(That long since we've had any, couldn't find the thread)

Alan Nixon: "Top Liverpool starlet Cameron Branagan will Ben allowed out on loan in Jan.

Bolton lead the race for the 20 year old midfielder"

Edited December 11, 20169 yr by Ratwhite

30 minutes ago, TM Trotter said:

Opinions? Pfft. Might as well shut the forum down, eh?

Really wasn't a comment worthy of an arsehole response.

Sadly, arsehole is what he got

1 hour ago, Deanu said:

however we can't afford to keep neglecting the importance of finally getting a real fit for the pocket in behind the front two in my opinion.

With Lee and shoretyre gone it’s a position that needs looking at . We have josh for the role as one who can play there . don’t know anything about this Aussie but may be that’s is position as well ? 

I wouldn't mind seeing what Morley could do further forward. He can finish so why not give it a go

My concern is we are going with the same forwards from last season, who didnt get enough for automatic promotion, Bod aside!

52 minutes ago, Farnywhite said:

With Lee and shoretyre gone it’s a position that needs looking at . We have josh for the role as one who can play there . don’t know anything about this Aussie but may be that’s is position as well ? 

Yeah, unless Evo’s plan is to adjust to a 5-3-2 with potentially Baccus & Dempsey pushing up either side of a deep lying sitter like Morley/Sheehan because Demps has clearly got the engine to do it & by all accounts this Aussie lad has. 

1 hour ago, Lostock Whites said:

To be fair though I don't remember him having too many clear cut chances, same with Victor. 

They've gotta be more intelligent, more intricate with their play (dare I compare to Haaland) who all don't have much of the ball or space when the opposition team sit off.

No doubt Evatt will be already working hard on how our strikers can get opportunities against stubborn league 1 defences.

I think our midfield has to improve just as much to help with their movement, passing but also to chip in more with goals.

Totally agree but as a target man the ball bounces off him and he is asked to work back a lot so doesn't get into the right positions. An improved midfield could change that.

46 minutes ago, woolli said:

My concern is we are going with the same forwards from last season, who didnt get enough for automatic promotion, Bod aside!

Charles scored more than any other Bolton player in the last 2 decades...

2 hours ago, TM Trotter said:

Apologies if so. 

Was it fuck a genuine question 😂

Lots of pressure on Charles this season with that back up 

Edited June 24, 20233 yr by radcliffe white

Ricketts joined us as a 1 in 5.5 games striker

Just chucking it out there

And yeah #sickening

Fair point

But I’ve never known a weak forward line like this it screams lack of goals which is concerning, but he’s the gaffer trust evatt 

11 minutes ago, radcliffe white said:

Fair point

But I’ve never known a weak forward line like this it screams lack of goals which is concerning, but he’s the gaffer trust evatt 

If dion and iceman stay fit, id say they play every week

Victor, Dan and Carty are in the wings, ready to go...hopefully

2 minutes ago, Casino said:

If dion and iceman stay fit, id say they play every week

Victor, Dan and Carty are in the wings, ready to go...hopefully

Absolutely mate that’s the front two

iceman oozes class we need him fit 

10 minutes ago, Casino said:

If dion and iceman stay fit, id say they play every week

Victor, Dan and Carty are in the wings, ready to go...hopefully

I hope we get to see more of him next season

His finish for his only senior goal with us was a belter

It was

But no better than Dans

Up to evatt and his men to make it a regular occurence

Carty's on loan until the Irish league finishes at the end of November, won't be around until xmas.  Wouldn't be surprised if there is a Premier club striker coming in as well. 

8 minutes ago, TrickyTrotter said:

Carty's on loan until the Irish league finishes at the end of November, won't be around until xmas.  Wouldn't be surprised if there is a Premier club striker coming in as well. 

I would hope we can cut it short, if required

I dont take much interest, but it doesnt feel like hes ripping it up?

6 minutes ago, Casino said:

I dont take much interest, but it doesnt feel like hes ripping it up?

