Away Daze - Hull Hole
Author: DIPS / Date: Tuesday 25 August 2009
DIPS ponders a leap off the Humber Bridge after witnessing yet another debacle for the Whites.
Wanderers fans infighting, £3.15 for a pie, no beer after kick off, Megson out chants and Tranmere fans on the return train journey back home...
The game overall was a rather predictable and turgid affair. One I’ve witnessed far too often following the Whites under Megson’s guidance. Examples being Fulham, Everton, Stoke, Portsmouth and Liverpool. To name a few last season. All away games as well.
…made it all that little bit harder to swallow. My match preview for the game against Hull could be taken as a foreshadowing of more serious issues to come over the season. I wrote how we lacked a striker and how the team had to pull together for the sake of everything BWFC.
Yet again come Saturday, another away trip (filled with optimism early on) was shattered after 90 minutes. I’ve started to even question my commitment to following the Whites around the country.
Bolton dominated the game overall. However I am not one to believe that anyone deserves anything in football. The team that puts the ball in the net deserves to win. Something that we are finding difficult right now. The first chance of the game came from an unlikely source. Fabrice Muamba played a neat ball through to Elmander two minutes in. All Elmo had to do was slot it into the net or square it to Taylor who had made a run on goal alongside him. However what has become normal service was resumed when he shot wide of the goal.
Wanderers did to be fair push forward for the majority of the game. We had corner after corner, and numerous Taylor free kicks saved. Myhill was having one of his better days and kept out everything thrown towards him.One guilty party was Kevin Davies, who should have slotted home to give Bolton the advantage. I don’t know what he was thinking but he knocked the ball back into the six yard box to one. Not a single player in a white shirt had made a run into the danger area to snatch a goal. It clearly sums up our game plan and tactics.
For the most part of the game Hull were always on the back foot. The Tigers only really pounced after they had scored. An inspired substitution by Phil Brown brought on new signing Jozy Altidore. In the space of a minute or so the Hull team shifted to an attacking 4-4-2 formation and they reaped the rewards. A poor clearance by Cahill allowed Kamel Ghilas to latch onto the ball and outwit Zat Knight. 1-0 Tigers.
Hull now sensed blood and the ever predictable Bolton implosion started. Now the Tigers were after more than one; they hit the bar, wasted two clear opportunities at goal and even had time to play some decent football!
Towards the end Lee and Muamba both had decent efforts saved. Any other day, any other keeper, their efforts would have gone in. A late penalty decision also went against us. I did think Cahill was unfairly brought down well into the area.
The only positive I can take from the game was Muamba’s performance. I make no exaggeration, the lad performed for us like Pele during the game. Making astute tackles, playing in key balls and even having decent shots at goal. He’s obviously still riding high in confidence from the England under 21 Euro Championship. Man of the match for me!
The entire Premier League has now sussed out our game plan and know if they get the first goal against us, they will win the game. It’s an interesting time at The Reebok. I feel Megson is once again on borrowed time; I’ve never known a Bolton manager who evokes such reactions form the fans and who divides them as much. We need a manager who is charismatic, someone who plays football with intent on scoring, a manger who will unify the fans and at least offer us hope. Time for change? I’ll let you decide…
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