Freedman out!

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I will hold my hands up to being someone who wrote Ream off, at centre-half especially.

I can't see his revival at centre-half lasting.

[bobo the clown]

I will hold my hands up to being someone who wrote Ream off, at centre-half especially.

I can't see his revival at centre-half lasting.

Damn you ... I was trying to be positive.

[BL3]

I will hold my hands up to being someone who wrote Ream off, at centre-half especially.

I can't see his revival at centre-half lasting.

Especially not if Dougie's got anything to do with it. He'll rotate him out of form in no time.

[plymouth wanderer]

Good afternoon chaps, Palace fan in peace.

Thought I'd have a look to see what your opinion of DF is compared to ours at a similar time last season & am not surprised at the divide of opinion.

If history repeats itself he's due a good run of results but do your players have it in them to buy in to his way of thinking?

Good luck for the season, always had a soft spot for Bolton after smashing a local girl when at a stag weekend in Manchester

Bet she were disappointed?

[Wandering Willy]

Some decent posts on here today.

For me though, I said 10 games and I don't see a draw at Blackpool, although in itself not a bad result, to be the turning point of the season.

Taking a step back, this season we have:

Chopped and changed the lineup incessantly
Played poorly for the most part
Bought Beckford
Made Knight club captain
Not won
Scored 7
Let in 17, yes seventeen
Lost 5
Garnered a record breaking 5 points.

At this stage that's just not good enough.

I'd like to think we could turn it round, but lose to Birmingham on Saturday and things will be pretty grim for the club in the 2 week break, and possibly for a long time after.

[Prufrock]

I'm a Dougie defender but I don't see how it's clear he's known the issues all along! I'm not sure we'd be where we are if he did!

Hopefully, from the last few games where performances have picked up, it seems that *now* he knows the problems (PROBLEMS, not issues ).

Whislt it's promising, I'm not as quick as some to be over the moon at a 0-0 away at Blackpool after drawing at home to Yeovil.

Personally I think he's known them but has been unable to move the high earners on and was stuck with having to keep them sweet to an extent.

Perhaps he underestimated how much of a problem it all was. I don't know.

I just get the impression he wanted to do more in the summer. He said at the midpoint he expected 4 more signings during the window. Only got Spearing after that so I still think he knew we were not right.

I think he's got it wrong with Beckford and ultimately that could be what costs him his job if we don't start scoring and picking up results. Agree that a 0-0 at Blackpool is ok but not something to be over the moon about. I do think though that whoever we have in charge a big re-shape of the squad is needed. Without having lots to spend that is going to take time and probably be frustrating whoever is doing it.

I agree he's struggled with moving on high earners, and wasn't satisfied with the squad come the end of the window (what manager ever is though) but I fail to see how a man who started with Wheater and Knight and kept playing them no matter what, only to now end up with Ream and Mills, and who can't make up his mind which of his useless strikers is the least useless (I actually think Beckford is all right and does just need a goal, and like Cravies) can be said to have known the problems all along.

Hopefully he's got there now, and learnt from his mistakes. It'd be nice to have a manager who did that!

[TANGODANCER]

Hate to say it, but could it be that money and restrictions on trading etc, have finally taken over the game to the extent that we're just one of a lot of teams all trying for the same aims? When we dropped from the Premiership , the mighty Bolton Wanderers automatically expected to beat everybody and go back up. We didn't and now we can't buy unless we sell and are no different than a lot of other clubs all fighting to survive. We can't beat teams because of our name and past reputation, we have to do it the hard way and it's with a team of almost strangers compared to past years. It isn't just about the manager any more.

Look at the teams around us, Burnley, Blackburn, Blackpool, Birmingham, Middlesborough, Wigan etc, ( the Not the one and only Wanderers are already a division lower still) and look where we are in the Championship right now, bottom three club of that lot, ie relegation spot. We need to get thinking about mid table and survival and having time to try and build back. I did say try! The days of wine and roses are over for a bit. Time for a reality check. If we'd only won a few, last night result would have been a cracker. It only doesn't look that good because of where we are. Reputation doesn't mean shxt against money.

