(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

27 minutes ago, bwfc4ife said:

Trouble is we only see him for 20 games a season

You're talking about forrester without realising it

I'd definitively keep Forrester, not sure he'll necessarily be first choice, but more than capable of filling in, I think SS will bring in another central defender to pair with Taylor.

2 minutes ago, Blondi said:

I'd definitively keep Forrester, not sure he'll necessarily be first choice, but more than capable of filling in, I think SS will bring in another central defender to pair with Taylor.

We already have 6 if we count Inwood.  And if we're going with 2 CBs instead of 3, that's more than enough cover even with injuries.  If there's one position sorted that I'm happy with its CB, plenty other priorities.

I probably wouldn't count Inwood yet

He'll surely go out on loan

I’ve said it plenty of times but I’m a massive fan of Forrester. Out and out defender that just loves defending. Celebrates a big tackle / block but is also pretty comfortable on the ball.

2 things that hold him back and mean I wouldn’t count on him as a starting centre back for next season:

- height / strength. Can’t do much about the first of those but he’d benefit from a summer in the gym (as would Toal). There are too many carthorse, old school, been around the block centre forwards in this league that will just bully a young, green centre back who’s still a bit slight.

- injuries. Every time he’s looking up to speed he breaks down. Not sure what he can do about it but his luck needs to change to cement a place.

38 minutes ago, Casino said:

You're talking about forrester without realising it

Probably, there’s just something about him that gets my vote 

26 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

We already have 6 if we count Inwood.  And if we're going with 2 CBs instead of 3, that's more than enough cover even with injuries.  If there's one position sorted that I'm happy with its CB, plenty other priorities.

We might have 6, but apart from the new recruit Taylor, I really can't see SS keeping all of the others, at least a couple will go imo, our defense needs addressing.

3 minutes ago, Blondi said:

We might have 6, but apart from the new recruit Taylor, I really can't see SS keeping all of the others, at least a couple will go imo, our defense needs addressing.

I think the most likely CH’s to go are Toal and Forrester, Toal because of his injury record and because I don’t think he’s come on as much as I expected him to and Forrester who I really like because I don’t think he’ll be happy sitting on the bench most of the time. It’s Forino and Taylor to start for me in August with only injuries affecting it. I don’t see SS being like Evatt and trying to keep everyone happy and disrupting the team by constantly switching so if players don’t like it they’ll be invited to go elsewhere.

8 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

I think the most likely CH’s to go are Toal and Forrester, Toal because of his injury record and because I don’t think he’s come on as much as I expected him to and Forrester who I really like because I don’t think he’ll be happy sitting on the bench most of the time. It’s Forino and Taylor to start for me in August with only injuries affecting it. I don’t see SS being like Evatt and trying to keep everyone happy and disrupting the team by constantly switching so if players don’t like it they’ll be invited to go elsewhere.

I'm kind of on the same page as you, however, Forester and Forino I think we should keep, Taylor will be first choice and another new signing imo. Toal and Johnstone can go. Whether Forester and Forino are contented playing second fiddle, that's debatable.

I'd have much more confidence in Forrester in the middle of a three than I would as one of the two but I don't think there's much likelihood that Forino wouldn't be preferred in that role

Also, although I've got no idea what SS intends to do with our back line, I noticed that Taylor seemed to play on the left of a three in his highlight reel

I’m surprised by the amount of folk writing Toal off.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our poor run-in coincided with him and Forrester being injured. That in itself may be a good enough reason - injuries. Same with Dempsey. The only way we write these 3 off IMO is if we consider any of these a long term unsolvable write-off.

But on purely a footballing decision the CB most at risk for me is George Johnston, too weak, too small and  too inconsistent in possession. He had about 1 good game in 4/5 last season.

I think that’s why he’s gone for a left footed defender in Taylor

Edited June 14, 2025Jun 14 by desperado

Just now, desperado said:

I’m surprised by the amount of folk writing Toal off.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our poor run-in coincided with him and Forrester being injured. That in itself may be a good enough reason - injuries. Same with Dempsey. The only way we write these 3 off IMO is if we consider any if these a long term unsolvable write-off.

But on purely a footballing decision the CB most at risk for me is George Johnston, too weak, too small and  too inconsistent in possession. He had about 1 good game in 4/5 last season.

I think that’s why he’s gone for a left footed defender in Taylor

I think Toal has just been a bit injury prone recently, I wouldn’t want to get shut otherwise, Dempsey the same.

25 minutes ago, desperado said:

I’m surprised by the amount of folk writing Toal off.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that our poor run-in coincided with him and Forrester being injured. That in itself may be a good enough reason - injuries. Same with Dempsey. The only way we write these 3 off IMO is if we consider any of these a long term unsolvable write-off.

