[Archived] Bolton V Rovers - 28/12/15

[Gav]

Adam Henley shows glimpses of quality, but does the simple things badly, I think he'll improve no end under the current structure and Its no surprise Pullis rates him, worth keeping for me also.

Hanley and Duffy have been tremendous this season for me, yes they make mistakes but they're both still learning and that partnership has been a success story for me especially this season.

I'd also keep Marshall, not having the best of times at the moment but can be a real asset, Rhodes is a must also, but the rest of them will probably never improve enough to take this football club forward, but how do you replace them with no money to spend?

We've been told day in day out how the sides under performing and its all Bowyers fault, well maybe now some of the more vocal posters will realise that the side wasn't under performing under Bowyer really, the sides cr@p, it was cr@p with Bowyer here and its cr@p now Lamberts here, lets hope Paul can pull a few rabbits out of hats to push us on next season because free transfers from other championship clubs aren't going to take us back to the Premeirship.

[arbitro]

Marshall definitely needs dropping. May as well stick Mahoney there for the Cardiff match, at least he'll try and impress in order to get a regular squad place, Marshall just expects to be in the line up every week, and whilst he has previously shown that he can produce moments that can win you a game, when was the last time he did? He needs to get sorted out or he can head off for all I care

Completely agree and I would also bench Conway. I couldn't believe yesterday how bad most of our players first touches were and Conway was the worst for me. His set pieces have generally been disappointing but he is still on every corner. Laughably he tried a short one yesterday with Guthrie in a 2 v 1 and between them they contrived to lose the ball and Bolton broke away.

[47er]

But Bowyer assembled this squad you believe is terrible(so do I by the way!).

[LewisF]

Completely agree and I would also bench Conway. I couldn't believe yesterday how bad most of our players first touches were and Conway was the worst for me. His set pieces have generally been disappointing but he is still on every corner. Laughably he tried a short one yesterday with Guthrie in a 2 v 1 and between them they contrived to lose the ball and Bolton broke away.

Regardless of Marshall's awful form at the moment, I don't see why he never takes corners. Took a few last season and did alright I thought (boro away rudys equaliser). Also Conway tends to be taking (short distance) free kicks where he crosses it, whereas Marshall shoots and has shown in the past he is more than capable of scoring from them.

[imy9]

Too generous by far. Despite being at fault for the Bolton goal the only two with the necessary qualities to play top half of this Division are Hanley and Duffy. Kilgallon is worth his place in the squad as cheap cover only. The rest really need replacing if we are to progress and I simply cannot understand what abilities you see in Adam Henley.

Conway and Evans need to be kept. I think Evans has looked pretty good this season imo.

[tomphil]

I think with Marshall we actually expect more than he's really capable of. We think 1 mill winger with a bit of pedigree who's misfiring and we need to get him back to the little 2/3 game purple patch at the beginning of last season.

In reality what we see of Marshall is actually all that he is, an average championship player who may over perform once in a long while like most can but basically is just a workmanlike grafter. We've seen enough now to form this opinion, he's played enough games, is presumably fit and if you watch him he does quite a bit of tracking back in a lot of games but isn't good at beating a man and final balls, decision making when in good positions are again usually v poor.

Is he even a winger ? He's not a no10 for the hole he was awful there when tried and for me always looks better, more dangerous when he picks the ball up deep and runs through the middle. a 443 pushing on and dropping back to a 451 would prob suit him better but that's beyond us.

[LewisF]

If Marshalls really that deserving of a place yen it should be at right back at the moment, trying Mahoney or another youngster on the wing. Also I'd put lenihan in midfield, he can't be any worse than those two were yesterday, who can't make a tackle without fouling their man

[Amo]

Depending on how much cash is available, I'd be tempted to sell Marshall while he could still command a decent fee. A talented player but I don't think he's suited to playing as a winger (or a makeshift RB), as he doesn't beat his man often enough and lacks pace. As Lambert seems to favour a 4-4-2, there isn't scope for him in the No. 10 role, either.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Nobody's touched on this yet but we haven't any real leaders on the pitch. 5 years ago we had plenty but Kean and Venkys shipped them out as trouble-makers and we are left with nondescripts.

Imagine not chasing back to cover or failing to make a tackle with Todd or Savage or Nelsen on the field, they would have had you by the throat.

If Lambert is able to rebuild I hope he brings us character.

PS Sorry Tomphil, somebody did mention this---you! Teach me to post without reading the thread!

Err, I've been banging on about leadership for longer than I care to remember. There's not one natural captain out there or on the playing staff, we should have several. Like I said yesterday we're a team of soft lads. We need an animal or two in the team ASAP. You can thank Bowyer for that

[DE.]

Completely agree and I would also bench Conway. I couldn't believe yesterday how bad most of our players first touches were and Conway was the worst for me. His set pieces have generally been disappointing but he is still on every corner. Laughably he tried a short one yesterday with Guthrie in a 2 v 1 and between them they contrived to lose the ball and Bolton broke away.

A bit harsh there chief. Conway had a poor game yesterday but usually he's one of our most effective players and regularly leads our assist charts. I'd take out the likes of Marshall, Guthrie, Koita and even Rhodes on present form long before I even thought about Conway.

[JHRover]

I'd work hard to keep Hanley, Duffy, Conway and Rhodes. They are assets in this division.

The rest can all leave. I wouldn't push to offload Marshall, Evans or Olsson because they have the ability, and we need to find a way of getting it out of them on a consistent basis, which especially in Marshall's case simply isn't happening.

