Rumour has it.............

[TANGODANCER]

Ramage is far from the world's worst player but with Mills, Ream, Wheater and Dervite, I'd say centre-back isn't a priority. Especially when we've got Ream at RB and Moxey at LB.

Oh yeah, agreed, we are in FAR more need of a RB/LB and ideally we'd sign both positions. I'm far from hoping we sign Ramage, just thinking if we do at least he's a proven CB at this level rather than more utter tosh. Mills/Wheater have been very inconsistent for us in recent seasons, and the jury is still out on Dervite for me. Silver lining and all that?

All the complaints about defence seem to be either the full backs or the central defenders in turn rather than all at once. Maybe it's my failing memory, but I'm struggling to remember when we last had an outstanding full back on either side since Ricky Gardner called it a day? Steinsonn had his faults, like getting pulled into the middle for corners and free kicks and leaving wingers with bags of space, but he wasn't a bad player. On the left we've had so many duffers that even Hendrik Pedersen didn't seem that bad. ( We were never going to keep Alonso, that was obvious) If only we could get a defensive unit that worked together we'd be a different side. Central defending would surely be made easier if they could concentrate on marking players rather than being overwhelmed because the full backs aren't ever dominant.

We seem to always have a defence that backs off every time the opposition come forward. rather than just harrying and tackling. This I'll never understand because we just don't have the sort of class that that level of confidence needs. I'm a fan of pack-hunting defending where opposition players get hassled and made cautious rather than confident. It's purely frustrating when defenders run around pointing all over the place and shouting at each other like a bunch of fourteen-year olds. They should know their jobs and not need that.

[Bruce Rioja]

Hayden White's gone on loan to Carlisle.

http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/hayd ... 26148.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[IggyTheDawgster]

Great League Two, probably get his leg snapped and be on the treatment table rest of his career.

[bobo the clown]

If only we could get a defensive unit that worked together we'd be a different side. Central defending would surely be made easier if they could concentrate on marking players rather than being overwhelmed because the full backs aren't ever dominant.

That, given the player is a professional in the first place, is tactical rather than ability. We are plying how we are because that's what the man wants.

I am continuing to be amazed at how we are amassing players, all too often from Palace it seems, who play in positions where we are well stocked.

Meanwhile a proper, proven, been there - seen it - done it striker seems to elude us.

Hall now out on loan. He'll never come back on a permanent basis. I do think the lad has talent which our coaching and our playing style are not making any use of at all.

[TANGODANCER]

If only we could get a defensive unit that worked together we'd be a different side. Central defending would surely be made easier if they could concentrate on marking players rather than being overwhelmed because the full backs aren't ever dominant.

That, given the player is a professional in the first place, is tactical rather than ability. We are plying how we are because that's what the man wants.
.

Undeniably, and look where it has us.

[Lord Kangana]

Disturbingly, yet another Dougie signing that's been with us for bugger all time and suddenly finds themselves shunned. I disagree with bobo, he'll be back for a bit when yon Douglas runs out of ideas (again), then be shunned (again) because its a Tuesday (or an idle Thursday maybe).

[thebish]

but he's been nothing if not inconsistent here. In most match threads I've seen people getting on his back about not contributing enough, playing poorly, being inexperienced etc so I don't see why him going out on loan now makes him brilliant, and that we're silly to do it?

indeed - Bobo is simply allowing himself to fall into the dominant philosophy that dictates BWFC fandom..

1) if a player is not being picked - he is ace - and all we need to do is pick him and all would be well
2) the reserve goalie is always better than the one currently playing
3) if we sell/loan a player out - he is ace - and we have obviously wasted the talent available to us

it's called the andranik philosophy.

[Bruce Rioja]

That young shaver from Crewe's signed

Bolton Wanderers have completed the signing of free agent Max Clayton after agreeing a compensation package with Crewe Alexandra.

The 20-year-old striker left Crewe at the end of last season after his contract with the Railwaymen expired and spent time training with Sunderland, Wolves and Bolton over the course of the summer.

And Dougie Freedman has now moved to bring the England youth international to Macron Stadium on a permanent deal.

Clayton has signed a three-year contract with the club.

During his time with hometown club Crewe Clayton made a total of 92 appearances, scoring 16 goals.

Clayton is eligible for the weekend’s game against Wolves at Molineux.

Read more at http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/bolt ... EEZFMzp.99" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thebish]

but he's been nothing if not inconsistent here. In most match threads I've seen people getting on his back about not contributing enough, playing poorly, being inexperienced etc so I don't see why him going out on loan now makes him brilliant, and that we're silly to do it?

indeed - Bobo is simply allowing himself to fall into the dominant philosophy that dictate BWFC fandom..

1) if a player is not being picked - he is ace - and all we need to do is pick him and all would be well
2) the reserve goalie is always better than the one currently playing
3) if we sell/loan a player out - he is ace - and we have obviously wasted the talent available to us

it's called the andranik philosophy.

I agree with him that a) Hall is talented and b) it's a shame he's had to go out on loan as he could be good for us.

The problem, in my opinion, is that in his time here he hasn't actually developed and has been very hit and miss in games. I think that view is shared by others here due to the comments he receives in match day threads. The lad has a bright future but he simply isn't developing here, and he needs game time or a coaching style that suits him to actually improve. Not to mention the longstanding rumour that he's a bit of a stroppy and precious git behind closed doors.

