Rotherham United (H)

[Leyther_Matt]

15 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

Johnston excellent at defending. Pedestrian with the ball at his feet going forward likewise Toal

The sooner we leave the pair of them to defending, the better. Just slows everything down. Although Johnston seemed to be the only player able to send it in behind for Gale to chase which is such an underused tactic for us. 

8 minutes ago, waffer cup 07 said:

Not sure if fans were cheering Randall's substition or Dempsey's apperance.

Very much Randall’s substitution. You can just tell by the manner of it. 

[Whitestar]

18 minutes ago, Cheese said:

Our thick fans are slowly turning Schumacher off. Cheering Randall going off was fucking pathetic. I hope they both just crack on and ignrore the thick cunts in the stands.

More like our thick manager doesn't really understand what substitute players are used for and when or if to play them, just saying like.

[Cheese]

1 minute ago, Whitestar said:

More like our thick manager doesn't really understand what substitute players are used for and when or if to play them, just saying like.

We won, you fucking plantpot.

[Johnnyrotten]

2 hours ago, kent_white said:

He arguably our most technically gifted player - but his footballing IQ is abysmal at times. If he had a brain he'd be a championship player at least. 

And if you are one of the utter shitehawks who cheered when Randell got subbed off then I hope you catch Ebola. 

Funny how we all see things differently, no problem with that, its just chat.  But if there's one player who I've watched for Bolton over the years who has a footballing brain its Josh Sheehan.   I wish the rest of the squad were blessed with the ability to read the game how he does and make the right decisions much more often than not.  Just how I see it.

[Eddie]

2 hours ago, jmjhb said:

Whilst I get people's frustrations about not killing the game off, we do play right to the final whistle and have picked up many points doing so.

These things cancel each other out essentially

Also, only 6 games across all 3 leagues were won by more than one goal today. Plenty of fans across the country will be saying that they wish they’d killed the game off earlier, we’re hardly the only ones.

There will be loads of eyes on our result today from Cardiff, Bradford, Stockport etc. fans who’s reaction will be “for fuck sake, Bolton just always find a way to win at home”. I’ll take that

[Johnnyrotten]

2 hours ago, Eddie said:

🤯 how people see a game never ceases to amaze me.

For me - most intelligent player on the pitch, reads a game like no other (meaning he intercepts a stupid amount of passes) and therefore pops up in the right position when we needed someone.

The pass was silly, agreed, but doesn’t help that Christie was asleep by that point and didn’t read it at all (we need a right back in Jan).

Not saying your opinion is wrong by the way, just find it mad that two people can see such a different thing.

Spot on with every word including Christie/RB situation

[jmjhb]

34 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Johnston the best player on the pitch by a mile.  He misplaced a pass after about 75 minutes and I swear it was the first time all day, and he won every challenge, tackle, header, block he went in for.

Fair comment, think we only notice defenders when they mess up

[RONNIE PHILLIPS]

20 minutes ago, Whitestar said:

More like our thick manager doesn't really understand what substitute players are used for and when or if to play them, just saying like.

I think he knows a bit/lot more than you do......just saying like

[worthy10]

We were slow to start the game and in the first 15 mins the miller's caused us some problems partly due to shaky defending. Last 15 mins of the 1st half was akin to the Alamo, shots blocked aplenty and 9 on target, we deserved the half time lead. 

2nd half started well and we had several attacks where the final pass or shot just lacked quality.

The Randall break away happened in installments. He found the space and was in the clear, would the pass to him be good enough, yes, could he control it, yes, would he get the ball from under his feet, yes, closing down on goal, would he get a shot off and beat the keeper, yes.....oh no!

He did OK today, a lot of what he does is very safe, I'd like to see him drive forward more. He seemed to have plenty of time on the ball, 40 yards from goal. He is weak in the tackle, as someone said, he's like a young lad playing against grown men and rarely out muscles or even commits to foul an opponent.

Christie looked leggy as the game went on. He can't run and support ACD as well as Cogley, but I think he is a better footballer than him.

