Can we beat Bolton?...

[TBW57]

You betcha

We are way too good for Bolton. Their season ends on Saturday. It's Blades and Scunthorpe for the Top Two and "the new Coventry" for the Trotters.

 

[GrayBlade]

I've always had a feeling that we'd draw with Scunny and beat Bolton and I still have.

I expect that they'll come to spoil and slow things down, trying to play for set pieces. If we could just get an early goal it could make all the difference and we could win fairly comfortably. Either way, the players need to be on their game again like on Saturday, particularly defending the aforementioned set pieces, and we the fans need to make it as intimidating a possible. UTB!

 

[GrayBlade]

I know mate. I should have put a at the end.

Cruising for a bruising?

 

[South Bucks]

Going home from the Scunny match and having been to Posh and Bristol I was thinking I couldn't recall any of our midfield trio of Coutts, Duffy and Fleck actually had a shot on target in any of those three matches. A few sailed over and hit the post and they didn't all play 3 full games but is my recollection correct that none of our midfielders had a shot on target in these 3 games?. Maybe I missed one effort going for a leak or something. Here's to hoping they can fix this in training and against Bolton.

 

[tedster]

Both Bolton's goals came from set pieces (although the second was taken short) where they had pushed up their big centre halves and won headers in the box. Will EEL be recalled to help deal with this threat?

4 that and to hopefully smash madine

 

[joshua thompson]

Not wanting to ruin any of the usual prediction threads here but interested to hear some early thoughts.

Evidently there is a lot of frustration amongst players and supporters after Saturdays result. How will the team react, I wonder?

Bolton WILL be utter twats when we play them. Kicking lumps out of us whilst rolling around on the floor every time we go near them, you just know it. It will take a strong and decent referee to manage this game but asking for one of those in this league is like asking for shit sandwich that tastes good.

I still think we can out play them but can we beat them? Hanson's prescence up top should make it interesting. What do you think?

I predicted a draw some time ago and would take it to be honest. Also I sincerely hope that tosser Madine gets a red.

YES!

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

My only concern is how we deal with defensive set pieces against them, having Hanson will help but they are a team of big lumps.

More of the same from Saturday and we'll be fine. Hopefully more clinical up front but we should be able to dominate the ball again and work them.

Agree with the first line of this, even though Basham played well against Scunny I'd drop him for Saturday v Bolton. Every time Bash has come up against big strong centre forwards (Evans and Hanson spring readily to mind) they've bossed him physically and I can see this happening against Bolton with that to**er Madine. Get EEL in and let our centre half bully their big man. It'll be a key battle on Saturday, if Bash plays I can see it costing us.

 

[brownie4583]

We will dominate them but the final ball and crosses need to be a lot better and we need to shoot more and take our chances then we will beat them

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Both Bolton's goals came from set pieces (although the second was taken short) where they had pushed up their big centre halves and won headers in the box. Will EEL be recalled to help deal with this threat?

Stick with the defence that's only conceded 1 goal in 4 games.
The 1st Bolton goal came from a lucky rebound, the 2nd was just poor defending.
Looking at the highlights Bolton were really lucky to get a draw.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Would anyone consider Lavery over Hanson ?
Boltons centre back pairing Wheater and Beevers will win everything in the air, but look slow and cumbersome, which is backed up on the Bradford forum and the match video. Both seemed to back off when a Bradford player ran at them.
Add in the fact I don't think Bolton have any of their first choice full backs due to injury and suspensions.

 

[Ricky]

Would anyone consider Lavery over Hanson ?
Boltons centre back pairing Wheater and Beevers will win everything in the air, but look slow and cumbersome, which is backed up on the Bradford forum and the match video. Both seemed to back off when a Bradford player ran at them.
Add in the fact I don't think Bolton have any of their first choice full backs due to injury and suspensions.

I think Hanson has to start for set pieces alone. We can't go in with just one big aerial presence in O'Connell.

Apparently he's got the better of Beevers previously too, which Sharp never does. Only their centre halves will be able to stop us winning so if we could make it hard for Beevers for once we'll be halfway there.

