desperado

I’m trying to think of an occasion from one game to the next, where we have looked so poor, then so good, in league games? It really is a farcical comparison. But another reason why we shouldn’t go to either extreme when appraising our players and manager. Just because of that great performance last night, we are not now in a position to say our play-off concerns should be abated, our players have rid themselves of the criticism we’ve heard previously or that SS has now found the magic formula. If this season has taught us one thing, it’s that we are too inconsistent for that. How we would love to be proven wrong. And there is a chance now, with a new combination of players at Schumacher’s disposal for the players to finally find some consistency. But equally, if/when we do falter, please lets not have the opposite extreme come into play. Surely the doom mongers can see now the over-reaction from Cardiff was extreme? * And I’m not talking about the reasoned discussion, where there’s differences of opinion. But the predictions of doom, the player/manager bashing that is relentless, the need to only comment when you’re telling us for the 1000th time that Johnston’s shit, Sheehans shit, Gale shouldn’t be seen in a white shirt again, the manager is clueless. If last night taught us anything, it’s that those things can’t possibly be true can they? Not many (me included) would have picked Gale last night - SS did because he surely knows him better. He knows that man-managing him in the right way, having him on the pitch at the same time as ACD and giving him some defensive protection can bring the best out of him. But we also know he’s a L1 standard player, who is young, inexperienced and finding his way in a new culture - it’s not going to work for him every week. You can tell his form had hit him hard. The players yesterday were all over him after Kenny’s goal. Sheehan and Johnston are not shit (if anything they’ve been two of our best players this season!) despite what the haters will have you believe. Inconsistent and limited - yes. But no more so than everybody but Dalby in our squad! One thing they’ll all benefit from these last 6 games is some unconditional support. I think that’s possible, now we know there are no issues of surrendering, effort, attitude (hopefully another myth from Saturday we can put to bed). I think they’ll respond to that positively and this will give them the much needed confidence that will be required to get us to promotion. * all opinions valid, we’re here for debate/discussion etc etc etc

A big night for 3 players who have come under criticism recently; Sheehan, Johnston and Gale. I would love the same side to come out play, perform and contribute in a similar way to another win on Saturday. Maybe we could then address this inconsistency tag we’ve displayed too much this season. They have to take confidence from that today.

Pre-game I saw this and thought the post had some merit, it did/does make sense. But it’s one of those occasions where you have to give the manager credit and admit he sees and knows things we don’t. Great win. Another Fantastic response after a defeat. No issues with attitude or effort. Box seat again for 3rd place.

Even me, who is rarely critical of players and managers selection of players, is a bit perplexed by this one. Even SS had come out and indicated he isn’t playing well! For balance there has to be some sensible rationale behind it. Cissoko not 100%, Getting Gale and ACD back for a left/right balance and/or he’s seeing something in training that we aren’t on match days.

Very attacking. Don’t think SS is sending them out there to take a cautious approach

We are usually very good on occasions like this.

Two good posts. It’s just your last paragraphs I’d challenge on. @Lostock Whites not fighting, heads down, feeling sorry for ourselves is not something I see. I think @Eddie last paragraph is closer to the truth. But I think that doesn’t quite define what we saw Saturdays and our approach to games. I think we’d have seen 5 at the back more if a “breaks on, steady careful approach was our mantra.”

I’m not sure I’ve read anywhere that we’d be happy finishing 6th - I said yesterday this is the worst case scenario. It’s merely to point out to those - and there’s quite a few - who think we won’t finish in the play-offs. You’ve also indicated yourself that once we’re there anything can happen.

Might make some of those doom mongers feel a bit more positive about finishing in the play-offs

Thought we’d lost against these. Got to keep up this decent record.

If ever there was a game for an early goal from us, this is the one.

We’d have said the same about Lincoln for the previous 3 seasons. I’m beyond being a snob about who Bolton “should” be winning against. This win is important, regardless of who it’s against.

That sounds rough mate. I’m hoping it is just football related. But the essence of the post suggests not. Hope all ok and the footy can give you some positive distraction

Brilliant from Rory 👏 His best golf was Friday. But he showed all kinds of skill, experience and resilience after that to win the Green Jacket. He’s one of the greats

Cracking leaderboard this. Come on Rose!

