Ticket Information | Barnsley (A) | Bolton Wanderers FC

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

9 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

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.

I think many on here judged Plymouth to be poor last week and barnsley seemed much like them to me. Barnsley were the home team yesterday. The only chances that created were a fairly tame free kick, McGoldrick putting wide at the back post, and the goal. I don’t think they’ll finish in the top 6, but probably a top half team. 

At this point, we offer more going forward than both Plymouth and Barnsley, and will finish above them. Things to sort at the back but more structure than personnel I think. 

Still got us as a top 6 (but not top 2) team. Who we buy up top, and how we deal with the McAtee / Randall issue will determine where we finish. 

As for Cissoko. Yes definite quality. Point was that we need to judge him over a few games, not his 30 min debut against 10 men. How well will he track back and support Conway for example? He does provide something different. 

10 hours ago, CambridgeBWFC said:

But we have scored 3 league goals and conceded 3.

Aye and we're only 3 games in with a new defender and striker who haven't played yet 

I expect things to get better as the season progresses, not worse

Mixed feelings as to where we stand. 

When the fixtures came out in June I imagine we all looked at those first three and thought we'd been dealt a tough start. As such a return of four points is decent.

There are obvious concerns and most of them have been expressed on this thread. When you sign 12 players in one window and change a style of play that the previous manager had hardwired in to the club, its going to take time. There has rightly been a lot to excite us about the change in emphasis with wingers, pace and some added physique. If you want a positive alternative verb to "excite" that is even more of a key ingredient to success in football it is settle or settled. We're not that just yet. 

I do think there's going to be more activity before deadline day. CMG, Schon, Nlundulu and maybe one or two who only have a year left on their contract (Forrester, Johnston) are among those who may leave. I'd love us to sign a really commanding defender to further stabilise that backline but that might be greedy given a dozen signings already and the need for a new striker as a priority. 

I think we are just going to need to be patient with SS. He is changing things at pace and progress may not always happen in a linear/comfortable way. I hate the word "project" being applied to football - but we are still in the early days of the SS/Harkin project. Best to remember that as a balance to our impatience to get the hell out of League One.

 

9 hours ago, Traf said:

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

Toal struggled with this movement last season too. 

None of our defenders (not seen Taylor obviously) are good athletes when asked to turn and sprint and aren't suited to holding any sort of high line, even against a 38 year old McGoldrick. That was a really poor goal to concede. 

23 minutes ago, paulhanley said:

I think we are just going to need to be patient with SS. He is changing things at pace and progress may not always happen in a linear/comfortable way. I hate the word "project" being applied to football - but we are still in the early days of the SS/Harkin project. Best to remember that as a balance to our impatience to get the hell out of League One.

Fair summary, I remember us kicking around in May how much room SS would have to make meaningful change to the squad and get in more than maybe half a dozen or so fresh faces, he has in fact changed a lot more and at some pace. 

Still some fairly obvious areas where we have issues but, still a fortnight short of the end of one window, a lot certainly has been done. Over the next month or two we might not look like we're going to romp into the autos but, hopefully, perhaps with another window's tinkering in Jan and 20+ games to go, we can make a sustained run for it from just off the pace

11 hours ago, Stig said:

Set pieces improved dramatically once Morley came on. Sheehan shouldn't be allowed near them when Morley's off

It's weird just how many slow, lofty set pieces he hits that are easy to defend. 

Yet Toal scores from one against Plymouth!

One of the observations I heard yesterday, was the speed on the opposition's set pieces.

Stockport scored from one such example.

42 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

Fair summary, I remember us kicking around in May how much room SS would have to make meaningful change to the squad and get in more than maybe half a dozen or so fresh faces, he has in fact changed a lot more and at some pace. 

Still some fairly obvious areas where we have issues but, still a fortnight short of the end of one window, a lot certainly has been done. Over the next month or two we might not look like we're going to romp into the autos but, hopefully, perhaps with another window's tinkering in Jan and 20+ games to go, we can make a sustained run for it from just off the pace

I think we'd need to be in the top seven or eight come Christmas and with the top two not having become distant frontrunners. 

