DMB Match Thread

[plymouth wanderer]

lads were outstanding today wore there heart on there sleeve we went right for the juggler specially 2nd half

elmo was man of the match for me he should of had a hatrick his link up play was phenomal and did't give them any time to breathe let alone play

petrov best from him so far

chungy best he's played this season

holden wat's that his 7 or 8 game look's like he's been here for years

me thinks where's cahill gonna come in

one proud trotter

[Lord Kangana]

If Elmander could finish he'd be worth £110m. Had Vidic all over the shop today.

As it stands, we really took the game to the them today. Very much a reverse of tuesday night, when we had the possesion and played some nice stuff in the middle third, but ultimately Burnley had the better chances.

And cool, cool head from Petrov finished off a smart (footballing) move for the second goal. Very pleased with the clear progress evidenced today.

[Lord Kangana]

Oh, and fair play Ricketts. Stellar opposite of his midweek performance.

[TANGODANCER]

Into Fergie time.

FT. Great game. Stream commentator called it a Sunday afternoon treat!

Also added "You just can't take your eyes off this one". Really good to hear some positive comments about us for a change instead of how utterly wonderful United are.

[FaninOz]

Excellent performance in a game we deserved to win for me, Elmo was great but what a goal it would have been when he pushed the bal past Vidic and and round him only to fall backwards and sky his shot. Even so a good alround performance from him and the rest of the team, no negative performances from any of our players for me they all seemed very up for the game and gave it their all.

Yes United had a lot of the ball but didn't create much, not sure how Owen can score with his head against such a tall defensive line mind. A fair crowd as well that from the TV seemed to give the team a lot of verbal support. I hope we play like that against the lesser teams and Elmo gets his finishing boots back on.

[TANGODANCER]

Can't help but notice the togetherness spirit OC seemed to have got back in the side. Robinson looks like he was Bolton born and Petrov seems well at home with the rest. Couldn't pick out player who wasn't up for it today and the Davies Elmander combination is improving weekly. Davo's through ball for Elmander was fantastic and if that shot had gone in it would have been up with goal of the season. Good to see Elmander exerting some authority up front. He gave them a torrid time today. All in all, I'll wish I still worked in Manchester tomorrow morning. None of them could come out with any snides about that game.

[hisroyalgingerness]

Good result, and a bit like the Villa game, one to file under "would have taken it before the match, should've won though".

Shame Elmo couldn't have scored. He can blame a "foul" as much as he likes, he should have expected and dealt with any contact from behind, and should finish. Petrov's involvement in the second goal was superb. Started the move with a good driving run, cracking cross-field ball and good skill to set up the shot.

Surprised to see us play so direct, given we've had sod all change from Vidic last few seasons. We did have a lot of success with it, with both strikers. Unsure whether it means we have "progressed" in the manner has been expressed on the board so far. It was a very "typical" Bolton performance to my mind.

If one has to pick, we still look awfully static when we have the ball, and don't make great decisions - Fab especially. Right decision to take off Fab. No point having a ball-winning midfielder on the pitch if he can't get near a man, and can't adequately pass it once he has won it. Davies was a little bit more hungry for the ball and that little extra quality passing-wise.

[boltonboris]

Jeeez... If Elmander could finish he'd be a world beater. Should have had a hat-trick today.

Everybody was superb today.. Steinsson let nothing down his side, despite his distribution being of similar standar to Tuesday. Davies did the dirty work brilliantly and despite appearing to be a little slow at times, picked some superb passes and along with Elmo absolutely tore Evans and Vidic a new one.

Holden was tireless.

So many positives to take, just gutted we didn't win in the end, although before the game, I'd have taken a point, no messing!

[Armchair Wanderer]

Jeeez... If Elmander could finish he'd be a world beater. Should have had a hat-trick today.

He did well but if he was a natural born goalscorer we'd be winning instead of drawing.

Zat Knight was my man of the match, first half especially.

It was funny seeing Muamba in the opposing penalty area, I was imagining everyone shouting "pass".

[Tombwfc]

Happy with a point, and what was an excellent performance. I said after the Burnley game about we'd yet to 'bloody the noses' of any big teams, and despite the result I think it would be a disservice to us to say we did that. I thought the football we played at times was every bit as good as theirs.

Knight was our best player, by some distance. Doing his best to give ammunition to those who think that he plays better when Cahill is out of the team. Still, I'll welcome having him back next week.

It's almost slightly cruel that Elmo was excellent all game, working tirelessly, creating openings and generally giving them a terrible time, and then fluffed his chance. Yet Petrov, who was very poor (although I appreciated the fact that he tried a lot harder in the second half, it just wasn't working), showed a bit of brilliance and then took his chance. Hopefully it won't knock Elmander too much and scoring will kick-start Petrov's season.

FWIW, if he was a natural born goalscorer he wouldn't be playing for us.

