|
Post by riochforthereebok on Apr 1, 2017 16:59:04 GMT
I had a bleak feeling about this result last week but what I'm really screaming out is that we have surely gained a hell of a lot of luck to be sat 2nd with a 7 point advantage on 3rd. That result today told me everything about PP and his hoofing tactics.. Why don't the players have a chat amongst themselves and go against any instructions from our leader and take the game to Chesterfield?? Chesterfield were crap but we were no better. I'll take the point gained but had Fleetwood won, that could have been an even worse result. Can't believe I was begging for a Madine today, let's hope he had impact V Southend next week COYWM One other thing.... There must have been at least 3000 of tomorrow's generation football fans in the ReeMac today wondering what all the fuss is about and hoping to see Messi and Neymar make the net bulge, I too agree with a previous comment that the next home game should be £1 as I can't see many of those there today clambering for a ticket. That could very well have been another £26 game and that really would have p155ed me off
|
|
|
Post by davidm on Apr 1, 2017 18:02:45 GMT
A really disappointing performance but, remarkably, we improved our position in the league.
We get 23,000 in the ground and then play as if we had forgotten that Madine was injured.
At 3 o’clock Spearing kicked off, pass the ball back 25 yards to Dervite who hoofed it upfield for the Chesterfield defence to outjump our two small forwards and that was the game epitomised in the first 30 seconds.
It was as if we hadn’t had all week to plan with playing with Long and Le Fondre upfront.
Pratley had a wild shot over early on and Le Fondre was just wide with an over head kick but there was very little else other than Chesterfield out-passing us and forcing a couple of reasonable saves from Howard.
Second half, little changed! What was said at half time?
Le Fondre had a couple of shots wide, Moxey almost scored but Chesterfield easily bossed possession. Pratley had a half chance easily saved and the game just drifted into abject boredom.
We caused no danger with our free kicks and corners today. Credit Chesterfield for doing their homework on us.
When the board went up for 5 minutes extra time, I was praying for the whistle and had settled for a point but then we almost scored in the 95th minute with an almighty scramble. We wouldn’t have deserved it. I couldn’t even get excited about a Chesterfield player being sent off – it just made no difference.
We truly wasted a golden opportunity to get the fans back. The ones who came because it was just £5 will not be back.
We played poorly at Shrewsbury and won. We played poorly today and got away with it. If we play poorly at Southend and Scun.thorpe, I don’t think we’ll escape.
Howard - 6 A couple of decent saves early on and then little to do.
Dervite - 5 Some really poor defensive headers which got us in trouble. Ok Wheater - 6 Steady but not dominant. No danger to Chesterfield defence.
Beevers - 6 Again, OK defensively.
Moxey - 5 He is not a wing back. Defensively OK but attack wise nothing.
Spearing - 4 Very average. He spent the majority of the game either passing back or waving his arms telling his teammates to pass back.
Pratley - 4 In the week, the manager talked about Pratley and Vela getting forward and supporting the attack. Well not today. He played much too deep.
Vela - 5 Anonymous really. A couple of good runs but the game just passed him by.
Morais - 7 The only place where it look like we might attack. He was double-marked but still created most of our half chances.
Le Fondre - 6 Didn’t have his shooting boots on. Endless high balls to him didn’t help.
Long - 4 Awful. Just big high balls for him to challenge for but he made very few runs in the channels.
Clayton - 4 Saw nothing of him.
Henry - 5 Busy on the left for the little while he was on.
|
|
|
Post by greydad on Apr 1, 2017 18:35:22 GMT
A very poor game, no imagination or creativity other than Morais, but that is something that has been lacking consistently this season...results elsewhere softened the pain somewhat, but an opportunity was wasted both on and off the field. Amazingly, one little boy on the way out told his mum he really enjoyed it and wanted to come again, so at least one supporter went home happy! A similar result on Tuesday will be another step towards promotion, but hopefully those making the long trek will be rewarded by a better performance and 3 points...the finishing line is drawing closer but nerves might well become well and truly shredded if today's level of performance is not improved upon. Still, a clean sheet and an improved league standing so every cloud etc!
|
|
|
Post by spanishjonny on Apr 1, 2017 19:51:57 GMT
Shame we missed the opportunity to impress the extra fans today but at this part of the season results don't all ways go to plan, ask Chelsea, Man U and Fleetwood
Parky has started with Pratley and Spearing only three times this season Sheffield Utd first game, Oxford away and today and every time our midfield has looked like the 'Dougie' days, chasing shadows, for the money they are both on I wouldn't keep either for the championship, there are far better midfield players about, even in this league
Some people have Andy Taylor for player of the year and the left side was badly missing his input today, another player we can't play without is Madine, without him it looks like we are going to limp over the line
The back three were solid defensively today but distribution from the back was woefull, Dervite more guilty than his two mates, we lack guile all over the pitch
Alf tried hard but Long was not given the chance to use his pace and faded, Vela did some good closing down in the first half but did not influence the game in the second half The Postman was man of the match for me, he put enough good crosses in for someone to convert, one just before half time that fell toPratley and loads in the last twenty minutes of the game Unless we return to type at Southend with Madine upfront the ' champagne' will be on ice for a bit longer
|
|
|
Post by whitesince63 on Apr 1, 2017 23:11:51 GMT
Utter and complete tripe today and the scores that some of you have given the players seem very generous to me. Only Morais deserves a decent mark, always looking to create and provide but the rest en block would get no more than 3-4 with some even less. This hoof ball is tedious when we do have Madine there to try to exploit it but when we don't it is plainly ridiculous to play that way. Neither Long nor Alf can exploit that. I'm sorry but today further convinces me that Parkinson hasn't a clue and I don't want to see him here next season Championship or not.
