Match Thread MATCH DAY THREAD: The Mighty Blades v Bolton Wanderers

[Not_a_Cheat]

So after the clinical 3-0 win over a very poor Sunderland side, it's immediately back in action at home again, with the visit of Bolton Wanderers. On paper this seems a home banker, especially considering Wanderers haven't won away in their last 37 league games in the Championship. In seasons gone by, that would be a very worrying statistic where we are concerned, but under CW things are quite different. That said, only a professional and committed performance will be required to ensure Bolton are not in receipt of a positive result....

Anyway...

Any team news?

Fleck certain to return?

Brooks' tonsils still troublesome?

So other than Fleck likely unchanged?

Presumably there'll be one eye on Mondays game with it being so soon, so perhaps this is the game to make some changes to keep them fresh for the arguably tougher game. That said, points on the board are most important, and taking each game at a time is CW's motto, so perhaps there won't be much change. We'll see.... Anyway an audacious 4-0 Blades win for me

UTB

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Same side for me that started against Sunderland. How can you drop anyone, comfortable win, clean sheet.
Fleck should be only on the bench.
I am still angry with Fleck for that stupid tackle.

 

[Tommoblade66]

Dunno, but I can tell you what Bolton will try and do - they'll plant 11 players behind the ball and sit deep to bring us on. Then they'll hoof it long into the corners and have their wingers/strikers latch on to it and hope to nick it 1-0. Still they are second bottom so I'd say the best they can hope for would be a draw and they have the 3rd worse goal difference in the division. With that in mind, we have to smash them straight away and dent their confidence

 

[gavtheblade]

By the sounds of it Bolton are having to ring the changes today.Injuries and illness.

 

[VLYDONIMIR]

A goal as early as possible .

On a side note, should Fleck, Brooks be 'injured' or bed bound with the tonsilitis, should we read into that they're heading out of BDTBL?

How long before Madine gets the skelpers treatment?

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

If Fleck comes back into midfield

Regarding the RWB position Baldock/Basham i would play Baldock from the start and give him an hour and hopefully whan we are leading 3-0 bring Basham on from the bench for the last 30 minutes to give Baldock a rest.

MADINE WILL GET GRIEF ALL GAME LONG IF HE TURNS UP !

 

[metalblade]

Got to be a harder game than Sunderland. Just about half of Bolton's goals have come from set pieces so we need to be disciplined and not give any daft free kicks away or corners if possible for that matter. We can out football this shower of cloggers for sure but I am expecting a lot of hoof from their defenders to try catching us up field.
Start with the same team for me as we will need as much height as possible today, sorry no Jake in defence we will need height and pace there, Fleck on the bench. Clarkey is due a goal or another hat trick hopefully.

 

[ShockingBadBuy]

It's an early goal and another 3-0, for me. Though, given my record at the South Stand (sorry, Hualing Stand) bookies this season, I shan't be wasting another, er, 2 quid this aft.

The main aim today, though, should be to make Madine cry.

 

[Karaoke Blade]

Fleck is still our best available midfielder by a country mile. He'll play.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Fleck is still our best available midfielder by a country mile. He'll play.

It's a bit harsh on whoever is dropped but you have to go with your best team. Fleck in for CCV is the likely change.

 

[Ricky]

We should put our best physical team out without changing any of our fundamentals.

Bolton have...

Little - 6"2
Wheater - 6"5
Beevers - 6"4
Henry - 6"1
Ameobi - 6"4
Madine - 6"3

Bigsetobastards

 

[Snowman]

kinloyseagean

 

[Sheffsteel]

A big factor is that both teams play more important fixtures in 2 days time.
We play fellow promotion contenders Derby County away whilst Bolton are at home to relegation rivals Hull.

So squad depth, fitness and injuries will be key.

Some Bolton fans are even suggesting Parkinson deliberately play a weakened team.
The logic is even with their best team they expect to lose today, so may as well rest their better players so they are fresher and fully fit for their much more important Hull game on New Year’s Day.

 

[Esablade]

Can’t see Fleck not starting what with his nice little rest and the number of games over Xmas.

Now that may well be a double negative but it’s hopefully a positive for Dem Blades.

