Dougie Freedman wants to turn Liam Feeney into a more complete player

Winger Liam Feeney is being told to get himself right in the thick of it if he wants to score goals at Wanderers.

While Dougie Freedman admits much of his summer signing’s best work is done out wide, the Whites boss feels he can turn Feeney into a more complete player, given time.

The former Millwall man earned his side their first win of pre-season with a tap in at FC Vestsjaelland on Sunday but his scoring record since breaking into the professional ranks with Bournemouth is a little on the thin side.

The 27-year-old has managed just 22 goals in 215 appearances, more than half of which were for the Cherries.

But Freedman reckons he can coax much more from the former loanee, provided he gets himself involved more in the penalty area.

“What he needs to add to his game is goals,” he told The Bolton News. “He’s actually a good finisher and I believe he doesn’t get in enough goal-scoring positions.

“He’s probably been asked to play too wide during his career so I’m asking him to play a little bit differently, even though you don’t want to take away the things he’s really good at.

“I want my wingers to tuck in, and the way he scored his goal against Vestsjaelland was the result of him getting himself in front of goal. He could have had a couple more as well but it was a good sign.”

Feeney’s route to Wanderers has been a convoluted one. Recalled by Millwall from a promising loan spell last October, he looked to have salvaged his Lions career until being farmed out again to Blackburn. He then turned down a permanent move to Ewood Park to sign a two-year deal with the Whites last month.

Freedman is keen to harness the pace that was so apparent in his brief first stay with the club but also says the wide man’s attitude will be an asset in his squad.

“We know where we are as a football club right now, and Liam Feeney on a free transfer is a fantastic bit of business for the team,” he said.

“Other clubs wanted him, Blackburn were in there, and we had to fight a little bit but Liam’s at the age where he wants to do something with his career right now.

“There are a few players in the dressing room who share that kind of determination and they are making sure that everyone else brings that kind of attitude.

“He’s got attributes that we didn’t have last season and I think he’ll definitely help us.”

Source

Douglas Freedman wrote:“He’s probably been asked to play too wide during his career so I’m asking him to play a little bit differently. I want my wingers to tuck in"

I fucking hate Freedman. The whole reason we had zero threat from the wings last season was because he made Lee/Hall/Eagles etc tuck in.

Wingers that tuck in don't get in positions to cross the ball into dangerous positions.

The guy is a prize bellend.

All the midfielders need to start chipping in with goals and soon. Very poor goals return from midfield throughout last season - I think the back four scored as many if not more.

This perhaps reflects why Dougie is changing the style so that we play through the middle more - that and not having much in the way of natural finishers up front. Don't mind that going forward as long as he makes provision to defend wide positions.

i thought the whole point of buying Feeney was that he was an old fashioned winger who could get down the line and put crosses in!

Norpig wrote:i thought the whole point of buying Feeney was that he was an old fashioned winger who could get down the line and put crosses in!

Douglas is too cool for old fashioned.

Norpig wrote:i thought the whole point of buying Feeney was that he was an old fashioned winger who could get down the line and put crosses in!

Crosses in for who exactly? 
Can't see any point in that for this squad as it stands. Championship defenders would eat that for breakfast.
Sure Dougie just wants him to mix it up a bit instead of doing the obvious every time.

You are fecking clueless Wanderlust (I might get that put on a t-shirt). What is the point of buying a player who clearly has talent and then before a ball has even been kicked say you want to change him to be more defensive (because that's what "tucking in" is).

Natasha Whittam wrote:You are fecking clueless Wanderlust (I might get that put on a t-shirt). What is the point of buying a player who clearly has talent and then before a ball has even been kicked say you want to change him to be more defensive (because that's what "tucking in" is).

Back two minutes and your cage is rattled. Why can't you be more like your nicer characters?

OK I'll play FWIW. Where to begin?

