Giggs, Evra and Nani (briefly) had a word but quickly walked away. Not a typical reaction as you say and it appeared they were resigned as to what the punishment was going to be.

If we're loooking to point the finger (and I don't know why we should), why not blame Lee?

What exactly was intentional then? I was as incensed as anybody when I saw the injury but the reality is two going for a suicide ball and one getting a red for a studs up challenge he probably couldn't really help but do. Unfortunately it was our bad in the end.

Calm down m'Lady, bit o' banter like. But still, maybe Keveh should put a google search box somewhere on the page...

Did I say mass? There were enough there questioning the referees decision when Holden was clearly in agony on the floor. No need for it.

Oh. My. God. I heard the news about Stu while at uni, and yeah, I was gutted, both for him and the team; but what the hell, I was thinking. At least now we have two people to win the cup this year for. The odds are stacked against us, but we're Bolton Wanderers, when are they ever not? Let's get on with it, I thought, we've got one of the most talented U21 midfielders in the country and a destroyer who'll see us through, and players who'll be alright and muck in if need be in reserve.

So home I come, and as always, I open this forum. And I've never seen such a load of negative, pessimistic bullshite in all my life, most of it from the fingers of BWFC-I. It's all over, is it? Well, don't come to Wembley then, you miserable sod. What happened to togetherness? What happened to that "world's against us" spirit that has always been a hallmark of supporting Bolton? What happened to the determination that comes with it, and the sense of solidarity, and "thou shalt not pass"?

We WILL fight on, with or without Stu, cos that's what he'd want. We will give Stoke one hell of a game, and if we play like Bolton Wanderers can, we will win, and then we'll make United pay. Come on you White men!! And come on you White fans, get a fecking grip!

Giggs was being a c*nty c*nt trying to ref it as usual, Evra too, the rest weren't that bad. It was hardly the press gang of the Keane days. As it is in this particular instance, specifically regarding that particular phone call to Holden, I think Evans has done all he can. He clearly didn't mean to hurt Stu, but it was still a very poor tackle. They happen a lot and it is unfortunate that in this instance Stu has come out with serious injury.

Having drawn a line under that, let us heed LK's advice and remember that they are a set of shithouse wankbastarding tossbowl. DIRTY MANC BASTARDS.

The loss of our best player this season by a country mile is an undoubted blow, and IMO swings a previously 50-50 tie in Stoke's favour, but not insurmountably. Let's win it for Nat AND Stu.

And Sam, and Zat, and Sean....

Nope you didn't say 'mass', you said 'a lot' (same thing surely) & 'shouting', neither of which were actually the case.

BWFCI...... I think when Stoke fans are telling you to cheer up, you know you've gone totally overboard.

EDIT: http://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/ind ... 750&page=2

Where's a Stoke fan telling him to cheer up?

Sorry, that would've been helpful. I've edited it in now.

unintentional that he hurt Holden as badly
he had plenty of other options than leaving the ground but as they may have involved being hurt himself as Holden came in he took the option of many other of his red ilk (Keane, etc etc) and got his retaliation in first.
cowardly tackle by a VERY limited centre-half-
has Cahill ever been guilty of that sort of challenge?

very probably - but as it didn't result in stitches and 6mths out for the recipient - then it passed us all by...

Cahill caught Evra late and above the ankle in the first half on Saturday. Was a bouncing ball and didn't catch him hard, but was surprised he wasn't booked.

The only unfair thing is the team with the money and the squad size are the ones doing the injuring! Yet that c*nt nani got away with a 2 week injury and our stu gets 6 months. When you look at our long term absentees...Holden knight, rickets. Davis, JOB....is our training ground built on an indian burial ground or summat?

Anyways...no point feeling sorry for ourselves ya dust yourself down and get on with it. We have options. Mark Davies (if he stays fit) has come on well this season. Good player. JOB is returning, as is Knight (and Cahill could fo a job centre mid - a different job to Holden mind). We could change formation, look at a 433?

You don't even need a midfield against Stoke!

Answer is yes, Wigan away, Everton H, Spuds away, Wolves H - loads

See, I can set an example

No, read it again. The 'alot of it' was in reference to the annoyance of the situation, not 'alot' of players. And I'm pretty sure I saw Evra at least go in with some sort of aggressive manner.

A sickening blow for us all. Our best central Midfielder by a country mile, the heartbeat of our side this season. While he was out we were dismal.

Now we will struggle to keep our top ten position at the end of the season (Sorry), but thats the reality of what we face now.

We will have to change tactics and go 4-3-3 and start lumping the ball to KD as we do not have the class of Holden to play through. Mark Davies is a neat player, but defensively, he is nowhere near Holden, and will be left upfield and leave our defense exposed if we play 4-4-2. Beat Stoke at their own game I say. They do not play well away from their stadium so we have a decent chance against them.

Tough luck to Holden, but Coyle now have to rethink things, fill the central midfield with Mavies/LCY, Bibi/Cohen and Moo. Thats the best we can do unfortunately to stay competitive. Otherwise, we will be courting disaster with 4-4-2

Cheer me up someone. Tell me I am way off course here. Give me some hope.

An article highlighting Holdens stats:

http://www.the-wanderer.co.uk/bolton/stuart-stats