Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on December 30, 2025, 12:51:27 am
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One of our two home games including the Luton town game in the not so great holiday season, against a team that sit in the sixth play off position despite losing to Mansfield 1-0 and will be looking to get back on track against us.
At Stockport we did ok in patches going forward, even scoring two goals, but let in another four which took the total in the last four game to fourteen against highlighting the fact we have a defence not suited to this level of football, something we should be taking remedial measures to rectify as soon as we are able to do so in the next few weeks, being so easy to run past, out jumped, and to get crosses into our box, where we are poor at defending and having an awareness of where the opposition players are placed, with only Pearson a natural defender.
We must realise that Grant until the window has little movement he can make to the line up. even for this game against Bolton injuries allowing he is limited to any changes of note, probably a fresh couple of players but is running out of options with men in form, and as i alluded to quite a while ago we require an abnormal number of players to most teams at this level on top of their game as quite a few of them their norm is just not up to division one standard, especially in defence.
So we go into this game in hope rather than expectancy in my mind, Hopefully we can play with the enthusiasm we showed at Stockport but add some nous to our game and organisation to our defensive play, getting points becoming a desperate requirement, with some of the players Grant has shown great loyalty need to be turning up for the fight.
Lots to talk about please have your say
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They’ve only lost 5 league games all season but 4 of those have been away. They’ve managed a single clean sheet away from home in the league all season and that was 1-0 at Mansfield who were down to 10 men from the 13th minute.
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I will grasp at that, but we usually get teams out of any sort of bad run, its in our make up, but let's hope for a chink of light.
With Luton and Southampton to follow, two teams that financially we are very poor neighbours to, and Luton looking to be finding their feet it could well be nearer the end of the month for any seasonal joy splashed about.
Some really bad weather and a few weeks off for a reset wouldn't be amiss at the moment and could save us from being cold, as well as the very possible feeling of being miserable.
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If we can plug the gaps up at the back, get a bit of luck and show a bit of intelligence in how we play, I think we can win this one. I would start with Billy and Hanlan against Bolton. Go three at the back, wing backs, and play Molyneux just behind them.
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For this game Sammy there is very little we can do as far as changing the personnel who played ok at Stockport, We just have to try and play as much of the game in their half of the field and keep the ball away from whatever the line up is at the back.
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Close didn’t look too mobile when he came off. Assume we have to start with Bailey, Broadbent and either Gotts or Clifton.
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If its 4 2 3 1 with Hanlan and Gibson starting then im really starting to worry for GM he has to change things either two up top with a formation change or some change in starting XI. Totally different performance after the subs yesterday
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Hanlan is not the problem - people need to stop stating he is, he along with Molly are the only two league 1 quality players we have!
The jury is still out on some, but there is more than a few that shouldn’t be at this level.
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If its 4 2 3 1 with Hanlan and Gibson starting then im really starting to worry for GM he has to change things either two up top with a formation change or some change in starting XI. Totally different performance after the subs yesterday
It almost certainly will be 4-2-3-1 as McCann doesn’t seem comfortable with anything else. Whenever he’s changed it we’ve looked even worse.
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Hanlan is not the problem - people need to stop stating he is, he along with Molly are the only two league 1 quality players we have!
The jury is still out on some, but there is more than a few that shouldn’t be at this level.
Strongly disagree. The ball bounces off him like he's a brick he cannot control the ball or even hold it up and lay off to someone else bringing them into play. Same with Gibbo. And I can't believe you think Haland is lg1 and Bailey isnt
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Bailey is league 1 quality, I just forgot to add his name, however…
Bailey is playing and part of the worst midfield in the league, and the cries are for him to go in defence again. Why is it we looked so much better in all areas when he is in defence? An interesting thought, for me he either plays defence or the Clifton role and nothing else.