Anyway - hell of a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then and in between times lets hope the good moments include seeing off the likes of Blackpool and Wigan.

Beaten by a 38 year old..

 

That being the 38 year old that was in the League 2 team of the season, Notts County's player of the season, 17 league goals last season and has played regular in the Premier League...

They've brought him in as their main striker, think there is some under estimation about him there.. 

2 hours ago, thebells said:

 

As for Cissoko. Yes definite quality. Point was that we need to judge him over a few games, not his 30 min debut against 10 men. How well will he track back and support Conway for example? He does provide something different. 

Having watched online videos of him skinning full backs with that little drag back he does, it seemed ironic that the first thing of note he did when he came on was to track their wide man all the way back to our goal line and deal with the threat. I loved that - but not as much as watching him getting forward. A good debut.

2 hours ago, Stig said:

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.

TBH I thought Cozier Duberry looked lost for most of the game, he was no worse or better when his position changed (twice).  But his style of play, going inside or out and putting defenders on the back foot and making little incisive passes, makes me think he'd be better than for eg Randall at no.10.  He also has ability to wrestle back possession in tight situations that Randall and McAtee don't have.

I don't see Burstow having the subtlety to play as a 10, looks very much a 9 or nothing to me, but its just first impressions.   

 

2 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

TBH I thought Cozier Duberry looked lost for most of the game, he was no worse or better when his position changed (twice).  But his style of play, going inside or out and putting defenders on the back foot and making little incisive passes, makes me think he'd be better than for eg Randall at no.10.  He also has ability to wrestle back possession in tight situations that Randall and McAtee don't have.

I don't see Burstow having the subtlety to play as a 10, looks very much a 9 or nothing to me, but its just first impressions.   

To be fair to Duberry, they doubled up on him whenever he got the ball, Connell always supported the full back & sussed that he likes to cut inside onto his left & it frustrated him.

A fully fit Dempsey at 10 yesterday would’ve stopped Connell dictating play & got us a foothold in midfield….

I think we've got three players capable of playing as a No. 10 - Randall, McAtee, Dempsey (when fit)

44 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I don't see Burstow having the subtlety to play as a 10, looks very much a 9 or nothing to me, but its just first impressions.   

tbf to Burstow, he has been frustrated at Hull & at Sunderland because they played him out wide. He said he made his aim to be a proper #9 very plain. Obviously he'll do as asked (which is already an improvement on some from last year) but #9 is his intention. 

2 hours ago, paulhanley said:

 

Anyway - hell of a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then and in between times lets hope the good moments include seeing off the likes of Blackpool and Wigan.

Aye. Went yesterday and I thought there was plenty enough to make your glass half full if you wanted. And so early as you rightly say - minded to think back to 16-17 season. 4 games in we were top on max points while Sheffield United were rock bottom with just the one. Fast forward to the end and they're top with a hundred, 14 ahead of us. Not saying we'll do that - nobody will this year. But this early on, all you can want is summat to clearly be able to build on, and win them next two winnable home games and that base is there. Then we'll see...

1 hour ago, only1swanny said:

Beaten by a 38 year old..

 

That being the 38 year old that was in the League 2 team of the season, Notts County's player of the season, 17 league goals last season and has played regular in the Premier League...

They've brought him in as their main striker, think there is some under estimation about him there.. 

No slight intended on him, always been a top operator and one I've liked over the years, if not noted for his pace. Clever though, good football brain, bit too canny for our defenders there. 

3 hours ago, paulhanley said:

Mixed feelings as to where we stand. 

When the fixtures came out in June I imagine we all looked at those first three and thought we'd been dealt a tough start. As such a return of four points is decent.

There are obvious concerns and most of them have been expressed on this thread. When you sign 12 players in one window and change a style of play that the previous manager had hardwired in to the club, its going to take time. There has rightly been a lot to excite us about the change in emphasis with wingers, pace and some added physique. If you want a positive alternative verb to "excite" that is even more of a key ingredient to success in football it is settle or settled. We're not that just yet. 

