Blackpool (H)

[boltonboris]

We’ll drop off like fuck now. Limp into the playoffs and get duly despatched 

[BoltonPro15]

Not read any other posts.

Thought Blackpool were fantastic today. Dodgy at the back, dangerous going forward and made for probably the best game we've seen at the Reebok this season.

We scored and then one manager reacted and the other didn't. 

What's worrying is that you would have no idea which one was challenging for promotion and which was struggling down near the bottom.

I standby that we have made ZERO progress under SS.

[Kane57]

19 minutes ago, boltonboris said:

We’ll drop off like fuck now. Limp into the playoffs and get duly despatched 

Chin up bruv, ACD back to save us

[Take Hunt Off]

5 minutes ago, Kane57 said:

Chin up bruv, ACD back to save us

You are the master of wit & repartee……clever cunt ?

[Wanderlust]

I’m starting to think it’s touch and go as to whether we’ll even make the playoffs now unless we improve radically, especially with chasing teams having 13 or 14 games left to play and our horrendous run in to come.
At the moment it’s still in our hands, but that won’t last if we don’t start scoring more when we’re on top, stop gifting goals and throwing away points in games we could have won.

That starts with the manager.

 

[jmjhb]

3 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

I’m starting to think it’s touch and go as to whether we’ll even make the playoffs now unless we improve radically, especially with chasing teams having 13 or 14 games left to play and our horrendous run in to come.
At the moment it’s still in our hands, but that won’t last if we don’t start scoring more when we’re on top, stop gifting goals and throwing away points in games we could have won.

That starts with the manager.

 

Then put your money where your mouth is, we are 1/25 to finish top 6 so lay it off on Betfair

Edited February 22 by jmjhb

[Take Hunt Off]

25 minutes ago, BoltonPro15 said:

Not read any other posts.

Thought Blackpool were fantastic today. Dodgy at the back, dangerous going forward and made for probably the best game we've seen at the Reebok this season.

We scored and then one manager reacted and the other didn't. 

What's worrying is that you would have no idea which one was challenging for promotion and which was struggling down near the bottom.

I standby that we have made ZERO progress under SS.

Blackpool were fantastic……..really ? 
One manager reacted the other didn’t……well he didn’t have time we’d already conceded  ??
Are you a WUM or just
or just a Evatt groupie 

[JOGLER]

I've said it before - and here I go again - our problem is our weak centre halves, especially the 2 that have been here for years. They're both extremely weak in the air - being good/strong in the air should be a non-negotiable asset of any centre half.

Yes, they both, quite often, win defensive headers, but their inability to direct the ball anywhere near accurately is painful. I studied Toal's defensive challenges in one game recently (headers and kicks) and 90% of them resulted in the ball going directly to the opposition.

This is profoundly illustrated whenever we get a corner, where any competent centre half should be offering a serious goal threat and subsequently relieving some of the pressure on our strikers; yes, Toal eventually found the net the today, but bloody hell, we had 15 corners!

In summary, the weakness of our 2 main centre halves causes us persistent problems at both ends of the pitch, added to their continued persistence to revert to their sideways and backwards comfort zone - they absolutely must be replaced in the summer, whatever division we're in.

[Alf Hartigan]

Football aside, I've not seen the ground as full as that all season. All the season ticket holders must have turned up. If Blackpool would have sold their allocation it would've been 26,000 gate.

Anyway, back to football. I can't remember a season like this when we have had so many contrasting first and second half's whether home or away. First half was the best we've played this season with Taylor, Johnston and Dempsey being the standouts. Can't believe we didn't score, but then again maybe I can as it's how the season is going. The second half was entertaining for different reasons and I'd have been pulling my hair out if I had any. Apter is struggling in my opinion and we'd be better with Burstow playing up top with Dalby. Would like to see more of Kenny before making judgement but the two sitters he's missed so far remind me of Ian Moores back in the eighties.

[RONNIE PHILLIPS]

1 hour ago, Johnnyrotten said:

City conceded virtually the same goal as that v Spurs, it probably wasn't Rodri but it would have been a better player than Sheehan, but the modern way is for the keeper to pass it just like Bonham did today and Trafford did v Spurs.  We see it literally every week on the prem or EFL highlights.

Its not a mistake its a way of playing, he passed it where he meant to pass it, it wasn't misdirected like a sliced clearance or a shot put wide from 6 yards.  He'll do it again, because that's how he's told to play by the manager.  Same as the TSL one given to Exeter, its the manager's fault, I don't recall Jussi or Branagan or Felgate or McDonagh passing it to the opposition striker and its not because they were better keepers.

