Derby v Bolton... MATCH THREAD

As sad as it may be I think it will be a loss 2-1 but would take 1-1

Well let's see if NL's reinforcements can lift our spirits after the cup loss!!

Being cup tied would like to see the newbies breath new life into our campaign!

Bolton Win 2-1

COYWM

Ah well...

Champions V Wannabe's
Liam Trotter??

Cant work this out 4-1 what the fxck is going on have we given up?

Talk of trotter what the fxck does he give to our team. 8 goals against in 2 away games how on earth can we sort that out?. We have to say our season is at an end now for the top half of the table so we might as well just try a few things out for the rest of the season and just finish as high as we can were that will be I have no idea.

I have just edited my tapatalk post from the train and ironed out the predictive text's predilection for turning Le Fondre into Le Fondue. But maybe it knows something I don't. For the whole performance we put in was lightweight , cheesy, full of players picking at tackles and generally insubstantial and lacking fire.

Trotter fulfilled everyone's low expectations. He was perhaps harshly judged to have fouled when dispossessiing an opponent to set Le Fondre through but soon after got booked for a clumsy lunge and then needlessly conceded the free kick from which Ince scored. The second goal was really poor. They walked through and either one of two players could have scored after feeble tackling , anoverlap on the right and for four or five games running a vacant full back area.

Vela was alas all over the place today. His sojourn in midfield has completely disoriented him. The third goal came straight from a crazy infield pass . Mind that phase of play would not have occurred had Lonergan been willing to roll the ball out to Ream . For the umpteenth time in the game he spurned roll outs and launched high balls to our mighty pair of Clough and Le Fondre. They won precisely zero.

 their fourth was a high ball from the left ( too much room given) the easiest of knock backs from the far post and a close range nod in. With no Wheater nor Mills and no Heskey or Davies to augment defence we were awful in the air and this goal looked like a training move. The fact that Lonergan was as ever trapped in no man's land helped them. Some keepers would go and collect those or at least punch them.

Derby were just stronger than we were and more committed but we made some horrendous mistakes. In the last few minutes they all but had a fifth when Ince shot against a post after Lonergan again chose to dive out of the way instead of standing tall. The first goal was a poor foul and Lonergan was very slow to move across to it. The second a procession through the middle of defence with a shot under Lonergan , the third was a very good shot after a blunder from Vela . The fourth a series of unchallenged moments. We more or less committed hari kari 

 But strange though it was at the game there were some good things to see. Bannen is a good capture. He looked really good at times and his left foot passing was reminiscent of the way Johnny Giles used to stroke the ball around. Clough battled away and had some good runs. Twardzik got a very neat goal and also looks to have a very cultured left foot. Moxey did quite well and towards the end the pair were combining to overlap well. 

It it will be interesting to see what NL does but there were some things to be learned

1 Vela must move to midfield and McNaughton if fit needs to provide experience in that right back slot

2 If Emile is fit he has to start ahead of Le Fondre who is an impact sub

3 In this he's not alone because Eidur, Slavcek, Twardzik and Clough don't have full games in their legs

4 Feeney is a trier but there must be better options around. He lacks skill and again would be a sub rather than starter in most competitive teams

5 When Bogdan is fit he should be restored asap. Lonergan is no longer keeping him out on form.

6 Bannen looks a very good swap for Spearing. Generally the creative side of things is improving but it's no good if defence is sacrificed and we are too leaky. Mills isn't the best in the air but at least he's battle hardened. Dervite and Ream can play very well but they aren't the strongest when paired centrally

7 the whole team needs to be better aerially

8 Trotter despite my view that he has some strengths is fit only for the knackers's yard at present

9 we need a much greater physical presence up front ( see 2)

10 6 pts from 18 is relegation form again NL needs to stop the rot soon but at least his suitors might be less in evidence now