27 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

 

I don't doubt it, but there are plenty of people getting paid to watch football morning, noon and night who make bad decisions and get things wrong all the time. 

Anyone who could genuinely get a proper steer on a football team from a highlights show would be worth billions in today's game. 

It's entertaining to watch and chat shit about football, but everyone should be aware of the fact that none of us know anything really.

You've proven that last point endless times tbf.

1 hour ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Honestly baffled where any criticism comes from. Our group all had him in the top three performers yesterday. Covered so much ground and put in a couple of really key blocks. 

Randall wasn't playing !!!

@gonzo 

Another good new tune - this time for Max Conway 😂

We’re coming up with some good uns recently.

Max loved this when he came over for his corners 😂

27 minutes ago, desperado said:

@gonzo 

Another good new tune - this time for Max Conway 😂

We’re coming up with some good uns recently.

Max loved this when he came over for his corners 😂

Go on, give us the lyrics, for us shit fans that weren’t there 😂

Thoroughly good day out. Really enjoying being a Bolton fan at the moment. What it’s all about.

18 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Go on, give us the lyrics, for us shit fans that weren’t there 😂

It’s one of the more simple ones - just replace “That’s the way” with “Max Conway” 😂

8 minutes ago, tomski said:

Thoroughly good day out. Really enjoying being a Bolton fan at the moment. What it’s all about.

It was a proper good away day 👏 🍺 

2 hours ago, medwaywhite said:

Read back on your post about Dempsey you scouse bastard

The one where I said he is only useful if he stays injury free ? Meaning he’s useless to us if out injured which he previously was ? 
 

him being injury free now is proving a good thing. I will get excited when he’s played 20+ games. 

47 minutes ago, desperado said:

It’s one of the more simple ones - just replace “That’s the way” with “Max Conway” 😂

Sung FAR too quickly though 🤯 

We were second best for 90% of the game. The way the match panned out I was happy with the draw. I reckon Wiltshire could make a good manager one day.

First time to Luton for me. The day turned out to be a unexpected good one. Kenilworth Rd was a trip back in time. Everything about the ground and the location screamed Life On Mars. And I say that in a good way. Brought back memories.

 

 

Another game I did not watch.

Am I right in thinking that we got over run in midfield as the game went on ? 
 

Although a point away at Luton is not a bad result as a standalone game our away form irrespective of formations and individuals needs to improve.

25 minutes ago, Ani said:

Another game I did not watch.

Am I right in thinking that we got over run in midfield as the game went on ? 
 

Although a point away at Luton is not a bad result as a standalone game our away form irrespective of formations and individuals needs to improve.

We were not allowed to play. We were pushed back and more often than not it ended up back with Sharman-Lowe. Funny thing is though I thought we did ok when we didn't have the ball.

15 minutes ago, Underpants said:

Funny thing is though I thought we did ok when we didn't have the ball.

Dougie would be pleased.

13 minutes ago, Underpants said:

We were not allowed to play. We were pushed back and more often than not it ended up back with Sharman-Lowe. Funny thing is though I thought we did ok when we didn't have the ball.

I agree - we were great out of possession and very disciplined, holding our lines until Conway went walkabout. Some very good work has gone on in training and for a long time I thought we’d hold out, but when Max wandered over to the middle and lost it, the whole set up was put out of sync and they scored.

On tight pitches it seems  a tall order to play two wingers , I think two strikers a better option with  maybe ACD given license to roam . Having said that you need good fullbacks & yesterday we had crap ones.After the first fifteen minutes nothing stuck up top , Burstow struggling a bit form wise didn’t help. Thing is we’ve been here before against more direct teams.In that respect it was a good point however there are plenty teams in this league who go direct .Midfield have to gobble up second balls , that didn’t happen yesterday so a more flexible approach is required including three in the midfield or two up top depending on the opposition.Two wingers away from home shouldn’t be mandatory.

6 hours ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Certainly offers a lot more than Cissoko, especially away from home.

Something of a “tallest dwarf” point!

My take on Cogley is that whilst he runs hard and puts a shift in, he just isn't good enough. Can't tackle, can't head and most of the time can't pass. See Simon's second Yellow after that hospital ball.

I think his 'defending' most of the time flatters to deceive, he stays with his man but very rarely puts a good tackle in and wins the ball. He gets beaten very often and always struggles to stop the cross. 

