Crawley Town (A)

[athywhite1958]

I would have put Collins on for Victor after 60 minutes to give him a bit of time with Dion

[ianofcleveleys]

A good solid win in the sort of game we've slipped up in before, they were limited in final third but we defended a lot better from front to back and looked dangerous enough on break. Having Collins and McAtee to come on for the late shift when opponents are tiring is a huge plus, as long as they're happy to play that role. 

As said elsewhere in the thread, noticeable how we were better at 'game managing' today, good to see, needs to become a habit. Thomason as skipper works well as, with him being in that midfield area he can get about the ref, protect team mates, give a bit out to opponents better than Santos could from the back. That Williams of theirs was an absolute twat, second only to the ref who was utter shite 

Plenty of good steady performances but Dempsey was just about my pick, scored, hit bar and set the tone with energy, runs and combat. Dion was a proper handful too, especially first half. 

[Stig]

19 minutes ago, Hoppy said:

If we can now start to keep clean sheets and get a couple of goals in the next 3 games we r back on track still think 2nd place will be up for grabs once Wrexham run out of steam

It's going to be a real bun fight for second. Lots of decent teams this year. For us to even be in the mix of autos we need to somehow start beating the good teams.

Will probably be quite a low points total needed for second though with everyone taking points off one another.

[Johnnyrotten]

35 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

A good solid win in the sort of game we've slipped up in before, they were limited in final third but we defended a lot better from front to back and looked dangerous enough on break. Having Collins and McAtee to come on for the late shift when opponents are tiring is a huge plus, as long as they're happy to play that role. 

As said elsewhere in the thread, noticeable how we were better at 'game managing' today, good to see, needs to become a habit. Thomason as skipper works well as, with him being in that midfield area he can get about the ref, protect team mates, give a bit out to opponents better than Santos could from the back. That Williams of theirs was an absolute twat, second only to the ref who was utter shite 

Plenty of good steady performances but Dempsey was just about my pick, scored, hit bar and set the tone with energy, runs and combat. Dion was a proper handful too, especially first half. 

Is that the first "we'd have lost that last season"? 😀  Agreed on the bonus of bringing Collins/McAtee on, personally I'd start with Collins every day of the week but if we're winning I don't care if we start with Coleman up front. 

Just on Tomo, I'm all for him being captain when playing, I just hope it doesn't guarantee him a start.  I know what he can do when on form with his range of passing and energy, but I don't think he's playing well ATM.  And that booking today was him back to his reckless self, if/when Matete gets back to form and Tomo is under performing, it will be interesting to see if he's still undroppable.

Agreed on Dempsey (and of course Dion first half was best he's been for months).  Dempsey looks like the best goalscoring option from midfield by a mile - he can finish, he can actually jump to win a header and direct it towards goal, and he's hit the underside of the bar twice with great shots as well as scoring 2 in the last 2 games.  Added to his industry he has to be first midfielder on teamsheet for the foreseeable.   

Edited September 28, 2024 by Johnnyrotten

[TM Trotter]

40 minutes ago, Hoppy said:

If we can now start to keep clean sheets and get a couple of goals in the next 3 games we r back on track still think 2nd place will be up for grabs once Wrexham run out of steam

I honestly don't think Wrexham will come close to automatics over the full season. I'm more concerned about Charlton and Stockport, personally. 

---

Anyway, cracking result against a side that looked quite impressive on the ball and were very, erm, snappy off it. The kind of game we'd have struggled to take 3 points from last year.

Solid at the back, a constant threat going forward - and with fuck-all possession. Plan 2.0, nice. 

[Johnnyrotten]

7 minutes ago, TM Trotter said:

I honestly don't think Wrexham will come close to automatics over the full season. I'm more concerned about Charlton and Stockport, personally. 

---

Anyway, cracking result against a side that looked quite impressive on the ball and were very, erm, snappy off it. The kind of game we'd have struggled to take 3 points from last year.

Solid at the back, a constant threat going forward - and with fuck-all possession. Plan 2.0, nice. 

I can never work out why Charlton get talked up so much, they always look poor when I see them.  Even when they beat us I thought we handed them the game.  They've lost as many games as us this season now.  Mid table as usual IMO.

[Tonge moor green jacket]

2 hours ago, tomski said:

Good win

😁

Damned with faint praise!

1 hour ago, Ani said:

He did get done a couple of times, but that happens, there more incidents where he got in and won the ball and set us forward. The second goal best example.

I do not join in the pile on that JDC gets at times but he is a lot more passive in defence. Schon was much than he has been today. 

Quite right there: there won't be a premier league defender that wins every challenge, and doesn't get beaten once in the game, this weekend.

Forwards and wingers are allowed their moments too!

Anyway.

Decided to do curries for tea again, and they've won. Not a 100% record this, but must be quite high!

[worthy10]

Big Vic fails to impress me; He will sometimes hold it up well with his back to goal. And I know he had the shot in the 1st half. But, he can't head it, run forward with it or tackle. Very limited in what he offers, tires defenders out maybe?

I dread to think what he would do in a 30yard clear run on goal? He is so eager to get rid because he surely knows he is so limited. Poles apart from the attacking skills of Charles, Collins and mcatee.

[gonzo]

7 minutes ago, worthy10 said:

Big Vic fails to impress me; He will sometimes hold it up well with his back to goal. And I know he had the shot in the 1st half. But, he can't head it, run forward with it or tackle. Very limited in what he offers, tires defenders out maybe?

