09 Sep 2026 08:39:51
Ok, a win's a win and I'll take it every time, but there were clearly issues.
For me the biggest problem that we had was playing Kante ahead of Mukasa (Saturday's goal must have gone to his head). Playing them that way round nullifies the best of both. There were huge gaps in central midfield for Bolton to enjoy because Kante was too far up. Mukasa is not a crunching machine who breaks up play - that's more Kante's forte: Kante is not an inventive attacking midfielder who makes the right decisions - that's Mukasa's forte.
We looked so much better when Orford came on. Calm head, right place at the right time, looks up to make the right pass.
Opposition left wingers have caused us problems all season. Nino needs to work on that.
With those concerns out of the way. Well done the lads for coming through a tough game with all three points.
Agree0Disagree0
09 Sep 2026 10:34:10
I'll say again... this was not a 'tough' game. Bolton Wanderers have now lost 4 games on the trot. It's the sort of game we should be coasting through if we are to get promoted. Our defence showed weakness in several areas. The Bolton attack was not especially good. It was average at best.
09 Sep 2026 10:35:26
Good point Re Kante / Makassa. 👍
09 Sep 2026 10:57:21
I agree with that.
09 Sep 2026 14:33:56
Disagree, Tin.
Our positional choices made the game tougher than it should have been and turned it from an expected win into a tough one.
Should it have been a tough game? Maybe not. Was it one? Yup.
09 Sep 2026 18:43:27
Your answer seems to agree with me! It wasn't approached as a tough game, which it wasn't, but the way we played made hard work of it. Not a tough game (where the opposition is expected to give us a hard time), but it developed into one that wasn't easy as a result of our performance. That's not a game with the expectation of being tough.
09 Sep 2026 19:19:49
...And I said, "Well done the lads for coming through a tough game with all three points."
I didn't say that it was expected to be a tough game. I said that it was a tough game.
Hey, ho.
09 Sep 2026 21:30:35
I think the difference is that I'm describing the fixture and you are describing the performance. 😬
09 Sep 2026 08:19:30
Hammer-D just about summed this up nicely. Just to add that teams who win this league find a way to win fixtures on wet Tuesday nights at teams like Bolton. Not great performance but a win is a win. A lot does have to change if we get promoted.
Last night our full backs were poor. KWP and Scarles need to be replaced and show that they are not even decent backups.
I don't know how Pablo is still lacing up his boots. He is shocking.
It's clear in January that Alvarez, Cornet and Mugassa should go if we don't cancel their contracts beforehand and then we will need to look at full backs.
Agree0Disagree0
09 Sep 2026 10:44:15
Hi Mac, I know you aren't keen on those 2 players, and I have to agree they have been troublesome. But, unlike Fulkrug, Cornet, or JWP, they are decent players who are not constantly injured, so I think they could be useful, and, taking last night's game, either would have helped sure up the midfield, and, hopefully, would have prevented many attacks on our goal.
Maybe they don't deserve a chance the way they have acted, but just a thought.
09 Sep 2026 16:57:48
Oh I agree, but I think the way they've behaved doesn't warrant them being part of this foundation anymore.
They come to our club, where we pay decent salary, so at least perform and give your best, and act like a professional whether you wanna be here or not.
08 Sep 2026 20:55:15
WH if they want promotion have to tighten up at the back, far too many chances given away, tbh that wasn’t a penalty either IMO.
We just cannot play like buccaneet style up and down the field, it’s suicidal.
Up till now what is the point of Pablo, he’s done nothing, but these games are exactly what I expected, it’s a difficult job promotion.
Agree1Disagree0
08 Sep 2026 21:50:16
True, but at least we are getting some entertainment.
Poor old Pablo was awful, his touch is soooo poor.
08 Sep 2026 21:52:16
At least he seems to have stopped parking the bus when in the lead.
08 Sep 2026 22:05:03
Just what is it about Pablo? I just don't get it. Not even if he's doing an old mate a favour or if Pablo is shagging his daughter. The bloke is useless and contributes nothing. These apologists can try and point out that he's important to the team, but bloody hell! Just watch his performance and contribution.
If you're seeing something different to me, please let me know what drugs you are on. I'll give them a try.
08 Sep 2026 22:10:40
Pablo has got to be one of the worst striker signings ever. He is woeful, not even sure he is League 2 level. Dreadful player, makes my eyes bleed!
08 Sep 2026 22:24:30
Still think we'll win this league comfortably.
08 Sep 2026 22:37:12
Not defending like that, we won't, sorry. Bolton make a game out of nothing over crap, marking, and allowing the ball to run free. In the first half, defenders were too slow on second balls. In the second half, we sharpened up; that was the difference (that was no penalty either).
Whilst we can score goals, you cannot rely on the attack scoring 3/4 every game to win it, never going to happen. We were far too lax at the back in the first half, it was much better managed in the second half.
08 Sep 2026 22:41:26
WTD, I've made a comment re Pablo time gone past, I played and later managed conference level team.
