Dougie Freedman - New Manager

[boltonboris]

Fvckin hell. I'm not 100% sold on Douglas, but I'm not concerned about him one bit. In fact, I'm more concerned about pretty much every single one of our players being shitter at their jobs than what the gaffer is at his

[BWFC_Insane]

Fvckin hell. I'm not 100% sold on Douglas, but I'm not concerned about him one bit. In fact, I'm more concerned about pretty much every single one of our players being shitter at their jobs than what the gaffer is at his

Yeah that is where I'm at. I mean I think for the first time in a while we have a competent manager, it remains to be seen how good he is. But we also seem to have the tightest budget we've had for a long time, which is not a surprise but makes things tough.

I mean we've essentially paid out no transfer fees this summer or very low ones. Beckford is a tiny amount until he scores loads or we go up for example.

Which is all well and good but we look short of the side we had towards the end of last season. Well short. The thought of Wheater and Knight together at centre back fills me with fear. The reliance on Holden coming back and being fit and ready and able to plug the gap left by Spearing is also a worry. Less of a worry though as we have on paper some decent cover in midfield.

And our over reliance on Eagles still appears to be there. With a bit of luck Beckford will score a few more of the chances that went missing last season. Baptiste and Tierney will hopefully be solid enough citizens.

But this is not a squad that looks like automatic promotion challengers to me. I'd expect to be in contention for a play-off place as it stands and no more.

In fact this from the BN sums it up well http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... s/10562512._/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Madrigal]

In fact this from the BN sums it up well http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... s/10562512._/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Agree with that.

Missing links, Chungy, Holden? but the main one for me is Mark Davies. Made the team tick when he was in it last season and don't think we did when he wasn't. What's the expected return for him? I know he was in Spain training with them but he was supposed to be out till the turn of the year from what I head when he did the injury. The sooner he's back the better.

[BWFC_Insane]

In fact this from the BN sums it up well http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wa ... s/10562512._/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Agree with that.

Missing links, Chungy, Holden? but the main one for me is Mark Davies. Made the team tick when he was in it last season and don't think we did when he wasn't. What's the expected return for him? I know he was in Spain training with them but he was supposed to be out till the turn of the year from what I head when he did the injury. The sooner he's back the better.

Mark Davies helps. A fully fit back to his best Holden could be the difference that article refers to. But I reckon thats a pipedream.

For me though, the key to turning round last season was Dawson. Someone who came in and organised at the back, anticipated rather than reacted and gave confidence to those around him who previously flapped continuously.

Now Dawson is more than likely, not an option. But he showed a key area for this divison that needed sorting.

Is Wheater a suitable replacement? Not in a million zillion years for me. Wheater is gutsy and big and strong but he's not the reader of the game Dawson was, nor the calming influence, nor the natural organiser and leader.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

...the main one for me is Mark Davies. Made the team tick when he was in it last season and don't think we did when he wasn't. What's the expected return for him? I know he was in Spain training with them but he was supposed to be out till the turn of the year from what I head when he did the injury. The sooner he's back the better.

Still January, according to DF on a Twitter chat a week or so ago. Sorry.

[Andy Waller]

...the main one for me is Mark Davies. Made the team tick when he was in it last season and don't think we did when he wasn't. What's the expected return for him? I know he was in Spain training with them but he was supposed to be out till the turn of the year from what I head when he did the injury. The sooner he's back the better.

Still January, according to DF on a Twitter chat a week or so ago. Sorry.

I can't see all the fuss about Davies. Didn't we hit a great run of form without him in the team last season?

[thebish]

...the main one for me is Mark Davies. Made the team tick when he was in it last season and don't think we did when he wasn't. What's the expected return for him? I know he was in Spain training with them but he was supposed to be out till the turn of the year from what I head when he did the injury. The sooner he's back the better.

Still January, according to DF on a Twitter chat a week or so ago. Sorry.

I can't see all the fuss about Davies. Didn't we hit a great run of form without him in the team last season?

aye - but not one quite great enough to get us promoted...

[Andy Waller]

...the main one for me is Mark Davies. Made the team tick when he was in it last season and don't think we did when he wasn't. What's the expected return for him? I know he was in Spain training with them but he was supposed to be out till the turn of the year from what I head when he did the injury. The sooner he's back the better.

Still January, according to DF on a Twitter chat a week or so ago. Sorry.

I can't see all the fuss about Davies. Didn't we hit a great run of form without him in the team last season?

aye - but not one quite great enough to get us promoted...

