So. After 2 months we were finally beaten away at Bournemouth. It's hard to argue that we've ridden our luck during that time, but it was still a remarkable achievement after last seasons debacle. But in defeat, BP faces his first "tough" challenge. How can't his team respond? After Saturday, we have to do something about the midfield. Buyens was as anonymous as JJ, but the former probably has more in his legs. Cousins was wasted on the left (again), and we need his industry in the middle. Up top, I'm wondering if we throw Tucudean back in to the fold. If nothing, he was a foil for vetokele, who once again was far too isolated (though he seemed very keen to mentor AG on Saturday). I guess there will be a question mark over wether JBG can put another shift in after returning from injury. My line up: Henderson Solly (a surprise, but think he will start) - bikey - TBH - wiggins JBG - cousins - buyens - harriott (if bulot is out) Tucudean - vetokele Sadly, I think we are a bit patched up at the moment and think Lennon will galvanise Bolton. 1-2
Vetokele is definitely out and Gudmundsson is a big doubt. I would be surprised if Solly plays. My team Henderson Wilson, Bikey. Ben Haim, Wiggins Bulot, Cousins, Buyens, Harriott Moussa Tucudean Subs Pope, Fox, Morrison, Munns, Jackson, Ahearne- Grant, Ansah
If RD is going to be there we can expect the full Belgian contingent to start, but I really don't like the look of that midfield, which I agree is our most likely to start. Hooking the skipper at half-time to prevent a red card is a bit worrying. Jacko has had his critics, but with that team we'll be pretty vulnerable at corners and set-pieces. I fear we'll be relying on our defense to dig out a result, and I expect a torrid 90 minutes.
Yep, we are getting down to the bare bones now. Another couple of injuries and we will have to put Simon Church in an oxygen tent.
With no Vetokele, this has given me a horrible feeling of deja vu. Does anyone remember before Bolton at home many moons ago, when Darren Bent was ruled out before KO, and we had to use Jay Bothroyd as a lone striker. I believe we lost the game to a single Kevin Nolan goal. We could have played till it was the following season where Bothroyd could have been partnered by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and we still wouldn't have scored.
i cant see jacko being dropped. cousins will be dropped before him (massive mistake). i'd go 4-5-1 myself Henderson wilson- bikey - TBH - wiggins JBG - cousins - jacko - buyens - harriott Tucudean on the assumption vetokele is out, solly is rested. aim for a point to stop the rut.
I think that we could be unfair on Țucudean. I think we've won more games when he started, than when he was used as a sub. I don't think that we should have changed the line up, whilst we were winning.
The problem with Tucudean seemed to be motivation. In a couple of games he seemed fired up and looked decent (I wasn't at Derby but the reports were positive). In the games I saw he seemed uninterested and reluctant to get about. Hopefully a spell on the side will light a fire up under him and he can relieve some of the massive burden on Vetokele.
No-one has picked Gomez. Is he injured? If not, and assuming Solly and Gudmundsson are unfit: Henderson Gomez, ben Haim or Morrison, Bikey, Fox or Wiggins Wilson, Munns, Buyens (with reluctance), Cousins (would prefer him inside in place of Munns, but we have no-one else to play LM) Moussa, Ahearn-Grant (that front pairing is just a bad joke - still think Morrison could do a better job there). Not ideal throwing Munns in the deep end, but with three mainly defensive MFs alongside he could try and create something. 0-2 to Bolton, and I cannot see us winning another game until Blackpool (Dec 13th). Maybe scramble a point here and there. Unless of course RD makes a couple of good loan signings. and no indication that will happen.
Gomez at right back just doesn't work in my opinion. I would love to see him come in at centre back, but TBH and Bikey have rarely put a foot wrong. To accomodate them all we culd go crazy and have: Henderson Gomez - TBH - Bikey Solly Wiggins Cousins Buyens JJ Bulot Moussa Tucudean I do however know the chance of this is less than zero.
Gomez is out injured, ankle problem. He won't be back for a week or two. Gudmundsson is also very doubtful. You might have to revise your teams.
You really can't be serious Eddie, Morrison upfront? I will have a 10 pound bet with you, money to go to a charity of your choice, that we will win a game before the 13th December.
With our problems in midfield and attack, it's a great pity that The Harriotts have lost their way this season. The way they finished last season on a high under Riga promised a lot for this season, but they are only a squad player now, and you can't see them getting a start.
Evening all Charlton: Henderson, Wilson, Wiggins, Bikey-Amougou, Ben Haim. Bulot, Buyens, Jackson, Cousins, Moussa, Tucudean Subs: Pope, Morrison, Harriott, Ansah, Fox, Munns, Ahearne-Grant Bolton: Lonergan, McNaughton, Moxey, Mills, Dervite, Spearing, Feeney, Danns, Pratley, Chung-Yong, Beckford Subs: Kenny, Ream, Hall, Clayton, M Davies, Vela, C Davies So Tucudean, Wilson, Moussa and Bulot come in. That is a frighteningly young bench. Dervite starts for Bolton. COYA!
It is a silly idea, but the alternatives seem even sillier. Tucudean? Harriott? Moussa? All tried and miserably failed. In desperate circumstances we may have to give Ahearn-Grant another try if fit (though didn't he take a knock at the end of the last game?) but it is unreasonable to expect him to play up front on his own. He needs someone to share the battering with him. He is only 17. Morrison has played up front for the last 15/20 minutes in the past when we were chasing a goal. As Bikey did on Saturday, and for the first time we did show some vague signs of aggression. Trouble was we were even more vulnerable at the back without Bikey. I never gamble. It is immoral. Not as bad as child molesting, but on a par with parking in "disabled" spaces. I suppose we might win a game before then. What I really meant was, when I look at each individual fixture I cannot see one I think we have a reasonable chance of winning until Blackpool. But even the poorest teams conjure up the odd win, like Yeovil last season. We have a good defence (although for some reason they started panicking against Bournemouth right from the start, whereas they had been resolute against stronger attacks). We would have an adequate midfield if Bob played Wilson regularly at RM and Cousins in the midfield. But we have now gone from having a one-man attack to NO attack. Defenders are getting the easiest ride of their careers against us. Hard to see how we can do better than the odd 0-0 draw in those circumstances.
