Bolton 1 Aston Villa 4 Post Match Thread.

[PaulTheVillan]

We won.

What amazes me to this day is Emile Heskey somehow managed to play 110 games for us.

And 14 goals I think the caption said. For an international striker.

Those were the days.

Heskey - the original false number nine.

We were flying before we signed him, playing 4-5-1 with Carew up top. Switched to 4-4-2 and went to shit. That's my recollection of it anyway.

Then McLeish decided he’d make a good Roberto Baggio.

[sid1964]

1st half - too many long balls down the pitch which their centre half won every header

2nd half - we started to pass the ball on the ground rather than just booting it.

[Dogtanian]

Bolton's goal was lovely and left me a bit jealous, if I'm honest. I had to give it a bit of a clap. They were in control for the first 30 minutes and played really well, all credit to them.

Be nice to get a home draw next, that was a bloody trek and no chicken balti pies left once I got there! 

[yammers]

Just got home... Roadworks on the ring road were a nightmare!

Patchy first half but in the end we could have has two or three more.  Still too many unforced errors or careless surrendering  of possession in midfield.

On the M56? Yeah we got caught up by those, J5 to J8 closed, but still had to get over towards Chester for the A41 - nightmare!
Enjoyed the game though, away fans were fab, 4 goals and my lad enjoyed his first away game.

Agree with the comments about McGinn, he needs a spell on the sidelines.

[brontebilly]

We won.

What amazes me to this day is Emile Heskey somehow managed to play 110 games for us.

And 14 goals I think the caption said. For an international striker.

Those were the days.

Heskey - the original false number nine.

We were flying before we signed him, playing 4-5-1 with Carew up top. Switched to 4-4-2 and went to shit. That's my recollection of it anyway.

Yep, Gareth Barry was flying that time as kind of a number 10. Brilliant v Ajax that night. Ivanhoe came in, think he scored winner v Pompey on his first game but soon after our midfield started getting overran to accommodate his less than decisive contributions. He was dreadful for us.

[Ads]

We went 3rd with a 2-0 win away at Blackburn in February. At that point, no side had been so high in the table at that stage of the season and failed to finish in the top 4.

13 and a half years ago. Where has the time gone?

[dave shelley]

The second half performance last night suggested that they'd had the proverbial rocket up the arse at half-time and responded which in turn suggested the players are still with Gerrard, professional pride notwithstanding.

[Beard82]

https://pbs.twimg.com/ext_tw_video_thumb/1562172552667185154/pu/img/KBG3M0_CJecvltfm?format=jpg&name=large

A bit strange - though not reading too much into it - I would imagine he is more in a bad mood than fucked at the whole project

[cdbearsfan]

Maybe they had a row in training. Still, not good. Hopefully someone has a word.

[Beard82]

Looked better in the second half - I think the two up top is probably the best way for now as we seem to be a bit better when we play that way

I think there is a belief and confidence issue that only comes with results - but if we can get in a new midfielder and beat West Ham and then I think the world will start to look a lot different

[boozey182]

The second half performance last night suggested that they'd had the proverbial rocket up the arse at half-time and responded which in turn suggested the players are still with Gerrard, professional pride notwithstanding.

Absolutely, we came out in the second half looking like a different team. Pressing higher, moving the ball quicker, being more direct. Bolton couldn't cope, understandably, given the gulf in class between the two teams. It certainly gave us some positivity heading into Sunday, which I guess was the thinking behind the team selection. I would have loved to see Tim and Cam get more minutes, but hopefully we'll get a nice draw in the next round and there will be a bit less pressure on the manager at that point.

One thing I really liked - for Cam's chance, as soon as Buendia got the ball, Cam was making the run off the defender's shoulder, and Emi knew exactly where to find him, which he did with an excellent through ball. I think those two could make a lethal combination in the near future.

[Dogtanian]

The second half performance last night suggested that they'd had the proverbial rocket up the arse at half-time and responded which in turn suggested the players are still with Gerrard, professional pride notwithstanding.

Absolutely, we came out in the second half looking like a different team. Pressing higher, moving the ball quicker, being more direct. Bolton couldn't cope, understandably, given the gulf in class between the two teams. It certainly gave us some positivity heading into Sunday, which I guess was the thinking behind the team selection. I would have loved to see Tim and Cam get more minutes, but hopefully we'll get a nice draw in the next round and there will be a bit less pressure on the manager at that point.

One thing I really liked - for Cam's chance, as soon as Buendia got the ball, Cam was making the run off the defender's shoulder, and Emi knew exactly where to find him, which he did with an excellent through ball. I think those two could make a lethal combination in the near future.

Completely agree, we haven't been playing enough through balls, even when crossing isn't working.

[Mister E]

Nice to see Alisha Lehmann sitting a few seats away, sure she would have been pleased with Dougs performance.

I was sat just across the walkway from her.

[cdbearsfan]

The Third Round isn't until November 9th!

[john e]

I agree totally with the strong side he put out last night no fringe players even those that came on as sub are first team squad
I’ve Wanted a manager to take the cup matches seriously so now we’ve got one I’m not going to moan
I know we’ve got to finals in the past but generally winging it in the early stages and all too often we have gone out in the early rounds to poor sides
Would have preferred to have seen Archer have more of a game or a start but in general Gerard did what he said he would do when he came and that is take the cup seriously

Having said that the performance wasn’t great again was it
Good to have a 4-1win but it’s still not filling me with much confidence
I’m probably One of McGinn’s biggest fans on here and he was terrible Last night there’s no other way of looking at it, all I would say is we know he’s a far better player than that, we’ve seen it so whatever it takes to get him back again and if that means a rest then so be it

I want to give Gerard time to put a successful team together but I really would like to see some Performances to give us signs that we are heading forwards and at the moment that’s difficult to see