I do think there's going to be more activity before deadline day. CMG, Schon, Nlundulu and maybe one or two who only have a year left on their contract (Forrester, Johnston) are among those who may leave. I'd love us to sign a really commanding defender to further stabilise that backline but that might be greedy given a dozen signings already and the need for a new striker as a priority. 

I think we are just going to need to be patient with SS. He is changing things at pace and progress may not always happen in a linear/comfortable way. I hate the word "project" being applied to football - but we are still in the early days of the SS/Harkin project. Best to remember that as a balance to our impatience to get the hell out of League One.

 

Patience is the key, in a way it feels like we are starting from scratch squad wise. The fact we aren’t throwing real money at it means it could take beyond this season to reach the next level.

16 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. 

A third consecutive defeat yesterday

I think if there's one thing that really stands out in this league, it's efficiency in both penalty areas

Stockport County are a case in point, and it's why they've done well since getting promoted so far

They might not create very much - they certainly didn't against us - but they take advantage of the opportunities they do have, and they generally tend to be organised at the other end

Be good at the basics

Couple of wins this week and 1 win in 3 becomes 3 in 5 with 1 defeat and unbeaten in 4. this place then feels a lot more chipper. 
 

anyone would’ve taken that when the fixtures initially came out. Not a foregone conclusion of course but winning these games would be expected 

20 minutes ago, barrycowdrill said:

Couple of wins this week and 1 win in 3 becomes 3 in 5 with 1 defeat and unbeaten in 4. this place then feels a lot more chipper. 
 

anyone would’ve taken that when the fixtures initially came out. Not a foregone conclusion of course but winning these games would be expected 

And if we fail to win either? 
At this stage of the season I’m more hoping than expecting. I don’t think I could actually expect to beat any team until Schumacher irons out the problems.

We need some wins, the players need some wins and more than anyone, Schumacher needs some wins. Especially as he’s run out of ready made excuses.

It’s his team, his system and his tactics now so he needs to get them firing in all departments and quick. Honeymoon over. I really hope he does it.

2 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I think we've got three players capable of playing as a No. 10 - Randall, McAtee, Dempsey (when fit)

None of whom are really making a case for a long term, successful player in that role.

As someone said above- it's imperative that when teams put more than one defensive player on our wingers, and nullify them, then others must fill the space, provide alternatives and utilise what opportunity that creates.

I'm not sure why that has to be the role of "number 10", and not a midfielder as such, but that seems to be the modern way.

I remember seeing Morley score against Wycombe on the opening day a bit back- broke from the midfield, got beyond the defence and finished.

That would do nicely.

10 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

 

It’s his team, his system and his tactics now so he needs to get them firing in all departments and quick. Honeymoon over. I really hope he does it.

Wow, what a load of bollocks 

He's had 3 games with his players and you expect us to be firing on all cylinders 

1 hour ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

A third consecutive defeat yesterday

Yep. I tend not to focus too much on results at this stage (though appreciate 3 defeats can’t be ignored). Simply making the point that in the cold light of day, Barnsley and Plymouth both looked organised but not much more to me. 

51 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

And if we fail to win either? 
At this stage of the season I’m more hoping than expecting. I don’t think I could actually expect to beat any team until Schumacher irons out the problems.

We need some wins, the players need some wins and more than anyone, Schumacher needs some wins. Especially as he’s run out of ready made excuses.

It’s his team, his system and his tactics now so he needs to get them firing in all departments and quick. Honeymoon over. I really hope he does it.

Well we could lose both. Or draw both. Or win one & lose one. Or even draw one and lose one. Possibly win 1 and draw one. 
 

but I prefer to air on the side of optimism. Reading on the face of it don’t seem to be as much of a threat v’s last season, granted early days. We would also expect to beat Lincoln. 
 

the point is, 2 wins makes our start good. anything else and it’s ok, or even poor but let’s see when we get to Sunday 

the front runners don’t tend to appear and the table doesn’t really tend to settle down until 10-12 games anyway 

Edited August 17, 2025Aug 17 by barrycowdrill