An ex premier league fixture as Bolton in 3rd still favourites for a top 2 slot host Charlton who are in a precarious spot. 5th bottom with the sides below them with games in hand and not won in 14 league fixtures! Nathan Jones who has been gone too long is the new Charlton manager. Good luck to them after today. Team news. Injury and suspension digging deep into the squad now. Key players as well. The keeper, skipper, top scorer all out today. It's a good job there were 4 January signings and Mendes Gomes and Jones back from international duty. Out injured. Nlundulu, Johnston, Santos, Forrester, Williams, Baxter and now charles. Thomason serves the 2nd of a 3 match ban. Leaves just the 18 match day squad. Possible starting 11. Coleman. Jones Toal Iredale. Dacres-cogley Dempsey Sheehan Maghoma Ashworth. Adeboyejo Collins. Kick off 3pm.
posted on 18/2/24
It's time to ban the P word until we can confirm the party booking. All the talk using the P word and these games in hand is not doing us any good.
As for the match yesterday. I'm not surprised I've seen some fingers pointed at IE. He's brought this team together.
Our squad isn't a first team with suitable reserves for rotation and in case of injuries. We've a mis mash hotchpotch group IE picks a team from.
I know whose door I'll be knocking on, if my investment doesn't pay up.
posted on 18/2/24
https://youtu.be/pAuCv6Zqj4g?si=9JJ9UZyHZrO5uAd6
posted on 18/2/24
That's the extended highlights.
posted on 18/2/24
The injuries haven't helped. Ideally there wouldn't have been any signings in January and had a settled squad but we would have been down to 14 yesterday. The constant rotation, 2 games a week isn't helping. Baxter back in 3 weeks, Santos for Blackpool, Charles for Wigan. 3 away games. Cambridge and Blackpool we haven't won at since Adam was a lad and Wigan's cup final. Will know by we play Cambridge if we're still in a chance of 2nd or it's just play offs again.
posted on 18/2/24
What do we do with them across the road in training?
So many of them can't manage 90mins, or a season without being rotated a few times.
When I used to deliver Hovis
You'd know next week's team after watching the previous game. Every so often the Ben told us of an injury, you knew who the replacement would be. From knowing the regular subs and the Central League team.
posted on 18/2/24
If Evatt can't stop the rot quickly we will be doomed for the playoffs and that's only if we can stay in the top six.
There is no guarantee of anything, especially with the teams we have to play. Teams know exactly how we play and set out to upset our rhythm. Unfortunately, they are successful at doing it.
Evatt says we are good at fighting dirty but it's no good if we are dropping two points every game.
posted on 19/2/24
Evatt whistling the always look on the bright side of life song. Relying on the games in hand now. Wonder if iredale makes the coach to Cambridge today after being in a and e at the weekend with his head injury. Hopefully Forrester is fit to play. A proper defender but that will be another rejig of the back 3. Anyone else disappointed in Taylor? A strapping big lad, highly rated at wba, thought he would come in and own that centre back spot and give Rico lots of time to get fully fit. Now it seems a race against time to get Rico back in the side.
posted on 19/2/24
If Taaylor was that good he wouldn't be on loan at Bolton. However, we have to hope that he is just settling in and will come good when he is next needed. Hope springs eternally.
As for Evatt, you are right Benny, but if he doesn't stay confident the team won't, he has to talk the talk even if the team can't walk the walk at the moment.
posted on 19/2/24
Trouble is with some of the players like Taylor.
We see them here and there, what would some of them be like if they were given a run of 90min games.
Sometimes you have to put players in, give them the time and a run of games before they click into place.
posted on 19/2/24
To add to the above, if we give them a run of games it's no use constantly changing the players around them.
Is this one of IE flaws, he still has to learn about?