Look what we could have won

TickTock

TickTock

Well-known member
This isn't a post knocking Critchley but cast you minds back 18 months when Critch left us and fans were clamouring for Ian Evatt to join. At the time, I'm sure I remember reading that he was open to an approach and didn't turn anything down (unlike last summer when his colours were firmly tied to Bolton's mast).
Had Evatt been in charge last season I am convinced we would have stayed up. The high intensity football he played last night with players strong and athletic and fighting for everything was exactly what we needed when Critch left.
Am sure as well Evo topped most fan polls back then and the fact Sadler didn't go the distance to get him was to his ultimate cost.
 
First half yes but every credit to Critch he changed it 2nd half and we were much better especially when the subs were made. They out thought and out muscled us in the 1st half and their high pressing caused us all sorts of problems at the back hence hitting long balls to Lavery which were easily swallowed up by Santos.
 
TangerineBayern said:
First half yes but every credit to Critch he changed it 2nd half and we were much better especially when the subs were made. They out thought and out muscled us in the 1st half and their high pressing caused us all sorts of problems at the back hence hitting long balls to Lavery which were easily swallowed up by Santos.
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Plus, we beat them (albeit on penalties)!
 
TonyParrsDodgyMic said:
Have been impressed by them both games but then we've also looked decent in both games - I actually think both sides bring the best out of each other.
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We were crap at Bolton and absolutely awful in the first half last night. Just my opinion but I want our standards to be higher. The difference between the two is that Evatt has built a solid foundation which is needed playing a 3-5-2 or whatever variation. The problem we have is that the defence looks so shaky and ultimately that is why we are 8th and they are top or will be.
 
To be honest I think the time to have seriously gone for Evatt was when we originally hired Critchley and since he moved to Bolton I don’t think there’s ever been a genuine link. The main candidate aside from Appleton 18 months ago was Rosenior
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
We were crap at Bolton and absolutely awful in the first half last night. Just my opinion but I want our standards to be higher. The difference between the two is that Evatt has built a solid foundation which is needed playing a 3-5-2 or whatever variation. The problem we have is that the defence looks so shaky and ultimately that is why we are 8th and they are top or will be.
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Theres nothing wrong with wanting improvement but to say we were crap at Bolton is just plain wrong, in fact even their supporters said how impressed they were with our performance.
Last night we were second best in the first half and at half time i could only see them winning. Our second half performance, after a bit of tweaking by the manager was much stronger, more athletic and a little bit more direct. Our substitutes made a positive difference as did theres but I thought we were the better side second half and should have won in normal time.
Its a 90 minute game and you get peaks and troughs but to say we were awful is wrong. Thats just my opinion plus you are super negative so you find fault and negativity in anything you can.
 
Ginge 2 said:
Theres nothing wrong with wanting improvement but to say we were crap at Bolton is just plain wrong, in fact even their supporters said how impressed they were with our performance.
Last night we were second best in the first half and at half time i could only see them winning. Our second half performance, after a bit of tweaking by the manager was much stronger, more athletic and a little bit more direct. Our substitutes made a positive difference as did theres but I thought we were the better side second half and should have won in normal time.
Its a 90 minute game and you get peaks and troughs but to say we were awful is wrong. Thats just my opinion plus you are super negative so you find fault and negativity in anything you can.
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Bolton should have been out of sight at HT. We were lucky to be still in the game.

The Bolton away performance was probably better than crap and wrong word used there. I used the word crap because of all the excitement and build up, we barely created anything apart from Dembele or someone hitting the post early on. Granted if that goes in, it's a different game. The rest of the match was just so frustrating with Bolton saying come on, give it your best shot and we had nothing to offer.
 
Ginge 2 said:
Theres nothing wrong with wanting improvement but to say we were crap at Bolton is just plain wrong, in fact even their supporters said how impressed they were with our performance.
Last night we were second best in the first half and at half time i could only see them winning. Our second half performance, after a bit of tweaking by the manager was much stronger, more athletic and a little bit more direct. Our substitutes made a positive difference as did theres but I thought we were the better side second half and should have won in normal time.
Its a 90 minute game and you get peaks and troughs but to say we were awful is wrong. Thats just my opinion plus you are super negative so you find fault and negativity in anything you can.
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Don't bother, it's like talking with a brick wall.
 
Putting aside whether or not we should have gone for Evatt before Critchly, it is worth keeping in mind that in the time he has been at Bolton, we have had Critchly, Appleton, McCarthy and Critchly again. That is quite some time of stability to build towards something. What we saw last night was a very good team, and not even a full first team. But that hasn't appeared overnight and will have required patience from the fans whilst it was assembled.
I don't follow them so I don't know how big their signings have been. Do they raid the lower leagues like us, or flex their financial muscles for more proven players given their crowds? But our club have set their stall out to sign unproven players with potential and develop them. If we can continue to pick up players like Joseph and Morgan, plus please please please bring in the Raptor next year as an example, we could have a really strong young and exciting squad in 2 to 3 years time.... But patience is going to play a big part of that, and personally I don't see short term promotion being prioritised over that vision. Not saying I don't have any ambition and am happy to accept mediocre.... But just trying to manage my expectations and stay optimistic for the future.

