Leyton Orient (A)

[paulhanley]

15 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

McAtee, Matete & Arfield suggest 'being bullied' may not be quite so easy this season.

Combinations of Matete, Thomason, Dempsey suggest we might be able to go "dogs of war" in midfield sometimes. Arfield too to some degree though he won't cover ground as well or for as long as the others. None are out and out hard men but all have energy and can put their foot in. It's a different prospect and it might help us close games out better when ahead and dig in when under the cosh.

[woolli]

It wasnt pretty, but a wins a win, especially when you get it away from home.

[Johnnyrotten]

5 minutes ago, woolli said:

It wasnt pretty, but a wins a win, especially when you get it away from home.

We've had plenty of away games that weren't pretty and we didn't win (eg Burton 1-1 and Reading 1-2 around a year ago) so I think all Bolton fans would settle for this every away game! 

Hopefully home games contain a bit more of the pretty stuff and chances/shots especially against lower teams.

[gonzo]

We played loads of nice football at Derby, Portsmouth & Wigan. Lost em all.

Let's just be shithouses and enjoy it.

[wanderer1984]

8 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

 

The Devil's advocate in me would say.....

Was he creating space for others though? It's an interesting theory that I have some sympathy with but I suspect his time is almost up, now that we have recruited players with better stats than Sheehan, who IMO has done very little since the first half of last season creatively. Despite his excellent start last year, his numbers tailed off once he started to be targeted (around the time he played for Wales) and he ended up with just 2 goals and 12 assists in the league - nearly all of which were from before he was targeted. Yesterday, his passes/pass completion was not at all impressive for someone who is given the ball so much.

Love the guy but he's been sussed and defensively he's a liability IMO as he doesn't tackle well, can't keep up with runners when he needs to track back leaving others exposed and is useless defending set pieces. Even Dion - our striker - does more defensively than midfielder Josh.

Yesterday I thought he was occupying just 1 player at a time who took no shit off him and fouled him regularly. Doesn't take much to put Sheehan off his stride - just a nudge or two here and there and rotating the player on him so nobody gets into trouble. As folk commented during the game, Sheehan was on his arse for most of the time. Won a few FKs TBF but all the momentum was lost and their defence had time to reset. Iles rated him 5.5/10 and I thought that was generous.

Sadly, Josh had been worked out by the end of last season and I'd be surprised if any team is going to give him time and space again. Last season he had to go deeper and deeper to find time and space, but we're not playing that system any more. IMO he will just continue to struggle to get into games and he lacks the physicality to impose himself - a factor which is also detrimental to the team when we are out of possession. We can no longer afford to focus the majority of our attacking creativity through one or two players - it has to come from everyone so it's not too easy to deal with and we've recruited accordingly.

If he is one of the first names on the teamsheet this season - and given Evatt's fondness of him that is possible - I can see him become one of the most substituted players as his influence on games is on the decline and he is increasingly a liability out of possession. But surely the club will monitor his stats?

I hope he proves me wrong, but now we have options other than bringing Morley on to do much of the same and as Evatt alluded to - he's looking to bring power, pace and energy on instead. Whether we persist with Josh to start games or not we'll see but he will need to produce a lot more than he has recently to justify it IMO given that ""creativity" is his only asset and now we have others who can do that.

 

Won't be helped that we're now playing with 2 CM's instead of 3. Noticed yesterday that he wasn't able to play his usual game. Might be a one off ... we'll have to wait and see.

[Johnnyrotten]

10 minutes ago, gonzo said:

We played loads of nice football at Derby, Portsmouth & Wigan. Lost em all.

Let's just be shithouses and enjoy it.

TBH I didn't see us being shithouses yesterday (unless it happened in injury time when Sky died!), we just had the fortune needed at some crucial points of the game.  It just makes a nice change to be on the right side of fortune/good saves etc for once, in contrast to the 3 matches you mention and Blackpool mainly.  

[Dr. Feelgood]

Proper shithousery would have seen 8+ players round that fckr who tried to break Lolos' leg, with one shaking him , Taggart like, off the ground gently by the throat.

But it was still a less genteel approach than we're used to.

[Wanderlust]

5 hours ago, gonzo said:

He's not gonna shag you mate

That's just sour grapes because I turned you down.

[Stig]

4 hours ago, thebells said:

People complaining will be the same ones who were demanding a plan B all close season. 

Yesterday, we started with a different formation to last season AND adjusted tactically during the game. The perfect example of plan B. I’m wondering at what point Evatt will be given his due credit for that. 

As I’ve said before, people are quick to shout plan B when we lose, but not to acknowledge it’s existence when we win  

(Not aimed at you by the way 😊)

I wouldn't be so triumphalist tbh. A flukey win isn't the time for it.

Hard to judge after one game but the formation change is more a tweak of one midfielder further back and one pushed forward, not the 3 up top we've seen glimpses of pre season.

The tactical changes for plan B amounted to going to the 3 up top as the formation suggested. I'm not sure Arfield is the answer in a 3 up top at any point.

This isn't me being negative. It was a great win away from home, but we didn't play well and to dress it up as tactical genius from Evatt isn't credible.

[noxid]

Any update on Lolos?

