a good touch. Reminded me a little of Davo. Took his goal well, in fact very well - to control a long-ball facing away from goal, under challenge, swivel, then lob the keeper, is something that not even Davo managed in all his time here. (Teed up by Knight too.... blimey).

Possibly receiving a pass, nutmegging Rio Ferdinand and scoring against Man U might just compete?

As a goal to enjoy, Davo's wins.

Different skill to the one Jutkiewicz got yesterday, not really comparable. Jutkiewicz goal had more skill in it for me.

It was good to see a forward able to win a header, and he held the ball up well, but needs someone playing off him and looking to pick up the second ball. I couldn't help feeling had it been Davo, the usual suspects would have been along to point out that he won lots of headers that went to no-one.

If we're going to play him in that role, we need people looking for the knockdown, otherwise it's no more use to us than thumping the ball head height at Beckford.

[wonka]

Possibly receiving a pass, nutmegging Rio Ferdinand and scoring against Man U might just compete?

You know, I did think of that goal. It certainly was a goal to savour, but I felt that Ferdinand contributed to it too. But full credit to Davo for doing that to a top defender.

[boltonboris]

That first goal was pretty unsaveable, but have a look at where Bogdan is when Grabban hits it!! Practically stood on the near post! As I say, won't blame him for the goal, but even if it went down the middle it would've gone in.

[Bruno3]

Am I alone in thinking Baptiste's performance was absolutely dire. Bournmouth got in behind him so many times, particularly in the first half, as he hasn't a clue about poistioning or when to close his man down

[LeverEnd]

Am I alone in thinking Baptiste's performance was absolutely dire. Bournmouth got in behind him so many times, particularly in the first half, as he hasn't a clue about poistioning or when to close his man down

They did get behind him a lot but he was left 2 on 1 lots of times and wasn't getting much help. He had Eagles on that side who was in an advanced position doing nothing.
He stuck at it but is not a good full-back and I think opposition teams know that and target him.

[boltonboris]

Eagles seemed under instruction to stay forward to me. For a passing outlet

[LeverEnd]

Eagles seemed under instruction to stay forward to me. For a passing outlet

That's what I meant, he was hugging the halfway line. But it did leave Bap exposed and Eagles did little useful in that role unfortunately.

[Tombwfc]

Am I alone in thinking Baptiste's performance was absolutely dire. Bournmouth got in behind him so many times, particularly in the first half, as he hasn't a clue about poistioning or when to close his man down

They were clearly targeting him, particularly in the first half. They're not the first to do it either.

I think he is capable, but there can be no greater indictment on a defender than if the other team look through our back four and pick you out as the weak link.

[Lord Kangana]

Especially if that back four includes Zat Knight. Ouch.

[jonnycooper]

Eddie Howe says his side are disappointed as he feels they deserved all 3 points. Says it all really! !

[TANGODANCER]

Eddie Howe says his side are disappointed as he feels they deserved all 3 points. Says it all really! !

Be a bad manager who didn't cover his ass/ blow his own trumpet, by saying that after a draw away. From what I've seen (several times( they scored with a good shot, not from twenty five yards as claimed but from a touch outside the box, fair do's, and a hundred to one chance ricochet off somebody's head at an almost impossible angle. I'll be told that's wrong if it really is.

[Worthy4England]

Eddie Howe says his side are disappointed as he feels they deserved all 3 points. Says it all really! !

Be a bad manager who didn't cover his ass/ blow his own trumpet, by saying that after a draw away. From what I've seen (several times( they scored with a good shot, not from twenty five yards as claimed but from a touch outside the box, fair do's, and a hundred to one chance ricochet off somebody's head at an almost impossible angle. I'll be told that's wrong if it really is.

Hmmm you are allowed to score from X yards outside the box. So I think they can count that one. They can certainly count the second one, not their fault we moved the man off the post. Add to that, Boggers made a few very good saves - certainly one at 2-2 and including a one on one in the first half.

I think we would have been unfortunate not to come out with a point, all things considered - equally, you could see it was a distinct possibility in that second half, and based on the second half performance, I'm not sure I'd have felt "robbed".

[William the White]

Eddie Howe says his side are disappointed as he feels they deserved all 3 points. Says it all really! !

Be a bad manager who didn't cover his ass/ blow his own trumpet, by saying that after a draw away. From what I've seen (several times( they scored with a good shot, not from twenty five yards as claimed but from a touch outside the box, fair do's, and a hundred to one chance ricochet off somebody's head at an almost impossible angle. I'll be told that's wrong if it really is.

He didn't need to cover his ass... his team performed well... he had a very plausible case that they deserved the 3 points... We threw it away... we had no case for claiming a moral victory...

Their first was a great goal, their second no more than they deserved... But it's not simply the goals that make the game, as you know better than most, cos you've seen more than most... And Howe just spoke the the truth there, not the managerial gloss that all can see through... IMHO.

[LeverEnd]

Eddie Howe says his side are disappointed as he feels they deserved all 3 points. Says it all really! !

Be a bad manager who didn't cover his ass/ blow his own trumpet, by saying that after a draw away. From what I've seen (several times( they scored with a good shot, not from twenty five yards as claimed but from a touch outside the box, fair do's, and a hundred to one chance ricochet off somebody's head at an almost impossible angle. I'll be told that's wrong if it really is.

He didn't need to cover his ass... his team performed well... he had a very plausible case that they deserved the 3 points... We threw it away... we had no case for claiming a moral victory...

Their first was a great goal, their second no more than they deserved... But it's not simply the goals that make the game, as you know better than most, cos you've seen more than most... And Howe just spoke the the truth there, not the managerial gloss that all can see through... IMHO.

They had more possession away from home, were enterprising and willing to have a go. They were suspect defensively but we opted not to try to exploit that further with our 2-1 lead. They were through on Bogdan early on, (bold save at the lad's feet) and one of them had a fresh air shot at a cross before we scored which he should have buried.
If they'd got the win they would have deserved it on a 'who dares wins' basis. However we could and should have beaten them, but we never dare, and rarely win.
Fair play to Eddie Howe, a refreshing attitude.

[TANGODANCER]

Fair enough. I wasn't there so I'll accept what you say. His/their views don't really affect the fact we seemed to have it in the bag, then.....we didn't.

[boltonboris]

An impossible angle for the equaliser, yes. But after 1500 sedibd half corners, they were always to get one on a law of averages. I was actually pretty amazed how well we defended them for so long before Jay decided to go walkies.

Think they were well worth a point. Think we let them be through negativity and nervousness. But we know who helped bring that on to his players.

[LeverEnd]

An impossible angle for the equaliser, yes. But after 1500 sedibd half corners, they were always to get one on a law of averages. I was actually pretty amazed how well we defended them for so long before Jay decided to go walkies.

Think they were well worth a point. Think we let them be through negativity and nervousness. But we know who helped bring that on to his players.

They also delivered their corners well, and actually looked like they might score from one unlike us. We looked like we could have 50 and not get a shot or header on target. Another reason to have Moritz on the pitch more often.