Rotherham United (H)

[Johnnyrotten]

1 hour ago, masi 51 said:

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

The slow passing is something we see from whoever the CBs are, so its either the manager's tactics or that's just how CBs in L1 play.  But two of his passes at least today were top notch, one inside the full back to Gale and another 35 yarder cross field.  We don't see those from Toal or Forino, GJ has an outstanding passing range for L1.  

[ianofcleveleys]

18 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.

 

None of it is as black and white as they're saying or you're saying. There seems to be an ever decreasing room on here for saying we lost but there were things individuals or the team did well, or we won but there were some things we didn't do so well. 

It won't be much of a forum if all that's in scope is 'we lost, move on' or 'we won, onto the next'. 

We won, 3 of the 12 Xmas / New Year points bagged, but it was harder work that it ought to have been. Not an unreasonable thing to say, surely.

[Johnnyrotten]

1 hour ago, Eddie said:

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.

Fair comments.  Admittedly the "winning every header" was the impression I was getting as the game went on, and probably true before Hugill came on.  I don't have a clue who was beaten in the air for the two Rotherham chances in the 94th and 95th minutes, I was just praying the ball didn't go in rather than looking at who was challenging.  Also the one TSL saved that was going in.  Totally agree GJs beatable in the air, but equally he wins headers against bigger players through sheer determination sometimes, like Dempsey.  

On another note, Rotherham put in 3 great crosses, and won 3 clear headers which on another day are goals, we would have to go half a season to see that many threatening headers yet Burstow and Dalby are theoretically decent in the air.  Hard to explain.

[Stig]

2 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Randall's running off the ball, intelligent running into good positions, is better than anybody else that plays the "10" role.

It's when the ball comes near him that's the problem 

[freds dad]

https://www.skysports.com/football/video/11672/13487603/bolton-2-1-rotherham-league-one-highlights?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPMTczODQ3NjQyNjcwMzcwAAEe3dZoP5rc4Ll_CVvGh3T8JZvvVYHdWuMHg-9FUMsaIfCVuRbOHPQhMl3OqrY_aem_52-h_ZtlFUXzka7EbVYilQ

[ianofcleveleys]

11 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I don't have a clue who was beaten in the air for the two Rotherham chances in the 94th and 95th minutes

Conway, both times. To be fair, he just did enough under huge pressure to put them off and their headers not go where they wanted. Hugill flattened him on one of them

[Johnnyrotten]

7 minutes ago, Stig said:

It's when the ball comes near him that's the problem 

I'm no fan of his, and he's too weak and lacking cutting edge, but he seems to get judged differently to others.  Dalby did well today but overall has been very poor, Burstow can't trap a bag of cement currently and Forss - enough said.  

Randall did plenty of good things with the ball today, creating one big chance and having a header cleared off the line and brought a save out of the keeper with that decent shot 1st half.  Not something we are used to from a no.10, but assuming we play with a no.9 next game everyone will want Forss at 10 rather than Randall.  I'm just not sure what its based on unless its hairstyle, socks and his inflated transfer fee.  

[Ani]

27 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

Conway, both times. To be fair, he just did enough under huge pressure to put them off and their headers not go where they wanted. Hugill flattened him on one of them

The second one the linesman’s flag was up presumably for the aforementioned’flattening’ 

[ianofcleveleys]

2 minutes ago, Ani said:

The second one the linesman’s flag was up presumably for the aforementioned’flattening’ 

He did climb all over him for that one. The other one Nombe got the header in but couldn't direct it. Did ok in those moments, Conway, stood up. 

[desperado]

58 minutes ago, ianofcleveleys said:

None of it is as black and white as they're saying or you're saying. There seems to be an ever decreasing room on here for saying we lost but there were things individuals or the team did well, or we won but there were some things we didn't do so well. 

It won't be much of a forum if all that's in scope is 'we lost, move on' or 'we won, onto the next'. 

We won, 3 of the 12 Xmas / New Year points bagged, but it was harder work that it ought to have been. Not an unreasonable thing to say, surely.

No

But, you see that’s not what I’m saying at all.

My post match comments are usually more detailed and balanced, the day after so I don’t spoil my Saturday nights after enjoying winning a game.

I don’t skim through any posts, I read it all and give credence to opinion positive or negative, win or lose. 

Last thing I’m saying is we won, so all you are allowed to say is happy clappy nice things.

I’m just saying some folk revel in the miserable, blaming, negative, over-reactionary, irrational, emotional and unintelligent crap.

Not an unreasonable thing to call out is it, on a festive Boxing Day win? 

 

[W.cramp]

2 main points today,  1,  the policewoman stood near harvester before the game,  wow.   And 2, I was in the ground early today and witnessed a steward almost run 100 yards to get to and old bloke sat in his seat with his flask to obviously let him smell the contents of said flask for contraband spirits/liquor , again wow.  

[Wanderlust]

7 hours ago, bwfc4ife said:

We’re too lightweight in the final third. Randall - everything already said. I think ACD needs a rest too, just not effective at the moment. 

I was worried when I saw the starting front 6 but as SS reminded us in his post match interviews, a lot of teams are effectively playing 541 against us and we have to find ways of picking holes in them.
We mixed it up quite well today and Randall played well IMO but it seems symptomatic of the squad in general that we lack players who can shoot with power, accuracy and early, many taking an extra touch to set it perfectly by which time blocks and saves become easier and many of the shots we had on target were powder puff. Just lack ruthless striker instincts. I don’t think ACD needs a rest as he was still going at the end to set up Sheehan but I do think he needs to vary what he does a lot more and make better decisions - as does Gale with his wayward floaty curlers towards the far post. I was crying out the whole game for ACD to take on his man and get to the byline but he was incessantly recycling it back to the defenders and both wingers need to mix it up to make them less predictable. 

