This game still on ?

Leaving it late to call it off. 

17 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Conway!

Apologies 😅. Think you’re right on Conway, he’s a breath of fresh air. 

29 minutes ago, CumbrianWhite said:

Apologies 😅. Think you’re right on Conway, he’s a breath of fresh air. 

I agree about ACD.

If he can add a bit more vision and variation, he'll be a fine player, and too good for this league.

Maybe he needed this drop to gain experience and knowledge before going higher again.

3 hours ago, W.cramp said:

When are the powers that be going to stamp out the embarrassing keeper antics half way through a half ?  Yesterday it was there keeper but we are also guilty of it,  don't know what the solution is apart from making the keeper go off behind the goal for 30 seconds after 'injury'. In fact   surely if this happenned throughout the league for a couple weeks then my guess would be this would work,but at this moment it just looks accepted. 

Corner for the attacking team like this keeper holding on to the ball too long rule would be my suggestion.

2 hours ago, Kane57 said:

Bit early to be on the sauce 

4:04 - Burstow clean through ignores - "https://youtu.be/JjrDDqjI_Ug"

6:49 - Randall just waiting there in the open for the tiny pass, goes for a shot "https://youtu.be/JjrDDqjI_Ug?si=dQ52MYpch6RgZdBV&t=409"

2 prime opportunities wasted really, one of which took place while they were still at 11 men. 

No player is perfect but the decision making is hurting us. 

Enjoyed yesterday. It’s coming together.

The movement from ACD at 7.25 is sensational for this standard

 

3 hours ago, Zog1 said:

ACD is amazingly skillful but his decision making is hurting us, he's the most frustrating player i've ever seen play. 

 

 

Really? Didn’t see much wrong yesterday. Quality goal, went on the outside frequently and showed us he had a right shooting foot as well.
 

Now Cissoko with his 10 stopovers then lay back was a little frustrating slowing the game down.  Would like to see him run at people at speed like Gale and ACD. 

3 minutes ago, TrickyTrotter said:

Really? Didn’t see much wrong yesterday. Quality goal, went on the outside frequently and showed us he had a right shooting foot as well.
 

Now Cissoko with his 10 stopovers then lay back was a little frustrating slowing the game down.  Would like to see him run at people at speed like Gale and ACD. 

All wingers can be a little frustrating but Cissoko is doubly so. He has the ability to beat players plus the pace to get away from them but seems to prefer to display tricks rather than just create mayhem. Hopefully Schu will sort him.

10 hours ago, kent_white said:

By the way - if we don't go up this year then I will be amazed if Max Conway is still with us next season. 

Super little player - looks super comfortable at this level - like an old head who has been playing there for years. 

And some of his work at bringing the ball forward is Bradleyesque. Probably not as quick or as forward thinking. But if we could bring through a player of his calibre every season - I'd be over the moon!

Superb little Player? 6ft plus? mmmmmmm.

10 minutes ago, woolli said:

Superb little Player? 6ft plus? mmmmmmm.

Kent's 7"9

Taylor looked promising in his brief appearance 

Be interesting to see how the LB pans out here on in, Conway's spot to lose, but the pace of Taylor when the FBs get forward will work well for us I reckon

2 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

I agree about ACD.

If he can add a bit more vision and variation, he'll be a fine player, and too good for this league.

Maybe he needed this drop to gain experience and knowledge before going higher again.

It's clearly a plan, happens in most games, most halves. The players & coaches/managers are clearly all for it.

My conspiracy theory self thinks it's a manipulation via the US & possibly Arab money/media to go toward 4 quarters in games. More advertising = more money. Bring it in at an extreme heat competition & it'll stay.

It'll be bigger nets after that.

Could be bollox but it smells of that to me.

6 hours ago, masi 51 said:

 

Anyone decent moved on ie Nat Phillips

Phillips , Nat, left in 2016

His father in 2020

What was Jimmy Phillips doing for 4 years with no Academy?

3 hours ago, CumbrianWhite said:

Apologies 😅. Think you’re right on Conway, he’s a breath of fresh air. 

Our 15th new signing! Really pleased with his attitude following the challenges he received yesterday. Fantastic addition to our team. 

2 hours ago, Zog1 said:

4:04 - Burstow clean through ignores - "https://youtu.be/JjrDDqjI_Ug"

6:49 - Randall just waiting there in the open for the tiny pass, goes for a shot "https://youtu.be/JjrDDqjI_Ug?si=dQ52MYpch6RgZdBV&t=409"

2 prime opportunities wasted really, one of which took place while they were still at 11 men. 

No player is perfect but the decision making is hurting us. 

Going through the extended highlights again, there were two instances towards the end, when we had extra man in the middle, and he still shot.

Hard to be critical, as he is doing so well, but I'm sure that coaches will see those little areas for improvement and show him.

 

17 hours ago, Lostock Whites said:

Sadly it's just not working for McAtee, there's lots of the season for him to do something but personally I just don't think he's good enough.

The guy has a great attitude and works hard, but that's not good enough when aiming for promotion, his quality with the ball has been so poor.

Even today he comes on and he just can't sort his feet out. Other games bringing him on for impact and his touch or pass is just poor.

He's our player for now so I will continue to back him and hope it comes good. But some players you just know if they have it or not. And at 26 years old I don't think he's just suddenly going to acquire all the technique he's been missing.

You either have it or your don't.

Anyway for now that 10 position is Randall's and I hope that goal gives him the confidence to kick on now.

Personally delighted for when Demps comes back. That man deserves a bit of luck to come now. 

