Dougie

[LeverEnd]

I still have a few doubts about Freedman and I'm not as high on him as a lot of fans on ehre are. I think a lot of last seasons good run was fortunate. How many games were we fully in control of? How many could we have easily lost? How many did we genuinely deserve to win?

Looking at our very good run, Brighton were better than us. We got a very late goal against Blackburn. Were we really much better than Huddersfield or Peterborough? Had things not gone our way against Boro, would we have won? I don't know. I don't like to use the word "luck" because I think it's oversimplifies it, but I think a lot of the opposition fans would say that they were unlucky not to get a draw or even a win against us. I think Wolves and Hull's fans would have come away saying that they were beaten by a better side but how many other fans would say the same thing?

I also think there's an issue with our away form which Freedman didn't address. Freedman was in charge for 16 away games and in that time, we only got 13 points. That's 2 wins, 7 draws and 7 losses, with those two wins coming against Bristol City, who finished bottom of the league, and Barnsley, who escaped relegation by a point. That's a major issue and it's enough to make me worried about Freedman's managerial ability.

On the plus side, our defence has improved and we look a lot sturdier and harder to break down at the back. I don't like buying into buzzwords too much, but I'm optimistic about bringing back a scientific approach to fitness and there's part of me which does believe the club is on the right road. I just think a lot of our fans exaggerate our run of results. It's brilliant to win x amount of games in a row but it's going to be hard to reproduce that next season, unless we improve as a team because I think we were very fortunate at times last year.

In the transfer window, Freedman has been hit and miss. Dawson and Medo were both very good signings but De Ridder was dreadful, Butterfield was so bad he was booed and Hall was poor in the only game he played too. Davies is alright and we've not seen Gregus or Bolger yet. I think it's fair to say it's a 50/50. Freedman might have an eye for talent, as we saw with Dawson, but bringing in Butterfield and De Ridder would argue against that. For me, he still needs to prove himself in this area and at the moment, I certainly wouldn't put a lot of trust into his signings.

I'm not pessimistic about Freedman but if a big club came in for him, which they won't do, then I wouldn't be too bothered if he left. My biggest concern wouldn't be losing Freedman, it'd be finding a replacement because I don't think there's much quality out there. Our fans would roll their eyes at McCarthy, despite him doing a better job than Freedman did with us with a far inferior squad. Maybe someone like David Flitcroft? I don't suppose it's worth thinking about because, like I said, no Premier League club will come in for Freedman.

As always, I'm a Wanderer and I'm optimistic. I hope I'm wrong to suggest we relied on luck at times, and I hope that this season, we improve our away form. I'd like nothing more than to be shitting myself at the prospect of Freedman leaving us next year, so lets hope that with a full transfer window, money to spend, new training regimes and a better sense of team spirit, we can build on the progress we've already made and push for promotion next year.

Certainly he still has much to prove, especially in terms of away form, but I can't agree with you on transfers. Dawson and Medo were both masterstrokes and to suggest that they were canceled out by DeRidder and Butterfield (50-50?!?!) is madness. Butterfield was an emergency cover signing who would never had got near the first team had Mears and Riley not been ruled out long-term. That was forced upon Dougie. DeRidder played well against Burnley then wasn't really needed due to tactcal developments and went back after a month. No harm done, in fact more good than harm. Hall being put in on the last day was a bad one, but we can't say whether that's down to Dougie picking a bad'un. We'll find out if we sign him.

[hi there, i'm chris]

Christ.

For every Jay Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkeaff there was a Blessing Kaku and a Gerald Cid. For every Ronaldo and Eric Cantona there's a Massimo Taibi and Bebe.

Every manager makes shit transfers, but there's where you take a chance. As long as you make good signings with it then it doesn't matter.

[BWFC_Insane]

So Freedman signed a few cheapie stop gap loans and people are judging his transfer record on that?

He bought in some squad fillers when necessary but they will have been cheap punts.

I think I'd wait to see what sort of team he assembles for next season before judging his transfer ability. And crucially how much he spends in doing so.

[jaffka]

So Freedman signed a few cheapie stop gap loans and people are judging his transfer record on that?

He bought in some squad fillers when necessary but they will have been cheap punts.

I think I'd wait to see what sort of team he assembles for next season before judging his transfer ability. And crucially how much he spends in doing so.

why how much he spends?

if he sees fit to spend money on a player then so be it

[Bruce Rioja]

I think I'd wait to see what sort of team he assembles for next season before judging his transfer ability. And crucially how much he spends in doing so.

Bringing in cheap punts is one thing - showing faith in them at the business end of the season, quite another.

I'm hopeful for Dougie, and relatively confident. But dismantling a proven 4-4-2 and reverting to the shambles that's been 4-5-1 for the Blackpool game smacked of foolishness and arrogance to me. It's what Coyle would've done just to show who's in charge.

