Positives and Negatives

[donnyguy]

Fot mob have Hanlan 0 shots on or off target and Brandon Hanlan lost the most duels (13) in the match.

[scawsby steve]

Hanlan was terrible today. We desperately need a centre forward.

[Barmby Rover]

That was an extremely positive performance, Nixon and especially Senior were so positive that we didn't miss our usual 2 full backs, Gotts and Middleton both had great games too, but the whole team were playing without fear. Confidence is a big thing with our squad, this might transfer into a win on Sunday, I think it will be a winnable match now.

[drfchound]

We played well today. Grant got the tactics spot on. Back four looked to get narrow with the wide man on the respective side getting back to double up on the wide men. We sat back in a good shape but pressed high sporadically at what tended to be the right time.


Missed chances cost us in the end but that happens. We need to improve in both boxes to stay up but the biggest positive is that we are on an all time horror run but the players are still having a proper go. It would be so easy to try and hide in this situation but they certainly are not.

All the players rose to the challenge today.
Out of possession they worked so hard to prevent Bolton playing and especially prevented them from getting shots away when they attacked.
It gives me hope to add to my belief that we are good enough to get back on track and pull away from the drop zone.

[jmt23]

Agree with most comments, it had a cup tie feel today. I just hope they understand or are physically capable to do that game in game out, as the bare minimum.

[ForsolongaRover]

Hanlan was terrible today. We desperately need a centre forward.

He is half-hearted, makes token efforts to win the ball and was careless today when he was presented with a gilt edged chance in the first half and had the ball taken off him before he’d got ready the shoot. He was totally unaware of the defender coming in for the challenge and didn’t even manage a touch on the ball. How they ever failed to identify this weakness in scouting baffles me. We need a proper number nine, someone who will run and fight for the ball. Poor poor judgment and money wasted on a (2 year?) contract. At least Billy commits.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Agree with most comments, it had a cup tie feel today. I just hope they understand or are physically capable to do that game in game out, as the bare minimum.

Absolutely. That's the standard required which we must follow up.

Many more positives than negatives.

On Senior, I just don't think Maxwell can produce that intensity of performance so I really hope Jack goes on the make that spot his own.

Probably seen from Gotts today what his reputation told us. Once Broadbent went off, Gotts fully committed to that anchor role with his decision making being very good. Both he and Clifton, together with a more disciplined performance from Bailey, worked as a unit where we looked more balanced.

Nixon, McGrath and Pearson also worked the back line positionally much better which helped the midfield.

Hanlon as best was a nuisance but unfortunately too many loose touches despite his decent work rate.

Just lacking a little quality and composure in the final third was the difference to winning that comfortably. Bolton would have had few complaints if it had stayed 1-0 though.

I hope the players relished that performance and want more.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Positive for me was tactics. No short goal kicks, no passing side to side, no wide open midfield.

Negative is obviously taking chances. That has to change and if it does soon we have a good chance of staying up imo. A bit more quality in a few spots in the window should help.

[Chris Black come back]

Lawlor. Distribution better and doesn’t do anything dumb. Not sure he will save us many points but he probably won’t gift as many either.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Looking at the game in isolation the only real negative was the result.

I thought we made a top 6 team look decidedly ordinary and limited them to only 1 shot on goal - a miskick which ended up in the back of the net. The luck of a team near the bottom.

Defensively we were solid and going forwards we asked serious questions of their defence.

The stand out for me though was Robbie Gotts in the middle of the park. Excellent. Even before he moved into the deeper role when Broadbent went off. He needs a run of games based on that performance.

This.

If we put in that performance another 22 times, we'll stay up easily.

[StocksArmy]

I’m sorry ladies and gentlemen but, those on here who think Hanlan is any good you are seriously deluded. Same as Pearson. The recruitment team and McCann have lost a lot of credibility from me signing these 2. Complete and utter dog sh!te. They stick out like a sore thumb.

[mpc123]

It doesn't mean you are right, maybe the others are

[Pancho Regan]

We played well today. Grant got the tactics spot on. Back four looked to get narrow with the wide man on the respective side getting back to double up on the wide men. We sat back in a good shape but pressed high sporadically at what tended to be the right time.


Missed chances cost us in the end but that happens. We need to improve in both boxes to stay up but the biggest positive is that we are on an all time horror run but the players are still having a proper go. It would be so easy to try and hide in this situation but they certainly are not.

Agree totally.

Has your account been hacked?

 

[DonnyRover]

Hanlan is a head scratcher for me, he’s obviously a strong lad but seems to get man handled more than any other player maybe his size goes against him and opposing players get away with a lot more pulling and pushing on him or he’s just not as strong as he looks. That run down the right side today was absolutely hilarious, megged their left back, took it round another and then played a simple pass straight out for a throw, summed him up that did

[Pancho Regan]

A good performance today which really deserved a win.
We were the better team against a top-six side and it’s so frustrating to come away with only a point.

Some really good performances from Gotts, Middleton, Nixon and especially Senior, who was my MOM. He did a couple of brilliant surging runs and his form of late has been excellent.
We talk about our two good full-backs in Sterry and Maxwell but personally I think Senior and Nixon deserve to keep their places.

Hanlan frustrates the life out of me. He clearly has something but my goodness, that chance in the first half when all he had to do was pull the trigger - that suggests to me that he just doesn’t have the striker’s instinct. These are the chances we need to take to win games.

Then in the second half he has a good run, beating two players, then promptly stops and turns and plays the ball ……. into touch.

Middleton also should have scored in the first half and you just got that feeling that missed chances would once again cost us the win.
So it proved, with a very average Bolton side stealing a point with a flukey equaliser.

So frustrating.

But the positives are that, not for the first time, we showed that we have enough quality to avoid relegation; of that I’m sure.

Hopefully Grant will refresh the squad over the next few days and we’ll pull clear of trouble.

Finally, a word about the Bolton fans.
Without doubt the worst I’ve seen this season.
Constantly booing their own team, until some of us in the West Stand joined in!
Good numbers but terrible supporters.

Keep the faith, we’re absolutely not going down.

[Ian Nimmo]

Hanlan is a head scratcher for me, he’s obviously a strong lad but seems to get man handled more than any other player maybe his size goes against him and opposing players get away with a lot more pulling and pushing on him or he’s just not as strong as he looks. That run down the right side today was absolutely hilarious, megged their left back, took it round another and then played a simple pass straight out for a throw, summed him up that did

Not a head scratcher for me, he is total garbage.
A lot on here say how he is an handfull etc. but yesterday he could not hold onto any balls played to him and he is easily dealt with by opposition. His heading ability is poor and he seems to struggle with his positioning etc.

Apart from him I thought the lads played very well and sickening that we didn’t that game. The clear cut chances we created must have been well into double figures, and apart from a spell in the second half, we made a good team look very ordinary.
Surprised to see TSL on the bench, so looks like things may not be happening for him?

[selby]

  Watching Hanlan especially in the first half reminded me of playing Christmas charity games when younger, and half the lads were running off the drink from the night before, and gradually got a little better as the game went on but never fully with it.

[selby]

  One accusation can't at least be thrown about at our manager,  the effort the team have put into the last two games sink that old nut shell " he has lost the dressing room" into deep water.
  I can excuse not being good enough, but the lads have tried their hearts out and given everything in the recent games and deserve recognition for it the only disappointment we didn't get out of the games points wise what we deserve.
  If we keep it up it will turn we are due a bit of luck.