5 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

If Forrester were match fit, he'd have almost certainly have started instead

2 minutes ago, Stig said:

He's far too weak to play a CB role and doesn't have the positional sense. Today, against the worst team in the league, he could push forward, but against better teams he can't play there.

No doubt. But he did fine today.

Can only think/hope we will play in midfield on Tuesday.

So back to 2 upfront. But I think he should mix the combinations up Vic and Charles are both 'number 9s' and Collins and McAtee more 'number 10s' or second forwards. 
 

It make sense imo to play one of Vic and Dion and one of Collins and McAtee. I get they will have tried different combos in training but it just seems mixing the options might work better IMO. 

They will wipe the floor with us 

2 minutes ago, tomski said:

They will wipe the floor with us 

It’s a free hit for us… I think we’ll give them a real test. 

2 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

It’s a free hit for us… I think we’ll give them a real test. 

Are you serious? This is how pathetic we’ve become. How’s this a free hit. 
 

We will bring Arfield on 70 min and Collins maybe 

Just now, tomski said:

Are you serious? This is how pathetic we’ve become. How’s this a free hit. 
 

We will bring Arfield on 70 min and Collins maybe 

It’s a free hit because they’re a championship quality team in all but name, and because no one gives us a prayer. 

1 minute ago, Mounts Kipper said:

It’s a free hit because they’re a championship quality team in all but name, and because no one gives us a prayer. 

Wow. They are in the same league and 9 points ahead. I agree we will rollover as Evatt is a gimp who can’t handle the occasion.

That said we should never go to Birmingham and think we are on a hiding. 

 

 

4 hours ago, tomski said:

Wow. They are in the same league and 9 points ahead. I agree we will rollover as Evatt is a gimp who can’t handle the occasion.

That said we should never go to Birmingham and think we are on a hiding. 

 

 

I don’t, it’s you who thinks we are. 

Edited October 20, 20241 yr by Mounts Kipper

6 hours ago, Mounts Kipper said:

I don’t, it’s you who thinks we are. 

Yeah and no. How we will line up and be predictable etc. 
 

Shouldnt be that way though.

This “free hit” debate is an interesting one.

I see both sides. I agree with @tomski no way should we be going here thinking Bolton can’t and shouldn’t be able to compete against another L1 team, whoever that is.

But I also get that this game alone shouldn’t be where we make a case for Evatt staying/going (unless we get absolutely mullered by them and it looks like the players aren’t playing for him) 

I think this game alongside those before and after in this block of 10/12 we talked about will give us a good indicator as to whether we are promotion material or not.

On its own, I’m really looking forward to it. Big crowd, 2nd City, the 2 biggest clubs in the division going head to head. I think our end will be rocking - in complete contrast to yesterday. 

Will have a big game atmosphere. Defo

The target should still be top 2 

The idea of a free hit is nonsense 

Arsenal away was a free hit

Brum away is most definitely not

We should and can give them a game 

They haven't battered anyone and only kept 2 clean sheets 

All that money and Keshi Anderson plays for them

If we turn up we are good enough to beat them.

at home they have been good, coming from behind 3 times and winning 2. 
 

(Wrexham and Peterborough)

equalised late against reading and scored late to beat Huddersfield.

I think playing away will suit us better. They certainly won’t sit back, so should be a decent game.

1 hour ago, desperado said:

This “free hit” debate is an interesting one.

I see both sides. I agree with @tomski no way should we be going here thinking Bolton can’t and shouldn’t be able to compete against another L1 team, whoever that is.

But I also get that this game alone shouldn’t be where we make a case for Evatt staying/going (unless we get absolutely mullered by them and it looks like the players aren’t playing for him) 

I think this game alongside those before and after in this block of 10/12 we talked about will give us a good indicator as to whether we are promotion material or not.

On its own, I’m really looking forward to it. Big crowd, 2nd City, the 2 biggest clubs in the division going head to head. I think our end will be rocking - in complete contrast to yesterday. 

I think Englands 3rd city now population wise behind London and Manchester so it wasn’t only relegation to L1 in 2023 🤣

22 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

I think Englands 3rd city now population wise behind London and Manchester so it wasn’t only relegation to L1 in 2023 🤣

The city of Manchester's population is roughly half of Birmingham's

Edited October 20, 20241 yr by Lt. Aldo Raine

7 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

The city of Manchester's population is roughly half of Birmingham's

Yes,  he probably means Greater Manchester had a larger population than the West Midlands at the last census.

There is enough in our armoury to give them trouble, but the defence worries me, the personnel changes with injuries etc, but the result is the same, lack of leadership and organisation. A back three stretched across the pitch which enables intelligent players to find little gaps. Set piece defending is woeful too. It needs a lot of work to remedy. 

I am looking forward to the game just to see how good they are supposed to be, but knowing Bolton we could come away with a scabby draw.

2 hours ago, desperado said:

This “free hit” debate is an interesting one.  

This "free hit" debate is bollocks.

It's fucking Birmingham City, a fellow League 1 team. It's not Manchester City.

Granted, they are possibly the best side in  the division and have the biggest budget, but to say this is a "free hit", as if they should be playing Champions League, rather than League 1, is a bit embarrassing. 

It won't be a free hit if they hit 5 or 6.

26 minutes ago, DazBob said:

This "free hit" debate is bollocks.

It's fucking Birmingham City, a fellow League 1 team. It's not Manchester City.

Granted, they are possibly the best side in  the division and have the biggest budget, but to say this is a "free hit", as if they should be playing Champions League, rather than League 1, is a bit embarrassing. 

Well it is a debate because more than one person has used the phrase, so is of that opinion and different to yours, hence us discussing a selection of different viewpoints 😂

Not me for the record as I stated earlier. I concur that we should be seeking out a positive result at any L1 club.

Nice to see they agree, going there to win the game

Edited October 20, 20241 yr by desperado

It's pretty shit we've gone from being favourites for league going in to that pompey away game and should've come away with a result to now being shit scared of a trip to brum

14 minutes ago, desperado said:

Well it is a debate because more than one person has used the phrase, so is of that opinion and different to yours, hence us discussing a selection of different viewpoints 😂

Not me for the record as I stated earlier. I concur that we should be seeking out a positive result at any L1 club.

It wasn't aimed at you pal. 

No game in this league is a free hit.

A free hit gives management & players to take the foot off the gas and fuck up without recrimination.

If we give it 100% and get hammered, so be it, but we play to our levels we can beat them.

1 minute ago, gonzo said:

It's pretty shit we've gone from being favourites for league going in to that pompey away game and should've come away with a result to now being shit scared of a trip to brum

I don’t think we are pal. 

The management aren’t as above. large majority of the 2k going won’t be.

Even those who have used this phrase “free hit”  @Mounts Kipper @Wanderlust @marple whites , especially marple and mounts, but I’ll let them speak for themselves, are not in any way trying to downplay our status or expecting us to lose.

Just that in terms all the games we will play this year, this is probably the toughest on paper and not one we should be confirming Evatts tenure as manager on.