The Juke

Hang on Petrov, if he was that rubbish, why did we sign him on loan!!! - You can't have it both ways... Either he was rubbish or there was clearly something wrong with Boro's style and he would always improve elsewhere...

What were Hall's and Davies credentials for a combined £700k outlay?

What have the scouts been doing this summer.

Danns - Already here
Trotter - Already here
Feeney - Been here
Moxley - DF signed before
Keeper - 4th choice
Frenchy - 4th choice

I'm struggling to see how our squad is stronger than the one that ended the season???

Because from where I'm looking, we look weaker and less in depth....

48 hours to kick off.... Tick Tock Dougie.

McNaughton - Already been here....

All makes a mockery of DF saying he wants to play two up top. If that is what he wanted he should have moved himself.

The fact is Dougie doesn't want 2 strikers up front.
His mate Beckford can't play with anyone else.

I never said he was rubbish. However from promise at Everton his career had hit the skids. Coming to Bolton seems to have revived that. When we signed him no one was going to pay much for him if anything. We signed him on loan as DF saw something I suppose. He took a risk and it paid off.

For the Juke. He now plays Premier League which last Jan he wasn't getting a game in the championship.

All of Freedman's declared striking options are flawed. We ain't got 2 currently on the books to play up top and we ain't got 1 capable of holding the ball up as was clearly visible last week. Add to that we have little creativity in midfield unless Mavies plays (surprise surprise he is doubtful for tomorrow). So that leaves you with the all too familiar scenario of us allowing the opposition to dominate two thirds of the park as we sit deep and defend in or around the penalty area, hoping the defence holds out and we sneak a goal on the break.

It's a depressing scenario and one that gives me little or no optimism for the coming nine months.

Agree Shanton, nothing has changed from last season. I'm sick of hearing about these 3 attacking players he's after.. We had the scenario last week of the Bristol defender on trial. We all knew we have enough defensive cover, and we all knew he'd not get a contract.

The saga of Mark Davies isn't a surprise either, the lad doesn't stay fit long enough, yet we are told Dougie wants to build the team around him.

I can't fault the fullback signings, very welcome & it appears central defensive is strong now.

But for whatever reason he has packed midfield with players who he hopes can give him something.

Liam Feeney. A lad who's done his business hitting the bar line and getting crosses. Now, Dougie wants him cutting in more and being involved in the central attacking positions, just like CYL. Here's an idea Dougie, either keep them as wingers, or SIGN attacking players who've got a CV of being involved in the middle attacking areas. Dougie seems to think getting round pegs and putting them in square holes is tactical genius. It's not, it's forcing players to play out of position and not look as effective. Whatever you think about Baptiste and Eagles, they were rarely played in their CV positions, and it stopped them being effective.

The teams that have been promoted recently (Burnley/Leicester) didn't have all these issues. Their managers adopted a formation, trusted that formation, and let the lads play. They had strikers who scored goals.

If you have limited resources, allocate those resources even so you have full coverage. We have the same type of players in multiple supply & nothing up front.

I've been so annoyed recently to hear Gartside telling everyone that Freedman is a great businessman.

Here's an idea. Eddie, assess the last 5 years. We've gone downhill. Gartside has failed. Sack him. By all means address the debt & keep us right in terms of wages.. But with so many wages gone in the summer, we had a chance to address positions. Why is trotter on a three year deal? What does he do that Pratley doesn't? I'm told he's enjoying a more defensive role. But Spearing and Medo have those roles (£2.2m for those two), so where else does he go? What about the kids that lauded the last few games?

To be 24 hours from kick off & we have Beckford and Craig Davies as the only senior pro's upfront is an absolute disgrace. The Bolton News said we were in the hunt for the Juke right til the last minutes.. Are we saying we had £1m+ to spend, or is it all absolute guff and lies... Dougie hinted in the programme at the weekend we could have a signing by the time the game was played? Utter false promises... The Bolton News full of Joe Mason. A lad who can only come when he signs a new deal at Cardiff... Hang on, prior to the Juke arriving & him playing upfront alone, he was terrible... So what's the point in getting him for a 4231 formation???

What's wrong with 442, squad of 22 pros with 2 for each position, and a supplement of youngsters to assist with injuries and cup games. It's just so simple. But Dougie wants hundreds of midfielders that have to swap and change on a weekly basis depending on the formation.?? It's a labour intensive method and therefore costs a lot.

With a lower budget, Burnley did my master plan and basically said "This is how we play, try and stop us"

But Dougie has an ego and the swapping about and complicated methods are causing confusion.

The debt and FFP are one thing, a manager with no idea how to get a team operating is another...

Got to be 5*

DF - Cut your cloth son but make sure you cut it to make a properly fitting suit.

M.T. Well said that just about covers what's wrong with Dougie's management & tactics send the post to Eddie
But don't let Garty see it.