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The former Crystal Palace boss knows what it takes to succeed in the Championship - and he's feeling positive about doing it again this season
Dougie Freedman is the guy who scrambled the loose change together to find a quid to buy a winning lottery ticket – then gave it away.
A year ago, Freedman was frantically putting a squad together at Crystal Palace, begging and borrowing for a group that would remarkably go on to win promotion.
But Freedman had seen enough of those madcap months to think he was better off achieving his Premier League dreams by going to Bolton Wanderers.
His beloved Palace went up – with a team still packed with his bargains – while Wanderers failed for the want of one goal in the final game. As Palace partied after the play-off final at Wembley, Freedman was on a family break and did not even watch the game. He had made his bed, he was happy to lie in it.
Now history is repeating and the Glaswegian has to build again with a budget and funds that are on the anorexic side of thin.
But Freedman has the oldest of heads on young shoulders and has no regrets. He said: “I know this division – unfortunately for too long.
“I know what it takes, how to use a squad, when to be strong. Our results have not been great in pre-season, but you don’t want to peak too soon.” Once again Freedman is having to be inventive in the market. The pot of gold he chased at Bolton seems to have been misplaced.
Free agents Alex Baptiste, Marc Tierney and [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].
Only young Rob Hall will cost a fee and that will be a small tribunal compensation for West Ham. Freedman wanted more cash, but will have to rely on what he does best.
At Palace, Freedman brought through the likes of Manchester United signing Wilfried Zaha and Jon Williams. He may have to grow his own again.
Now wearing a suit rather than a tracksuit, Freedman means business. He said: “I’m always excited about working with young players.
“Rob Hall is just 19, he has a long way to go, he has got to be a bit more mature every day in training. It’s not a hobby, but a profession.
“I think he has got the talent, but he is only one year into senior football. He is a project, he will take time, but he is showing real signs.
“There’s a lad called Sanmi Odelusi who I really love working with. I won’t say what we pay him – it’s embarrassing – but his enthusiasm is great.”
It is a massive season for Bolton, who are stretched despite having the second and final large parachute payment due to them from the good old Premier League days.
Freedman, a bit of an entrepreneur off the park, knows the value of a pound and thinks some investment may make the difference. He needs it fast, with the opening game looming and the likes of Chung Yong Lee and David Ngog not fully fit, and Stuart Holden crocked again on international duty.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] any way he can, but knows he faces a battle to talk Craig Dawson into a return.
He had the unpleasant experience of bringing in Andre Moritz and Jeremy Bokila for talks only to be unable to find the money.
Freedman added: “I believe we have made a couple of decent signings – we have not thrown money away.
“But there is room to grow. I think there is room for improvement. We are trying our best to do that.”
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Dougie Freedman is the guy who scrambled the loose change together to find a quid to buy a winning lottery ticket – then gave it away.
A year ago, Freedman was frantically putting a squad together at Crystal Palace, begging and borrowing for a group that would remarkably go on to win promotion.
But Freedman had seen enough of those madcap months to think he was better off achieving his Premier League dreams by going to Bolton Wanderers.
His beloved Palace went up – with a team still packed with his bargains – while Wanderers failed for the want of one goal in the final game. As Palace partied after the play-off final at Wembley, Freedman was on a family break and did not even watch the game. He had made his bed, he was happy to lie in it.
Now history is repeating and the Glaswegian has to build again with a budget and funds that are on the anorexic side of thin.
But Freedman has the oldest of heads on young shoulders and has no regrets. He said: “I know this division – unfortunately for too long.
“I know what it takes, how to use a squad, when to be strong. Our results have not been great in pre-season, but you don’t want to peak too soon.” Once again Freedman is having to be inventive in the market. The pot of gold he chased at Bolton seems to have been misplaced.
Free agents Alex Baptiste, Marc Tierney and [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].
Only young Rob Hall will cost a fee and that will be a small tribunal compensation for West Ham. Freedman wanted more cash, but will have to rely on what he does best.
At Palace, Freedman brought through the likes of Manchester United signing Wilfried Zaha and Jon Williams. He may have to grow his own again.
Now wearing a suit rather than a tracksuit, Freedman means business. He said: “I’m always excited about working with young players.
“Rob Hall is just 19, he has a long way to go, he has got to be a bit more mature every day in training. It’s not a hobby, but a profession.
“I think he has got the talent, but he is only one year into senior football. He is a project, he will take time, but he is showing real signs.
“There’s a lad called Sanmi Odelusi who I really love working with. I won’t say what we pay him – it’s embarrassing – but his enthusiasm is great.”
It is a massive season for Bolton, who are stretched despite having the second and final large parachute payment due to them from the good old Premier League days.
Freedman, a bit of an entrepreneur off the park, knows the value of a pound and thinks some investment may make the difference. He needs it fast, with the opening game looming and the likes of Chung Yong Lee and David Ngog not fully fit, and Stuart Holden crocked again on international duty.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] any way he can, but knows he faces a battle to talk Craig Dawson into a return.
He had the unpleasant experience of bringing in Andre Moritz and Jeremy Bokila for talks only to be unable to find the money.
Freedman added: “I believe we have made a couple of decent signings – we have not thrown money away.
“But there is room to grow. I think there is room for improvement. We are trying our best to do that.”
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
