MATCH DAY THREAD: Bolton V The Mighty Blades (FACup RND 2)

[derryblade]

Possession stats of 60% look great but it's what you do with that possession more interested in how many we score or how many saves the opposition goalkeeper has to make but it's all about opinions.

 

[andy m]

More than 60% possession yet again.

Let's not take this for granted. For years we wanted a team that could do this, but never got it.

We have 2 quality midfield players that dominate possession. The problem yet again was the poor quality balls into the box from open play and set pieces.

 

[Bladesman]

More than 60% possession yet again.

Let's not take this for granted. For years we wanted a team that could do this, but never got it.

We have dominated possession in the past few years. It just counts for nothing if you don't get enough goals to win a match.

 

[FriethBlade]

The one player we are really missing is a proper speed merchant to go past people. One of those would really open other teams up and combined with a midfield 3 of Duffy, Fleck and Coutts would make us unstoppable in league one.

 

[rtifati]

Very disappointed by the result and the side Wilder put out. Could have understood if we had a midweek match but there was a six-day gap both before and after today.

If we once again find ourselves in the playoffs (and inevitable disappointment) then a nice cup run, playing a top flight team or two, would have been the highpoint of our season.

 

[wizadry]

Do you see the difference in results between when Done starts and when Clarke starts?

I'm beginning to think results don't matter to some people and they just want their favourite players in. Stupid isn't it when the team was actually winning games of football.

What's more concerning is that CW hasn't seen this and Done has not been brought on once in the last three games, three games we haven't won, losing two. Coincidence? I don't think so.

We might have dominated those games with possession etc but we ultimately didn't win the games and results are all that matters. Done should feel really hard done to after being part of a great run and not even playing a single minute of our last three games.

 

[DronnieBlade]

I'm beginning to think results don't matter to some people and they just want their favourite players in. Stupid isn't it when the team was actually winning games of football.

What's more concerning is that CW hasn't seen this and Done has not been brought on once in the last three games, three games we haven't won, losing two. Coincidence? I don't think so.

We might have dominated those games with possession etc but we ultimately didn't win the games and results are all that matters. Done should feel really hard done to after being part of a great run and not even playing a single minute of our last three games.

Strong hunch he will be back with Billy on Saturday.

UTB

 

[yorkshirecoast]

I thought Done was a weak link during our good run - he runs around a lot but contributes little and his finishing is woeful. However, both Clarke and Lavery have contributed even less than Done which is worrying. Definitely an area we need to strengthen in January.

 

[wizadry]

Strong hunch he will be back with Billy on Saturday.

UTB

I hope so mate and it's not because he's my favourite. it's because we were simply winning games of football whilst he was playing. Now, where's that Pinchy fella?

 

[DronnieBlade]

I hope so mate and it's not because he's my favourite. it's because we were simply winning games of football whilst he was playing. Now, where's that Pinchy fella?

Stop Pinchy baiting. He's not all bad !!!!

UTB

 

[SB_90]

Well 2017 will be starting off with 1st, 1st time in my life ive havent got fa cup football in the new yr. I dont want to be critical after 15 unbeaten run because in 1 way keep things in perspective despite alot of disappointment. In the last 5 games bit like Guardiola at man city it great to be better team creating plenty of chances. But at some point you got to start take advantage of the dominance because it will always come back to bite us if kept wasting chances espically against the better teams

I get the contenstrate on the league. But progress breeds confidence like 2013/2014 reason we didnt have a relegation battle was because of the confidence we brought into the league after victories v fulham, forest & charlton. Then theirs the money for making 3rd round & the pride of being part of fa cup when all big teams in with possibility of another great night at the lane with either Leeds wednesday or big PL team at home

 

[wizadry]

Stop Pinchy baiting. He's not all bad !!!!

UTB

He will know i'm only jesting, he knows everything!

 

[DronnieBlade]

He will know i'm only jesting, he knows everything!

More than most !!

UTB

 

[Snowman]

I thought Done was a weak link during our good run - he runs around a lot but contributes little and his finishing is woeful. However, both Clarke and Lavery have contributed even less than Done which is worrying. Definitely an area we need to strengthen in January.

Well done. Well spotted. But "contributes little"? Watching a different game to me.

 

[Silent Blade]

First time we've not been in the third round since 1982. Disappointing.

1981.

We got promoted that season.

Omen?

 

[Harry's Game]

I thought Done was a weak link during our good run - he runs around a lot but contributes little and his finishing is woeful. However, both Clarke and Lavery have contributed even less than Done which is worrying. Definitely an area we need to strengthen in January.

I thought it was worth looking at other options than Done as he was providing little goal threat, but I have to admit we stretched defences more with him playing than we have since Clarke came back in.