On Saturday it made sense on paper to start him over Christie given the pace issue and how they ultimately played with everything coming down the flanks but i think Christie should've been on the bench and would've shored it up for us for 30 - 35 mins towards the end. The majority of the threat came down both flanks and with Cogley and Conway both having mares, switching both full backs early second half would've shored it up for us. Conway always looks fucked after 60 mins.  

 

Edited December 1, 2025Dec 1 by bwfc4ife

Reading this thread, the manager’s decisions and about half the team are getting criticism for their faults and weaknesses and TBF that happens nearly every game that we lose or draw.

With all these supposedly crap players with weaknesses, how can anyone even think we have any chance whatsoever of promotion? 
 

I can see weaknesses too, and managerial decisions I wouldn’t have taken albeit not having watched the players training or having access to the opposition research that SS has, but my take on it is we’re a third tier club with third tier players and it’s a team game in a competitive third tier and it’s just a matter of getting the balance right and more importantly playing as a team on any given day. Do that often enough and we’re up.

 

JDC wasn't brought in to be a full back in a 4 and isnt one. He can get away with it most weeks, but for me there are occasions where he gets targeted and exposed by sides hitting big diagonals and big lads challenging him at the back post. Christie better against such sides but struggles yet to see 90 mins out in a high octane game.

Toal and Johnston have been tremendous last few weeks at holding everything together, and, to our credit, we've ended up only letting one goal in across two tough games, but we're less convincing in the full back spots, not helped in some games / situations by having inverted wingers whose forte isnt tracking back and winning tackles (albeit they're trying their best at it). 

Conway could do with a rest and Taylor play a run of games so he can be judged as a genuine LB competitor, up to now there's not been much to go on.

Edited December 1, 2025Dec 1 by ianofcleveleys

8 hours ago, Take Hunt Off said:

On tight pitches it seems  a tall order to play two wingers , I think two strikers a better option with  maybe ACD given license to roam . Having said that you need good fullbacks & yesterday we had crap ones.After the first fifteen minutes nothing stuck up top , Burstow struggling a bit form wise didn’t help. Thing is we’ve been here before against more direct teams.In that respect it was a good point however there are plenty teams in this league who go direct .Midfield have to gobble up second balls , that didn’t happen yesterday so a more flexible approach is required including three in the midfield or two up top depending on the opposition.Two wingers away from home shouldn’t be mandatory.

At last somebody who can read a game ...Everything about what you are saying is correct. Our full backs need to defend and not worry about pushing up at these places. Erhahon and Simons with Either Dempsey or Sheehan alongside. ACD free role and Forss and Burstow up top. 4/3/3  every away game and the current 4/2/3/1 at home

14 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

Personally I think you talk a load of bollocks, but I absolutely defend your right to talk bollocks on here because a) it’s only your opinion and b) there’s a very fine line between “negativity” and constructive criticism - which is positive as it’s a suggestion to help the team do better.

Not sure what the opposite of “doom-monger” is, but there are plenty of people who choose to interpret anything that can be construed as criticism as being negative which is downright stupid in a situation where we, the team, the manager and the Board are seeking continuous improvement.

Not got a problem with the way you think........I take that as a compliment from people like you, Cheese and Casino who have over 60k posts between you and i doubt you have 5 of those posts that make complete sense.

As you say it is all about opinions and i may be talking bollocks all along.....I doubt any of you three will ever agree with what i put because you are still not over Evatt.

Anyway i look forward to your glass half empty views going forward.

1 hour ago, bwfc4ife said:

Can't tackle, can't head and most of the time can't pass. 

 

Now you're just being silly.

9 hours ago, Underpants said:

We were not allowed to play. We were pushed back and more often than not it ended up back with Sharman-Lowe. Funny thing is though I thought we did ok when we didn't have the ball.

Despite their possession and shots I didn't feel particularly threatened by them though when we went down to ten it just felt inevitable they'd get one

28 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

At last somebody who can read a game ...Everything about what you are saying is correct. Our full backs need to defend and not worry about pushing up at these places. Erhahon and Simons with Either Dempsey or Sheehan alongside. ACD free role and Forss and Burstow up top. 4/3/3  every away game and the current 4/2/3/1 at home

Spot on being thinking that for a while .

1 hour ago, Wanderlust said:

With all these supposedly crap players with weaknesses, how can anyone even think we have any chance whatsoever of promotion? 

Because it's a pretty shit league if truth be told?  

1 hour ago, Zico said:

Despite their possession and shots I didn't feel particularly threatened by them though when we went down to ten it just felt inevitable they'd get one

It was just the constant pressure that told in the end. Most teams would have conceded at least one in a similar position.