Bolton v Stoke

[Gail Platz]

I was working til like half four today but mi dads just come back from the game and said it was something else! any chance we'll see mark davies on the wing more often? great talent like but sometines he seems to get a bit lost in a 2 man central partnership.

He played well but he was caught drifting into the centre of midfield a lot and Joe Riley was doing the job of two men down the right hand side at times. It's obvious he wants a central midfield position and that's where he's comfortable at but I don't want to be thinking about that right now, just the 5-0 scoreline!!

[Little Green Man]

I was working til like half four today but mi dads just come back from the game and said it was something else! any chance we'll see mark davies on the wing more often? great talent like but sometines he seems to get a bit lost in a 2 man central partnership.

You'd hope so, maybe we've found a position for him that means he can do all the stuff he can't do in the centre?

And which would mean Petrov could be saved for the important pre-season games.

[jaffka]

That 5-0 win today in the league is far more important than scoring 5 in a cup competition..

Of course it isn't. I despair of today's football fan who sees avoiding relegation as some sort of achievement, but actually winning something is less so.

Not quite sure where you are drawing that inference from, but losing in the cup 1-0, 5-0 or 15-0 all equates to the same thing, your out. For the winners they still start the next game 0-0. Thought that was pretty simple to understand, obviously not for some

In the league it is +5 in the goals column.

[BL3]

I despair of today's football fan who sees avoiding relegation as some sort of achievement, but actually winning something is less so.

I suspect that Birmingham fans don't share your opinion.

[Annoyed Grunt]

That 5-0 win today in the league is far more important than scoring 5 in a cup competition..

Of course it isn't. I despair of today's football fan who sees avoiding relegation as some sort of achievement, but actually winning something is less so.

[Tombwfc]

I despair of today's football fan who sees avoiding relegation as some sort of achievement, but actually winning something is less so.

I suspect that Birmingham fans don't share your opinion.

I'd honestly be fairly surprised if they didn't. They'll be back up within the next few years.

Really, I'd swap 5-0's and it's not even close. There's a reason people rank the Stoke semi-final as one of our worst ever games, as opposed to the various times we've been twatted in the league (we were just as bad if not worse against Stoke at the Brit last season).

Anyway, you take what you can get, and that was unbelievable. It's impossible to read anything in to it until we see how the next few games pan out, but I'm just going to enjoy it for what it is.

When you consider it was his full league debut, Riley was excellent. Objectively is he better than Ricketts/Steinsson? I don't really think so. There's a touch of the Nicky Hunt/Joey O'Brien's about the reaction to his performance.

[TKIZ!]

I find all this talk of swapping results a bit ridiculous. Stoke still lost in the final. They won nowt and neither did we. Today was about drawing a line under that and showing we had character to rectify what had gone before.

Simple really

[jimbo_bwfc]

Stoke's 5-0 got them Europe.

Judging by our performances and injury problems this year, the last thing we needed was Europe.

Hurt a lot at the time, but losing at Wembley may have been for the best (if we assume we wouldn't have gone on and beaten Man City)

[TKIZ!]

Stoke's 5-0 got them Europe.

Judging by our performances and injury problems this year, the last thing we needed was Europe.

Hurt a lot at the time, but losing at Wembley may have been for the best (if we assume we wouldn't have gone on and beaten Man City)

Agreed

[General Mannerheim]

Stoke's 5-0 got them Europe.

Judging by our performances and injury problems this year, the last thing we needed was Europe.

Hurt a lot at the time, but losing at Wembley may have been for the best (if we assume we wouldn't have gone on and beaten Man City)

However... Stokes first match was was on July 28th, against Hajduk Split - had that been us, we probably wouldnt have been playing Newport cloggers on July 30th and thus CYL would not be injured now! aaand, the away leg was played on the 4th of August - same day Tyrone Mears and his leg scythed... we'd be flying!

[Lord Kangana]

An FA Cup Semi result being amongst the worst in our history?

Don't talk f*cking soft.

[wonka]

Just got back from match.

Riley: Very impressive debut, won't go overboard, could always turn into another Nicky Hunt.
Robinson: Grew in confidence as game went on, but can still see Gardner replacing him when he returns from suspension.
Cahill: Usual performance, played well
Wheater: Immense, like a rock at the back, will keep Knight out if he keeps it up
ReoCoker: Played like a General, very composed but fiercely determined, never gave up
Muamba: MotM for me, can't pass or shoot, but best Bolton performance of the season for me, stopped Stoke playing today. At times it was like there were two of him playing, he just seemed to be everywhere
Eagles: Wasn't convinced he was premier league standard before the game, but superb performance today. If he can play like that every match then CYL may find it diffcult to get back in when he returns. Definitely keep him there instead of Petrov.
M.Davies: Best Bolton player at keeping ball and taking the pressure off, winning free kicks. Some good runs today.
Klasnic: Always feel he will score when he gets the ball in the box. Just wish he got the service.
K.Davies: his best game of the season, needs to keep that standard up now.
Pratley: Sorry, I know he was only on for 5 mins, but just not good enough for me. Wouldn't even have him on bench if it was up to me.
Tuncay: Would like to see him play a few games to get match fit

Something has happened in that squad this week (maybe NRC's outburst at Swansea, maybe the prospect of playing Stoke) that fired the whole team up. Every player fought for every ball like their lives depended on it, and that's just not happened this season. But now they've proven what they're capable of, they'll now have to play like that every week, anything less and we will go down.

Stoke did look a bit jaded.... but you can only beat what's put in front of you.

Now I can finally watch MOTD, not seen it since first game of the season.

[Lord Kangana]

I'd be happy enough with a Premier League fullback for 4 or 5 seasons.

[Tombwfc]

An FA Cup Semi result being amongst the worst in our history?

Don't talk f*cking soft.

Can't think of many results which have been used as an excuse for shit performances 6 months later.

[TANGODANCER]

Just had to love the commentators talking about "wonderful football from Bolton"

[norm the jedi]

Can't 5top 5miling...

[officer_dibble]

An FA Cup Semi result being amongst the worst in our history?

Don't talk f*cking soft.

Can't think of many results which have been used as an excuse for shit performances 6 months later.

Aye its been one helluva hangover

but to answer lks post...i certainly hope i never experience any result that bad again. 5-0 off a team below you in the league in a semi is hooefully as bad as it gets for bwfc. Would of been easier to lose to either of the other teams we coukd of played by that score! Easily the worst match experience for me!

[Lord Kangana]

An FA Cup Semi result being amongst the worst in our history?

Don't talk f*cking soft.

Can't think of many results which have been used as an excuse for shit performances 6 months later.

5 points from 10 games springs to mind.

[norm the jedi]

Joe Riley has made Garth Crooks Team of the week? [with SKD]

5mile.... 5mile..... 5mile..... 5mile..... 5mile.....

[CAPSLOCK]

I'd be happy enough with a Premier League fullback for 4 or 5 seasons.

Indeed