It's pretty slow on the forum today, so I thought i'd post the opinions of a couple of Bolton fans on their team. These are courtesy of Clive Whittingam's thread ( http://www.the-wanderer.co.uk/boards/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=24958 ) on a leading Bolton forum. Ill just post the responses to questions directly relating to the form/assets of their side, as these might be most helpful in assessing our chances for the weekend. Look out for the "opposition focus" article on Loftforwords for full responses. 4 - Given the way you ended last season many thought you were a good bet for the title this year but it's been a slow start so far - assess the start to the season for us and how you think things are going to go this season. 5 - Who are the key men we should be watching out for, and where are the weak links? " 4) It's far too early to say anything about this season, but our form needs to pick up, and soon. The two opening draws, whilst not ideal, are acceptable given the opposition. However the performance against Forest raised a lot of questions. A lot of us were expecting a draw or loss, but the performance was dire. The team did not look up for it, apart from a 25? 35? minute period in the first half. We have a pretty tough opening 10 games but I'd be happy if we came out with 16-20 points, as a rough idea, if we're looking at play-offs or better. Our major problem is that our defence is $hite, mainly our centrebacks. They are slow and cannot read the game, so if you can exploit that you should hit at least 2 past us. 5) Key men? I'd say Eagles and Ngog. Eagles is an absolute match winner on his day, and our current creative hub with MDavies out injured. Ngog, whilst not proficient, is brilliant at setting up attacking movements, holding up defenders and bring other strikers into the game. If you shut those two down, you will all but nullify our attack. Our weak players, general concensus, are Knight and Wheater. They are both slow centrebacks who cannot read the game all that well, and because of this make a terrible centre half pair. Wheater has also yet to fully recover from a series of injuries. We have a strong midfield on paper, but for some reason struggle to control the ball in the middle of the park. We're reasonably dangerous going forward, going off last season, however we don't seem to be creating quite as many chances in our opening 3 games." "4 - We have been good for 20 -30 minutes in games and when we hit these periods look very good. We have mainly failed to take our chances in front of goal and given away very soft goals. We do not seem to dominate teams but try to soak up the pressure and hit them on the break. I still think we will do OK this season we just need a couple of wins to get us going and get the key injured players back in the team. I have revised my prediction of an automatic promotion place to we may make the play-offs if the wind is in the right direction. 5 - If Chris Eagles is fit he is without doubt our main man he creates and scores, without him in the last few games we have look very ordinary. Darren Beckford is also key if he is given the service he will score, he just needs the service. Rob Hall is an exciting player to watch but being young has not learned when to release the ball he could cause problems though. Our defence has been our downfall so far this season most fans put the blame on Zat Knight but IMHO I think it has been a collective defensive problem maybe due to changing our 2 full backs has caused this issue. Our defence was also poor last year but we got away with it due to us scoring quite a few that has not happened so far this season" "4) I don't think at the start of the season many Bolton fans looked at our squad and felt we were top 2 quality. I think most went for top half edging towards the play-offs. I still think that is what we are competing for. We have a decent side, but are weak at centre half. Incredibly weak. If that is not addressed either through Wheater getting back to form after injury or an addition of someone competent into the squad then we will struggle to make the top 8. This is a division where a strong spine takes you a very long way. Spearing has helped strengthen us in midfield. I think Beckford will add goals up front eventually - whether enough to compensate for his lack of contribution elsewhere I don't know. But you don't make the play-offs if your centre halves aren't up to it. A lesson from last season as well in a way, had we kept Dawson for the final game I feel we'd have made the play-offs by beating Blackpool. 5) Weak links are the centre halves. Key men for me on both sides will be the midfield. Whoever wins that battle will decide the game. I'm not massively hopeful as I feel teams can play poor against us but nick a goal without doing an awful lot as it stands." "4 - Title was always going to be ambitious, we've had a poor start but hopefully our new signings can bed in and we can start moving up the league. Play offs would be target achieved in my opinion. 5 - Eagles is our dangerman, Ngog can be dependent on how he starts." "4) See above. Dougie's investing in youth. We'll be unstoppable in 2021 5) Play with 2 up front attacking our centre halves and you might be able to declare at half time" Another wag's response was to edit the 5th question to this: "5 - Who are the key men we should be watching out for, and where aren't the weak links?"
Might as well chuck in a montage of a few of their result predictions as well: "QPR and the Sky Sport cameras come to the Reebok next. Can we get our season up and running with a win over 'arry's boys? Ever the optimist I think we'll win. 2-0 Beckford and Lee " " I'd have Beckford back in and hope we score 3. We'll need at least 3 " "Scrape a 2-1 win" "We'll lose" "Draw written all over it" "We're going to be ripped apart like a Filipina Ladyboy on his wedding night." "Honestly don't know how it will go next Saturday, but it looks annoyingly like that saggy-faced ****house has got QPR on winning ways." "I'm not sure about must win, but its most definitely a must not lose. If we're serious about being rivals to the likes of QPR, then it enters the realms of must win." "Think we'll play too defensively hoping for a draw again. Which we won't get, because we don't defend. " "Fortress Reebok. We won't get beat this weekend. Picking up a point, at least. Oh, and QPR can fecking do one." "They have an impressive forward line. I'm still pissed off from Saturday and therefore convinced we'll lose." "I think we will win. They will score because Andy Johnson always scores against us. This is QPR's first real test. No matter how ****e we are away from home, we can give anybody a game at the Bok in this league. We are unbeaten in the last 12 or so games at home. 3-2 to the whites. Squeaky bums all round!" "Its only QPR. We're talking about them as if they'd already won. They're **** away from London and will have a small following, so no danger of their 12th man. And who've they got in their defence?" "On paper they have a frighteningly good group of players for this division. Will depend on their spirit over the season I guess."
'Will have a small following' ??? That would surprise me to be honest, think we'll have a good turn out. Shame I'm gonna miss it but when Hawkwind are playing in Shepherds Bush....I couldn't miss that
According to this WATRB thread we'd sold 500 as of 8pm yesterday ( http://www.wearetherangersboys.com/forum/showthread.php?168212-500-sold-for-Bolton-So-Far ). I'd be surprised if it was a massive turnout, with the early kickoff and Sky coverage. Plus it's Leeds away the following week, so maybe some will favour that?
That does surprise me. Thought it would be better than that considering some of the turn outs we had last Championship season. I stand corrected.
Its bank holiday weekend and people have other plans Im not at bolton but will be there at MASSIVE Leeds
No worries Eamon! Sounds like if we can crock Ngog and Eagles early we're in business... Joey + Dunne are the men for the job!
I hate it when teams tell us how bad they are and that we're going to win. We always lose those ones.
Well well well. According to the official Bolton site, we might be in luck: http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/freedman-eagles-and-ngog-doubtful-22.8.13-1008207.aspx Mind games..?
They'll both be there for the start - perhaps it will depend on how fit they are for a tough game and chasing around for the ball for 90+ minutes.