Fair enough he might not come back (that'd be down to Dougie's personality I think) but I don't think the loan is quite as tragic as Bobo appears to imply. Although I could be wrong there, feel free to correct me if you weren't implying that Bobo!

file under S for Sordell... or VT for Vaz Te...

[Lord Kangana]

but he's been nothing if not inconsistent here. In most match threads I've seen people getting on his back about not contributing enough, playing poorly, being inexperienced etc so I don't see why him going out on loan now makes him brilliant, and that we're silly to do it?

indeed - Bobo is simply allowing himself to fall into the dominant philosophy that dictate BWFC fandom..

1) if a player is not being picked - he is ace - and all we need to do is pick him and all would be well
2) the reserve goalie is always better than the one currently playing
3) if we sell/loan a player out - he is ace - and we have obviously wasted the talent available to us

it's called the andranik philosophy.

I agree with him that a) Hall is talented and b) it's a shame he's had to go out on loan as he could be good for us.

The problem, in my opinion, is that in his time here he hasn't actually developed and has been very hit and miss in games. I think that view is shared by others here due to the comments he receives in match day threads. The lad has a bright future but he simply isn't developing here, and he needs game time or a coaching style that suits him to actually improve. Not to mention the longstanding rumour that he's a bit of a stroppy and precious git behind closed doors.

Fair enough he might not come back (that'd be down to Dougie's personality I think) but I don't think the loan is quite as tragic as Bobo appears to imply. Although I could be wrong there, feel free to correct me if you weren't implying that Bobo!

file under S for Sordell... or VT for Vaz Te...

But then that would be accepting that we're simply doing what we've always done. And as we've been told many times, we aren't, this is the Brave New Sportstech-Psychokinetic Oojamflip world of Doug, where everything is not what it seems.

[bobo the clown]

Bloody hell, fetch the comfy chair, Cardinal Fang.

I only expressed the view that this was the end of him with us & I think we've wasted him.

[Jugs]

Hard to fathom the Hall situation, especially when you consider the amount of times Pratters turns up on the right, presumably out of desperation from Dougie. I read today that Hall 'needs to show more' to force himself into the first team (Dougie's words). None of us know what's in his mind, half the time it appears that he's trying to psyche everyone out. He loaned Cravies out last year and now he's a first team regular, so who knows what will happen with Hall.

[bobo the clown]

presumably out of desperation from Dougie. .... of us know what's in his mind, half the time it appears that he's trying to psyche everyone out. He loaned Cravies out last year and now he's a first team regular

Let's not make Cravies' good performances seem like some Freedman master stroke.

[thebish]

Bloody hell, fetch the comfy chair, Cardinal Fang.

I only expressed the view that this was the end of him with us & I think we've wasted him.

and I'm not sure we have "wasted him" - maybe he is/was raw talent that hasn't yet worked out - and maybe a loan is exactly what he needs...

at the prices we are now shopping at - there are going to be more gambles than provens - and the only kind of talent we are likely to be able to secure would be either of the following:

1) past-it talent
2) raw unproven talent with flaws
3) undiscovered secret talent that nobody else knows about yet

that's gonna net you a hugely bigger failure rate than success rate.

I don't think the answer for hall is to simply keep picking him in the blind hope that summat will magically change... a loan might be just what he needs. better for us that he is playing somewhere and getting games under his belt than not being risked in the tense atmosphere of the Macron...

[malcd1]

I have read the Bolton News article and if I am not mistaken, the two CPFC defenders are just speculation by Marc Iles. DF has confirmed he is after a defender on a short term loan deal but there has been no mention of the Palace lads. I'm not saying we won't sign either or even both of them but lets not castigate Dougie over a name dropped by a local reporter (yet).

Freedman is known to be interested in Nottingham Forest utility man Greg Halford, while two former Crystal Palace defenders, Peter Ramage and Paddy McCarthy, have also been told they can leave Selhurst Park on loan and could interest the Scot.

[LeverEnd]

I find it hard to imagine many young attacking players being given a platform to shine in the current mess that is our first team.
Also if it is donw to some sort of attitude problem, which is speculative rumour I know, it would only strengthen my long-held conviction that Dougie does not have the strength of character to manage even slightly difficult individuals.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Warnock has said he'll let fringe players go on loan to the Championship, and Ramage was going to come to us last season – but he went to Barnsley instead because we didn't have the finance. There's a clause for concern.

As for Rob Hall: an inconsistent winger. Who knew?

[officer_dibble]

I wonder where clayton will end up on loan?

[officer_dibble]

Re Hayden White
Thought he was ok at leeds. At fault for goal abd more comfortable attacking but looked raw. Lacked support as well from senior colleagues. Would rather he was in at right back than ream or another loanee from palace.

Threlkeld needs game time as well. Fed up of saying it but 20 years old aint young - should be in a team if they are going to make it.

[Jugs]

presumably out of desperation from Dougie. .... of us know what's in his mind, half the time it appears that he's trying to psyche everyone out. He loaned Cravies out last year and now he's a first team regular

Let's not make Cravies' good performances seem like some Freedman master stroke.

Nah, all I'm saying is that you don't know what can happen when Freedman is involved. One minute you're on your way out, and the next you're the focal point of the attack.