God Alone Knows Where We Go From Here - Notes for Bolton Friday, 15th Sep 2017 11:00 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at Portman Road by delving into their forums. “This is going to be worse than last time, isn’t it?”, “We look like a set of amateurs who won a raffle to play here”, “We have to accept it, we are just that far behind. This league has moved on a long way in the last three years and we are probably worse than last season”, “God, we are very poor.” “Relegate us now, it’s going to be bad this season.” Bolton arrive in Suffolk at the foot of table and having lost a fourth straight league game on Tuesday night at home to the Blades. They have failed to score in their last three league games and are still looking for a first league win. The mood is grim. “How are we going to win a game?”, “Let’s not kid ourselves. We are woefully short of the quality needed to compete with many teams in this league and have no money to fix the situation”, “This must be up with the most depressing situations we have been in. There are 39 more games of this.” “We were not ready to be promoted”, “God knows if and when we will get three points. I genuinely believe we will be down before the end of February”, “Basically we are so far short for this league all over the pitch”, “No team should look this out of their depth against teams from the same league.” A small minority of Trotters remain optimistic. “No panic yet, we are not adrift and have players to come back that will improve the team. We will be up and running as soon as we get that first win”, “The poorer sides can be beaten”, “There aren’t three worse teams, that’s going to be the problem.” Phil Parkinson (Parky)“You can put any manager in the world in charge of this situation and it won’t change a thing”, “Phil is trying to win a game of hold ‘em poker with a seven of clubs and a two of diamonds”, “For anyone thinking we need to change the manager again, please consider what viable alternatives there are.” The 49-year-old former Bradford City boss “is as good as we are going to get and he has proven he can get us promotion from League One, which is where we are going. He’s unproven at this level but I won’t judge him on this season because he has got no chance”, “There’s only so much he can do.” “I am getting worried that Parky takes a half-hour of football to see what is wrong.” A minority of fans question his tactical ability and lack of experience at this level. “A switched-on, tactically astute manager should be able to compete with the league’s weaker teams. League One is Parky’s level.” “Tactically we have been second best in most games. That’s fully down to Parky and his staff. For a defensively-minded manager who likes his teams to be a tight unit we are shocking”, “He’s unproven at this level and it doesn’t seem like he can cut it”, “It’s a tough ask and not a reflection of his skills.” Formations“We can’t score and can’t defend. Big problems”, “We are genuinely awful, can’t defend and can’t attack. It’s the players who are sadly not good enough”, “One thing that worries me is how teams talk quite openly about exploiting the spaces behind our defence. Why can’t we see it so clearly?” “We can’t control games and at this level teams are too good for us to allow that”, “Our current squad is not good enough or strong enough”, “We’re not tackling because we’re not pressing. We’re not pressing because it leaves too much space to exploit behind the midfielders and full-backs.” AlnwickWheaterBurkeBeeversLittleKaracanCullenBuckleyRobinsonArmstrongMadine
“I don’t like 3-5-2 but it made sense against Sheffield United [above]. It matched them and suited our available personnel.” Parkinson has preferred working with a three-man midfield and he has mostly played with three at the back in recent games, as he did against the Blades on Tuesday. Trotters have criticised his habit of playing full-backs or wingers instead of specialist wing-backs and this has led to a succession of chances from unchallenged wide crosses. The alternative 4-5-1 shape has left striker Gary Madine isolated as the midfield lacks the dynamism to adequately support him. AlnwickDarbyWheaterBeeversRobinsonKaracanDerikNoonePratleyMoraisMadine