It was another game where we were good in patches but didn’t capitalise on it enough, making for a very nervy watch but this time we got away with it. Last week we didn’t. Still, we bagged the points and are still in the mix and we’ll see what January brings - although an instinctive predator up top is probably beyond our reach so we’ll just have to make it work and hopefully these lads will learn to be more ruthless in front of goal.

 

[BoltonPro15]

I've read nothing but imagine I'm going against the grain here but I though our midfield 3 of Erharon, Sheehan and Randall was the best I've seen of us all season in terms of a complete unit. Yes Randall should have made better of certain situations but he seems to find time and space where others don't. I thought he and Sheehan linked up well and EE did the dirty work and then some.  

I though it spoke volumes when the changes were made and Dempsey didn't get a kick and XS couldn't do a kick.

On a negative note, Christie is a problem. I don't know the numbers but I suspect there's a correlation between ACD's dip in form and JCD absence from the team. I could be wrong and I'm sure somebody will put me right.

Otherwise, pretty good all-round.

[BoltonPro15]

4 hours ago, Ani said:

Just back awful 30 mins, very good 15 mins, drab second half. Result was right but we make it hard.

Disagreed with the starting 11🧑‍🎄

 

Keeper solid

Christie was awful , if JDC had that game would have been slated - needs a rest.

Centre halves - fine but FFS pass the ball in front of each other when fannying about.

Conway - Better than recently god enregy

EE broke up play very well. We were worse when he went off

JS not always a fan but today stood up when needed , won the ball back for the winner 

ACD poor with the odd good flash , I think he is better with JDC energy overlapping

TG good and threatening great outlet. 
 

Forss ran about but nothing special 

Subs - all ok, thought Dalby did well.

 

Then there is Mr Randel - I thought a decent game, very good touches, got stuck in won the ball a few times !! However the miss could have been costly, think if he scored it could have lifted his whole season. 

 

 

Perfect summary IMO 👏

[L/H White]

I'm definitely in the over critical camp, but I've read that Sheehan was the worst player on the pitch today

Imagine scoring twice and being labelled as the worst player on the pitch 

[RONNIE PHILLIPS]

1 hour ago, ianofcleveleys said:

None of it is as black and white as they're saying or you're saying. There seems to be an ever decreasing room on here for saying we lost but there were things individuals or the team did well, or we won but there were some things we didn't do so well. 

It won't be much of a forum if all that's in scope is 'we lost, move on' or 'we won, onto the next'. 

We won, 3 of the 12 Xmas / New Year points bagged, but it was harder work that it ought to have been. Not an unreasonable thing to say, surely.

I think the point he was probably making is its the same people picking out negatives every week and when we do actually hammer someone they seem to go remarkably quiet.

[RONNIE PHILLIPS]

1 hour ago, ianofcleveleys said:

Conway, both times. To be fair, he just did enough under huge pressure to put them off and their headers not go where they wanted. Hugill flattened him on one of them

This.....i was almost tempted to give him mom for those two challenges alone because im pretty sure they werent his players to mark but he made sure he did enough to put them off.

[RONNIE PHILLIPS]

1 hour ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I'm no fan of his, and he's too weak and lacking cutting edge, but he seems to get judged differently to others.  Dalby did well today but overall has been very poor, Burstow can't trap a bag of cement currently and Forss - enough said.  

Randall did plenty of good things with the ball today, creating one big chance and having a header cleared off the line and brought a save out of the keeper with that decent shot 1st half.  Not something we are used to from a no.10, but assuming we play with a no.9 next game everyone will want Forss at 10 rather than Randall.  I'm just not sure what its based on unless its hairstyle, socks and his inflated transfer fee.  

I think a lot of it is going off his performances at Peterborough the expectation levels were higher. Theres a player in there but i think hes suffering from Cantello syndrome.

[newton_white]

9 minutes ago, L/H White said:

I'm definitely in the over critical camp, but I've read that Sheehan was the worst player on the pitch today

Imagine scoring twice and being labelled as the worst player on the pitch 

I think that statement says more about you and your lack of basic comprehension of the game than Sheehan. Nobody else has said he was the worst player 

[L/H White]

2 minutes ago, newton_white said:

I think that statement says more about you and your lack of basic comprehension of the game than Sheehan. Nobody else has said he was the worst player 

Unless I'm misreading what you're saying, I've never said that, it's what I've read on the internet 

I'm just stating I can be over critical but wouldn't come out with that bollocks 

[BoltonPro15]

14 minutes ago, L/H White said:

I'm definitely in the over critical camp, but I've read that Sheehan was the worst player on the pitch today

Imagine scoring twice and being labelled as the worst player on the pitch 

Read this where please? 

[bwfc87]

I’d love Randall to go and get a hat trick at some point to shut the negative fuckers sat near me up, but it probably still wouldn’t be good enough. I don’t get the hate for him, the lads trying. Support the players who put a Bolton shirt on.

[L/H White]

1 minute ago, BoltonPro15 said:

Read this where please? 

Have a look on mongy Craig's group. 

If you think this place is bad that place is Meadowbrook 

[BoltonPro15]

4 minutes ago, L/H White said:

Have a look on mongy Craig's group. 

If you think this place is bad that place is Meadowbrook 

Absolutely no idea what that means, I'm afraid.

Sounds like you need to stop looking at it tbh

[L/H White]

Just now, BoltonPro15 said:

Absolutely no idea what that means, I'm afraid.

Sounds like you need to stop looking at it tbh

You'd be correct. 

But it's one of them that you can't help but look at

bwfc Bolton till I die, it's called 

Enjoy