Stockport County (H)

[Eagle85]

Surprised by how poor we were yesterday, got my hopes up beforehand that it would end up well.

We're missing Rico badly. Forino in that 1-v-1 in the first 10 mins, got to the ball first and still managed it so that it should have ended up either a red card or a goal for them. You know if Rico is in that situation its not even a worry that he will sort it. Makes it easier for the rest of the team knowing you can leave him alone back there as well.

Still not seeing it with Randall, think he might be good as a bit of creativity in an already solid team but he just enhances our weaknesses. Hard to know if SS is a fan or not might feel slightly under pressure to play him due to the cost.

Stockport were decent, but don't think we were the better side overall which is a bit of a concern.

 

 

[desperado]

8 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

"license to go into midfield" is a strange one. 

Explained by the gaffer:

The Bolton boss made a surprising tactical call for Saturday’s game, dropping Newcastle United loanee Alex Murphy from the squad and moving his captain into the back three.

Speaking about the move after the 1-0 defeat, Schumacher said it had been a move he had been planning to make all week.

He said: “We looked at them on Wednesday and they played the last game against Charlton in that sort of shape, where they roll the wide player in, almost like a box.

“We decided that to to play a midfield player who was comfortable stepping in and closing them down, going man-for-man in those areas, was an idea.

“Also, with them playing with two centre-forwards, there is always a spare centre-back, and having George, who is a midfield player, being able to step out wide and run forward and create, gives you a chance as well.

“That was the reason – and I thought George did well in the game.”

[deeane Koontz]

18 hours ago, gonzo said:

I'm not having him yet mate

Theres more tackle in my glove box right now.

He's everything we don't need.

Aye, Hope it somehow works out. Don't think I've seen a more flimsy looking player looks all of 7 stone.

[SalCity Biggie]

I'm just hoping Schumacher knows his best 11 soon and starts playing them so they can gel together for the playoff push, can't be doing them any favours playing and then getting dropped, but he did say they needed a break and the international break will do them some good.

Onwards we push

[L/H White]

15 minutes ago, SalCity Biggie said:

I'm just hoping Schumacher knows his best 11 soon and starts playing them so they can gel together for the playoff push, can't be doing them any favours playing and then getting dropped, but he did say they needed a break and the international break will do them some good.

Onwards we push

who's on international duty?

Toal and Sheehan?

probably the 2 we least want playing extra games

Edited March 17, 2025 by L/H White

[gonzo]

Hope Toal misses his flight home

[Tonge moor green jacket]

1 hour ago, SalCity Biggie said:

I'm just hoping Schumacher knows his best 11 soon and starts playing them so they can gel together for the playoff push, can't be doing them any favours playing and then getting dropped, but he did say they needed a break and the international break will do them some good.

Onwards we push

Certainly an argument towards that, but we aren't good enough yet to impose ourselves on every opponent, with a given 11 (or 13/14) as a main squad.

Some consistency lacking.

[Eddie]

1 hour ago, SalCity Biggie said:

I'm just hoping Schumacher knows his best 11 soon and starts playing them so they can gel together for the playoff push, can't be doing them any favours playing and then getting dropped, but he did say they needed a break and the international break will do them some good.

Onwards we push

Thought this about the centre backs. I don’t blame SS for switching it around, but I’m a big believer in your centre backs getting better as a unit the more they play together and god knows how many combinations we’ve had so far.

[Zico]

1 hour ago, L/H White said:

who's on international duty?

Toal and Sheehan?

probably the 2 we least want playing extra games

Forino might be turning out for St.Lucia 

Southwood for NI

[jeep]

International Call Ups | March | Bolton Wanderers FC

 

[Johnnyrotten]

15 hours ago, desperado said:

Explained by the gaffer:

The Bolton boss made a surprising tactical call for Saturday’s game, dropping Newcastle United loanee Alex Murphy from the squad and moving his captain into the back three.

Speaking about the move after the 1-0 defeat, Schumacher said it had been a move he had been planning to make all week.

He said: “We looked at them on Wednesday and they played the last game against Charlton in that sort of shape, where they roll the wide player in, almost like a box.

“We decided that to to play a midfield player who was comfortable stepping in and closing them down, going man-for-man in those areas, was an idea.

