Wigan Athletic v BOLTON..match thread

Well, foolish or not I’m going to retain my optimism for this one even after Blackpool. I actually thought we were much the better team in the first half and even in the second until the sending off. Yet again though glaring chances cost us and defensive errors enhanced it. I still believe that we’re the best squad in the league but for whatever reason we’re just spluttering a bit and I think we need both a bit of luck and a genuinely convincing performance for the whole 90 minutes not just in short bursts. I’m in two minds about Rico. Obviously I want him back so hope the cards overturned but he was way off the pace on Saturday and for me shouldn’t have started the game and that’s not hindsight I said it beforehand. I believe Taylor would have started if fit but sadly not.

Even if it is overturned I’d have Toal, Jones and Iredale as the back 3 although the way Jones played on Saturday I’d be thinking of starting Forrester there and maybe give Geth the RWB position and rest JDC. I haven’t a scooby doo up top but hopefully if Dions back and fit the rest will have done him good and seeing others miss sitters may restore his confidence too. As for a partner, common sense says it must surely be AC but has he done enough so far to justify it? I actually really like Carlos up there and believe he’d fit well with Dion. He was the only one who looked like scoring on Saturday and even though he missed a couple at least he was getting there which none of the others were. We need to win this for the points but also to put these Wigan chancers back in their box. A comfortable win would do wonders for everyone and with Cambridge on Saturday, which we surely should win, we could cement our place in the top 2.

Dion apparently not back now. is it me being too cynical or could that be a bit of mis-direction from the manager, and he's actually ok.
I wouldn't rule it out. i always remember that Lge 2 televised game we had with Salford (home game ). Sarce and Doyle were both apparently out.
Crellin had played the previous game. but i did tip Gilks to start reading between the lines of a lot of the stuff put out that week.

when the team news came out, it felt like a win already with those 3 playing. and we did win...2-0 including a good goal..Sarce sliding
Doyle clear with a slide rule pass.


look back at the Salford game here... my tip on page 2 that Gilks would probably play. with everybody else certain he woudn't.
also the tweets about the injuries to sarce/doyle etc looking back even Gethin was not expected to play but did.


trottersforever.freeforums.net/thread/2948/bolton-salford-match-thread?page=2



i still play Fantasy football, and a lot of FPL managers got stitched up by this bit of mis-direction by Eddie Howe only 2 wks ago.
Gordon ruled out on the Friday but actually started the game that same weekend. not even off the bench, an actual start.
& he only got subbed off on 90 mins .
can't be 100% sure this is the case with Dion but it was surprising the news to change so quickly. so wouldn't rule it out.





www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68190256

A definite confidence boost is needed after Saturday’s awful result.

Whites is right – we did play OK in spells but chances were missed and it was a defensive horror show.

A win really is essential to confirm that we are a genuine promotion team.



Santos is available so I expect Coleman, Jones, Santos & Toal. Coleman made some good saves on Saturday but then was ridiculous with his charging from the line so he needs to calm it a bit. Santos was half-paced on Saturday so need to improve.

I have a feeling that the manager will continue with his regular shuffling of the wing backs even to the extent that he may play Ramsay. I am unsure of our left wing back position. Despite his goals against Carlisle and Barnsley, Ashworth still doesn’t look like an attacking wing back to me.

The midfield shuffle will continue. Remember the home game against Wigan – they kicked Sheehan to bits in the first few minutes and basically took him out of the game. That could happen again tonight. Not too sure who will play midfield. I am not the greatest Maghoma fan because of what I see as a casual approach but he definitely is the most creative of the midfield group.

Upfront there is still no Charles. I would like to see Collins start with Bodvarsson but who knows who the manager will pick.

As usual, I am the super optimist and expect a win because we are a better team than Wigan, we have better players but I do accept that we also need to toughen up and not allow them to pressure us.

With the defence currently in a wobbly state, I can't see us keeping a clean sheet so I go for a 2-1 win.

wait a sec for tweets to load..

it could easily have a feel like that Salford game i mention above..Baxter being assessed.
the big 3 could quite easily all start..... just as the big 4 (or 3.5) unexpectedly started in that game ( sarce, doyle, gilks, gethin )

if they did, might have to revise my prediction to a 2-1 win.

I’ve never known a poor bookie, but I’m not convinced in our favour

1-1 all day long (at best) 😞😞

So what team will turn up tonight the winning team or the defeatist team I have looked back at our 7 defeats this season and I can honestly say that we have not been beaten by a better team it's been stupid mistakes that has cost us I will be the first person to hold my hands up if a team beats us and they have beaten us without our help. I'm not saying that we are brilliant but when we put it all together we are a very good team so it will be interesting which team turns up tonight COYWM.