|
|
|
Post by joanna on Apr 2, 2017 12:00:20 GMT
Obviously a disappointing performance in front of a big crowd......but imagine how Fleetwood fans and staff feel today!
With the players available, and given the league table, Parky has played it safe. No one else can fulfil Madine's role, and there would have been all hell to pay if Phil had changed the system and we had lost. Goals will come again when Alf has a partner to play off and Morais has a target man to aim his crosses at. Parky's recent acquisitions are based on a certain style....and they have worked. It will be easier to achieve success away from home at the moment.
In the circumstances, pragmatism was the safest bet yesterday. At this stage, promotion has to be the sole aim, even if it means disappointing the returning thousands.
On a side note, more evidence yesterday of BSA's ability to get the best out of any team he manages. Losing his services was the biggest mistake of our recent history, but even he opted for pragmatism and was criticised by some fans for his preferred style. Management is about acknowledging the strengths and weaknesses of your personnel and finding ways of not losing when key players are not available.
|
|
|
Post by whitesince63 on Apr 2, 2017 15:50:50 GMT
I think your last paragraph sums it up perfectly Joanna regarding BSA but I have to disagree with your Parky played it pragmatically quote. There was no pragmatism just a total lack of ability to realise playing his "normal" system would result in exactly what we got. Big Sam changes his game plan to suit the ability of the players he has, I just can't imagine him even contemplating playing Long high balls to a diminutive forward pair of ALF and Long. Parky had all week to fashion something different but clearly hadn't. Neither did he even attempt to change things when after just a few minutes it was obvious to everyone in the ground that it wasn't working. Did he change thngscat half time then? No, just a continuation of the same endless dross. We could very easily have lost yesterday, we certainly deserved to. In fact I really don't know how we're where we are since it's been like this all season. Sorry Joanna, I think you're miles away. This was totally unacceptable, though due to the similar ineptitude of the other teams in this division, we probably will finish in the top two anyway. What I'm worried about is next year because if this clown is still in charge you can bet we will be bottom 3 all year and a quick return to oblivion.
|
|
|
Post by OohMac on Apr 2, 2017 16:01:48 GMT
Obviously a disappointing performance in front of a big crowd......but imagine how Fleetwood fans and staff feel today! With the players available, and given the league table, Parky has played it safe. No one else can fulfil Madine's role, and there would have been all hell to pay if Phil had changed the system and we had lost. Goals will come again when Alf has a partner to play off. Let's hope this is the only context we mention "play off". It's definitely a wasted opportunity. If I was Ken I'd have hired people to approach fans and interest them in signing up for next years season ticket, setting up direct debit at an early bird price. Before kick off there may have been takers. At full time probably not. I don't like Parkys approach. It's far too cautious and yes we may limp over the line but I'm already worried about next season. If we came up with Holding, Clough, Vela, Walker, Newell etc I would say you never know how much potential we have. Unfortunately we're going up with a team that have previous failures in that league. Albeit il under some mismanagement. But let's hope new division means better sponsors, more money and better investment. If Forest go down could did we stick a buy back clause in for Zack and is Holding happy warming the bench at a poor arsenal side. Season loan?
|
|
|
Post by joanna on Apr 2, 2017 19:12:27 GMT
WS63 and Oohm: We're massively in debt, we're under a transfer embargo. key players have been sold or injured, turmoil behind the scenes...... Mere survival this season would have been a triumph. Instead Phil managed to keep us in the hunt for a crucial promotion and then, despite lack of funds, recruited the right players to suit a style that would lead us to a great unbeaten run with successive thumping away wins, so that we now sit 7 points clear of promotion rivals. Is this what you call "limping over the line?"
