Freedman out!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

There is some bravery and honour in admitting things are wrong, changing the system, bringing on a striker for a defender (Mourinho did it tonight), subbing the skipper. But it also is an admission you got it wrong.

This is now his squad, his team, his mess. I'm not at the point it wanting him out, but that 10-game mark is coming soon, and he's not making it easy.

[gizmothevoomer]

Got to be a grim start but, tin hat on, If he can get us playing like the end of last season, and sooner, then we're in with a chance, tin hat off. Lots of rumours coming out that he may have lost the dressing room, can't get rid cos we don't have funds for replacements. Get the team playing 90 minutes and not just a few spells here and there. There has to be an answer somewhere why we nearly reached the play-offs but so far haven't done sod all. Give Dougie until Christmas and see where we are. But the important thing is to get behind the team, even when losing.

Interesting if he has lost the dressing room, he would be the second successive manager to do so with largely the same core of senior players. The board should back the manager and look to get rid of the players who clearly don't have the mental strength to put in a performance when the going gets tough.

Well, he hasn't done himself any favours by pointing out very publicly that he's looking to move players on but that he's basically stuck with them. That he then has to stand in front of the same players in a motivational capacity would be laughable if it was happening elsewhere. What does he say to them? We're all in this together?

If the players had anything about them they would work hard to prove him wrong, not pick up the pay cheques for sub standard performances. If they were as good as their egos then there would be a queue of clubs looking to sign them!!

[Bruce Rioja]

Got to be a grim start but, tin hat on, If he can get us playing like the end of last season, and sooner, then we're in with a chance, tin hat off. Lots of rumours coming out that he may have lost the dressing room, can't get rid cos we don't have funds for replacements. Get the team playing 90 minutes and not just a few spells here and there. There has to be an answer somewhere why we nearly reached the play-offs but so far haven't done sod all. Give Dougie until Christmas and see where we are. But the important thing is to get behind the team, even when losing.

Interesting if he has lost the dressing room, he would be the second successive manager to do so with largely the same core of senior players. The board should back the manager and look to get rid of the players who clearly don't have the mental strength to put in a performance when the going gets tough.

Well, he hasn't done himself any favours by pointing out very publicly that he's looking to move players on but that he's basically stuck with them. That he then has to stand in front of the same players in a motivational capacity would be laughable if it was happening elsewhere. What does he say to them? We're all in this together?

If the players had anything about them they would work hard to prove him wrong, not pick up the pay cheques for sub standard performances. If they were as good as their egos then there would be a queue of clubs looking to sign them!!

Oh indeed, but clearly that's not happening. Catch 22!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Said it before but in between the September and October international breaks are two batches of three games, Sat-Tue-Sat. That takes us up to 11 league games, which would seem a decent time to judge, albeit not necessarily to pass sentence.

Up next:
DERBY (H, Tue 17 Sep) (currently 7th)
Brighton (A, Sat 21 Sep) (15th)

YEOVIL (H, Sat 28 Sep) (21st)
Blackpool (A, Tue 1 Oct) (1st)
Birmingham (A, Sat 5 Oct) (20th)


The teams we've played so far are currently (in reverse chronology) 6th, 10th, 2nd, 3rd, 13th and 5th. It would take an exceedingly cynical person to say their positions have been enhanced by having three easy points against us...

[ChrisC]

Can't comment on wether the dressing room has been lost or not but there was zero talking on that pitch today. Eagles lost the ball and went on to foul the same player trying to win it back and then screamed "Help!" at Spearing and Tierney who both just put their heads down.

Something isn't right in the team and it needs addressing now before the rot gets worse.

[davroduk]

I dont usually get involved with these threads about the manager but....................
Here is my take on Dougie, and his reign at the Reebok.
Whilst still at Palace the fans wanted him out.
He comes to Bolton and our performances, or league position dont improve.
He takes a punt and signs Dawson on loan and hey presto we cant lose and rise up through the Championship.
He then decides that we dont need Dawson for the crucial last few games and we lose out on the play offs.
Ok so no one is a "one man team" but it makes you think.
We are now in a worse position than when he took control of the club, and have our worse start to a season for 50 years.
Not the best C.V. for a football manager in my opinion.
Personally I was surprised when he got the job, and strongly believe that he is not the right man for the club (although I will admit that I felt the same about Big Sam).
If he had not signed Dawson on loan last season I believe we could have gone down, because Dawson raised the game of the players around him.
I really do believe that if he remains in charge we will be playing 1st division football next season.
There you go I have nailed my colours to the mast.
I hope that come the end of the season we are promoted and you can all quote this post and laugh.
I realy do hope that we are in that position (but I doubt it)
So for me he has to go, and go soon !!!!!!

