Read this

 

http://www.lionofviennasuite.com/2013/9/4/4693934/bolton-have-not-won-a-league-game-in-2013-without-craig-dawson

 

Fucking frightening stuff 

 

 

Read that headline and then take a second to let that soak in. In the whole of 2013 (thus far), Bolton Wanderers have not won once in the league without Craig Dawson. That is the impact that one player can make. Let's take a step back for a quick second.

On the 24th of January, 2013, Bolton Wanderers officially signed West Bromwich Albionand England U21 defender Craig Dawson on a three-month-long loan deal. He would make his debut for the Trotters on the 9th of February, starting in the home match against Burnley. It was a match that Bolton would ultimately win 2-1 thanks in part to Dawson's threat up front and poise at the back. Bolton would win eight of the next 11 to propel them into play-off contention. Dawson's loan ended ahead of the season's final match, a crucial clash against Blackpool at home that Bolton would ultimately draw to miss out on a chance at promotion.

Ahead of Dawson's arrival at the Reebok, Bolton Wanderers hit some rocks after Dougie Freedman had largely steadied the ship upon his appointment as manager. At that point, the Trotters had won one out of their last seven, losing four of those matches. The story was much the same after Dawson's departure. Bolton Wanderers have not won a league fixture in 2013 without Craig Dawson. The defender appeared 16 times for Bolton with Wanderers losing just three times in that stretch.

The last win came on the 29th of December when Bolton beat Birmingham City by a scoreline of 3-1 at the Reebok Stadium. That match was surrounded by 1-0 losses against Sheffield Wednesday and at Leeds United. In 2013, without Craig Dawson, Wanderers had lost twice and drawn four. Those totals were compounded with the current season's poor start, brining it to five losses and six draws in 2013 without Craig Dawson.

 

 

The bottom line is Knight isn't good enough. He may be getting too much blame, and he certainly isn't the only reason for our early season demise, but nobody should be sticking up for him. He's not a good defender and we need better options.

 

All true, but which of our current centre halves are really better than him?

The bottom line is Knight isn't good enough. He may be getting too much blame, and he certainly isn't the only reason for our early season demise, but nobody should be sticking up for him. He's not a good defender and we need better options.

 

I agree completely.

 

Having said that, whilst he's playing , just like all our other players, he should receive our full support.  Save the moaning for in the pub and on here.  Abusing/booing players whilst they're on the pitch can only make things worse.

Huh? You sure you're talking about Rhodes' second (Blackburn's fourth).

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhLUk6mJ2HQ

 

55 seconds in.  

 

Honestly, I'd blame Mears for that. If Knight was tighter on Rhodes then the player with the ball had the whole 6 yard box at his mercy. Mears (imo) should have covered on Rhodes while Knight helped to pressure the guy with the ball.

 

I guess it depends on what they are coached to do.

The last goal is mainly wheater's shit attempt at clearing. Terrible.

 

But watch knight. He knows where Rhodes is but he's so unconcerned he just doesn't even look around to check on Rhodes. He just casually trots back to the goal. It's not even good movement by Rhodes. He just runs towards the back post.

I agree completely.

 

Having said that, whilst he's playing , just like all our other players, he should receive our full support.  Save the moaning for in the pub and on here.  Abusing/booing players whilst they're on the pitch can only make things worse.

 

i think some that wouldn't normally condone booing had a go because of his reaction to that goal

 

gave baptiste a serious on field bollocking in what looked like an attempt to shift any blame for himself

 

rightly or wrongly, i read freedmans comments about 'deflecting blame from themselves' as aimed at knight

 

might be miles off

knight has a hand in all 4 goals 3 of them inexcusable, surely but surely he's dropped and released/fucked off out of the club in January a truly truly shockingly bad player.

I'm still of the opinion you need a lumper and a ball player at centre half. Both Knight and Wheater are lumpers. Perhaps one with mills/ream may work.

 

They'd have to go some to do worse.

I agree with frank

 

Except mills is no footballer

Edited September 6, 201312 yr by HomerJay

Aye was gunna say mills is another lumper and ream is too far a footballer as he just isn't mon enough for the job at centre back.

I was of the opinion that Mills was hopeless after watching him away at Millwall last season

 

But fuck me, he's got to have a turn playing now after the two chuckles brothers performances at Blackburn

 

Mears Baptiste Mills Tierney, has got to be worth a go, they couldn't do any worse

I would dread it if knight didnt start and then one of our cbs got injured and he had to come on as a sub. Doesnt bare thinking about

You could argue that the article highlights we are only one player off being a good team.

You could argue that the article highlights we are only one player off being a good team.

 

Yeah, and that one player is Lionel Messi

I think Dougie should take the captains armband off Knight and give it to Spearing or Medo. I think the added pressure of being captain when the guy is clearly very shy & introvert does not help him or the squad at all. He struggles to focus on his own job as a CB let alone deal with captain responsibility.

What's equally scary, is that we have not won a match this season without Lionel Messi in the team! .....statistics can be misleading!

I think Dougie should take the captains armband off Knight and give it to Spearing or Medo. I think the added pressure of being captain when the guy is clearly very shy & introvert does not help him or the squad at all. He struggles to focus on his own job as a CB let alone deal with captain responsibility.

 

and what do you think having the armband taken away would do to this suspected fragile mind?

What exactly does a captain do?

What exactly does a captain do?

Toss, and ours is one of the biggest tossers in the league.