I was thinking about DFs much-derided tactics and as mentioned elsewhere reckon they remind me of the Italian sides of the 60s and 70s - obviously we don't have the deadly strikers the more successful Italian teams had at the time, but the principle is the same. This defence-based counterpunching approach has been revitalised recently and is becoming increasingly popular again e.g. Mourinho's current Chelsea side.
So how come a Glaswegian former YTS trainee became a fan of this approach?
This from a recent article in the Daily Record:
At 15, Dougie Freedman made the decision that would change his whole outlook on football.
He had the option to join Morton part-time with an apprenticeship as a car mechanic thrown in or go to Queens Park Rangers on a youth training scheme.
English coaching gurus Don Howe and Dave Sexton got a hold of the striker, transformed his talents and planted the seeds to become a coach.
He followed it through to take courses at 28 and was soon combing playing with coaching the kids at Crystal Palace.
His pursuit of knowledge also saw him pay out of his own pocket for visits to AC Milan, Palermo, Real Betis and Manchester City to study the latest methods and techniques.
Freedman worked his way up the backroom ranks at Palace to land the manager’s job before being lured north by Bolton 15 months ago.
His abilities are being tested to the full at Wanderers where downsizing and a struggle in the Championship have replaced the heady days of top-flight football.
Regarded as a deep thinker and progressive coach, Freedman is up for the fight and traces his love of coaching back to the early days at Loftus Road.
So Don Howe used to be Bobby Robson's assistant - hence the Italian connection which may well have inspired DF to pay to go to AC and Palermo?
Spurious I know, but I suspect that Howe's influence on Freedman was massive.
So how come a Glaswegian former YTS trainee became a fan of this approach?
This from a recent article in the Daily Record:
At 15, Dougie Freedman made the decision that would change his whole outlook on football.
He had the option to join Morton part-time with an apprenticeship as a car mechanic thrown in or go to Queens Park Rangers on a youth training scheme.
English coaching gurus Don Howe and Dave Sexton got a hold of the striker, transformed his talents and planted the seeds to become a coach.
He followed it through to take courses at 28 and was soon combing playing with coaching the kids at Crystal Palace.
His pursuit of knowledge also saw him pay out of his own pocket for visits to AC Milan, Palermo, Real Betis and Manchester City to study the latest methods and techniques.
Freedman worked his way up the backroom ranks at Palace to land the manager’s job before being lured north by Bolton 15 months ago.
His abilities are being tested to the full at Wanderers where downsizing and a struggle in the Championship have replaced the heady days of top-flight football.
Regarded as a deep thinker and progressive coach, Freedman is up for the fight and traces his love of coaching back to the early days at Loftus Road.
So Don Howe used to be Bobby Robson's assistant - hence the Italian connection which may well have inspired DF to pay to go to AC and Palermo?
Spurious I know, but I suspect that Howe's influence on Freedman was massive.