Wanderers Webchat with Marc Iles

For those interested, Marc Iles is hosting a live discussion on The Bolton news website from 3pm to 5:30pm where you can discuss all things Bolton Wanderers. 

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Will he be in just his underpants?

Natasha Whittam wrote:Will he be in just his underpants?

I suppose it depends if you are wearing no knickers again!

Q - Why hasn't Craig Davies been involved despite a lack of goals?

A - I have been told that his fitness levels have not been good enough for his starting games. Think it has taken him quite a while to get over his recent injury.

Q - Any plans for the January transfer window (in or out)?

A - I'd imagine that both loan players (McNaughton and Danns) are serious prospects to be signed. A striker and another winger are also high up the list of priorities but get the feeling that the club will use the loan system again before January.

Q - whats the latest on m davies... + any other injured players.

A - Mark Davies should be back in contention by mid December. He's back training and it shouldn't be long before he plays in the reserves, opposition and venue depending. Will be a massive lift having him back, by the way. One of the best midfielders in the Championship when fit in my view.

Q - Email from Chris Manning (Batnan): Marc, if DF is removed, would you go with youth again or experience? Any names in mind?

A - Well Chris - I've no indication that a replacement is being considered. It has been a poor start and Eddie Davies/Phil Gartside have the final say but I don't think it's fair to start speculating at this point. I'd also place on record that I think DF can get the club moving back up the table.

That's not being an apologist, that's a genuine belief.

Q - Has dougie thought about doing a behind closed doors game of first team vs. under 21s and whoever impresses makes the match day squad? Or is that not an option?

A - Freedman plans much further ahead than that, by all accounts.

Q - is DF likely to move any of the bigger wage earners on?  Who are the top paid players?

A - Easier said than done, isn't it? Not privvy to salary information but there are players who remain on the books from the Premier League days who are not getting regular football. I'd imagine that by January they will natually want to move on.
Beyond that, if the club are to spend another season in the Championship then there will be more cloth-cutting necessary.

Q - How do the players Freedman inherited speak about him compared to those brought in during last 12 months?

A - Good question. There are some (Beckford/Danns) who played alongside DF and so have a slightly different relationship, which does come through. But the lads are extremely respectful. There will be an interview in tomorrow's paper with Andy Lonergan that gives quite a lot of insight on this front. You'd perhaps expect him to have an axe to grind but he explains how he and the manager have dealt with the situation. It's interesting stuff.

Q - Do you think dougie should bring some more of the youth players through the ranks? Rather than buying more as Bolger went on loan to Colchester and they kept a clean sheet... Do you think dougie should play rob hall more? what do you think needs to be done about the missing gaps and leaky defence?

A - 1) Bolger was never going to get past Ream/Mills/Knight for a place in the first team and sounds like he was in a position where he needed games.

It's a huge leap up from development squad to first team level and I'd suggest only Josh Vela is quite at that level.

Others aren't far away like Chris Lester, Sanmi Odelusi, Tom Youngs et al - but chucking them into the situation Wanderers are in at the moment might be a bit much? Maybe not?

2) Actually, I mentioned Josh Vela as one of the younger players capable of going straight in, and forgot all about Hall. Yes, I'd love to see him playing more regularly because I like his style. Has the same ability to beat a man as Liam Feeney does/did.

3) I actually think the back four have done OK just recently. Admit that Alex Baptiste looks more comfortable on right side (or in middle) but can't really complain with the job he is doing. Perhaps a specialist left-back is something to consider on loan?


Q - is dougies job still safe. I think he should of gone after the yeovil game. its getting worse. I think he is a very poor manager.

A - It's all down to what Eddie Davies (and to an extent Phil Gartside) think.
I'm not of the opinion that chopping and changing automatically does you any good - and believe me, I've seen enough between the Allardyce era and the current regime. It really does rip the heart out of the place.  There's no doubt that result have to improve at some point - but personally I'd back Freedman to turn them round. As I said before, though, I'm not the one making decisions!

Q - Tactfully answered. So you detect no negativity from the inherited players to the changes introduced?

