Ticket Information | Barnsley (A) | Bolton Wanderers FC

Been given the full 5,000. First Saturday 3pm away game of the season

17 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Them getting a red definitely did us a favour.  They had to sacrifice McGoldrick and were never a genuine threat after that.  We had loads of chances/half chances which wasn't happening against 11.  And at 1-1, there was only us going for the win, that doesn't happen away at Barnsley if its 11 v 11. 

McGoldrick is 38 he aint lasting 90 mins week in week out. SS has come out and said his team is built around pressing and counter attack, for that to work, they need to attack us.

Feeling oddly frustrated after that today. Was my first game live this season so think set my expectations too high beforehand.

Happy with the way we looked, good ability to spread the play from side to side and looking to attack in different ways. We got in lots of dangerous positions, but end product was really poor. Wingers not able to create good chances, Cogleys awful crossing (even for him) after great overlap play and even Randall and Sheehan playing some overhit through balls when the space appeared in the middle.

The number 10 role is a massive concern, no faith in Randall (especially after today) or Mcatee. Sheehan might be an option but dont think he's athletic enough and maybe wont score enough for that position.

Cant see who in that team will get double figures for goals, still fuming we let Collins go, probably wont get over it for a while.

Toal is a worry as well, seen it said by someone else that Conway played him on but it was him that looked 38 the way he turned and tried to get back. If he gets isolated against a quick striker it won't be good. Do think that its worlds apart playing in this system than in a back 3 with Santos covering you all the time.

Looking on the bright side, even though it feels like we could have done better, we still hit the post, ACD should have scored with that early chance and surely our final ball/cross cant be that bad again for a while.

 

 

4 hours ago, boltonboris said:

I thought Sheehan played well today. The midfield was not an issue at all. Sheehan won everything he competed with, kept the ball and got it to the wide players quickly and with accuracy. Miles better than Morley after he came on. Simons was ok. Uncomplicated and solid, but didn’t really get the game by the scruff of the net like I thought he would 

That has to be a joke?  To be fair I agree Sheehan was fine and passed it well, so did Morley.  Not sure how you place one much above the other, Sheehan deeper and some good turning and passing, Morley further forward and a bit more incisive.  They did what they do well most of the time and I thought it was a decent reminder from them that its not all about the new players.  But no doubt Erahaon and Simon added physicality and authority which is a great addition to the squad.

 

3 hours ago, ZiggyStardust said:

Credit in the bank is earned, rather than assumed from other clubs.

4 Shots on target, 3 goals conceded.

Still early days with him yet.

I must admit the "credit in the bank" was a head scratcher!  1 very routine save after 3 games, I'd say he'll be thinking he wants to show us what he can do with his hands (we know what he can do with his feet, that volleyed pass for ACD to run onto was our best pass of the day) 

3 minutes ago, Eagle85 said:

Cant see who in that team will get double figures for goals, still fuming we let Collins go, probably wont get over it for a while.

I'm as frustrated as the next man with McAtee but he has scored double figures in this league for the last two seasons

Conway did not play him on look at this, he was onside anyway. 

36 minutes ago, Zico said:

What is encouraging

3 league games 

We've had 45 shots and 11 on target 

We've conceded 

13 and 4 on target

Be reet if that carries on

But we have scored 3 league goals and conceded 3.

Edited August 16, 2025Aug 16 by CambridgeBWFC

2 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

How did Cissoko do?

Superb.  The other 2 wingers weren't on their game today and Cissoko was the best of them.  I half expected him to be a bit of a show pony with little end product.  But he was a show pony with strength, composure and never failed to get a cross in, or to keep possession.  On first showing, a class above L1, as are the other 2 but they didn't show it much today.  I'd like to be present the day those 3 all play to their maximum the same day.

4 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Superb.  The other 2 wingers weren't on their game today and Cissoko was the best of them.  I half expected him to be a bit of a show pony with little end product.  But he was a show pony with strength, composure and never failed to get a cross in, or to keep possession.  On first showing, a class above L1, as are the other 2 but they didn't show it much today.  I'd like to be present the day those 3 all play to their maximum the same day.

That would be even more ideal if one of them can play 10. Not sure who most likely candidate would be at this point though.

7 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Superb.  The other 2 wingers weren't on their game today and Cissoko was the best of them.  I half expected him to be a bit of a show pony with little end product.  But he was a show pony with strength, composure and never failed to get a cross in, or to keep possession.  On first showing, a class above L1, as are the other 2 but they didn't show it much today.  I'd like to be present the day those 3 all play to their maximum the same day.

