Ricardo's report v Bolton

[ricardo 8,034]

For the first time this winter Ricardo donned his 12 quid M&S thermal pants in the expectation of Artic conditions at CR. Fortified by a suitable quantity of Peroni''s Ricardo was comfortably seated at quarter to three awaiting PL''s usual raft of changes. There was no sense of disappointment on that score as Jacko, Foxy, Drury and Pilks all made the starting line up.

After half a minute of Bolton keepball City soon took the initiative and some good passing and movement quickly exposed gaps in the Bolton back line. Holty volleyed a cross from the right which was well saved and the lively Jacko twice burst into space to send low efforts just wide of the post. City were looking as good as I have seen them in a long time and the change from the midweek match was a delight to behold. Bolton defended strongly but it was City''s profligacy in front of goal that kept the scores level. Ayala went down injured and had to limp off after 25 minutes and was replaced by Martin. Within seconds two great chances were created and missed. Some wonderful passing and control in the Bolton area by Wes and Holty left Surman with a clear sight of goal from 6 yards only for his shot to come back off the underside of the bar. Then a corner  was bundled narrowly wide. It seemed a goal must come soon but what happened next was a serious blow to the Canaries. Whitbread seemed to pull up, it looked like a hamstring problem and he had to come off. With no more defenders on the subs bench, Bennett came on and the back line was reshuffled. This seemed to affect the crowd more than anything and the last minutes of the half were played out in a much quietened stadium.

The loss of both central defenders was a big worry to Ricardo and with the height of the Bolton giants an ariel assault was expected. However it was all City again as the second period started and somehow Holty manged to direct a free header wide when it seemed easier to score. Chances continued to be made and spurned. Jacko was in tip top form and regularly beat his marker but found keeper Bogdan equal to everything thrown at him. Holt skyed over from 5 yards and Pilks had a drive saved but time ticked on and the worry was a Bolton breakaway might nick the points. Having said that they didn''t have much to trouble Ruddy and when Davies came on they won a few more headers but Martin and Naughton marshalled superbly at the back. On 69 minutes Bennett broke down the right and Surman netted from his second effort. Jacko went off to great applause for what must be his best performance to date. He was replaced by Morison who soon got involved as City continued to stride into the Bolton area with ease.A wave of relief swept round CR aftyer the opening goal but City were not done yet. They continued to outplay and out compete a poor Bolton side and it was no surprise when Pilks latched onto a loose ball to power in number two. It was all too easy for a rampant City who dominated throughout.

It has to be Jacko MOM for me with Pilks close behind but this was such a difference from Wednesday night that Ricardo can only bow down to the brilliance of PL who has surely been touched by the hand of the football Gods.

[JKUIL 0]

Thanks Ricardo for another entertaining and informative report. I was watching Sky during the match and during the second half Paul Merson stated that Bolton were in the ascendancy and looked the more likely to score. Shortly after Norwich scored ! Interesting too that through force of circumstances our midfield remained intact for the whole match. Fox was hardly mentioned, what was your opinion of his performance ?

[ricardo 8,034]

[quote user="Al Catraz"]Thanks Ricardo for another entertaining and informative report. I was watching Sky during the match and during the second half Paul Merson stated that Bolton were in the ascendancy and looked the more likely to score. Shortly after Norwich scored ! Interesting too that through force of circumstances our midfield remained intact for the whole match. Fox was hardly mentioned, what was your opinion of his performance ?[/quote]

 

Strange how some people see the game. I didn''t think Bolton were on top at any stage today. Norwich were totally dominant throughout and only eased offf when the two centre backs had to go off and we had to reshuffle. It could easily have been 5 nil today and how BBC can give Bolton 51% possesion defies any sort of logic. My impression was about 60% to 40% to City.

[Gingerpele 0]

ricardo, your point about possession there, I think we pretty much always have less possession, but it can appear like we have more. But I have to agree we were pretty much always in control, Bolton never really threatened other than in slight glimpses, and while we weren''t going at 100mph the whole time, we were mostly on top and in control.

I do like reading your reports, always fair and well balanced, and the standard never drops, very good :)

[Bill 1,788]

"how BBC can give Bolton 51% possesion defies any sort of logic"if you were to see how this nonsense is arrived at you would give it as much credence as you migh mystic meg predicting the lottery numbers based on somebody throwing chickens bones on the ground on the other side of the wallas to what I saw Bolton didn''t really look that committed or that threatening, but for some bad finishing/bad luck we could have doubled the score. I doubt even gthe most deluded Bolton fan would have said they were the better team on the day.The point being Ricardo that comments like yours are based on what you saw at the match, whereas so much now is just bought in or ''borrowed'' third hand from '' journalists'' more interested in filing copy as soon as possible than any concern for accuracy.

