Scored a great header and then……nothing.

There have been two recurring themes in conversation about him:

1. He isn’t getting the right kind of service. Well I’m still not convinced he’s that lethal when he does, although TBF his opportunities have been few and far between but it has to be a very specific kind of service as he’s not very mobile.

2. Get him on to hold the ball up when we need an outlet. From what I’ve seen he has the touch of a rapist and the ball just bounces off him or he misplaces the lay off. And he is slow  getting to the ball in the first place compared to Burstow. If Burstow is knackered and we’re under the cosh, wouldn’t we be better off sticking someone quick and annoying like ACD to chase down clearances into space rather than have Dalby get into a wrestling match on the few occasions the clearance actually comes in his direction? Or a combo player with a bit a pace and strength when required like Taylor?
 

There was a moment during McAtee’s cameo yesterday when we were defending our box and McAtee brought the ball down with an incredible touch, slipped it to Dalby and ran into space for the return - and Sam passed what should have been a routine ball straight to a Luton player. Frustrating.

So what’s the story? Do we change the way we play to suit him better? Does he need to improve his fitness, speed and touch to fit the way we play? Is he carrying an injury? Or do we write him off as a poor signing and move on?

6 hours ago, masi 51 said:

All was debated back end of last year on here. I said don't give up on Mcatee and Dalby would come good with another beside him

Playing two wingers away from home was the problem

We still play with the two wingers but they are chalk and cheese away fromACD and Gale

They now look up before crossing to see where Dalby is

 

 

 

I think you've contradicted yourself there. It wasn't playing 2 winger that was the problem, more that the 2 wingers weren't crossing, all our play looked to go through ACD which was easy to defend, and all number 10s were in and out form and not massively involved away from home.

Whole team has looked a lot more balanced of late playing the same formation, but slightly different personnel and tactics.

53 minutes ago, Cheese said:

Looking back, dont think I commented about Dalby on this thread, must have been in a match one. He needed a fair run of games, scoring or not, to get up to speed and for the team to get how he operates and how to work with him. He's eventually had both of those things and the outcome has been positive.

The plus point of it having taken so long to start getting the best of him is he's got low miles on the clock at this stage of the season and could still have plenty more to give over the last few months.

Coincident with his run has been us gradually starting to get the ball further forward faster and bring more ready to cross it sooner. We look a more potent, dangerous side for it 

10 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

There are some figures in the BN today, as part of an interview with Apter. They detail the number of crosses he has put in.

It would be interesting the compare those numbers with those of ACD and Gale.

Also, when those crosses are made.

The strange thing is none of those crosses are anything to do with any of Dalby's goals!

We're knocking the ball upto him more and using his ability to lead the line, and he's undoubtedly playing better - tick.

We're getting more crosses in from the flanks - tick.

Is this a reason he's scored goals?  No.

3 scrambled efforts from 5 yards after 2 saved shots from Tutu and 1 from McAtee.

2 corners, 1 headed in (hurray) and 1 bundled in.

No shots, no headers from open play, I'd still expect a player with his ability in the air (demonstrated twice) to have some efforts at goal from crosses onto his bonce.  We can make more use of him from open play IMO.

10 hours ago, masi 51 said:

All was debated back end of last year on here. I said don't give up on Mcatee and Dalby would come good with another beside him

Playing two wingers away from home was the problem

We still play with the two wingers but they are chalk and cheese away fromACD and Gale

They now look up before crossing to see where Dalby is

 

 

 

That's worrying, because they aren't finding him from what I've seen 😀

Genuinely, if I've missed them, I apologise, just can't remember any.  

8 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

I think it happened when SS changed ACD’s role and put him in a slightly more central role just prior to the injury but the effect was the same. Initial problem was no service from wide as their crossing was pants and they cut inside a lot, but now there’s service from wide and through the middle. ACD looked fine playing more like an inside right, but I reckon Gale has struggled to adapt to the system.

