Bolton 0-2 Rotherham

Sorry about the BO. Totally forgot to wash under my arms.

I think the same game with a fit Bakayoko coming off the bench might have seen a different result. Can't fault most of Evatts decisions although I would have kept Sheehan on and taken Dapo off. Having said that, nobody would have complained if he popped up with a goal.
I think our build up play is great most of the time, not too rushed, plenty of patience, and but for poor finishing it would have worked again today. The only time I think we could speed up is when we counter attack, maybe try to punish a team quickly after they get caught out of position.
A mostly good performance for me. Results aren't always the whole story. If we had sat 11 at the back and the game ended 0-0 would you class it as a greater success? In terms of points for that single game it would look better on paper, but in terms of the long game, our outlook is better off that match than from a boring 1-0 win or defensive 0-0 draw.

Had Doyle scored instead of missing yet again and had George’s goal stood it could well have been a different game. Rotherham were everything I expected, good going forward but poor at the back. We had numerous good opportunities to score but fluffed it. I’m afraid that’s becoming rather common now and I can’t believe Evatt doesn’t see that and want to improve it but we are still a work in progress and we have to give him time to do it. Maybe Baka and Ameche will help that when fit again but if we really do want promotion, we’ll need to add some striking power in January. Not sure about Doyler and Sarce at this level, both look slow and if I’m honest, overweight too?

Been busy so late to this, although it does feel like ‘just one of those days’ the result does highlight a short coming in the squad (at least with the injuries we have). We clearly needed something different quickly in the second half, but no changes until 71 minutes shows the lack of depth in my opinion. Amaechi’s return will be massive when it does come, if he’s anywhere near as good as Dapo we’ll be a much tougher proposition for defences.

The biggest problem we have as others have mentioned is a lack of squad depth. Our first choice 11 are all good enough to compete at this level very effectively but there's little to no such quality in the backups. I don't say that to offend anyone, it's simply a fact and of course an indicator of our recent and not yet solved financial difficulties. Investment in the squad will be necessary if we're to seriously entertain any hopes of getting back to the Championship but since the money just isn't there for that right now our realistic expectation must be a solid mid table finish for this season at least.

Rotherham were and are simply better than us and they aren't alone in this division in that. Until and unless we get some money in either to reinforce the squad or invest in a proper youth team structure that reality is the one we will have to live with.

I don’t think it’s quite as drastic as that LPP, if you look at the squad we almost have two decent options for every position once the squad is fully fit. I’d say we need another striker, cover for MJ Williams and possibly another keeper. 

Given the way we play results like Saturday will happen from time to time, need to bounce back quickly now though.

If the money is there to improve the squad, great - but we have already improved the squad from last season and the good news is that we are now probably strong enough to consolidate in League 1. Given where we were at recently that's a very good place to be.
Of course folk would like us to rise up the divisions but we hopefully won't be spending money we haven't got to do it and so I for one am happy with progress to date and fully expect a long hard slog building the financial platform before we can push on from here.
We exist! Celebrate that fact.

T.R.O.Y. wrote:I don’t think it’s quite as drastic as that LPP, if you look at the squad we almost have two decent options for every position once the squad is fully fit. I’d say we need another striker, cover for MJ Williams and possibly another keeper. 

Given the way we play results like Saturday will happen from time to time, need to bounce back quickly now though.

Don't get me wrong TROY I'm very pleased with the players we have and the start we've made but I think we have to be realistic here. The simple fact is our squad, while not completely threadbare is nowhere near as deep as it needs to be for a sustained challenge on the top of the league. That's absolutely fine by me since two years ago we were looking at oblivion and we have come a long way since then. All I mean to say is there's still a long way to go before we can seriously look up the divisions. Ian, his staff and the players are all doing well but they have limits like anyone and expecting them to do more than solidify our place in this division this season is imo too much to ask.