Mansfield Town (A)

[Johnnyrotten]

3 hours ago, marple whites said:

Yep, start of 6 winnable league games to New Year’s Day.

if we want to be top 2, the consistency home and away needs to start here.

Surely all games in L1  are "winnable" for Bolton (or anyone near the top)?  I'll accept we'd probably settle for a draw at Cardiff but a draw in any other game feels a little underwhelming, unless its like last week and we were hanging on with 10 men. 

[marple whites]

17 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Surely all games in L1  are "winnable" for Bolton (or anyone near the top)?  I'll accept we'd probably settle for a draw at Cardiff but a draw in any other game feels a little underwhelming, unless its like last week and we were hanging on with 10 men. 

Winnable as in with all things being equal (no sendings off, key injuries etc) that this next group of 6 games are all winnable.

look at Stockport, lose their key man (Norwood) and haven’t won in the league since but they would have thought that those games prior to the injury were winnable.

 

 

Edited December 5, 2025 by marple whites

[Ani]

I think winnable is an awkward description, as all games are winnable.

I think for all games between now and mid Jan when we play away at Stevenage we will be favourites with the bookies to win. 
 

But the odds of us winning them all will be pretty high. We need get some better results away from home, as everyone gets fit be interesting to see how SS tackles that 

[Johnnyrotten]

1 hour ago, Ani said:

I think winnable is an awkward description, as all games are winnable.

I think for all games between now and mid Jan when we play away at Stevenage we will be favourites with the bookies to win. 
 

But the odds of us winning them all will be pretty high. We need get some better results away from home, as everyone gets fit be interesting to see how SS tackles that 

Yes all games are "winnable" but for arguments sake if we're in the championship next season I'd be expecting to be bottom half and realistically I wouldn't be putting many away games in that category, and quite a few home one's too, where we'd take a point.

In L1 its literally Cardiff away for me.  That doesn't mean I expect to win at Wycombe or Stevenage but going into the game, a draw in either wouldn't feel like something to celebrate.  Out of the 2, Wycombe looks like the tougher one on current form.

[Ani]

17 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Yes all games are "winnable" but for arguments sake if we're in the championship next season I'd be expecting to be bottom half and realistically I wouldn't be putting many away games in that category, and quite a few home one's too, where we'd take a point.

In L1 its literally Cardiff away for me.  That doesn't mean I expect to win at Wycombe or Stevenage but going into the game, a draw in either wouldn't feel like something to celebrate.  Out of the 2, Wycombe looks like the tougher one on current form.

That is why I would look at bookies odds, in games where we are fav it is not reasonable to expect at least a point and hope for 3 away from home. Turning some of those draws into wins is important.

For the rest of the season I will disappointed any home game we do not win. To be clear I am not expecting us to win every home game. And when we drop points ain’t the end of the world. 

 

Edited December 5, 2025 by Ani

[desperado]

5 hours ago, Ani said:

That is why I would look at bookies odds, in games where we are fav it is not reasonable to expect at least a point and hope for 3 away from home. Turning some of those draws into wins is important.

For the rest of the season I will disappointed any home game we do not win. To be clear I am not expecting us to win every home game. And when we drop points ain’t the end of the world. 

 

Home form is great - like you say, no harm in turning up thinking we are are going to win, we usually do, but perspective when we don’t.

If we tap into just a little bit of this away we’ll be in the top two very soon and stay there.

This Christmas period is a great opportunity.

[LodgeMorrWhite]

Has this game sold out?  Logged onto the site yesterday and there was availability but logged on today to buy and there is no link but nothing to say it has sold out? 

[jmjhb]

12 minutes ago, LodgeMorrWhite said:

Has this game sold out?  Logged onto the site yesterday and there was availability but logged on today to buy and there is no link but nothing to say it has sold out? 

It's not going to sell out

[LodgeMorrWhite]

That was my thoughts but there is no info on the site about them being on sale or being sold out

[RUREADY2ROLL]

12 minutes ago, LodgeMorrWhite said:

That was my thoughts but there is no info on the site about them being on sale or being sold out

Probably too late to send them out; pay on the day likely 

[LodgeMorrWhite]

11 minutes ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

Probably too late to send them out; pay on the day likely 

Hopefully so, I'm a bit last minute but life jenga has worked in my favour for once and I quite fancy this one 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

4 hours ago, LodgeMorrWhite said:

Hopefully so, I'm a bit last minute but life jenga has worked in my favour for once and I quite fancy this one 

Brave of you after today! 😀

[Johnnyrotten]

Starting to think this match might be in doubt, based on no knowledge whatsoever.

But its raining a lot, and not much sign of it easing before Tuesday evening.

I've a feeling the pitch is going to be no good for 2 intricate wingers and subtle midfielders. 

[Eddie]

50 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Starting to think this match might be in doubt, based on no knowledge whatsoever.

But its raining a lot, and not much sign of it easing before Tuesday evening.

I've a feeling the pitch is going to be no good for 2 intricate wingers and subtle midfielders. 

Given a nice day in Mansfield tomorrow, bit of rain Tuesday morning but then dry afternoon and evening - be reet.

With zero knowledge of who their ‘first team’ is, it looks like at least 5/6 of those that are likely to play on Tuesday played either the full game on Saturday or at least well into extra time. Hopefully they’re still knackered and we can capitalise.

[Johnnyrotten]

7 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Given a nice day in Mansfield tomorrow, bit of rain Tuesday morning but then dry afternoon and evening - be reet.

With zero knowledge of who their ‘first team’ is, it looks like at least 5/6 of those that are likely to play on Tuesday played either the full game on Saturday or at least well into extra time. Hopefully they’re still knackered and we can capitalise.

