Match Thread Home V Bolton Sat 6th March. 3pm kick off.

The last time we had a 'similiar' match (I propose) was the one against the Blades that ended 3-3 , two teams , top of their game head to head - jumpers for goalposts etc ... so I think we'll scape throufgh like our last few matches and win 1-0 (we're the new Arsenal) to keep onwards and upwards. Would like to have Cook and Rowe playing up front at the same time though.

 

Rowe deserves his chance to start again and Cook is a better sub than Rowe is.

 

Correct NM. We usually argue on which one or ones we shouldn't pick.

 

I m a massive Callum Cooke fan and have been delighted to see the improvement we have seen from him in this great run/His penalty last week will go down in the annals as one we will always remember. My point is that his finishing is woeful. He does brilliantly well to get in he correct position for a strike but as happened again last night he seems to still be snatching at them and pulling them past the post. My feeling is that he is still short of confidence and needs to relax and take the little extra time he has and smash them just like his penalty.He has the ability and technique and it would do us all good to see him fly up the goalscoring charts and reduce our anxiety about playing one up top .
Shooting practice for Callum please every day all day

 

Despite good performances from Rowe and Cook, the players that excite me most at the moment are Cooke & Crankshaw. The latter being a loose canon that that opposition teams can't fully deal with. Yes, his challenges sometimes make me cover my eyes but i love the youthful enthusiasm and feel he could be one of our most valuable assets this season. He's like an attacking Paudie. I also feel Calum Cooke is the player most difficult to replace this season. An inspiration.

 

As long as we play 1 up top we’re going to play on the counter, particularly when Rowe starts.

 

Even in games where we have been under the cosh we have ended up with more and better chances than the opposition. Because of a solid defence and game changing player up front

 

That’s true. Up the tempo and I’ll feel a bit more comfortable. We don’t want Bolton dictating play.

 

Hi Guys, Wanderers fan here and really looking forward to our game on Saturday. One or two on here have commented that we assume we only have to turn up to get the 3 points but I can tell you that’s not so. Like you, were recovering from a dreadful start and hopefully we’ll both finish strongly and get out of a league we shouldn’t be in. Still being under embargo, we’ve been unable to pay loan or transfer fees and we employed a Director of football who considered a money ball method of signing players was the way to go. Consequently we started the season with a bunch of amateurs and cast offs apart from one or two like Doyle and Sarcevic. We were awful but he was binned at Christmas and Evatt allowed to sign his own players, so few of those you saw when we last met are still here.

The difference is immense and with four or five quality signings added to the good players we did have we now have arguably the best squad in L2. They are now settling in and I think you’ll see a massive difference to the team you saw last time. I think you’ll need to be on your A game to win on Saturday but the way you’re playing now you should have every confidence of getting a result. I think the majority of Wanderers fans see this as a really tough game, probably our toughest for a while and think we too will need to play well to get a result. Whatever happens, I think we can both make the top 7 at least so let’s hope it’s a good game on Saturday and if either does win that they deserve it. Either way, I wish you luck for your remaining games.

 

My opinion is we are the underdog, simply because we are below Bolton and they are a bigger club.
Perfect imo and exactly how T and S have played these last 3 months when instilling the never say die attitude that we see in matches now, especially in the back 4 who put bodies on the line every match.
I also think they need to win to keep their support happy because of their supposed march to the title and the fact they have played more games than anyone around them.
We will be happy playing at our pace, soaking up pressure, making little gains here and there whilst each player will thrive in winning there own little battles. A lot of this game will be decided on the mental side of things.
Its been a calm and reassured way that has got us here and i don't see that changing Saturday.
Bolton on the other hand have a manager bemoaning the support for negativity on social media during an excellent run coupled with the expectation levels of their support, the pressure could actually tell this time on their team.
1-0 City. Set piece goal.

 

My heart says it'll be a rip roarer with both teams going toe-to-toe in a no-holes-barred encounter: 2-2 or 3-3
My head says it'll be a cagey affair as both teams set-up and play a similar style. So a one goal affair or a repeat of the game over there just after Parky left: 0-0

 

A draw in the circumstances would be a good result, its imperative we don't lose the momentum we've built up.

 

None of this settling for a point. We need to be flying into these, putting down a marker. Nothing to fear, we're having this lot.

 

As yourself I like the lad Crankshaw my only problem with him is if he's going to drop back and do his defensive cover he needs to calm down I thought the referee on Tuesday night got it bang on with him, he let his first two poor challenges go, but called him over and pointed out his previous two challenges and for his third he got a yellow.
Trueman mentioned his yellow in his post match interview.

 

Crankshaw and Vernam clearly have talent and potential, but they're also clearly still learning. Evans and Clarke tend not to draw quite as many of the plaudits, but they bring a greater sense of composure and tactical awareness - which you'd expect given the respective stages of their careers. Our better performances with the ball during recent weeks, have come when either Eavns ot Clarke impose themselves on the game. For Saturday, I'd be very much in favour our Crankshaw dropping to the bench in favour of Evans or Clarke.

 

Agree we could have been 3 - 0 up at half time with better finishing, we can't always rely on a shutdown.

 

I agree and am hoping Evans will be fit - nothing against Clarke but I think the link up play between Cooke and Evans has paid dividends recently and Cooke has spoken about what a good understanding they have between them.

 

As you say both are young and I believe with regards Crankshaw it his enthusiasm that he want to contribute defensively which is great but the three fouls he gave away were all in dangerous positions thankfully Mansfield didnt carry that bigger threat but I believe it would be a different story against the likes of Bolton.
With regards Saturdays game I'm with you an old experienced head who know what is required both offensive and defensive.

 

I think your heads right Wolfy. We don’t score many but we don’t concede many now either since signing a couple of quality defensive mids. As well as winning our last six, our last four have been clean sheets. Like you I think it will be a close one with the odd goal clinching it, though I know Doyle is keen to prove what he didn’t do whilst at VP.

 

If we sit back like we have in the last few games we will be undone by these Turkeys..... I actually don't Like Bolton or their fans