[gizmothevoomer]

I dont usually get involved with these threads about the manager but....................
Here is my take on Dougie, and his reign at the Reebok.
Whilst still at Palace the fans wanted him out.
He comes to Bolton and our performances, or league position dont improve.
He takes a punt and signs Dawson on loan and hey presto we cant lose and rise up through the Championship.
He then decides that we dont need Dawson for the crucial last few games and we lose out on the play offs.
Ok so no one is a "one man team" but it makes you think.
We are now in a worse position than when he took control of the club, and have our worse start to a season for 50 years.
Not the best C.V. for a football manager in my opinion.
Personally I was surprised when he got the job, and strongly believe that he is not the right man for the club (although I will admit that I felt the same about Big Sam).
If he had not signed Dawson on loan last season I believe we could have gone down, because Dawson raised the game of the players around him.
I really do believe that if he remains in charge we will be playing 1st division football next season.
There you go I have nailed my colours to the mast.
I hope that come the end of the season we are promoted and you can all quote this post and laugh.
I realy do hope that we are in that position (but I doubt it)
So for me he has to go, and go soon !!!!!!

And how do we fund his sacking, and who do we get in?

[StaffsTrotter]

Said it before but in between the September and October international breaks are two batches of three games, Sat-Tue-Sat. That takes us up to 11 league games, which would seem a decent time to judge, albeit not necessarily to pass sentence.

Up next:
DERBY (H, Tue 17 Sep) (currently 7th)
Brighton (A, Sat 21 Sep) (15th)

YEOVIL (H, Sat 28 Sep) (21st)
Blackpool (A, Tue 1 Oct) (1st)
Birmingham (A, Sat 5 Oct) (20th)


The teams we've played so far are currently (in reverse chronology) 6th, 10th, 2nd, 3rd, 13th and 5th. It would take an exceedingly cynical person to say their positions have been enhanced by having three easy points against us...

I'm starting to get worried. We need a lucky break or something because at the moment the team just don't seem to have it in them or want it enough to make it happen themselves. Best player today Ream - composed, sharp and accurate with his passing. Hall again made an impact and single handedly created our best spell. Worst today probably Baptiste - think is was him who Varney ran off for the goal. I had been thinking that playing him at RB was unfair of DF, however given I don't think he won a header today, I dread to think what he would be like against a CF.

Not sure I'm more depressed about being beaten by another team who I didn't think were very good despite our best efforts to make them look better or DSBs assessment as to the toughness of our opening fixtures - talk about the grim new reality

[Lord Kangana]

Got to be a grim start but, tin hat on, If he can get us playing like the end of last season, and sooner, then we're in with a chance, tin hat off. Lots of rumours coming out that he may have lost the dressing room, can't get rid cos we don't have funds for replacements. Get the team playing 90 minutes and not just a few spells here and there. There has to be an answer somewhere why we nearly reached the play-offs but so far haven't done sod all. Give Dougie until Christmas and see where we are. But the important thing is to get behind the team, even when losing.

Interesting if he has lost the dressing room, he would be the second successive manager to do so with largely the same core of senior players. The board should back the manager and look to get rid of the players who clearly don't have the mental strength to put in a performance when the going gets tough.

Well, he hasn't done himself any favours by pointing out very publicly that he's looking to move players on but that he's basically stuck with them. That he then has to stand in front of the same players in a motivational capacity would be laughable if it was happening elsewhere. What does he say to them? We're all in this together?

One of the most salient points made so far. He's gone public about the size of his cock, then shown it to them in the dressing room. And they laughed.

[Lord Kangana]

Said it before but in between the September and October international breaks are two batches of three games, Sat-Tue-Sat. That takes us up to 11 league games, which would seem a decent time to judge, albeit not necessarily to pass sentence.

Up next:
DERBY (H, Tue 17 Sep) (currently 7th)
Brighton (A, Sat 21 Sep) (15th)

YEOVIL (H, Sat 28 Sep) (21st)
Blackpool (A, Tue 1 Oct) (1st)
Birmingham (A, Sat 5 Oct) (20th)


The teams we've played so far are currently (in reverse chronology) 6th, 10th, 2nd, 3rd, 13th and 5th. It would take an exceedingly cynical person to say their positions have been enhanced by having three easy points against us...

Rather a good way of destroying debate, but we're only 6 (unwon) games into the season. Its a sizable chunk of anyone's points total. Perhaps its no coincidence that all the sides we've played are high up the table, and perhaps the one's we're about to play will climb?

I personally think that we're experiencing a massive dose of deja vu. Injuries, money, fixture list. Too many excuses.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Patterns are emerging. QPR have won five out of their six league games by one goal, the last four 1-0. Forest have won all their other games by the odd goal, except the one they lost in Pieland. Burnley have got 10 points from the five games they didn't play against us, and from us until Rhodes' equaliser today they hadn't had a game in which both teams scored (including in to cup). But meh, we're also getting into our own groove: lose 1-0 at home, get whacked by three clear goals away.

