Let's talk abput the Bolton Wanderers game

[Padge_DRFC]

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

[RugbyRover]

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.

[scawsby steve]

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.

[Colemans Left Hook]

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 -

[Usher wide.]

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.

[sedwardsdrfc]

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

[Draytonian III]

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

[Frankie Rennie]

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?

[Padge_DRFC]

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.

[Fal]

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!

[Padge_DRFC]

It's always on TV every week every game.

[Fal]

It's always on TV every week every game.

Nice way to say you've got a dodgy stick!

[grayx]

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.

[donnyguy]

Sharman Lowe on bench for Bolton

[Frankie Rennie]

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!!

[RugbyRover]

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

[jmt23]

No idea how it’s not at least 5-0? You just know what will happen

[goalkick]

Great goal lads come one now let’s have a win

[Herbert Anchovy]

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.

[Chris Black come back]

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.

[Filo]

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