Freedman out!

[HMX]

Lose against Donny and bye-bye from me.

[SmokinFrazier]

However, I can do with a team not getting results, if all else works, but I really, really hate his negative approach. Even when it gives us a win.

If the guy can't see that his tactics are turgid, soul-destroying shite which are squeezing the life out of the club ... that we have enough forward thinking players to actually attack teams. If he insists on worrying more about the opponents than having them worry about us then I don't see the point.

Yeah, I agree with this. I don't mind watching defensive or direct football as long as the results are right, but the results are the most importing thing and I don't think we get the best results by playing in that way. If Freedman could get us winning on a regular basis by playing negative football, I don't think any of us would really care, but the impression I always get when watching us is that if we played with a bit of confidence, attacked teams, pressed high and dictated the tempo of the game, we'd do a lot better than we currently are doing. We're giving the opposition too much respect and allowing them to dictate the game which doesn't make sense when you consider that few teams in the league have the individual ability that we have.

Every team we play has to be respected but having confidence in our own ability isn't a bad thing either. We aren't playing the likes of Arsenal, City, Chelsea and United any more, we're up against teams we have more quality than, yet we still play like underdogs.

[bobo the clown]

In all honesty I wouldn't be happy if we were riding high with these tactics, but I'd have to then admit they were working and the guy had a point.

The worst combination is these tactics, with these poor outcomes.

[coffeymagic]

I don't know about this 'winning is all it's about' mentality - especially when we're not even winning.

Remember the last 18months of BSA? Awful. Going to the game was a real chore, I don't know if it was because we'd become used to watching us go at teams but it seemed like Allardyce had just decided to do the bare minimum until he got the England job.

Or just to pee of Garty for his lack of investment.

Y'know what'd make a good Christmas gift? One of those Russian Doll things where the outside is BSA, then LSL, Then Twatson, Then Coyle, Then Freedman, the last, a tiny little figure would be a wee Superwite with a tiny tear rolling down its cheek.

Get one while stocks last!

[Harry Genshaw]

In all honesty I wouldn't be happy if we were riding high with these tactics, but I'd have to then admit they were working and the guy had a point.

The worst combination is these tactics, with these poor outcomes.

True is that. BSA served up some turgid stuff at times during the last few years of his reign but did anyone seriously give a 5hit?

Right now we just seem to be following the City, Leeds, Coventry, Charlton (in fact every club that didn't get back up for years) model. We're getting progressively worse and another change of manager could add further to this downward spiral.

The evidence against Dougie though is really stacked up. If they are going to pull the trigger, I just hope they do it before he sells Eagles and buys more Craig Davieses

[Riviman]

For me the really sad thing is that after supporting them for well over 50 years, season ticket holder for the last 40 years Lifeline member since day 1, I have lost interest in the team. The dross that is, and has been served up over the last few years has I fear finally taken its toll. Professional football is now played by obscenely over paid and under skilled players, last night finally put the tin lid on it.
How can you be paid thousands a week and not hit a target that's 8 yards by 8 feet ????

Rant over........ no doubt by Saturday morning I'll be saying "bring on Doncaster ". (Hopefully)

[a1]

pretend he's coyle. then we can keep him for ages no matter what he does.

[thebish]

the depressing thing is that I haven't got to the stage where I don't care yet...

[Thor]

Probably too late to change manager now. With only 4 weeks until the transfer window opens, it leaves little time for a new man to come in and properly access the squad before January.
I guess a disaster ours string of results could force the issue though!

[a1]

10 print SomethingSomething$ +"megson could at least draw at home."
20 SomethingSomething$ = random funnybot punchline generator
30 goto 10

[coffeymagic]

The media don't help. There's this cosy-in at the moment where pundits and commentators speak about 'how crazy' it is that 'Manager X' has been sacked after only 'Y months in the job.'

What they should be saying is 'How the 'F' has that 'C' got another job when he was pure 'S' at club 'Z'?'

I was in a taxi the other day and the driver had Talksputem on. Adrian 'Durham' Durham and Goughie 'Gough' Goughie were shouting about how clubs should be docked points if they get rid of managers mid season.

Now I know everything they say is designed to light up the phone lines but Jesus Christ what a load of twaddle.