 

[8lade]

I know this will be unpopular but a rejig of midfield; Fleck in for Duffy, with Duffy having 20 minutes at the end just to keep him 'on it'. Duffy does the most running and I'd prefer he started against Derby.

 

[Damski]

It should be a fairly straightforward win. Maybe not the 3-0 delights of Boxing Day, but certainly 3 points. I'd bring Fleck back in for CCV, push Bash back into the back 3 and keep Leon and Clayton up front. I think an early goal is crucial today, they will almost certainly park the bus from the off, so scoring in the first half will draw them out and give us more space to work with. We should absolutely hammer them for the first 15.

 

[Stretch]

Sorry lads but had a funny feeling about this one for a while, as I did for the Brum match. Think it could be a frustrating afternoon, even though we should play them off the park as we did last season.
Can just see us being all over em before Ameobi fires in a worldy and we all know what will happen if cunt features plays.

So, get the strongest team out and worry about Derby afterwards.

 

[brownie4583]

Fleck in for Bash and Bash back at CH for CCV.

 

[Esablade]

...actually upon reflection and after chat with ‘man not yet in pub’, Fleck might start on’t bench ( saved for Derby where more ‘football’ will be played) and we go with ‘the big boys’/same side as against Sunderland today.



UTB!

 

[Igor]

We should put our best physical team out without changing any of our fundamentals.

Bolton have...

Little - 6"2
Wheater - 6"5
Beevers - 6"4
Henry - 6"1
Ameobi - 6"4
Madine - 6"3

Bigsetobastards

Let’s keep it in the deck then! Fleck and Duffy can just run between their legs.
3:1 to the Blades

 

[PokerBlade]

A goal as early as possible .

On a side note, should Fleck, Brooks be 'injured' or bed bound with the tonsilitis, should we read into that they're heading out of BDTBL?

How long before Madine gets the skelpers treatment?

The sooner we score the sooner their game plan goes out the window. It's nice to know that we'll start the game nice and positive trying to do exactly that and we aren't a side who goes around underestimating other sides. We know from Cardiff that Bolton can pull off big performances on admittedly rare occasions and we won' go easy on them.

Yes, given history we should assume the worst when players become "ill" around transfer windows, but given Brooks' photos of the inside of a hospital at least we have some reason to believe them this time. But tonsillitis won't stop anyone putting a bid in so it's a bit of a wash in that regard.

 

[Harry's Game]

Fleck is one of the best Midfielders in the division. If he is available and fit then he should start.

 

[Inter_blade83]

For me,

Blackman in
Bash to RWB
Lafferty in
Fleck in
Rest Leon... Sharp or Lavery in.

Freshen it up and get the strongest team out on Monday.

 

[Pinchy]

By the sounds of it Bolton are having to ring the changes today.Injuries and illness.

It’s HOOF. The names on the shirts don’t matter...

 

[Pinchy]

We should put our best physical team out without changing any of our fundamentals.

Bolton have...

Little - 6"2
Wheater - 6"5
Beevers - 6"4
Henry - 6"1
Ameobi - 6"4
Madine - 6"3

Bigsetobastards

Blades six foot or higher:

Either Keeper
Bash or CCV or both
Jack the Hat
Stears
Jonny L
Edna
Leon
The Don.

8 or 9. We’re not tiny any more...

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Think we’ve made the right changes for today. Fleck straight in was a given, and given his recent injury problems perhaps best to not overuse Baldock so soon. While I wouldn’t have been unhappy to see the front two maintained, pleased to see Sharp given the nod today (and I assume back to the bench vs Derby) – he was superb in the Bolton game at the Lane back in Feb, and always seems especially fired-up when Madine is involved.

 

[Pinchy]

Just been on twatter to read the Bolton team. I’m astonished to see many Bolton fans who are responding refer to #hoof. This puzzles me because the S2 single-cell Brains Trust tell me it doesn’t exist?

I’m confused.

 

[originaltrueblade]

Fleck back in Baldock dropped

 

[RealMcCoy]

Tough on Baldock

 

[Pinchy]

Tough on Baldock

No it’s not. It’s squad management. He hasn’t been left out for any other reason.