Talk about bad luck. Cahill was the MOTM for me yesterday but his two mistakes were very costly. Missing the header and a pinpoint pass to the totally unmarked Babel who had all the time in the world to take aim and fire in their second. Would Steinson have been closer to him?

We'll survive (just) - lets just hope the gross mismanagement of the last 12 montsh or so is sorted before next season otherwise I can see us dropping without trace.

We are beginning to see why Martin O'Neill got rid of him, mistakes like yesterday and the penalty calamity at Blackburn!! Jussi must also take the blame yesterday, up to his mistake we were playing really well! He is a good keeper but for me he doesn't command his area at all times and he cannot kick, I suspect that these are some of the reasons why he is still at Bolton!

I am getting sick and tired of people saying "We can survive", "Bolton are too good to go down", "There are worse teams than Bolton in the Premiership" and "We're unlucky"!
This is dire straits time! And the sooner everyone acknowledges that then we might have a chance of digging ourselves out of the sh*t.
March and April are the two months that are 'make or break' for any Club's season - whether pushing for honours or trying to avoid the drop. String a few good results together now and we'll still be up there next season. If not....

Cahill was the only one to come out of yesterday with ANY credit at all, he might have had a lapse against the inbreds last week, but he single-handedly prevented two goals going in yesterday.

A shambolic 2nd half from the Whites, leaves me very fearful for the rest of the season. Pies away is now absolutely vital.

Dont get me wrong I think that Cahill is a good player, however, I do wonder why O'Neill wanted to get rid!! The defence has gone back to its old dodgy self in the last couple of games! If we can survive the drop then a quality striker in the summer is a must, but where he would come from I don't have a clue!!

orangeman wrote:
I am getting sick and tired of people saying "We can survive", "Bolton are too good to go down", "There are worse teams than Bolton in the Premiership" and "We're unlucky"! This is dire straits time! And the sooner everyone acknowledges that then we might have a chance of digging ourselves out of the sh*t. March and April are the two months that are 'make or break' for any Club's season - whether pushing for honours or trying to avoid the drop. String a few good results together now and we'll still be up there next season. If not....

Don't get me wrong - I think we will be incredibly fortunate to stay up and we are a club in potentially terminal decline. I just think that experience of having been there before and our record against those around us should be good enough to scrape it. The problem to my mind is that we haven't (as fans) done enough to really worry the board. I think that Julie said on another thread its impossible to know what a constructive way to put fear if God up them is. Boycott and you upset the players, protest and you upset Megson (whos a decent character lumped with an unsolvable problem - though whether he is as good a manager as a club with our recent record should aspire to have on board is quite something else).

Mate I fear we are screwed but I also think we should have just enough to survive this season.

Mate I fear we are screwed but I also think we should have just enough to survive this season

How does that work?

Chris Manning, Gotham City PD wrote:

Mate I fear we are screwed but I also think we should have just enough to survive this season

How does that work?

Long term (as in next season and beyond) if they continue to run the club as it is now then we will plummet and we won't be back any time soon. In the next couple of months I suspect we will have just enough to get through inspite of rather than because of the people running the club. That explain it?

We've been heading downhill since the FA chose to ignore Fat Sam for Ing-ur-lund.

Relegation will destroy us, but if that happens I'll still go to the games.

Were a club in terminal decline my word, I dont see a supermarket bing built on the South Stand just yet or I dont see our next three fixtures being Torquay, Newport County and Exeter City were not getting crowds of 1.150 and we dot have Reeves or Philiskirk up front anymore.
All the doom mongereing isnt helping anyone, yes were in the mire but put it in to context we got beat of Liverpool who are despite what you think are a good side.
If this time in two weeks we are moaning cos The Pies have hammered us the so be it.It coud be worse we could be in Fulham and Derby's situaion here.
Weve got a HUGE game on thursday ok itsnot people priority but it's these nights that being afan is about. With highs come lows thats football. I for one am enjoying the ride.