[ricardo 8,034]

[quote user="City1st"]"how BBC can give Bolton 51% possesion defies any sort of logic"

if you were to see how this nonsense is arrived at you would give it as much credence as you migh mystic meg predicting the lottery numbers based on somebody throwing chickens bones on the ground on the other side of the wall

as to what I saw Bolton didn''t really look that committed or that threatening, but for some bad finishing/bad luck we could have doubled the score. I doubt even gthe most deluded Bolton fan would have said they were the better team on the day.

The point being Ricardo that comments like yours are based on what you saw at the match, whereas so much now is just bought in or ''borrowed'' third hand from '' journalists'' more interested in filing copy as soon as possible than any concern for accuracy.
[/quote]

 

I don''t know how they work out those figures C1st, but they obviously watched a different game to me. I suppose they count as possesion the time Bolton took with goal kicks, throw ins etc. It bears no resemblance to what really happened on the field of play. City''s attacks were quick, incisive and dangerous and for me they dominated every aspect of tha game in a way that we have seldom seen this season. Anyone who watched that performance can have no doubts about which team will be playing Premier League football next season.

[Bill 1,788]

From my understanding much of it is estimated, or as the cynics might say made up.The problem is that football has attracted a huge number of followers who have not a clue about the game and so look to ''stats'' to give them some means of evaluating the game. A small (very small) industry has grown up to fill that need. So such witless drivel as how fast a player ran, how many yards were gained by encroaching along the line during the throw ins and how many goalkicks were met by the same team. EvWhile it might be easy to laugh at such idiocy there is a hidden danger whereby how far will the game be bent to satisfy their needs. If you can watch some recordings of American football from pre war days. A game that resembled rugby league, yet has now degenerated into a choreographed freak show that is pretty much ran by the advertisers/sponsors. I have to concur where each team will be next season. Watching us in the games before Xmas confirmed to me that City were in no relegation threat but today Bolton almost confirmed their certainty to go down. Taking nothing away from City but Bolton were woeful today. City were better in every level. They wanted to win, Bolton seem to regard it as an option.

[YankeeCanary 0]

City 1st, I agree with your comment on American football. Regardless, the game certainly seems to have become more popular with many in the UK in recent years. Possibly something to do with the young not minding commercial breaks and statistical mania as they are otherwise pre-occupied on breaks with multi tasking on the internet, texting etc. on their ( I can''t live without it ) mobiles.

[Bill 1,788]

The problem is YC is when does tampering slide into major change ?How much will the tail be allowed to wag the dog, more so when so much of the audience are there for the spectacle and the perephary stuff as they are there for the actual football.American football may have an increased following through the media but is on the retreat almost everywhere else. It has never really taken off as a participating ''sport; outside of the US and attendances at games are on a slide - though matched by increased TV audiences.Any wonder advertisers are now controlling so much that is no more than synchronised swimming with padded shoulders.

[claud 0]

ESPN have the possession stat at 52% to Norwich.

Same game, different stat. Should tell you all you need to know about their accuracy.

[andyc24_uk 79]

At one point shortly before the first goal, the stream I was watching (some Canadian sports channel but pretty sure it was the Sky pictures/commentary) flashed up a graphic claiming Bolton had 92% of the possession over the last 5 minutes! OK, this was around the time they had a handful of chances and a bit of pressure, but 92%? come on, either that''s a typo or completely made up by someone not even watching the game!

[norfolkbroadslim 225]

Jackson deserved all the credit he got, but others must credit also (for the little things that often go unnoticed), in respect of the players who came on and those who had to reshuffle in a seamless transition after losing 2 centre backs.

 

It was like role reversals from our last game, with us playing the part of Sunderland and Bolton that of Norwich

[Buncey 1]

Great report as ever Ricardo, and just how I saw it. Two points:1. Even though Fox had a poor game by his standards (he gave the ball away more times yesterday than usual, his pass percentage was way down on his average) he really brings out the best in Surman, Pilkington and most importantly Hoolahan. Hoolahan in particular looked a completely different player yesterday compared to the Sunderland game. I really liked the midfield choice yesterday, four technically good players on the ball, all of them can pass, shoot, cross and score. They also all individually put to bed the critique that can neither not defend or tackle. We completely out hustled Bolton in midfield.2. The way Bolton came out after half time was disgraceful. It was like watching a team in slow motion. I could scarcely believe that we were not 2 or 3 goals up by 60 minutes. Whatever Lambert says to those players at half-time works because I have yet to see us once not dominate as soon as the whistle goes for the second half.

[YankeeCanary 0]

We did well yesterday. However, I do feel it''s worth pointing out that two or three months back I was reading in the press that almost all of the Bolton first team are out of contract at the end of the season and the club is not putting any offers on the table until that point. If that''s true it would help explain why Coyle is having such a tough time getting them motivated.