As usual with players, and I had this with Heffernan too( where I had a stand up argument in the pop side with some fans) people cannot see the qualities of players, even more so when they have spent a few months slating them. Hanlan is league 1 quality, is he the best in the league NO, we are not a club that can financially afford that level of forward. He is more than good enough IF we use him as he needs, his recent goals will show you all you need to know. You have a very opposing view to me and professional footballers who watch him.
He along with Molly are the only two form players right now and have been consistent for the last 4-5 games, whilst the rest struggle with the power and pace of the league.
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Close didn't look too mobile in the first few minutes when he got dumped on his arse when their winger skinned him cut inside and shot weakly straight at Lawlor when he should have scored.
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Rovers are coming up against the favourite for automatic promotion with Cardiff, we will lose I think, but if we put a good show on like the game against Stockport they will scare them, and go on from there to start winning.
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My concern for Thursday is the sheer amount of possession and shots that Bolton create, just looking at their last bunch of fixtures excluding the FA Cup Tie they have had over 60% possession in a lot of time and average 20 shots a game. I personally would be looking to shut up shop in this one and catch them on the break. I feel if we play our normal way i can see us shipping several goals!
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Is there any regulatory reason why a new signing could not be called up ?
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I presume you mean into our first team.... I am not sure, but I expect they have been training with us a couple of weeks so they should be able to jump into action surely.
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Hanlan is not the problem - people need to stop stating he is, he along with Molly are the only two league 1 quality players we have!
The jury is still out on some, but there is more than a few that shouldn’t be at this level.
Strongly disagree. The ball bounces off him like he's a brick he cannot control the ball or even hold it up and lay off to someone else bringing them into play. Same with Gibbo. And I can't believe you think Haland is lg1 and Bailey isnt
Hanlan is very poor and definitely not L1 standard based on what we have seen so far.
You are correct he doesn’t seem to be able to hold a ball played to him, and his heading ability is also in question. He looks big and strong, but rarely does he get the better of opposing central defenders.
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Is there any regulatory reason why a new signing could not be called up ?
As mentioned in other threads no new players can play on Jan 1st, needs to be registered by noon on the day before.
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Can't be playing Sharp. Need to start the game with 11 men
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Can't be playing Sharp. Need to start the game with 11 men
Agreed.
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Can't be playing Sharp. Need to start the game with 11 men
Agreed.
I hope Billy doesn’t take offence , the only £1m player ever to grace our club .Billy gives 100% but he doesn’t deserve disrespect that’s being thrown around . McCann is to blame for all our ills ( and I like him) but this striker concern has gone on too long and he should have walked when the club wouldn’t sanction the funds to bring in what was needed . But he stayed and just did what was asked and work with less and not more !!
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This is a completely different proposition to the Stockport game. Bolton are a real strong footballing team.
Feels like a game where if we play our Plan A, we will struggle. We certainly need to be a bit more cautious with the full backs, sit a bit deeper, make the pitch smaller but only pressing half the pitch etc and try and hit on the counter. Bolton have lost to smash and grab teams, Burton, Wycombe, Mansfield, Northampton and in the main done well when teams try and take them on.
Got to play Broadbent and Bailey as two 6’s to get across and protect the fullbacks at all costs when the wide men get forward.
Cozier-Duberry on the right for them is the best wide player in the division. He needs special attention. I’d certainly put Maxwell back in (despite dip in recent form) to try and handle him. He’s a better defender than Senior imo.
Really tough game this one. Have to be compact defending and pretty direct when attacking. In an open game I’d fear the worst.
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Rovers 18/1 with SkyBet to win 2-0.
That’s like printing money.
Senior over Maxwell because Maxwell can’t defend.
A penalty & a deflection off Hanlan’s backside will do.
Oh, & Lawlor in goal please.
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Hi guys, looking forward to the game tomorrow but with a little trepidation. It’s ironic really because we’re playing some of the best , most attractive football I’ve seen us play in years until it comes to actually scoring. Every team misses chances but we’ve made an art out of it and I don’t mean half chances. We have 3 main strikers in Dalby, Burstow and Forss. Burstow our leading scorer hasn’t hit the net in 17 games, Forss for about ten and Dalby only one, which was a tap in in much the same. We are way in front on shooting stats and Xg but around the bottom in converting them.