A - No tact involved. No player likes being out of the team, so if you asked someone not involved you might get a different answer... But then I've spoken to Pratley/Lonergan recently and neither were critical of how things were being handled.
Any time there is pressure put on a manager there is talk of "losing the dressing room"... but nine times out of 10 it's nonsense.

Q - Wondering how the word goes on the youngsters brought in by DF. Jan Gregus, Cian Bolger, the guy from Hamilton, Fraser? Are they players destined to hit the first team-squad any time this year? Or aren’t they any good? Given the performances from the “stars” one thinks it would not be too much of a gamble to try them!

A - Bolger has now gone on loan to Colchester but get feeling that Gregus is being geared towards next season.

Gary Fraser has also been loaned out and a lot might hinge on the outcome of him being sent off recently.

Q - No pace attacking. Walking pace and sideways Football. Compare Chelsea v City and their desire. Thoughts?

A - Don't think there is an issue with "desire" more with confidence. That's DF's big issue - he hasn't got the finances to bring players in, so has to find a way of coaxing performances out of some players who are struggling. It's down to his coaching now, rather than his management in many ways.

Q - any chance CYL can learn from Feeney? Go OUTSIDE his opponent instead if cutting inside? Simple game.

A - Don't think I need to add anything to that. Anyone who sits around the press box will have heard me scream exactly the same thing on several occasions!

Q - Hi Marc,

Just wanted to draw your attention to the pattern occurring within BWFC managerial hiring and firing.

Since Sam Allardyce left:

Megson. Decent start, saved us from relegation. Terrible next 12 months or so. Got fired.

Coyle: Decent start, playing excellent football. FA Cup semi, 8th in Prem. Terrible next 12 months or so. Got fired.

Freedman: Decent start, saved us from relegation. Even playing ok towards end of last season. This season terrible. Next 12 months or so???

My point is, that BWFC hierarchy have been too quick to fire managers as soon as going has gotten tough, for one reason or another. I'm worried now about DF. This is make or break time for him. Fans now becoming restless. Board have to stick or twist. Firstly, Marc, do you think the board will stick by DF no matter what now, or if they fire him, will we be in the same situation as we are now with a different unfortunate manager that has been conned into taking the job in the first place?

I agree that a change is needed. But that change should be to not change. What's more important now? Consistency and belief in DF's long term plan, or a change for another quick boost, but inevitably no real progression long term?

A - As I said before, it's only really when you see behind the scenes that you realise what a change in manager really involves. Massive number of staff come and go and it stands to reason that the decision costs a massive amount of money to carry through.

DF has just got the backroom somewhere near his liking after one year in charge and I'd guesstimate that in terms of playing staff, his job is not even halfway done.

He does have a lot of players inherited from a previous regime and moving them on is not an easy task with some of the salaries involved.

The financial climate and playing budget at Wanderers is as tight as it has been in years - but the two men who control that are also the ones who do the hiring and firing.

Q - If you were the owner of BWFC What would be your plan of action now?

A - Crikey... If I were in that position I'd try and be as up front as possible. Tend to find there is a lot more frustration at football clubs when there is no dialogue from the top - not an indictment of BWFC, more a general point of view.

I'd also insist on a ban on cheesy 1980s music before games...

Q - what do you know about #bwfc strategy for the medium-long term?  AND - The club doesn't seem to comment on 'objectives' anymore on & off the pitch. And silence isn't managing expectations. Any view?

A - Both of these Qs seem to address the same issue. Agree it does make sense to keep fans in the loop so will pass on your comments.

I know the club are working towards standing on their own two feet financially, as FFP means they cannot continue on the current business model outside the Premier League. Lots of costs have been reduced and there is plenty of talk about producing our own players/adopting different transfer policies etc.

But I'll hold my hands up, I'm not a financial journalist, so if you need anything more than a layman's view of these sort of things then you're looking at the wrong guy!

Q- No doubting Baptiste's ability he has been great and put in 100% every game but the squad seem to lose focus when going a goal up... nerves? I think we are missing a playmaker (Mark Davies) everybody thought Moritz would do that but he hasn't had much opportunity with his fitness and his injury, possible loan move? or Danns to fill the void until Davies Is back from injury? Will dougie be given any kind of funds in January or will it be a case of get a few out to get a few in?

