By Pedro
August 20 2006

Firstly, I had originally predicted us to lose this game 0-1, so I'm giving my thoughts based upon this initial prediction. I don't think this is a negative point of view to expect us to lose at the Reebok as our record there in the league shows a big, fat zero in the wins column. All sorts of teams go there and struggle, Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea, etc - the Goons were spanked 3 or 4 times last season by Bolton home and away and we all know how much better than us they are...

We have a history of struggling against the well-drilled, physical sides like Bolton who's game plan revolves around good delivery at set pieces, squeezing space when the opposition is in possession and playing direct football mostly thru the head of Kevin Davies.

At home we could sneak it, as we did last season, but away I fully expect us to struggle and lose.

Before the game I imagine Jol's one hope was to keep it tight and NOT concede any early goals and play for the draw/nick a win with a goal against the run of play. By playing a 3rd Centre Mid on the left in Davids he shows that he was expecting a tough game and would need the extra bite in the middle.

However, I think he made he a mistake in picking Lennon as he was patently not up to the task today when there is such little space to work in and his RB as tentative as Lee. We may even have been better off with Jenas on the right and Murphy in his place...

Still, conceding a goal which should've been disallowed is a killer and ruins the game plan of any visiting manager. That we conceded a 2nd within a quarter of an hour meant that we doubly screwed. Robbo was completely deceived by the flight of the ball (which was EXTREMELY well hit by Campo) and even then he should've got a hand to it.

2-0 down and Jol's 'combative' team formation is looking a tad defunct. In credit to the boys they upped their game for the last 20/25 mins of the first half were the better team. Unfortunately a team like Bolton, at home and 2-0 up know exactly what to do. They kept it tight, marked our danger men very close and hit us on the break and could easily have had a couple more were it not for some excellent saves from Robbo and a wayward shot from Kevin Nolan.

Here are the +ve's, -ve's and ='s

+ve:

-Zakora, I like the cut of his jib. Doesn't have the passing range of Carrick, but whereas Carrick bypassed opposition players with a forward pass, Zakora actually goes passed them with a drop of the shoulder and a burst of pace.

He looked slightly in awe of Davids as he never really got forward and seemed to let Edgar get a lot more of the ball than perhaps he deserved. He must've been amazed at the physicality of the PL,but the worst is now behind him and I feel that he has the strength to do well this year.
Puts in a good corner as well. I hope Michael is watching...

-Berbatov. Looks a class act. Set up our two best chances of the game. One for Defoe in the 1st half which was well saved by the Bolton 'keeper and another for Lennon in the 2nd which was well blocked.

His control is and dribbling skills are both good and he knows how to win a free without throwing himself all over the place like other foreign strikers.
It's only a shame that we didn't see him shoot.

-Ekotto. Got forward well and defended stoutly - he obviously has an excellent engine. Would do well with a proper leftie to interact with.

-Robbo. I know he let in a shocker, but I was impressed with how he reacted. Made some world class saved after that - particularly from Diouf from 5 yds out. He does look vulnerable from distance tho and I wonder how many opposition strikers have noted that.

-The centre back partnership. Have hardly played together at all but dealt with the aerial threat of Bolton extremely well. Daws seems to have a bit of 'the John Terry' about him - in that he can foul opposition strikers in the box and give the ball away at crucial moments without getting punished.

-ve:

-Jenas. totally anonymous but looks promising from free kicks. Could become our Lampard/the new Poyet. Quiet all game but gets the goal. Could be.

-Davids' passing. It was horrendous to watch. I think he will get better as the season progresses.

-Lee & Lennon on the right. Did not look to have any understanding with Lee hardly over-lapping at all and the overall interaction between the two being poor. Lee looked petrified that Lennon was going to lose the ball so stayed back most of the time.

-The service to Defoe & Berbatov. I thought Defoe was quiet, but he needs service and got v.little. I want to see him miss a few chances before I criticise the little man.

='s
-Jol. His team played poorly second half and his subsitutions had little impact, but the game was lost in the first half to two freak goals.

-Our season. This result will have no bearing on how we do as any realist would've had this down as a tricky opening fixture and a possible defeat.

Conclusion
-Let's see how we get on at home and whether we get in any reinforcements before the window closes, as better teams than us will come back from the Reebok with their tails between their legs.