[BWFC_Insane]

I think I'd wait to see what sort of team he assembles for next season before judging his transfer ability. And crucially how much he spends in doing so.

Bringing in cheap punts is one thing - showing faith in them at the business end of the season, quite another.

I'm hopeful for Dougie, and relatively confident. But dismantling a proven 4-4-2 and reverting to the shambles that's been 4-5-1 for the Blackpool game smacked of foolishness and arrogance to me. It's what Coyle would've done just to show who's in charge.

Not that simple though, I don't think at least. The players froze. Could have just as easily done that with Sordell in the side. The logic behind it was to get Eagles in behind the striker and presumably dominate midfield. Didn't work but I suspect that was as much to do with players freezing as to anything else. It's not like we don't have form for it.

I think Hall was a surprise but Dougie clearly rates him.

And let's not forget the week before we'd got a decent result at Cardiff by dismantling the 4-4-2.

Next season I expect a variety of systems to be played. We need to be adaptable and not rigid in my view.

I will also draw a parallel. Allardyce was pilloried for what many saw as 'odd tactical' choices early in his reign. Who remembers Frank Passi on the wing in the semi final at Tranmere? He knew what he was doing though!

[hi there, i'm chris]

Franck Passi on the wing was a work of genuis. How dare you.

[thebish]

Not that simple though, I don't think at least. The players froze. Could have just as easily done that with Sordell in the side. The logic behind it was to get Eagles in behind the striker and presumably dominate midfield. Didn't work but I suspect that was as much to do with players freezing as to anything else. It's not like we don't have form for it.

that kind of thing used to be proof of bad management... didn't it??

[LeverEnd]

I think I'd wait to see what sort of team he assembles for next season before judging his transfer ability. And crucially how much he spends in doing so.

Bringing in cheap punts is one thing - showing faith in them at the business end of the season, quite another.

I'm hopeful for Dougie, and relatively confident. But dismantling a proven 4-4-2 and reverting to the shambles that's been 4-5-1 for the Blackpool game smacked of foolishness and arrogance to me. It's what Coyle would've done just to show who's in charge.

Not that simple though, I don't think at least. The players froze. Could have just as easily done that with Sordell in the side. The logic behind it was to get Eagles in behind the striker and presumably dominate midfield. Didn't work but I suspect that was as much to do with players freezing as to anything else. It's not like we don't have form for it.

I think Hall was a surprise but Dougie clearly rates him.

And let's not forget the week before we'd got a decent result at Cardiff by dismantling the 4-4-2.

Next season I expect a variety of systems to be played. We need to be adaptable and not rigid in my view.

I will also draw a parallel. Allardyce was pilloried for what many saw as 'odd tactical' choices early in his reign. Who remembers Frank Passi on the wing in the semi final at Tranmere? He knew what he was doing though!

It was an absolute shocker of a team selection and smacked of trying to be too clever. However his good work up to that point and the fact that he changed it early make it easily forgivable and doesn't dampen my enthusiasm for the new season.
However poor a selection decision this was, it doesn't have anything to do with whether Hall is a decent player or whether Dougie is good in the transfer market. remains to be seen but the signs are very promising on the latter.

[gizmothevoomer]

I think I'd wait to see what sort of team he assembles for next season before judging his transfer ability. And crucially how much he spends in doing so.

Bringing in cheap punts is one thing - showing faith in them at the business end of the season, quite another.

I'm hopeful for Dougie, and relatively confident. But dismantling a proven 4-4-2 and reverting to the shambles that's been 4-5-1 for the Blackpool game smacked of foolishness and arrogance to me. It's what Coyle would've done just to show who's in charge.

Not that simple though, I don't think at least. The players froze. Could have just as easily done that with Sordell in the side. The logic behind it was to get Eagles in behind the striker and presumably dominate midfield. Didn't work but I suspect that was as much to do with players freezing as to anything else. It's not like we don't have form for it.

I think Hall was a surprise but Dougie clearly rates him.

And let's not forget the week before we'd got a decent result at Cardiff by dismantling the 4-4-2.

Next season I expect a variety of systems to be played. We need to be adaptable and not rigid in my view.

I will also draw a parallel. Allardyce was pilloried for what many saw as 'odd tactical' choices early in his reign. Who remembers Frank Passi on the wing in the semi final at Tranmere? He knew what he was doing though!

It was an absolute shocker of a team selection and smacked of trying to be too clever. However his good work up to that point and the fact that he changed it early make it easily forgivable and doesn't dampen my enthusiasm for the new season.
However poor a selection decision this was, it doesn't have anything to do with whether Hall is a decent player or whether Dougie is good in the transfer market. remains to be seen but the signs are very promising on the latter.

Are we not forgetting from that for the Blackpool game we were missing M Davies, Ngog and Spearing all of whom would probably of played in front of Hall had they been fit. He shuffled the pack, which did not work as he intended, at least he recognised it early and was not afraid to make the change. To my mind it is sign of strength that he recognised his mistake and acted on it.

