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Post by chip on Apr 5, 2022 21:10:12 GMT
1-1 Final score was it a fair result I don't know ? Afolayan would you sell him if the right offer came along because the way I see it there is something not right with him at the moment. Onwards & upwards stay safe one & all COYWM
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Post by andyl on Apr 5, 2022 22:02:05 GMT
First thing to say is that Portsmouth midfield and upfront really impressed me. With MKD and Plymouth the best we've seen albeit not as intimidating as Rotherham or Wigan. We were 2nd best for much of the play but in patches we were quite good too. We need to get more on the front foot and sooner-not least because Bodvarsson and the out of form Charles are a handful. Dapo is also a threat though I prefer him wide.
The Jones, Saddlier link isn't as fluid as Jones and Fossey. All too often Jones got stuck.
Our subs all made a big difference tonight. If the removal of Santos was tactical which I doubt it was spot on. Even though Santos did two good passes and chased down two runners well against forwards like that a centre half who can neither head nor mark will cost the game. Aimson was far more reliable even if his distribution is poorer. That said Santos all but gifted another goal messing about. Whoever pulled off that wonderful block really took one for the team. A splendid moment. Aimson? Johnson.
Also full marks to Kachunga- an excellent cameo, full of bursting runs. He made and won the penalty. It was a penalty as was Bodvarsson being flattened earlier.
Also pulling back from Bakayoko and using Williams was also the right call. We finished the stronger in midfield as a result.
I thought Trafford did well today. Very secure and some spills avoided from tricky shots. Their keeper too was good. Splendid first half save from Dapo
Trafford 8 Jones 6 Santos 6 Aimson 7 Johnston 7 John 6 Saddlier 6 Morley 6 Dempsey 6 Bodvarsson 7 Charles 5 Kachunga 8 Williams 8 Dapo 6
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Post by andyl on Apr 6, 2022 8:31:53 GMT
So, as suspected, for the most part injury subs not tactics. And the rules are wrong
Maybe though Jones should not have cut inside, passed square, lost the ball in attack and perhaps we shouldn't have given away the free kick and having blocked it perhaps we could have cleared it.
We clearly miss Lee, our best player and maybe a fit Sheehan would have lent options. Also Fossey if a work in progress really added that pace on the right.
So not a bad retrieve against a good side who are flying and may get what we can't.
We may limp to the end but then lets maybe sell a couple and reinvest- especially in defenders who can do the basics and yes play from the back but with urgency and reason rather than by default at risk
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Post by davidm on Apr 6, 2022 8:36:59 GMT
Another short of the mark performance.
An even first half where most players were just a little below par but then a terrible second half where we were totally outplayed.
The manager actually picked the starting 11 that I would have chosen. Starts for Dempsey, Bodvarsson and John.
As I said, the 1st half was quite entertaining. Portsmouth played their part with some excellent pass and moves. Their keeper was brilliant with his passing – straight to the player’s feet.
Both sides had chances. Afolayan was denied by a good save whilst John, Bodvarsson and Morley all blazed decent half chances over the bar. Portsmouth had chances too and Trafford did well.
Second half though, Portsmouth dominated. Aimson replaced Santos and had an awful first few minutes on the pitch. He was turned by the Portsmouth striker and brought him down. Booked within 2 minutes of coming on to the pitch. From the free kick, we initially blocked the shot well but couldn’t get possession through panicky defending. The ball was played back in, we stood rooted to the spot and they played the ball back for a simple tap-in. During this attack, we had 2 or 3 opportunities to simply hoof the ball clear but No, we tried to pass it out and lost possession and lost a goal.
Portsmouth dominated after the goal. Trafford held the ball well and we looked raggy.
Kachunga replaced Afolayan and Bakayoko would have come on but Dempsey was injured and Williams was needed.
We eventually got back into it, when John and Kachunga combined for a good run into the box from Kachunga and a trip (or a fall, I wasn’t convinced at the time) from Kachunga. Sadlier won the argument over Charles as to who would take the penalty and he took it well.
From then on, both sides attacked. I was fearing a last minute concession but it ended 1-1.
I think we were a bit lucky to get a point as Portsmouth definitely out-played us in the 2nd half.
We need to be much sharper on Saturday or Sheff Wed will take us apart.
