Dougie Freedman - New Manager

[Hoboh]

And whether Freedman is good, bad or indifferent, right now matters little.

I get what you're saying about the overall mood at the club and the frustrating scenario we're in, but a managers job isn't just to give strategical instructions. It's their job to boost morale and get the best out of the players they have, which is something Freedman has failed at. If the players are mentally down, why? And more to the point, why hasn't this changed all season?

It's very, very poor man management at the least. We can talk all day about tactics and everything like that, but if the players aren't up for it, it's a tough task with even the best strategy. We didn't have that usual 'honeymoon period' new managers typically have, and under Freedman, we've continued to look like the same dispirited bunch that we had with Coyle. That is something Freedman is responsible for, and he simply hasn't changed it. We shouldn't still have the mentality that we had under Coyle, appointing Freedman should have been a fresh start but it wasn't.

Blackburn fans had this same problem under Berg, Wolves fans had it with Solbakken, and they've got it again with Saunders. These managers haven't inserted the right mentality within the club, so nothing has changed. I remember when Coyle was sacked, there were debates about a new manager and I said a number of times that we need someone who could bring a positive atmosphere with them. I know he wasn't available then, but Adkins, for example, would bring a brilliant mood to the club and that alone would result in positivity. I can imagine him getting the best out of the players, but I can't see Freedman doing the same thing. He's dour and uninspiring and slags off the 'thick' fans, which isn't what we needed to get that improvement in the atmosphere.

We really needed that immediate boost, similar to what Coyle brought with him when he first came. I think if we'd have had that, we'd be in the promotion spots right now. Freedman has proved incapable of doing that though, so for all his failings on the pitch, I think he should be equally criticised for not changing the mentality off it.

Disagree with the end bit. The initial honeymoon under Coyle meant the majority of the support seemed to sleep their way through our obvious demise until it was too late, and next thing we knew we were out of the Prem and 18th in the Championship. With the state of our finances I think we needed someone for the long term. Dougie appears to be that sort of appointment, though whether he will be the right man time will tell. I'm not ready to write him off yet.

GM?

[gizmothevoomer]

As everyone seems only to happy to point out the downward spiral set in a long time before Coyle went, both on the pitch and financially. Without a fairy god mother and to wave a wand and solve the financial problems within the club, then it will take time for us to turn around the performance on the pitch as well.

For me the encouraging thIng under DF is the team is playing with more shape and discipline than with the last regime. I am confident that we will finish in the top half of the table this season, and will be satisfied with that given the position and freefall we were in before his appointment.

Now being contraversial is the Premier league the the promised land everyone things it to be, A league that we can name the top nine of the top ten teams before the season begins, the only thing the others can hope for is a decent cup run and to stay clear of relagation.

[Annoyed Grunt]

As everyone seems only to happy to point out the downward spiral set in a long time before Coyle went, both on the pitch and financially. Without a fairy god mother and to wave a wand and solve the financial problems within the club, then it will take time for us to turn around the performance on the pitch as well.

For me the encouraging thIng under DF is the team is playing with more shape and discipline than with the last regime. I am confident that we will finish in the top half of the table this season, and will be satisfied with that given the position and freefall we were in before his appointment.

Now being contraversial is the Premier league the the promised land everyone things it to be, A league that we can name the top nine of the top ten teams before the season begins, the only thing the others can hope for is a decent cup run and to stay clear of relagation.

It's the riches it brings.

[TANGODANCER]

THere is normally another team on the pitch you know!

How refreshing for that detail to be acknowledged. Makes a change from the musings of Mystic Meg.

Aye, given an equal number of fans, it's quite staggering to realise that only one in twenty thinks Bolton is the most important or best team in the Championship. As for individual errors, how many folk don't make at least one most working days? Life's tough down here and keep harping on about Dougie's failings so soon is just a bit nieve. Nothing lasts forever, ask Arsene Wenger. We'll just have to dig in and keep plugging away. We'll get there eventually. Not like we haven't been here before is it? Football, just like life, is littered with "the Mighty fallen" stories and actually persevering with a manager who's trying might make a welcome change from instant glory expectations. Everything comes to he who waits, or so they say.

[BWFC_Insane]

THere is normally another team on the pitch you know!

How refreshing for that detail to be acknowledged. Makes a change from the musings of Mystic Meg.

Aye, given an equal number of fans, it's quite staggering to realise that only one in twenty thinks Bolton is the most important or best team in the Championship. As for individual errors, how many folk don't make at least one most working days? Life's tough down here and keep harping on about Dougie's failings so soon is just a bit nieve. Nothing lasts forever, ask Arsene Wenger. We'll just have to dig in and keep plugging away. We'll get there eventually. Not like we haven't been here before is it? Football, just like life, is littered with "the Mighty fallen" stories and actually persevering with a manager who's trying might make a welcome change from instant glory expectations. Everything comes to he who waits, or so they say.

1 in 24 I think TD.

Like our squad you haven't quite adapted to life outside the top flight either.....

[TANGODANCER]

THere is normally another team on the pitch you know!

How refreshing for that detail to be acknowledged. Makes a change from the musings of Mystic Meg.

Aye, given an equal number of fans, it's quite staggering to realise that only one in twenty thinks Bolton is the most important or best team in the Championship. As for individual errors, how many folk don't make at least one most working days? Life's tough down here and keep harping on about Dougie's failings so soon is just a bit nieve. Nothing lasts forever, ask Arsene Wenger. We'll just have to dig in and keep plugging away. We'll get there eventually. Not like we haven't been here before is it? Football, just like life, is littered with "the Mighty fallen" stories, and actually persevering with a manager who's trying might make a welcome change from instant glory expectations is refreshing. Everything comes to he who waits, or so they say.