3 goals in 21 games (13 from the bench).  Be surprised if he comes back, but was an instinctive finish against Tranmere, so may be he has something.

2 minutes ago, TrickyTrotter said:

3 goals in 21 games (13 from the bench).  Be surprised if he comes back, but was an instinctive finish against Tranmere, so may be he has something.

Comes back ever?

When they all got signed, at least sithole was playing at a decent level

And the norwich lad looks like he has the physicality, but so far, it feels like 'whats the point'

I guess we have to trust the plan but the positives are:

1. Business done early doors so loads of time to work with these guys ahead of the new season

2. Permanent signings rather than loanees so we're not pouring our efforts into helping out other clubs

3. Haven't gone mental with the budget so far - although I haven't seen the fee for Dan - if there is one

4. Haven't sold Santos or Dion yet

5. Can't think of a 5 yet....see what happens job

Edited June 24, 20233 yr by Wanderlust

As of yet, there aren’t enough goals in this Bolton team

56 minutes ago, Burndens Bogs said:

As of yet, there aren’t enough goals in this Bolton team

That's true but shuffling strikers isn't necessarily the answer. Evatt demands a press that starts at the front so the forwards are always chasing back into deep positions so they're well away from the goals, and then when we get the ball the transition is so slow they're faced with a wall of defenders so that means we either need raw pace up front to benefit from quicker transition or better quality in midfield and attack to split defences with concise quick passing.

Love the idea of the system but there is a question over whether or not we can afford the quality to execute it effectively.

Right it is still very early...but...as it stands, we basically have last years forwards , last years midfield and we have signed 4 players to replace Traf and Bradley.

Let's assume the Aussie comes but it still feels a bit underwhelming. General consensus was that January was not a great window for us. 
 

I a hoping that there are 2 or 3 incomings that can lift was from last season play off contenders to challenging for automatics. I just do not see it yet, but it is still early.....

4 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

... when we get the ball the transition is so slow they're faced with a wall of defenders ...

Which neatly sums up why a decent footballing side doesn't sweep teams away. Until this is solved our process actually holds us back.

16 minutes ago, Ani said:

Right it is still very early...but...as it stands, we basically have last years forwards , last years midfield and we have signed 4 players to replace Traf and Bradley.

Let's assume the Aussie comes but it still feels a bit underwhelming. General consensus was that January was not a great window for us. 
 

I a hoping that there are 2 or 3 incomings that can lift was from last season play off contenders to challenging for automatics. I just do not see it yet, but it is still early.....

I see where you are coming from but I’m excited not underwhelmed:

The league isn’t as tough this year. Ipswich and Wednesday are gone. Sunderland the year before. We should actually be one of the bigger budgets now except for maybe Derby. Those that have come down all have issues. Reading have no manager and haven’t signed anyone. Wigan look like they’re losing players for free and have a points deduction and Blackpool … well who knows. They may have decent budgets but they’ll be looking to cut costs before the season starts not add to them. 
 

January signings haven’t had a pre season with us yet. Look what happened with Dempsey… first few months he was avg… then this season after a proper pre season learning his role tactically etc he’s been arguably our best player. I include Nlundulu in that. I think there’s a proper player in there - first half of the season at Cheltenham he had the best dribbling stats in the league. Plus we hopefully (!) have Bodvarsson back for a full season as we barely had him at all last season… and we are a much better team with him in it. 

Traff and Bradley are impossible to replace but Baxter is our player… and if he stays fit I think he could be the best gk in the league this season. Great pedigree and his save percentages etc playing for Hull in the league above were fantastic before he got injured. Unsure what’s happening with Wilson - has he failed medical? I’m sure we’ll have other irons in the fire if he has. We haven’t even looked at any loans yet at all. 
 

Haven’t really seen much of Baccus but the St Mirren fans are fuming so he must be half decent. I feel like we are taking it on a level this season (Traff and Bradley aside). A couple more and I really fancy us for autos.