We certainly give the opposition more problems now we are less one-dimensional going forward.

Yes there's definitely more going through the middle than previously.  Although if we're putting more crosses in than before there must still be a majority of play that goes down the wings.

But the biggest factor in the improvement to our attacking play last 2 or 3 games (aside from Dalby being on form) is McAtee.  We were effectively playing without a 2nd striker/no.10 for so long and that's been put right for now.  

Ahahahahahaha

Only scores tap ins that lad 😄

gets better the more you watch it. Hand round his throat also.

Carthorse. Lump. 

Stunning goal. Deserved it

What a donkey , son of Kevin Davies🤭

I owe him an apology. I was certainly not convinced. He's proven me wrong.

Only 26, best years ahead of him. 

On 30/11/2025 at 10:31, Wanderlust said:

Scored a great header and then……nothing.

There have been two recurring themes in conversation about him:

Get him on to hold the ball up when we need an outlet. From what I’ve seen he has the touch of a rapist and the ball just bounces off him or he misplaces the lay off. And he is slow  getting to the ball in the first place compared to Burstow. If Burstow is knackered and we’re under the cosh, wouldn’t we be better off sticking someone quick and annoying like ACD to chase down clearances into space rather than have Dalby get into a wrestling match on the few occasions the clearance actually comes in his direction? Or a combo player with a bit a pace and strength when required like Taylor?
There was a moment during McAtee’s cameo yesterday when we were defending our box and McAtee brought the ball down with an incredible touch, slipped it to Dalby and ran into space for the return - and Sam passed what should have been a routine ball straight to a Luton player. Frustrating.

So what’s the story? Do we change the way we play to suit him better? Does he need to improve his fitness, speed and touch to fit the way we play? Is he carrying an injury? Or do we write him off as a poor signing and move on?

Brilliant Analysis

- Touch of a rapist (whatever that means)?

- Ball bounces off him

- Misplaces lay offs

- Slow getting to the ball

- Prefers Richard Taylor to play rather than Dalby!!!

- Passes the ball to the opposition rather than his team mates.

- He needs to improve his fitness, his speed and his touch!

- And if he can't then write him off as a poor signing and move on.

 

Dalby Is Player Of The Year

Sam Dalby was named Player of the Season as he picked up two of the night’s big prizes at Wanderers’ End of Season Awards.

The striker was voted the Whites’ top player of the 2025/26 campaign by the fans to land the prestigious award after stepping up to help spearhead Wanderers’ promotion challenge.

Dalby was also crowned the season’s top scorer thanks to his 13 goals in all competitions...

Dalby Is Player Of The Year | Bolton Wanderers FC

5 hours ago, jmjhb said:

Ahahahahahaha

Class

1 hour ago, TrickyTrotter said:

Only 26, best years ahead of him. 

Had such a meh career until coming to us. Mad how it sometimes just fits for players. 

On 30/11/2025 at 11:52, TM Trotter said:

There's nothing about him that is an improvement on Vic.

Bitterly disappointing signing. 

I love being wrong.

1 minute ago, TM Trotter said:

I love being wrong.

It's great when people admit they are wrong. The were a lot including me who felt the same originally

The touch of a gymnast..

He's in your heaaadddd, in your headdddd, DALBY DALBY DALBY!

I was one who really couldnt see anything in him but I will happily kiss his feet and apologise,he has been magnificent.

  Take a bow Sam Lewandalby

15 hours ago, TM Trotter said:

I love being wrong.

"Reverse psychology"

15 minutes ago, bwfc6ix said:

"Reverse psychology"

"Scoreboard pressure"

I'm in the naughty corner with Tutu, called him a few names over the months about his deficiencies as a RB, but more than happy to see how he's improved in late season and proved me wrong. Excellent throughout these play offs.

Against that, happy to be proved right about sticking by Dalby back in those days last year when he hadn't been fit, only had bits and pieces of game time and we hadn't worked out how to help him thrive.