The rest of them who featured yesterday - Henley, Guthrie, Akpan, Taylor, Koita, Delfouneso - and the likes of Brown and Williamson, need shipping out and replacing with quality.

This process needs to begin in earnest in January with a view to bedding new players in over the remainder of the season and getting to grips with Lambert's approach. Then make some further additions/alterations next summer, a proper pre-season ahead of a promotion push next season.

[tomphil]

looking back I actually think we'd have looked better with Williamson in the middle yesterday as it was more his type of game especially against poor opposition. On the other hand though you'd have expected Guthrie to get his foot on the ball and shine against a team like that but invisible wasn't the word.

[chaddyrovers]

We need to keep hold of Olsson. Derby - one of the two best teams in the division, want him for a reason.

Keep Olsson, Hanley, Duffy, Kilgallon (if he wants to stay - imagine he doesn't as he's not playing), Conway and IF PL's going to play to his strengths, Rhodes. The rest can clear off and we'll be no worse off. IMO of course.

I agree with most of your named players to stay..

Here my list:- Steele; Duffy, Hanley, Olsson, Evans, Conway, Akpan, Rhodes(if Lambert is going to get him scoring and creating chances for the guy)

I hope that Lenihan starts the Cardiff game plus Mahoney and Tomlinson on the bench..

[philipl]

Let's face it, we have a load of players mediocre clubs have been happy to let go.

Yesterday, this showed in spades.

[G Somerset Rover]

I agree with most of your named players to stay..

Here my list:- Steele; Duffy, Hanley, Olsson, Evans, Conway, Akpan, Rhodes(if Lambert is going to get him scoring and creating chances for the guy)

I hope that Lenihan starts the Cardiff game plus Mahoney and Tomlinson on the bench..

I forgot about Evans. I'd keep him around too especially as he has experience of winning promotion from this league. Akpan at a push as a squad man but as I posted yesterday I really do not see what others do in him. The bare minimum for any professional footballer is to be able to pass the ball accurately over 10 yards and he can't even do that. There's a reason Reading wanted shot of him. We'll have to do better if promotion is the aim next season.

[arbitro]

A bit harsh there chief. Conway had a poor game yesterday but usually he's one of our most effective players and regularly leads our assist charts. I'd take out the likes of Marshall, Guthrie, Koita and even Rhodes on present form long before I even thought about Conway.

But his current form is poor and has pretty much been since Lambert came. I overheard somebody at the yesterday saying that he works hard and I couldn't disagree but that is pretty much it recently. For sometime now in too many of games he has fallen short.

[DavidMailsTightPerm]

We give Lambert "at least one transfer window". Are you frigging joking?

I can't believe you wrote that.

So you wouldn't give him at least one transfer window - wow hard task master

[tomphil]

No wonder they were quiet with that performance PB!

Looked about 3,500 travelled.

3.784 - Brilliant turnout all things considered. Deserved more than the shower that got served up.

[K-Hod]

3.784 - Brilliant turnout all things considered. Deserved more than the shower that got served up.

We always do, but we are always let down when we go there. Hoping Bolton don't have a recovery and actually go down, can't face going there again and watching us get swept aside with ease!

[JAL]

Come on chaddy tonyoz who let the Bolton player turn and score ?

[K-Hod]

Come on chaddy tonyoz who let the Bolton player turn and score ?

JAL, please stop talking in riddles, you know the answer already obviously.

If however you are actually unsure and want their input, could I ask that you ask via PM, or indeed seek out the highlights of the game yesterday? That should give you a definitive answer to your question.

[Jim Royle]

3.784 - Brilliant turnout all things considered. Deserved more than the shower that got served up.

Indeed, but for Preston Blue, who was watching it at home, that attendance was poor. Must be all of 15 mins from Preston as well but he finds it relevant to slag the numbers that did go!

The performance was quite frankly, appalling, shockingly bad etc. The basic long ball plan is rotten to watch when played with players that are not suited.

I hope Lambert improves because there is yet to be a good performance on his watch. I admit we are continuing the improvement defensively that was evident under GBs last few games, but somehow the confidence whilst in possession has drifted. I'm not saying it was great under bowyer but that bar was not that high and lambert has made little, if any improvements thus far.

Early days granted, but I expect better than that served up yesterday. I think the fans were right voice their disapproval at the end of the match. Hope Lambert and his team of experienced coaches/managers have seen enough to know that hard decisions are required, but until he gets the personnel he wants, he has to find a way do better than that.

[Stuart]

JAL, please stop talking in riddles, you know the answer already obviously.

If however you are actually unsure and want their input, could I ask that you ask via PM, or indeed seek out the highlights of the game yesterday? That should give you a definitive answer to your question.

Harsh. JAL's comment read (to me) like a comment in a pub debate. Simple turn of phrase.

[K-Hod]

Harsh. JAL's comment read (to me) like a comment in a pub debate. Simple turn of phrase.

I can't agree Stuart, it's like this every game, if Shane Duffy breathes the wrong way, JAL is asking Chaddy usually, Tonoyoz since doing the stats who was at fault. Either that or who's who's agent and if the manager has full control over transfers, it grates.

[Amo]

Come on chaddy tonyoz who let the Bolton player turn and score ?

It's a valid question. Duffy was outmuscled far too easily by Madine to turn and score the winner. I'm still not sure he has improved as much as people give him credit for.