Dougie Freedman - Ten Months On

[Worthy4England]

Where does he fit in if Mavies is fit? And/or Moritz beds in? Chungy plays in a completely different position and got as many assists as N'gog last season so if Chungy rarely creates them, N'gog (on the same number) must also rarely create them. Of the two, I'd expect N'gog to score more - he's a forward not a winger.

Incidently, I don't think he was any worse than Beckford on Saturday.

We keep talking about what defenders hate - it's not "players running at them" that they hate at all, it's conceding goals. The "good save" from their keeper - that would be the one where he should have hit it with his left, but moved it across to his right and hit it pretty much straight at the guy? Poor, poor shot, if that's the one you're on about.

You wouldn't play him instead of Spearing, Medo, Pratley at the minute.

He offered much more than Beckford. No comparison.
Your criticisms of him are valid re the stats and the transfer fee but I think you're too harsh. I think we missed him when he was out and he occupies defenders and brings other people into the attack either deliberately or by making defenders leave gaps. There are no stats for this, but I see him do it and enjoy watching him play. Does he wind me up at times? Yes of course.

I'd agree he offered much more than Beckford on Saturday. Beckford is two competitive games into his career with Bolton, so I'm happy to give him more chance, although neither of them looked remotely like winning a header on Saturday.

I haven't really made an issue of the transfer fee, although now you mention it, it looks a bit steep for what we're getting and yes there are no stats for making defenders leave gaps, but I'd expect most forwards to be able to do that - it's a bit like pointing out "he can kick - I've seen him do it" there ain't many stats on that either.

He is also injured a lot.

The question still stands - if we had a fully fit squad where does N'gog fit into the starting XI? I'm not convinced he does...

We looked to be playing a 4-4-1-1 type of formation on Saturday with Medo/Spearing in the middle, CYL left, Pratters on the right, N'gog behind Beckford.

If all fit, we'd have Mavies (who by now must be at least as good as Iniesta, he's been injured that long) and Eagles to come back into contention. N'gog wouldn't get in, in front of either for me so that leave one of the two on the bench, or one up front.

Not sure I'd want N'gog as a lone frontman.

[ChrisC]

The thing I'm fearful of, is that Dooglass doesn't seem to read which way a game is going. He doesn't intervene with a killer substitution or rearrangement of bodies on the field. He may well have a strategy, but tactically he just seems to have a plan A for each and every game, with just variations rather than a refresh button when things begin to peter out. I'm not saying the tactics are the same for each and every game, as they do seem to differ, what I'm saying is, once the plan's in place there is no changing it.
If he doesn't start planning tactical changes better, I'm fearful that as the season progresses he'll be an easy read from other manager's perspectives, and they'll start to plan mid game changes that Dougie can't react to.

I disagree Mr Spot He changed things around last home game last season against Blackpool when we was 2 down. Changed formation and personnel early doors when he realised things where not working.

[BWFC_Insane]

The thing I'm fearful of, is that Dooglass doesn't seem to read which way a game is going. He doesn't intervene with a killer substitution or rearrangement of bodies on the field. He may well have a strategy, but tactically he just seems to have a plan A for each and every game, with just variations rather than a refresh button when things begin to peter out. I'm not saying the tactics are the same for each and every game, as they do seem to differ, what I'm saying is, once the plan's in place there is no changing it.
If he doesn't start planning tactical changes better, I'm fearful that as the season progresses he'll be an easy read from other manager's perspectives, and they'll start to plan mid game changes that Dougie can't react to.

I think the vast majority of the time it's pretty difficult to change the game from the bench. Sometimes momentum just switches one way or t'other. Not always something a manager can do massively large amounts about.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

The thing I'm fearful of, is that Dooglass doesn't seem to read which way a game is going. He doesn't intervene with a killer substitution or rearrangement of bodies on the field. He may well have a strategy, but tactically he just seems to have a plan A for each and every game, with just variations rather than a refresh button when things begin to peter out. I'm not saying the tactics are the same for each and every game, as they do seem to differ, what I'm saying is, once the plan's in place there is no changing it.
If he doesn't start planning tactical changes better, I'm fearful that as the season progresses he'll be an easy read from other manager's perspectives, and they'll start to plan mid game changes that Dougie can't react to.

I disagree Mr Spot He changed things around last home game last season against Blackpool when we was 2 down. Changed formation and personnel early doors when he realised things where not working.

I'd forgotten about Blackpool. He changed formation and everything, hmmmmmmmm.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Subs can change games.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20650274" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BWFC_Insane]

Subs can change games.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20650274" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yes of course, but that was more of a tight game, can't get a break through, throw on a different striker sub.

Sometimes when the game is going against you, the team just has to dig in and scrap it out. Not always a massive amount a manager can do to change it.

For me that was the case on Saturday. Unless he had a secret midfield dynamo on the bench we've been keeping hidden.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Manages aren't nearly as powerless as you seem to think. If your outlets aren't working, change your outlets. He's got good competition for places in the front four. He needs to use it.

[Worthy4England]

Subs can change games.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20650274" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He also did it against Cardiff...

Maybe he's a bench person. (but a bloody expensive one)

Given we let at least one in each game - we need goals from somewhere.

I look across our MF and say Spearing might get a few - 4? Medo a few 4/5? Pratley 46 - at one per game, CYL maybe 6/7? Eagles 10? Then I look upfront to two forwards and I don't see a lot (out of any of Cravies, Beckford and N'gog) on current showing - probably unfair on Beckford two games in - but them three are going to need to bag at least 20 between them you would have thought...