The starting line-up (above) for last Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Middlesbrough struggled to lay a glove on the visitors. The team’s greatest creative threat, winger Filipe Morais was on his weaker left flank and there was no link-up play with Madine from a central midfield lacking a natural playmaker. “If we play one up front, Madine is completely isolated and we are toothless. If we play two up front our midfield gets overrun through the centre or on the flanks.” Middlesbrough were free to take the game to the Trotters and this highlighted how error-prone and unprotected they are at the back. “Our defending is atrocious at times”, “I cannot get over how bad we are at the back, second to the ball all the time”, “If I see another cross and free headed goal for the opposition I will self-combust”, “The back three are scared of covering the wide defensive positions, so it becomes a free-for-all.” “Injuries are really crippling us. We are badly missing [midfielder] Josh Vela and [winger] Sammy Ameobi.” Long-term injuries to two key players on top of the normal run of absences have further hit a squad light on quality. Midfielder Derik and winger Will Buckley are also set to miss out on Saturday. A Ponderous and Porous Central Midfield“The biggest problem is the midfield. It can barely string two passes together and lacks dynamism”, “Josh Cullen, Jem Karacan and Darren Pratley are such a terrible midfield. They all want to operate in the same area and none of them want to defend”, “We are just too easy to play through, it is clear.” “We need physicality and athleticism in midfield.” This is overwhelmingly the biggest problem which needs addressing. “We desperately need a defensive midfielder and a box-to-box type as well. Our midfield gives the ball away too cheaply”, “We have no energy, guile, creativity, fight or leadership.” “To make 4-5-1 work you need legs in midfield to get forward”, “We do try to go forward but it’s pathetic. We have absolutely no idea what to do with the ball when in the opposition half because nobody gets forward from the midfield in support. We are unable to pass or create proper chances.” A Lack of Fight“The team has no shape, no attacking threat, no pace, movement or fight. We look a team of strangers. We don’t even compete. We don’t even press”, “Midfield isn’t going to be fixed until we have a terrier in there to get in everyone’s faces”, “There aren’t any leaders or organisers on the pitch.” “The players stick like glue to their assigned positions.” The lack of confidence and tenacity has been raised. “Most other teams have better quality but come on, we don’t compete, fight or even have a go. We don’t close down, we don’t even work. It’s abysmal, shambolic, toothless and just clueless.” Bolton 0 — 1 Sheffield United“Poor again all over the pitch, no positives to gain from this. It’s just so predictable”, “Plenty of effort but we could have played until midnight and wouldn’t have scored”, “We weren’t good enough to break down a resolute defence”, “We needed something today. The Ipswich game is now massive.” “Dreadful again, we were so slow to the ball.” Cameron Carter-Vickers won the game for the Blades firing into the roof of the net on 33 minutes after his first attempt following a corner was blocked by a defender. Having taken the lead, the visitors were then able to see the game out comfortably. “We are still lacking in the final third and ball-watching at the back”, “We huffed and we puffed but our lack of a final ball was plain to see. The number of times we got forward only to return back to where we started was ridiculous. I’m not sure if it was a lack of confidence, ideas or responsibility.” Bolton 0 — 3 Middlesbrough“Today was awful, really awful. We are in for some real beatings”, “The 3-0 score flattered us. We were hapless. The body language was awful, no talking, leadership or game plan”, “Middlesbrough were in second gear for most of the game. They toyed with us and could have had four or five.” The Teessiders comfortably won last Saturday’s match courtesy of a brace of Britt Assombalonga goals on 13 and 71 minutes with substitute Marvin Johnson adding a third 12 minutes from time. “We couldn’t get near [right-winger] Adama Traore, who set up Middlesbrough’s opening two goals.” “We lacked physicality for Boro’s first two goals. Traore ripped us to pieces”, “They had free rein to strike the ball around as our midfield was static”, “People around us argued as some were slagging the players off and others wanted to back the team”, “It was a very painful game to watch at times.” Hull 4 — 0 Bolton“An absolute shambles”, “God, it’s not even September and I feel we are as good as relegated”, “The first half was a clown show. Hull had three breaks and scored three goals. They were feeling sorry for us in the second half”, “Our midfield was so poor that Hull were strolling through unchallenged.” “I expected us to fight and not roll over.” Poland winger Kamil Grosicki set up Adama Diomande and Jarrod Bowen for Hull’s opening two goals on 13 and 19 minutes, adding a third himself just before the half-hour mark with a solo run. Bowen scored a fourth for the hosts two minutes from time. “Sorry to say this but we were dreadful. We looked slow and weak, and embarrassingly outclassed”, “The difference in desire, speed and urgency was apparent. Hull had all of these, but we approached their box like it was the Guns of Navarone with enemy troops hiding behind every blade of grass.” HowardBurkeDerviteBeeversMoraisKaracanCullenBuckleyRobinsonMadineArmstrong