...but there maybe hope, just had a look at the fixtures, no prem games for 2 weeks (excellent news) if the club can forget all about the league for large chunk of that 2 weeks and focus purely on europe, enjoy the occasion, do some team bonding stuff, mix with the bolton fans and the chasing portugese police, relax, go for walks in the portugese scenery, reflect, we may just come back refreshed and focused for the remainder of the season, playing like a new team. here's hoping.

I'm just delighted that the United game has been cancelled, otherwise at the mo they'd stick ten past us.

Wish it had been cancelled instead of being postponed lol!!

Cahill refuses to waver but we want you all to wave your scarves on Thursday!!

This from BWFC official site:

UEFA Cup Scarf Giveaway
Posted on: Mon 03 Mar 2008

Fans attending Wanderers UEFA cup tie against Sporting Clube De Portugal on Thursday 6th March, will be able to show their support with a free scarf giveaway.

Commercial Director Gareth Moores said "We have a limited number of scarves available and so the give away will be on a first come first served basis for a selected period of time pre - match. They will be handed out on entry to the Reebok Stadium and we are advising anyone who wants the scarf to get to the ground in good time."

He added "We want to make sure it is another special European night for everyone, the atmosphere against Atletico was fantastic and along with the singing section in the Debt Matters North Stand we are sure that it will be just as good once again."

Come on you Whites!!

Portuguese club Montijo admit that Bolton target Helio Vaz will leave their club at the end of the season.


The 17-year-old has spent the last week on trial at The Reebok Stadium and is understood to have impressed Bolton's coaching staff.

Benfica are also closely following Vaz who looks set to leave Montijo - who are in the Portuguese fourth division.

"We know how good Helio Vaz is," said Montijo's vice-president Pedro Louro.

"A report went to Bolton and they showed an interest in seeing him and he spent that last week training with their first team.

"And from what we have heard he will be heading back to Bolton at the end of the season so they can see him again."



Set to leave


Despite Bolton's strong interest, Louro admitted Vaz's future was yet to be decided.

"It is inevitable that Montijo and Helio will part company at the end of the season, despite the fact we do not have an agreement with any club," he said.

"Benfica have also shown an interest and he will possibly go and train with them next week."

Ha, have you actually read what you have written?

gazz_ball - Supera Moras! wrote:
Portuguese club Montijo admit that Bolton target Helio Vaz will leave their club at the end of the season. The 17-year-old has spent the last week on trial at The Reebok Stadium and is understood to have impressed Bolton's coaching staff. Benfica are also closely following Vaz who looks set to leave Montijo - who are in the Portuguese fourth division. "We know how good Helio Vaz is," said Montijo's vice-president Pedro Louro. "A report went to Bolton and they showed an interest in seeing him and he spent that last week training with their first team. "And from what we have heard he will be heading back to Bolton at the end of the season so they can see him again." Set to leave Despite Bolton's strong interest, Louro admitted Vaz's future was yet to be decided. "It is inevitable that Montijo and Helio will part company at the end of the season, despite the fact we do not have an agreement with any club," he said. "Benfica have also shown an interest and he will possibly go and train with them next week."

not talked to vaz te yet then has he.

Come back Big Sam your slippers are being warmed by the fireside.

Sadly, fellow Bolton fans, I believe that this season shows the end of what has been a great era for BWFC.

We have been spoilt by the likes of Okocha, Youri, Hierro, Campo, Anelka, Stelios and so on.

The look of the whole club, from top to bottom, is poor. Poor Chairman, poor manager, poor backroom staff, poor attendances, poor atmosphere and more shockingly - too many poor players.

We are meant to be a Premiership team. We cannot fill the stadium (myself included)because of the sky high prices, we are making absolute shocking moves in the transfer market (Southampton reserve) and we don't have a striker who can score.

Smegson is not good enough to shines Big Sams shoes. If we are still around at the end of the season, for gods sake, bring back Big Sam.

Perhaps we need a season or two in the Championship to re group and get our house in order.

I know what you mean, but can you imagine the decimated squad?

