snowball

I thought it was a really gutsy performance yesterday. OK Villa have gone off the boil but it was our first point off a top seven team this season so not one I expected. Thought Cohen,McCann and Muamba showed a lot of bite in midfield. Cohen could be a decent defensive midfielder for next seasons squad. Now we just have to find the creative one this summer. Didn't think the match was too bad but I felt it was individual determination that got us a point so not likely to change my opinion on the manager. Now onto next week. Please don't let the Pie Eaters do the double over us.

Ok but in reality we have not beaten any team that have been half decent all season. In reality only West Brom have lost more games than us. Fulham had not won an away game all season until they came to our place and then managed more goals here than in their last fourteen away games combined. We have won one of our last six.Have we really improved that much since last season or are we just bumping along under Mr Megson? We will get another clue on Saturday.

Villa are a competent side therefore they will beat us. 1-3

So because they have a decent home record, we can't put in a decent performance? How many times do I have to say it, it wasn't the result it was the performance that bothers me. Cock.

I'm not expecting to challenge for Europe. I am expecting us to challenge Portsmouth over ninet minutes. And to Tyler, why do I blame Megson for yesterday? He picked the team, he put players in certain positions, set out our formation, no plan B when things weren't happening, set out the stall for a 0-0, not sorted the defence out, no creativity. Just for starters. But there will be those who blame the players fair enough. The manager has an input too though and I didn't see anything other than negativity from Megson yesterday.

If you'd read any of my other comments correctly you would know I don't want Megson sacked.....yet. I'm with Mounts. If he manages to get a couple of good signings in the summer and takes us up a notch, fair play I will be right behind him. Whats pissed me off is the excuses some are making for yesterday. As for acknowledging we were shite your post seemed to blame the weather, the locals, Fratton Park etc. Anything but us. We were shite. I don't even think Pompey were that good. If we had been beaten by the better team instead of by our own attitude of going for a 0-0 daw, fair enough. I blame Megson for that performance and that result.

I'm not saying all no. But a lot of the time yes. I know this comes down to the charge that Megson never gets the credit when we win but that's just the way it seems to me. Sunderland away, players not playing for Keane, we thrash them. Go back in the Cup under a new manager, no chance. The highest placed (i.e.best) team we have beaten at home this season is West Ham and yes I'll say it, we were bloody lucky. Eight of the current top ten have all come to the Reebok and beat us this season (with Villa still to come). You bet your life I think it's down to how bad the opposition are. Mickey D I agree entirely. Set out for 0-0 draw and against a team below us.This must be a legitimate criticism of Megson. And PH I don't think we are pretty decent defensively. Far from it in fact. Defensively we were awful yesterday. Could easily have been 3 or 4 conceded to our one shot on target.Our clean sheets total is one of the worst in the league.

Well that's alright then! Brilliant result! Why did we bother turning up if Portsmouth are so formidable? We already write off matches against the top six, shall we extend that? What utter bollocks. If we'd played well and lost fair enough but there are NO excuses for that performance. Just what would it take for you and Tyler to wake up. I'm all for looking on the bright side but for God's sake, who are you Megson's mother?

Anyone who sat through the ninety minutes yesterday will not be taking anything for granted. No I don't think we will go down and I thought I'd be happy with that. Now however I'm not impressed at all. There was no fight at all in us yesterday. To me that proved the 'fightback' at Chelsea was more down to them than us. A feeling I've had after most results this season.

I understand Gartside looking after his own but a division with no relegation, if it happens then count me out. That will be it for me with pro football. No matches, no sky, no interest you can keep it. I will go and watch Parks football to fill the gap. Also despite being a Rangers sympathiser I don't want them anywhere near English football. They need us not the other way round. And don't get me started on the other mob who think hating Britain/England is part of their culture, why on earth should they be allowed anywhere near English football? Money maybe, but like I said count me out. I followed Bolton down to the fourth division and back. To take away that dream for others will kill football. We are not a poxy minority sport like Rugby. The more I hear about Gartsides idea, the more I hate it even if (and even because) I know where he's coming from.

