Injuries

I think i'm in the minority but I don't think Connolly is anywhere near L1 standard.

Watching on Tuesday with Gibbons / Hoole and Gordon + Belshaw brought back all the bad Laurel + Hardy memories from last season - the defence was a shambles at times and Belshaw trying to be centre of attention playing out from the back was embarrassing.

Something else that got my goat was Gordon didn't warm up he spent the session talking in the centre circle

Hunt / Wilson / Taylor / Grant + Friend are a huge uplift - Connolly does not fit in at all.

That said we aren't the Promotion chasing outfit we think we are yet - there is still a lot to do.

I've been thinking about your last 2 lines a bit this last week.

I don't see any way we will go up this year and I reference Barton's previous interviews for evidence of this.

He has talked on several occasions of us following the tracks Bolton and Plymouth set out on their route out of league 2 and upwards.

Both the above teams had average first seasons back in league one after promotion.

Their second seasons were both very good but fell short. Argyle just missed out on the play offs and I believe Bolton made them last year but didn't get through.

3rd season Argyle won the league.

This is boltons 3rd season unless my memory had failed me and I fully expect them to win the league this season or certainly gets autos.

Based on that pathway I fully expect us to finish top half this season but believe we may fall short of the play offs. Hope to be proved wrong but that's how I see it and If right I'd fully expect us to challenge next season. That's not to say if in a decent position in jan we shouldn't go hell for leather this year but I just don't see this side as a promotion team at present. It's early days though so il probably change my mind if we win tomorrow 😂

Re Hoole, Gordon and Connolly all are young and all are our players.
I have read many times on here that JB is great at developing players so what's gone wrong?
Also with Connolly, came in on loan and his partnership with Taylor improved the defense and many were very happy with him being purchased.

Good post. Sounds about right.

With the recruitment in defence and midfield this Summer I think expectations were very high. But yet again, as in 2020, we stopped there and didn’t finish with much in the attack. (I know Brown could be considered a forward but I suspect JB intended more esp with Loft going.)
I’ll be happy if we can challenge for a play off placing even if we don’t achieve it. That would represent solid progress over 2/3 years. But I suspect JB isn’t that patient and he won’t be happy with that. But before that happens JB has to transform our home form. It is truly poor and without any improvement we’re likely to be bumbling around nearer the bottom rather than the top. And with the squad that’s been assembled that would be very disappointing. 
A win tomorrow would be very welcome.

UTG!

I'm not sure attendance matters here - Barton is going for it regardless, he's a man is a hurry. He has shown he can build a deep squad without spending too much. Thomas and Taylor are great signings, Sinclair last year, Hunt looks to be a brilliant addition too. He also gets decent players on loan.

So I think we have a good chance of getting into the promotion mix in the next few years. Only problem is if JB is patient enough and sticks around. 

Surely attendances matter . Sheff w Ipswich Plymouth all averaged over 15000 last year and were in the top 6. The other 3 Bolton Derby Pompey are all bookies favourites this season.

Attendance matters, but not in the context of Joey trying to get us up in the next year or two, is what I meant. He will be gone if he doesn't manage it soon and I think his choice of signings reflects the urgency.

Gordon failed a test pre match.
Looks like we have one center half fit and no left back.
Just Grant to cover the two positions.

Vale did well at left back yesterday but fairly untested.
Suppose we have Hoole and Gibbons as cover for CB and Gibbons has played LB.

Suddenly this squad looks light.
Any youngsters to provide cover in defense?

If Gordon failed a late test then that suggests he’s not too bad. So, I think we’re ok with Gordon, Hunt, Taylor and Grant in defence (thought Grant did well there). But agree that that leaves us vulnerable to one more injury over the next 4-6 weeks (so 🤞). Harvey Vale was good at LB but instinctively played in a very forward position, which worked yesterday but could leave us open on that side against other opposition.