It'd be

Habsi

Hunt
Samuel
A.O.B.
Fojut

Nolan
A.N. Other
A.N. Other
A.N. Other

Vaz
Davies

Thanks Fartfaceside

CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE HERE WE COME

LETS HANG FAT FACE GARTSIDE

We're playing Sporting Lisbon on Thursday.

Sorry, just thought I should mention that to all the knee-jerkers who think the world has ended because we're in a relegation scrap.

We've been here before, it's no problem. We haven't been in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup before though...I think it's only me that's excited by that.

Thought we were doing OK up to half time yesterday apart from Jussi's calamitous dive for the TV cameras - Perhaps he should wear a "For Hire" patch as well as the number 22 on the back of his shirt.

But what on earth happened at half time. For the first twenty minutes of the second half we played like we'd just turned up for a kick about at the local park and never been introduced to one another before and it didn't get much better after that.

Where was the effect of the manager's "motivational" pep talk and, forgive me for asking as I didn't think to look, but who assumed the captain's role and what was he doing when all around him was chaos.

There was absolutely nothing in midfield for the whole of the second half, giving Liverpool the freedom of the park, and I don't think Guthrie or Nolan are the answer to that one.

The table tells us that the manager's policy of sticking with the same old team and the same old formation is just not working but is he big enough or does he have the guts to make the big decisions that are needed - I think not.

Take a look at this website:http://www.s
quarefootball.net/ar
ticle/article.asp?ai
d=5424 see what you think?

breezeblock wrote:
We're playing Sporting Lisbon on Thursday. Sorry, just thought I should mention that to all the knee-jerkers who think the world has ended because we're in a relegation scrap. We've been here before, it's no problem. We haven't been in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup before though...I think it's only me that's excited by that.

Exactly well said Breeze.

And so the end is near…

I may have missed something, but has Gartside ever said why we never bought in a striker to replace Anelka?

I don't blame Megson, I personally think that he was not warned about this, until a day or two before he was sold. Admittedly he still had nearly a month to find someone. However, our so called scouts should have been told back in Novemeber to start earning their money and find decent replacements. I am sure that if Megson had been handed a list of replacements at the same time Gartside popped his smug head round the door, with "Oh I thought you might be interested to know I have sold the only player who knows where the net is", then we could have bought one in for a decent price before every club in Europe doubled their prices.

This is not rocket science. "Anyone who knows anything about football" knows this!

Previously the only bright side I could manage to see of us going down was that the board would be sacked. However, I have a very bad feeling that if we do go down we will be stuck with Gartside. Does anyone beleive that Gartside will have the grace to stand down and admit this is all of his doing?

Get real - Quite obvious when Nolan doesnt play we miss his drive and determination. Now lets remember Grimsby Notts County Gigg Lane Darlington and Southend. NOW think Bayern Red Star Madrid now Lisbon. Not to mention Arsenal Chelsea Man U Liverpool Tottenham etc. We can stay up - get off Megsons back - first 10 games as put us were we are - Sammy Lee brought the sh*** only AOB has aquitted himself out of the players brought in previously. 3 of Megsons signing are quality - Rasiak is a body to put up front and a gamble that I doubt will pay off.

Given that everybody is picking bones about our latest defeat, then may I add that games are won and lost sometimes on a freak mistake or by a wrong refereeing decision, the fact that Jussi cost us another goal and then later Pepe Reina made a cracking save from Kevin Davies was enough to win the game for LFC, what I was disapointed about was the fact that when we came out in the 2nd half we played like a team without direction and that we had accepted that we were going to be relegated, the team, especially our 2 key players Campo & Diouf were left wanting themselves never mind those who look up to them, so my hope for future games are that we roll up our sleeves and start wanting to believe we will win a match and do something to get the crowd excited, never known the Reebok as quiet yesterday which is terrible.