Trotters criticised a starting XI (above) which had a winger (Filipe Morais) and full-back (Antonee Robinson) in unfamiliar wing-back roles in dangerous away fixture. “If you are going to play a wing-back system, play bloody wing-backs.” Hull were able to get in behind Bolton’s defence with ease. HowardBurkeDerviteBeeversTaylorMoraisDerikPratleyArmstrongLe FondreMadine
“Sounds like a lot of passing but no trigger-pulling.” Parkinson altered the shape after the break (above) switching to a four-man defence. While this added stability to the shape of the team, the Tigers were able to keep them at bay with relative ease and manage the second half comfortably. Goalkeepers and Central Defenders“Ben Alnwick is the best keeper we have at the moment, He made great saves in the second half against Middlesbrough. I prefer him to Mark Howard.” The 30-year-old former Posh glovesman has started the last two games and is expected to begin on Saturday. “Ben has made some great stops.”  Ben Alnwick“Oh dear, Ben, trouble.” He was criticised for allowing the Teessiders’ third goal to squirm under his body but Trotters were happy with the wider display of a keeper who played under Mick McCarthy at Sunderland. “Alnwick’s handling is solid though his kicking can be erratic. He’s the best we have.” “Reece Burke is the most comfortable ball-playing central defender we have.” The 20-year-old is on loan from West Ham until January, having featured on loan last season at Wigan. “His pace is vital in a back three. Very calm on the ball, his anticipation is unreal and he makes countless interceptions.” “Dorian Dervite’s passing is very suspect. He is far better at bringing the ball out of defence.” The 29-year-old ex-Charlton man “cannot pass. He’s a big stopper who is too slow to react at times”, “I have no issues with him. He’s better than Wheater and Beevers on the ball but not a threat at set pieces.” “Mark Beevers looked ropey on the left of a three in League One, no surprise he’s struggling there against better, more mobile forwards.” The 27-year-old ex-Millwall defender “looks worryingly out of his depth at this level. He looks very vulnerable to pace out of his strong ground in a back four.” “Beevers was a revelation last season and even scored some good goals. He has been dreadful this time out”, “He has looked shakier than Dervite, like a rabbit in the headlights in this league”, “His confidence grew with Wheater next to him against the Blades and looked good in the second half.” David Wheater“Wheater is a legend. I absolutely love the guy”, “His partnership with Beevers last season gained and saved loads of points”, “He lacks pace but he is solid at the back, and he is needed both for his leadership and his ability in both penalty areas”, “The rock last season’s turnaround was built on.”  David Wheater“He’s a monster in our defence.” The 30-year-old returned from a back injury to start against former club Boro and also played a full 90 minutes against the Blades. “He is a big injury risk but right now he represents the leadership and certainty we badly need”, “I can’t throw enough superlatives.” Full-Backs, Wing-backs and Wingers“Andrew Taylor is a good left-back being made to look poor pushed forward as a wing-back.” The 31-year-old ex-Wigan man “is average on a good day but he hasn’t had many good days”, “He frustrates me constantly backing off. He never gets that first tackle in early and we are vulnerable to crosses.” “Taylor is an average player who gets a nosebleed when he gets close to the opponents’ byline”, “A decent left-back with a decent left foot”, “He is not an attacking wing-back and offers little threat in a 3-5-2 system. He is too slow getting forward and teams easily exploit the space in behind him.” “For the life of me I cannot understand why we signed Stephen Darby.” The 28-year-old July addition from Bradford “is a traditional right-back. He’s not being used in his best position. He’s no wing-back and is probably our sixth-best centre-back”, “He’s a capable League One player but not much more.” “I would question whether Mark Little is strong enough defensively as a right-back in a back four.” The 29-year-old summer signing from Bristol City “is an appalling defender whose mistakes are more to do with a lack of ability than fitness or injury issues. He is unlikely to get better at this level.” “Putting it simply Little cannot defend and his attacking ability doesn’t mitigate this”, “He had a good game against Sheffield United. He was up and down the wing