So that answer means you want DF to play Sordell in the league.

Yes. Whether that's with SKD or not but he has earnt a chance with his cup performances. The cup is a sideshow and I would rather he scores in the league.

Bloody hell, not hit 200 for a while. Thanks for a good discussion everyone. No MT or Bricks, no THC, no nuns, quite a lot of posters absent. Just shows how it really needs the action on the pitch to bring us to life.

I think choosing Vela and Holden is equally important as well.

LH - yep what happens on the pitch def helps. But it also helps that we have a major debating point.

The SKD v Sordell discussion is gathering momentum.

I've heard it was a gash penalty tbh. I thought Ngog might be the one to force SKD out of the team, but he can't string a run of performances together. Craig Davies is more likely to start the next game than Sordel IMO.

That would be a risky decision by DF. If we were to lose badly, DF would rightly come in for a lot of stick. I fear he'll def bring SKD back, so it comes down to who of the other 3 he chooses to play alongside him. If he goes with just SKD we will really struggle.

Sordell still has everything to prove as far as I am concerned. If tonight gives the lad a boost and more confidence and makes him more likely to break through into the starting XI in the league then that's fantastic, but I don't think he's earned his place yet.

The guy who should be getting a starting place - who everyone should be raving about but nobody wants to because they'd slagged him off for months - is Darren Pratley. He's been our best player for some time now IMO.

Agree with you about Pratley. Disagree with you about Sordell. Now he seems to have knuckled down in training, he is scoring. Why not play a striker that is scoring and risk putting his confidence down again? We need goals in the league as our defence struggles to keep clean sheets.

the one player i do not want to come back on sat is andrews,

The SKD v Sordell discussion is gathering momentum.

----
No discussion. I have always said at this point in his career SKD should be sub. Yet until now no striker has been able to oust him. If Sordell can show he is bothered and do his stuff on the pitch then he should play. He has not done that up until recently. As for Ngog he simply doesn't score enough so can't be trusted for a prolonged run in the team.

Also as Zkat says no one should question SKDs contribution to Bolton Wanderers football club in his time here!!!

When SKD scores one (any idiot should be able to score a penalty) all I hear is 'oh no that guarantees his place for another X number of games', rather than 'why not play a guy who is scoring?'.. I'm not convinced about Sordell, he's done nothing since he joined BWFC and his professionalism leaves so much to be desired I'm not inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, unlike, say, Ngog, who works his socks off.

Ngog's issue is more the jiggly injuries. That is why he never gets more than 2 games in a row.

And seriously, no one is questioning SKD's contribution in his time with us.

LH, the goal ratios say differently.

Jiggly

Lets try niggly.

Oh god, is my opinion not valid now because you've got some stats up your sleeve? I'll stick with my own judgement and two eyes. I've never seen Sordell play well, pretty simple really, nothing personal but F your ratio.

LH don't cross swords with the guys that know football over Sordell!!!

Oh god, is my opinion not valid now because you can tell me to F my stats?

An opinion is always valid. But they are also open to debate.

Facts can not be debated.

If you have the opinion that SKD shouldn't be dropped, you're in favour of lump it football and you're living in the past, on this forum. In theory, it sounds great having him as an impact sub or phasing him out, and I called for it myself at the start of the season, but it's a disgrace that we have three other strikers under 25 in the squad and Freedman is having to buy a 27 year old journeyman from Barnsley because none of those three can string a few performances together and force a 34 year old out of the team. Sordell has to string some performances together if he wants to start regularly, I just feel there's more chance of him being awful if he starts at Palace than any other outcome.

As I'm typing, just seen CEF's latest reply.

I'm not debating your facts being accurate, I'm telling you that the goals to games ratio of a guy who has played about 200 minutes all season is bollox, you wouldn't compare the batting average of a guy who played 5 test matches against that of a guy who has played 50 test matches, and it's the same in football, how's that for a better way of phrasing 'F your ratio'?

Shame you couldn't reply like that initially.

Did someone say I wasn't here?
I have been following the discussion as it happens but didn't have anything to contribute really. Well chuffed though with the result and performances and with the dropping of Andrews.
Anywho, looking forward to the game against Everton now as my friend Morten will be coming over from Norway to see it.
Good discussion lads, keep up the good work.

Your right about pratley. I said it at the start of the season, he was still a pretty poor but whatever he did slightly wrong people leapt on it. Last few times he's played 90 minutes he's been much better.

LH I see where your coming from, people are quick to jump on KD's back but the way I see it is he isn't winning many headers, lacks pace and his touch is hit and miss. I think people generally just want to see a change.

I hope to see holden vela and pratley midfield and eagles lee and sordell in a 433 against palace, but doubt that's what DF will choose.

With the strkers debate. There's honestly nothing in SKD's game that Ngog doesn't do better, nothing. Except maybe sliding in on unexpecting fullbacks.

Disagree with you there Corporal_Fabrice. N'gog is best running on to the ball or having the ball in front of him. Davies whether you like it or not is best at holding up and deft flicks that can sometimes open up a defence if the rest of the attack is paying attention.

I don't think Davies is better at holding up the ball. Ngog is better at bringing it down and keeping hold of it, with Davies it's more likely to bounce of a knee or a shin.

Ngog has more pace, makes more intelligent runs off the ball, a better passer, is more creative, has a better first touch, a better finish, is better at dribbling and has a better name.