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Post by OohMac on Apr 24, 2015 21:31:48 GMT
Most Bolton fans will get their wish in two weeks when we finally close the curtains on this season. Seems a long time ago since Dougie slumped off at Craven Cottage and news of his sacking got a cheer when announced in the local Tesco.
Away from Bolton it looks, and I think Wigan, have been given a reprieve as now instead of 5 points from safety with two to play and Rotherham a game in hand they're now only two off with a home game and could be out of the relegation zone heading into the final game. That was unthinkable a few weeks ago. I've got little sympathy for Rotherham. I remember Bury being kicked out of the FA Cup a few years ago, and Celtic just this season were heavily beaten and reinstated in Europe because thier victors subbed on a left back at 4-0 up(i forget the exact details) so the precedent is set. You forfeit the match, have Brighton who they beat been given the 3 points though? They should have really. Rotherham play Leeds last game of the season at Elland Road. Doubt that they'll do any favours for their neighbours. But to honest we took 4 points off Wigan(a minute away from 6) and went through the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Whereas Rotherham gave us a lot of problems at Macron, only Mason saves us from another defeat and then trounced us as The New York Stadium(shudder).
Back to Bolton though and throwing it open. Any highlights? Best away day? Best moment?
I'd say best performance was Bolton 3 Wigan 1, we were superb and that spell in the second half was as good as i've seen us for years. Best player for me is Josh Vela, from training alone and Notts County bound he was brought in and has been very steady at right back and has shown that he h as the ability to play a real part in the midfield.
Best moment/funniest was Emile Heskey playing his debut and silencing the Rovers fans with his first and could be last goal of the season. Paddy McGuinness forced to clean his boots!
Hopes for next season; keep players fitter, keep putting faith in youth and try and build a team around Vela, Clough, Walker, Threlkeld and maybe see a little more from Wilkinson, Illiev, etc and top ten finish. If we could even be in with a chance of playoffs i'd be happy but think Lennons first full season here we should be a little more pragmatic.
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Post by Pedro on Apr 25, 2015 16:55:46 GMT
Stopping Liverpool at Anfield. Shutting up the Kop and chanting "Where's your famous atmosphere!" I felt a very proud Bolton supporter that day.
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Post by OohMac on Apr 25, 2015 18:04:54 GMT
Stopping Liverpool at Anfield. Shutting up the Kop and chanting "Where's your famous atmosphere!" I felt a very proud Bolton supporter that day. That was great and not just the 90+mins. That week the fans were full of confidence, Lennon had The Macron booming. David Lee, Super John and Tony Kelly were analysing the 92/93 White Hot match and there was a real feeling we could actually beat them on both games. It was a great couple of weeks to be a Bolton fan again. Sadly, the following weeks disappointed. I've wondered how we're survived this season, starting on the back foot we were already playing catch up and then free falling almost at the end but if i'm curious about is i'm absolutely dumbfounded how Wigan are still up. Its so tight now. 2 to play for Rotherham and they are 3 points ahead of Wigan on the same goals. So in affect their game in hand could cost them, if they lose they'll have a worse goal record than Wigan going into the final game if they didn't have the game in hand they would be on the same goals. Obviously you would take an extra game to try and get the much needed point but if they have a nightmare and concede 3 or 4 goals it will be a massive boost to Wigan. Of course all they need is a single point from two games and even thats if Wigan win away next week but if you're at the bottom of this league you're clearly not that great and two defeats. It is a crazy league this one. Some more interesting results today.
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Post by andyl on Apr 25, 2015 19:11:40 GMT
A good opportunity for reflection with a good well balanced post to open discussion. The league table does not lie. Watford are up and they are the best attacking team. Bournemouth are within one game of promotion hopefully not to be secured v Bolton but they too fully deserve to go up. And Norwich are surely the third best team. In early season I thought Derby would do what Watford and Bournemouth have but they have faded albeit with perhaps a chance of making it through play offs. Wolves and Ipswich should miss out. They were no better than us. Middlesbro have a good defence and loaned Bamford who despite an off day with us has been outstanding. They may yet make it. At the other end Wigan are all but gone with Blackpool and will surely go next week. Millwall have a chance but Rotherham are better as they proved against us twice! I think it will shake down with Watford, Bournemeouth and Norwich going up and Millwall, Blackpool and Wigan departing to be prelaced by Bristol, PNE and MKD if there is any justice. The Macron could yet see SKD once more?
I think the season has been characterised by all the many added time losses or equalisers. That's what I will remember- the agony of leading with ten to go. I have travelled to quite a few away games. Our best performance on my personal travels by a distance was at Ipswich. But Sheff Wed was a good victory witnessed. Derby and Rotherham were the stuff of nightmares under Lennon and Fulham under DF as an even greater debacle. Common to all the losses and last minute concessions were shaky, ill disciplined defending especially aerially and positionally but more than that the team lacked strength and confidence under pressure and this equally for both managers.
The managers themselves make for an interesting contrast. Freedman was narrow minded, risk averse and defensive. This season, having operated under enormous financial pressures after a dire pre season he retreated into his bunker at Fulham and pretty much fell on his sword. As he crossed the field eyes down he was beyond the point of no return. Lennon has been up beat, lucid, attack-minded and at times cavalier. He built a team around Chungy, our best player whom Dougie had marginalised and got off to a great start. Clough emerged and dazzled us in the cup v Wigan. We all had a trip down memory lane as we took on Liverpool so superbly home and away. And Eidur came home! The home highlight had to be Emile. fed by Eidur, despatching Blackburn in front of a full stadium.
There were injuries and loans and more loans and more injuries and players praised and then axed. Strangest moment was Garvan being entrusted with the penalty to equalise at Wolves. But some of Neil's selections have been deliriously wacky too- Kellett back from bowls at the Hoo plunged into the York stadium mix with an outcome eerily reminiscent of Stoke's right wing demolition of Petrov and co and Wembley. Twardzik our new midfielder suddenly appearing at left back to concede in less than 5 at Forest, his only earlier cameo being a deftly taken goal at Derby. Very odd. And witnessing just how well a Feeneyless team could flow at Ipswich for him then to be ever present and offering an ever deteriorating level of just about everything was quite strange. If we comment with head rather than heart our results haven't really been a whole lot better under Neil than Dougie, certainly if we compare across their first seasons at the club. Yet who cares? Neil offers bravura, enthusiasm, passion ( sent off in his first away game at Birmingham), honesty and he's given us youthful vigour allied to pensionable service). If he is also impulsive- well at least it's interesting
So player of the season went again to Tim Ream. I like Ream. He is articulate , intelligent, thoughtful and uncomplaining. He has a good left foot and passes the ball well. But at risk of observing on the Emperor's new clothes...sssshh- he's a really loose defender and has been responsible for several late goals against and can't head a ball . He was right back at Wolves and at Forest, where he was like a poor matador to a rampant bull,Antonio, giving him easy passage. Ole! He was one of two players poleaxed in that game, or perhaps post axed and we played over ten minutes added time of nothingness. Lonergan had also succumbed and been carried out on his shield after a contact that made Cassius Clay's first demolition of Sonny Liston look like a hammer blow- for any with long memories who stayed up half the night long ago and watched the black and white satellite pictures. He hasn't featured since
But who else could the award have gone to. Captains came and went. We had more captains in the season than the Roman Emperor Augustus's, daughter Julia had lovers ( see I Claudius- book or classic BBC drama). Even Zach was captain for a while, perhaps by default being the nearest to the armband when it was flung off. i'd have voted for Vela- perhaps the greatest sucess of the season. But in terms of class Amos's three one on one saves were a highlight for me and some of Le Fondre's near post opportunism and the euphoria attendant on his lob v Fulham. Goal of the season would have gone to Rochina at Ipswich had he not missed. Janko's bullet v Fulham was apart from one from Danns and a stunner at Charlton from Moxey nearly reprised at Liverpool were the best long shots and almost the only longshots on target. There's along list of goals against us that have been brilliant- Antonio, the Wolves midfielder, Jerome and Hooper, Ince. Eidur's v Cardiff was a delight. My personal favourite was Clough v Wigan- a sublime pass from trotter and a lovely deft finish which followed a crescendo of efforts
I've enjoyed the season - far better than the last couple in the Premier League. We are a much reduced force and in dire need of defenders. And ther's ben lots of frustration. But when was it ever not thus?
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Post by spanishjonny on Apr 25, 2015 20:53:41 GMT
Since Lennon came in it's been very interesting again, the emergence of Clough, Clayton, Vela, Walker, Kellet, and Threlkeld, all potential first teamers are positives from this season. If Lennon can sort out the defence, and it's a big 'If' we can challenge next season Don't like Bogdan, would sooner have Amos, younger with more potential Hope Mills moves on, looks likely with his ' vertigo ' problem, not sure about McCarthy, Dervite or Wheater Would have Baptiste back, Moxey is ok, Ream is versatile If the rumoured Irish put some money in it means Lennon could shop at a higher level and improve the team faster All things considered I'm looking forward to next season
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Post by riochforthereebok on Apr 26, 2015 14:04:24 GMT
So next up at the Macron..... Bristol City PNE MK Dons AND...... Sunderland QPR Aston Villa (something tells me that the FA Cup will ruin The Villa) Newcastle? Free fall like I've never witnessed before!! Hull City!! I'm leaving Leicester out of this, they have the best run in and the momentum If Bournemouth do beat us and clinch promotion, apart from the fact I'll be well miffed, I'd say that this play off battle could be one of the best for years with Boro Norwich Derby and poss Ipswich or Wolves
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Post by BWFCTILIDIE on Apr 26, 2015 20:44:46 GMT
I'd say Sunderland, Qpr and Burnley for the drop Rioch and I've no doubts. Leicester have played well all season and finally clicked, hull will scrape it and villa n Newcastle just about have enough to avoid the drop. Looking forward to SKD coming back the macron next season tho
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Post by riochforthereebok on Apr 27, 2015 18:00:29 GMT
I'd say Sunderland, Qpr and Burnley for the drop Rioch and I've no doubts. Leicester have played well all season and finally clicked, hull will scrape it and villa n Newcastle just about have enough to avoid the drop. Looking forward to SKD coming back the macron next season tho I do hope SKD's PNE pip MK Dons to the Championship cos one things for sure, they're positively the worst Play Off team ever as we found out all them BSA years ago
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Post by one2many on Apr 27, 2015 20:35:56 GMT
I'd say Sunderland, Qpr and Burnley for the drop Rioch and I've no doubts. Leicester have played well all season and finally clicked, hull will scrape it and villa n Newcastle just about have enough to avoid the drop. Looking forward to SKD coming back the macron next season tho I do hope SKD's PNE pip MK Dons to the Championship cos one things for sure, they're positively the worst Play Off team ever as we found out all them BSA years ago Do you really think we will finish in the top six next season? Can't see it myself.