General improvement today, another late winner and we are just 4/9 with bet365 to be promoted.

[Ani]

21 minutes ago, Whitestar said:

More like our thick manager doesn't really understand what substitute players are used for and when or if to play them, just saying like.

Last home game he bought Tutu and Dalby on , Tutu created first goal Dalby scored it.

He bought Dempsey on and Gale on. Dempsey created first goal and Gale scored it. 
 

So your point is total bollocks. 

[Eddie]

43 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Johnston the best player on the pitch by a mile.  He misplaced a pass after about 75 minutes and I swear it was the first time all day, and he won every challenge, tackle, header, block he went in for.

He’s proving me very wrong at the moment. I’ve been critical of GJ and even when he’s had a good game I’ve usually thought it was followed by 3 or 4 poor ones, but fair play to him I’d say he’s probably in the best run of games that I’ve seen him have (certainly post injury) - proper defending. I think it helps that he’s finally got a solid and settled defence, always Toal on his right, Conway on his left and TSL behind - who’d have thought that a settled defence gets the best out of centre backs!

One tiny bit I disagree with - not having it that he won every header. Hugill did what he did last year, pull onto GJ and beat him to plenty of headers. Big, old school centre forwards can still take advantage of his height and physique but he still managed to deal with him relatively well considering.

[Big E]

1 minute ago, Ani said:

Last home game he bought Tutu and Dalby on , Tutu created first goal Dalby scored it.

He bought Dempsey on and Gale on. Dempsey created first goal and Gale scored it. 
 

So your point is total bollocks. 

I mentioned today as I find it confusing and cool football coach types who have a badge from coaching kids can explain but why do we have to make all our subs. 
 

today it felt like they disrupted us a bit. Surely we could just make a couple. Admittedly I don’t understand anything as I don’t pay fifa 

[Krimzon]

54 minutes ago, Whitestar said:

Good god, yer easy pleased aren't you? , i used to work with a daft woman that saw the positives in everything, made me feel queasy, if you kicked her in the c**t she'd say " oooh that smarts, but what lovely shoes you've got on".

Maybe, but not really , Im just not suicidal cos we dont spank everyone 6-0 . An exciting game is an exciting game , win lose or draw . 

What you do in your own time is your business  but I would suggest there is a better way to touch a vagina than kicking it.  . 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

3 hours ago, Walkden White said:

Gonzo I appreciate you as a contributor but if you don’t see that failing to put poor teams to bed and scoring late winners is ‘papering over the cracks’ then I’ve probably misjudged you

Scoring late winners is something we've done quite a bit of this season. 

Of course in an ideal world, games would already be wrapped up, but they're not, and the lads keep going nevertheless, and get the points.

Other teams also scored late winners too today.

Does that mean they also are papering over those cracks?

There are undoubtedly areas for improvement, and there are things that the manager does that I raise an eyebrow to, as well as the players.

Nevertheless, we're still in there fighting.

Sort the away form out and we'll be laughing.

Similarly, if we don't, then it's play offs at best.

[Johnnyrotten]

2 hours ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Result was the main thing but bloody hell do we make it hard work for ourselves.

We spent a good half an hour in the second half passing between the centre halves and goalkeeper and then wonder why we end up under pressure.

I called the penalty two minutes before it even happened, wish I’d put money on it. Just sleep walked in to it again from sitting so deep and being so slow at getting the ball forward and retaining possession further upfield.

The reaction of so many to Randall’s substitution was ridiculous, I thought he was arguably our best player for the most part. Made some really intelligent runs and was the only one prepared to take a risk with a forward pass instead of forever taking the safe inside option.

One day Gale and Duberry will realise that full backs are terrified by their pace and actually back themselves in a foot race instead of forever wanting the ball played in to their feet.

Forss worked his nuts off but still struggle to see where he fits in to the system. Dalby was excellent when he came on and just showed the difference at being able to bring others in to play as long as they actually get within 20 yards of him.

