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Ian Evatt has hinted that Lloyd Isgrove will not be in the starting line-up for Wanderers’ Boxing Day clash with Carlisle United.
The winger has started the last two league games against Cheltenham and Tranmere but could, claims the Bolton boss, be saved for Tuesday’s home clash with Morecambe.
Evatt expects the two games to play out very differently and reckons Isgrove could be better suited to the midweek encounter.
“We don’t have anyone else like Lloyd and I hope, moving forwards, we can keep him in one piece because he’s a very good player who had an excellent record in this division,” he said.
“But it is almost now getting to the stage where we have everyone back fit and the January window is just around the corner that we really can start to pick horses for courses.
“Is Carlisle away – with everything I have said about how they will play – right for Lloyd? Probably not. But at home to Morecambe on a big pitch where we’ll have a lot more of the ball, of course that is a better game for him.
“We have to start looking at that and making the best decision based on the opponents that day.”
Carlisle have afforded their opponents more possession than any other team in League Two this season and Evatt expects them to provide a robust and physical test on their own turf.
The manager remains committed to bedding in his own expansive style which has thus far produced very mixed results.
Evatt insists his players are physically capable of playing the way he wants them to – but admits that concentration has been an issue.
“I told the players that Tranmere didn’t play in midweek last week, we did, but in the last 20 minutes their players were absolutely out on their feet, regardless of the scoreline,” he said.
“We moved and passed the ball. They pressed but they can’t do it for 90 minutes, no team can. It is impossible. But we have to be in the game at that point in time, and we weren’t against Tranmere.
“Even if it takes 60-70 minutes at Carlisle, if we can keep the ball, be patient with it, build, they will tire, someone will make a mistake or switch off. We have to give ourselves the opportunity of being in the game at that point.”
“I watched the game back Sunday and Monday, and how we lost – let alone 3-0 – is completely beyond me,” he added. “We completely dominated.
“Those are the kind of errors we have to stop making. We gave them three goals and that has been the only consistent thing throughout the season, we have given the opposition too many goals, rather than them having to work hard for them.”
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The winger has started the last two league games against Cheltenham and Tranmere but could, claims the Bolton boss, be saved for Tuesday’s home clash with Morecambe.
Evatt expects the two games to play out very differently and reckons Isgrove could be better suited to the midweek encounter.
“We don’t have anyone else like Lloyd and I hope, moving forwards, we can keep him in one piece because he’s a very good player who had an excellent record in this division,” he said.
“But it is almost now getting to the stage where we have everyone back fit and the January window is just around the corner that we really can start to pick horses for courses.
“Is Carlisle away – with everything I have said about how they will play – right for Lloyd? Probably not. But at home to Morecambe on a big pitch where we’ll have a lot more of the ball, of course that is a better game for him.
“We have to start looking at that and making the best decision based on the opponents that day.”
Carlisle have afforded their opponents more possession than any other team in League Two this season and Evatt expects them to provide a robust and physical test on their own turf.
The manager remains committed to bedding in his own expansive style which has thus far produced very mixed results.
Evatt insists his players are physically capable of playing the way he wants them to – but admits that concentration has been an issue.
“I told the players that Tranmere didn’t play in midweek last week, we did, but in the last 20 minutes their players were absolutely out on their feet, regardless of the scoreline,” he said.
“We moved and passed the ball. They pressed but they can’t do it for 90 minutes, no team can. It is impossible. But we have to be in the game at that point in time, and we weren’t against Tranmere.
“Even if it takes 60-70 minutes at Carlisle, if we can keep the ball, be patient with it, build, they will tire, someone will make a mistake or switch off. We have to give ourselves the opportunity of being in the game at that point.”
“I watched the game back Sunday and Monday, and how we lost – let alone 3-0 – is completely beyond me,” he added. “We completely dominated.
“Those are the kind of errors we have to stop making. We gave them three goals and that has been the only consistent thing throughout the season, we have given the opposition too many goals, rather than them having to work hard for them.”
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