Can We Do It?

[burndenboxboy]

If 40 points is the benchmark for PL safety, we need 31 points between now and the end of the season

That's over 10 wins, can you see us realistically getting these valued points on current form?

[aarons2009]

Hell yeah.

[Batman]

At the moment I really don't care

[Le God]

Not on current form but things change don't they.

so the answer is no we won't stay up but there were a few good seasons back in the day.

so I'm happy.

[RustyMcHayes]

Nope we are down already, I have accepted it.

[aarons2009]

At the moment I would kill for a last day survival game, one win and we stay up.

Funny how so many people from other teams still think we will stay up, not sure if they know something we don't.

[CaBuell]

Nope we are done..

[burndenboxboy]

I think OC is a BWFC legend but his tactics and lack of game changing ability will send us into the fizzy pop

Once there we may not get back, we will struggle because the players will feel sorry for themselves as they are now

I love bolton and will support them whatever league they are in but feel its going to take a lot of strong will and leadership to get us fighting to get out of this one

[Gloria Stitz]

9 points from 15 games ends in a 22.8 (call it 23) point season. That would make us one of the Premier League's worst ever. So without wanting to state the obvious, big changes are needed.

If we're serious about staying up, we have to ditch Kevin Davies. Its like playing with ten men, except ten men would be better as we'd concede less free kicks. Statistically, Coyle believes Davies is our most important striker, having started him in three matches more than any other striker. He cannot be playing with a full deck. This is by far and away our biggest stumbling block but it is by no means the only one.

Muamba should always be picked ahead of Pratley. Pratley should be used as nothing more than a back up player or as a last half an hour substitute to tighten up the midfield. I'm not Muamba's biggest fan but the least he usually does is make it difficult for opposing midfielders to attack so liberally.

Kakuta is fast and skilful and he wants the ball all the time too - three qualities none of our other wide players don't have each of. Give him a chance - he could be the Shaun Wright Phillips we didn't get.

At this moment in time the centre forward pecking order should read, 1) N'Gog 2) Klasnic 3) Tuncay. Klasnic's place is only based on his form of the last month, otherwise Tuncay is ahead.

Robinson doesn't have to play. When Gardner is fit, he is the better player, and failing that, playing somebody out of position there could even work better. Steinsson at left back maybe? One of our three centre halves, one of which only misses out each game anyway?

So Coyle still has plenty of different cards to play. But I doubt he will ever give each of them a proper chance to work.

Thanks for reading,

Gloria.

[xmiles]

Short answer no. Long answer is pretty much as Gloria says. Unless Coyle suddenly acquires a footballing brain we are doomed.

[ReebokTrotter]

Highly unlikely, but stranger things have happened.

[Didledee]

Of course we can't lol.

We'll be fortunate to get between 20-25, it'll be a massive miracle to get like 30-35.

[Natasha Whittam]

At this moment in time the centre forward pecking order should read, 1) N'Gog 2) Klasnic 3) Tuncay. Klasnic's place is only based on his form of the last month, otherwise Tuncay is ahead.

You really are a tit. Ngog before Klasnic, the only player who knows where the net is?

And people call me a WUM!

[ShootNaka]

You really are a tit. Ngog before Klasnic, the only player who knows where the net is?

And people call me a WUM!

Seems ridiculous to me too, Klas is the only one who has actually and can actually score goals. Coyle just needs to stop playing him with someone as immobile as KD, because they are both slow as sin.

[Gloria Stitz]

Its no good knowing where the net is if your lack of defensive play (i.e. holding up abilities, pressing) contributes to your team conceding more goals than you score.

Thanks for reading,

Gloria.

[Didledee]

Its no good knowing where the net is if your lack of defensive play (i.e. holding up abilities, pressing) contributes to your team conceding more goals than you score.

Thanks for reading,

Gloria.

Utter garbage, Klasnic was the only one against Villa who kept possession and passed very accurate, KD should be dropped for N'Gog, Klasnic is a massive threat near the box, take him out and we'll be looking at Eagles scoring from range or from set-pieces.

[ShootNaka]

Pressing? fair enough he's not on defenders like a rabid dog, but really you can't rationalise dropping our one goal threat for poor ball retention which isn't really his game and the odd propensity to stand off his man.

[Natasha Whittam]

Its no good knowing where the net is if your lack of defensive play (i.e. holding up abilities, pressing) contributes to your team conceding more goals than you score.

I think you're taking the piss now, or you really are the dumbest poster since Straight G.

It's a sad day when you pick attackers based on their defensive skills.

[Weststander]

Klas is the most natural striker we've had since Anelka. I don't remember any moans about his defensive skills.

[xmiles]

Klasnic has to be first choice striker. If you give him the service he represents a real threat and has excellent statistics in terms of accuracy. Defensively he contributes little but so what. Defensively SKD only contributes fouls and we have been lucky not to have penalties awarded against us on several occasions due to his clumsiness/stupidity.

If anyone still doubts that Coyle completely fails to understand what is going on they need to explain why SKD starts every match despite being clearly one of our worst players currently.

[H. Pedersen]

As Didledee mentioned Klasnic offers more than goals, he's also the best passer on the team.  Some of the passes he makes with the outside of his left are stunning.

[Wiggy]

I am not very hopefull after seeing Jan and Feb's fixtures

JAN: Everton (A)
       Scum    (A)
       Liverpool (H)
       Arsenal   (H)

FEB: Norwich  (A)
        Wigan    (H)
        Chelsea  (A)

Maybe we can get 3 point's from Wigan.Dont see us getting a single point against the rest with this present squad.

[Gloria Stitz]

Defensive play is just as much about scoring goals as it is about defending them. More defensive play means more possession which brings more opportunities to attack. Also, its about the amount of dropping back a forward does to win possession in midfield, particularly for Bolton as this current midfield isn't blessed with passing ability.
Klasnic has improved his levels of mobility. Whether its to a sufficient degree, I'm not convinced.

Thanks for reading,

Gloria.

[aarons2009]

JAN: Everton (A)
       Scum    (A)
       Liverpool (H)
       Arsenal   (H)

FEB: Norwich  (A)
        Wigan    (H)
        Chelsea  (A)

Thanks for that, only just got in work and im depressed already!  

-----------------

Seems Andy Walker and Kris Kamara reckon we will be fine -

http://www.skysports.com/skysportsnews/story/0,,19501_7373109,00.html

[xmiles]

Unlike Andy Walker I don't think 5 points from the next 4 games is going to be anywhere near enough when you look at the fixtures in Jan/Feb.