ricardo 7,239 Posted February 24, 2018 Ricardo''s report v Bolton Dunno why but when I posted this it went onto the Kings Lynn thread. Must be the cold weather[:)] It was back to the thermals today and they were sorely needed as I again resorted to two wheel transport of the pedaling kind. I haven''t quite got the timing right because again we arrived more than twenty minutes early although it gave me time to get some puff back and for my leg muscles to de-jellify.With Klose injured it was no surprise to see a back four employed and Hernandez given a start out wide right. From the off City looked neat and tidy with the passing, so much so that when I sneaked a look at the clock after Bolton''s first touch we were in the third minute. It was pretty to watch but there was little penetration until a ball over the top almost got Murphy in.City might well have had an early lead when some nice inter passing left Maddison in a position to find space to shoot low past Alnwick only for the ball to rebound off the face of the left post. Bolton seemed content to slow things at every opportunity and it wasn''t until the quarter hour that Le Fondre flicked a header well wide that they showed any offensive ambition. At the other end Murphy, again almost broke through only for a last gasp tackle to deny him as he went to pull the trigger.City continued to dominate proceedings and it was Maddison again who stung the visiting keepers hands with a pile driver that was punched away for a corner. Then City won a free kick on the edge of the "D" but Mr. Strouds spray line was barely set at 8 yards and Maddison couldn''t get it up and over. Minutes later the lively Hernandez sparked a run down the right and when the ball was moved inside Oliviera neatly made room and cracked a low drive from eighteen yards that had goal written all over it until Alnwick, at full stretch tipped it round the post.It was almost all one way traffic but the build up play was often too slow and Bolton always seemed to have either enough cover or a man to step up and cause an offside flag to be raised. However one sparkling move really should have brought an opener when neat first time passing allowed Leitner, to latch on to Oliviera''s first time pass in acres of space and with only the keeper to beat. He seemed to hesitate for a split second and I thought he was going to roll the ball across to Murphy but then decided to take it himself only to tamely chip it well wide of the far upright with the keeper sprawling in front of him. Oh dear! it was a dreadful miss and seemed to set the pattern for the rest of the game.Hernandez had been the bright spark of the first half and just before half time he won the ball and cut back a low cross which seemed made for Oliviera but again a Bolton foot got in first and Maddison''s follow up hit his own team mate then as the ball dropped Oliviera screwed it horribly wide. A disappointing end to a dominant half where we could and should have been a couple of goals clear.The second half was pretty much a continuation of the first with Maddison having a shot deflect across the face of goal but from about fifty five minutes it all began to get very scrappy with City getting more and more frustrated with Bolton''s time wasting and their own inability to beat the offside trap. Hernandez drifted out of the game and in my opinion should have made way long before the seventy seventh minute. Tetty was also swapped for Wes but in spite of six added minutes the game tamely tailed away to nothingness. I was bloody freezing cold by now and more than glad when Keith Stroud finally called time although more than a few warmed up to vent their anger with a storm of boo''s at the death.Hopefully we can now also call time on the fanciful idea that we could make the play offs. That bird flew well before Xmas and despite the odd encouraging string of results it has long been obvious that a goal a game and an average of one and a half points was never going to be enough. [:(] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Creative Midfielder 1,976 Posted February 24, 2018 Whilst it wasn''t a massive surprise to see a back four with Klose injured, it did seem (to me) a pretty much ideal game in which to give Raggett a chance, especially given the how well playing three at the back has been working recently.Maybe an indication that Raggett isn''t quite as ready as we thought, but if that''s the case then you would have thought letting him go back out on loan and playing regularly might have been the better option for the rest of the season? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Badger 2,389 Posted February 25, 2018 It was one of those games that you kind of knew that we would regret not scoring in the first half. The only comfort is that we did not do anything stupid and gift a goal to Bolton, which we have all seen so many times in the past. It is the fact that we now seem difficult to beat that gives me some confidence for next year, despite the seemingly inevitable loss of Maddision and Leitner. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SwindonCanary 455 Posted February 25, 2018 Football should be easy, would it not be better to have packed the box with players pump the ball in the there and let them fight for it ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ron obvious 1,473 Posted February 25, 2018 Many thanks as per ricardo. I''m impressed by your athleticism in the face of such inclement weather, particularly given your advancing years. I don''t think I''d have done it, & I a mere stripling in comparison.We almost certainly won''t make the top 6 this year, but games like yesterday - first half anyway - give me hope. I suspect we''re beginning to move the ball that little bit quicker as cohesion & familiarity blossom. The big question of course is what happens when James has departed (possibly Leitner too). We can only pray that Webber''s scouts can unearth some gems this summer (most likely from parts foreign). Otherwise next season could be a tricky one. Yet I remain optimistic! :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