Keep the Faith

the simple facts of the matter are Gartside prepared us for the Championship, by employing a Championship manager!
He couldn't be bothered to spend any money replacing Big Sam, hence Sammy Lee trying to put his Mark on the club. Little Sam did indeed put is mark on the club. and boy ain't we still paying for that little gem!
If gartside had offered Allardyce money to strengthen the squad two years back, He would still be with us. We would be challenging at the top still and this whole sorry episode would not of happened.
I don't expect every one to agree with me, but i feel we will fall away from the top division for many years to come, just like we did in the 80s. We had morons in charge then, we have morons in charge now. Pessimistic? maybe, seen it all before? Without a doubt!
Ok, we have got the Uefa cup, but much as i'd love to win it, it won't pay the bills like the bread and butter of the Premier League.
Before some of you jump down my throat, it is my opinion, not necessarily yours and i really do hope i am wrong. Only time will tell.

this is our best team

gk:jaaskelainen

rb:steinsson
cb:a o'brien
cb:cahill
lb:gardner

rm:stelios
cm:nolan
lm:taylor

fw:helguson
cf:davies
fw:diouf

We're playing Sporting Lisbon on Thursday.

Sorry, just thought I should mention that to all the knee-jerkers who think the world has ended because we're in a relegation scrap.

We've been here before, it's no problem. We haven't been in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup before though...I think it's only me that's excited by that.

Sorry, thought it was worth posting...can't believe some people on here are close to killing themselves.

Trotter wrote:
Given that everybody is picking bones about our latest defeat, then may I add that games are won and lost sometimes on a freak mistake or by a wrong refereeing decision, the fact that Jussi cost us another goal and then later Pepe Reina made a cracking save from Kevin Davies was enough to win the game for LFC, what I was disapointed about was the fact that when we came out in the 2nd half we played like a team without direction and that we had accepted that we were going to be relegated, the team, especially our 2 key players Campo & Diouf were left wanting themselves never mind those who look up to them, so my hope for future games are that we roll up our sleeves and start wanting to believe we will win a match and do something to get the crowd excited, never known the Reebok as quiet yesterday which is terrible.

Keep the Faith

I think that this is fair comment re how games are woin and lost. We have both had our sixpenn'orth on JJ too on this or other threads.

I do think though that it's a bit harsh and maybe incorrect to infer that players on the day accepted they were going to be relegated. I'm sure they accepted that they were going to be defeated by Liverpool and I wish manager and players had somehow risen above this. My fear is that they haven't yet cottoned on the fact that we are likely relegation candidates- if they had maybe there would be more abandon in the play and less submission.

For my part I do think that we still have the potential to get more points than some of our rivals..but we will have to make inspired selections and have some luck especially v Wigan, Middlesbro and Sunderland. I bemoan our lack of adventure against Newcastle ( and others) more than the Liverpool defeat.

breezeblock wrote:
We're playing Sporting Lisbon on Thursday. Sorry, just thought I should mention that to all the knee-jerkers who think the world has ended because we're in a relegation scrap. We've been here before, it's no problem. We haven't been in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup before though...I think it's only me that's excited by that. Sorry, thought it was worth posting...can't believe some people on here are close to killing themselves.

Once again I agree with that

Well for all the enthusiasm of the defenders it's soul destriying when you see so many things go against you like Dioufy hitting the bar, Davies's header saved and in recent weeks Matty Taylors glaring miss, the last gasp goals,including offsides against Rovers and Portsmouth and just about everything else going against us.I have to say I feel really sorry for the guys, they have played some great stuff recently but had no return for it. Hopefully lady luck will smile before it's too late but if not you'd have to say the biggest fault, whoevers it is,was not replacing Anelka with at least one capable striker. Bad mistake and coming back to haunt us I'm afraid. You can't expect to muddle though in the Prem, you need quality and we just aint got it up front.