Would you have been happy with a sudden change in system and risk a loss by unsettling the team's routines, throwing away a season's graft? We don't have the players to suddenly switch to a pass and move game, desirable though that may be to entertain you. You'd have slaughtered him if we'd done that and lost. This was a point gained whilst we wait and hope Madine is fit to lead us to more exciting victories of the sort we have been enjoying and which you seem to have forgotten.
|
|
|
Post by joanna on Apr 2, 2017 19:22:51 GMT
PS: Once we are promoted, then we can start to think about using our improving status and finances to recruit players that will enable us to vary our approach. Until then, just be happy that we are on the up! And stop being typical moaning Boltonians!
|
|
|
Post by bonaparte on Apr 2, 2017 20:33:33 GMT
Joanne, I usually agree with you, but this time I think you have got it wrong. If we are a one trick pony we will never do well. Even with Madine we did not win a high percentage of long balls. We need a plan B. Not in evidence, so when our big man,our only big man is missing, what is the plan?
|
|
|
Post by OohMac on Apr 2, 2017 22:18:59 GMT
Of course Joanna I would take the position but two points firstly whenever I watch Goals Rush I'm always amazed at how poor this league is. It's shocking and I would expect even Rotherham to bounce back such is the difference.
But Charlton and MK Dons finished higher last season and lower this season so credit to Phil. However it's dire stuff and in the market Phil has bought some stinkers we've offloaded taylor and proctor two lumps who he only just brought in so what does that say? ALF apparently was nothing to do with pp. Keshi Anderson was also sent bak and Henry is a bench warmer. Buxton has never been fit so his record of recruiting is very hit and miss.
In my opinion the football offered is garbage and the fans deserves better.
|
|
|
Post by whitesince63 on Apr 2, 2017 22:20:24 GMT
WS63 and Oohm: We're massively in debt, we're under a transfer embargo. key players have been sold or injured, turmoil behind the scenes...... Mere survival this season would have been a triumph. Instead Phil managed to keep us in the hunt for a crucial promotion and then, despite lack of funds, recruited the right players to suit a style that would lead us to a great unbeaten run with successive thumping away wins, so that we now sit 7 points clear of promotion rivals. Is this what you call "limping over the line?" Would you have been happy with a sudden change in system and risk a loss by unsettling the team's routines, throwing away a season's graft? We don't have the players to suddenly switch to a pass and move game, desirable though that may be to entertain you. You'd have slaughtered him if we'd done that and lost. This was a point gained whilst we wait and hope Madine is fit to lead us to more exciting victories of the sort we have been enjoying and which you seem to have forgotten. Joanna, I fully accept that PP has worked miracles in certain departments under very testing circumstances and full credit to him for that. However, the thumping away wins you quote, if you look beyond the scoreline, just flattered to deceive. Most games this season we've been poor and extremely lucky to win many that we have won. The actual football has been dire since day one against Sheffield United, a game we just won but could and probably should on the balance of play, have lost. I think you're kidding yourself if you think anything will change under Parky. Everybody expected a change in style yesterday with the loss of Madine, our only striker of that type. I don't know where you get this idea he would have been criticised at all. Quite the opposite, criticism has come from not changing when it's clear to everyone that punting high balls to ALF and Long was completely pointless. The fact there was no attempt to change it when it so clearly wasn't working is just another illustration of Parkinson's lack of tactical ability. Let's face it, he's been the same all his career which is why divisions 3 and 4 are his summit and next year we need something better and as Bolton fans we deserve it. That's not moaning just being realistic which clearly you're not being.
|
|
|
Post by riochforthereebok on Apr 2, 2017 23:08:09 GMT
Even with a 7 point gap, I won't be convinced we're over the line until we're over the line! Bradford could suddenly go on the same run we've just had and so too could Fleetwood whilst Browny's Southend give us a good hiding and dent all our confidence. It could happen, so I'll keep my feet firmly on the ground until the jobs done. On PP, I'm sorry to say that I am worried if we do get promoted that we will be subjected to horrible football and thumping defeats against teams, players and managers that know the Championship inside out. If we do end up promoted, what exactly would supporters be happy with or what would their expectations be? I know what mine would be, mine would be at the least, a play off spot. Can we achieve this? Not with PP and with a lack of money, plus, I'm not altogether comfortable with his dabblings in the transfer market. His best signing has been a complete fluke in Morais! Anyone agree? I don't want to end up like Wigan and Rotherham with sacking managers mid way through a season but then it's very unlikely that a promoted manager will get the push before the season starts, so we are stuck with PP and we'll just have to accept what comes our way. Personally, I think we'll be cannon fodder
|
|
|
Post by joanna on Apr 3, 2017 7:52:15 GMT
You guys seem determined to mis-read what I have written. Look at the actual words and not what you think they say. You also seem determined to find fault. Realistically, just what would have pleased you at the start of the season and on Saturday, once Madine failed his fitness test?
We all know the approach is basic and lacks finesse (I don't disagree with you), but I would argue that the club has done remarkably well considering the hand that was dealt to PP at the start of the season. The crucial thing was to get out of this division. We are on course to do that. Once in the championship and a little more secure financially, then we can start to worry about style and variety of tactics, and begin to recruit to that end if we can. Currently, we do not have the squad to do much different.
Who would you have preferred as manager at the start of the season, given how cash-strapped we are? And what would you have accepted as regards league position now? Give thanks and praise for what has been achieved with such meagre resources. Support!!
|
|