Richie got it badly wrong today

[Cheshunto]

The 1st 11 minutes were totally shambolic today, as we all saw, or those of us unfortunate to be watching.
James was ball watching with the 1st goal and the normally reliable pair of Beckles and Happe were all over the place.
Bolton should have got another couple in that shocking 1st half, one just before HT thanks to a bad back pass from Happe.

Richie didn’t help our beleaguered back four by picking a lightweight midfield which got totally overpowered by a Bolton team that we made look like Real Madrid.
The 2nd half was so different as Pratley and El Miz’ got a grip in midfield and Galbraith was pushed forward in place of the ineffective Sotiriou.
Pigott was also poor and I can’t see what he offers the team or how he starts games.
Forde looked lively today and fully deserved his goal and what was amazing was how Bolton were hanging on at the end as we dominated.
Personally I would have started today with a far more defensive line up and ‘grow into the game ‘. We started with a very attacking line up, oh, and Pigott and really the game was over after 11 mins, it was only Bolton taking their foot off the gas which allowed us back in.

[gshaw]

It reminded me a bit of the Oldham game when he first took over, almost looked like a selection to make a point of where the problems are ready for the January window.

[Monkey Boy]

The 1st 11 minutes were totally shambolic today, as we all saw, or those of us unfortunate to be watching.
James was ball watching with the 1st goal and the normally reliable pair of Beckles and Happe were all over the place.
Bolton should have got another couple in that shocking 1st half, one just before HT thanks to a bad back pass from Happe.

Richie didn’t help our beleaguered back four by picking a lightweight midfield which got totally overpowered by a Bolton team that we made look like Real Madrid.
The 2nd half was so different as Pratley and El Miz’ got a grip in midfield and Galbraith was pushed forward in place of the ineffective Sotiriou.
Pigott was also poor and I can’t see what he offers the team or how he starts games.
Forde looked lively today and fully deserved his goal and what was amazing was how Bolton were hanging on at the end as we dominated.
Personally I would have started today with a far more defensive line up and ‘grow into the game ‘. We started with a very attacking line up, oh, and Pigott and really the game was over after 11 mins, it was only Bolton taking their foot off the gas which allowed us back in.

Yes he did and it’s not the first time. He just doesn’t know what position some of the players should be playing. Galbraith needs two hard working players with him in the middle if he plays. Someone said Ruel should not be playing, there right,he has little or no control. Theo plays better further forward and Wellens starts off every game with the wrong formation and players in the wrong position and ends up changing it as the game goes on when we are playing catch up. Perhaps he’s getting the wrong info on the opposition ? In which case they need a new head scout.

[Cheshunto]

Yep, he also swapped James and Hunt over during the 1st half because obviously our original line up was being overrun time and time again.
We could easily have been 5 or 6 down by HT
Brynn made a great save and Bolton missed two sitters.
I haven’t seen RWs interview yet but he should take a fair amount of responsibility for that shambles of a 1st half.

He and the players also deserve credit for a great 2nd half and we were unlucky not to somehow get a point.

[BiggsyMalone]

Richie got it badly wrong but you went on to explain why the 3 Bolton goals were down to poor defensive work from the players. Nice one.

[Cheshunto]

Richie got it badly wrong but you went on to explain why the 3 Bolton goals were down to poor defensive work from the players. Nice one.

Glad you liked it,
It was poor defending, James was ‘ball watching’ for the first goal, I didn’t mention the others, but it was a shambles in that first 11 mins
Richie had a bad day unfortunately but so did some of the back four in those early stages.

[Hoover Attack]

The 1st 11 minutes were totally shambolic today, as we all saw, or those of us unfortunate to be watching.
James was ball watching with the 1st goal and the normally reliable pair of Beckles and Happe were all over the place.
Bolton should have got another couple in that shocking 1st half, one just before HT thanks to a bad back pass from Happe.

Richie didn’t help our beleaguered back four by picking a lightweight midfield which got totally overpowered by a Bolton team that we made look like Real Madrid.
The 2nd half was so different as Pratley and El Miz’ got a grip in midfield and Galbraith was pushed forward in place of the ineffective Sotiriou.
Pigott was also poor and I can’t see what he offers the team or how he starts games.
Forde looked lively today and fully deserved his goal and what was amazing was how Bolton were hanging on at the end as we dominated.
Personally I would have started today with a far more defensive line up and ‘grow into the game ‘. We started with a very attacking line up, oh, and Pigott and really the game was over after 11 mins, it was only Bolton taking their foot off the gas which allowed us back in.