A - Again, more of a question for chairman or owner to answer but I'd be surprised of DF doesn't get some financial backing in Jan, particularly if we're anywhere near the top half of the table. Too much at stake not to have a real go.

I'm looking forward to seeing Moritz get a game, I must say.

From reading the apologist guff that he's saying on there, this is just another move by the club to use their pet media outlet to send out excuses about why Gartside / ED won't sack Freedman.

Looks like we're going to be stuck with the useless fucker 'til it's too late.

Bollocks.

Cont -

Q - seems like the higher people within the club are just keeping quiet and hiding. I think they should just come out and say whats going on within the club. regardless of fans reaction. I back freedman and believe given money for his own squad and not other peoples players would do well, although he had no option a palace to try and bring through youth he did It well and a few players excelled (zaha) and It makes me wonder why does he not try Wilkinson?

A - I have only seen Wilkinson play a handful of times but he seems to have the build and eye for goal to be a handful.

There are a few young players in that category. You wonder if Wanderers went on a decent run and got themselves some breathing space whether it would be easier to introduce them into a team, or whether they are not quite at the right level?

Q - Few people have asked about Craig Dawson.

From what I know West Brom considered sending him out in the latter stages of the summer and had a raft of Championship clubs enquire (Wanderers being one of them). They decided against it when Gabriel Tamas left.

He still hasn't managed to nail down a regular place and so if that situation were to arise again in January, I'm sure DF would be at the front of the queue.

Would argue that there are more pressing positions than centre half right now, though.

Q - might try them in a cup at some point... FA cup?

A - Agree. Reckon we could see an interesting line-up this year!

Q - how long will this pathetic start an excuses have to go on until he is sacked? It happend to wolves an think it will happen to us.

A - Don't forget that Wolves sacked a manager in the Prem and made a hash of an appointment, then did exactly the same in the Championship. If anything, their plight tells you that sacking a manager does not have a positive effect.

Q - What happened to the school & other initiatives that were trumpeted awhile back?

A - Still very much on track. Wasn't announced in the last round of funding but understand they are hoping it will be passed this time around.

The school, that is.

As for the Middlebrook Masterplan (which is the other big initiative) - I think there are still some planning hurdles to jump over before that becomes a reality.

Q - Strategy drives objectives and are pretty different. Many for a football/sports club will be non-financial. We hear about neither. Strategy might be self-sufficient/financing club by 2020. Objective might be Premiership football season-end 2013. We don't know!

A - A fair point. Would be surprised if the club pinned their colours to the mast on the latter, though.

Q - Any news if sordell might get a recall in January? Think Beckford and Sordell would make a deadly partnership. and he isn't really playing much for Charlton.

A - No indication at the moment whether Wanderers will recall Sordell in Jan but certainly a question I can pose to DF in the next few weeks. Still think the plan is to try and sign another striker, so perhaps they will not know either way at this point

Q - but dont you feel 1 win in 13 is making a complete hash of it? Im just not a fan of his an have no confidence in him

A - Well, accept your frustration (and that of quite a few Wanderers fans) but would point out that in 1993/94 Bruce Rioch had a side that had won one in 11, and one in 12. Big Sam won one in 10 in 2000/01... etc

In essence, a chairman or an owner either believes that a manager's longer-term plan is going to work or they don't.

I'd imagine every manager has had that kind of "tipping point" moment where it might have been easier to sack than stick with them.

Cont -

Q - funny how Keith Andrews can hold a starting place in a good Brighton team. I rate him. Any remorse on loaning him out?

A - None from Freedman, as the cash went towards paying for the Spearing deal. Those are the decisions he lives and dies by.
Personally, I think Keith was very unlucky at Bolton and I'm glad to see him playing well.

Q - Is there any scope for getting an interview from Eddie Davies? We never hear his side of things or his plans for the club

A - Short answer: Nope.

Q - how much of a role do fans play in managerial and player confidence? Bolton & DF needs fans to stick by team now more than ever

A - More than I think fans realise. Feeney is a great recent example - arrived lacking in confidence but had fans get behind him from the very off. Looked a totally different player after 90 minutes.
You hear the response when some players get on the ball and can't help thinking it can be doing them no good...
As for the manager, he's there to be shot at and understands it. Don't think you'll see him sulking.