What if your boss was taking your firm down the kharzi after making a load of empty promises at his interview? His CV nothing but a tissue of empty lies and twisted half-truths?

Sorry lads, can't sack him, we've got to give him time to turn things around. By the way, here's Craig Davies - he'll be sat behind you on 10 times your salary doing nothing for the forseable future.

I think there have been plenty of radio and TV people given the shove after a few shows, especially on Talkplumbbase were Bolton's finest was given the shove recentley.

Don't forget of course Alex Ferguson was just one game away....

Aye, feck off. One manager somehow manages to scab a win and then uses the massive wealth of his club to go out and smash transfer record after transfer record to somehow cobble together a winning team.

The Adrian bastard Durhams of this world and yer Dantzes of this world and yer Jason Cundies of this world can all bugger off.

So in short that formula again.

x/y (f+c+s)-z=Alan Curbishley

[StaffsTrotter]

In all honesty I wouldn't be happy if we were riding high with these tactics, but I'd have to then admit they were working and the guy had a point.

The worst combination is these tactics, with these poor outcomes.

True is that. BSA served up some turgid stuff at times during the last few years of his reign but did anyone seriously give a 5hit?

Right now we just seem to be following the City, Leeds, Coventry, Charlton (in fact every club that didn't get back up for years) model. We're getting progressively worse and another change of manager could add further to this downward spiral.

The evidence against Dougie though is really stacked up. If they are going to pull the trigger, I just hope they do it before he sells Eagles and buys more Craig Davieses

I know its a results business & I'm similar to bobo, in that you put up with stuff - ends and means and all that, but as others have said and worringly for the club there are a number of longstanding fans including myself losing interest.

I've voiced my views of not being convinced by how the team have performed under DF for while, even on our 'good' runs. Strikes me we've played in a similar manner all through his tenure and the balance between winning is tight - how many matches have we really looked dominant or cut loose.

Tactics is only part of the story and I'm still not sure what DFs are. I read and hear lots of stuff of playing through the middle and controlling without possession, but see no evidence of it. Think its insulting to compare to BSA, as at least with BSA even when it was turgid you could tell they were playing to a system and players had roles & responsibilities. Do our current team look like they know what they should be doing ?

But to me more than anything its the attitude and will to win and compete. I just don't see it. Its like the team are just going through the motions and hoping it will happen, rather than making it happen. Fook me at times we made huddersfield yeovil etc look like Barca. I'm sure this is partly derives from the tactics, but is as much about man management and motivation - do dougies additions really look more highly motivated than what we had, other than the fact of being grateful for getting a game.

We've been through 1-1000 of the excuses, not fit, not suited to this league, wrong attitude, not performing in training and quite frankly I can't read or listen to the blokes constantly contrary verbage anymore without it irritating me.

I've never booed the team and never will. Never called for a managers head, but I hope PG is dusting down his address book, because I'm genuinely fearful of where we are going and as I've said before with the squad and resources at disposal its criminal

[coffeymagic]

We're certainly punching below our weight at the moment.

Football is a 'results' business' when it suits and 'entertainment' when it suits. By that I mean as long as you're seeing 1-0 after 1-0 then you should be happy to pay West End theatre prices.

I have noticed though how many managers seem happy to lose 1-0 these days. It's as if they're operating on a 'goal-swing' basis where '..at the end of the day we had enough chances and were unlucky to lose on the counter...' makes it all ok.

As long as they can point to that stat then the Chairman can't sack them and they'll continue to play defensive football in front of half empty stadiums hoping to nick a goal.

That's like something you see from the would be Mourinho's at a Saturday morning kid's game.

Oh, I don't know. I should be used to this by now. Total demoralising performances coupled with bollocks results.

We'll be ok when Mark Davies is back though. He'll sort us out.

Won't he?

[Athers]

The media don't help. There's this cosy-in at the moment where pundits and commentators speak about 'how crazy' it is that 'Manager X' has been sacked after only 'Y months in the job.'

What they should be saying is 'How the 'F' has that 'C' got another job when he was pure 'S' at club 'Z'?'

Like it!