It wasn’t that the line up wasn’t defensive enough - we looked better when we went to a front 4 rather than a front 3 and stopped them playing out.

It’s that the line up wasn’t experienced enough. Brown, Galbraith and Ruel got totally dominated. Only when Pratley came on (with El Miz) did it change and we more than matched them in the middle of the park.

[Hoover Attack]

It reminded me a bit of the Oldham game when he first took over, almost looked like a selection to make a point of where the problems are ready for the January window.

El Miz had a knock so was rested.

Pratley was no doubt being saved for the much more winnable game against Charlton in 2 days time.

Like he said in the interview, he gave the boys a chance to see where they’re at and found out they’re some way short.

[Long slender neck]

Threw them under a bus, nice management.

[Mistadobalina]

The way that Bolton were able to get at the back three and how square that back three kept getting caught suggests it was a tactical failure as much as a performance one in my opinion. No team that goes three down in ten minutes has set up right and find it disappointing that Wellens has basically absolved himself of responsibility for that in public.

The Ruel as a no.10 experiment needs to end. I get that Wellens has had his hand forced by Moncur being unfit but pick Sanders, Galbraith or even Miz for that role. Ruel is a complete passenger in midfield.

[Hoover Attack]

Threw them under a bus, nice management.

These are not fringe squad players, they're part of the first 16 who want to be starting games.

[Hoover Attack]

The way that Bolton were able to get at the back three and how square that back three kept getting caught suggests it was a tactical failure as much as a performance one in my opinion. No team that goes three down in ten minutes has set up right and find it disappointing that Wellens has basically absolved himself of responsibility for that in public.

I wasn't there, only watching on the stream from Dunnems gite, so difficult to give a full tactical analysis.

But yeah, we got it wrong. Their back 3 split across the full width of the pitch with their CDM dropping deep to make a diamond, and they played through our front 3 of Pigs, Shaq and Ruel with ease. They were constantly waltzing into our half without any pressure. Richie talks about Pigs inability to press so can only assume that was deliberate and we were prepared to let that happen.

However, that doesn't excuse how pee poor Galbraith and Brown were behind them. Again, as Richie said in the interview, they look like the occassion was too much for them and they just froze.

We were so much better when we pushed Theo up top, went 4 v 4 and forced them to play long, where Happe and Beckles were able to win headers.

[Hoover Attack]

The Ruel as a no.10 experiment needs to end. I get that Wellens has had his hand forced by Moncur being unfit but pick Sanders, Galbraith or even Miz for that role. Ruel is a complete passenger in midfield.

I don't think that's the issue. And the problem with Ruel is he scores goals.

Ruel and Pigs were both playing as 10s behind Shaq initially when the collapse happened, so they're both equally culpable.

Saying that, I thought Galbraith looked ok second half so would have no issue if he starts there next game.

[Ron Waffle]

It reminded me a bit of the Oldham game when he first took over, almost looked like a selection to make a point of where the problems are ready for the January window.

Please stop peddling this complete and utter nonsense.

[gshaw]

It reminded me a bit of the Oldham game when he first took over, almost looked like a selection to make a point of where the problems are ready for the January window.

Please stop peddling this complete and utter nonsense.

Things were learnt and highlighted yesterday and it shows where the L1 quality and experience are really lacking. Squad needs a lot of work to be competitive at this level, more than the board would like but that's where we are

[ComeOnYouOs]

Why was Pigott signed. He's a league 2 players, on a good day, the rest of the time he's non League.
A real passenger.
And we've got him for another 18 months..ouch!!!

[Tuffers#2]

Richie got it badly wrong but you went on to explain why the 3 Bolton goals were down to poor defensive work from the players. Nice one.

Glad you liked it,
It was poor defending, James was ‘ball watching’ for the first goal, I didn’t mention the others, but it was a shambles in that first 11 mins
Richie had a bad day unfortunately but so did some of the back four in those early stages.

Your blaming james over Happe ? F#cking hell.

[Hoover Attack]

Whilst not claiming any of the back 3 covered themselves in glory yesterday, they were properly left exposed by the midfield in front of them.

(Beckles was the only one who played ok but even he had a hand in one of the goals, the sh*t backpass from Brown that he should have just launched instead of trying to be clever).

[Tuffers#2]

no 22 backwards passing happe at fault 1 & 3 . Dont think defence can be blamed for galbraith always going backwards.