It's also funny the typical "ZOMG no you didn't" posts, when in fact, nobody did. Happens all the time.
Nice breakdown on Holden. Nevermind it is beyond some posters' comprehension that a comparison is not an equation. And especially nevermind the other posters who confuse a compliment to Holden as an attack on their favorite player.
Holden's movement is just so exceptional. He would be an absolute superstar at a club like Manchester United or Arsenal because he would have so many more goals and assists. Just look at how he worked with a Chelsea player on loan today.
If people remember back to the beginning of the season they will remember people saying Holden, Lee, and Muamba as the class in the midfield. I think Holden has separated himself from them. I just wish his stats look better only to help other recognize how good he really is.
I agree he probably has. Bolton aren't a one-man team, but they wouldn't be doing nearly as well as they are this season without Holden's services, and his influence would be difficult to replace at a semi-reasonable cost; probably impossible from within Bolton's existing squad. He's been catalytic.
I don't know if Holden has separated himself from Lee. Lee has just been gone for a while. The team definitely didn't play the same without him either. Now, remember to read deeper. I wrote that I think Lee is still up there with Holden, but what I meant is that Holden is the most magnificent player to ever grace the pitch at Reebok Stadium.
As far as Bolton players in the past 15 years go, Okocha, Anelka and Djorkaeff were better. Campo and Hierro too weren't bad either.
Tongue-in-cheek comment since a while back I said "Holden and Lee were the key to Bolton playing the style that has made them successful," but was criticized by some because they thought I was saying Holden was the entire reason Bolton are doing well. A lot of people have reading comprehension issues here on BS.
Poor reading comprehension and incoherent expression are both hallmarks of BS, and BS just wouldn't be the same warm and welcoming place without them.
If you keep talking shit about my grandma, I'm gonna find a spoon with and then the herpesface to Mexico, IL because Bob Bradley's 4-4-2 coupons.
Of Holden's next 9 league games, 4 are against US midfielders' teams (Bradley, Spector, Dempsey, Jones), and 2 are against Man Utd and Arsenal. Good stuff.
I do think getting Lee back from the Asian Cup helps Bolton a great deal. When he and Stu were both out, they struggled. Too bad Stu's goal didn't stand today, it should have.
It did look like they struggled mightily without Stu rather than just without Lee. They will need both of them fully healthy to win a Euro spot.
Well, they at least have a chance of making Europe. If they want to make Europe, they better pray that Birmingham doesn't beat Arsenal in the League Cup final. Bolton aren't going to finish in the "automatic" Europa Leage spot of 5th. Chelsea's in 5th right now, 8 points ahead. So Bolton are in a dogfight with Liverpool, Sunderland, and whoever gets hot from the Stoke/Newcastle/Blackburn group to finish 6th or 7th...........and then hope one of the top 4 also wins the cup competitions. That's why that League Cup final is critical for their European aspirations. In a way, Bolton's best chance for success would be to win the FA Cup themselves Chelsea, ManU, Man City, and Arsenal are all still alive in that competition. With Bolton needing to win two matches against Premier League opposition in the next two rounds (Wigan & Fulham) to just reach the Quarterfinals.
Pretty sure he then mentioned to SAF a few thoughts he had about tactics and lineup considerations. Then Sir Alex asked Stu if he would mind taking the three teenage granddaughters out for an evening on the town. Stu, quite graciously declined, saying his new gf, Lady Gaga, was in town and they had plans to go see the robot that Freddy Adu had created . . . .
Holden: Lightning Bolton Holden: Xavi-lite @ Bolton Holden: Channeling Xavi @ Bolton Holden @ Bolton: The Wanderer Holden @ Bolton: The Wanderering Albatross {maybe not} Holden @ Bolton: They call me the Wanderer My choice, so far. I'll keep working on it.