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No, no, no, no, no, no!!

The main story on the back page of today's Bolton News reads: "Benik Afobe and Marvin Sordell are slugging it out to start alongside skipper Kevin Davies against Nottingham Forest tonight"

After the Derby game, in which Davies was largely ineffective, it was obvious to everyone in the ground (apart from Coyle) that once we got it on the ground and played it short we scored 2 goals and played them off the park.

So why is Davies still a shoe-in for the team?? With him in the team it is far too easy to just hoof it up to somewhere near him once you are under a little bit of pressure (especially if you are Zat Knight). Take him out of the team and you can't get away with hoof-ball and must look for a shorter pass or to clear it to the flanks.

We are in a league where we are playing teams that player-for-player are worse than us. So it is no surprise that once you start passing quickly and moving into spaces around them that they can't stand up to it. Play hoofball and you are simply playing into the strengths of any Championship team and it will be as ineffective as it was for 70 minutes against Derby and against Burnley.

It's high time Coyle realised this and grew a pair and played Afobe and Sordell up front together.

posted on 24/8/12

So it is no surprise that once you start passing quickly and moving into spaces around them that they can't stand up to it.

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Absolutely spot on.

Also, whoever said that playing Davies neglects othe players like CYL, Mavies and Sordell is absolutely spot on too. I don't care whether Davies puts in a good shift or whether he is the captain. He is not the right choice. The game is too slow, too predicable and downright boring with him on the pitch.

comment by JAH (U1627)

posted on 24/8/12

I am going to be a little confrontational here, but I have to disagree.

I didn't think that we played as much long ball in the second half - I admit the 1st half was awful tho. The trick is for a midfield player helping out the defender so the defender has options. Andrews was playing to high and not being available to collect the ball, hence Zat's usual hoof. They sorted this in the second and we played much better and SKD was on the pitch throughout.

Sometimes its really easy to say its SKD's fault that we are going long, but you need to look more closely.

I'm all for having a starting line of Sordell and Afobe as I think it will create chances and they could be the most formidable strike force in the division. Their time will come but I would rather see that after SKD has done as much as he can do.

Personally, I think we will see the Sordell and Afobe partnership at some point tonight and I would rather see that partnership after SKD has barraged and dragged the 2 CBs all over the place for 60 mins than if those CBs were fresh.

comment by Mr. T (U3286)

posted on 24/8/12

All fair points, JAH.

Perhaps the answer to that midfielders not coming short option is to play 5 in the middle. We have just been quoted £3m though for Spearing which I would be a little disappointed to see us pay.

Playing a 4-5-1 with whichever DM we get, Afobe on the left wing instead of Eagles (who I thought was awful on Tuesday, but seem to be alone on that opinion) and Sordell up front alone also sounds like quite an exciting line up to me.

comment by JAH (U1627)

posted on 24/8/12

What about Wylde on the left if Petrov is going through a bad patch?

comment by Mr. T (U3286)

posted on 24/8/12

Not sure what's going on with Petrov, last I knew he was easily our best player in pre-season and now he's been dropped for someone that doesn't play in his position. Anyone have any more info on this?

posted on 24/8/12

I learnt something new yesterday(on this forum), it's not actually shoe-in its shoo-in. Don't want to be arsey, just thought i'd share my new found knowledge.

comment by Mr. T (U3286)

posted on 24/8/12

I did think that as I was typing it actually. Having said that I thought until recently that it was "back him to the hill" rather than hilt. Stupid language.

posted on 24/8/12

I liked to hit the middle ground on this one.
I feel SKD merits his place tonight. Sordell did nothing to impress and missed his chance whereas SKD took his. On that how do you tell SKD he is not being picked over a guy who was worse?

However when he does play the rest of the team are clearly told to go long as much as possible. Not once did we see anything from the touch line about keeping it on the ground during the first half volleyball session on tuesday. If they had been told to keep it on the ground then I expect to see that told well before half time if they have. The fans were the ones against it not the coaching staff. So therefore it will be long again tonight.

posted on 24/8/12

On another note I wish Sunderland were after our players £14m for Fletcher phew never

posted on 24/8/12

SKD, Was largely responsible for winning the game for us on Tuesday so why all the negatives. He has to start tonight. I'm not saying he should be first on the team sheet every week but until he plays absolutely carp and contributes nothing, he should be given his chance like every other player in the squad.

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