The Bolton (Relegation) Thread

[Spanishstag]

They really are going for it even making us look half decent so far

 

[Back in the DHSS]

Bolton going down quicker than a Fred Dibnah demolition.

 

[BarraMatt]

When's he getting sacked then? Calls for him to go are growing by the week.

 

[PuB]

The FA CUP is always about the romance of the plucky lower placed sides winning against higher opposition, so it’s a real shame Bolton couldn’t pull off an upset yesterday.

Sill I guess they can now concentrate on their title winning season.

 

[Trapdoor]

It's understandable that they want to rest their best players and prioritise the league. Securing a top 4 position so they get into the champions league surely has to be their main priority.

 

[meanderson]

This thread has gone rather quiet...

 

[Robshep]

This thread has gone rather quiet...

Overpowering the 3 worst teams in league 2 in 10 days has stunned us all into silence.

 

[Back in the DHSS]

Bolton fans will all be crawling out of the woodwork soon if this winning run carries on.

 

[Trapdoor]

Are there any Bolton fans left? I thought they all started supporting Burnley and Man City since they dropped out of the Championship...

 

[BarraMatt]

Bolton have gone on enough of a winning run for Evatt's agent to mention his name in upcoming League One vacancies.

 

[Martin Out]

forget about Bolton, wtf is happening at Port Vale?

 

[FGR Stroud]

Bolton fans will all be crawling out of the woodwork soon if this winning run carries on.

Oh come on now, don't forget Masi51 has been a full time active participant since the summer.

 

[shoddycollins]

Right now I think the main contenders for the second relegation spot (alongside Southend... sorry shrimpers) are Stevenage, Bradford and Barrow.

Somehow can't see Bradford going down though, and think Barrow will manage to claw their way out of it too, they're just both a bit late in starting their recovery. Scunthorpe, Oldham, Tranmere and Bolton were early contenders but have all improved, the latter two enough to trouble the promotion race. Port Vale may be on their way into the relegation battle but still have a seven point cushion and will probably replace their manager before that goes away.

In conclusion... can't really see past Stevenage.

 

[Martin Out]

Right now I think the main contenders for the second relegation spot (alongside Southend... sorry shrimpers) are Stevenage, Bradford and Barrow.

Somehow can't see Bradford going down though, and think Barrow will manage to claw their way out of it too, they're just both a bit late in starting their recovery. Scunthorpe, Oldham, Tranmere and Bolton were early contenders but have all improved, the latter two enough to trouble the promotion race. Port Vale may be on their way into the relegation battle but still have a seven point cushion and will probably replace their manager before that goes away.

In conclusion... can't really see past Stevenage.

You forgot to mention Grimsby

 

[Devon_Lad]

I reckon it'll be Morecambe, Stevenage and Southend as the bottom 3 all fighting it out until the last week.

 

[shoddycollins]

You forgot to mention Grimsby

Didn't mention Mansfield either but they both seem to be slowly (two steps forward one and a half back) going in the right direction, and Grimsby do have two games in hand.

 

[valefan16]

Are Bradford this years Notts County though? Everyone kept saying "Cant see Notts going down"

 

[Devon_Lad]

Are Bradford this years Notts County though? Everyone kept saying "Cant see Notts going down"

Really can't see it tbh.

But as you say... I really didn't see Notts C going down either.

 

[Bottega Don]

I reckon it'll be Morecambe, Stevenage and Southend as the bottom 3 all fighting it out until the last week.

Not a chance Morecambe will go down.

This isn't Jim Bentley's Morecambe where they're scrapping every season, Adams is a really good manager for this level.

They're one of the best sides I have seen this season to be fair and they're only a few points off the play-offs.

 

[Devon_Lad]

Not a chance Morecambe will go down.

This isn't Jim Bentley's Morecambe where they're scrapping every season, Adams is a really good manager for this level.

They're one of the best sides I have seen this season to be fair and they're only a few points off the play-offs.