“Also, with them playing with two centre-forwards, there is always a spare centre-back, and having George, who is a midfield player, being able to step out wide and run forward and create, gives you a chance as well.

“That was the reason – and I thought George did well in the game.”

Fair enough, I suppose the answer is he wasn't "LCB" then, it was a hybrid/inverted position SS has come up with. 

So two CBs and another without an obvious label playing somewhere at the back/midfield!  Definitely hugged the touchline most of the game, more than Johnston has ever done when playing CB, and was hardly ever in the centre if at all after the first 5 minutes.

They all seem to have license to change positions "in the moment".  I'd say only Forinho and maybe Cogley stuck fairly rigidly to their stated positions, everyone else very much roaming, Toal spent as much time in midfield as Tomo did from what I could see.

I presume the experiment with Tomo in that position will be over as soon as Johnston is fit, hopefully Murphy is just used for back up at LB.

On another note, Mark Iles gave Tomo 6.5, I'm sure he knocks off a couple of marks if we lose, that was 8 minimum in anybody's book.  If we win I'm sure every player starts with a minimum 7 just for turning up.  Even his "MOM" Baxter only got 7, if we win he's getting 8.5 or 9. 

[Johnnyrotten]

3 hours ago, jeep said:

International Call Ups | March | Bolton Wanderers FC

 

I'd still rather just play Rotherham on Saturday instead of moving it to a Tuesday during the busiest month of the season.

We've played plenty of games where we've chosen to start without Toal and Sheehan, and it would be one less game for them to play in the busy schedule.

Admittedly I've no idea if Rotherham have call ups too.  Games get moved too easily, no need IMO.

[Casino]

i don't think it was as bad as many do

it was a tight game against a promotion rival

 

while our (best) keeper made 2 one on one saves id balance that against what i thought was a clear penalty and a clear red card

also a chance that collins has saved that i think he should score (from tutus cross), the collins shot first half from about 12 yards that he scores 6 or 7 times from 10, quite a few rick o'sheas late on

it was the epitome of 'one goal wins this' but i didn't expect that to be partly due to a toal balls up

think hes been great recently

be very glad to see GJ back, suspect theres something we are not being told

 

[Casino]

5 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I'd still rather just play Rotherham on Saturday instead of moving it to a Tuesday during the busiest month of the season.

We've played plenty of games where we've chosen to start without Toal and Sheehan, and it would be one less game for them to play in the busy schedule.

Admittedly I've no idea if Rotherham have call ups too.  Games get moved too easily, no need IMO.

last week, we would have been choosing to go into the game without our first choice keeper and 2 potential captains

i think schumacher goes witha sub keeper on the bench so why take the risk

right decision to take the postponement as potentially it buys time for demspey, santos etete and johnston

[boltonboris]

On 15/03/2025 at 15:38, gonzo said:

Stop Collins you stop us. We are so short in attack if he's stopped or has an off day.

 

I did notice that they were unusually happy for our midfielders to have the ball in front of our back 4 for the most part and they just made sure they cut the supply off the Collins when they could, then doubled up on him when they couldn't. Clearly identified him as the danger man.

And a couple of reducers on other lads too. Good team them. Got a bit of everything

[Rival Son]

1 hour ago, Johnnyrotten said:

hopefully Murphy is just used for back up at LB.

I’ve seen enough of Murphy. If we’re developing a youngster, I’d sooner it be one of our own. Let Sam Inwood be the back up.

[Steejay]

1 hour ago, Casino said:

i don't think it was as bad as many do

it was a tight game against a promotion rival

 

while our (best) keeper made 2 one on one saves id balance that against what i thought was a clear penalty and a clear red card

also a chance that collins has saved that i think he should score (from tutus cross), the collins shot first half from about 12 yards that he scores 6 or 7 times from 10, quite a few rick o'sheas late on

it was the epitome of 'one goal wins this' but i didn't expect that to be partly due to a toal balls up

think hes been great recently

be very glad to see GJ back, suspect theres something we are not being told

 

 

46 minutes ago, Casino said:

last week, we would have been choosing to go into the game without our first choice keeper and 2 potential captains

i think schumacher goes witha sub keeper on the bench so why take the risk

right decision to take the postponement as potentially it buys time for demspey, santos etete and johnston

Wow, two sensible posts running.