Could he be a 10 ?

We're a bit short in that area.

2 hours ago, only1swanny said:

I think Gales going to take a bit of time to adjust,  starts well but then tails off.

Tutu ... all flair no end product.

Supposed JDC stayed on as long after that injury, he looked very very sore! 

I've been a Tutu fan but he showed no flair, end product or much today.  I'm losing the point of why he comes on at right back when we have a winger in front of him, he isn't the creative spark he was at times last season, and isn't going to pick out a pass or a deep cross.  JDC was miles better than him today, I thought he looked well up for it from the start and just let himself down with a couple of his trademark crosses into the crowd, but great energy and decent quality and strength.

The defending for the Mcgoldrick goal was a fucking disgrace. 

23 minutes ago, Zog1 said:

Conway did not play him on look at this, he was onside anyway. 

All Johnstone needs to do is drop off 2 yards or tell Toal to step up. Fucking pathetic! 

12 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I've been a Tutu fan but he showed no flair, end product or much today.  I'm losing the point of why he comes on at right back when we have a winger in front of him, he isn't the creative spark he was at times last season, and isn't going to pick out a pass or a deep cross.  JDC was miles better than him today, I thought he looked well up for it from the start and just let himself down with a couple of his trademark crosses into the crowd, but great energy and decent quality and strength.

The only time JOT has ever been threatening is when he's played as a winger-back on the left and could use his pace and be direct before cutting inside

I've never seen what he offers on the right

2 hours ago, thebells said:

Few thoughts (having been at the game)

1. Barnsley were competitive and well organised, but poor. Very similar to Plymouth last week I felt. Goal and a free kick aside, they barely threatened and offered little to trouble us. The sending off, in a strange way, helped them as it allowed them to sit deep without the expectation of their fans to push on. Surely we’re at a point where people must understand how much playing 10 men changes a game and, if you’re behind, makes it very difficult. 

2. We gave a soft goal away, down that same right channel that Sheff Wed exploited on Weds. 

3. Randall struggled. I expect, if SS does bring another forward in, there’ll be games that neither McAtee nor Randall play. It may be Barstow who sits a little behind, or Kenny. We need another forward, but i think that position behind the main man may be what determines our season as there will be games where the wingers are played out of it (as Gale was today). 

4. Cissoko showed promise. But he’ll be judged on end product. 

5. We should have won, and did enough to win. Absolutely no need to panic and plenty of positive signs. I expect two home wins this week and we’ll be sitting on 10 points from 5 games. Bang on target. 

1.  I agree Barnsley were competitive and well organised, but not that they were poor unless you mean they won't finish top 3 or 4.  They were better than I expected with 11 men, and in Keillor Dunn, Earl, McGoldrick and Connell they had a great spine. 

2.  Very soft goal from our point of view

3.  Randall awful unfortunately.  McAtee and Randall will get edged out of this squad either slowly or maybe immediateley.  But Burstow can't get a free pass, he wasn't great and isn't a no.10 in any way.  Maybe Kenny but pointless speculating about a Celtic player we've never seen play.

4.  Cissoko showed more than promise, nailed on quality for me

5.  We should have won but as per previous seasons, difficult to judge v 10 men, it does spoil the spectacle, even though I was grateful for it today.  I fear it would have been another Stockport if it was v 11 men.

15 minutes ago, Mounts Kipper said:

The defending for the Mcgoldrick goal was a fucking disgrace. 

Can we get santos back on loan😄

2 minutes ago, onefinfrandsen said:

Can we get santos back on loan😄

With his bust knee he'd be more committed than he was last season.

51 minutes ago, Zog1 said:

McGoldrick is 38 he aint lasting 90 mins week in week out. SS has come out and said his team is built around pressing and counter attack, for that to work, they need to attack us.

I don't care how old he is, he was a pain the backside, he might not last 90 minutes but most strikers don't, they nearly always get replaced around 70 minutes, but usually by another striker, when he went off they had no focal point at all.

With 11 men they scored 1 and missed an open goal, and made TSL make his diving save.  With 10 men they didn't threaten, and we had loads of chances and half chances.

I think they would have seen the game out with 11 men, like Stockport did, but who knows.  

50 minutes ago, Eagle85 said:

That would be even more ideal if one of them can play 10. Not sure who most likely candidate would be at this point though.