Duberry must have seen the video pre match, channelling his inner David Lee with the sort of goal we rarely seem to score. Very much felt like a get out of jail but get another win on Monday and it sets us up nicely for another quick turnaround. 

Some interesting observations, here's my take on them:

- yes the goal was coming a mile off, our retreating made it inevitable and we did exactly the same at 2-1 but they very kindly put 2 headers over the bar (2 great crosses BTW, I'd love us to have that aerial threat too)

 - agree on Randall.  Its bad enough if someone has a terrible game (Christie) and they get cheered when subbed off, but when someone's contributed plenty, more than most, and is cheered, my god the brain cells of some of our fans!  Its a low percentage but if 500 fans cheer or boo it comes across as "the crowd" which as anyone present will know, is nonsense. 

 - I disagree on Gale, I thought he used his pace many times especially in the 1st half, at one point he was absolutely nackered after another lung bursting run.  And so many times Johnston and Conway played the pass inside the RB for him to run onto, definitely not to feet every time and exhilerating to watch, we are so lucky to have these wingers.  Bloody wierd to put Burstow on the left wing for the last 10 minutes though.

 - Forss, yet another game he made no impact in.  I don't see the working his nuts off bit, yes he runs around, not saying he gets any service, but Randall was streets ahead anything he's offered in the last couple of months playing in the same "10" position.  Great run and pass from Randall to give him a good chance 2nd half, never looked like he had a sniff of making it count.  If McAtee was playing at this standard he'd be the one getting cheered every time he was subbed off.

[Johnnyrotten]

3 hours ago, Dr. Feelgood said:

Well, a win's a win, yada-yada-yada. We'd have drawn that last year, at best

Last year we'd have lost that 1-0 with a Sam Nombe thundertwat after 11 minutes and then missed 47 chances.

[Eddie]

Right back is a funny one.

I thought Christie would be the answer once he got match fit. Old experienced head who’s played a higher level recently. On one hand he’s part of a defence that isn’t conceding much, but he does look really laboured at the moment - he let cross after cross in from that side, was so slow to react for the penalty but most concerning is his lack of support for ACD. The two of them just don’t work, he’s not helping ACD in attack which I don’t think is a coincidence as to why ACD is in his poorest run of form, but ACD also seems less interested in tracking back which is leaving Christie exposed - it’s like the fuckers don’t like each other 😂, lack of any kind of cohesion between them.

JDC is completely out of favour. I think he’s a weak link now defensively and is targeted by the opposition, but he definitely gets more out of ACD ahead of him. Looks like he could be out of the door in Jan given the lack of appearances even in the squad in the last month.

Then there’s Tutu who let’s be honest is makeshift and a liability defensively. Great as a winger who is more defensive minded, or as a right back coming on when you’re chasing a game and basically double up with wingers down that side, but he’s not a sustainable option to start at right back.

To me it looks like JDC will be out, a new RB will be in, likely with the view to be the main starter, Christie as back up and then Tutu available for certain situations like he currently is. Lets just hope it’s someone that has a better playing chemistry with ACD!

[gonzo]

51 minutes ago, Whitestar said:

More like our thick manager doesn't really understand what substitute players are used for and when or if to play them, just saying like.

Which subs were wrong today?

 

[Johnnyrotten]

3 hours ago, Hoppy said:

Thought Randell had one of his better games for us today and did some good passes think he lacks a bit of confidence but would come good if the crowd got off his back his effort was no worse than anyone else there isn't one player in our side that does not give the ball away or a bad cross more than once in a game 

I didn't think the crowd were on his back at all generally (most of the game was played in silence anyway, it always feels a bit flat on Boxing Day).  Only when he was subbed a few hundred made idiots of themselves but that didn't contribute to his performance, he played well.  If that was his first game nobody would be saying he looks like a bad signing.

[Johnnyrotten]

2 hours ago, only1swanny said:

I saw it aa dempsey coming on tbh. 

Randall did OK with pretty much feck all service into the middle. At one point he was dancing round the 18 year box oozing class but unfortunately, a no10 needs to be putting those away.