You’re upping your game a bit, eh?

[ianofcleveleys]

41 minutes ago, Casino said:

last week, we would have been choosing to go into the game without our first choice keeper and 2 potential captains

i think schumacher goes witha sub keeper on the bench so why take the risk

right decision to take the postponement as potentially it buys time for demspey, santos etete and johnston

We could do with those playing some part in April / May and there were more than a few on Sat who looked a bit weary. 

SS has inherited a mixed bag of a squad that's neither the fittest or most resilient, too many with a history of injury issues and others who aren't up to playing long runs of games where they've to put some graft in.

[Ani]

3 hours ago, Casino said:

i don't think it was as bad as many do

it was a tight game against a promotion rival

 

while our (best) keeper made 2 one on one saves id balance that against what i thought was a clear penalty and a clear red card

also a chance that collins has saved that i think he should score (from tutus cross), the collins shot first half from about 12 yards that he scores 6 or 7 times from 10, quite a few rick o'sheas late on

it was the epitome of 'one goal wins this' but i didn't expect that to be partly due to a toal balls up

think hes been great recently

be very glad to see GJ back, suspect theres something we are not being told

 

Toal looked dodgy on Saturday especially second half when I thought their front 2 played well as a pair. The irony is that McAtee ‘megged’ their defender and there was no card, Toal should have just blocked their lad off, there again not sure where the rest of the team were, but again give credit to the lad very good finish.

It was nowhere near as bad as the seemingly endless Wigan games, if the Collins shot you are talking was the one the keeper tipped over the bar, think it was Sheehan who just made a bad connection. People saying how bad it was forget Challinor (who annoyingly gave a really decent interview) thought he needed to make 3 changes at half time. 
 

With regards the International break , think it comes at a good time, certain players just look like they need it. The idea that Dempsey in particular might be ready to play along with Santos rather than having 2,3 or 4 others also missing is pretty much a no brainer. 
 

It is just shit that the next games are against them 2. 

[gonzo]

We are in a similar territory we were last season with lack of options up front.

We were never winning promotion with Bod and Collins as our only viable options.

It's the same now with McAtee and Collins.

 

[RUREADY2ROLL]

54 minutes ago, Ani said:

Toal looked dodgy on Saturday especially second half when I thought their front 2 played well as a pair. The irony is that McAtee ‘megged’ their defender and there was no card, Toal should have just blocked their lad off, there again not sure where the rest of the team were, but again give credit to the lad very good finish.

It was nowhere near as bad as the seemingly endless Wigan games, if the Collins shot you are talking was the one the keeper tipped over the bar, think it was Sheehan who just made a bad connection. People saying how bad it was forget Challinor (who annoyingly gave a really decent interview) thought he needed to make 3 changes at half time. 
 

With regards the International break , think it comes at a good time, certain players just look like they need it. The idea that Dempsey in particular might be ready to play along with Santos rather than having 2,3 or 4 others also missing is pretty much a no brainer. 
 

It is just shit that the next games are against them 2. 

Collins miss was before they scored; both Collings and Sheehan should have buried those chances. Apart from from his Birmingham goal Collins has been very poor recently 

[Ani]

5 minutes ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

Collins miss was before they scored; both Collings and Sheehan should have buried those chances. Apart from from his Birmingham goal Collins has been very poor recently 

Ahh the one he stretched for ? 

[Casino]

The 2 im on about, one was a decent save, bit like baxters were decent saves

The other was first half at the end of a bit of ping pong

Clear sight of goal, prob just east side of goal about 12? Yards out

Put it past far post and bar

Id expect him to score that

 

On collins and mcatee, it doesnt always have to be fancy stuff

Youre both very good, but sometimes, keep it simple

 

[Big E]

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

We are in a similar territory we were last season with lack of options up front.

We were never winning promotion with Bod and Collins as our only viable options.

It's the same now with McAtee and Collins.

 

Fucking hell blaming bod again

[L/H White]

39 minutes ago, Big E said:

Fucking hell blaming bod again

he's obsessed 

rent free as the kids would say 

we could do with bod now