all night and he won plenty of tackles”, “He has never lacked effort even when having a poor game but decent in League One is his level.” “Antonee Robinson offers more going forward than Taylor which is where we are massively lacking.” The 20-year-old left-back and August loan signing from Everton was given a torrid afternoon last Saturday by Boro’s Adama Traore. “He got done loads of times but he stuck to his task diligently.” “Robinson did well considering he was a young lad up against a Premier League quality bloke, He has good pace and will rarely have a tougher ride. He tried to carry the ball a few times”, “His strength is going forward. More worrying was the reluctance of anyone to help him through a tough game.” “Cardiff fans said that we will worship Craig Noone for about six months and then not so much.” The 29-year-old deadline-day addition “was not fast and direct enough for Neil Warnock. He likes coming in on to his left foot from the right flank”, “He is barely match fit but yes, he looks quite competent.” Filipe Morais“Our best weapon is Morais’s right foot but he was on the left against Boro.” The 31-year-old former Bradford man “offered nothing on the wrong side in support of his left-back. It was easy for Boro to pick their way through”, “He’s a good winger made to look poor at wing-back by dropping too deep.” “Morais has no interest in defending as a wing-back. As soon as opponents win the ball they play it in behind him”, “He makes a yard and whips in good crosses from the right and playing him anywhere other than right wing hampers his ability”, “He lacks the pace to beat full-backs but doesn’t need it.” Central Midfielders“Josh Cullen isn’t what we needed.” The 21-year-old is on loan from West Ham until January. “He looks too lightweight and he simply won’t work as a defensive midfielder”, “I’m confused as to how he fits in. He looks neat but is not as creative as Mark Davies but lacks Jay Spearing’s physicality.” “Send that lad from West Ham back. He’s a nice tidy player but we need a scrapper, a monster in there”, “Cullen is being asked to play a role that doesn’t suit him. He needs to be more incisive”, “I was appalled by him at Hull, he had an absolute shocker”, “He and Karacan play the same game.” “I thought Jem Karacan looked a real prospect last season but he has been massively ineffective so far.” The 28-year-old one-time Reading man “should be motoring around and getting a grip on the game but it passes him by”, “He’s too soft to play through the middle. I don’t know what he offers.” “I honestly don’t see what Karacan offers, He was at least a yard off the pace against the Blades and chasing shadows all game”, “He’s good enough up and down in the middle. I like his energy and he looks good enough for this level”, “Someone has to tell him that it’s okay to pass the ball forward.” Darren Pratley“With Vela and now Derik injured, it looks like we are stuck with Pratley.” The 32-year-old former Swansea man “is selected just for athleticism and with no thought to his footballing skill”, “He runs around beautifully. The best player at arriving too late to tackle someone when they have passed it.”  Darren Pratley“We play one man short when Pratley is on the field”, “He is shocking as a player, captain or leader. The way he plays sums up the team. He cannot create anything and runs around fouling people. He’s slow and cumbersome”, “People pick on him, but he breaks up play and was willing to press Boro.” Strikers“Aaron Wilbraham is a handful. He’s physical and has a real presence about him. I wish he was nearer to 30 years old. He would be a great signing.” Trotters have had little to say about the 37-year-old summer arrival from Bristol City who has primarily been used as an impact substitute.  Aaron Wilbraham playing for former club Bristol City“Adam Armstrong is lightning quick, but he is physically the same player that he was when he was 17.” The 20-year-old Newcastle loan signing “adds some pace and is most dangerous off the last defender’s shoulder”, “He couldn’t get into the Blades match, but his chance will come.” “Adam Le Fondre is an intelligent hard-working striker and most likely to finish the scraps from our necessarily blunt attack.” The 30-year-old ex-Reading and Cardiff man “is not a hold-up player or a target man. He’s a poacher, a finisher who will get goals so long as chances are being created.”  Adam Le Fondre“Le Fondre’s movement is excellent and often a simple pass will set him up”, “He struggles to make an impact outside the box up front, let alone playing deeper in midfield”, “He’s a composed and natural finisher who attack space with his clever runs, but he needs help to set up his chances.” Gary Madine“Keep it up, Gary”, “He is not a goal machine in anybody’s definition but he was the most vital cog in our wheel last season.” The 27-year-old former Sheffield Wednesday striker “is not good enough to keep us up on his own. We need someone to score because he will never be prolific”, “I feel sorry for him, he’s so isolated.”  