 

[loyalblade95]

was saying to a few mates before scunny game that we'd have a better chance against bolton than scunthorpe, like most phil parkinson sides bolton are very predictable but most teams in league seem to have figured out how to play against them, they're racked with injuries as well, not to mention we played well against them first game of the season with a weaker squad

 

[Bath Blade]

They only have the washing machine so we'll be rate!

The only certainties in life are death, taxes, and Madine scoring this Saturday.

 

[Drunk blade]

No they are unbeatable

 

[Broomhall Blade]

I think Hanson has to start for set pieces alone. We can't go in with just one big aerial presence in O'Connell.

Apparently he's got the better of Beevers previously too, which Sharp never does. Only their centre halves will be able to stop us winning so if we could make it hard for Beevers for once we'll be halfway there.

But don't you think having players run at them will cause them more problems rather than trying to aim for Hanson ?

One thing is certain we will have to improve on our crossing from Saturday.

 

[AnotherBlade]

The only certainties in life are death, taxes, and Madine scoring this Saturday.

Madine scores in front of the Kop, I fear the fucking lot will go right up!

 

[Bladesman]

was saying to a few mates before scunny game that we'd have a better chance against bolton than scunthorpe, like most phil parkinson sides bolton are very predictable but most teams in league seem to have figured out how to play against them, they're racked with injuries as well, not to mention we played well against them first game of the season with a weaker squad

 

[Bullet73]

I'll post this here as I don't want to bring too much attention to it but one of our players has just been taken to A&E due to head injury. Looks like he's going to be out for awhile

 

[I should coco]

I'll post this here as I don't want to bring too much attention to it

Yup, that would work, er..... DOH!

 

[Houston_Blade]

Like the Scunthorpe game, it's a given that we'll outplay them and dominate. It's anyone's guess whether we'll make it count. Another draw is very likely.

I'd take that now, I also won't bother expressing disappointment should we dominate and draw.

 

[1danewhitehouse]

Would anyone consider Lavery over Hanson ?
Boltons centre back pairing Wheater and Beevers will win everything in the air, but look slow and cumbersome, which is backed up on the Bradford forum and the match video. Both seemed to back off when a Bradford player ran at them.
Add in the fact I don't think Bolton have any of their first choice full backs due to injury and suspensions.

I’d definitely be tempted to play Lavery over Hanson for the reasons you identify. The risk is that it would leave us light against their aerial threat on set pieces though. Maybe if we brought Ebanks in for Bash or Coutts (with Bash to midfield) it would help negate that a bit?

 

[The Crab]

Brian says we can win.....................

 

[frechyblade]

It's a no from me! We still haven't beaten any of the top 6 this season.

We will still go up.

UTB

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Are they staying at The Ringwood Hotel?

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Can = Yes.
Will = YES.

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Are they staying at The Ringwood Hotel?

If they are I think a fire alarm practice in the early hours of Saturday is required.

 

[UnitedBlade]

I'll post this here as I don't want to bring too much attention to it but one of our players has just been taken to A&E due to head injury. Looks like he's going to be out for awhile

First team player ? Was this done in training ? Will it have a big effect on Saturday's selection ?

Why do you say out for a while ?

 

[blade too long]

some poor twatting sides in for a right clobbering soon when we click up front
Saturday would be nice
We are a delight to watch , dominate , and sooner or later another one of those 4 goal romps will get bettered

 

[PittsburghBlade]

Would anyone consider Lavery over Hanson ?
Boltons centre back pairing Wheater and Beevers will win everything in the air, but look slow and cumbersome, which is backed up on the Bradford forum and the match video. Both seemed to back off when a Bradford player ran at them.
Add in the fact I don't think Bolton have any of their first choice full backs due to injury and suspensions.

Don't think they win everything in the air against Hanson. If he wins his fair share then we'll have success as they won't be able to deal with the second ball, at all. Slow and sh*t compared to our options.

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

I'll post this here as I don't want to bring too much attention to it but one of our players has just been taken to A&E due to head injury. Looks like he's going to be out for awhile

Need more details or it feels like a WUM