Cozier Duberry would be my bet.  On form, he can play anywhere in the attacking third.

Possibly Sissoko, I could see him being similar to bang average if given the opportunity.

1 hour ago, Zog1 said:

Conway did not play him on look at this, he was onside anyway. 

McGoldrick doesn't score from there if Toal turns quicker than milk.

Toal struggled with this movement last season too. 

We were just a pedestrian today, no lack of effort but not much quality.

Very frustrating after men sent off, everything just a bit out of time. ACD last week had a first touch out of the heavens, today he miscontrolled a ball to his feet.

But we all know the problem the 9 and 10 were not in the game. JR was slow on the ball and Burstow never got going. I do think things will click and improve we just that talisman figure from somewhere. 
 

In defence of JR and MB I do think the system asks a lot of the front two

All things considered, we still have to improve to be promotion contenders. Early days I know, but we’re a long way from producing the consistent convincing performances and more importantly, results that top teams do.

Today, I was critical of the overhit passes, the poor free kicks, bad decisions, missed chances, some of the defending, goalie conceding at the near post, and Randall - but it was all there to be seen and rather than it being just criticism, it was also things we can improve upon - an opportunity for Schumacher and players to start living up to the hype as we have the makings of a team and occasionally we can see flashes of it.

On their day, there are  a lot of decent teams in this league despite what some folk like to think and if we are going to overcome our perennial problem of not getting results against the better teams - and occasionally strugglers - we need to get to the next level. And that’s the level where we are consistently good enough to take problems like bad refereeing and strokes of bad luck in our stride and overcoming them. 
 

Hopefully, we’ll see improvement in all aspects as the season progresses.
 

 

11 hours ago, thebells said:

Few thoughts (having been at the game)

1. Barnsley were competitive and well organised, but poor. Very similar to Plymouth last week I felt. Goal and a free kick aside, they barely threatened and offered little to trouble us. The sending off, in a strange way, helped them as it allowed them to sit deep without the expectation of their fans to push on. Surely we’re at a point where people must understand how much playing 10 men changes a game and, if you’re behind, makes it very difficult. 

2. We gave a soft goal away, down that same right channel that Sheff Wed exploited on Weds. 

3. Randall struggled. I expect, if SS does bring another forward in, there’ll be games that neither McAtee nor Randall play. It may be Barstow who sits a little behind, or Kenny. We need another forward, but i think that position behind the main man may be what determines our season as there will be games where the wingers are played out of it (as Gale was today). 

4. Cissoko showed promise. But he’ll be judged on end product. 

5. We should have won, and did enough to win. Absolutely no need to panic and plenty of positive signs. I expect two home wins this week and we’ll be sitting on 10 points from 5 games. Bang on target. 

Agreed with 2-4, but not 1 or 5. I thought Barnsley were slightly the better side up to the red card. They had control of centre mid and had the only real chances.

And once they went down to 10 they still stifled the game so we couldn't build up a sustained spell of pressure, just a lot of possession. In a way though, makes the point a better result from my point of view.

10 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I don't think I've watched the same game.  We may not have played great, but Morley, Simons, Erhahon, Sheehan were passing the ball with accuracy to teammates.  I'm not saying that wins you games or scores you goals (clearly it doesn't) but I'd find it hard to knock the passing for most of the game, especially when Morley came on and upped the tempo.

 

Safe passes out wide were fine, but passes forward through midfield were dire when attempted. A couple from Sheehan and Randall in particular sticks in the mind, but there were a few others.

Burstow is a good target as well so a bit more accuracy and he could have flicked on more for other runners. I couldn't believe it when he won a few headers from physical tussles, first time I've seen a striker of ours do that in over a year!

8 hours ago, Traf said:

McGoldrick doesn't score from there if Toal turns quicker than milk.

Toal struggled with this movement last season too. 

Equally, looking at Johnston’s body shape, I don’t see why he can’t run back with McGoldrick. A good goal to score, a shite one to concede (aren’t they all!)

8 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Cozier Duberry would be my bet.  On form, he can play anywhere in the attacking third.

Possibly Sissoko, I could see him being similar to bang average if given the opportunity.

Not sure on that. Cozier Duberry looked a bit lost for the 5 minutes he was put in the central role before McAtee came on. Cissoko maybe, but he looked excellent out wide.

Once Dalby is back fit as the main striker I can Burstow playing that 10 role from time to time.