Q - (Follow up to this earlier Q - how long will this pathetic start an excuses have to go on until he is sacked? It happend to wolves an think it will happen to us)

I admire your confidence marc

A - Not so much confidence as reason. Might be proved entirely wrong but can't be quite as knee-jerk in my responses in my job as you can be on the terraces

Q - What do you think of the current run? every manager goes through it and stick with stability?

A - My own personal opinion is that DF will turn things round. It isn't shared by everyone, totally accept that

Cont -

Q - I'm not completely against Dougie just yet, but if it comes to it and we sack him, what would your thoughts be on appointing a foreign manager? I personally think a new philosophy and different way of thinking could do us good.

The only issue is who would come? To me that only really leaves former players who are now in management. After doing a little research there aren't many. Only Mixu Paatelainen, Per Frandsen and Stelios are actual managers. I could actually see Stelios becoming a decent manager and someone I would love to have back at the club in the future, its probably too early yet though!

Are there any former players who have hinted they would be interested in the future?

A - I think Wolves showed last season that the foreign route is not necessarily a good one to go down...

Would love to see Stelios get a gig in England. Great fella to deal with.

I think most people with a connection to BWFC would like to see the club turn things round quickly, though.

Q - Earlier on you mentioned its a big step up from youth/development squad to the first team, can you elaborate in your opinion what that big step is made up of?

A - The physical demand (i.e. amount of running, intensity etc) is massively different, and from those who study these things, it is even more so the case in the Championship than in the Premier League.

I can't think of many teams who have "done well with kids" in the Championship - but would stand corrected.

Q - Watching the wanderers since 75 ,season ticket holder since then ,its the worst team i have seen in wanderers colours, some are a complete joke in the last match Ngog couldnt be bothered and spearing couldnt even put two passes together

A - Fair enough. Wasn't easy to watch but if you were watching them through the mid-80s then I find it hard to believe you didn't see a worse team than the current lot!

Q - has Gregus' loan move been made permanent yet? From memory was a 1yr loan last Christmas....

A - Led to believe it will be converted into a permanent deal, yes, but will check up on the exact details.

Q - have you ever watched a match where you have struggled to write much about the match?

A - Saturday was a bit touch and go...

I usually write about 4,500 words on a Sunday for Monday's paper and supplement. Squeezing the pips out of 90 minutes of football has become my forte.

Q - missed your q +a.but ! Do you think in your opinion that times up for dougie..

A - It's still going on, but in my opinion, no.
Stick by the manager, stick by the team. I genuinely think things will turn - but then I don't make the big decisions!

Q - regarding foreign manager,i personally think uwe rosler is doing a great job at brentford,and they r more skint than us

A - He is doing a great job there. Exception to the rule, perhaps?

What an absolute load of bollocks, Iles should be ashamed to call himself a journalist.

Shameful.

Iles is showing that he's in the pocket of the club. 

A puppet.

Cont -

Q - what is your take on the goalkeeping situation at the moment? Do you think lonergen has a chance of claiming no1 spot?

A - Think Bogdan is still number one. Have an interview with Andy Lonergan going in tomorrow's paper that gives an interesting insight into the situation. Thought he was very unlucky to end up out of the side last year, though, because he hadn't done much wrong.

Q - seems as though the free roaming that eagles and chungy were doing towards the end of last season has been stopped, interchanging or free roaming whichever you want to call it, that made them hard to track and took defenders out of position on occasion, what happened to that?

A - Good shout. That seemed to be the bedrock of Freedman's midfield system. Neither player has particularly been at their fittest/best this season - so how much of a knock-on effect has that had on results?

Q - (From the local trouble maker) - I, too, was there all through the 80's, Marc, but the difference between Rudge, Deakin, Bell, Foster et al and the current bunch of chancers is that back then they actually looked like they were trying. They might not have been the most talented group of footballers in the world, but at least they put some effort in.
The current crop just look like they're in it for the money and kudos of being a professional footballer. There's no commitment.
Breadman.

A - none posted.