Yes, but enough to get us in the playoffs. Something we were nowhere near with him in the side.

[PC1978]

...the main one for me is Mark Davies. Made the team tick when he was in it last season and don't think we did when he wasn't. What's the expected return for him? I know he was in Spain training with them but he was supposed to be out till the turn of the year from what I head when he did the injury. The sooner he's back the better.

Still January, according to DF on a Twitter chat a week or so ago. Sorry.

I can't see all the fuss about Davies. Didn't we hit a great run of form without him in the team last season?

aye - but not one quite great enough to get us promoted...

Yes, but enough to get us in the playoffs. Something we were nowhere near with him in the side.

There was a lot more to influence that than the fact that Davies was out.

[thebish]

...the main one for me is Mark Davies. Made the team tick when he was in it last season and don't think we did when he wasn't. What's the expected return for him? I know he was in Spain training with them but he was supposed to be out till the turn of the year from what I head when he did the injury. The sooner he's back the better.

Still January, according to DF on a Twitter chat a week or so ago. Sorry.

I can't see all the fuss about Davies. Didn't we hit a great run of form without him in the team last season?

aye - but not one quite great enough to get us promoted...

Yes, but enough to get us in the playoffs. Something we were nowhere near with him in the side.

we didn't get into the playoffs!

[PC1978]

we didn't get into the playoffs![/quote]


We did. After 45 games, just a shame we dropped out after the 46th!!!

[Andy Waller]

Sorry, nearly in the playoffs! We looked a damn sight better anyway. I really can't see what he brings?

He goes on a run and beats three men every now and then but that's about it.

He's not awful but I don't think he's the Great White Hope people think he is.

[Worthy4England]

Sorry, nearly in the playoffs! We looked a damn sight better anyway. I really can't see what he brings?

He goes on a run and beats three men every now and then but that's about it.

He's not awful but I don't think he's the Great White Hope people think he is.

I agree with this too, he does some great runs and shows plenty of skill - sometimes.

[thebish]

Sorry, nearly in the playoffs! We looked a damn sight better anyway. I really can't see what he brings?

He goes on a run and beats three men every now and then but that's about it.

He's not awful but I don't think he's the Great White Hope people think he is.

I agree with this too, he does some great runs and shows plenty of skill - sometimes.

you're missing the point - one of our injured players IS the great hope for the future!!! if it's not Mavis (now Holden is fit) - then you have to pick someone else... them's the rules!

[Worthy4England]

Sorry, nearly in the playoffs! We looked a damn sight better anyway. I really can't see what he brings?

He goes on a run and beats three men every now and then but that's about it.

He's not awful but I don't think he's the Great White Hope people think he is.

I agree with this too, he does some great runs and shows plenty of skill - sometimes.

you're missing the point - one of our injured players IS the great hope for the future!!! if it's not Mavis (now Holden is fit) - then you have to pick someone else... them's the rules!

We should never have sold Andranik.

[ChrisC]

Sorry, nearly in the playoffs! We looked a damn sight better anyway. I really can't see what he brings?

He goes on a run and beats three men every now and then but that's about it.

He's not awful but I don't think he's the Great White Hope people think he is.

I agree with this too, he does some great runs and shows plenty of skill - sometimes.

you're missing the point - one of our injured players IS the great hope for the future!!! if it's not Mavis (now Holden is fit) - then you have to pick someone else... them's the rules!

We should never have sold Andranik.

Or Riga!

[bwfcdan94]

Sorry, nearly in the playoffs! We looked a damn sight better anyway. I really can't see what he brings?

He goes on a run and beats three men every now and then but that's about it.

He's not awful but I don't think he's the Great White Hope people think he is.

I agree with this too, he does some great runs and shows plenty of skill - sometimes.

you're missing the point - one of our injured players IS the great hope for the future!!! if it's not Mavis (now Holden is fit) - then you have to pick someone else... them's the rules!

We should never have sold Andranik.

Agree with you totally their.

[boltonboris]

We are an infinitely better team when we have Mark Davies in the team. I don't think there many better footballers in this division.

[plymouth wanderer]

We are an infinitely better team when we have Mark Davies in the team. I don't think there many better footballers in this division.

Fvckin A

We were going on a decent run just before he got injured and IIRC he scored a few

[officer_dibble]

Mark Davies would of walked player of the season if he hadnt got injured...he even played well under coyle.