Gary Madine“If Madine is up front with that shower behind him he will struggle whatever”, “He’s a big presence up front who works the backline and is a target man. It’s obvious our game plan and formation have been centred around him”, “He looks a great player at this level but needs support from midfield.” Trotters’ Views on ITFC and the Game“Are Ipswich in our mini-league?” “On the face of it, Ipswich could be firmly pinned into the middle of the Championship’s three mini-leagues. They are presumably safe from the drop, but significantly outmuscled by the handful of richer clubs vying to board the Premier League gravy train.” “Ipswich should be in our mini-league but they have had a 10-point head start which is huge”, “They are on a mini bad run and probably rubbing their hands that we come rolling into town. An early goal for them and I can't see us getting anything”, “A 3-0 loss, although that may be a bit optimistic.” “It’s a bleak away day at Ipswich. Fair play to those going”, “I can't think of a team we can field that can avoid defeat, 2-0 to them”, “Ipswich to win 4-1 with us overrun all over the pitch, heads drop early. We get a late consolation goal”, “I wonder if they may consider giving us a goal head-start.” “It’s grim reading the paper regarding injuries, the list gets longer.” Trotters don’t run prediction leagues or competitions, but it’s fair to say that expectations are very low for Saturday’s game. “A hiding”, “Anyone travelling down to Ipswich from the North-West deserves a pat on the back.” “Ipswich is the worst away I have ever done”, “Horrible journey, poor pubs and a poor atmosphere in the ground too”, “The only positive is that the ground is next to the station, but even that journey is through London from the North-West”, “I wouldn't be there even if we were top of the league.” Opening Old Wounds“I don't think I've been since that game. I doubt I will again either.” This month’s outstanding Blizzard article by Nick Ames on our 2000 play-off semi-final brought back painful memories for some Trotters. There is lingering anger over the Barry Knight’s refereeing that night. Granada's coverage of the 2nd leg“I have never been as mad at a match as I was at that one”, “I defy any team not to react as we did to the injustices that night, especially in such an important game. Anyone who was there knows it wasn't our indiscipline that cost us. Knight would have made sure they won whatever we did.” “The worst refereeing performance I have ever seen”, “I still hold a massive grudge against them and the referee. I probably won't witness a game like that again”, “Knight was an absolute disgrace and no-one will ever convince me he wasn't in [former Town chairman] David Sheepshanks’s pocket.” “It's a long enough drive back from Ipswich even without knowing you had been cheated”, “Possibly the most corrupt performance I have ever seen by a referee in my lifetime. There should have been an enquiry by the bent FA. I will never accept that the match wasn't corrupt.” “We played a part in our own downfall. The penalty Paul Ritchie gave away is inexcusable, I can't remember if that was the one that was saved and I can't complain about Robbie Elliott's sending off though we had lost it at that stage”, “Knight was obviously biased but our lack of discipline cost us.” “In fairness, I can see the point in some of the penalties and sendings-off to an extent. It's more that Knight wound up the players to that degree with his dreadful refereeing which got my goat”, “And had Sheepshanks and company not scrapped the away goal rule we would have been through.” “It was allowing Jim Magilton to be a **** all through the game, the Mike Whitlow sending off and the tackle by Mark Fish for which he gave a penalty. Barry Knight set a tone for how he was going to referee to certainly lean towards Ipswich.” “I often talk about that game to my mate who is an Ipswich fan. He was also at the game. His recollection - and he stands by it - is that he has never seen a worse-organised and dirtier team than Bolton Wanderers were that night. “He honestly thinks everything is above board, and it was just sour grapes from Bolton fans. He even has a recording of the highlights of the match and has said he is happy to watch it with me in order to prove that it was all above board. I have not taken him up on the offer.” WebsitesThe busiest Trotters’ forum is Wanderers Ways and additional comment can be found at The Wanderer.
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