westcoastcanary 173 Posted February 25, 2018 We now have a team starting to play good, intelligent, soundly structured football. That''s a big step forward on what we had before, even if there''s still massive room for improvement. The last time the same could be said was during our most successful period, and fans then wrongly attached too much importance to individual players despite the continuous turnover in "stars" on whom our success was always supposed to hinge. People are getting exercised over losing Leitner. Most had never heard of him or knew anything about him before he came in on loan! It was quite a coup to get him, he''s an excellent player, and it would be great if he signed for us. But if he doesn''t, there are other excellent players out there, including home grown ones, affordable and capable of meeting our need. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor Hockey's Beard 520 Posted February 25, 2018 Leitner seemed to be fed up about something towards the end of the second half - was it the fact that he is too good for our level?I thought Onel had a good first half, and seemed to understand his defensive duties too, but he was anonymous for the second half. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ricardo 7,239 Posted February 25, 2018 [quote user="ron obvious"]Many thanks as per ricardo. I''m impressed by your athleticism in the face of such inclement weather, particularly given your advancing years. I don''t think I''d have done it, & I a mere stripling in comparison.We almost certainly won''t make the top 6 this year, but games like yesterday - first half anyway - give me hope. I suspect we''re beginning to move the ball that little bit quicker as cohesion & familiarity blossom. The big question of course is what happens when James has departed (possibly Leitner too). We can only pray that Webber''s scouts can unearth some gems this summer (most likely from parts foreign). Otherwise next season could be a tricky one. Yet I remain optimistic! :-)[/quote]Thanks Ron, yes I''ve surprised myself with the cycling but it was a case of needs must and I''m not quite ready yet to give up my season ticket. When that time comes they will have to rip it out of my cold dead hand.[:D] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JF 694 Posted February 25, 2018 Trevor Hockey''s Beard wrote the following post at 25/02/2018 12:24 PM:Leitner seemed to be fed up about something towards the end of the second half - was it the fact that he is too good for our level? He didn’t look too good spooning what should have been an easy goal and subsequent 3 points chance wide Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Indy 3,232 Posted February 25, 2018 Thought the first half Leitner, Madders & Murphy all passed and moved really well.Leitner reminded me a bit of Pritchard. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted February 25, 2018 Do you have a grey gaberdine mack and cycle clips Ricardo?They were de rigueur when I first started going. Mind you, they had to stand in those days as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ricardo 7,239 Posted February 25, 2018 [quote user="keelansgrandad"]Do you have a grey gaberdine mack and cycle clips Ricardo?They were de rigueur when I first started going. Mind you, they had to stand in those days as well.[/quote]Not since schooldays KG.[:D] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill 1,788 Posted February 25, 2018 [quote user="keelansgrandad"]Do you have a grey gaberdine mack and cycle clips Ricardo?They were de rigueur when I first started going. Mind you, they had to stand in those days as well.[/quote]Why, had someone nicked their bycycle seats ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted February 25, 2018 Why, had someone nicked their bycycle seats ?Only to sniff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill 1,788 Posted February 25, 2018 My cousin used to get a crossbar to gamesa bit of a bugger for my uncle when they went to away games Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted February 25, 2018 Funny thing, he had a ladies bike. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
westcoastcanary 173 Posted February 26, 2018 [quote user="Trevor Hockeys Beard"]Leitner seemed to be fed up about something towards the end of the second half - was it the fact that he is too good for our level?[/quote]After running the recording through again on iFollow my impression is that Leitner was exasperated by Bolton''s time wasting. When Bolton were awarded a free kick just before the HT whistle, Morais dawdled over it until the ref blew to end the half. Leitner went straight up to ref and gestured towards where Morais was marching off towards the tunnel, clearly making a point about it. Just before that, when Maddison was waiting to take a corner, Leitner appeared to complain to the linesman about the nearest Bolton player delaying the kick by not backing off the required distance. Added to his obvious frustration at missing his chance, I would imagine he pulled his shirt up over his head as he left the field to let him vent his feelings more discreetly! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites