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Was against Bolton Wanderers at home. Defensively all over the place , non existent marking and over-run completely in midfield . OK, there was no Morsy that day, but Walton, Edmundson , Burgess , Chaplin , Burns , Aluko,Evans are all players starting that day who could be involved a week today. We now have changed the hapless Cook for McKenna , and it will be a stern test of his pre-season preparations . I would suggest Bolton are a better team now than they were last October. So alot to be learnt from the opening game. Maybe not all of it will be good. Expectations can weigh very heavy at the start of a new season.
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One of our worst performances last year on 08:10 - Jul 23 with 2307 views
I don’t think anything much will be learned from the first game of the season. Early games throw up all sorts of performances and results. The season ‘proper’ begins for me 1st October. By then teams and signings have settled down and by and large you can see where you are heading.
The trick is to be in touch, preferably top six, at that point. Last season we were miles off, top two already out of our reach, and despite the hope of ‘doing a Blackpool’ that rarely happens.
Hopefully with a more settled club and team we can start much better. Yes, Bolton will be strong and their manager has done a fantastic job. I’m hopeful for a good result.
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One of our worst performances last year on 08:40 - Jul 23 with 2189 views
One of our worst performances last year on 08:25 - Jul 23 by Churchman
I don’t think anything much will be learned from the first game of the season. Early games throw up all sorts of performances and results. The season ‘proper’ begins for me 1st October. By then teams and signings have settled down and by and large you can see where you are heading.
The trick is to be in touch, preferably top six, at that point. Last season we were miles off, top two already out of our reach, and despite the hope of ‘doing a Blackpool’ that rarely happens.
Hopefully with a more settled club and team we can start much better. Yes, Bolton will be strong and their manager has done a fantastic job. I’m hopeful for a good result.
By the 1st of October last season we already had a mountain to climb. So I would say there is much to be learnt on that first day . Adapt quickly and put right the mistakes . This will be how McKenna is compared to Cook.
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One of our worst performances last year on 08:57 - Jul 23 with 2121 views
One of our worst performances last year on 08:40 - Jul 23 by muccletonjoe
By the 1st of October last season we already had a mountain to climb. So I would say there is much to be learnt on that first day . Adapt quickly and put right the mistakes . This will be how McKenna is compared to Cook.
I don’t think the two can be compared although they ultimately will be. Last season we had new owners, a new board, new back room staff and a new squad. This season the turnover and upheaval has been nominal.
Apples and Oranges.
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One of our worst performances last year on 08:57 - Jul 23 with 2121 views
None of last season matters. If we are going to go up, we'll have to beat most teams we face. A good start is vital though, and we'll have to play our part at times.
Lets hope fewer fans turn up with their knitting or The Times crossword this season.
One of our worst performances last year on 08:57 - Jul 23 by Cheltenham_Blue
None of last season matters. If we are going to go up, we'll have to beat most teams we face. A good start is vital though, and we'll have to play our part at times.
Lets hope fewer fans turn up with their knitting or The Times crossword this season.
Yes, you can’t compare last season with this one, that was then, this is now and clubs have made changes over the summer. I’d like to think we are a little further forward than we were last year with most of our players knowing KM demands and expectations. What happened last season counts for nothing for me, whether you finished strongly like Bolton or ran out of steam like us. It doesn’t matter, we’re all still in L1. Let’s hope we make a winning start next Saturday to get us up and running. Our support hopefully will play an important role, I’d point to the cauldron of noise the Forest fans created at the City Ground during their league run in last season, it was intimidating and raucous and certainly helped to get them over the line in the end.
I think there's so little to be learned from looking back at games against the same team even a year ago these days, because there's so much churn in squads and managers generally. Back in Sir Bobby's day, particularly with Town I guess, oppositions knew what they were likely to get as they were up largely against the same group of players.
I suppose it makes sense to some degree if the two squads and managers are similar, but otherwise not so much. The thing that always cracks me up from commentators is when they say things like "This will be a really hard game for XXX because they haven't beaten YYY for twelve years."
We flattered to deceive in that game and were well beaten and it could have been 3 or 4.
Bolton have got better and finished last season with greater momentum.
It’s a really stern test and there will be huge pressure to perform and get a result with 26k in PR.
People saying you first games are a lottery or you learn little from them - maybe, but the result carries into the next game… a loss and confidence erodes and pressure builds further for the trip to the Cotswolds.
One of our worst performances last year on 09:11 - Jul 23 by NthQldITFC
I think there's so little to be learned from looking back at games against the same team even a year ago these days, because there's so much churn in squads and managers generally. Back in Sir Bobby's day, particularly with Town I guess, oppositions knew what they were likely to get as they were up largely against the same group of players.
I suppose it makes sense to some degree if the two squads and managers are similar, but otherwise not so much. The thing that always cracks me up from commentators is when they say things like "This will be a really hard game for XXX because they haven't beaten YYY for twelve years."
Interestingly Bolton's churn has been minimal this Summer, even less than ours!
If I remember right, at the start of the game some folk were still blind to what a good player Aluko is and were puzzled by him starting. He played well and people started to take notice.
Bolton will be incredibly difficult, and let’s not forget the away game… on 09:20 - Jul 23 by unstableblue
We flattered to deceive in that game and were well beaten and it could have been 3 or 4.
Bolton have got better and finished last season with greater momentum.
It’s a really stern test and there will be huge pressure to perform and get a result with 26k in PR.
People saying you first games are a lottery or you learn little from them - maybe, but the result carries into the next game… a loss and confidence erodes and pressure builds further for the trip to the Cotswolds.
Bolton fans are very bullish.
Not sure that's really true about the away game?
It's true we didn't land much of a blow on them in attack, but they've only had 4 shots on target (and 3 off target). Both their goals are freebies too (a rebound Walton should do better with, a backpass).
Bolton will be incredibly difficult, and let’s not forget the away game… on 09:42 - Jul 23 by jayessess
Not sure that's really true about the away game?
It's true we didn't land much of a blow on them in attack, but they've only had 4 shots on target (and 3 off target). Both their goals are freebies too (a rebound Walton should do better with, a backpass).
We actually edged it on xG!
Sort of example of XG failing there.
Remember the game well, and error for one goal, sort of for another. But they had two very good chance in addition that Bolton should have bagged!
Our ‘efforts’ whilst shots, some on target, were all rather speculative and long range and didn’t really threaten.
I think it was perhaps a bit of performance that raises a little concern on McKenna, loving interplay at times but lack of energy and ideas to truly threaten. Bit like Sheff Weds away.
BUT, I think McKenna sees the problem, is bringing in players with more threat - still need one more and a true left wing back. Second half of Wigan at home when we went for them and they were hanging on for dear life is what we want to see.
One of our worst performances last year on 09:21 - Jul 23 by jayessess
Interestingly Bolton's churn has been minimal this Summer, even less than ours!
[Post edited 23 Jul 2022 9:22]
Those graphics relate to 2018/19 and 2019/20.
This summer, Bolton's transfer activity has been similar to ours: 2 out permanent (Gordon, Darcy)*, no loans out; 2 perm in (Iredale, Toal), 2 loans in (Bradley, Trafford). Ipswich has been 2 perm 1 loan out, 3 perm 1 loan in.
Bolton will be incredibly difficult, and let’s not forget the away game… on 09:57 - Jul 23 by unstableblue
Sort of example of XG failing there.
Remember the game well, and error for one goal, sort of for another. But they had two very good chance in addition that Bolton should have bagged!
Our ‘efforts’ whilst shots, some on target, were all rather speculative and long range and didn’t really threaten.
I think it was perhaps a bit of performance that raises a little concern on McKenna, loving interplay at times but lack of energy and ideas to truly threaten. Bit like Sheff Weds away.
BUT, I think McKenna sees the problem, is bringing in players with more threat - still need one more and a true left wing back. Second half of Wigan at home when we went for them and they were hanging on for dear life is what we want to see.
How do you think we’ll get on against Bolton?
I do think the xG gets a bit misleading when you rack up lots of low-quality chances (our 0.9 is spread over 14 shots) but also that "should have scored" is one of the most abused ideas in football. Both those chances don't end in a goal more often than not.
I think Bolton are a really good side that will ultimately finish Top 6 and there's a good chance they give us a lot of trouble. I assume we'll dominate in midfield (there's is nowhere near Morsy and Ball's level), they'll be threatening on the counter-attack (I'm glad they've not managed to bring the Right WIng Back Marlon Fossey back). The effectiveness of our attacking play is a bit of a mystery at this point though.
First match of the season always throws up a lot of random results. I think there's a lot of variation in terms of how well each team has prepared and worked their system out.
One of our worst performances last year on 10:04 - Jul 23 by Guthrum
Those graphics relate to 2018/19 and 2019/20.
This summer, Bolton's transfer activity has been similar to ours: 2 out permanent (Gordon, Darcy)*, no loans out; 2 perm in (Iredale, Toal), 2 loans in (Bradley, Trafford). Ipswich has been 2 perm 1 loan out, 3 perm 1 loan in.