Done is the least worst option along side Sharp until January where hopefully we will for once see the manager backed to make the crucial singings.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Well done. Well spotted. But "contributes little"? Watching a different game to me.

Clearly Chris Wilder has been watching a different game to you too, which is why he dropped Done. But as I said above, the replacements have contributed even less.

 

[Snowman]

Clearly Chris Wilder has been watching a different game to you too, which is why he dropped Done. But as I said above, the replacements have contributed even less.

Suspect dropped due to missed chances, not contribution in other ways.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Well done, Bolton. I hope you go on a looong mazey cup run, replete with replays which plays havoc with your league fixtures and you end up with nothing on either front at the end of it. All the best.

 

[IOM Blade]

Trouble is we are at home to Fleetwood third round week and they are still in the hat after drawing at Shrewsbury. If they make it through you know what that means......the dreaded game in hand.

 

[Revolution]

1981.

We got promoted that season.

Omen?

No.

 

[SB_90]

Gets worse not only do we have embarrassing fact we wont be in the fa cup 3rd rd draw when Barrow & Sutton United will be. We dont even get advantage of avoiding playing sat tues sat

 

[metalblade]

Do you see the difference in results between when Done starts and when Clarke starts?

You'd think it'd be a real ' no brainer '' wouldn't you . But still some people fail to see this .

Whilst I understand people's frustration with Done in front of goal , and let's face it he's missed some absolute sitters , there is a clear and undeniable link to our performances and wins and Done starting with Sharp upfront .

Yeah it is so easy to look at results and put the blame on Clarke and Lavery isn't it. I thought they both held the ball up well at times giving the midfield chance to get forward and support our attack which they failed to do miserably, Coutts sat deep, Fleck went missing for long periods and Scougall too lightweight against a team of thugs. Not one decent ball into the box all afternoon especially from Hussey who wasted numerous good crossing opportunities. Let's not forget we conceded three goals two of those due to piss poor defending so a lot of areas where we should be doing better not just up front .............................. is it just because they are ex pigs ?

 

[Keen Blade]

Done and Sharp miss a lot of chances. However with Done and Sharp upfront we create a lot more chances. Because both are willing to run into the channels it pulls defences apart and allows the wingbacks and midfielders to get more central. Incredibly hard to defend against at this level.

Hmm ,
Done misses a lot of chances and scores none.
Billy misses a lot of chances , including penalties , but scores a lot.
Done does pull defences apart with his running.
Billy running ? Are you serious ? Done does his share and Billy's.
As a later post says , Billy is a shitliner with a knack of scoring but no pace.
Both of them are half a striker and both are short & so don't trouble defences in the air.
Clarke is tall and won every header against Walsall but Billy was too far away to capitalise on it because to play off a tall striker he would have to run around and keep up with him. Not Billy's game at all.
Logic would suggest Clarke/Done or Clarke/Lavery but how can you exclude the top scorer ?
So why on earth did the extremely knowledgeable manager buy Clarke ?
It's not as if Clarke is young enough to replace Billy , he is older and thus a short-term fix.
However many goals he's scored with previous clubs and however many headers he wins for us , he was not an appropriate purchase for us if Billy was scoring well - maybe he was bought in case Billy had a goal drought and could be dropped ? So forget combining Clarke & Billy.
We are therefore in a total quandry in the striker dept.
The pigs went up with a team of thugs.
Bolton will go up with a team of thugs.
It's too late this season for us to convert to a team of thugs.
But what we desperately lack is PACE to complement our possession.
We could beat thugs with possession and PACE.
When Chapman came on last Tuesday he provided exactly that , and we looked a much better team.
Now he's injured and on crutches.
I accept we have to cover the loss of EEL in January , but we MUST get some PACE into the side.
We will never go up playing the way we did against Walsall before Chapman came on , because we build up far too slowly to give defences a problem.
But if we could zip in fast low crosses from the byline , Billy would put plenty of them in.
As long as he had enough breath to keep up with the crosser.

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

Strong hunch he will be back with Billy on Saturday.

UTB

if Done doesn't start I'm throwing a miniature taxi onto the pitch

 

[Dellas Cowboys]

Yeah it is so easy to look at results and put the blame on Clarke and Lavery isn't it. I thought they both held the ball up well at times giving the midfield chance to get forward and support our attack which they failed to do miserably, Coutts sat deep, Fleck went missing for long periods and Scougall too lightweight against a team of thugs. Not one decent ball into the box all afternoon especially from Hussey who wasted numerous good crossing opportunities. Let's not forget we conceded three goals two of those due to piss poor defending so a lot of areas where we should be doing better not just up front .............................. is it just because they are ex pigs ?

it seemed to me like we had a 7 man midfield with these two playing together, backs to goal