Dougie Freedman - New Manager

[BWFC_Insane]

I read elsewhere that BWFCi doesn't know what he's talking about, so I trust read-elsewhere-anonymous-internet-sources implicitly.

Ahhh just like the good old days eh?

The point stands though

I think I read it on wways! So possibly groundless speculation. But I never suggested it wasn't!

One point that definitely still stands is that Coyle did no end of harm to this football club. I suspect strongly that others have taken note of that!

[jaffka]

I read elsewhere that BWFCi doesn't know what he's talking about, so I trust read-elsewhere-anonymous-internet-sources implicitly.

Ahhh just like the good old days eh?

The point stands though

I think I read it on wways! So possibly groundless speculation. But I never suggested it wasn't!

One point that definitely still stands is that Coyle did no end of harm to this football club. I suspect strongly that others have taken note of that!

You see unlike you, I am prepared to acknowledge and remember the good times under him, whilst also agreeing he had to go.

[hi there, i'm chris]

Must say, this thread has been an interesting read with hindsight.

Big difference is BSA was at the right end of the table with results and points in the bag to back him up. Freedman should be carefull having a subtle dig at the fans, all fur coat and no knickers springs to mind so far!

Yeah, I agree with this. Freedman said "...those who have got any idea what they are talking about...", which is pretty insulting to the fans who are very disappointed with the way the season is going. Freedman has constantly said that the team is making progress, yet results are getting worse, so what is actually happening here? Playing well is one thing but unless it translates into points, it's meaningless. We don't need to play well and lose, we need to get wins under our belt, which Freedman hasn't proved capable of doing so far.

I'm not against Freedman at all. I like many of the things he has said and I want him to be a success for us, but there is genuine reason for concern and criticism here. That should be answered by him, rather than passing it off as "we're playing well and results will come, if you know anything about football you'll agree".

Turns out Douglas was right.

*pointless image*

Yes, I can clearly see the similarities between Manchester United in 1989 and Bolton Wanderers in 2013.

I can. A manager making far reaching changes behind the scenes at a club, not getting immediate results and being berated for it by impatient short-sighted fans. Then said changes kick in and club goes on an amazing run of success.

Not saying this will happen to Bolton under Dougie but I can see what he's trying to do (unlike his predecessors since Big Sam) and I like his confidence and honesty. Let's give him a chance.

I'm glad we did.

I'd love us to have stability, and I definitely agree that it's always the best thing for a club, but that doesn't mean you have to persist with a manager who it isn't working out for. Both Blackburn and Wolves were right to get rid of their managers when it clearly wasn't working for them. It's not ideal to have three managers in one season but it's a better alternative than being loyal if things aren't working.

You really wanted shut of Sir Douglas, didn't you?

Are you suggesting we follow Blackburn's example? I suppose McLeish is free now...

They're 7 points off the play-offs, we're 13 points off. They've had three managers and a caretaker manager, not to mention the shambles off the pitch... and they're still out-performing us.

Yeah we definitely should've followed what Blackburn did. Worked out great for them.

Again,he's right though.

Of course he was.

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

We are 10 points ... a minimum of 4 games, from the 6th place. We have 16 games left and there are 11 clubs we must overtake. ... ie. Even if the team in 6th were to blow it there are 11 clubs better placed to overhaul them.

The possibility that we will do this are up there with the possibilities of me kissing the Pope's ring.

The Pope better get his ring primed then.

Freedman just isn't a good manager. We're 1-0 down right now, but even if we win, it's unacceptable to play so poor for such a long time. We aren't progressing under him at all, and surely nobody would have the audacity to claim we're doing anything but going backwards under his reign.

His arrogance is disgraceful too, considering what direction we're going in. I'll accept arrogance when the results merit it, but given the pathetic form under Freedman, he should be sucking up to the fans.

I like this one.

Anyways, might be a bit premature considerng we haven't made the play offs yet but it's hilarious reading back some of these posts.

[bobo the clown]

I will be delighted to, though regrettably the Catholic Church was so concerned at this prospect they changed Popes !

It has been a most extraordinary turnaround and gratifying to see. I'm still not convinced we're playing especially well but the results and points have kept coming, which has been the important thing.