* Not to be confused with Gordon D'Arcy
Sorry, linked the wrong tweet! This one:
81.5% squad retention for Bolton (3rd), compared to us on 73% (8th)
One of our worst performances last year on 10:13 - Jul 23 by jayessess
Sorry, linked the wrong tweet! This one:
81.5% squad retention for Bolton (3rd), compared to us on 73% (8th)
[Post edited 23 Jul 2022 10:14]
The good thing about that graphic is it looks at how much the new squad was involved in the previous season. Thus emphasising the contuinuity (or lack thereof) - which could be a good or bad thing, depending upon how much one feels change is needed!
Bolton will be incredibly difficult, and let’s not forget the away game… on 10:11 - Jul 23 by jayessess
I do think the xG gets a bit misleading when you rack up lots of low-quality chances (our 0.9 is spread over 14 shots) but also that "should have scored" is one of the most abused ideas in football. Both those chances don't end in a goal more often than not.
I think Bolton are a really good side that will ultimately finish Top 6 and there's a good chance they give us a lot of trouble. I assume we'll dominate in midfield (there's is nowhere near Morsy and Ball's level), they'll be threatening on the counter-attack (I'm glad they've not managed to bring the Right WIng Back Marlon Fossey back). The effectiveness of our attacking play is a bit of a mystery at this point though.
First match of the season always throws up a lot of random results. I think there's a lot of variation in terms of how well each team has prepared and worked their system out.
I think with this game, it’s two teams that are quite settled and gelled, certainly for us we’ll have Walton, burns, Donacien, Wolf, Edmundson, Morsy, Chaplin starting and probably similar for Bolton
I’m hoping our strong pre–season and the fact we can bring on 3 quality attackers may give us the edge
I did say Wanderers fans are bullish, but this small poll shows them pragmatically thinking 8th
Bolton will be incredibly difficult, and let’s not forget the away game… on 10:20 - Jul 23 by unstableblue
I think with this game, it’s two teams that are quite settled and gelled, certainly for us we’ll have Walton, burns, Donacien, Wolf, Edmundson, Morsy, Chaplin starting and probably similar for Bolton
I’m hoping our strong pre–season and the fact we can bring on 3 quality attackers may give us the edge
I did say Wanderers fans are bullish, but this small poll shows them pragmatically thinking 8th
I also intimated that Forest Green might be tough… but it really shouldn’t be given their change in manager and limping into promotion
That's interesting, I think it probably goes to show how much fans go off transfer business, rather than thinking about what they've retained!
Of the teams that finished above us, I'm anticipating Wycombe, Oxford, MK Dons, Plymouth and Portsmouth to be weaker, Bolton and Sheffield Wednesday stronger and Peterborough to be the main threat of the relegated sides.
One of our worst performances last year on 08:40 - Jul 23 by muccletonjoe
By the 1st of October last season we already had a mountain to climb. So I would say there is much to be learnt on that first day . Adapt quickly and put right the mistakes . This will be how McKenna is compared to Cook.
Exactly, 1st October can be a bit late. Although that is when we found out about Lambert’s team following promising starts results wise.
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One of our worst performances last year on 11:00 - Jul 23 with 1562 views
One of our worst performances last year on 10:19 - Jul 23 by FrimleyBlue
Personally imo it was just one of those games where if things could go wrong quickly, it did.
KVY had an absolute mare and had such a bad game he was taken off. We pretty much lost that game because of 1 of their players.
Bolton were pretty efficient that day. Their 3rd is a half chance, their 4th and 5th a little fortuitous (although I suppose us giving up lots of rebounds is partly a concentration/intensity issue)
One of our worst performances last year on 08:25 - Jul 23 by Churchman
I don’t think anything much will be learned from the first game of the season. Early games throw up all sorts of performances and results. The season ‘proper’ begins for me 1st October. By then teams and signings have settled down and by and large you can see where you are heading.
The trick is to be in touch, preferably top six, at that point. Last season we were miles off, top two already out of our reach, and despite the hope of ‘doing a Blackpool’ that rarely happens.
Hopefully with a more settled club and team we can start much better. Yes, Bolton will be strong and their manager has done a fantastic job. I’m hopeful for a good result.
I always look at the first few games as a sort of marker for the season; probably silly to do so, but start with a good team performance and hopefully a win, a goal or two for the strikers and defence being strong and my confidence rises.
But like you say, doesn’t really mean anything. Apart from last year we’ve had a few decent starts only to fade miserably. I remember against Blackburn a few seasons ago - Edwards scored with his head and did that amazing flick and run. But then did nothing for the rest of his time here!
But I still love the buzz of the first game - especially when we win!
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