[Prenn]

I thought I'd start this after todays game against Brum City.

I knew the ref was going to send someone off when he booked Mendy and Riccy for nothing in the first few minutes.

Good goal from Okocha but it's criminal that that twat Savage managed to score from the kick off.

Are we going down?

Well yeah, I think we are.

Can we stay up?

Yes, but the team really needs to click. With the quality of some of the players we have here it's always possible we could do well. The question is why are we so crap?

I believe that if the board is serious baout staying up this season we need to sign some quality central defenders and a decent striker when the transfer window re-opens.

The is one good point, we've yet to have most of our summer signings make an appearance, at least reguarly. Today was the first time Mendy and Okocha started together and it looked good, shame about the rest of the team. We've yet to have Bulent, Armstrong and Facey make first team appearances.

Things can only get better.


Just one more thing, relegation means we'll almost certainly be in administration within 6 months. The future of Bolton Wanderers is at stake.

[bettyrasta]

Depressingly good timing to start this thread, Prenn.
The only positive is that there are signs of life from the newcomers like Mendy and Okocha. However, as basic as it sounds the defence don't look like stopping conceding and there is no firepower up front. Doesn't sound like a good recipe. Suppose this accords with your paragraph about the type of players we need (in January!) but I can't help but feel that before long it will seem that it is a search for a miracle cure rather that a team re-adjustment.
Next game perhaps more important than any other for being either a turning-point or confirmation of what we are dreading. Let's live in hope (or try at least).

[Prenn]

3 points against West Brom could take us out of the relegation zone and we'd still have a game in hand.

Admittedly the ref did everything he could to ************ us over on saturday. It's reminicent of the Leicester game where we desperately need the points against a relegation rival only for the ref to lose it.

BTW I don't know if you've noticed, we've become a feeder club for the third division. All our 'top' young players seem to end up there, and David Holdsworth.

I still feel that Ricketts just needs that one goal from open play and the flood gates will open. He won't have a better opportunity than on saturday.

Re: defenders; what price for Taribo West now?

I'm desperately optimistic at the moment. We've got a better squad than half the Premiership (like Ipswich had last season) we've jsut got to get them to click. If they do that then we'll survive. many teams have been in this position before and gone on to stay up (Derby, Middlesboro etc) We can do it!!!

[bettyrasta]

Wow, I feel better already!
Heard that Taribo West is on his way to Portsmouth(Jim Smith connection) after being on the point of signing for Dunfermline. Is he really that bad ? Having said that I'm sure you'll agree we already have a defender who is a prize-winner in idiosyncrasy.
Bit worried about Ricketts though. Usually,the case for strikers goes along the "keep getting in the right place, unlucky to keep hitting the post" variety but to be honest Michael doesn't seem to be that close. Of course that brings up the service he gets argument.
Other news is Delroy Facey to Bradford on loan. Thought he would soon be up to scoring goals for us.
I do agree though that hope springs eternal and that other teams down there are no better if we are able to apply ourselves properly.
So, yes you're right, there is every reason to look on the bright side!

[Prenn]

I have confidence in Ricketts, I think he's going through a very bad spell that's just getting worse and worse and worse. He has the ability to score, we know he does. Here's to a hattrick tomorrow!

Facey to Bradford may be a good move, lets just hope he comes abck in one piece and with a few goals under his belt.

I'd like to see Chris Armstrong on the bench for tomorrows game, perhaps even Jon Walters... anyone but Deano, who should be due to join his brother at Hartlepool anytime now.

Speaking of Jonathan Walters I get the feeling that if this lad got a first team few games he'll score a few. It's clear Big Sam doesn't think he's good enough yet but in reality what other options do we have? time to let him loose I think!

Lets have STIIIIG in the team instead of Farrelly and Nolan instead of Frandsen.

I think we're going to get a comfortable 3 points tomorrow. God help us if we don't!
3 points on saturday, definately. Possibly a thrashing which will kickstart our season.

All we need to do is get the ball on the ground and play some football, we're actually good at that but persist in playing head tennis instead.

[Prenn]

Bolton 1-1 West Brom

Pure bollocks, I knew we wouldn't win when I found out Deano was starting. I knew we wouldn't finish with 11 men when I saw that tosser Reily warming up.


All I can say is ************ing shite!!!


With players like Okocha, Mendy and Djorkaeff why are we bottom of the league?

I'll tell you why: Dean Holdsworth, Per Frandsen (well taken goal but not much else), Gareth Farrelly and Anthony Barness.Oh and to a lesser extent Ivan Campo but I think he still has visions of playing for Madrid and is expecting his team mates to make runs that they just aren't doing.

It's a good job West Brom decided to sit back and defend or we'd have lost 6-0. Why is it that we can't get a single shot on target? In the last few home games we've literally managed about 4. It's a joke.

Come the transfer window the dead wood better be gone and Julias Agahowa better be in.

We've taken nowhere near the amount of points from the last few games that we should have. I don't think we can expect anything more than relegation. Pessimistic?Yes, but thats what you get when you draw with the ************ teams.

************ ************ ************ ************ ************.

edit: I've just spent my 3000th post moaning about Bolton... how appropriate!

[Prenn]

Leeds 2-4 Bolton


Revenge for the stuffing they gave us at the Reebok last year! I was so pleased I even phoned GMR!

Well deserved might I add, very good goals all round. It's been coming, admittedly it looked unlikely, but it has been coming. We need to build on this now and get at least a draw against Chelsea on saturday.

It's unfortunate Robinsons foul that led to the penalty denied Ricketts his first goal in open play since january, still, he took the penalty really well.

Campo, Campo, Campo... cost us a goal yet again. What's that? 8, 9 this season?He is class but he seems to have these mad moments and gives a goal away. He's a liability but a talented liability, I don't know what to do with him.

One other thing of note, this was the first game since the Liverpool game that Gareth Farrelly did not play in. We get a win, how... ironic

[bettyrasta]

Hate to say it.......no I don't, that would be lying, but your last point is probably the most relevant. No Farrelly= one less player to give the ball away and not create anything for our own team. Sincerely believe that too often he is the secret weapon for the opposition when he stes them up for counter-attacks.

So much of the game is about confidence and let's hope this instils some. So different than last season though when results were ground out. With the added quality now it seems that we are in more of a position of not really trusting the defence but relying on us scoring more (a la Kevin Keegan). I couldn't make it to the game just as I couldn't make it to Old Trafford which is starting to make me think that I am the common denominator.

It seemed like Stig did well when he came on but if Pederson can reproduce that form up front then he is the man who could galvanise our season. At least now we have rejoined the race. Fantastic!

[bettyrasta]

Oh yes and I am sorry that I missed your call.