Brooks, Billy and Bolton

[Groucho Blade]

So do we all think that Leon would get out of a car and walk miles on crutches to Outpatients??
Seriously??

 

[Foody]

Let's be honest, Wilder isn't going to be letting Bolton know whether either Leon or the Don are injured. At this moment in time Parkinson et al will be speculating every bit as much as we are. I certainly wouldn't be dropping Sharp regardless, the difference with him is if you give him one chance he'll take it. He can do bugger all and still score two, proper striker!

 

[BanbridgeBlade]

I wouldn't change a thing. They will see us as a winnable game at home vs a team who were in the same league as them last season (albeit miles ahead)

Only change I would make is if Clayton is injured, maybe bring in Brooks. We're only 6 games in & they've just had a 2 week break.

 

[JordoBlade]

If Clarke is still out along with Donaldson we have to put Brooks up top with Billy, no question about it. I wouldn't feel confident with Billy playing as a lone striker, this isn't a criticism on Billy's part neither.

 

[COME BACK CHED]

I wonder if the team photo without Leon was a set-up , to lead Bolton into a false sense of security .

 

[PokerBlade]

For his development it probably works in his favour that Duffy can't always complete the 90 mins - and doesn't mind coming off even when playing well.

Atm having him come on for the final 30 mins against a tiring defence is ideal. But agree there will be games where it would do him good to get a few starts.

This. And also, he shouldn't get a start based until he's genuinely promising to perform as well as Duffy does anyway. He's getting his appearances on merit and at this rate his first start won't be too far away.

 

[JJBlade]

Lets not underestimate Bolton, they are shite but might feel that if they up their game against us they can get something.

So lets smash em

Absolutely, they will have targeted this as one of the games that they will have to win.
And they'll want a bit of payback as a mini rivalry developed between us last season

 

[Fanny magnet]

As long as we concentrate on set pieces and play with the same intensity we normally do we should be ok

Can't win em all

 

[Tunstall Fred]

So do we all think that Leon would get out of a car and walk miles on crutches to Outpatients??
Seriously??

Of course he would,and wait 4 hours in A &E waiting to be seen,whilst Ched went private last week by all accounts at the Claremont to have a scan

 

[Ricky]

Absolutely, they will have targeted this as one of the games that they will have to win.
And they'll want a bit of payback as a mini rivalry developed between us last season

Remember that lovely challenge from Fleck on one of theirs at Bramall Lane?

They'll probably try and get him back for that, succeed, and put him out of the derby game. You just know someone like him or Coutts will miss that game. Probably both of them. As well as Donaldson. Why not.

 

[mattbianco1]

Not sure Bolton is the game to start him. They're big cloggers and will kick lumps out of him.
Maybe a HT sub or just after once they've tired a bit

 

[Lower Drop Blade]

The kid looks class , play him and get something from him before he is flogged for the usual fuck all fee.

 

[Bladezz]

I reckon Brooks' development is going well as it is, but for him to take it to the next level he needs a few starts this season. Those games have got to be very carefully picked, rather than throwing him in for the sake of it. The criteria in an ideal world would be:

- Away from home
- Against a 'lesser side'
- In a winning, confident team with good recent form
- Against a defence that looks susceptible to being run at

The Bolton game looks like it meets most of those. Throw in the fact that we have a few injuries upfront and his recent good form, I can see Wilder tweaking the system and playing Brooks and Duffy in behind Clarke. Billy can come on as Duffy's tiring and give their defenders something else to think about.

I'm not then advocating Brooks starting every week, I think it'll be horses for courses and we'll see more of him in tricky away games to ensure we control the midfield with Fleck, Coutts, Duffy and Brooks all buzzing around.

I also see Billy as a 'home' player where he'll start in the home games as we're creating more chances and generally having more of the ball and playing higher up the pitch. Sharp looks bang average when he comes deep to collect it, but a world beater when in the 6 yard box. I think he had a quiet game against Sunderland because he was having to come from deep too often and it doesn't suit his game. Now we've got The Don, he looks perfect as a partner for Bill in the home games and perfect as the target man in away games.

It's all about options, and we look to have several at the minute. Also, shout out to our back 5 today, they all looked really solid and will have been disappointed to concede the consolation late on. Lovely that we still have another back 5 in the squad that'd probably win league one. Lafferty-Heneghan-Wright-CCV-Baldock all waiting for their chance. Good time to be a Blade!

I actually agree with 100% of that

 

[Toronto Blade]

View attachment 30580

If that is Clarke he should retire now, back fat above the hips , looks like his hips and knees are blown.
He also needs to overhaul his wardrobe ,where does he shop in some trash boutique near the pigsville.

 

[LS5 Blade]

Is probably worth putting Hanson on the bench if they try roughing us up, so he can give them a taste of their own medicine!

 

[ThatJa]

Not sure Tinchy will risk Blackmore on Tuesday to be fair. Reckon he'll give Ched a start.

 

[robbiez666]

So, we're 4th and Brooks hasn't started a game. I find it ludicrous to suggest that we should drop our top scorer or rest players against 'lesser' opposition in order to start Brooks.

The reason why we're 4th is that we're considered 'lesser opposition' by other teams. The moment we start thinking there's any such thing as 'lesser opposition' then we're screwed.

 

[ThatJa]

So, we're 4th and Brooks hasn't started a game. I find it ludicrous to suggest that we should drop our top scorer or rest players against 'lesser' opposition in order to start Brooks.

The reason why we're 4th is that we're considered 'lesser opposition' by other teams. The moment we start thinking there's any such thing as 'lesser opposition' then we're screwed.

5th