Bolton have got a manager who has won promotion in each of his last two seasons. Evatt was the man who guided Barrow to the football league and took over Bolton in the summer of 2020. He completed the same feat for The Trotters, but this time taking them back to League One. Evatt has instilled a hard-working, honest, and winning mentality - a team who fight for each other and add a sprinkle of quality at the top end of the pitch. Because of this spirit and players knowing their job, it won't be often you'll see Bolton lose by many this season. An interesting stat to show what Evatt has brought to Bolton is they won 17 games last season by a single goal margin.
The 3 behind Doyle all bring something different to the table. Isgrove will be known to Adkins from his time at Southampton, although he didn't ever make the grade, he will want to tuck in and get close to Doyle. Sarcevic is a creative number 10 where much of Bolton's good play will go through him. We can't allow him space to pick a pass, and he has a goal in him too, proved mainly at League Two level, but his quality will show if given the time. Afolayan is Bolton's top scorer this season with 4 in 9, to describe him, he is a little bit like Blackett-Taylor - direct and will run at the full-back. We will have to be careful we don't leave our full-back's exposed 1v1 too often.
Bolton are a side who cross the ball a lot in this division, averaging 20 a game, interestingly we average 21. They pass the ball far more than we do, and with greater effect too. Stats show when they do go long, Bolton will only win the first and second ball on average around 15% of the time. One offensive pattern of play you will see often is most crosses will come down their right hand side with Jones overlapping and creating a situation where Isgrove tucks in, Sarcevic will float around the edge of the box, Afolayan at the back post and Sheehan will the player to arrive late, all supporting Doyle In the middle. With our defensive frailties, it's something that could cause us a lot of problems with players being dragged out of position and others not knowing who to pick up.
Charlton Team NewsThe three subs made a huge difference for Charlton in the second half against Portsmouth, 2 scoring and one setting up the late equaliser. Adkins said Davison was unlucky not to start and Blackett-Taylor couldn't be risked given his injury history. With the two combining at the end, we should (hopefully) expect them both to make the starting XI on Tuesday. Clare came in for Arter and scored his first goal for the club, his driving through the middle with Gibley was something we haven't had this season. Arter struggled in the first half to get going, but did pull up with a muscular problem in the warm-up.
Gilbey and Souaré both completed their first 90 minutes of the season which is huge going forward. Two very good players at this level. With others all at different stages of fitness, a big squad to choose from, and Adkins not knowing what his best team is yet alongside the desperation to find that magic formula, we can expect more changes to occur on Tuesday night. A number of players were sitting in the stands on Saturday, all hoping to be involved against Bolton - Purrington, Gunter, Morgan, DJ, and Washington to name a few. As Cowley said, predicting what our team is going to be is difficult, it looks like picking them is a challenge too...
4-2-3-1 to match Bolton, but also very adaptable to a more effective 4-2-2-2
Subs: Henderson, Famewo, Dobson, Gilbey, Kirk, Washington, Stockley
A better second half against Portsmouth papered over the horrendous performance of the first. Teams are not just playing better than us, they're often teaching us a lesson. With a lack of direction and identity, we have been poor. But the tide must turn at some point and with the late leveller on Saturday, it will have boosted the confidence even just a little going into Tuesday evening. Failure to get a win here could force the hand of the owner, but I don't think that will happen. The points stay in SE7.
Charlton Athletic 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
Leko
Stockley
Comments
I like your optimism, but on recent defensive showings we won't be able to handle Afolayan.
Charlton Athletic 0-2 Bolton Wanderers
Afolayan
Doyle (pen)
It’s just out of habit and I don’t change that part because it’s always that time for my previews.
Whether it’s right or wrong, which I know technically it’s not right, but it really doesn’t matter, let’s be honest.
Ok. I just wondered what the reason was.
But anyway, back on topic, think that's probably close to the team I can see being put out. CBT must start, but I think I'd rather see Washington instead of Leko just to offer us more in defence. I wouldn't necessarily be shocked to see Pearce and Watson make way for Famewo and Dobson due to the recent amount of minutes they've played.
Either way, don't think anyone, including Atkins has an idea of our most effective starting XI and formation.
At some point this season, I would like to see a midfield of Arter, Gilbey, Lee, with a good wide player, and one of Leko or Washington up front with Stockley. I think we would be able to play football as the midfield would offer something rather than going long all the time.
Matthews - Lavelle - Pearce - Purrington
B.Taylor - Lee - Washington
Davison
1-0 Clean Sheet Win
Matthews - Lavelle - Pearce - Purrington
Lee - Davison - Washington
purrington
lavelle
famewho
matthews
Lee
Dobson
Clare
CBT
Davidson
Leko
Dobson was clearly brought in to be the starter but now finds himself on the periphery. I'd have to say it looks like a poor piece of recruitment if they don't have faith in him. Yeah he may still come good, but we need someone who is good right now.
He has a lower, only by a smidge, mark than Morgan, who by most peoples reckoning has been largely awful. Its just shovelling the less worse options into the team.
I think Dobson could be a good player at this level, just not with any of our other center mids. That's probably true for all of them, it was also true last year.
No10 no longer plays as a number 10
Summer signings left out the playing squad
Playing certain players as need a captain
WatArterSon = 2021 Pratson
Matthews and Gunter fighting it out for blandest RB at the club
Change our shape from the starting shape each game
...struggling to motivate myself atm.
Matthews Lavelle Famewo Purrington
Watson Clare
Lee Gilbey CBT
Davison
I think. This isn’t what I would go with, just trying to guess what NA will give us
Matthews, 2 from Pearce/ Lavelle/ Famewo, Soare
Lee, Gilbey, Clare/ Morgan/ Dobson, CBT
Leko, Josh.
Out of interest, do they come to you in a dream?
Stockley as a sub and keep Gunter out the squad completely.
Start one of Watson and Arter at most.