May get shot down here - but if we perform how we did FIRST HALF for longer, and cut out the stupid errors we'll win Tuesday. I have seen the odd game where a side concedes a bad goal, but the FOUR goals we gave away are beyond a joke. What in gods name was Smith doing for the 4th!?!?!? time to drop Tommy. 2-1 Town COYB!
Agree Westy, and if he was the one player dropped from the more encouraging team MM put out, then we have a good chance. I too was impressed by the all round performance 1st half...best for weeks! Except Mings...... I must go and highlights just to depress me again!
How the hell are we still only a point off play offs? Based on our 2015 form so far, I can only see that gap widening. But, somehow, we're still in with a chance and nine crucial games to prove we can make the most of this faltering season. If we're serious about making the play-offs then Bolton is a must-win game. No two ways about it, we cannot afford to drop points against them when we've still got games to go against the likes of Bournemouth, Watford, Wolves, and Forest. Teams that, on paper, we probably won't beat. I stressed the importance of the Brentford/Middlesbrough double-bill, and the effect it could have on our season. The results, one point out of six, are bad. We played okay against Brentford, in an open game, but failed to take our chances. Against Middlesbrough, we had a good first half but capitulated with some atrocious defending. Put simply, I don't think we can handle the pressure. Our form this year reflects that, since the stakes and expectations were raised after the victory over Brentford on Boxing Day, and the stunning run of form we were on. Also, bar that last minute 1-0 victory over struggling Charlton in November, I cannot recall us winning a televised game this season, or playing particularly well in front of the cameras. McCarthy, of course, has to take some of the blame for his stubbornness and poor decisions, particularly with elements of the team selection. However, he is becoming a victim of his own success and of course, football is not as simple as just blaming the manager. Marcus Evans should not avoid some of the criticism the club will face should we fail to secure a play-off place. He is unwilling to gamble and has become too conservative since the wild-spending days of Keane and Jewell. Understandable, some may say, as we're still paying the price for those managers' mistakes and largesse, but it has hampered McCarthy's budget and limited our options in January. Freddie Sears was an inspired signing, but the failure to bring in the players we need has resulted in McCarthy settling for unfancied cast-offs from Championship mid-table sides (Chaplow, Varney) rather than younger, more promising player from the higher echelons of the Premier League. Ultimately, the players need to accept responsibility. Bart's form has dropped despite being shown a degree of faith until recently. Middlesbrough's second goal could have been easily saved. The transfer speculation has clearly affected Mings, who lacks his early season vim. If we do finish in the top six, and it's a massive 'if', I don't think we'll be hanging around for long. I'm not sure we'll get a better chance to launch a play off bid in the near future, considering the inconsistency of the teams around us. That doesn't often happen. Still, it's a sign of this team's progression from lower mid-table mediocrity to play-off contenders. I just hope that Evans can loosen the purse strings in the summer.
Not sure it's transfer speculation that's got to Tyrone. He seems to have the look of someone who thinks they've made it now and is getting big for his boots/arrogant maybe. Funny thing to think about considering his humble gestures in the past but something that's crossed my mind a couple of times this season. Here's hoping we can get back on track with a win.
I know ive said this before but free transfers, boys, and a few loan players will only get you so far, Evans should have made funds available in January to strengthen the side with some quality to keep us in the race with the other clubs around us. Have our team over achieved with so little quality in the side? Will MM stay if his ambition is greater than Evans? Could anyone else achieve what he has with so few quality players? Tyrone Mings has become a liability in defence and Skuse contributes almost nothing game after game, Tommy Smith is struggling for form at the heart of our fragile defence which not so long ago was rock solid, we all like Luke Chambers but is he a right back? I don't think so but with our low budget threadbare squad we don't have any adequate replacements. Perhaps we got a bit carried away a few weeks ago with our league position and I know that Evans got turned over by the two useless managers we had previously but he employed them, its not MMs fault or the fans fault that they took him for millions, so back your man M E before he turns his back on you.
Buenos Dias espagnol! Cheerful one forecast mate! Good posts on this thread and all sum up the infuriating position in which we find ourselves. We all know the reasons, loss of form, lack of ME vital cash for MM to bring in one or two talented youngsters, players out of position, and lets not forget the run of bad injuries that have kept key players from a once winning team, out for too long. Win Tuesday, we have a chance still, lose, forget it. I am heading off this eve for a French break....start my frigging treatment this week...grrr! COYBs!!
Have a great break mate, fingers crossed the treatment goes well for you and lets hope the Town give you something to smile about!!
My starting 11 for Bolton Kenny Parr Chambers Berra Clarke Stewart Bish Bru Connolly Sears Murphy Lets bloody go for it, stuck with 442 coz Muck wont change it!!
Hahahaha Spanish you do crack me up! Stewart - why!?!? Apparently a journalist met him and he's been told by Mick he definitely no longer figures and is listed for loan. Donnolly perhaps a 15 min cameo? Where the hell is the steel in midfield!? Lennon hinting at playing weaker team against us 09:19 - Mar 16 with 12 views SWGF “It’ll be a difficult week and I might have to look at the squad going to Ipswich and maybe put a bit more emphasis on the Wigan game. “It’s a long trip and a difficult game so maybe we look at Wigan being just as important as the Millwall game.” Win this, Brentford don't win at Blackburn we're back in the top 6.............. SOME HOW. Hope the treatment goes great guns!
Cant be no worse than Tabb and Skuse, when you moan about no steel, do you mean the steel we had on Saturday?
On a less positive spin, lose this, and Blackburn beat Brentford, then they are only 4 behind us, with us to play last game!! But, lets all hope that Bolton do us a favour and do bring a weakened team. Can't see it myself, they'll think that we're there for the taking and will try to capitalise on our weakened confidence. I can definitely see us going all guns blazing for this one - i just hope it'll be good enough on the night, and we get some luck. Surely after what Mick has just said about the defence he'll HAVE to change it somewhat - rather than take Chambers out of right back, i'd only get rid of Mings and play Parr left back, as i think Mings is more of a liablity than Chambers at RB.
If McGoldrick is fit then: Bart (Kenny hasn't been given a chance, very much a cover player) Parr Chambers Berra Mings (I'm cautiously keeping the faith) Bishop Skuse Chaplow (I criticise him a bit, but he's exceeded my admittedly lowly expectations) McGoldrick (in the hole) Sears Murphy
It's clearly going to be 4-4-2 again. Wood sadly has offered f all to date and Varney well is Varney. I would go......... Bial PARR Berra Chambers Mings ( second half vs Boro was fine first half if you do that again Clarke.....) Bru Bishop Skuse Chaplow Murphy Sears Brentford couldn't put away 10 man Cardiff. I have every faith Blackburn will get something tomorrow, but we'll see. Eight to play after tomorrow, be great if we could get back to that top six. Ideally could do with Boro winning, Wolves losing, Forest losing ( they play Weds )
It's more than likely that Blackburn will turn Brentford over at Ewood Park but is also equally likely that we wont take advantage!