Marks:-
Trafford - 7 Caught the ball well and held it. Still a bit too slow in taking kicks etc, particularly when we were losing
Jones - 6 Much better in the back 3. Couldn’t combine with Sadlier as he did with Fossey. For some reason, his crossing was dreadful.
Santos - 6 The usual couple of casual mistakes but strong in the challenge. Missed in the 2nd half when we looked very shaky defensively
Johnston - 6 An excellent block late on.
Sadlier - 6 Good 1st half with some very good crosses. Faded out of it in the 2nd half.
John - 6 Some decent attacking. His one-footedness showed up a lot when he wasted opportunities with needing to get the ball on his left foot.
Morley - 5 A disappointing performance. Some poor passing and the Portsmouth midfield dominated.
Dempsey - 5 As with Morley, he couldn’t control the opposition midfield. Could have been sent off for wiping out Portsmouth player.
Afolayan - 5 Some good possession. Brought a good save out of the keeper but not the exciting player from the first half of the season.
Bodvarsson - 5 Unlike Saturday, he struggled to hold the ball up.
Charles - 6 Did some good runs and was just short. Desperately needs a goal to spark him back to life.
Aimson - 5 Started awful. Booked, conceded a goal and terrible passing all within his first 10 minutes on the pitch. Could have been sent off for foul after booking.
Kachunga - 6 Good running won the pen.
Williams - 7 Came on as sub and influenced the game.
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Post by whitesince63 on Apr 6, 2022 8:56:17 GMT
I didn’t go last night, neither did I watch or listen and it seems it turned out exactly as I’d expected. For some reason the performances over the last month or so have been completely lacking in fight and effort for me considering we were fighting for a top six place. The only one who seems to get animated is Evatt. I never see the players rallying each other or encouraging more effort, especially our captain who’s usual response to conceding a goal is standing with his hands on his hips. We’ve got the ability, we just need a bit of the attitude that Wigan have and that’s why they’re going up and we won’t until something changes. I do wonder if Evatt feels threatened by players with a bit of edge, like Sarce for example who makes his point but look where it got him? We just don’t have any characters in the team at all,and you wonder if that’s why DP didn’t want to stay? I don’t know but for me when you look at the characters were used to this lot seem really drab and lacking in personality. I hope Evatt can address that in the summer but I have a fear he won’t being frightened of players who’ll challenge him?
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Post by Pedro on Apr 6, 2022 9:30:06 GMT
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Post by andyl on Apr 6, 2022 9:34:33 GMT
I thought we actually showed a lot of fight last night against a good quick team who shifted the ball around really well. That one block saving a very likely goal was an example- also Dempsey nearlyy getting sent off.
Leadership was an issue,I agree but I think Morley and Dempsey especially are leaders. Aimson too, despite I agree a poor start was very good late on. Jones is a better leader than Santos.Bodvarson and Charles are excellent fighters too. Nothing much is running for Charles but what spirit. Johnston too, iffy aerially is very good positionally.
The Wigan game was pure fight second half too.
So, although, at times we got the run around we hung in.
I thought that first half Portsmouth had a bit of an edge and we were a but rushed. But we are a counter attacking team at best and we did fashion a few half chances. Second half we struggled for 20 mins or so but I thought the last quarter was even and we kooked likelier to nick it. Kachunga had a narrow miss, Bodvarsson all but got a close range header. We definitely should have had two penalties with the Bodvarsson flattening the more clearcut of the two.
I've seen many flatter end of season games.
This was promising. Portsmouth are very likely to be a 2022/3 frontrunner and us too if we can just strengthen the defence, sharpen it up and get the basics right.
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Post by realtrottersforever on Apr 6, 2022 10:12:58 GMT
one for Andy's reffing knowledge. was there an offside in Pompey's goal. Bolton fm were making a lot of this, but i'm that baffled with the offside law I daren't even guess now. I would think maybe 2nd phase, but no idea if changed since then ??
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Post by realtrottersforever on Apr 6, 2022 10:14:08 GMT
someone's even asked Mark Halsey and he seems to think it is off ??
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Post by andyl on Apr 6, 2022 10:46:40 GMT
Definitely not offside. The player stays out of the action and only rejoins it after the half clearance.
Imagine a player who has run beyond the keeper. The keeper unaware rolls it in front of him. The opponent pops round and scores.
It is up to the defender to know that an offside player is lurking. Would only be offside if say he'd gone in front of defender and blocked line of sight.