Still not there yet of course. ... & we do then there are still the playoffs to manoeuvre. Even if the wheels come off it's given us a new belief which barely seemed likely only 2 months ago and some optimism for next season.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.




You know, I really loathe Coyle now.

[jonnycooper]

Nothing better for a Club than a settled Manager who know,s what He,s doing.You only have to look at Clubs like,Manure/Everton/Arsenal,to see what it does for you.Anyone think Everton would have had a relegation if they had,nt stuck with Moyes..Given time Dougie will Know the ins and outs of this Club,like Fat Sam did.We all know that we would still be PL if Sam had stayed.Dougie needs time and I for one Really hope He gets it!

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Nothing better for a Club than a settled Manager who know,s what He,s doing.You only have to look at Clubs like,Manure/Everton/Arsenal,to see what it does for you.Anyone think Everton would have had a relegation if they had,nt stuck with Moyes..Given time Dougie will Know the ins and outs of this Club,like Fat Sam did.We all know that we would still be PL if Sam had stayed.Dougie needs time and I for one Really hope He gets it!

Promoted from manager to God. Not bad going for 3/4 of a season.

[Martin_Cruise]

Nothing better for a Club than a settled Manager who know,s what He,s doing.You only have to look at Clubs like,Manure/Everton/Arsenal,to see what it does for you.Anyone think Everton would have had a relegation if they had,nt stuck with Moyes..Given time Dougie will Know the ins and outs of this Club,like Fat Sam did.We all know that we would still be PL if Sam had stayed.Dougie needs time and I for one Really hope He gets it!

Promoted from manager to God. Not bad going for 3/4 of a season.

in which he has won 3 away games in the second tier..

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Nothing better for a Club than a settled Manager who know,s what He,s doing.You only have to look at Clubs like,Manure/Everton/Arsenal,to see what it does for you.Anyone think Everton would have had a relegation if they had,nt stuck with Moyes..Given time Dougie will Know the ins and outs of this Club,like Fat Sam did.We all know that we would still be PL if Sam had stayed.Dougie needs time and I for one Really hope He gets it!

Promoted from manager to God. Not bad going for 3/4 of a season.

in which he has won 3 away games in the second tier..

Ooh hello Martin, where've you been? We've missed your sunny optimism.

It's already looking as though Freedman shouldn't have been appointed.

I've seen enough already to know Freedman isn't a Bolton manager.This set of overpaid wankers are worse than the laughing stock Blackburn have become

(...)

[Lost Leopard Spot]

mmmmmmm reminds me of somebody else who stopped posting once the sun began to shine a little.

[Enoch]

Who was that then you plum?

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Who was that then you plum?

you know who me old fruit, allegedly.

[BWFC_Insane]

Apparently if there was a mythical 'Dougie Freedman Football Club' that was the points earned at Palace and Bolton this season combined, it would be top of the league.

In other words combining Dougie Freedmans results at Palace and Bolton would leave said side top.

Just saying.......

[CPFC4EVA]

Hello!

Just thought I should come back on here (Since Oct I think) and congratulate you guys.
In short, DF is quite clearly the man that I thought wasn't. If that makes any sense.
Clearly gutted when he left us and if honest, I thought he would fail miserably up there.

The league table however and your performances do not lie. He is the man to take you into the play-offs and possibly Premiership football??

If only our directors had matched what he was offered, or maybe it was more than that. What ever.... completely irrelevant now, our loss is your gain. I just hope we do not meet you in the finals.

Either way, good luck and DF will ALWAYS be a legend for me and many, many many others

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Hello!

Just thought I should come back on here (Since Oct I think) and congratulate you guys.
In short, DF is quite clearly the man that I thought wasn't. If that makes any sense.
Clearly gutted when he left us and if honest, I thought he would fail miserably up there.

The league table however and your performances do not lie. He is the man to take you into the play-offs and possibly Premiership football??

If only our directors had matched what he was offered, or maybe it was more than that. What ever.... completely irrelevant now, our loss is your gain. I just hope we do not meet you in the finals.

Either way, good luck and DF will ALWAYS be a legend for me and many, many many others

Big of you to come back here, friend. Many Boltonian naysayers haven't.

Good luck for the future - I know a few Palace fans and they're good folk. Mind you, I also know decent Watford, Brighton (sorry!), Leicester and Forest fans, so summat's gotta give...

