Bolton 2-2 Derby

Just a point! Coyle was criticised for his fairly rigid 4-4-2 yet in our final Premier league season probably our best results (Everton away and Liverpool at home) were achieved by playing one up front. Not suggesting anything, simply food for thought

Barryjw, your right, we need a flexible team that can be adjusted for each game. One of the points made when DF took over was that he studied the opposition's way of play far more than Coyle. it doesn't aways show unfortunately. We can change the team slightly for each game, as I think there should be no definite players, week in, week out, it makes the team stale. as somebody mentioned previously, he talks a good game, but seems is a bit slow to back up his comments.

Barryjw wrote:Just a point! Coyle was criticised for his fairly rigid 4-4-2 yet in our final Premier league season probably our best results (Everton away and Liverpool at home) were achieved by playing one up front. Not suggesting anything, simply food for thought

Did we not have Mark Davies in the team then? Mavies's best position is just behind the striker imo.

Your probably right Culceth that Mark Davies played in those games and it is acknowledged we do not currently have that quality. However it has to be said that Eggnog (who couldn't hit a cow on the ar$e with a banjo) played exceptionally well in the 4-5-1 system in those games.

Barryjw wrote:Just a point! Coyle was criticised for his fairly rigid 4-4-2 yet in our final Premier league season probably our best results (Everton away and Liverpool at home) were achieved by playing one up front. Not suggesting anything, simply food for thought

It's about knowing what formation is most efficient at any given time. Spearing and Medo give the back four more than sufficient cover for this level. What's more, we don't have any real quality in that area beyond those two. Pratley is dire. I know Ream's had a couple decent games there but he's still quite limited I think.
Up front front we have three, maybe four very able players that just need more support and time.

People are always bemoaning the system.

sadly i don't think it makes a jot of difference.

these players in any system, lack quality, lack composure and lack talent.

the very best you could do is pack the midfield, go back to basics and try and make us hard to beat.

Hipster_Nebula wrote:People are always bemoaning the system.

sadly i don't think it makes a jot of difference.

these players in any system, lack quality, lack composure and lack talent.

the very best you could do is pack the midfield, go back to basics and try and make us hard to beat.

Utter bullshit.

They are shit, but get the right system and even shit players can perform to a level that keeps you in the division.

It's not just about the system.

When we play more than two central midfielders, it means we have to play at least one player who isn't good enough, since we only have two that are.

Hipster_Nebula wrote:People are always bemoaning the system.

sadly i don't think it makes a jot of difference.

these players in any system, lack quality, lack composure and lack talent.

the very best you could do is pack the midfield, go back to basics and try and make us hard to beat.

Which is what we did yesterday against Leeds.

Well from what I've heard the goal was down to someone "loosing their man"

Another individual mistake.

If you looked at Leeds yesterday, they didn't exactly have any world beaters on show but they are a team who will fight for each other and put their bodies on the line when it counts.

IMO we have quite a few individuals who think they are the dogs bollocks, Eagles and Lee for example but not enough players who can help grind out wins when it really matters. As soon as they scored yesterday you could see straight away the shoulders dropped and looked like beaten men already.

Exactly why the yoof needs given a chance.

a lot of these players aren't up for the fight, they've made that clear.

So who in the youth side is ready for the step up do we feel? I will be honest i've not seen any of the youth side this season so I am hoping someone here can shed more light onto them but the names I can think of at the moment who seemed to get mentioned by Dougie are:

Hayden White - Right back
Bolger - Centre back
Eaves - Striker
Odelusi - Winger
Hall - Winger
Lester - striker

Is Jimmy Phillips in charge for this game ?

Well the ones that have gotten on the bench generally appear to be the ones the manager rates.

Eaves, Odelusi, Vela, Youngs and obviously Hall who is really a senior.

At this point I'm not really fussed, I know it's a pipe dream but look what Villa did, pick the youth and stand by them.

If we lose this, is it time to press the panic button already ?

Sky and agents have wrecked the game.

The stupid Sky money just goes into the players pockets and the agents will get a three, four year deal for their man who can then sit back knowing he's going to get paid no-matter what.
Of course a player can walk away from the contract any time they want, but the club can't.

Match-day was always something to look forward too before all this crap about 'what formation is best' and 'playing in the hole' and the rest of the bollocks.

What has crept in in the last few years (which Freedman makes full use of) is 'he's not match fit'. For god's sake what does it take to get match fit?

Very difficult game for Dougie this one,
He looks like he's making it up as he go's along, if he can't get 3 points out of this game he's in deep shit.

Against Leeds the only 2 players who looked like they wanted to play for him were Ream and Spearing, he's humiliated Knight, even though he deserved to go off just as much as anybody.
Chungy is not busting a gut, like wise Eagles,
Baptiste and Tierney have either not settled in yet or are just shite,
The forwards (sic) have all been tried and none can get him a goal,
Is he losing the dressing room?

So will he go 4-4-2 or 4-5-1, will he get a lucky win?
This could be a turning point for Dougie, but it also could be one game nearer the sack

It's going to be pissing down all night tomorrow ( match night ).

Rain , sleet and winds to blow you away.

Anyone going ?