What did we learn from today?

[The Exile]

Rico's not a central midfielder any more and it's time to get him back to left back where he's got potential.

We desperately need to either appoint a set-piece coach a la FM2011, or concentrate more in training doing them. Absolutely zero invention or any idea other than to shoot miles over the bar.

Asamoah Gyan makes things happen.

Henderson is far more effective on the right hand side.

Zenden makes other players play better.

Elmo must play at right back and be encouraged to run with the ball.

[only1kilbane]

Richardson should not be even in the squad he is that poor

[makempride]

cant drop bards the way he is playing and his commitment agree with the gyan bit clever vision to bring ppl into play didnt have the greatest of games today but good player but what a save from craigy the day half a monty

[redalert69]

we're gettin some rub of the green but still pretty poor and henderson aint all he's cracked up to be, imho

[jcrossan]

We learned (or had confirmed).

We are hard to beat.

We have more skill in the side than we've had in a decade and can win with a single piece of brilliant play

We can grind out results and are no longer a soft touch.

Bardsley is the most improved player of the season.

Anton CAN concentrate for 94 minutes.

Mensah will always get injured.

Ricco should not be in central midfield.

We still play the hoof from the goalie far too much rather than throwing to an open man.

Our set pieces are woeful.

[TeamOfTalents]

Richardson covered every blade of grass first half, put in some great tackles which saved us at times and showed great pace going forward. But don't let that spoil your fun. Clearly you all learned nowt!

[The Exile]

Originally Posted by TeamOfTalents

Richardson covered every blade of grass first half, put in some great tackles which saved us at times and showed great pace going forward. But don't let that spoil your fun. Clearly you all learned nowt!

All I said was that he's not a central midfielder any more. Doesn't get forward enough, set pieces are dreadful, and he looks to play every ball as a fifty yard raking defence splitter when 95% of the time it's not on. Keep your trousers on.

[TartanMackem]

Originally Posted by The Exile

All I said was that he's not a central midfielder any more. Doesn't get forward enough, set pieces are dreadful, and he looks to play every ball as a fifty yard raking defence splitter when 95% of the time it's not on. Keep your trousers on.

I've been thinking about this, as I too don't think he is a very good central midfielder as he lacks the technique and intelligence. However, wondering why Bruce has been fielding him there, I reckon that it's actually a relatively clever ploy.

We fielded 3 strikers yesterday, plus Henderson who gets forward a lot too. That's quite an attacking lineup with those four, so it makes sense to have two midfielders in the middle who's job it is to break up play, and cover for the other four.

The two things that Richardson has is pace and energy, so in that respect he does a good job of covering a lot of ground harassing the opposition midfield, and he makes up for Cattermole's lack of pace.

Bolton have been playing a passing game all season, and yesterday they resorted to long ball. I don't think it is outrageous to say that the work done by Richardson and Cattermole in the middle was a big factor in Bolton playing different to the style that has brought them success this season.

[PS]

Steve could instantly make Rico a much better player by telling him never again - under any circumstances - is he to go near our free kicks.

[TartanMackem]

Originally Posted by PS

Steve could instantly make Rico a much better player by telling him never again - under any circumstances - is he to go near our free kicks.

A sad indictment of our freekick taking abilities, but he is still the best we have. He's actually scored one for starters, which nobody else has managed except the man out on loan.

Did you see Gyan's effort?