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Post by thekraken on Aug 12, 2017 19:21:21 GMT
Went along today and sat with AndyL in the front row of the upper stand so we had a good view and no problems from our fellow Boltonians.
It was a bit like last season's game. Division 1 quality, few chances but no Ameobi wonder strike this time. As usual we didn't create a lot from open play. Not surprising given those in the team. ALF had the best chance with a clear header which he miscued. Madine had an off day and moaned a lot. A flat first half but things improved in the second half which was quite entertaining. Millwall's early second half goal meant Morais, who looked overweight to me, appeared sooner than might have been expected and he duly delivered with a perfect free kick. A good if uninspiring point in the end.
As regards individuals. Howard is a butter fingers and fumbled a good half of shots and crosses. He will cost us goals and points. Little had a steady game. Burke was very impressive. He got a booking for an impetuous challenge but he's very quick, comfortable on the ball and two footed. Likewise Cullen. He is driving the central mid-field. A better player than Spearing. Everyone else did OK with Pratley his usual clumsy self.
With Ameobi injured I expect we'll see that a lot of this defensive 5 at the back set up at least until the 60th minute and the subs come on. In this and the Leeds game we created little from open play and unless we can correct this then we will be dicing with relegation. Millwall were nothing special and beatable but then so were we.
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Post by andyl on Aug 12, 2017 19:51:33 GMT
When contrasted with some of Neil Lennon's early season games this one at least had method. They missed a good heading chance in the first half but otherwise we closed them out. And when the game opened up after they scored at times we looked good and we had some good passing phases to break up the hoofs to a lacklustre Madine.
I was very impressed by Burke and Cullen- they were the standout players. Cullen made a good last ditch tackle once too. Karma an was neat and tidy and involved in most of our better moves.
We do though have problems in goal and on the right of defence. Dervite is just not good enough and his distribution is dire. Howard is scarily bad- several times he dropped or flapped at shots and crosses
Unfortunately with Taylor and Little at wingback the flanks are blocked from an attacking point of view. If we can give freedom to Morais and. Ameobi and maybe Buckley on the flanks we may see more
But a solid point against one of our likely rivals at the bottom of the league. And we are off the mark
Howard 4 Dervite 5 Burke 8 Beevers 6 Taylor 6 Little 6 Cullen 7 Pratley 5 Madine 6 Le Fondre 5 Morais 6Karacan 7
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Post by riochforthereebok on Aug 12, 2017 20:07:19 GMT
Well We are only 3 points off a play off spot and just 5 behind the league leaders 16th in the Championship (I'm trying to sound optimistic here) 😂 Madine had is best game in a white shirt last week v Leeds but listening to the wireless, he didn't seem up for it today!! Having watched all of Arnstrongs Coventry goals, for him to replace either Madine or ALF as a 70-80th minute sub seems a complete waste of a sub to me because Armstrong can run at defenders and will shoot from 25-30 yards, but to swap with our front two when there's no wing play and just a lump up to them, Armstrong will struggle to receive them type of balls. He needs a full half or even a full game to get him into the flow and then I think we'll get the best out of him. Would need Morais Ameobi and even Buckley providing the quality to him though Let's give Harrys side a good hiding at St Andrews COYWM
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Post by whitesince63 on Aug 12, 2017 20:44:24 GMT
WS63 (not Chiphill):.....Oh the irony!!!! Good grief, man! It's only the second game of the season after Parky achieved absolute miracles to guide us to promotion last year against all the odds. Will 1-1 today cheer you up, Jonah? What on earth do you mean...."no positive results"? Were you not watching the final games of last season? A tremendous run of results, especially in away fixtures. You're quite right Joanna, we did have some positive results late last season. I should of course have used the word performances rather than results which would have been more accurate. What I can say though is if we continue to play the same negative team and tactics in this division it will take another miracle for us to stay here. Parky got away with his miracle last year due to a lot of luck and poor opposition. If he relays on the same approach this year, especially with Pratley, Madine, Dervite and two poor keepers to build around I think the miracle will soon become an illusion.
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Post by OohMac on Aug 12, 2017 21:33:11 GMT
Few shocks today. But forget Huddersfield and Burnley the biggest shock I've just witnessed was Jamie 'Proccy' play a part in 4 goals!!! This at the same level we saw him last season.
Birmingham coming up and they had a man sent off and star player Che Adams limping off. Their fans saying they had a threadbare squad so surely a decent time to play them. Think Dougie got his first win of his season at St Andrews and Lennon also won on his debut at St. Andrews so first championship win for Parky?
I think this year we will lose points where we may have pencilled them in. Occasionally I think we will win games when the odds are against us. One of those leagues. Key to it would be to keep stable, be hard to beat and that gives us a chance at least. It definitely won't be play offs though.
People mentioned Madine moaned and groaned. I hate to see it- once he gets the hump his game turns to mush. Needs to get out of the refs ear. He plays better when he has a steely determination rather than constantly moaning. Good to see his exchange with the Postman though, he really wasn't going to get that free kick though?
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Post by Trotter on Aug 12, 2017 21:42:37 GMT
Great psychological point for us today, history against Millwall means we are now 8 games unbeaten 5 wins and 3 draws so it was good in many ways we played them at the Den. After watching the highlights we must now get Morias fully fit who scored a great free kick, so with a point now on the board we must keep picking them up on a regular basis to rid the fact the bookies have us to be relegated.
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