 

Ss must be seeing something in him though. 

 

Same is true of Forss.  Both players living off the reputations made before they came here, not sure why one gets slagged off every time he plays and the other "works hard, gets little service".

Re Dempsey coming on, the whole crowd knew he was coming on for a minute or 2 as he was stood there waiting for the nod, the idiots cheering were 100% reacting to Randall's number being held up.

[desperado]

5 hours ago, Whitesince63 said:

No, come on any decent team would be 3 or4 up against these

 

 

4 hours ago, bwfc4ife said:

On schuey this, shit starting line up once again and happy sitting back on a slender lead 

 

1 hour ago, Whitestar said:

More like our thick manager doesn't really understand what substitute players are used for and when or if to play them, just saying like.

I now understand why this season  I’ve usually waited till Sunday to compose and post my thoughts 

Deary me. 

Seems like unless we smash sides every week, some folk will never be happy and will always revel in posting miserable shit.

 

[MancWanderer]

They came with one idea. Keep us out and frustrate us. Worked up to a point

So fuck em. They didn’t manage it. We won

Were we good? Not really. But at Div 3 level it’s games like these that get you out of this shit division

Randall. Soon as he missed that chance I felt sorry for the lad. This year’s scapegoat was always gonna get it. He put the effort in but fuck me he needs a lucky break

Christie - sorry but utterly woeful 

[bwfc4ife]

17 minutes ago, desperado said:

 

 

I now understand why this season  I’ve usually waited till Sunday to compose and post my thoughts 

Deary me. 

Seems like unless we smash sides every week, some folk will never be happy and will always revel in posting miserable shit.

 

To be fair, I’ll hold my hands up for jumping the gun but we got out of jail once again today.

[FrancisFogarty]

2 hours ago, Dimron said:

But his socks and hair are ridiculous 😆

If he’d scored the couple of chances he had we’d have been singing “hair and socks notwithstanding he’s one of our own”.

[Ani]

31 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Right back is a funny one.

I thought Christie would be the answer once he got match fit. Old experienced head who’s played a higher level recently. On one hand he’s part of a defence that isn’t conceding much, but he does look really laboured at the moment - he let cross after cross in from that side, was so slow to react for the penalty but most concerning is his lack of support for ACD. The two of them just don’t work, he’s not helping ACD in attack which I don’t think is a coincidence as to why ACD is in his poorest run of form, but ACD also seems less interested in tracking back which is leaving Christie exposed - it’s like the fuckers don’t like each other 😂, lack of any kind of cohesion between them.

JDC is completely out of favour. I think he’s a weak link now defensively and is targeted by the opposition, but he definitely gets more out of ACD ahead of him. Looks like he could be out of the door in Jan given the lack of appearances even in the squad in the last month.

Then there’s Tutu who let’s be honest is makeshift and a liability defensively. Great as a winger who is more defensive minded, or as a right back coming on when you’re chasing a game and basically double up with wingers down that side, but he’s not a sustainable option to start at right back.

To me it looks like JDC will be out, a new RB will be in, likely with the view to be the main starter, Christie as back up and then Tutu available for certain situations like he currently is. Lets just hope it’s someone that has a better playing chemistry with ACD!

I agree with most of this. A point today CC read the play and went to intercept the ball. Looked great…but he was just too slow to get there cleanly and go forward, he ended up just getting there and knocking it out for a throw in, he just look frustrated that was not as young as he once was. A feeling I think many of us will have had in last couple of days. 
I disagree on JDC for me he is ok and certainly good enough , the fact he supports ACD well and helps him do that bit more makes he a good option. CC probably is or has been a better footballer but JDC can do a different job. Of course if we can better in JDC can move on and along with Morley it just feels inevitable, but for me finding an option that can contribute more in the 9 and or 10 role would do. Dalby did a bit when he came on and the layoff for the Randall chance was excellent. But having scored in last home he must have found it strange that with Burstow dropped/rested that Forss was chosen to start.