Millwall 1-1 Bolton

doffcocker wrote:Interesting post from a Crystal Palace fan who oddly went to the game.

Palace fan wrote:Just got in from the game, fine day up London Bridge with a few beers but the Football itself was dire.

I said to so many Bolton around me it was like watching Palace from a few years ago under Freedman. He was so unbelievably negative it was painful viewing. Despite the early goal Bolton were shocking, couldn't keep the ball, couldn't even play it into the channels without it going to a Millwall full back or Dartford locals sitting in the Dockers stand. The Polish Forward looked lively for Bolton but again like two years ago with Murray in his first season he had no support whatsoever so he was limited in what he could do. They played so deep and gave Millwall so much time on the ball, I mean 39% possession against Millwall is embarrassing to say the least.

But in all credit to Holloway he has tried to get Millwall knocking the ball about, the holding midfielder they signed from MK Dons looks a good player, Williams. But all in all they just didn't have no real spark or quality to really hurt Bolton.

Today made me realize how much of a gap in quality there is between the championship and premier league. Two very poor teams who might be lucky there is teams even worse than them who will go down. If Charlton manage to win their games in hand though Millwall could be in deep trouble. The game between each other coming up at the den could be vital.

Something's however never change with Millwall's pond life support. The real Millwall support must be ashamed to see kids of 15 year old kids from Kent giving it the large. The word for them isn't even intimidating, more like cringeworthy.

A massive cry of Freedman out in the Bolton end as well, when Freedman came over to applaud the support all he got was boo's and abuse.

doffcocker wrote:The problem is you can only work with what you've got.

Gartside wrote in his statement for the accounts that that Freedman had brought through some young players at Palace was a big selling point.

People have been conned into thinking that because Dougie gave debuts to Zaha and one or two others, he's some kind of genius at working with kids. There's no way Zaha would have rotted in the reserves had it not been for Dougie. Who's to say Dougie got the most anybody could out of him and the others?

Just because a few players came through when Dougie was manager at Palace doesn't mean the same is gonna happen here.

wanderlust wrote:

doffcocker wrote:The problem is you can only work with what you've got.

Gartside wrote in his statement for the accounts that that Freedman had brought through some young players at Palace was a big selling point.

People have been conned into thinking that because Dougie gave debuts to Zaha and one or two others, he's some kind of genius at working with kids. There's no way Zaha would have rotted in the reserves had it not been for Dougie. Who's to say Dougie got the most anybody could out of him and the others?

Just because a few players came through when Dougie was manager at Palace doesn't mean the same is gonna happen here.

Dougie is certainly not one for rushing them into the squad regardless of how crap the senior players are. Definitely a stickler for the gradual introduction approach which is sure to test everyone's patience.
Point is, the Board believe that he is good at producing home grown talent rightly or wrongly which is why they are going to back him to the hilt.
And your opening sentence sums up why there is no rush to appoint a different manager in respect of the senior squad. I actually LOL'd when I read the suggestion that the useless wanker Holloway should come in.
Lots of chat and opinion about dumping Doug, but I can't see it happening unless we drop into the bottom 3 as the Board clearly believe that the longer Dougie stays, the more overpaid players he'll be able to offload, the more young players will start to come through and the more affordable signings he'll be able to make.
We'll have to hit rock bottom for him to get sacked this season. Next season is a different story though. Providing we survive and Dougie is still with us, he'll have to start producing right from the start - results and signs that the youth thing is working.

Norpig wrote:so what you're saying Wanderlust, is that we have to stick with him because he will eventually bring in good young players? That's fine if you don't mind which division we will be playing in this season when they do get a chance.

There is always one team that has a terrible run and get sucked into the relegation battle, any guesses to who i mean?

Norpig wrote:i take your point Wanderlust, but i think it is now more than a minority of fans who want him out and a loss against Watford will bring out the chants again and it will be virtually impossible for him to keep his job.

Who would be your choice of manager out of interest?

wanderlust wrote:
Point is, the Board believe that he is good at producing home grown talent rightly or wrongly which is why they are going to back him to the hilt.

Boggersbelief wrote:Who is reedman gartside?

Natasha Whittam wrote:

wanderlust wrote:
Point is, the Board believe that he is good at producing home grown talent rightly or wrongly which is why they are going to back him to the hilt.

Utter bullshit. They're going to keep Dougie because he's going to bring through some superstars in three or four years?

Natasha Whittam wrote:
Football is all about the here and now.

wanderlust wrote:

Natasha Whittam wrote:
Football is all about the here and now.

Correct. Right now we have a shit squad on Premiership wages and no wriggle room to change it. We have a manager with a plan to sort it out in the long term, but he's not getting the results bit right and his style of play is frustrating everyone.

Next few weeks will be interesting. It's going to be a case of the Board backing Dougie's long-term plan v succumbing to pressure to get rid from the frustrated fans.

Ironically, the results "here and now" are likely to determine which way it goes.

doffcocker wrote:I'd gladly take a few seasons like this one in exchange for financial security. Those that don't understand the magnitude of our money problems, and the reality that things really could get worse in terms of the league might laugh at that statement.

Unfortunately, I think people are just living in hope that Dougie's the man to do this. However much you rate his signings, we haven't progressed as a team, we've gone backwards, and despite being erm great with kids, it seems they don't respect him a great deal. Why would they when they can't even get a game in the cup?

Let's be honest, there were times people thought Coyle had a long term plan. Unfortunately, "I've got a long term plan" is just manager speak for "things are shit at the moment, but you never know, they might get better, so give me time."

doffcocker wrote:I'd gladly take a few seasons like this one in exchange for financial security. Those that don't understand the magnitude of our money problems, and the reality that things really could get worse in terms of the league might laugh at that statement.

Unfortunately, I think people are just living in hope that Dougie's the man to do this. However much you rate his signings, we haven't progressed as a team, we've gone backwards, and despite being erm great with kids, it seems they don't respect him a great deal. Why would they when they can't even get a game in the cup?

Let's be honest, there were times people thought Coyle had a long term plan. Unfortunately, "I've got a long term plan" is just manager speak for "things are shit at the moment, but you never know, they might get better, so give me time."