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Of course a manager can influence a game. He has four major areas where he can directly influence how his team plays.
In a nutshell they are:
To pick the team (and bench)
To change emphasis [to be more attacking minded, or more defensive and cautious]
To change formation (with the same team on the pitch, or by substitution)
To change personnel

[BWFC_Insane]

Of course a manager can influence a game. He has four major areas where he can directly influence how his team plays.
In a nutshell they are:
To pick the team (and bench)
To change emphasis [to be more attacking minded, or more defensive and cautious]
To change formation (with the same team on the pitch, or by substitution)
To change personnel

What I'm saying is that there is a limited amount during the game a manager can do.

We needed someone to freshen up the centre of midfield on Saturday and put their foot on the ball and get us going again. But such a player wasn't on the bench.

So he tried changing Beckford and NGog for Craig Davies and Moritz.

The trouble is that Reading left their wingers up and caught us on the break time and time again as our midfield tired and wide men got caught up the pitch. Very little he could do to change it.

I was surprised he didn't take Lee off (earlier than he did) for Hall or Odelusi but I think that he was worried that we were under pressure and Reading were really stretching us out wide and perhaps he felt throwing a kid on too early could have left us exposed. Both Hall and Odelusi struggled early doors against overlapping full backs at Shrewsbury. I can see that perhaps they might have offered more of an outlet. I can also see that given we were clinging on at times, he felt experience was the way to go.

[Enoch]

Of course a manager can influence a game. He has four major areas where he can directly influence how his team plays.
In a nutshell they are:
To pick the team (and bench)
To change emphasis [to be more attacking minded, or more defensive and cautious]
To change formation (with the same team on the pitch, or by substitution)
To change personnel

I'm having a Cardinal Ximinez moment.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

and To look pointedly at his watch...
five, He has five major areas.

[Enoch]

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I was surprised he didn't take Lee off (earlier than he did) for Hall or Odelusi but I think that he was worried that we were under pressure and Reading were really stretching us out wide and perhaps he felt throwing a kid on too early could have left us exposed. Both Hall and Odelusi struggled early doors against overlapping full backs at Shrewsbury. I can see that perhaps they might have offered more of an outlet. I can also see that given we were clinging on at times, he felt experience was the way to go.

Yeah, that's fair enough. Weighing up the risks of losing a point to possibly gain two more is where the previous chap so often go it wrong. But I'd still like him to feel able to make changes sooner.

[thebish]

Manages aren't nearly as powerless as you seem to think. If your outlets aren't working, change your outlets. He's got good competition for places in the front four. He needs to use it.

yeah - but, to be fair, BWFCi doesn't really think that managers are powerless to change a game - if he did, then he wouldn't have spent so long whining at Coyle for not having the nous to change a game...

[BWFC_Insane]

Manages aren't nearly as powerless as you seem to think. If your outlets aren't working, change your outlets. He's got good competition for places in the front four. He needs to use it.

yeah - but, to be fair, BWFCi doesn't really think that managers are powerless to change a game - if he did, then he wouldn't have spent so long whining at Coyle for not having the nous to change a game...

Coyle changed the game plenty. Just the wrong fecking way.

[thebish]

Manages aren't nearly as powerless as you seem to think. If your outlets aren't working, change your outlets. He's got good competition for places in the front four. He needs to use it.

yeah - but, to be fair, BWFCi doesn't really think that managers are powerless to change a game - if he did, then he wouldn't have spent so long whining at Coyle for not having the nous to change a game...

Coyle changed the game plenty. Just the wrong fecking way.

hmmm... except that managers are basically powerless to change a game.....

[Prufrock]

The verbal chicanery is all very nice, but it's clear he meant basically powerless to change a game [in a positive way]. Deciding not to bother with a keeper would be a fairly easy way to drastically alter a game, but it goes without saying that isn't what he meant.

I'm not saying I agree, but I do think people wildly overestimate the direct, knowable extent to which managers affect things during the game itself. I think substitutions do greatly affect things, but in a way that involves a lot of chance. The only fair way to judge someone on that is over a long period of time. Unless it's truly nuts, say Klas off v Hull, I don't get folk pinning their judgements on individual subs.

The way some people talk it sounds like they think it's as easy as swapping a midfielder for a striker and suddenly you'll create more chances, or sending someone on with the plan B worked on in training. 'Alex pass it to Jay. Jay to Andre. Andre to David. David score'.

[BWFC_Insane]

The verbal chicanery is all very nice, but it's clear he meant basically powerless to change a game [in a positive way]. Deciding not to bother with a keeper would be a fairly easy way to drastically alter a game, but it goes without saying that isn't what he meant.

I'm not saying I agree, but I do think people wildly overestimate the direct, knowable extent to which managers affect things during the game itself. I think substitutions do greatly affect things, but in a way that involves a lot of chance. The only fair way to judge someone on that is over a long period of time. Unless it's truly nuts, say Klas off v Hull, I don't get folk pinning their judgements on individual subs.

The way some people talk it sounds like they think it's as easy as swapping a midfielder for a striker and suddenly you'll create more chances, or sending someone on with the plan B worked on in training. 'Alex pass it to Jay. Jay to Andre. Andre to David. David score'.

Indeed and I didn't say powerless either. Just that its quite difficult in a lot of situations.

Easier if your bench is packed with star players as well.

[Lord Kangana]

So no manager can have a Plan B then?