[Hoboh]

The festive season is drawing in, fast.
I suspect things will be no better after it and another season in the chumpionship and less money with a weakend ability to attract half decent players awaits us.
Think you'd better start clearing your desk Duggie, no doubt CAPS will put you up for a day or two becauses he knows what you are about

[boltonboris]

The media don't help. There's this cosy-in at the moment where pundits and commentators speak about 'how crazy' it is that 'Manager X' has been sacked after only 'Y months in the job.'

What they should be saying is 'How the 'F' has that 'C' got another job when he was pure 'S' at club 'Z'?'

I was in a taxi the other day and the driver had Talksputem on. Adrian 'Durham' Durham and Goughie 'Gough' Goughie were shouting about how clubs should be docked points if they get rid of managers mid season.

Now I know everything they say is designed to light up the phone lines but Jesus Christ what a load of twaddle.

What if your boss was taking your firm down the kharzi after making a load of empty promises at his interview? His CV nothing but a tissue of empty lies and twisted half-truths?

Sorry lads, can't sack him, we've got to give him time to turn things around. By the way, here's Craig Davies - he'll be sat behind you on 10 times your salary doing nothing for the forseable future.

I think there have been plenty of radio and TV people given the shove after a few shows, especially on Talkplumbbase were Bolton's finest was given the shove recentley.

Don't forget of course Alex Ferguson was just one game away....

Aye, feck off. One manager somehow manages to scab a win and then uses the massive wealth of his club to go out and smash transfer record after transfer record to somehow cobble together a winning team.

The Adrian bastard Durhams of this world and yer Dantzes of this world and yer Jason Cundies of this world can all bugger off.

So in short that formula again.

x/y (f+c+s)-z=Alan Curbishley

[Il Pirate]

We've been through 1-1000 of the excuses, not fit, not suited to this league, wrong attitude, not performing in training and quite frankly I can't read or listen to the blokes constantly contrary verbage anymore without it irritating me.




I've always worked on reasons, not excuses. The only reasons I can put forward for our current predicament, taking into account the squad we have, are: The current management set up do not know what they are doing. The players lost faith long ago. In all probability, we may just stay up given what we have on the field. However, that is far from competent or acceptable with our resources. Somebody needs to explain to the fans, where, how & why it has got so bad, but not Dougie, because of course, we are only fans and don't have a clue in his opinion. We need educating to how shoite football and losing to inferior teams is actually good football and progress in disguise.

[bobo the clown]

I've always worked on reasons, not excuses. The only reasons I can put forward for our current predicament, taking into account the squad we have, are: The current management set up do not know what they are doing. The players lost faith long ago..

This seems clear to me. This explains why quite capable players fail to perform to his "system" week after week, after week. It's because they don't frigging believe in it !

They are confused by it. They don't understand it. They are trying to follow his instructions and can't see how it works. All in all it's not working and he has to change it ... which he won't.

I don't want a Dave Whelan type chairman who tries to instruct tactics game by game, but I think that it needs Eddie or PG to tell him to take on a more active, positive, game plan. If he objects to being told that ... or refuses ... then he can fck-off and without compo to as that would be refusing to follow a reasonable management instruction.

[Prufrock]

In fairness, I'm not sure the players have lost faith or any of that oft-trotted stuff. He's clearly focussed on the defence, and we haven't conceded more than one in a game since September, lost the last two 1-0 to a wonder goal and a penalty, so I'm sure he'll see that as his game-plan being vindicated. Depressing, yes.

It does seem that the defence is a miles better, but he absolutely HAS to get on with us looking a threat. 4 of our 9 home games have finished 1-1. I'm still nowhere near the sack him stage, but now has to be the time we start to get on the front foot, particularly at home.

[thebish]

In fairness, I'm not sure the players have lost faith or any of that oft-trotted stuff. He's clearly focussed on the defence, and we haven't conceded more than one in a game since September, lost the last two 1-0 to a wonder goal and a penalty, so I'm sure he'll see that as his game-plan being vindicated. Depressing, yes.

It does seem that the defence is a miles better, but he absolutely HAS to get on with us looking a threat. 4 of our 9 home games have finished 1-1. I'm still nowhere near the sack him stage, but now has to be the time we start to get on the front foot, particularly at home.

FWIW - palace fans did tell us this was his M.O. - that he sorted the defense first - then added the flair and the goals... it's just that they described a much shorter time frame!