Any team that puts a string of results together this side of Xmas will be right up there. We've definitely lost that early momentum but the fact that no one has leap-frogged us is telling and probably keeps our odds as short as they are. Still too early to make a top 2 prediction but I feel comfortable we're creating plenty of chances. That on it's own is pleasure after the past two seasons. I think there's a whole other debate about our effectiveness with those chances should we be playing in the PL next year.
Excellent point hairy - we need someone who can convert a higher percentage of chances - or at least get them on target!!!!
Are we being a bit harsh on our strikers though? Plenty of chat (including from me) referring to our forward line not taking advantage of a pool of chances in recent matches. Two of our strikers currently sit equal 2nd in the Championship scoring charts (6 each for Jerome and Grabban). They've delivered in that respect but there's no doubt we could be even higher in the "goals for" column.
That's the feeling of a lot of posters on here - if it was a headmaster's report it would read - 'could do better'
Probably more just "championship watch" than promotion watch, but Neil Lennon is Bolton's new manager. Will be interesting to see how he gets on there and whether he would have been a reasonable option for us.
Weird one DH I fully expected Lennon to replace Hughton but i think he changed his mind when we went down. Bolton is a massive step down from Celtic and could either make him or break him imo.
Again, not really promotion but I see Becchio has broken his ankle. Really unfortunate as he seemed to be getting back up to speed and has chipped in a goal or two
Hindsight as we all know is a wonderful thing and I wonder if Lennon now regrets not taking the Carrow Road position. Surely our offering would have been a better proposition than the Bolton gig as they are in trouble currently. Just a thought.
Was he definitely offered it? I had heard that he wasn't even on the shortlist - only Mackay and Adams and we were warned off Mackay for reasons we all now know. But that all sounds a bit too much like people assuming based on subsequent details
To be honest Rob I have no idea if he was offered the job or not but it certainly felt like the 'plates' were moving at the end of last season to make it happen. Probably wrong but that is how I read the situation. I am not complaining about NA and think he has been a good appointment (genuinely) but I do refer to earlier posts where the debate was certainly looking elsewhere in the closed season and at that time NL's name was very much at the forefront of the discussion and our relegation was fealt to be a major negative for him.
I thought we interviewed three people, which I think was Adams, Mackay and Zola? That's not to say we didn't have any informal discussions with Lennon, I'd be surprised if we didn't, but he was never formally interviewed.
I find it strange that some people rate Lennon so highly. He was 39 with no management experience when he took over at Celtic 4 years ago. He did well at Celtic, but has less experience of the English leagues than Adams. It'll be interesting to see how he gets on at Bolton.
I have to admit, I'm really not bothered by yesterday's result. Yes, psychologically it would have been great to break our duck against Fulham, but realistically it was always going to be a tough game. I'm far, far more concerned by (a) our home form and (b) our inability to convert chances, which, it's becoming obvious, was as much a problem last season as Hughton, frankly. Plus ca change...