[Loyal White]

He tried Eagles in the Ngog role. It didn't work.

Let's not pretend that is was some huge variation from what we had been playing previously.

[Armchair Wanderer]

With the injuries assuming there were two possibles for that position I like the idea of starting Hall and having the more proven Sordell come on once the game's won or to get the winner. We haven't had any meaningless games recently to give Hall some gametime so I suppose it had to be then or never. It wasn't like Hall being on the pitch lost us the game, unless you're of the opinion that he single-handedly gifted them an unassailable two goal lead.

[Bruce Rioja]

I think I'd wait to see what sort of team he assembles for next season before judging his transfer ability. And crucially how much he spends in doing so.

Bringing in cheap punts is one thing - showing faith in them at the business end of the season, quite another.

I'm hopeful for Dougie, and relatively confident. But dismantling a proven 4-4-2 and reverting to the shambles that's been 4-5-1 for the Blackpool game smacked of foolishness and arrogance to me. It's what Coyle would've done just to show who's in charge.

Not that simple though, I don't think at least. The players froze.

Not that simple? It looked very simple to me. 4-5-1 and we were 2 down after 20 + odd minutes. Takes the utterly ineffective Hall off and reverts to 4-4-2. Hey presto, 2-2. Where does your difficulty lie? Where did the players 'freeze' in a 4-4-2? What is simple is to see that in your version of events Freedman can do no wrong just as Coyle could do no right.

[CAPSLOCK]

We didn't play against Blackpool - whether it was nerves, theyw ere better than us, tactics were wrong, who knows

What I do know know is that despite missing Dawson, Spearing, Mark Davies and N'Gog, we should still have won, despite a number of good chances missed, all topped off with that pathetic effort by Lee

If he'd played 4-4-2 and Ream had been exposed, it would've been, 'we should have played 4-5-1 to protect him'

Anyway, he's a big lad, he knows hindsight will be used to judge him and for me, he's currently way in credit

[BWFC_Insane]

I think I'd wait to see what sort of team he assembles for next season before judging his transfer ability. And crucially how much he spends in doing so.

Bringing in cheap punts is one thing - showing faith in them at the business end of the season, quite another.

I'm hopeful for Dougie, and relatively confident. But dismantling a proven 4-4-2 and reverting to the shambles that's been 4-5-1 for the Blackpool game smacked of foolishness and arrogance to me. It's what Coyle would've done just to show who's in charge.

Not that simple though, I don't think at least. The players froze.

Not that simple? It looked very simple to me. 4-5-1 and we were 2 down after 20 + odd minutes. Takes the utterly ineffective Hall off and reverts to 4-4-2. Hey presto, 2-2. Where does your difficulty lie? Where did the players 'freeze' in a 4-4-2? What is simple is to see that in your version of events Freedman can do no wrong just as Coyle could do no right.

Hall had our best effort (only) effort in the first half hour. So he was certainly no more ineffective than the rest of them. You only had to watch to see how panicked our players were that day. The usual suspects rushing things. We played this fabled 4-4-2 for the second half and could just as easily have lost as won it. But did neither.

I'm of the mind that what cost us was a panic in a group of players who have repeatedly shown they are not mentally strong enough and probably a lack of Spearing and Dawson in the side, far more than the team selection which clearly was designed to try and keep the ball and use the threat of Eagles more. It didn't work.

But if you honestly want to think that getting 2 goals back was purely down to a change in systems then go ahead. But it wasn't. It came about through Eagles actually being in the position he'd started the game in to finish a goal, and then a sheer piece of fluke.

And as Caps says we'd have won regardless had LCY not been such a bottler and/or so shite!

[Bruce Rioja]

4-5-1, two down. 4-4-2, two apiece.

[jaffka]

4-5-1, two down. 4-4-2, two apiece.

You hit the nail on the head with freedman can do no wrong coyle can't do anything right.

[BWFC_Insane]

4-5-1, two down. 4-4-2, two apiece.

[Bruce Rioja]

4-5-1, two down. 4-4-2, two apiece.

Roll your eyes all you like. That's what happened. It is FACT. That it doesn't suit you is neither here nor there.

We can strip it down if you like. After 30 minutes who did Freedman take off and what position was he playing? Now then, who did he send on and in what position? Derr fecking nerrrrrrrrr!

[BWFC_Insane]

4-5-1, two down. 4-4-2, two apiece.

Roll your eyes all you like. That's what happened. It is FACT. That it doesn't suit you is neither here nor there.

We can strip it down if you like. After 30 minutes who did Freedman take off and what position was he playing? Now then, who did he send on and in what position? Derr fecking nerrrrrrrrr!

Where did Eagles play for the first half hour? It certainly wasn't as a central midfield player!