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WANDERERS could undergo a style change in order to get the best out of Jermaine Beckford.
Despite a frustrating start to his Reebok career the Jamaica international has been backed to the hilt by Dougie Freedman, who admits he may need to make a few tweaks to the way his team play if he is to get his summer signing on the goal trail.
Beckford’s drawn-out move from Leicester City has meant him playing catch-up in training but the Whites boss reckons his movement up front will soon be rewarded as some of his team-mates get up to speed.
“The problem we had with Jermaine is that we only really had him for two weeks of pre-season and most of that was taken up with his fitness work,” he said.
“You’ve seen the runs he makes and we have been working very hard on it again this week on reading that – so we possibly need to look to release the ball a bit quicker.
“We have got a group of players like Chung-Yong Lee, Chris Eagles and David Ngog who run with the ball a lot more now. Possibly we need to get back to releasing a few more early passes.
“There’s no doubt in my mind his movement is right up there so it’s up to us to give him opportunities.”
After a summer of battling for his signature, Freedman picked up Beckford for a pittance from Leicester with a larger transfer fee based upon bonuses depending on his success with Wanderers.
And as the Whites come up against big-spending Nottingham Forest tomorrow, the Scot insists there has yet to be a better bit of business done in the Championship this summer.
“I say hand on heart that he’s an ideal player for me,” he said. “He’s a fantastic finisher and a great lad to have around.
“You can go and spend a few million on (Jamie) Mackie and he’s a great lad but for me Jermaine is just as good and I have got him for nothing.
“My Financial Fair Play is called hard work and scouting.”
Wanderers have yet to pick up their first win but Freedman is content that his team have improved over the course of draws against Burnley and Reading.
“It has been a good solid start but it can always be better,” he said. “Performance-wise there hasn’t been a lot in either game.
“Go to 2-0 against Reading and the game is dead, and there were periods at Burnley where I thought we were excellent after their goal.
“At the moment I’m not looking at points, wins, losses or where we are in the table it’s just about performances and when we’re all fit it’s just a matter of when it comes together, not if.”
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Despite a frustrating start to his Reebok career the Jamaica international has been backed to the hilt by Dougie Freedman, who admits he may need to make a few tweaks to the way his team play if he is to get his summer signing on the goal trail.
Beckford’s drawn-out move from Leicester City has meant him playing catch-up in training but the Whites boss reckons his movement up front will soon be rewarded as some of his team-mates get up to speed.
“The problem we had with Jermaine is that we only really had him for two weeks of pre-season and most of that was taken up with his fitness work,” he said.
“You’ve seen the runs he makes and we have been working very hard on it again this week on reading that – so we possibly need to look to release the ball a bit quicker.
“We have got a group of players like Chung-Yong Lee, Chris Eagles and David Ngog who run with the ball a lot more now. Possibly we need to get back to releasing a few more early passes.
“There’s no doubt in my mind his movement is right up there so it’s up to us to give him opportunities.”
After a summer of battling for his signature, Freedman picked up Beckford for a pittance from Leicester with a larger transfer fee based upon bonuses depending on his success with Wanderers.
And as the Whites come up against big-spending Nottingham Forest tomorrow, the Scot insists there has yet to be a better bit of business done in the Championship this summer.
“I say hand on heart that he’s an ideal player for me,” he said. “He’s a fantastic finisher and a great lad to have around.
“You can go and spend a few million on (Jamie) Mackie and he’s a great lad but for me Jermaine is just as good and I have got him for nothing.
“My Financial Fair Play is called hard work and scouting.”
Wanderers have yet to pick up their first win but Freedman is content that his team have improved over the course of draws against Burnley and Reading.
“It has been a good solid start but it can always be better,” he said. “Performance-wise there hasn’t been a lot in either game.
“Go to 2-0 against Reading and the game is dead, and there were periods at Burnley where I thought we were excellent after their goal.
“At the moment I’m not looking at points, wins, losses or where we are in the table it’s just about performances and when we’re all fit it’s just a matter of when it comes together, not if.”
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