One other thing I note: Reading will go sixth if they beat Brighton at home tomorrow. That would mean we've played the teams 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 10th. You're right: there's always excuses, although some of them might be reasons.

But, again, meh: we're playing the (current) 7th-placed team next, the leaders before long, and it's not like we're looking hard done to: sad truth is that quite a few teams would choose to play us now.

[SmokinFrazier]

Freedman should be sacked before the Derby game. He's a clueless manager and we're going nowhere positive with him in charge.

And who exactly do we get to replace him?

It costs money to get a good manager in, which we do not have. I'm not saying that players are all to blame, but Dougie has had a terrible squad handed to him.... and had no money to get better in.

My personal choice would be Tony Pulis. He might not play fashionable football but he's a good manager and I'm confident he's got the ability to get us promoted. Maybe not this season, especially if Freedman remains in charge for much longer, but I rate Pulis as a manager. Besides him, I rate Martin O'Neill or if that couldn't happen, even managers who are often derided like Mick McCarthy are better. When we appointed Freedman, we poached him from another Championship club and if we did the same again, how many other Championship managers are worse than Freedman? Finding a 'better' manager isn't a tough task, finding one who can turn it around this season and get us promoted is more difficult.

Our financial issues are related to our high wages given to the players. We're paying too much on wages, so that means we can't afford to bring new players in until we get rid of some of the old ones. However, that doesn't mean we can't afford to sack Freedman and bring another manager in because those finances are a separate issue. I'm sure Davies has easily enough money to do that, and if he wants the club earning big money again, he may see it as an investment. At best, we'll stagnate under Freedman but at worst, he will get us relegated so there is a big financial incentive in bringing a good manager in. Can we afford to stick with Freedman? I don't think so.

[Lord Kangana]

Out of interest, where is it written in stone that we're paying too much in wages? It keeps getting trotted out, but when I challenged BWFCi a few days ago on the details of Wheater's contract (from my perspective on the basis that I find it it incredulous that he would have taken a, say, 50% cut) everybody backs off.

Are we really paying too much? And if so, why aren't players bashing down our door to play for us? Or are they? Really?

[Bruce Rioja]

(i)Our financial issues are related to our high wages given to the players. We're paying too much on wages, so that means we can't afford to bring new players in until we get rid of some of the old ones.

(ii)However, that doesn't mean we can't afford to sack Freedman and bring another manager in because those finances are a separate issue.

(i) Honestly? Well spotted, you. fecking hell fire

(ii) Go on then. Let us learn how you've arrived at that?!

[a1]

I dont usually get involved with these threads about the manager but....................
Here is my take on Dougie, and his reign at the Reebok.
Whilst still at Palace the fans wanted him out.
He comes to Bolton and our performances, or league position dont improve.
He takes a punt and signs Dawson on loan and hey presto we cant lose and rise up through the Championship.
He then decides that we dont need Dawson for the crucial last few games and we lose out on the play offs.
Ok so no one is a "one man team" but it makes you think.
We are now in a worse position than when he took control of the club, and have our worse start to a season for 50 years.
Not the best C.V. for a football manager in my opinion.
Personally I was surprised when he got the job, and strongly believe that he is not the right man for the club (although I will admit that I felt the same about Big Sam).
If he had not signed Dawson on loan last season I believe we could have gone down, because Dawson raised the game of the players around him.
I really do believe that if he remains in charge we will be playing 1st division football next season.
There you go I have nailed my colours to the mast.
I hope that come the end of the season we are promoted and you can all quote this post and laugh.
I realy do hope that we are in that position (but I doubt it)
So for me he has to go, and go soon !!!!!!

this point is incorrect, his loan ended, dougiecool did not just decide not to play him. they loaned him for 90 days. which the rules said was the maximum. they 'could' have season longed it, but theyve had to do it in the proper transfer window and not the extended loans only bit .

[Lord Kangana]

He's brilliant though, isn't he A1? Obviously, being not Coyle?

[bobo the clown]

There is some bravery and honour in admitting things are wrong, changing the system, bringing on a striker for a defender (Mourinho did it tonight), subbing the skipper. But it also is an admission you got it wrong.

This is now his squad, his team, his mess. I'm not at the point it wanting him out, but that 10-game mark is coming soon, and he's not making it easy.

Same here. I want him to succeed and ... naively maybe, feel he's doing a lot of good things overall. .However, he needs
to start getting some results or nothing will save him..

[LeverEnd]

Is he doing good things though? Or is he just all moooth and no trooosers? I just don't know but he's making my mind up for the wrong way.

[jaffka]

As much as I want him to succeed, like all bolton managers, he is starting to look like a disaster.

I don't think that the Derby game will decide if he is sacked or not but will go some way to show if he can turn this round.

[a1]

He's brilliant though, isn't he A1? Obviously, being not Coyle?

yes. can you imagine how much more fecked we'd be with coyle and with no money. feck me, we'd be signing players from the 3rd division.