In fairness most teams develop a low block which we haven’t the ability to overcome which leaves us with a big possession % but little to show for it. Against Rotherham after missing several first half sitters we had 82% possession and did nothing with it. Same this week against Mansfield where we absolutely mullered them yet lost to a goal gifted by TSL, not his first I should add. In some ways it’s a miracle we’re still top six but we have got out of jail with last minute goals several times. We’re playing some great stuff as I say but totally inept up top and Cozier-Duberry has now been found out and his impact recently waned considerably.
We’re also incredibly weak from set pieces and corners. 12 corners against Mansfield in the first half and never troubled their defence. They had one right at the end of the half and scored when as I say, Teddy fluffed it. So if you set up right to frustrate us and get the biggest men you can in our box for corners you’ve every chance of some joy. I’m not trying to be a pessimist here nor underplay how well we’re performing if we could only stop conceding silly goals and take the chances we’ve created at the other end. We will make chances whatever you do and one of these days I’m sure our lucks going to change and we’ll hammer someone but with our strikers confidence so low I’m just not sure it will be tomorrow? Anyway, whatever the score, good luck for the rest of the season, I don’t want you to go down and lose another of my “home” games.
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Hi guys, looking forward to the game tomorrow but with a little trepidation. It’s ironic really because we’re playing some of the best , most attractive football I’ve seen us play in years until it comes to actually scoring. Every team misses chances but we’ve made an art out of it and I don’t mean half chances. We have 3 main strikers in Dalby, Burstow and Forss. Burstow our leading scorer hasn’t hit the net in 17 games, Forss for about ten and Dalby only one, which was a tap in in much the same. We are way in front on shooting stats and Xg but around the bottom in converting them.
In fairness most teams develop a low block which we haven’t the ability to overcome which leaves us with a big possession % but little to show for it. Against Rotherham after missing several first half sitters we had 82% possession and did nothing with it. Same this week against Mansfield where we absolutely mullered them yet lost to a goal gifted by TSL, not his first I should add. In some ways it’s a miracle we’re still top six but we have got out of jail with last minute goals several times. We’re playing some great stuff as I say but totally inept up top and Cozier-Duberry has now been found out and his impact recently waned considerably.
We’re also incredibly weak from set pieces and corners. 12 corners against Mansfield in the first half and never troubled their defence. They had one right at the end of the half and scored when as I say, Teddy fluffed it. So if you set up right to frustrate us and get the biggest men you can in our box for corners you’ve every chance of some joy. I’m not trying to be a pessimist here nor underplay how well we’re performing if we could only stop conceding silly goals and take the chances we’ve created at the other end. We will make chances whatever you do and one of these days I’m sure our lucks going to change and we’ll hammer someone but with our strikers confidence so low I’m just not sure it will be tomorrow? Anyway, whatever the score, good luck for the rest of the season, I don’t want you to go down and lose another of my “home” games.
Thanks for that insight.
We’re brilliant at set pieces especially corners.
We vary our routines each time during the game, I think that’s the key to our success rate.
Sometimes Mols will raise is left hand before a delivery, sometimes Gibbo will raise his right. Then at free kicks Ben Close will more often than not raise either.
That way it keeps everyone guessing….even the taker.
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Rovers 18/1 with SkyBet to win 2-0.
That’s like printing money.
Senior over Maxwell because Maxwell can’t defend.
A penalty & a deflection off Hanlan’s backside will do.
Oh, & Lawlor in goal please.
This is not an attempt to start a war btw.
Interesting thought on who is the better defender between Senior and Maxwell. Maxwells defensive numbers blow Seniors out of the water but I’m sure plenty will say Senior is the better defender. I think it’s potentially that Maxwell attacks more and possibly Senior spends more time goal side in a more orthodox defensive position. Not sure but a fairly interesting one.
