From someone who doesn't see the team much at all beyond highlights... I thought our general play was good and Bolton weren't allowed in the game much at all. Lots of loose and misplaced balls. Sky were waxing lyrical about how good a passing team they were but there was little sign of that until the goal which, was arguably offside at least on 2 occasions. I thought tactically we were spot on in stopping Bolton from playing. The problem was that going forward we were pretty one diminsional and lacked what I guess you'd describe as urgency and drive. I'm a fan of wingbacks but when build up play is a bit laborious, Bolton easily stopped that threat and there was nothing immediately behind the front two coming from centre midfield to offer alternatives. Thinking back... In the Promotion/Premier squad we had Marcelle, Bullock and Redfearn to run at or past players and create opportunities for themselves or others. The first half missed anyone doing or able to do that. That changed a bit after half time, and certainly when we went two goals down, when Phillips really pushed on, made some deep runs from midfield and got himself into the box more (excellent save from their keeper BTW from his header). We suddenly had another threat, Bolton looked stretched and I was wondering why they hadn't played this way from the off? Peppered between this were defensive howlers that obviously cost us the game, which was a shame as for the most part Bolton were kept pretty quiet. We do lack someone with pace to burn at CB though? Williams clearly not a right centre back. Kane started well but faded. Connell had a decent game and Phillips showed why he needs pushing further up the pitch, all the time. Cadden and OKeefe both had decent games and felt a bit sorry for Cole and McAtee who had zero service as Bolton closed down the wing back threat and their big lad in the middle mopped everything else up. Second leg... Well given we can't keep a clean sheet it's difficult to imagine Bolton not scoring at least one, so that leaves us needing at least 3 goals. I'd want that same urgency and pace of play that we had in the last 20 mins. I'd push Phillips further up the field and try and get more movement with balls round or through the defense rather than just relying on WB crosses. Finally I'd sort out Williams. He either needs to play WB or not at all. Edit: also can't criticise the effort, thought everyone looked to be trying their hardest.
Whilst I agree with some of this, and I’m in a similar boat, I’ve moved away so don’t see them much live, just ifollow and TV. I was a season ticket holder for many years beforehand. Williams had an appalling night, he made multiple errors that were nothing to do with being played out of position. He dwelled on the ball and was generally slow at making decisions. I honestly think the pressure of being captain and his impending move in the summer are effecting him. Maybe he doesn’t know where he’ll be next season? Cole is a poacher/tap in merchant who unfortunately doesn’t have the quality outside the 6 yard box to create anything for himself. Once we stopped creating those type of chances he’s pointless, play to his strengths and he’ll score 1 in 2. For some reason after January our tactics changed rendering him redundant. He had zero shots in the game, totally nullified by Santos. MDG and Earl are very naive, prone to giving the ball away and not physically strong enough. With both there’s a decent centre half in there somewhere but not really first team regulars just yet. Cadden has had a poor season compared to last. Lovely left foot but doesn’t really have the pace to beat a man or recover position, a little like a poor man’s Neil Thompson. Push on the wingbacks this season and we’re flummoxed. Kane, there’s a footballer in there but he’s just not athletic enough for modern football, great range of passing and can shoot but pressure him and he’s not effective. Also even professional footballers won’t give 100% if they have one eye on their next club. Its human nature. The squad unfortunately is full of players who are either going through the motions, on an upward development but not developing quite as we’d like or just plainly not good enough. Add to that poor tactics, patterns of play and defensive organisation/nouse accumulating in the current performances. These combinations make us easy to nullify tactically.
Agree with most of that. I too don’t get to games, but highlights and tv games show the lack of confidence in the defence and a one dimensional approach to attack. I thought we were the better team until Bolton scored a beauty from a marginally offside passage of play. The difference? They moved it quickly down the flanks and we lacked the pace to outrun their attackers. Williams was almost there (from right CB), Earl didn’t stop the cross and MDG was nowhere to be seen. Keeper would never stop those unless it just hit him. Kane and Connell were ok in the first half. Kane didn’t come out at all for the second and Luca simply had too much to do until Grant came on. Cadden and O’Keefe just don’t move it quickly or accurately enough, so we ended up playing it across the half way line, with little threat. Phillips needs to play up front with Cosgrove and find someone from the u21s to run their blood to water chasing down everything in the second leg. (Yoganathan?) if we get the first goal on Tuesday we have a chance. Personally, I can’t see it happening, but we live in hope.
Phillips needs to play in his best position, which is an advanced midfield role. He’s far more effective in the final 3rd than in the middle or defensive areas, unfortunately this is also McAtee’s best position! Maybe play Cosgrove with the aforementioned players just behind? Play Russel and Connell as holding midfield. Bang it long and play the percentage game. The defence aren’t capable of playing through the thirds so I don’t see an alternative
I thought Cosgrove did well for the goal but generally he seemed more interested in falling over and playing for the foul. Not exactly a Shipperley or Fjortoft style player at holding the ball up, is he? I thought both Cole and McAtee needed more balls to turn the defence and run on to, but that wasn't a thing. We've clearly scored a lot of goals, so something vs clearly not right tactics wise. On the upside we managed not to concede within the first 20 mins!
Thing is i honestly don’t think Bolton played particularly well and still scored three goals so I’m expecting much better from them in the second leg but I’m not sure we can get much better than last night
