FA Cup - Third round at home against Wigan.

[TANGODANCER]

Just over seven minutes of highlights from the official site:

http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/exte ... 80954.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[midlands exile]

Just over seven minutes of highlights from the official site:

http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/exte ... 80954.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for the link, plus the virtual commentary during the match.

[jaffka]

From what I've seen it looked like Mr Feeney was having a chiefly difficult afternoon. How was his overall game?

Overall, a positive contribution. He certainly worked hard. He gets crosses in - though often without finding one of ours (that is a two way problem, obviously). Was worth his place yesterday.

A winger who gets his crosses in has done his job, in the main.

Wingers with laser guided crosses are very rare and more than likely out of our price range.

Feeney impressed yesterday. He scared them.

[malcd1]

There was only one weak link yesterday and that was Heskey. He worked hard and the run out will do him good but he contributed very little. From what I can remember he had one sliding half chance in the first half, he won one header all game and chased back to dispossess one of the Wigan players.

Hopefully he will get better when he gets fitter but yesterday the centre half (Ramis) had him in his pocket. More of an impact sub?

[jaffka]

There was only one weak link yesterday and that was Heskey. He worked hard and the run out will do him good but he contributed very little. From what I can remember he had one sliding half chance in the first half, he won one header all game and chased back to dispossess one of the Wigan players.

Hopefully he will get better when he gets fitter but yesterday the centre half (Ramis) had him in his pocket. More of an impact sub?

I think that's the plan but an injury to cravies dictated otherwise.

He certainly makes defenders nervous and rush.

[Bruce Rioja]

There was only one weak link yesterday and that was Heskey...... he won one header all game

Interesting that, Malc. One thing that was evident against Blackburn was that his timing in going up for headers was, basically, the stuff of comedy. I just put it down to him trying too hard in his first game.

[malcd1]

There was only one weak link yesterday and that was Heskey...... he won one header all game

Interesting that, Malc. One thing that was evident against Blackburn was that his timing in going up for headers was, basically, the stuff of comedy. I just put it down to him trying too hard in his first game.

He seemed to be jumping way too early every time so maybe it is timing thing or just to put the defender off.

[Bruce Rioja]

There was only one weak link yesterday and that was Heskey...... he won one header all game

Interesting that, Malc. One thing that was evident against Blackburn was that his timing in going up for headers was, basically, the stuff of comedy. I just put it down to him trying too hard in his first game.

He seemed to be jumping way too early every time so maybe it is timing thing or just to put the defender off.

Yep. Exactly that - way too early. I hadn't thought of it like that tbh. I'd rather him win headers for our lads running into the channels.

[Burnden Paddock]

Bit harsh on Heskey imo. He won 2 or 3 headers right in front of us in the WSU in the first half, in addition to a nice cushioned chest down into space for a teammate. A game of opinions as already mentioned.

[LeverEnd]

I think Heskey unnerves people. but apart from that he didn't do a great deal it's true. The odd touch suggests he might when he gets fitter though. One thing about the headers, is that even when he doesn't flick on, the ball rarely comes back at us in the way the defender would like. Overall we really must hope Cravies stays fit though!

[Montreal Wanderer]

Just over seven minutes of highlights from the official site:

http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/exte ... 80954.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Al Habsi still seems to have the moves.

[thebish]

Has Bruce got unnaturally large bollocks?

[Bruce Rioja]

Has Bruce got unnaturally large bollocks?

Try posting something that matters instead of being such a prat. Hey, just my view.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I noted that in the run-up to Zach's goal, Wheater hoofed forward - sorry, a "direct vertical" was completed, because Cravies won the header, and five seconds later our lad was through on goal.

[Montreal Wanderer]

I noted that in the run-up to Zach's goal, Wheater hoofed forward - sorry, a "direct vertical" was completed, because Cravies won the header, and five seconds later our lad was through on goal.

After a couple of nifty passes...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I noted that in the run-up to Zach's goal, Wheater hoofed forward - sorry, a "direct vertical" was completed, because Cravies won the header, and five seconds later our lad was through on goal.

After a couple of nifty passes...

Indeed - but passes that wouldn't have taken place had CD not won the 'eader.

[norm the jedi]

Lovely first visit to the renamed concrete football shed...
As a tourist I think the Clough Hype was largely due to his positive approach.. we had significant periods of largely bloodless possession yesterday where we protected the ball and shovelled it about between us without ever looking particularly threatening, Wiggin had a pie warming atthe back and were pretty happy for us to knock it benignly sideways and backwards. On most occasions that Clough received possession - often in counter-attack mode - He injected pace and directness, and showed intelligence, decent touch and passing and enthusiasm! The lad's a prospect and I thought he was worth the ticket price on his own yesterday... 'New Okocha, Lee, Warwick Rimmer etc is a bit premature imv but it was a hugely encouraging debut and long may it continue... Trotter, Danns and Pratley were workmanlike, solid. Wheater was emmense. I was worried that the combination of Phat Phil Dowd and Wheaters robust approach to challenges may combiine to Big Daves first use of the Timotei but he was solidity itself - and Dowd had a decent afternoon pea wetting.. I like Dervite a lot from off the Tele. He did nothing to dissaude me from the opinion that he is a very decent centre half in the making.. Tim Ream isn't a full back, he was functional enough without contributing much in an attacking sense.. Vela is a better fullback, although he isn't a fullback either. I think Feeneys pace and application help Vela look a better defender than he actually is. The pair combined well on occasions.. And Boggers did the thing good keepers do. He had feck all to do for long periods before producing a McDonaghesque reflex save from a firm close range header and a flying tip over of a late arse twitching 25yard freekick
Feeney is an odd one for me - I want to like him, he has a similar approach to Clough and he wasn't far away from a lot of what was good yesterday but for all his pace and direction he sometimes has a touch like a toffee hammer and a turning circle like a cross channel ferry.. . I still think we are short of a bit of quality and the speed of thought and foot is woeful at times, especially in key final third situations where we seem to take an extra touch, get it stuck under our feet or eschew the killer ball for a safer square off or backwards option..
Heskey isn't anywhere near fit but his ability and quality are obvious. His actual production was poor yesterday but his eye for a pass, nouse and body control in possession and his intelligence are all apparent and if he can get himself fitter and a little sharper I think he can make a real impact in half hour chunks.. Cravies wasn't about much but made a nuisance of himself and is probably the best striking option currently, Eide only had 3 minutes, enough time to retain possession up their end and kill the game off but not enough time to judge how he's doing, I suspect much the same as Heskey..
Overall - good to be through, nice to be playing in an entetaining free flowing style with the a sprinkling of the exubrerance of youth..
Plenty of signs to be encouraged about but I suspect thoughts of promotion are a bit premature..

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Going off the (7 minute) highlights, it seemed obvious to me that on the first cross Heskey intentionally jumped early to try and out muscle a couple of defenders. Presumably in the hope someone was coming in behind. No one could possibly time a jump so badly!

[Prufrock]

Just over seven minutes of highlights from the official site:

http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/exte ... 80954.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The feck is Darren doing at 2:56?!

[boltonboris]

Not a chance Danns is going! Been the main man brought centrally under Lennon, and his energy alongside Pratley has been vital to our success. It's that engine I think Spearing lacks and why Lennon doesn't rate him.

Danns has signed a new contract along with Pratley and Mills.

All on reduced terms too, unsurprisingly.

Bogdan, Lonergan and Chungy offered deals. One expected to sign, one wants negotiations and one wants to go. I'm sure I don't have to spell it out who's doing what