Eagle85

The difference ACD makes cannot be understated, and I dont just mean the goals. I often think our squad can freeze a bit in the high pressure situations, with nobody seeming to take responsibility. HIs determination and work rate both out of possession and also in position constantly looking for space is exceptional. Not only has it driven the team forward but I'd imagine it makes it easier for others to find space on the back of the chaos he causes the opposition.

Not exactly sure why but hearing about football teams losing loads of money has always stressed me out, even more so after what happened to us a few years ago. I'd give anything for some kind of salary cap on overall wages spend to prevent these kinds of losses, with it being increased as a percentage of your incoming gate receipts. That way there is still a hierachy same as now with bigger clubs having a slight advantage but it gets the smaller clubs a bit closer. And a rugby league style incentive of any youth players coming through your system you get some of their wages at a discount towards the cap. It's impossible though as it would have to be a worldwide thing or else all talent would just move abroad.

Also the rest of league one this year. Huddersfield and Luton with similar expectations finding it tough. Plymouth a disaster all year and now on a great run once it seemed like any chance of promotion was off the table so pressure was gone. The current top 2 include a team nobody expected and the other, whilst a big(ish) club, still get poor crowds for an established championship team that's been top for most of the season. Big clubs with similar expectations promoted from league 1 last few years - Sunderland needed playoffs, Sheff Weds needed playoffs, Derby needed multiple ugly/nervy 1-0 wins to scrape 2nd. Birmingham last year the obvious exception.

I think we underestimate how much pressure there is playing for a club as big as ours in the current level, with such a demand on expectations. I think it makes it much harder for players and managers to achieve with those demands. Look at this season so far - Our players know that too many sideways/backwards passes or small mistakes, particular against poor teams with low blocks, will invite pressure from the fans. This might explain our first half performances. I also think we are so good at late comebacks because when behind with a few minutes left you can't overthink things and have to go for it. It then becomes an automatic response rather than a thought process so thoughts of the bigger picture briefly go out the window. If this is part of the problem I know the obvious answer is to have staff and players that can handle it, but then how much do you compromise quality, and how easy is it to spot who will be able to cope and who won't.

Very late to the party catching up with this thread but that pass you mentioned almost made me melt in my seat. Sublime stuff.

With the exception of those that have genuine reasons, so many of our fans leaving early was shocking. Especially considering how many late goals we've got although that should be irrelevant. As an example theres one guy who sits near me who always leaves around 60-70 mins when we're losing, muttering that hes had enough as he storms off. He's missed all our late goals this season, and I'm not exaggerating, every single one. Today he left at half time. Injury time winners are the best bit of football by a mile, how can someone repeatedly deny themselves the possibility of seeing it just because they cant handle a bit of adversity. Absolute madness.

That last 10 minutes was something truly special. What an entertaining season this has been so far. Seemed to me that coming off the back of a 5-1 away win and creating a clear cut chance in the first minutes our lads thought this would be easy street. There was no desire to do the basics or show any level of fight early on. I knew we'd be ok 2nd half after a rollocking but being 2 down makes it so difficult. Not keen on booing the team at HT but felt it was warranted today as it was clear a massive wake up call was needed. Thought SS had messed up with the triple subs as it seemed we were on top and it took the steam out of things, I know being 2-0 down at home hes got to be seen to be going for it but leaving us with no central midfield was crazy, thought we would lose by 4 or 5 but what do I know. Well played to all involved. Absolutely buzzing.

+ Dalby sensational, his improvement over the last few games has been remarkable. + It's been a bit grim down the Reebok recently but the atmosphere on Saturday was brilliant. Added to such an exciting game. + We did really well to hang on. Their first was one of those things that happens, maybe SS could have reacted after that but it was hard to imagine them really threatening after that first half. They were always going to have the best of it late on with such a massive momentum swing so fair play for showing the fight needed. - Referee/Linesman for that keeper handball. Absolute joke, bang in line with it 15 yards away. Probs not giving it because deciding on a red or yellow would be (understandably) too difficult a decision. - Gale. 3-2 up with under 20 mins left. I know grafting and discipline isn't his bag but good players adapt and do whats needed. Just stayed wide waiting for those skill moments. Shows he cares more about himself than the team.

- Signing any proven goalscorer in January is always an unrealistic ask as the price will be massively inflated and likely unaffordable. It's about signing a player that has the potential to score based on what you're trying to do so its always an educated guess from the manager/scouts. I'm glad we've not lowered ourself to desperately signing injured players though (Hardie), even though that might have been the best option. - Mcatee has looked really sharp recently, was that to try and engineer a move away or fighting for his place? Hopefully the latter. Really think he can make a difference but might lose his head if back on the bench. - A nice mix of power (CBT,Dalby), speed (Mcatee, Kenny, CBT), and skill (Rubes, Apter). Good to have different ways to attack. As always there's no guarantee of success, but that's a great window compared to what we've been used to recently. Very excited moving forward.

Only time I've ever cried as a Bolton fan as well for exactly the same reason. How did this thread get so depressing all of a sudden, came on here to get excited about new transfers 🤣

Iredale slowly walking over to take that corner when 2-0 down somewhere around 70 mins is probably the most angry I've ever been as a Bolton fan.

Aye fair point I've probably stereotyped them a bit there based on last few seasons.

You might be referring to me there as I said something along those lines and not seen anything else. Not sure why you're having a dig at that, it was just a theory and a fair point for discussion especially as lots were questioning why SS was using different methods to the one that got him promoted with Plymouth. I would imagine in all interviews the board will ask the manager how he is likely to go about things from a playing perspective. It totally makes business sense that a better style would attract more fans, particularly casuals and therefore more revenue. Obviously it doesn't trump winning but it comes a close 2nd for a lot of people.

+ Dalbys biggest critic me but was MOM by a mile. Linked play up well, pressed well and still managed to get into the place where it counts to get those scruffy goals that we have been lacking over the last few seasons. Still slow as hell not easy to watch but If he plays like that everyone around him will find it easier and have more success. + Another injury time winner, been so many this season, nothing better. + Seeing an anti-football team get what they deserve after getting their hopes up of a point. + Erhahon really good again, that 3-5-2 bringing out the better side of Forino and Demps. - Awful to watch, which to be fair was expected missing Sheehan and ACD whilst playing against such a shithouse team on a cold January evening. - Our defenders looking confused at what to do against the low block as though its a massive surprise that is happening.

Sorry for giving myself a plug, but think this is exactly what we saw in the first half yesterday. A terrified bunch of players trying to knock it about low on confidence knowing that the fans will be on their back as soon as they make an error. Higher tempo 2nd half which turned the game into a bit of a lottery but thankfully we came out on the right side. Playing it faster makes things a bit more instinctive which probably helped the players get out of their own heads. Great to get a win not playing well. Gutted about ACD though, might not be on the best form but his hard work alone will be a big miss. Erhahon was good, strange that he usually gets subbed off around 65-70 even when playing well, suggesting he isn't fit enough, but was still pressing well deep into injury time yesterday.