[Sponge]

Hate to say it, but could it be that money and restrictions on trading etc, have finally taken over the game to the extent that we're just one of a lot of teams all trying for the same aims? When we dropped from the Premiership , the mighty Bolton Wanderers automatically expected to beat everybody and go back up. We didn't and now we can't buy unless we sell and are no different than a lot of other clubs all fighting to survive. We can't beat teams because of our name and past reputation, we have to do it the hard way and it's with a team of almost strangers compared to past years. It isn't just about the manager any more.

Look at the teams around us, Burnley, Blackburn, Blackpool, Birmingham, Middlesborough, Wigan etc, ( the Not the one and only Wanderers are already a division lower still) and look where we are in the Championship right now, bottom three club of that lot, ie relegation spot. We need to get thinking about mid table and survival and having time to try and build back. I did say try! The days of wine and roses are over for a bit. Time for a reality check. If we'd only won a few, last night result would have been a cracker. It only doesn't look that good because of where we are. Reputation doesn't mean shxt against money.

[BWFC_Insane]

Hate to say it, but could it be that money and restrictions on trading etc, have finally taken over the game to the extent that we're just one of a lot of teams all trying for the same aims? When we dropped from the Premiership , the mighty Bolton Wanderers automatically expected to beat everybody and go back up. We didn't and now we can't buy unless we sell and are no different than a lot of other clubs all fighting to survive. We can't beat teams because of our name and past reputation, we have to do it the hard way and it's with a team of almost strangers compared to past years. It isn't just about the manager any more.

Look at the teams around us, Burnley, Blackburn, Blackpool, Birmingham, Middlesborough, Wigan etc, ( the Not the one and only Wanderers are already a division lower still) and look where we are in the Championship right now, bottom three club of that lot, ie relegation spot. We need to get thinking about mid table and survival and having time to try and build back. I did say try! The days of wine and roses are over for a bit. Time for a reality check. If we'd only won a few, last night result would have been a cracker. It only doesn't look that good because of where we are. Reputation doesn't mean shxt against money.

Great post this. Absolutely spot on.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I will hold my hands up to being someone who wrote Ream off, at centre-half especially.

I can't see his revival at centre-half lasting.

Especially not if Dougie's got anything to do with it. He'll rotate him out of form in no time.

OK, question time: Who would you pick? And would you pick the same XI for Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday games?

To me, it's a fair point that Freedman over-elaborated his search for the right XI. But he's not one for rotating (rather than dropping) his centre-backs - his back four, if he can help it - and bar the injured Tierney he's picked the same back seven (inc Medo/Spearing) for both games. Would you change it for Saturday?

[norm the jedi]

When Beckford was in Starbucks.. did they allow his guide dog in..? or was it sat outside..?
cos someone has obviously poked him in his eye for a goal...

2 games unbeaten season starts here..

[Wandering Willy]

Or ends

[jaffka]

This next game according to form is far tougher than the last.

They have scored a few and on a good little run at home.

[LeverEnd]

This next game according to form is far tougher than the last.

They have scored a few and on a good little run at home.

True but lots of teams in this league go on a mini run then come crashing down. We've seen the worst now and are due a win, so while I'm not putting money on us I think we've got a decent chance.
In fact I will put some money on, have a free bet balance to go at. So virtual money.

[Bruce Rioja]

the mighty Bolton Wanderers automatically expected to beat everybody and go back up.

Great post this. Absolutely spot on.

Only BWFCI thought that, Tango. Everyone else hoped to.

[Bruce Rioja]

I don't see a draw at Blackpool, although in itself not a bad result, to be the turning point of the season.

You can't possibly know whether it is or it isn't yet!

[Wandering Willy]

It's an opinion Bruce- but judging by the last 10 games its not an unreasonable one.

[Bruce Rioja]

It's an opinion Bruce- but judging by the last 10 games its not an unreasonable one.

Well I'm just getting all pragmatic on yo ass.

[Wandering Willy]

[Wandering Willy]

And for the record I would love to be proved wrong.