[jonnycooper]

Hello!

Just thought I should come back on here (Since Oct I think) and congratulate you guys.
In short, DF is quite clearly the man that I thought wasn't. If that makes any sense.
Clearly gutted when he left us and if honest, I thought he would fail miserably up there.

The league table however and your performances do not lie. He is the man to take you into the play-offs and possibly Premiership football??

If only our directors had matched what he was offered, or maybe it was more than that. What ever.... completely irrelevant now, our loss is your gain. I just hope we do not meet you in the finals.

Either way, good luck and DF will ALWAYS be a legend for me and many, many many others

Thanks cpc...He,s certainly getting a lot of admirers up here now after a touchy start!! What do you,re lot think of Holloway as His replacement....My limited opinion is that Dougie will prove to be a far better Manager Long Term,than IH ever will?

[jonnycooper]

Apparently if there was a mythical 'Dougie Freedman Football Club' that was the points earned at Palace and Bolton this season combined, it would be top of the league.

In other words combining Dougie Freedmans results at Palace and Bolton would leave said side top.

Just saying.......

It would actually have the said "Dougie Freedman Football Club"on 74 pts...

Just saying

[bwfcdan94]

Apparently if there was a mythical 'Dougie Freedman Football Club' that was the points earned at Palace and Bolton this season combined, it would be top of the league.

In other words combining Dougie Freedmans results at Palace and Bolton would leave said side top.

Just saying.......

It would actually have the said "Dougie Freedman Football Club"on 74 pts...

Just saying

I think you made a big mistake in letting DF go and then bringing in Holloway. Out of interest where do you think are two teams will finish and who will win the play offs?

[Enoch]

Just to bring a touch of caution to the Freedman love-in, it's early days yet.

I still believe he's a manager with a big future and I would certainly be impressed if he delivers us to the Premiership this year, but there's still a way to go before he's proven much.

Whichever division we find ourselves in next season, there is a lot of work to be done in the summer. Dawson and Spearing will likely be gone, Alonso, N'Gog and Eagles, plus Lee all have their suitors. We need to find a good number of players that have the skills required to play the style of football Freedman espouses.

The late push toward playoff qualification has been great and I've certainly enjoyed the ride, but it's hardly been through polished displays of commanding football. At times since he took charge, we've played some sublime stuff, but it's been 10 or 15 minute spells and much of the rest has been efficient at best.

Palace fans might recognise some of our performances this year from the previous two seasons. September/October last year I watched Palace three times and the less jaundiced among them might confess they were playing with real quality. A very high tempo game and counter attacking at pace with the ball on the ground, they were a joy to watch.

What I think he has achieved since he arrived, is to once again give the playing staff clear, simple ways and a degree of professionalism that had been lacking for a while.

Two things I'm certain of regard Freedman, he isn't dour and he's not even remotely boring.

[BWFC_Insane]

Just to bring a touch of caution to the Freedman love-in, it's early days yet.

I still believe he's a manager with a big future and I would certainly be impressed if he delivers us to the Premiership this year, but there's still a way to go before he's proven much.

Whichever division we find ourselves in next season, there is a lot of work to be done in the summer. Dawson and Spearing will likely be gone, Alonso, N'Gog and Eagles, plus Lee all have their suitors. We need to find a good number of players that have the skills required to play the style of football Freedman espouses.

The late push toward playoff qualification has been great and I've certainly enjoyed the ride, but it's hardly been through polished displays of commanding football. At times since he took charge, we've played some sublime stuff, but it's been 10 or 15 minute spells and much of the rest has been efficient at best.

Palace fans might recognise some of our performances this year from the previous two seasons. September/October last year I watched Palace three times and the less jaundiced among them might confess they were playing with real quality. A very high tempo game and counter attacking at pace with the ball on the ground, they were a joy to watch.

What I think he has achieved since he arrived, is to once again give the playing staff clear, simple ways and a degree of professionalism that had been lacking for a while.

Two things I'm certain of regard Freedman, he isn't dour and he's not even remotely boring.

This. Really good appraisal of where we are.

Last sentence is right too. Certainly think he's got quite a spark and is not remotely boring or dour.

[Jakerbeef]

If we get promoted, suitors will be inconsequential. Wages/sweeteners will probably go up and the barmy army will be back.