Am i right in thinking the board have a lot to answer for if we do go down by not replacing Anelka.i see samual wants a loan deal thats great just not good enough.does anybody know who is going to score the goals to keep us up i dont.

well said bibendum the fact is we sold anelka for a tidy profit and the management replaced him with raisak who spends most of his time on his a**e, can we stay up, yes with a lot of graft, we cant blame any one for are position in the premiership but ourselves megsons buys have been good but a striker was needed which we didnt get but we shall keep the faith come on you white men

bibendum wrote:
Well for all the enthusiasm of the defenders it's soul destriying when you see so many things go against you like Dioufy hitting the bar, Davies's header saved and in recent weeks Matty Taylors glaring miss, the last gasp goals,including offsides against Rovers and Portsmouth and just about everything else going against us.I have to say I feel really sorry for the guys, they have played some great stuff recently but had no return for it. Hopefully lady luck will smile before it's too late but if not you'd have to say the biggest fault, whoevers it is,was not replacing Anelka with at least one capable striker. Bad mistake and coming back to haunt us I'm afraid. You can't expect to muddle though in the Prem, you need quality and we just aint got it up front.

(You need quality up front we just aint got it)
Gone are the days of our guttsy strikers.money is the motivation and as long asthere are greedy mercinary forwards out there ,Bolton WFC will have no chance of there services.(unless its from has beens who need to make a killing at our expence)

Somone remind me who scored the goals before Anelka arrived...remember..
.when we qualified for Europe? Did we go down prior to Anelka arriving - because I seem to think we were doing OK.

Get real the difference yesterday was that Liverpool cost approx £200 mil and Bolton approx 10 mil, on top of that the players where looking towards Thursday and either didn't want to be hurt or carded. In my opinion yesterday my man of the match upto going off was Nolan, also one of the best signings we have had is Cahill, to answer your question of why Aston Villa let him go was probably he wasn't in the in crowd like Stelios doesn't seem to be with either Sammy Lee or Gary Megson. We needed Stelios yesterday and I don't mean keeping the bench warm. He is good enough to play for his country but not good enough for a religation battle with Bolton. We weren't in this position when he was playing regular, him and Diouf seem to have a good understanding and played well together, of course you don't get that coming on occasionally in the last 5 minutes or so. If we go down this time it won't be so easy to come back, of course we encourage our players by telling them that in the position we are in we can't offer new contracts, instead of offering new contracts with a clause written in as a precaution, or does that only apply to footballers contracts. As nice a person he seems to be I'm still not sure about Megson, he changes the team about to often he makes me dizzy, no wonder the players don't seem to know where they are. With the exception of Yesterdays match, the players didn't loose the last three or four matches, the officals took it away from us. Look at the league list they changed the Man U match because of the cup final and to look after United making us with four matches 13th, 16th, 19th, 22nd & 29th nice work who ever agreed with that and us in the position we are in. Lastly the man of the match in the second half should be awarded to Rafa he was like a red faced bouncy ball never giving the fourth offical a minute, he should have been sent to the stands, I have no doubt that Megson would have been.

"Quality Counts" and consistancy. Both of these seem to go missing too often.

les537 wrote:

bibendum wrote: Well for all the enthusiasm of the defenders it's soul destriying when you see so many things go against you like Dioufy hitting the bar, Davies's header saved and in recent weeks Matty Taylors glaring miss, the last gasp goals,including offsides against Rovers and Portsmouth and just about everything else going against us.I have to say I feel really sorry for the guys, they have played some great stuff recently but had no return for it. Hopefully lady luck will smile before it's too late but if not you'd have to say the biggest fault, whoevers it is,was not replacing Anelka with at least one capable striker. Bad mistake and coming back to haunt us I'm afraid. You can't expect to muddle though in the Prem, you need quality and we just aint got it up front.

(You need quality up front we just aint got it) Gone are the days of our guttsy strikers.money is the motivation and as long asthere are greedy mercinary forwards out there ,Bolton WFC will have no chance of there services.(unless its from has beens who need to make a killing at our expence)

Don't totally disagree les537 but there are a few out there who we could have brought in that could have done a job without breaking the bank. Sure we might have paid high wages but for the right guy so what, we did the same with Youri, Hierro and Campo and you can't say they weren't tryers and it didn't work. Just depends on how hard you look and where your ambitions lie and I think we know the answer to both of those with the current owners and board!!!

He'll soon loose is confidence when the crowd get on his back. Everyones saying they are too good to go down, actions speak louder than words

He'll soon loose is confidence when the crowd get on his back. Everyones saying they are too good to go down, actions speak louder than words