Its not a mistake?.....A. Bonham passed straight to their mon.......B. I'm pretty sure the managers instructions will be to play it if its on (it wasnt)........and C. Its fucking lunacy at this level anyway. Get it upfield and let their defenders make the cock ups.

Edited February 22 by RONNIE PHILLIPS

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

1 hour ago, Johnnyrotten said:

City conceded virtually the same goal as that v Spurs, it probably wasn't Rodri but it would have been a better player than Sheehan, but the modern way is for the keeper to pass it just like Bonham did today and Trafford did v Spurs.  We see it literally every week on the prem or EFL highlights.

Its not a mistake its a way of playing, he passed it where he meant to pass it, it wasn't misdirected like a sliced clearance or a shot put wide from 6 yards.  He'll do it again, because that's how he's told to play by the manager.  Same as the TSL one given to Exeter, its the manager's fault, I don't recall Jussi or Branagan or Felgate or McDonagh passing it to the opposition striker and its not because they were better keepers.

It's not the modern way to pass it to a player who's marked

[Zico]

We'll be in the play offs

No idea whereabouts in the top 6 we'll finish 

Given we're so inconsistent and 3rd I presume the others are too 

As play off lotteries go seems I've no idea who would be favourites to win them 

The thought of being in this league again next season without the lads on loan is thoroughly depressing 

[Eddie]

5 hours ago, Zico said:

We'll be in the play offs

No idea whereabouts in the top 6 we'll finish 

Given we're so inconsistent and 3rd I presume the others are too 

As play off lotteries go seems I've no idea who would be favourites to win them 

The thought of being in this league again next season without the lads on loan is thoroughly depressing 

Forget the lads on loan bit, we’d get some more, but the thought of being in this league again this year alone is thoroughly depressing.

Pure blind optimism has it in my head that we’ll be in the championship next year - up until a few weeks ago that was backed by still catching autos, now it’s only going to be achieved by winning the play offs and that doesn’t seem anywhere near as likely when you look who we’re going to be in there with.

[meanderson93]

8 hours ago, boltonboris said:

We’ll drop off like fuck now. Limp into the playoffs and get duly despatched 

Drama queens out again...

[nantwichwhite]

We got our goal, Evatt gambled by throwing forwards on. SS showed his inexperience by not reacting to the situation. Big Sam would have sealed the game probably by putting GJ as a spare centre half and Max as left back. Job done. 

[tomski]

I’ll be honest it’s as disappointing as I’ve felt all season. Criminal we didn’t win. That said this we won’t make the playoffs offs talk is some serious overreaction. 
 

We’ve lost once against anyone in the top 6 this season. That was unfortunate as well. How people can’t see progress in that stat alone surprises me.

In Munich for the first leg of the play offs. Lake District for the 2nd leg. Need to rethink that 2nd leg😂

[Stig]

9 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

City conceded virtually the same goal as that v Spurs, it probably wasn't Rodri but it would have been a better player than Sheehan, but the modern way is for the keeper to pass it just like Bonham did today and Trafford did v Spurs.  We see it literally every week on the prem or EFL highlights.

Its not a mistake its a way of playing, he passed it where he meant to pass it, it wasn't misdirected like a sliced clearance or a shot put wide from 6 yards.  He'll do it again, because that's how he's told to play by the manager.  Same as the TSL one given to Exeter, its the manager's fault, I don't recall Jussi or Branagan or Felgate or McDonagh passing it to the opposition striker and its not because they were better keepers.

I'm not one of these "boot it long" merchants, but under no circumstances should that ball be played to Sheehan when he's being tightly marked like that. Instead by Sheehan pulling a midfielder towards our goal there should be space behind for a long ball.

Yet I can't blame the goalie, it's clearly management instruction as it's done at every club. High risk, low reward football I'll never understand.

I imagine goals from this passing around at the back would have been on blooper reels even as late as the 2000s but it seems an accepted part of the games these days.

[Matt Lofthouse]

Such a frustrating season, just too many draws and not taking our chances. Only ourselves to blame and why we are way off automatic promotion. 

[Wanderlust]

7 hours ago, jmjhb said:

Then put your money where your mouth is, we are 1/25 to finish top 6 so lay it off on Betfair

Which bet am I supposed to be putting on?
The one where we don’t stop fucking up and don’t score enough whilst the other teams play well and catch us, or the one where we do improve as I suggested we need to and we stay in the top six? 

You’re talking in riddles mate.

