COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Bolton (A)

By Ken Buckley :  13/02/2011 :  Comments (24) :

Sunday the 13th... unlucky for some, as we get a soaking both on and off the field. Anichebe preferred to Beckford up front ? a choice that must have had more to do with physicality than talent ? and Cahill brought back in for the injured Rodwell were the only changes from last week.

The game started and within minutes I had that feeling we were not ?at it? and it took just 10 mins to confirm that. Bolton, without looking anything special, were pinning us back and our efforts to get everyone behind the ball ensured that our clearances were no more than passes to the opposition who in turn attacked us again, and again.

On 10 mins, Big Vic got in a tangle with a Bolton player and the ref Mr Probert gave a free kick. The ball was delivered in regulation fashion but it was the Bolton players making the runs while our defenders stood. The wrong Cahill got to it first and got no more than a good connection but the ball hit Heitinga and wrong footed Howard and ended up in the net. It was a horrible feeling seeing that lot unfold in front of us as it seemed no-one made any great effort to mark and challenge properly.

We then seemed to wake up to the fact that the game had actually started and did put more effort into proceedings but our technical ability on the ball deserted us as passes either went behind the intended target or over-hit to no-one. Baines was getting forward when he could but Bilyaletdinov was doing him no favours by seeming oblivious to any off-the-ball runs he might make to our advantage.

Coleman was equally as bad on the right, seeming to be in two minds about everything and achieving nothing. Cahill and Arteta were taking it in turns to be the forward player but mostly on different wavelengths, Fellaini was breaking up some things in midfield but when it came to making the pass his mind seemed elsewhere. Baines got fouled wide near the edge of the box, Arteta took, and Arteta hit the first man; no change there then.

Again Baines put a peach of a cross in that picked out our Cahill but his effort was into the ground and over and wide, perhaps that trip to Asia has affected his timing. Then Arteta did deliver a great pass that put Big Vic through, as he shot Knight slid in and they sort of kicked each other. Both received treatment and both came back on but Knight took just a few limps and went down again this time to be stretchered off. Wheater came on to make his debut.

The game was now scrappy but the Blues were in control as Bolton were happy to soak up that pressure and break when they could and in so doing were more dangerous than us as we continued to miss-pass and run out of ideas anywhere near the final third. Up until the break we created just one shot from Arteta which did not trouble the keeper.

Bolton had a good shot turned for a corner and from that corner we broke, the ball reached Arteta on the left and he ran faster than I have seen him do for months leaving Bolton players in his wake, he found Bilyaletdinov in a central position and he quickly moved the ball wide to the oncoming Coleman but alas his ball control was akin to a playground kick-about and Wheater cleared man and ball out.

Half-time and all of the chat was unprintable! Moyes must have had just a few harsh words with the players as they seemed to be out some 5 mins before Bolton, no changes made so those that so spectacularly underperformed first half were sent out to rectify matters in the second half.

Nothing much changed although we did give the impression of trying harder but all the shortcomings of the first half were still in evidence and the manager on the hour mark had had enough. Osman and Beckford replaced Bilyaletdinov and Coleman... though why it had taken this long to realise that the two going off were extremely poor, I don?t know.

These changes made little difference and the game went on in its ragged fashion. Big Vic went right but didn?t stay there and was mostly seen lumbering forward and falling down then waving his arms at the ref of the injustice of it all. ?Pillock? was one printable cry.

Cahill was looking spent and in need of a rest but I could understand leaving him on at just one down because you just never know with him ? he could just salvage a point for us. But all that was rendered useless with some 25 mins to go when Sturridge, who is on loan from Chelsea and has obviously been through the Drogba school of ?Clever Effective Diving? deceived the Ref yet again and won a free kick.

And wouldn?t you just know it, we defended it as badly as the one for their first goal, no-one able to put their foot through it or a good header instead some powder puff stuff that saw Baines out-headed and the ball fall for the Drogba-like diver to finish like the Real thing.

With ten to go, the manager hauled off Big Vic and I felt a little sorry for him as he seemed to think he had had a good game. Baxter came on and was sprightly enough but just the wrong time to introduce an untried young lad. Bolton went up the other end and scored again but it was ruled out as the lino deemed that the ?Drogba-like diver? had run it out before back-heeling it to the excellent Holden to smash home.

Then we continued the Route One approach hoping that the now centre-forward Fellaini would create something and we did win a corner... from such a poor display, I was delighted with this corner as, for the first time I can remember in years, we tried a real inventive one. Baines pulled it right back to the edge of the box with great precision and found Baxter who just didn?t have the necessary technique and drove it powerfully wide but it did perk me up just a little to see us try something different from a set piece.

Final whistle and the players did sheepishly slope over to applaud the faithful but I fear not one present was in any mood for that.

Finding a MotM was not fun after that display but my vote would go to Baines who played to a good level throughout despite Bilyaletdinov thinking they were on different planets and Osman when he came on faring little better.

Overall, a game to forget but also one to remember because, if we carry on playing in that disjointed fashion, we will do well to stay in the league. I just hope we can put it down to just one of those days!

Before the game, I was reading in certain newspapers articles that virtually have us dead and buried if the club doesn?t find investment or a buyer, players named who may have to be sold to keep us afloat and how much they may fetch. Fellaini?s dad quoted as saying Chelsea was their aim.

Even if this sort of stuff is wide of the mark, I did wonder if players read such things and take any notice of them. It does worry me though as these things appear in the national press and can soon become gospel and that is how everyone will perceive us and could have an effect on us keeping players and even, for little money, getting others to join us. Perhaps some positive visible action should be undertaken by those in power before real damage can be done.

Still, onward and upward. Chelsea next in the cup replay and we always do well there... Don?t we?
UP THE BLUES

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