Q - You only stick with a manager when you know he is a good one ,DF is not the man he even had the nerve to say we need educating .
We have now had a succession of poor appointments from Mr Gartside and with them alot of over paid and poor players

A - Talent v Committment? That might well be the key issue since Wanderers came down from the Premier League. I think there is a reason Freedman has brought in players who 'know the Championship'.

Q - You only stick with a manager when you know he is a good one ,DF is not the man he even had the nerve to say we need educating .
We have now had a succession of poor appointments from Mr Gartside and with them alot of over paid and poor players

A - Your opinion, not necessarily mine. Neither of us has the final say!

Q - What would be your starting 11 if you were in dougies shoes?

A - As a spectator I'd like to see Hall and Moritz start. Unfortunately it involves a bit more than putting 11 names down on a clipboard.

Q - "Talent v Committment? That might well be the key issue since Wanderers came down from the Premier League. I think there is a reason Freedman has brought in players who 'know the Championship'."

So by that logic, we should be seeing commitment in spades every week.
So why aren't we?

A - Has he been able to bring enough of those players into the squad? Not sure.

END - There's plenty more to discuss, I know, but I'll have to call it a day there folks. Plan to do another webchat prior to the Bounemouth game - so if you are not able to get down there, log on to theboltonnews.co.uk and get involved!



Many thanks,



Marc Iles

If he's right then it seems we are stuck with Douglas for a while yet, though he did say ''i'm not the guy in charge of making the big decisions'' quite a lot.

Local trouble maker, eh Sluff....?

I haven't even started yet, mate.....

Breadman wrote:Local trouble maker, eh Sluff....?

I haven't even started yet, mate.....

 

It's funny how people tend to look up something they have said or done - I do it myself - don't know why, it's not as though anything will magically changed in the meantime from what you did!

I wondered if my little 'editorial' might have be noticed!

Fwiw I agree with the points you made.

Where are the Simon Rudges these days when we need them the most!

Agree with a lot of what he's said here,particularly interesting point about the amount of running/intensity of running being even greater in the Championship than the perm. A good example of why 'giving the kids a go', is far easier said than done.

Great interview whether you agree with Iles opinion or not. Covered a lot of the concerns currently expressed by fans on this forum and elsewhere.

There are two aspects to this. As he's a journo who has access to the club I'm not in a position to question  what he says about the info coming out of the club - the "factual" stuff and the reported opinions of the players etc.

The contentious aspect is Iles' own opinion which he correctly points out is just his opinion.
He contends that the club shouldn't be in a rush to change the manager again as it usually "rips the heart" out of the club. Some of us would argue that is exactly what needs to happen.

I think the problem is that we don't have the resources for root and branch change over a short period of time and given that it looks like Dougie has set his stall out to gradually move on the players he inherited and slowly bring through new players over 2 or 3 years, his plan flies in the face of fans' expectations.

Sensible plan, but poor expectation management so there will invariably be a lot of discontent unless communications with the fans improves - and the fans actually accept our current situation (which they might do eventually if it was made crystal clear that we have no alternative but to eat the elephant one bite at a time)

Some fans will never accept that just in the same way as there was discontent when we were a bottom half premiership club with many expressing the opinion that it was time to invest further and go for broke (me included)

But I think a good proportion of fans will accept that we have to live within our means and will show the patience that Dougie's plan clearly requires.

However, if it's a 2 to 3 year plan to turn the club around then Dougie and the club should come out and say it clearly - instead of focussing on the week-to-week issues we have around individual games and players.

This needs to be done in a way which doesn't further demotivated the senior players who will be moved on so it's a tricky dilemma for Dougie.

I thought his responses were spot on. I don't for one moment believe that this is the worst set of players we have since 1975. Far from it.

Reebok Trotter wrote:I thought his responses were spot on. I don't for one moment believe that this is the worst set of players we have since 1975. Far from it.

We have seen some shite over the years RT.

wanderlust wrote:

Reebok Trotter wrote:I thought his responses were spot on. I don't for one moment believe that this is the worst set of players we have since 1975. Far from it.

We have seen some shite over the years RT.

I agree Wander. I still think we can turn things round but this is a difficult league to get out of.