 

 

[Eddie]

4 minutes ago, Stig said:

I'm not one of these "boot it long" merchants, but under no circumstances should that ball be played to Sheehan when he's being tightly marked like that. Instead by Sheehan pulling a midfielder towards our goal there should be space behind for a long ball.

Yet I can't blame the goalie, it's clearly management instruction as it's done at every club. High risk, low reward football I'll never understand.

I imagine goals from this passing around at the back would have been on blooper reels even as late as the 2000s but it seems an accepted part of the games these days.

I’m not sure it is management instruction, we go long plenty of times.

We were in panic mode, Toal had played the ball back to him when Blackpool had their tails up and were pressing hard. Sheehan offered but was clearly marked but Toal never made the angle out to the right for an easy ball for Bonham - it was really poor from Toal.

Bonham went to play it to Sheehan and stopped himself, seeing the danger, but then with no other option and the ball stuck under his feet so he couldn’t easily launch it (although it would have still been his best option) he had a brain fart and chose the Sheehan option.

It was an example of us losing our minds when a bit of pressure is applied and was just a continuation of the game from the moment we scored - and our captain was key flapper at this point.

Not trying to shift blame from Bonham, he made a bad decision under pressure, but it was indicative of the head loss and lack of composure all over the pitch.

[Wanderlust]

It’s good that Sheehan has enough self confidence on the ball to offer to receive a pass in a tight area and he always wants it, but his decision making as regards offering in dangerous positions has to be questioned especially when he is effectively the last man and is marked. And it’s predictable.

[Traf]

Bonham didn't pass to Sheehan, though.
At the time Sheehan asked for the ball, the way daylight between him and the goalscorer who was to Sheehan's left.

The ball should have gone to Sheehan's right, enabling him to turn out, but the pass went straight to the attacker's left side.

[Stig]

5 minutes ago, Eddie said:

I’m not sure it is management instruction, we go long plenty of times.

We were in panic mode, Toal had played the ball back to him when Blackpool had their tails up and were pressing hard. Sheehan offered but was clearly marked but Toal never made the angle out to the right for an easy ball for Bonham - it was really poor from Toal.

Bonham went to play it to Sheehan and stopped himself, seeing the danger, but then with no other option and the ball stuck under his feet so he couldn’t easily launch it (although it would have still been his best option) he had a brain fart and chose the Sheehan option.

It was an example of us losing our minds when a bit of pressure is applied and was just a continuation of the game from the moment we scored - and our captain was key flapper at this point.

Not trying to shift blame from Bonham, he made a bad decision under pressure, but it was indicative of the head loss and lack of composure all over the pitch.

I don't disagree on the loss of heads, but don't think that means they're not following instruction. Probably the opposite as they're panicking and relying on what they've been told to do rather than reading the game.

It took Bonham 4 dangerous passes into midfield on his home debut before he got the message from the crowd not to do that and he started playing it wide or long. In training that pass into centre mid probably works a treat because the pressure isn't as much, the press from the attacker isn't as intense etc.

Back to the point on panicking, we completely lose heads the moment anyone attacks us. Against Barnsley people were saying we needed Sheehan in to control possession to stop the opposition getting on top, but yesterday shows it's a collective issue irrespective of whoever plays. Once the opposition have to start attacking, rather than just sitting back, we go to pot. The reason we haven't conceded more is purely because we don't score many so the opposition stay in defensive mode for most of the game.

[Stig]

2 minutes ago, Traf said:

Bonham didn't pass to Sheehan, though.
At the time Sheehan asked for the ball, the way daylight between him and the goalscorer who was to Sheehan's left.

The ball should have gone to Sheehan's right, enabling him to turn out, but the pass went straight to the attacker's left side.

High risk, low reward pass that shouldn't be attempted at 1-1 with Blackpool having their tails up

[paulhanley]

10 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

To be fair I'd rather be playing Blackpool twice than Northampton, that was a proper derby feel today.  We've got another thread re derbies, and obviously this isn't a proper one, but its the next best thing.  That game mattered more than most, there was an edge, and there must have been twice as many here as for the Northampton game (not tickets sold obviously, but folk turning up).

On the incredible run of nobody winning at the other ground, I wonder if its a record in terms of number of games played against one team with no away wins.  It must be near 35.  What odds would you get if you bet on the next 40 games between any two teams not being away wins!

Aye but if we go up you are substituting Blackpool and Wigan for PNE and Burnley - maybe Blackburn if they stave off relegation. 

I think Blackpool can be described as a derby but perhaps not a local derby. It is a Lancashire derby of the old school. 

Looking at this it is now 33 games since either club won an away fixture. A remarkable statistic: 

Bolton Wanderers football club: record v Blackpool