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Rovers 18/1 with SkyBet to win 2-0.
That’s like printing money.
Senior over Maxwell because Maxwell can’t defend.
A penalty & a deflection off Hanlan’s backside will do.
Oh, & Lawlor in goal please.
But you can get 30/1 on Betfair. 2-0 Rovers
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I would play Senior, and Maxwell instead of Gibson, it gives a lot more cover on the left hand side, Maxwell is a better crosser of a ball than Gibson
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I would play Senior, and Maxwell instead of Gibson, it gives a lot more cover on the left hand side, Maxwell is a better crosser of a ball than Gibson
“Maxwell is a better crosser of the ball than Gibson”.
Really?
And how many more goals would he contribute in Gibson place?
Sometimes, you read a new post on here & it’s a bit like looking at the contents of a Christmas cracker.
You don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
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Hi guys, looking forward to the game tomorrow but with a little trepidation. It’s ironic really because we’re playing some of the best , most attractive football I’ve seen us play in years until it comes to actually scoring. Every team misses chances but we’ve made an art out of it and I don’t mean half chances. We have 3 main strikers in Dalby, Burstow and Forss. Burstow our leading scorer hasn’t hit the net in 17 games, Forss for about ten and Dalby only one, which was a tap in in much the same. We are way in front on shooting stats and Xg but around the bottom in converting them.
In fairness most teams develop a low block which we haven’t the ability to overcome which leaves us with a big possession % but little to show for it. Against Rotherham after missing several first half sitters we had 82% possession and did nothing with it. Same this week against Mansfield where we absolutely mullered them yet lost to a goal gifted by TSL, not his first I should add. In some ways it’s a miracle we’re still top six but we have got out of jail with last minute goals several times. We’re playing some great stuff as I say but totally inept up top and Cozier-Duberry has now been found out and his impact recently waned considerably.
We’re also incredibly weak from set pieces and corners. 12 corners against Mansfield in the first half and never troubled their defence. They had one right at the end of the half and scored when as I say, Teddy fluffed it. So if you set up right to frustrate us and get the biggest men you can in our box for corners you’ve every chance of some joy. I’m not trying to be a pessimist here nor underplay how well we’re performing if we could only stop conceding silly goals and take the chances we’ve created at the other end. We will make chances whatever you do and one of these days I’m sure our lucks going to change and we’ll hammer someone but with our strikers confidence so low I’m just not sure it will be tomorrow? Anyway, whatever the score, good luck for the rest of the season, I don’t want you to go down and lose another of my “home” games.
We’re experts at helping teams get back on track, you’ll be fine, just put the ball in the box and our traffic cone CB’s will help out
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I would play Senior, and Maxwell instead of Gibson, it gives a lot more cover on the left hand side, Maxwell is a better crosser of a ball than Gibson
Have you taken a season of watching us? He does 1 good cross in about 20
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I would play Senior, and Maxwell instead of Gibson, it gives a lot more cover on the left hand side, Maxwell is a better crosser of a ball than Gibson
Have you taken a season of watching us? He does 1 good cross in about 20
One more than Gibson then.
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Hi guys, looking forward to the game tomorrow but with a little trepidation. It’s ironic really because we’re playing some of the best , most attractive football I’ve seen us play in years until it comes to actually scoring. Every team misses chances but we’ve made an art out of it and I don’t mean half chances. We have 3 main strikers in Dalby, Burstow and Forss. Burstow our leading scorer hasn’t hit the net in 17 games, Forss for about ten and Dalby only one, which was a tap in in much the same. We are way in front on shooting stats and Xg but around the bottom in converting them.
In fairness most teams develop a low block which we haven’t the ability to overcome which leaves us with a big possession % but little to show for it. Against Rotherham after missing several first half sitters we had 82% possession and did nothing with it. Same this week against Mansfield where we absolutely mullered them yet lost to a goal gifted by TSL, not his first I should add. In some ways it’s a miracle we’re still top six but we have got out of jail with last minute goals several times. We’re playing some great stuff as I say but totally inept up top and Cozier-Duberry has now been found out and his impact recently waned considerably.