There is no way he makes that team apart from harrowing.
He contributes nothing, he should have been sent out on loan somewhere, anywhere!
I do not understand what people see in him, I'm mystified.
08 Sep 2026 22:48:39
Very entertaining and hard fought win away on a wet Tuesday in Bolton. These games are always going to be the tough ones. Nothing to complain about from what I saw.
08 Sep 2026 23:44:51
Tough? It was Bolton Wanderers, not Barcelona! On form alone, we should have eaten them for breakfast. Yes, three points in the bag, but we made hard work of it. On performances like that, we're going to struggle to get promoted.
Our defending was woeful at times, and we're fielding a team of nine players, a character from Snow White in goal, and a striker who has no idea what to do when he gets the ball. 😁
09 Sep 2026 03:41:13
It was good to see that we didn't shut up shop after going one ahead, and Mavropanos looked like his confidence was returning. Also, the new players looked promising. I think, as I write, we are top of the table. COYI!
09 Sep 2026 06:27:42
I think we were lucky that Bolton really went for it, and fair play to them for doing so after losing 4 on the bounce.
There are quite a few positives to take.
Bowen finding more form and his shooting boots.
Most of the new players are doing well, Engels is now starting to play. I thought the 2 new youngsters had poorish games.
3 points.
Top of the league.
Negatives.
The defence.
KWP was very poor.
Scarles was poor, with really poor crossing, but I thought he came into it more.
The centre backs were their shaky selves, with the odd decent moment. The keeper did okay, but is too little.
Most of the rest were good and bad, unfortunately with the exception of Pablo, who is totally out of his depth, and it stuck out like a sore thumb.
You could be right, Brooking, but far too early to make a statement like that. If we win our next 2 league matches against Wrexham and Millwall, then you may have a good shout.
09 Sep 2026 06:47:24
That's a pretty fair assessment overall, H-D.
I still think it's way too early to make predictions, which effectively mean nothing anyway. Maybe we'll have a better idea of where we'll likely end up around January time. In the meantime, we should take each match as it comes.
09 Sep 2026 10:34:14
Yep, agreed, Tin. We have definitely got out of jail a bit some of the last few games. But we've got the points so don't want to be too negative for a change. 😀
09 Sep 2026 11:15:17
There's nothing wrong with being realistic. We have problems with our wingbacks and the height of our goalie. Kilman is also a problem. I think Mavro will settle again and improve. 🤞🏻
Pablo is useless.
Apart from that, we've the makings of a decent side. Fact. Might as well admit the obvious and not bury heads in sand.
09 Sep 2026 07:58:03
I'm amazed at all the bloody complainers & constant moaners on here, even bothering to watch us, or is it just to moan & moan! We bloody well won away from home on an utterly s***** night. What more do you want than 3 points away from home? Bolton didn't let us win! Great win, enjoy it FFS!!. ⚒⚒⚒
09 Sep 2026 09:56:06
Haha, well said, Chelmsford. 👏👏👏👏
09 Sep 2026 11:58:49
"What more do you want than 3 points away from home?" Answer: consistency and a polished performance. Don't you?
It's called reality. People are discussing areas of possible improvement, not just sitting back and accepting that that's as good as it gets.
09 Sep 2026 13:56:24
Dabber, thanks mate. What more do you want than 3 points after a 250 mile trip away from home playing in the s-----est weather? Bet the 4500 travelling fans weren't moaning too much.
Perhaps the likes of some would rather see us play great stuff & lose!
🤣 Thanks again, Dab, for the nice comment. 👍
09 Sep 2026 14:17:07
"Perhaps the likes of some would rather see us play great stuff & lose!"
😂
There's no serious answer to that.
09 Sep 2026 20:27:19
You are more than welcome, Chelmsford. 👍🏼😉
08 Sep 2026 18:21:17
We need to have an attacking line up again tonight. It works.
Agree0Disagree0
08 Sep 2026 18:48:07
Isn't that obvious? It's what many of us have been saying for ages.
08 Sep 2026 19:30:45
Hardly an attacking line up with Pablo up top. 😂
08 Sep 2026 21:12:53
Not quite sure what to make of this. Watching Mukasa playing in the same area as Pablo is like watching Messi and a player who plays for his pub team.
08 Sep 2026 15:09:21
I presume the Bolton game is still on tonight as no notification of postponement? ⚒⚒⚒
Agree0Disagree0
08 Sep 2026 18:15:46
Yeah, seemingly the Bolton manager is wanting his team to attack us and not be afraid. Could be an interesting evening.
08 Sep 2026 19:00:28
No one knows. Mike Tyson used to say, everyone has a plan until they get smacked in the face.
On the day, anything can happen. WH will have plenty of games like this away on a wet evening. That's when strength either comes out or not, when promotion expectations are met or not.
08 Sep 2026 19:11:32
Changes made as expected. Would be nice if we could give Bowen a proper rest.
Austbo starts with KWP and Kante with Mukasaa behind Pablo. Will Pablo actually finally score tonight?