1 in 24 I think TD.

Like our squad you haven't quite adapted to life outside the top flight either.....

But a little more than you I'd say, having seen it all before.

[Enoch]

I remember when I knew everything.

Those were the days.

[thebish]

Kebab was a bit pissed off with a thread in which racist language was used. He said he was taking a sabbatical, but never returned. He posts on twitter though and having met him, can say he's a decent bloke.

He was the manager for a semi pro outfit (St.Albans?!).

He was assitant rather than maanger, I think? Before quitting to set up his own coaching business. All IIRC. I kept meaning to go up to watch his team when he was still there (can't remember whether it was St. Albans or Colney Heath, but it was in that area).

it was colney heath - and it's not a coaching business but a kids sports/party business IIRC...

anyway - he does know what he's talking about

just don't mention the phrase "show him outside"

[Spartan2]

We're still going up. Only 6 points behind the playoffs if we win our game in hand and the Middlesbrough game. We'll spank Hull tomorrow.

[Porrohman]

We're still going up. Only 6 points behind the playoffs if we win our game in hand and the Middlesbrough game. We'll spank Hull tomorrow.

You need medical help and real soon.

[Whookam]

We're still going up. Only 6 points behind the playoffs if we win our game in hand and the Middlesbrough game. We'll spank Hull tomorrow.

I hate to be the one to tell you this but all the other teams will be playing matches too.

[Lennon'sEleven]

We're still going up. Only 6 points behind the playoffs if we win our game in hand and the Middlesbrough game. We'll spank Hull tomorrow.

I hate to be the one to tell you this but all the other teams will be playing matches too.

He's right though - beat Boro, win the game in hand that we have over them and we're 6 off them. Let him dream!

[gizmothevoomer]

Unfortunately it takes time to turn around a club in decline, which is what we were when Dougie arrived. Whilst we have shown glimpses of being a better more organised team we are still a long way off being the team Dougie wants us to be. That said the next month will shape our final table position.

This said in this seasons Championship is tighter than the previous two years with, 17th in the league being 17 points off a play off place after 31 games, potentially we could be 7 points off if we win our game in hand. That is the rosy side as two years ago from 12 points Reading claimed the final play off place from being 12 points adrift after 31 games.

The down side is we are only 3 points off a relegation place where in the last two seasons 17th position at this stage were 12 points and 10 points clear.

Anyone from 7th to 20th who can put a run of 4 wins on the bounce will be contending for a play off place come the final few games, we may have a shot a this with a bit of luck

I wrote that two weeks ago and 2 draws and what should be a win this afternoon against Hull should see us move to fourteenth in the table. If we can follow that with a further two wins against Peterborough and Barnsley we should be tenth and a good outside bet for the last play off spot.

So in the words of two great philosophers Corporal Jones and Douglas Adams ' Don't Panic'

[bobo the clown]

If we get into the play offs this season, then rearrange the following words ; -

Steps ..... My .... Lions .... Hall ..... Between ..... The .... Arse ...... Stand .... I'll ....... And .... The ..... Town ..... On ..... Show ...

[Annoyed Grunt]

I'll show the Lions between my arse on the town hall steps.

[gizmothevoomer]

I didn't say we would make the play offs, my original point on 10/02 was that the next four weeks would shape where we would finish in the table. Half way through that month we have two draws and a win and have put a liuttle distance between us and the bottom three.

Now if we can get home victories against Peterborough and Barnsley that should put us around tenth by the turn of the month. With a points return of eleven from fifteen. Then two tough home games against Dingles and Brighton, which with the confidence of a five match unbeaten run three wins on the bounce, if we win those we would be right in the mix.

If we lose two of them we will finish mid table, confidence and belief is the key to the team.

[Annoyed Grunt]

10 points off the play offs.....not going to happen....

[gizmothevoomer]

Leicester last four league games 7 points from 12
Brighton last four league games 10 points from 12
Middlesborough last four league games 4 points from 12
Forest last four league games 7 points from 12
Leeds last four league games 5 points from 12
Dingles last four league games 6 points from 12
Derby last four league games 2 points from 12
Burnley last four league games 2 points from 12
Millwall last four league games 3 points from 12
Charlton last four league games 4 points from 12
Bolton last four league games 8 points from 12
Birmingham last four league game 5 points from 12

This goes to show that only Brighton have performed better than us in this period, and have now forced themselves into a play off place today. I still maintain that any of the sides listed above who can put a run of four wins on the bounce will either cement themselves into a play off position or put themselves in the mix, there is no reason that can't be us with four home games coming up.

[SmokinFrazier]

I said this would happen a while ago. Teams above us have got limited squads so rely on the same players over and over again. We have a far stronger squad than they do, so as other teams start to falter due to fatigue, we can bring in quality like Wheater, Holden, Mark Davies, Medo, Sordell, who haven't played that many games this year or have had breaks.

I wouldn't be surprised to see us start to close the gap further. I wish we were playing better than we are but our squad depth might seem us conjure up a few more wins against tiring opposition.

[CAPSLOCK]

I said this would happen a while ago. Teams above us have got limited squads so rely on the same players over and over again. We have a far stronger squad than they do, so as other teams start to falter due to fatigue, we can bring in quality like Wheater, Holden, Mark Davies, Medo, Sordell, who haven't played that many games this year or have had breaks.

I wouldn't be surprised to see us start to close the gap further. I wish we were playing better than we are but our squad depth might seem us conjure up a few more wins against tiring opposition.

Have we not just beat the second best team in the league 4-1

Strikes me we're playing ok, but then I don't have the 'putting cones out' badge