A really astute defender would have just left that ball and then offside active.Much as when keepers used to let indirect free kicks in if foward shot.
Evatt is complaing that the rule should be changed? Go back to everyone in an offside position being flagged? No he is looking back. Needs to focus on defenders marking men. Silly to play offsides in close proximity. If we nark that man the goal doesn't hapoen. Also Trafford could shout 'leave it, Geth' if quick or just get defenders to mark.
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Post by realtrottersforever on Apr 6, 2022 10:49:22 GMT
thanks for that Andy. I was leaning that way myself. not sure what Halsey is basing it on. maybe he's only seen the still, and not the video ??
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Post by realtrottersforever on Apr 6, 2022 11:39:28 GMT
a few other random thoughts about the game : a few signs Dion might be climbing his way out of his mini slump. 3 shots & 2 shots on target from him. had to laugh at Bolton FM / ifollow comments just as game ending.... " does this mean the end of Bolton play off hopes " ?? they managed to duck their own question. heaven forbid they say anything realistic that might be perceived as negative !? Santos with another clanger at approx 19 min mark. even the Pravda-like Ifollow comms team said that was not good at all. lucky escape. what happened to the views in this recent article (27/3): www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/20021288.bolton-wanderers-boss-ian-evatt-eyeing-strong-finish-keep-fans-coming-back/IAN Evatt is already planning for next season – but he insists it is his job to keep Wanderers focused on their remaining fixtures. I think we all feel like we’re capable of winning eight straight games. I always speak about performance over points and I think what we’ve done certainly is that,” he told The Bolton NewsI thought we'd at least reel a couple of these teams above us back in. back in 1988/89 we finished 10th on our return to Div 3 ,after getting promoted from our only ever spell in Div 4. we'd finished 3rd in Div 4, like we did last season. more similarities to that season...our topscorers in the lge were Steve Thompson and Trevor Morgan. both with 11 goals. Dapo currently our top lge scorer with 11 goals. but i bet they didn't make 7 signings in January back then. the seasons after we finished 6th, 4th then dipped to 13th before eventually getting up in 2nd in 92/93. don't see it taking that long, despite IE. the financial backing does seem to be there, but how sustained is it... is it a short term push or what ?. healthy season ticket sales should help. some strong opponents. 3 to go up .... guessing MK with Wigan and Rotherham. that means it could be Sunderland, Plymouth, Ipswich, Wycombe, sheff wed , oxford ,Pompey all stay down..plus the likes of Derby county relegated . en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bolton_Wanderers_F.C._seasons
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Post by kenglowhite on Apr 6, 2022 15:48:02 GMT
Sorry to be at odds with you guys again, but having reviewed the clip several times am of the view that the eventual scorer O'Brien was actually offside in the second phase of the free kick. When he receives the ball I don't see any Bolton defenders behind him and indeed one puts his arms up in an instant appeal. I think the Mark Halsey view is correct on that evidence and note that he would have liked a view from the side to confirm that no Bolton players were playing him on. While discussing the officials' performance I feel there has been insufficient examination of the foul on Bodvarsson early in the second half, which seemed a clearer penalty to me than the actual one awarded. While acknowledging the part played by Sadlier, I wonder why Ian Evatt has been reluctant to use the speed of Amaechi on the right wing, as without Isgrove and Fossey we have not got round the back of opposing defences as much recently.
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Post by whitesince63 on Apr 6, 2022 16:17:54 GMT
Sorry Kenglo but I have to agree with the majority that it wasn’t offside under current rules. There were white shirts goal side of all the Pompey players I could see so I think the officials were spot on.
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Post by davidm on Apr 6, 2022 17:09:40 GMT
Sorry to be at odds with you guys again, but having reviewed the clip several times am of the view that the eventual scorer O'Brien was actually offside in the second phase of the free kick. When he receives the ball I don't see any Bolton defenders behind him and indeed one puts his arms up in an instant appeal. I think the referee's view is that when the ball was played in O'Brien (the goalscorer) was definitely in an offside position but Gethin Jones swings a leg at the ball and touches it which immediately rules out the offside claim. If Jones had not touched it, O'Brien would have been offside. I agree with our manager - it is a stupid rule. That was definitely a case of interfering with play but if you don't touch the ball, you are not classed as interfering. And having said all that, it was rank bad defending by our players. We had all 11 players back but couldn't manage to hoof the ball away!!
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