[Tonge moor green jacket]

21 minutes ago, Stig said:

I wouldn't be so triumphalist tbh. A flukey win isn't the time for it.

Hard to judge after one game but the formation change is more a tweak of one midfielder further back and one pushed forward, not the 3 up top we've seen glimpses of pre season.

The tactical changes for plan B amounted to going to the 3 up top as the formation suggested. I'm not sure Arfield is the answer in a 3 up top at any point.

This isn't me being negative. It was a great win away from home, but we didn't play well and to dress it up as tactical genius from Evatt isn't credible.

I'd agree with the Arfield bit, though I wonder if it was to provide flexibility and toughness if needed.

Also remember it's early days, and new lads to come in.

Also a fair injury list (as usual).

Certainly some tactical changes, and that has come from the coaching guys so some recognition isn't untoward.

[Casino]

21 minutes ago, noxid said:

Any update on Lolos?

I think first update will be, its bruising and swelling and we need to wait for that to go down and then he can have a scan

On that subject, modern shinpads, wtf

[Dr. Feelgood]

16 minutes ago, Casino said:

On that subject, modern shinpads, wtf

Did you see McAtee's total lack of them ? ... & socks barely above the ankles.

[Leyther_Matt]

21 minutes ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Did you see McAtee's total lack of them ? ... & socks barely above the ankles.

The rules dictate that he’ll have worn them in some format, but even ones the size of a matchbox are permitted.

Weird considering when I was a kid I wore big fuckers with ankle protectors and all sorts. 

[Dr. Feelgood]

Definitely matchbox size.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

7 hours ago, Leyther_Matt said:

The rules dictate that he’ll have worn them in some format, but even ones the size of a matchbox are permitted.

Weird considering when I was a kid I wore big fuckers with ankle protectors and all sorts. 

Aye, me too.

At uni, I had those with the elasticated angle jog attached to the pad.

Really good, and didn't find them uncomfortable. 

[desperado]

9 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

I'd agree with the Arfield bit, though I wonder if it was to provide flexibility and toughness if needed.

My assessment of him Saturday was in the just “ok” bracket. Others shone brighter than him from a wow factor on the day.

But on reflection, having watched him live, he was definitely organising and leading, he was vocal and he was often involved in getting the mid-fielders to re-shape when we lost the ball.

So maybe his influence isn’t going to be as evident as others and a lot of the off-the-ball stuff he does is going to be an important part of the role he plays. 

Started 1 game and a 1 win registered for him (and any other of the players who played) is a good opening stat.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

👍

Why he was brought in!

[ianofcleveleys]

4 minutes ago, desperado said:

My assessment of him Saturday was in the just “ok” bracket. Others shone brighter than him from a wow factor on the day.

But on reflection, having watched him live, he was definitely organising and leading, he was vocal and he was often involved in getting the mid-fielders to re-shape when we lost the ball.

So maybe his influence isn’t going to be as evident as others and a lot of the off-the-ball stuff he does is going to be an important part of the role he plays. 

Started 1 game and a 1 win registered for him (and any other of the players who played) is a good opening stat.

Although he wasn't so obviously vocal, we missed the experience and nouse of Keiran Lee last season, can see Arfield's main purpose being to replace that

[VividDreamer]

14 hours ago, bolty58 said:

I'll let you decide. 

Hints - look for those who make no allowance for shaking off the rust in the first game of a new season; can't simply rejoice at an opening game away win at what I reckon will prove a tough opponent for many; follow football to stoke their melancholia rather than for the sheer ecstasy (and sometimes agony) which is the essence of the game we love.

Fuck it - you and a couple of others.

Sorry that I hurt your feelings 

[gonzo]

3 hours ago, desperado said:

My assessment of him Saturday was in the just “ok” bracket. Others shone brighter than him from a wow factor on the day.

But on reflection, having watched him live, he was definitely organising and leading, he was vocal and he was often involved in getting the mid-fielders to re-shape when we lost the ball.

So maybe his influence isn’t going to be as evident as others and a lot of the off-the-ball stuff he does is going to be an important part of the role he plays. 

Started 1 game and a 1 win registered for him (and any other of the players who played) is a good opening stat.

He seemed to be part of the front 3 to me which I'm not sure I'd like to see again. 

Get him in the middle sat deeper sorting stuff out. 

[radcliffe white]

30 minutes ago, gonzo said:

He seemed to be part of the front 3 to me which I'm not sure I'd like to see again. 

Get him in the middle sat deeper sorting stuff out. 

He slowed the game down for me and I don’t think we will see him in that position again 

[bolty58]

4 hours ago, VividDreamer said:

Sorry that I hurt your feelings 

 Pack it in. I think I've worked out who this is. You little tinker 

A STD response from VD.

Edited August 12, 2024 by bolty58

[Wanderlust]

19 hours ago, wanderer1984 said:

Won't be helped that we're now playing with 2 CM's instead of 3. Noticed yesterday that he wasn't able to play his usual game. Might be a one off ... we'll have to wait and see.

I don't think he's been allowed time on the ball for the last few months. Stop him spraying it around and he has little else to offer unfortunately.

[VividDreamer]

3 hours ago, bolty58 said:

 Pack it in. I think I've worked out who this is. You little tinker 

A STD response from VD.

what you on about pal