[BWFC_Insane]

Thought we were absolutely outstanding today and agree we could have won. However, lets not get too carried away looking at what we missed, because Utd could have had us beat within the first 30 minutes which they dominated. Thankfully they didn't and by the end we were outplaying them.

A draw was probably just about the right result on balance but we matched them player for player, stride for stride and played attacking exciting expansive football to do so.

Lets face it 1 point from Arsenal Villa and Man Utd and we would be doing cartwheels.

2 is fooking excellent especially given we could make a claim for it easily have been 6!

Elmander motm even though he missed some chances. He was just exceptional and created the second goal superbly.

And here's a big shout, I really hope OC has the balls to leave Cahill on the bench next week. Knight and Ricketts = better combination.

[officer_dibble]

Agree with the insane one...2 points from them 3 games is a great return.

IT is a shame we couldn't hold on, but in equal terms when it hits fergie time and its 2-2 you fear the worst. Even if we were on top.

Ricketts/Knight should be kept together as well. I'd be tempted with Cahill in midfield at some point myself...see what Franz can manage there. At least he can shoot!

Shout to Elmander as well. These performances are becoming the norm.

[RobbieSavagesLeg]

And here's a big shout, I really hope OC has the balls to leave Cahill on the bench next week. Knight and Ricketts = better combination.

Oh God, I'm not so sure. I think it's good we're in the position to have three very capable centre backs (not including AoB, glad he got injured in a way as it gave Mr R a chance to shine).

Ricketts has given a good account of himself, especially going forward, his run today was a sight to behold from a BWFC defender!

But, I think overall, Cahill and Knight pip Rick and Knight. Watch the replay and I think Owen may not have got his diminutive stature in a position to score had Cahill been on...


Still, it's good to have options innit?

[Peter Thompson]

Very good performance from the whites, good tempo at times with some very good attacking football played and even the atmosphere was good and I actually thought we shaded it - if only Elmander had bagged that chance at 2-1

Both Elmander & Knight were absolutely outstanding today, Holden & Petrov very good....Muamba deserved to be subbed he had a v poor game today he was by far our worst player. Still not convinced about Robinson (saying that he was up against Nani who I thought was excellent for them)

Agree with most that Knight & Ricketts look a better pairing than Knight & Cahill

[farnworth scum]

I was really pleased with the performance today, loads of energy and comittment esp from Holden and Elmander, though the whole team did well. I even got told by a urinals fan that we deserved a point, high praise indeed!!!

[midnitefooty]

Pulled this from the redcafe match thread.

Yeah
2-2 v Fulham
2-2 v Everton
3-2 v Liverpool
2-2 v Bolton

Crap teams to concede goals against. There are plenty of great teams we haven't played yet this season.

Am I the only one who finds this funny?

[RobbieSavagesLeg]

Pulled this from the redcafe match thread.

Yeah
2-2 v Fulham
2-2 v Everton
3-2 v Liverpool
2-2 v Bolton

Crap teams to concede goals against. There are plenty of great teams we haven't played yet this season.

Am I the only one who finds this funny?

I think it's funny. Especially because the Everton result was 3-3, not 2-2. n000bz.

[Lord Kangana]

Yes, because the Everton result was 3-3 wasn't it?

Clueless f*ckwits.

[midnitefooty]

Pulled this from the redcafe match thread.

Yeah
2-2 v Fulham
2-2 v Everton
3-2 v Liverpool
2-2 v Bolton

Crap teams to concede goals against. There are plenty of great teams we haven't played yet this season.

Am I the only one who finds this funny?

I think it's funny. Especially because the Everton result was 3-3, not 2-2. n000bz.

Lol ur right. I remember it being 3-1 with 10 minutes to go. Left the room, came back and WTF 3-3?!?

[Odelay]

I thought we played fantastic today. In the first half Robbo and Petrov were giving Nani way too much space. They were going down that wing and putting it into the corner without any pressure at all. I counted about 7 or 8 times in the first half where Nani was pretty much unmarked without a player anywhere near him. Need to sort that out.

I thought Chungy was fantastic today. He's a slap in the face to anyone who says smaller players are too "lightweight." The guy gets kicked, pushed and shoved, but seems to come out with the ball more often then not. His touch from Petrov's long ball and then the pass into Elmander was world class. So casual on the ball. We're very, very lucky to have a player like him on our squad.

I thought Holden was again fantastic. At one point he absolutely ran through Rooney, who almost looked confused as he watched the ball get taken down the park by Holden. I think I'd prefer Holden to take the free kicks instead of Petrov. He had a couple at Birmingham and he actually got them over the wall, let alone on target.

Credit to Ricketts and Knight who played well together. Only real feckup was the first goal. Everyone just seemed to stop and watch Nani waltz up the park only to go, "oh yeah that's right, we need to defend," but obviously too little too late.

Strangely bitter we only got a point. That's the second time Owen has headed a goal against us too. I remember the feck* did it to us at Newcastle.

Oh and the crowd was fantastic today. Rooney seemed to shrink into himself with all the chanting. Was good to hear...

Well done whites!