Just about sums it up SG.Well done for going.Think there is going to be a lot more argy bargy before long as well. I'm not in favour of sacking Megson (yet) and there have been some really stupid suggestions as to who could replace him but the rose tinted brigade are sounding less convincing match by match. What we need is an experienced manager, someone who would not be too much of a risk, a sucess at previous clubs if not actual silverware, eager to prove themselves over again and who would come to a club like Bolton. Now where could we find someone like that? Holland maybe.

So you are happy with performances like today then? I know Davies has scored 12 nobber but we have no creativity, no width and are utter shite to watch. You keep on burying your head in the sand.

I'm sorry but any on here who can draw any positives from that are deluding themselves. We were absolutley crap. How was our 'formation' intended to get the best out of Davies & Elmander? Not good enough Megson. One shot on target in 90 minutes , abysmal. I hope those who travelled had a good day out, you deserved a lot better. True I am writing this after a few bevvies in the pub but it was shocking. Sent out for a 0-0 draw, that's all we were ever going to get if we stayed lucky and we didn't.

I wasn't there unfortunately. My miserable dad wouldn't take me (I was 10). Listened to it on the radio at my grandma's house and it was obvious that the goal was something special the way they went on about it. I have really enjoyed the Big Match Revisited, even allowing for its obvious London bias. The 'Granada' matches brought back some great memories and I think it's a great idea showing the matches from the same week thirty years ago, just adds to the nostalgia. Last week it was Ralph Coates and his combover (playing for Leyton Orient). A different world.

Sorry if it has already been noted, couldn't see it anywhere! Bolton v Ipswich, (yes the one with that goal) is on ITV4 this Thursday. 30 years ago to the week,April 1979. Be great to see Burnden heaving as well.

I agree that Elmander is a classy player and works very hard. I do think though he is 'bad in the air' so we need to adapt to this to see the best of him.

Off topic I know, but was watching the Championship round up and saw Teymourian in a Barnsley shirt (winning a penalty). Didn't know he was there.

I don't see what your (or the telephone number blokes) point is? I didn't hear Megson's comments and think he is doing us down and he is a PR disaster, what bollocks. All he was saying was that Chelsea are richer than us. Reducing expectation, taking the pressure off our players and actually telling the truth. OK we have lost every game to the big four this season and no I'm not particularly happy with this but we are by no means alone in this. I think Steve Bruce has never managed to beat the big four in twenty odd goes and is it Everton who haven't managed too either this season? Hull won at Arsenal and drew at Anfield but it won't mean much when they are relegated. I have my reservations about Megson but media wise I much prefer him to BSA. Now he did come across as a big thick oaf with a look at me, rentaquote, get my face on the telly attitude. Megson is not like this, similarly in the transfer market he usually doesn't spout off about targets months in advance.Just gets on with the job. Personally I'm sick of the showbiz side to football and of Sky sports having to fill a 24 hour 'news' channel.I know Megson is not the most effusive or photogenic person but I actually like him for that and for just getting on with the job of managing BWFC. I think as it does become clear that he is slowly improving, the people who simply won't give him a chance will find other areas to niggle at and this is one of them.

Did you know that is why Apple computers was so named, and the symbol, an apple with a bite out of it is a tribute to Alan Turing. I didn't know that until recently. He killed himself by biting into a poisoned apple. As Casino said, one of the greatest minds this country ever produced, saved millions of lives, without him the war could have dragged on until Hitler had perfected his rockets. He invented the modern computer and how did the establishment of this country thank him? They hounded him to death because of his sexuality. The story of Enigma, Bletchley Park and Alan Turing is absolutely fascinating.Talk about unsung heroes.

Sorry, still not convinced by Megson. Let's see what happens in the summer and early next season by all means, he's earned that but by then I expect us to be playing to some kind of system. 4-1 great result but I know what I saw and doubts remain.

Can go along with all those apart from the optimism about Elmander. Sorry but just can't see it ever happening. P.S. I hope I'm wrong, really I do.

Ok MG off out now to do just that!

I was quite impressed by Aliadiere, not neceassarily for us but I thought he was a tidy footballer. For us I reckon Wheater could do a good job next to Cahill. Young England Under 21 who can only get better, could be right up Megson's street!