Bolton v Portsmouth

[El-Hadji Stevo]

I think that we can give pompey a bit of a stuffing tomoro provided Megson isnt too negative...weve had 3 clean sheets in last 3 games and with this solid base we should be able to kick on and score a few goals like at reading. My team for tomoro would be (thinking that megson will play the 451/433):

. ----------------------------------- Jussi

---- Steinsson-----------O'Brien-----------Cahill------------Ricky

---------------------------------------- Campo

-----------------------------Guthrie -----------Nolan


-------------- Davies ------------- Helguson------------- Taylor/Diouf


Nolan played holding role against bayern and after watchin the game last nite again on dvd after being there in november i think this would be a decent role for him after campo goes!

Not sure whether we should stick with same starting 11 that beat reading or change it to bring diouf back in? I just dont think that you can leave diouf out when he's fit...cant decide who to drop though...Helguson scored and i feel davies is betr on the right...meby play diouf through the middle instead of helguson...

Any thoughts??

[Nicky Hunt]

Gardner has stunk last few games (except Reading....the first half anyway)

For me it's

Jussi

Steinsson-------O'Brien--------Cahill-----------Taylor

-------------Nolan-------McCann------Guthrie

Davies--------------Nicky Hunt (oh, fine...Helgusson)--------------Diouf

Allows us to have Much more of an attacking threat, since every player except the Centre Backs can attack with some skill. Plus Taylor is bound to score against his old team.

[Manny]

Not too sure how we'll line up. Hopefully play an attacking system with us being the home side. Probably the same old 4-5-1, 4-3-3 system. Possibly try out the 4-4-2 again at some stage.

My bet:
Jaaskelainen
Steinsson
Cahill
O'Brien
Gardner
Campo
Nolan
Guthrie
Taylor
Diouf
Davies

That's what I think, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Helguson start. He played last week and showed what he could do, but I think he may be on the bench.

1-1 draw tomorrow. Nolan for us, Defoe for them.

[Nicky Hunt]

That's what I worry about Manny. If we include Gardner it's only due to his performances in seasons long past (2 years....ancient history as I'm sure we young bucks will agree)

I'd much rather play Matty 'Sailor' Taylor at LB, since he can both get forward AND make a tackle (ricardo, make note).

Plus it allows us to stick with Helgusson, we've been crying out for a striker to, if not replace Anelka, then at least to tide us over til summer and keep us up. And after last week (1st half :angry: ...bastards) I think he's earned his place. Some think he's just another Davies-style clogger. But he seems to have the strikers skill/luck/whatever to be in the right place when the ball runs loose in the box and he knows where the goal is (Again, take note Ricardo....big white rectangle WITHOUT Jussi = shoot. Underline that one. Good boy)

[aussie wanderer]

Without knowing injuries & the like i'd go for
Jussi
gardner O'Brien Cahill Steinson

Campo

Nolan Guthie

Diouf Taylor


Hulguson/davies



I think there is a good balance to that side even thoe i'd love to see adranik get a start & as bad as Braaten has been i still honestly believe he has abit of quality about him.

[DannyW]

I'd go 4-4-2, with something along the lines of this:

Jussi
Steinsson Cahill AOB Gardner
Diouf Guthrie Nolan Taylor
Davies Helg

It would rely on the defence being very strong as there is no defensive mid in there but i think with that team the goals will come.

Anyone have any pre match predictions? I think we'll just edge it, 1-0 or 2-1 maybe. Im strangly optimistic for once. C'MON YOU WHITES!

[DannyW]

Absoulute daylight robbery. By far the best team throughout and once again a dodgy official and our inability to put the ball in the net cost us. It stings so much more knowing that diarra was offside and after looking up to see if he was flagged offside i saw the linesman about 10 yards behind play. I know it wasnt an easy decision to make but it'd been made alot easier by actually being where he should of been.
Best game of football ive seen at the Reebok for along time though and cant believe some people booed the players off at the end.

[Manny]

Gutted!

I thought there was only one team in the game first 45, they had a 10-15 minute spell at the start of the second half and we had the rest of the game.

But saying that, we only have ourselves to blame, you have to take your chances.

As for their goal, personally I thought the ball came off O'Brien but I've been told by people who've seen the replay that it came off Kanu and Diarra was offside. I await MOTD for confirmation.

[Howfen White]

Yeah it was very gutting to see us lose, but it was our own fault, plus very good defending from Portsmouth and a bit of luck thrown in as well. They didn't really deserve anything from the game, but I'm pretty happy because on that performance, I can't see us being relegated.