But on purely a footballing decision the CB most at risk for me is George Johnston, too weak, too small and  too inconsistent in possession. He had about 1 good game in 4/5 last season.

I think that’s why he’s gone for a left footed defender in Taylor

I'd agree re. Johnston

I think his future here might depend on whether we opt for a traditional back four or three at the back, or want to retain the option to switch between the two

If it's either of the latter two, the fact he's left-footed would be to his advantage

39 minutes ago, desperado said:

Same with Dempsey.

we really need to move on from him

1 hour ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

I'd have much more confidence in Forrester in the middle of a three than I would as one of the two but I don't think there's much likelihood that Forino wouldn't be preferred in that role

Also, although I've got no idea what SS intends to do with our back line, I noticed that Taylor seemed to play on the left of a three in his highlight reel

We play a central three, we stay in this division........that you would have a 5/11 in the centre with two 6/3  centre halfs at the side of him is frightning

It’s a tough one but we have to accept that if Schu and Fergal are looking to cut the squad size down and we still need to bring in at the very least a left back, one winger possibly two and probably another right back to compete with JDC, on that basis it’s pretty clear that we have too many centre halves and too many No 10’s. Collins might sort one spot out next week and I can see CMG and Lolos or McAteer possibly joining him. I certainly wouldn’t want to lose Forrester and I think Forino and Taylor will be the preferred pair so it leaves Toal and Johnston to move on. I’d be sorry to lose either but with Inwood and Conway also competing for left side positions I think it’s inevitable. We just can’t keep everybody.

1 hour ago, masi 51 said:

We play a central three, we stay in this division........that you would have a 5/11 in the centre with two 6/3  centre halfs at the side of him is frightning

I didn't actually state that I'd have us play a back three or have Forrester in the centre with two 6"3 centre-halves either side

But nevermind

In conclusion, nobody has a clue what Schuey is thinking and therefore speculating wildly about players.

Sounds about right for this stage of the game.

8 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

In conclusion, nobody has a clue what Schuey is thinking and therefore speculating wildly about players.

Sounds about right for this stage of the game.

Of course lusty but isn’t speculation and discussion what this forums for? I’m sure we all have our own ideas and it’s good that we can share them? News is generally scarce at this point in the year so speculations all we have. 😁

I like how we signed this Richard Taylor......Never heard of him Bang signed..... no speculation nothing leaked

On 14/06/2025 at 08:46, bwfc4ife said:

Whilst I agree with most of this mcatee’s finish against Birmingham at home was quality, along with his first touch

The Crawley away one aswell was top class. Just don't get the mcatee hate. 

37 minutes ago, Arrested development said:

The Crawley away one aswell was top class. Just don't get the mcatee hate. 

@mickbrown 

The floor is yours. 😉

His attitude (or perceived attitude) goes against him. It’s very un-Bolton.

He carries himself like a billy big bollocks, plays like he’s the best player in the league and so far he’s done very little to justify it.

We like grafters, humble to an extent and ones that will run through brick walls. Egos are accepted when there’s something to back it up and they’ve proven themselves in a Bolton shirt.

So far, he’s turned up for a relatively big fee (not his fault but increases expectations), been part of a poor team that has failed over and over, tries tricks and flicks that rarely come off, does a fake jump for every header, prances about with his socks round his ankles, throws his arms about when it’s usually him that’s lost the ball again, and just generally comes across as a bit of a prick.

His actual output of goals and assists isn’t too bad (it’s hardly setting the world alight) - we just don’t like pricks, unless they’re our pricks, and so far he’s not our prick.

Edited June 15, 2025Jun 15 by Eddie

There are two obvious reasons why Toal might go:

He is one of the few players we could make a profit on seeing as we bought him for peanuts and he’s developed into a full international whilst with us and…

He might want a move himself as he isn’t on a particularly high wage.

But there are many more reasons why we should keep him though including ability, physique, commitment/effort and leadership. 
 

Not top level, but still a very good level and despite unfortunate injuries, a solid and committed squad player with absolutely the right attitude that we need.

Put it this way….if Taylor gets injured I wouldn’t be overly worried about a fit and rested Toal replacing him for a while.

Same with Forrester. Versatile and 100% committed to the cause.

11 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

In conclusion, nobody has a clue what Schuey is thinking and therefore speculating wildly about players.

Sounds about right for this stage of the game.

We can draw a lot from his end of season comments and the flurry of singings.

Plus the Collins stuff.

He's building a unit. No more fannies.