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Post by riochforthereebok on Apr 27, 2015 20:51:17 GMT
We'll mull around the bottom 10 I think, unless Lennon is given the coin, but even then I'm kind if getting a bit nervy as I'm losing a teeny weeny bit of respect for NL. I once thought he was our saviour and I sort of still do, but let's face it, we shouldn't be the type of cannon fodder that just layed down and died in front of a paltry 10,000 Boutnemouth fans to witness them make another record at Boltons expense (first time in the top flight) Yes, the pundits and historians will all look to the amateur footballers that represented the great name of BWFC tonight, for the overtures of Bournemouths ease into the Prem. I'm jolly well angry at them players tonight and NL for not putting more fire into the bellies of these flops. We know they are all Freedmans flops, but if NL is really our saviour, he could have done a little better with them. Rant over for now NL, but I'm coming for you next season!!! Oh yes...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2015 21:05:25 GMT
Yes it turned into a bit of a stroll in the park for them tonight they wont find it that easy next season. What of us next season god knows but it has to be better than this season.
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Post by OohMac on Apr 27, 2015 21:24:17 GMT
...just layed down and died in front of a paltry 10,000 Boutnemouth fans to witness them make another record at Boltons expense (first time in the top flight) They now have another record, shitist ground in Premierleague history, they'd love to have a local Normid. I'm still bitter about the manner of that defeat, I wanted them to go up but I really thought we'd make them work for it. As i've said before I'm surprised there were more than 3 teams worse than us this season. We're putting a lot of faith in injury prone players to come back and stay fit and younger players who haven't really been tested for long periods. Things might not improve i'm now thinking. Bogdan AND Lonergan might be gone! And worse still most of them might stay! Dervite, Mills and Ream none of them can defend and Wheater can't keep fit. We have no recognised full backs that aren't League 2 standard. The midfield is laborious, there is not an ounce of flair unless Mark Davies plays, which he does about 4 hours a season and if the midfield is laborious the strike force is worse. Heskeys like a static caravan up there. There's no way ALF will want to stick around for the service he's getting. Lets be honest, this is relegation form we've had since Liverpool. Stuffed on the road on a weekly basis at one point and home form has dipped completely. The Lennon factor has wore off as it does and now we need to see whats left. Its not looking good. If we had a choice of picking any of the 23 teams in this league to play as our final game next season I wouldn't put my money on us to beat any of them.
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Post by riochforthereebok on Apr 27, 2015 22:11:14 GMT
I suppose I might as well bring down the curtain on my posts for this season. No point guessing on the last game. Is it v Birmingham??
See y'all next season Ciao for now
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2015 16:58:50 GMT
It can't come soon enough for me. As the top ten stands at the moment we have taken 10 points from a possible 60 now that is a joke we have taken 1 point away from home against the top ten and that was against Brentford. I cant ever remember such a low amount of points taken against any top ten let alone this lot. I think we might just have to get use to just being a mid table championship side at best or a poor bottom of the table team. Lets be honest with ourselves where is the money going to come from to mount a promotion push next season or for a few seasons to come? Your thoughts please.
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Post by OohMac on Apr 28, 2015 19:33:14 GMT
I'm more worried for next season. I think Mills was given an extension because we know that we can't afford to sign any players and there's not too many quality defenders going for free and low wages. I think we need 5 new defenders. LB, RB, 3CB's. To be honest Baps fits as he can cover at right back but its obvious he's a centre back and should be given assurances that if he does come back thats where he will be.
Wheater is good but can't rely on him, he breaks down every 6 games. Ream is a dilemma but probably in a 3-5-2 he could be left side as a wing back. Definitely not centre back.
Midfield should be ok if Pratley and Clough come back fit. We do need a right handed side player whether thats Hall or someone else i'm not sure. Don't we pay a fortune to West Ham every game he plays?
And up front we're weak. I would take a chance on Jose Baxter, he seems to always grab the goals but in truth if we can get ALF and possibly Juke back on loan that would do for me.
I would definitely scrap Mills, Dervite, Feeney, Moxey, Trotter, Danns, Medo, Spearing that's a lot in wages and bring back Baptiste.
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