They often started well under Bentley too. One season they were top after winning all their opening games and remained there for 2 months before still coming up with a relegation scrap at the end of the season. I also really don't rate Adams as a manager - Perhaps cause he managed Plymouth but every time I see his sides play i think they're mediocre at best

 

[Conker]

Mansfield have still only won twice in the league you know, although I do expect us to push on a bit now.

We have room left in the cap for January too, plus one or two will leave so Clough will probably bring in 3/4 of his own. We need wingers.

 

[BarraMatt]

We haven't been hammered yet, haven't lost a game by more than a goal, even when we've looked incredibly poor, i.e Carlisle, Harrogate, Newport. Either our current results are all we are capable of and there's worse to come, or we'll start turning some of these one goal losses in draws and our multiple draws into wins. I hope it's the latter, but we shall see.

Early season we seemed to defend well on the most part but couldn't hit a cow's arse, now it's flipped to being able to score a few but having 2/3 costly mistakes a game at the back. If we switch to a flat back 4 rather than the 3-5-2 which just isn't working I think we will be better. Whether Dunn sees that is another question.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

I'd throw Harrogate into the relegation mix - I don't think they're any better than us and on form are one of the worst in the league. I also didn't think much of Morecambe at all, Stevenage weren't very good on the opening day (except they have possibly the best keeper in the league) and Bradford were very shit against us.
Of course we're very much in that mix now, but rather than being dreadful it just feels like we haven't clicked yet. I'm still hopeful our forwards can come into some form, as we've got four strikers (five if you count the one that's been injured since he joined) who haven't done a lot this season so far.

 

[Devon_Lad]

You can tell by Morecambe's goal difference they aint a good side. They nicked a few 1 goal wins early on to deceive a lot into thinking they're better than they are

 

[valefan16]

Morecambe were dreadful against us which made it even more galling they won! They literally parked the bus San Marino style (at home!) and as usual we couldn't get past them before they had a soft penalty.

For a home side to do what they did that day though was poor, if they had fans watching that every week they'd be going nuts! We were more expressive against Man City at the Etihad! (not like we are that good either)

 

[Trapdoor]

Watched Morecambe in the FA cup game. Was surprised how dirty they were and how badly they shithoused their way to a draw.
They were harassing the ref and petitioning him for yellow cards at every opportunity. Horrible football as well. Solihull played much better but Morecambes dark arts and "professional" behaviour somehow saw them squeak through.

 

[Vanni]

I could be wrong of course but I've always felt that Morecambe's biggest asset is the 'us vs them' mentality they have. They may be a side shorn of big names but they do work their socks off esp. against the better sides. In other words, their style may not be pretty but it does get them results so fair play to them I say.

It's a bit early to say which sides will be in the relegation frame, and tbh I'm not even that convinced about Southend being odds on favs for the drop.

But I'll be a sport and say that I think they'll be one of the two sides for the drop. I think Barrow will be safe and so will Stevenage and Bradford. Right now I feel that the other side to join Southend will be one out of Scunny, Grimsby and Walsall. I have to emphasise the words 'right now' though as lot can change with the January ins and outs.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Watched Morecambe in the FA cup game. Was surprised how dirty they were and how badly they shithoused their way to a draw.
They were harassing the ref and petitioning him for yellow cards at every opportunity. Horrible football as well. Solihull played much better but Morecambes dark arts and "professional" behaviour somehow saw them squeak through.

The commentators on Tuesday remarked that the Morecambe players possibly convinced the officials to send our man off on Tuesday night by surrounding the ref and screaming at him.

Of course, the red has now been rescinded because it was clearly ridiculous.

 

[BarraMatt]

Watched Morecambe in the FA cup game. Was surprised how dirty they were and how badly they shithoused their way to a draw.
They were harassing the ref and petitioning him for yellow cards at every opportunity. Horrible football as well. Solihull played much better but Morecambes dark arts and "professional" behaviour somehow saw them squeak through.

Seems Solihull got a taste of their own medicine in that case, their player Osbourne is the king of shithousery.

 

[PuB]

I was worried the wheels were falling off Bolton’s relegation charge, but I think we can now say they are firmly back ON