We’re also incredibly weak from set pieces and corners. 12 corners against Mansfield in the first half and never troubled their defence. They had one right at the end of the half and scored when as I say, Teddy fluffed it. So if you set up right to frustrate us and get the biggest men you can in our box for corners you’ve every chance of some joy. I’m not trying to be a pessimist here nor underplay how well we’re performing if we could only stop conceding silly goals and take the chances we’ve created at the other end. We will make chances whatever you do and one of these days I’m sure our lucks going to change and we’ll hammer someone but with our strikers confidence so low I’m just not sure it will be tomorrow? Anyway, whatever the score, good luck for the rest of the season, I don’t want you to go down and lose another of my “home” games.
Nice to hear from you again, Frankie. By the way, have you been to Hollywood recently? LOL.
Don't worry about your team not scoring goals. We've conceded 14 in the last 4 games. You'll score tomorrow for sure.
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Hanlan is not the problem - people need to stop stating he is, he along with Molly are the only two league 1 quality players we have!
The jury is still out on some, but there is more than a few that shouldn’t be at this level.
Strongly disagree. The ball bounces off him like he's a brick he cannot control the ball or even hold it up and lay off to someone else bringing them into play. Same with Gibbo. And I can't believe you think Haland is lg1 and Bailey isnt
He has similar heading abilities to Gary Lineker & Trevor brooking - never any chance of a collision of the ball with his head in the penalty area in
front of the goal
he's a one trick pony a la Jamie Vardy - (and it's a good one) where he scores instinctively without having time to think -
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I would play Senior, and Maxwell instead of Gibson, it gives a lot more cover on the left hand side, Maxwell is a better crosser of a ball than Gibson
Have you taken a season of watching us? He does 1 good cross in about 20
One more than Gibson then.
Thank you for that in depth analysis.
You can learn so much from a straight to the point, absolutely undebatable fact.
Unfortunately your post fails that criteria in so many ways it would take me a good half hour to
explain that I don’t feel the compunction to even attempt to try.
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If we set up to be hard to beat it’ll be a start. Play 2 centrally in midfield whose job is to protect the defence and fill spaces. Not sure that is Baileys strong suit he’s better getting in the box but he’s physically up for that type of role.
It was often the case last season that we were better v the teams that try and play and when we had a lot of the ball we were poor. That’s part of the reason it’s so surprising we set up so open as if to dominate the ball when it’s not our game.
If Grant can’t get our set up right and just goes for the usual I’m starting to worry it’s money down the drain in Jan on these new signings. They need to be top end L1 players to try play the game he wants, it’s just not realistic
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I would play Senior, and Maxwell instead of Gibson, it gives a lot more cover on the left hand side, Maxwell is a better crosser of a ball than Gibson
“Maxwell is a better crosser of the ball than Gibson”.
Really?
And how many more goals would he contribute in Gibson place?
Sometimes, you read a new post on here & it’s a bit like looking at the contents of a Christmas cracker.
You don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
It’s all about opinions, and my opinion is that he’s a better crosser of a ball than Gibson, also it would give more defensive cover on the opposition’s right hand side.
Gibson is hardly setting the world alight, but then again he’s got a song so he’s bound to be popular
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Hi guys, looking forward to the game tomorrow but with a little trepidation. It’s ironic really because we’re playing some of the best , most attractive football I’ve seen us play in years until it comes to actually scoring. Every team misses chances but we’ve made an art out of it and I don’t mean half chances. We have 3 main strikers in Dalby, Burstow and Forss. Burstow our leading scorer hasn’t hit the net in 17 games, Forss for about ten and Dalby only one, which was a tap in in much the same. We are way in front on shooting stats and Xg but around the bottom in converting them.
