I mentioned it on the match thread at the time and I'm still disappointed that after a full pre-season our defence, keeper and midfielders have almost zero composure on the ball and feel the need to hoof it anywhere rather than finding a team mate.
I have now had enough of Bogdan. Who he thinks in our team that will be capable of latching on the end of one of his long hoofs upfield I will never know. Maybe he needs his contacts changing and still thinks that Kevin Davies will be able to wrestle the ball out of the air! Every time he booted the ball, he gave it away. When will any of our team start to realise that long punts give the ball away! It's not flippin rocket science!
Knight and Wheater (who I was glad to see return) never seemed to look for a pass unless it was a 50 yard Hollywood pass. Why can't they play a simple ball in to feet?????????
Where was the midfielder dropping to collect the ball from the defenders or offering a route out????
This is simple stuff and it worries me that we think Jay Spearing is going to be our knight in shining armor. I have written articles about this subject in the past and it amazes me that almost 4 years on we are still hoofing it out of defence. We must have some of the worst stats on ball retention, so much so that Burnley actually looked like they could string a number of passes together, unlike us who continually resulted in pass-pass-hoof.
C'mon Dougie, if they are not good enough to take on a man or make some space to pass to another team mate then they shouldn't be playing football let alone playing for Bolton in the Championship.
Hoofing!
posted on 5/8/13
I must say spot on comments,Just how much butter
does Bogdan put on his gloves before a match.
Playing Ream at right back and playing Baptiste with
Knight or Wheater would give us some pace ,
another 4 players needed if we are to compete with the likes of QPR.
there is def room for improvement
posted on 5/8/13
I thought I saw more of Bogdan rolling/throwing the ball out to our full backs - mainly Tierney - than ever before. I think he has been told to choose his ball distribution carefully.
However, when a ball is passed back to him and he is under pressure, I have no complaints about him hoofing it. There isn't another choice. He actually did pass to Wheater once and he lost the ball, fortunately to be saved by Medo.
I agree with Knight though. Too often he chooses not to play a simple pass but to go for a diagonal ball, which hardly ever works. I would prefer him to drop it of to Medo or Andrews.
There were good signs in that last game. Just a few small tweaks needed, like Vela/Moritz for Andrews and Hall for CYL. I'd like to see something like that tomorrow night.
On Saturday we witnessed a disjointed team with more focus on work ethic rather than actual team cohesion. As fans, we just need to be patient and watch the team gel. Once fitness is at it's peak and they have played with each other for a few weeks, we will start to see some positive performances. I don't think it's fair to start looking so closely at perceived negatives 1 game into the season.
posted on 5/8/13
I'm a freeman,I dont know wether you saw
The Footy Show on Saturday ,but from what i saw we
were a long way from being a top 6 club.
we need imo another 4 players in and Lonergan for Bogdan who did'nt look good on saturday
posted on 5/8/13
I didn't see the footy show.
I saw the whole match.
posted on 5/8/13
Yes i saw the whole bolton match,but also watched the footy show ,Thats were i realised how much we needed to improve,I was inpressed with QPR Leicester beating Boro away ,Forest winning. Imo we dropped 2 important points against a poor Burnley team who had just lost Charle Austin,
we did'nt imo look a top 6 side, so hopefully dougie
can add to the squad BEFORE we loose any more points.
posted on 5/8/13
He will try I am sure. Don't forget QPR are shedding players left right and centre so the 11 that played may not be the same as in Sept. some of them players were using it as shop windows.
We had also just lost Holden (although it now feels like we never had him).
The positives were that in a poor performance we can grind out results. We will play and get better especially at home. Last season we would have folded as soon as Ings had scored. That determination is back. Along with a massively improved home form.
Yes there are places to improve. CB, CM and only in my opinion keeper. I see two of them being addressed. DF is working on a shoestring budget that Redknapp would have resigned over. If we finish top six that is the best we can accept. Good draws at places like Burnley who on their day will beat most alongside a very good home form will get us top 6. In the play offs it's anyone's game.
posted on 6/8/13
Where was the midfielder dropping to collect the ball from the defenders or offering a route out???
------------------------------------------------------------
This is the primary route cause of the issue. No talent in midfield
posted on 6/8/13
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 6/8/13
I'm looking forward to seeing Hall, CYL and Moritz. There is enough pace and there should be so much fluid movement tonight (if DF does play these 3 from the start) to scare the pants off anyone. Hall and CYL just have to concentrate on going forward - making runs - pulling defenders around.
posted on 7/8/13
i still dont feel the back four is a major issue, i dont think it ever has been. The issue is they have no protection, u can stick a ball winner in there all you like, but if that ball winner wins the ball, and then gives it away, it just comes straight back.
Its a simple concept, retain the ball and the other team cant score, we are completely devoid of a passer in midfield. i always advocated trying to sign a "danny murphy" type player.
There must be some old legendary foreigner, plying his trade in the outer hebrides, who cant run, isnt fit, but can pass.......remember hierro, we are missing a hierro, a Campo, a passer of the ball.
Youth is all well and good, but i was watching a sky sports gold of the preston promotion year, and it said simon charlton was the youngster at 28. Colin Hendry was about 326 and Bergsson was about 167. We need an experienced passer int middle