Of course I agree 😂. But other than the tub-thumping one-eyed fan prediction, there’s a reasonable footballing case to make for us to, especially compared to our competitors. Lets get the shit stuff out of the way. Off the top of my head, purely going off my opinion, there’s the Peterborough and Cardiff games where we were completely outplayed. There’s also been some other games where we’ve been appalling too - Port Vale, Northampton, Burton. Then plenty of games where our “Achilles Heel” of not converting and giving up a goal out of nothing has been our undoing. That could happen in the play-offs. But when I think back to our games against Luton, Huddersfield, Bradford, Stockport, Stevenage, Reading, Luton - there’s only Stockport that have beaten us isn’t there? Even that game we played well. I’ve not seen anything in those games or consistently in their form this season to be afraid of. These last 4 games will tell a story too. I really don’t think we will fall out of the play-offs the worst case scenario for me is finishing 5/6th - that would be a tough ask, but I still wouldn’t be writing us off even then.

I can tell our form is hitting you hard @Johnnyrotten But I’ve grown to enjoy our weekly debates and as always your opinion is detailed and well-reasoned. Its a bit of a gloomy outlook which has some substance… ..but I do think @Eddie makes a very good point which you shouldn’t overlook and may make you reconsider your gloomy prediction for the season end. It’s an insular way of looking at our position without considering our competitors. Our competitors for those play-off places are as (arguably more) inconsistent as us. Stockport (losing at Wembley and having to play Wootton at CB), Bradford & Huddersfield & Plymouth messing up yesterday and a good opportunity to turnover Stevenage on Tuesday - none of them make me think at the moment that they are better than us. Folk seem to change their opinion from week to week. No doubt it’s Luton’s turn at the moment - but they’ve a lot to do to get there and they’ve had some really dodgy games and spells throughout the season. So I don’t know how anyone can call a team out for being play off favourites. Who’s your prediction to win the play-offs and why?

To add to the circular discussions, your contribution also adds to the same paradoxical debate! The haters aren’t going to stop hating. I’m not going to stop calling out the haters and you are not going to stop calling out those calling out the haters! As @gonzo and @Traf pointed out it’s a massive over-reaction from some. And it wakens up those who have a personal agenda against players (and quite frankly all things BWFC), quiet after victories, but guaranteed to be repeating their doom after a defeat. You talk about being in a pub and I get it and I’d say the same to them face-to-face. “Change your tune you miserable bastard” (not you! 😂) before going on to debate with them - just like on here. That’s what we do 🤷‍♂️ I just think the debate after a defeat from some can have a little bit more depth and balance than “Johnston’s shit” “Sheehans shit” “The manager is clueless” etc etc…. Everytime

That seems bonkers! I’d snap your hand off now if someone said you can take playing Spurs next season!! 🤷‍♂️

It’s a big game this. One thing we have done well this season, is respond after a bad result. It needs to happen again. A win on Tuesday against a potential play-off rival would be a good response to yesterday.

It’s Groundhog Day after every result that doesn’t go our way. Every player gets grief, those posters who have their pet player hate come out of hiding to call Johnston shit, Sheehan shit, Schumachers shit, fans know better, play-off failure is ahead. While I don’t think those posters want us to lose, there’s a definite coping mechanism in posting on social media to call out their negative opinion, to make them feel big/better/controversial, almost as if they can’t wait to post their negative thoughts to be proven right - I’ve always found it strange, each to their own

That would be the most typical of WWs reactions! Up as champions, but the doubters are claiming that was the bare minimum, I’m pissed off we didn’t with the Vertu trophy and play Man Utd on the 3rd round of the FA Cup 😂

I like it. You have to try different things. And I’m really pleased that they are trying new/different things to grow an already brilliant fan-base. …however the reality is we already have a shit-load of kids tickets that don’t get used in mid-week home games. Ive got a couple I’ll give away for free 😂

All footballers are uber-confident in their own ability/confidence. There’s fuck all chance that some are out there thinking “I’d prefer Bolton to fuck-up this season because I know I’m not good enough for the league above and it’s better for me, because I’ll continue earning a decent corn from this club in L1”.

Back end of last year he played lots of them. Off the top of my head I remember Big Dave, Inwood, Lawrence, Sharples-Ahmed, Hutchinson. Seen some of them this year too along with Smith, Irwin, Ritchie? Think you’re off the mark calling that one out.