My guess is as long as they didn't pick up injuries, they'll be perfectly capable of getting through the majority of the game a few days after playing at Accrington. 

If Sheehan, Toal, ACD etc can't play after 3 days of not doing much, there's something up.  I would have more sympathy if mental stress was coming into it, like last month of season when every game might be make or break and the fans are on their back, but these are relatively routine no-stress fixtures. Not a factor IMO.

[Ani]

Team will be interesting

TSL

Christie Toal GJ Conway

Simons Erhahon Sheehan

ACD  Dempsey or Forss

Burstow 

Works for me but if asking full backs to get forward JDC is an option although I see on social media he is to blame for most of the problems in western civilisation. 

[Rival Son]

7 minutes ago, Ani said:

Team will be interesting

TSL

Christie Toal GJ Conway

Simons Erhahon Sheehan

ACD  Dempsey or Forss

Burstow 

Works for me but if asking full backs to get forward JDC is an option although I see on social media he is to blame for most of the problems in western civilisation. 

If Dempsey plays, that is a four man midfield. Dempsey is an 8, not a 10.

With Dempsey, we can play a three man midfield, and still employ two wingers.

The problem is, we have no other box-to-box midfielder, to replace Dempsey. Such a role cannot be done by one player for 90 minutes, Saturday and Tuesday.

[desperado]

2 hours ago, Ani said:

Team will be interesting

TSL

Christie Toal GJ Conway

Simons Erhahon Sheehan

ACD  Dempsey or Forss

Burstow 

Works for me but if asking full backs to get forward JDC is an option although I see on social media he is to blame for most of the problems in western civilisation. 

Good team, won’t be far off. 

One change works better for me. Tutu in.

                          TSL

Christie.     Toal.    Johnston.   Conway 

               Simons     Erhahon

    ACD.          Dempsey.       Tutu

                       Burstow

Sheehan if Erhahon isn’t ready yet.

When the biggest issue for me on Saturday was balance and combinations, that 11 seems to address those issues. Big jobs for ACD/Dempsey/Tutu, as they will need to work hard ensuring both the midfielders and Burstow aren’t isolated -I think they are the best options to ensure this doesn’t happen.

I’m not on board with this ACD free role or us throwing in a 4th central midfielder, personally I think it will stifle us, I think Tutu is a good option on the left, balance, pace and good cover for Max.

Edited December 8, 2025 by desperado

[Traf]

TSL
Christie Toal Johnston Conway
any 3 from Dempsey Sheehan Simons Erhahon
Forss Duberry
Burstow 

...could work away from home

[masi 51]

1 hour ago, Traf said:

TSL
Christie Toal Johnston Conway
any 3 from Dempsey Sheehan Simons Erhahon
Forss Duberry
Burstow 

...could work away from home

Sooner this team/system is employed the sooner we win away

[Wanderlust]

This game will hinge on three things imo:

1. The size of the rocket SS stuck up their arses after the Swindon fiasco

2. How many of Mansfield’s on loan Florist players and seasoned pros are back from their extensive injury list

3. Picking a “robust and dynamic” line up to start the game with fancy dans on the bench if needed later - and not the other way round.

[L/H White]

can't see anything other than a defeat here 

2-1 mansfield 

[Ani]

50 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

This game will hinge on three things imo:

1. The size of the rocket SS stuck up their arses after the Swindon fiasco

2. How many of Mansfield’s on loan Florist players and seasoned pros are back from their extensive injury list

3. Picking a “robust and dynamic” line up to start the game with fancy dans on the bench if needed later - and not the other way round.

1. As bad as Saturday was the players have shown over last couple of months they are good enough and hopefully professional enough to motivate themselves to improve. Not saying SS should not have bollocked them

2. No disrespect to Mansfield but we should not be relying on them being short of players to beat them. 
3. There is the expression ‘earn the right to play’ which matches your point and underpins our away form. We do not do this enough, hopefully changes tomorrow. 

Edited December 8, 2025 by Ani

[Johnnyrotten]

30 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

This game will hinge on three things imo:

1. The size of the rocket SS stuck up their arses after the Swindon fiasco

2. How many of Mansfield’s on loan Florist players and seasoned pros are back from their extensive injury list

3. Picking a “robust and dynamic” line up to start the game with fancy dans on the bench if needed later - and not the other way round.

He can bollock Miller, Forino, JDC, Taylor, Morley, Randall and Dalby all he wants but how's that going to help us win at Mansfield?  They won't be starting and most won't even come on as sub.

I'm not saying he doesn't have a word with the likes of Toal for his passing across goal to a Swindon player etc, but who gives SS a rocket for his part in the Swindon performance?  Its like Van Dijk dishing out bollockings as captain at Liverpool, when he's playing a full part in their problems himself.

More likely is that SS has already forgotten about Swindon, he knows its two different teams.

I agree with the robust and dynamic bit - we have to play to the likely conditions, pitch etc, this isn't Huddersfield away on a dry evening, its Field Mill on a wet night.

[Wanderlust]

1 hour ago, Ani said:

1. As bad as Saturday was the players have shown over last couple of months they are good enough and hopefully professional enough to motivate themselves to improve. Not saying SS should not have bollocked them

2. No disrespect to Mansfield but we should not be relying on them being short of players to beat them. 
3. There is the expression ‘earn the right to play’ which matches your point and underpins our away form. We do not do this enough, hopefully changes tomorrow. 

So if they are good enough and professional enough etc, what happened on Saturday? Seemed more like a step backwards than a step forward with no improvement in sight.

I think you are being disrespectful to Mansfield. They have a proven manager who has turned us over many times and a strong team when fit. Hopefully our lads will give them that respect and play accordingly.

And earning the right to play is bob on. Every game.