I dread to think what he would do in a 30yard clear run on goal? He is so eager to get rid because he surely knows he is so limited. Poles apart from the attacking skills of Charles, Collins and mcatee.

It's a strange phenomenon as we seem to win more football matches when he's in the team despite his obvious limitations.

[worthy10]

6 minutes ago, gonzo said:

It's a strange phenomenon as we seem to win more football matches when he's in the team despite his obvious limitations.

Im not aware of that stat? Maybe?

Edited September 28, 2024 by worthy10

[victor meldrew]

Back in newton le willows at 6pm

[mickbrown]

9 minutes ago, victor meldrew said:

Back in newton le willows at 6pm

Condolences 😜

[little whitt]

8 minutes ago, victor meldrew said:

Back in newton le willows at 6pm

Fuck me what where you doing 120mph

its 240 mile

[tomski]

1 hour ago, ianofcleveleys said:

A good solid win in the sort of game we've slipped up in before, they were limited in final third but we defended a lot better from front to back and looked dangerous enough on break. Having Collins and McAtee to come on for the late shift when opponents are tiring is a huge plus, as long as they're happy to play that role. 

As said elsewhere in the thread, noticeable how we were better at 'game managing' today, good to see, needs to become a habit. Thomason as skipper works well as, with him being in that midfield area he can get about the ref, protect team mates, give a bit out to opponents better than Santos could from the back. That Williams of theirs was an absolute twat, second only to the ref who was utter shite 

Plenty of good steady performances but Dempsey was just about my pick, scored, hit bar and set the tone with energy, runs and combat. Dion was a proper handful too, especially first half. 

Not sure I agree with this. 

[whiteboy]

3 hours ago, boltonboris said:

Enjoyed that performance. Everything we've not been this season.

We controlled the game without the ball, to coin a Freedman Phrase and looked dangerous when we broke. Schon looked like the player we though we'd signed. Aggressive, intense and got us going down that side. Sheehan was excellent and the back 3, whilst not hugely challenged did everything well. Johnston went almost unnoticed, which is no bad thing when you're playing at centre back.

The thing I'm most happy about is that their fans would have walked out of that stadium thinking "Bolton are a right bunch of shithouses", which is a long time coming. Got about the ref, bought fouls, made tactical fouls, killed the clock and wound them up. Love it

McAtee's goal was brilliant. From back to front and that finish... Bang..

Wasn't pretty (doesn't have to be) and there'll be bigger challenges for sure, but another step in the right direction.

Nice win but that isnt the game I watched 

[wakey]

Fair play to whoever arranged the midweek friendly at Arsenal to prepare us for Crawley's passing game.

[masi 51]

Well i never expected that.........Not the result but how we changed from a possession based team to one that sat back and hit them on the break.

Do not think Crawley could ever dictate play because they had better players than us.........We went out there today with a gameplan i have not seen Evatt implement before.

Let them have the ball and keep shape...They did not have the quality to get behind us and because they had the ball they pushed players up. That in turn left gaps at the back which  Charles and Dempsey exploited

I give Evatt shite when  he gets pig headed and does n ot change..............Today i have to give him credit

[FrancisFogarty]

2 hours ago, athywhite1958 said:

I would have put Collins on for Victor after 60 minutes to give him a bit of time with Dion

You know like for like substituting is for the 70th minute Athy. Not just willy nilly tinkering.

[Zico]

5 hours ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Well, that sort of proves my point. He bought them, so fckg play them.

He did and they combined for the second goal 

I'm not sure what your point is

[noxid]

Northampton will be totally confused as to how we'll set up on Tuesday and that's how it should be. Less predictable and more flexible. Well done Ian for switching it around and swallowing your pride. Sign of a good leader. 

[victor meldrew]

1 hour ago, mickbrown said:

Condolences 😜

I don’t live there, but it is better than most parts of Bolton 

[barrycowdrill]

Solid win, another confidence boost, strikers needing one seem to be getting one at the min. Just Vic to go now and a clean sheet which will do the other end the world of good. 
 

Next 3 before Brum (as Stevenage will be off) are on paper similar type of games. 

always judge the table after 10-12 games. Onwards and upwards. 

[Roger_Dubuis]

Thought Crawley were garbage, did think a Hungarian international would impress in the 3rd Division.Don't get why this match was available on my Sky box but the match at Orient wasn't.

[only1swanny]

Missed the start on sky as someone drove into my car,  listening on radio and they made out that Charles was immense, 

That ref wants auditing as he let them get away with alsorts 

[Cheshire Youri]

2 hours ago, worthy10 said:

Big Vic fails to impress me; He will sometimes hold it up well with his back to goal. And I know he had the shot in the 1st half. But, he can't head it, run forward with it or tackle. Very limited in what he offers, tires defenders out maybe?

I dread to think what he would do in a 30yard clear run on goal? He is so eager to get rid because he surely knows he is so limited. Poles apart from the attacking skills of Charles, Collins and mcatee.

He had a 30-yard run at goal last season (at home, no idea against who). Dispossessed a defender, ran straight up the middle and slotted it home.

Think it was the only goal of the game.

Just checked - home game against cheltenham.

Not saying he's Pele, but can be capable when given the chance.