In fairness most teams develop a low block which we haven’t the ability to overcome which leaves us with a big possession % but little to show for it. Against Rotherham after missing several first half sitters we had 82% possession and did nothing with it. Same this week against Mansfield where we absolutely mullered them yet lost to a goal gifted by TSL, not his first I should add. In some ways it’s a miracle we’re still top six but we have got out of jail with last minute goals several times. We’re playing some great stuff as I say but totally inept up top and Cozier-Duberry has now been found out and his impact recently waned considerably.
We’re also incredibly weak from set pieces and corners. 12 corners against Mansfield in the first half and never troubled their defence. They had one right at the end of the half and scored when as I say, Teddy fluffed it. So if you set up right to frustrate us and get the biggest men you can in our box for corners you’ve every chance of some joy. I’m not trying to be a pessimist here nor underplay how well we’re performing if we could only stop conceding silly goals and take the chances we’ve created at the other end. We will make chances whatever you do and one of these days I’m sure our lucks going to change and we’ll hammer someone but with our strikers confidence so low I’m just not sure it will be tomorrow? Anyway, whatever the score, good luck for the rest of the season, I don’t want you to go down and lose another of my “home” games.
Nice to hear from you again, Frankie. By the way, have you been to Hollywood recently? LOL.
Don't worry about your team not scoring goals. We've conceded 14 in the last 4 games. You'll score tomorrow for sure.
Hi Steve, not Hollywood but I’ve been to New York a few times!! I’ll trust you on the scoring tomorrow because we’re struggling at the moment. I wouldn’t mind if we were playing badly or not making chances but we’re doing both and still not scoring. I’m not trying to sound cocky but seriously we should be 10 points better off easily but we’re not so we can’t say we deserve to be. I’m hoping that it changes in 2026 for both of us because I’m surprised where you are at the moment after a bright start. Anyway, plenty time for both of us yet so after tomorrow let’s hope you really start to pick up?
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Just had a brief look at Bolton home tickets whilst getting Southampton tickets. People have given up today haven't they. New year's Day used to get a decent crowd in.
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Just had a brief look at Bolton home tickets whilst getting Southampton tickets. People have given up today haven't they. New year's Day used to get a decent crowd in.
Combination of poor form, new years hangover and the fact that its on tele too!
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It's always on TV every week every game.
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It's always on TV every week every game.
Nice way to say you've got a dodgy stick!
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Its the time of year when you get shock results. Bolton hopefully think they just have to turn up to win, we raise our game & sneak a win. We are due a change of luck.
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Sharman Lowe on bench for Bolton
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Yes Donny that’s a big surprise as Miller’s not the best but we’ll see. 3 strikers on today with Dalby and Burstow up top and Forss behind them in place of Cozier-Duberry who’s on the bench and I’m sure will come on later. 5 changes there from Mansfield so let’s see if Schu’s bingo machine works better for him today? I think about 3000 of us there today so should be a cracking atmosphere. We need the points so I can’t wish you guys luck so I’ll just wish you a happy new year, starting tomorrow!!
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I would play Senior, and Maxwell instead of Gibson, it gives a lot more cover on the left hand side, Maxwell is a better crosser of a ball than Gibson
Have you taken a season of watching us? He does 1 good cross in about 20
One more than Gibson then.
Thank you for that in depth analysis.
You can learn so much from a straight to the point, absolutely undebatable fact.
Unfortunately your post fails that criteria in so many ways it would take me a good half hour to
explain that I don’t feel the compunction to even attempt to try.
Phew
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No idea how it’s not at least 5-0? You just know what will happen
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Great goal lads come one now let’s have a win :scarf:
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Much improved display and carrying on the trajectory from the Stockport game. Given the appalling run that we’ve been on and some of the shocking performances, I suppose it’s going to take time to turn things round. Hopefully this will boost their confidence a little.
We definitely should have won though.
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When a side really isn’t threatening like Bolton today, we’ve got to be putting those good chances away. Some fairly disappointing finishing at times.
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But for a poxy goal we would have won that, but we have to take these clear cut chances, should have been 3-0 up at half time