Tangerine tinted glasses off and tin hat on.....
 
TickTock said:
This isn't a post knocking Critchley but cast you minds back 18 months when Critch left us and fans were clamouring for Ian Evatt to join. At the time, I'm sure I remember reading that he was open to an approach and didn't turn anything down (unlike last summer when his colours were firmly tied to Bolton's mast).
Had Evatt been in charge last season I am convinced we would have stayed up. The high intensity football he played last night with players strong and athletic and fighting for everything was exactly what we needed when Critch left.
Am sure as well Evo topped most fan polls back then and the fact Sadler didn't go the distance to get him was to his ultimate cost.
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How did Bolton get on last night with their high intensity, strong and athletic players?

Not the time to make this point 😉
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
Bolton should have been out of sight at HT. We were lucky to be still in the game.

The Bolton away performance was probably better than crap and wrong word used there. I used the word crap because of all the excitement and build up, we barely created anything apart from Dembele or someone hitting the post early on. Granted if that goes in, it's a different game. The rest of the match was just so frustrating with Bolton saying come on, give it your best shot and we had nothing to offer.
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Absolute bollocks. Lucky to be in the game? O'Donnell had to make two saves because we gave the ball away in daft places. We learned from that.

We had a goal disallowed for offside from Gabriel that didn't look it and Lavery should have done much better when clear.

All in all, an even first half, while second half we improved and missed a couple of golden chances ourselves, with CJ and Kouassi both going very close.
 
Bolton have been to Bloomfield Rd 16 times since 1977 and have never won.

Fortress Bloomfield.
 
Wizaard said:
Absolute bollocks. Lucky to be in the game? O'Donnell had to make two saves because we gave the ball away in daft places. We learned from that.

We had a goal disallowed for offside from Gabriel that didn't look it and Lavery should have done much better when clear.

All in all, an even first half, while second half we improved and missed a couple of golden chances ourselves, with CJ and Kouassi both going very close.
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Even first half? We were chasing shadows for the majority of it and couldn't handle their press. They had 6 attempts to our 0.
 
TickTock said:
This isn't a post knocking Critchley but cast you minds back 18 months when Critch left us and fans were clamouring for Ian Evatt to join. At the time, I'm sure I remember reading that he was open to an approach and didn't turn anything down (unlike last summer when his colours were firmly tied to Bolton's mast).
Had Evatt been in charge last season I am convinced we would have stayed up. The high intensity football he played last night with players strong and athletic and fighting for everything was exactly what we needed when Critch left.
Am sure as well Evo topped most fan polls back then and the fact Sadler didn't go the distance to get him was to his ultimate cost.
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Our fanbase is ** nuts. Absolutely nuts.

Through to the semi final of the cup and all we want to do is talk about the manager of the opposition we’ve just knocked out. Add in some baseless hypotheticals and bob’s your uncle. Absolute nonsense
 
A_Tense_Grin said:
Even first half? We were chasing shadows for the majority of it and couldn't handle their press. They had 6 attempts to our 0.
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No attempts? Maybe not but we were clean through twice and failed to get shots off.

Chasing shadows is a complete exaggeration. Were you there?

Anyway, we won.
 
Wizaard said:
No attempts? Maybe not but we were clean through twice and failed to get shots off.

Chasing shadows is a complete exaggeration. Were you there?

Anyway, we won.
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I was. I was in the East Stand through the camera lens. Great view.

We had a couple of moments but in general the first half was very poor and they looked a division above.

You're right though, we won.
 
I think that we can be certain that if Evatt ever does become manager there will be plenty of clueless herberts coming on here to question every decision that he makes. They would probably have the same identities as the ones that currently criticise Critchley.

It's funny, not one of the keyboard critics has given Critchley credit for changing tactics at half time and having much the better of the second half. His substitutions were spot on and, oh yes, we won the tie. Evatt was unable to respond to this despite making a series of changes himself. Is Evatt clueless? Or doesn't know where to play people? Perhaps we are actually a good team and Critchley knows what he is doing.
 
TickTock said:
This isn't a post knocking Critchley but cast you minds back 18 months when Critch left us and fans were clamouring for Ian Evatt to join. At the time, I'm sure I remember reading that he was open to an approach and didn't turn anything down (unlike last summer when his colours were firmly tied to Bolton's mast).
Had Evatt been in charge last season I am convinced we would have stayed up. The high intensity football he played last night with players strong and athletic and fighting for everything was exactly what we needed when Critch left.
Am sure as well Evo topped most fan polls back then and the fact Sadler didn't go the distance to get him was to his ultimate cost.
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It's a good job that Sadler doesn't follow fan polls. If he did do, we would've probably been without a manager for most of January given the pathetic clamouring to fire Critchley that was going on.

Instead, we've had the two best atmospheres of the season at home to Forest and Bolton and have taken 10 points from 4 league games.

So thank fuck he doesn't listen.
 
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