A lot of people's issues with him is brought on by his body language. When he came on yesterday he ran on and just before he stopped did a little girly skip, petty I know but just typical of him........can't say I'm a big fan but I think there's a player in there who is good enough for where we are ( but not Championship level)......but I very much doubt it's going to happen while he's here.

He's not good enough for what we need but it's like people just need a boo boy or someone to hate.

Just a human being trying to be his best at what he's doing at the end of the day.

Really don't get the hate or ill-feeling with him.

 

Some of it with McAtee is just the usual scapegoating, which is not something I go in for.

What irritates me is the pointing and calling out other players, like he thinks he's on a different plane to the others. It looks like nine times out of ten he's pointing the finger at his teammate for making the wrong run when his pass is off. 

He doesn't help himself with the unnecessary flashy touches either - worked his balls of Tuesday but many will just remember his daft flick on the 6 yard line and the attempted worldy chip. 

Both of the above traits just aren't very 'Bolton'. 

 

 

Edited September 7, 2025Sep 7 by RoadRunnerFan

No problem with him if he's working his bollocks off and ain't doing all the gesticulating he was doing last season.  

3 hours ago, Casino said:

Phillips, Nat, left in 2016

He now plays for West Brom.

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

He's not good enough for what we need but it's like people just need a boo boy or someone to hate.

Just a human being trying to be his best at what he's doing at the end of the day.

Really don't get the hate or ill-feeling with him.

 

Come on admit it, you just love his chunky thighs 🤣🤣

6 hours ago, Zog1 said:

4:04 - Burstow clean through ignores - "https://youtu.be/JjrDDqjI_Ug"

6:49 - Randall just waiting there in the open for the tiny pass, goes for a shot "https://youtu.be/JjrDDqjI_Ug?si=dQ52MYpch6RgZdBV&t=409"

2 prime opportunities wasted really, one of which took place while they were still at 11 men. 

No player is perfect but the decision making is hurting us. 

I don’t disagree, he frustrates me with some of his decision making too.

However - if he had better decision making then he simply wouldn’t be playing for us. His ability, pace, skill, finishing etc etc is way way too good for this league. If he chose the right time to shoot, pass, go inside / outside more often than not then he’d be playing at the top end of the Championship.

You’ve got to almost accept it for what it is, as frustrating as it can be at some points, because you know that he’ll do something outrageous and win us plenty of games.

10 hours ago, desperado said:

Loved it yesterday. 

Always great Saturdays when the whites win.

Even better when it’s that comfortable.

Really pleased that SS went with Gale and Morley and had a feeling he’d bring back Randall - had a good game too. 

We’ve some great players in positions and areas we’ve been lacking the last few years. Our forward options, Simons in midfield and Conway at left back must be up there in the best this division has. 

But I’m not getting carried away. 2 big tests to come at Orient and home to Wigan.

I’m interested to hear folk’s thoughts on defending a 30-40 yard wide free kick. And not just us, everybody seems to do it - a really high defensive line on the edge of the box. 

On at least two occasions this season we’ve been undone using this tactic. Goal conceded against Stockport and that chance early yesterday.

In fact we got our first goal with Wimbledon doing similar.

I get there’s some advantages; less cluttered penalty box, keeper has better sight in front of him and you could catch them off side.

But I see plenty of attacking sides exploiting this. Would defenders being deeper facing the ball coming in (rather than chasing a ball and attacker with their back to the ball coming in) not give you a better chance of defending a free-kick like this? 

It's a strange one for sure. Especially as the modern mantra at corners is to get everyone back and pack the box as much as possible, whereas the high line we hold on free kicks leaves the box empty.

I imagine the stats all show most goals are scored in the penalty box, so don't let them in there is the first thought, hence the high line on free kicks. Whereas you can't stop the ball going into the penalty box on a corner, so let's pack it with blockers.

Either way, both look wrong to my untrained eye. I would always leave a player or 2 forward from corners to avoid the second phase stuff, and I'd drop the defence back at free kicks to allow the defenders to head the ball away, rather than allowing attackers to sneak through. 

3 minutes ago, Stig said:

It's a strange one for sure. Especially as the modern mantra at corners is to get everyone back and pack the box as much as possible, whereas the high line we hold on free kicks leaves the box empty.

I imagine the stats all show most goals are scored in the penalty box, so don't let them in there is the first thought, hence the high line on free kicks. Whereas you can't stop the ball going into the penalty box on a corner, so let's pack it with blockers.

Either way, both look wrong to my untrained eye. I would always leave a player or 2 forward from corners to avoid the second phase stuff, and I'd drop the defence back at free kicks to allow the defenders to head the ball away, rather than allowing attackers to sneak through. 

Talking of corners, did you notice we had all players forward for corners? Our deepest player was on the edge of their D! Seemed pretty attacking and I’m not sure I’ve seen it before.

25 minutes ago, Eddie said:

I don’t disagree, he frustrates me with some of his decision making too.

However - if he had better decision making then he simply wouldn’t be playing for us. His ability, pace, skill, finishing etc etc is way way too good for this league. If he chose the right time to shoot, pass, go inside / outside more often than not then he’d be playing at the top end of the Championship.

You’ve got to almost accept it for what it is, as frustrating as it can be at some points, because you know that he’ll do something outrageous and win us plenty of games.

The it's imperative that we gradually improve him, but not too much. 

Get promoted, buy him relatively cheaply, then let him explode onto the championship scene next season, as a worldy! 

Simples. 😁