Did I say that I "want to change him to be more defensive etc etc"? No. You just made that up. Did I even say I agree with what the article claims Dougie is saying? No - I merely surmised as to why he is doing it (if it's actually true).
Did you avoid answering the question about who would be on the end of crosses into the box? Yes.

On another note I would like to buy one of the aforementioned T shirts as you seem to have mastered spelling if not reading and comprehension yet.

Natasha Whittam wrote:You are fecking clueless Wanderlust (I might get that put on a t-shirt). What is the point of buying a player who clearly has talent and then before a ball has even been kicked say you want to change him to be more defensive (because that's what "tucking in" is).

     

Natasha Whittam wrote:

Douglas Freedman wrote:“He’s probably been asked to play too wide during his career so I’m asking him to play a little bit differently. I want my wingers to tuck in"

I fucking hate Freedman. The whole reason we had zero threat from the wings last season was because he made Lee/Hall/Eagles etc tuck in.

Wingers that tuck in don't get in positions to cross the ball into dangerous positions.

The guy is a prize bellend.

Against my 'Nat is a bullshitting bellend who I will never believe or try to agree with' principle...

I do have to agree with this.

We wasted loads of chances last season by trying to play a through ball through 3 opposing defenders down the middle last season.

Why doesn't Freedman just leave Feeney to what he's good at?

Because Douglas is the absolute cleverest tactician in the world - FACT!

And he knows better than everybody else - FACT!

If he charges down the wing and beats 3 people then puts a perfect cross into the box there will be no fucker there to put it in the net. For an ex striker freedman seems to be extremely unaware that you need a striker to score goals. We have a fat 3rd rate duffer and a useless lazy waste of space up front. Good luck feeney lad you will have to cross the ball them run to the back post to poke it in.
Can't believe we have put all our eggs in one basket. Loved the commitment the juke showed last season but the club surely knew they couldn't afford him. If that's the case where is plan b....? Who will score goals, win headers and hold the ball.
Worst start to a season last year might soon be eclipsed.
Hope I'm wrong

You say we've out all our eggs in one basket as if it's fact? How do you know there are no other targets?

Because our Douglas is in the Bolton News tonight telling us just what a great job Cravies is capable of doing for us this season after doing his level best to get shut of the bloke by any means possible last season. You happy clappers,honestly,what are you like.

bwfc1874 wrote:You say we've out all our eggs in one basket as if it's fact? How do you know there are no other targets?

I don't. But there hasn't been much in the way of speculation over the summer either which makes me worry. Like I said I hope I'm wrong and that we have several targets. Let's see.

Tigermin wrote:

Natasha Whittam wrote:You are fecking clueless Wanderlust (I might get that put on a t-shirt). What is the point of buying a player who clearly has talent and then before a ball has even been kicked say you want to change him to be more defensive (because that's what "tucking in" is).

     

Can't you read either Tigermin? 
Surely there aren't two people that thick?
I thought I'd already made it clear that I didn't say what the lying toerag "Nat" is implying?

FWIW I hope Dougie makes all the squad "more complete players" - it's his job.

Hip Priest wrote:Because our Douglas is in the Bolton News tonight telling us just what a great job Cravies is capable of doing for us this season after doing his level best to get shut of the bloke by any means possible last season. You happy clappers,honestly,what are you like.

I can't tell if you're joking or not. How does praising Davies prove anything?

bwfc1874 wrote:

Hip Priest wrote:Because our Douglas is in the Bolton News tonight telling us just what a great job Cravies is capable of doing for us this season after doing his level best to get shut of the bloke by any means possible last season. You happy clappers,honestly,what are you like.

I can't tell if you're joking or not. How does praising Davies prove anything?

Maybe Dougie is congratulating himself on a job well done?
(Cavies was shit/I sent him out on loan to develop and challenged him to earn his place/he's now a better player)

No chance.

A more likely scenario is he wanted Juke and was told he couldn't have the money which undermined his negotiation position with alternative strikers so he's realised he can't dump Cavies after all.

Eaves will be promoted next - another one we should be shot of in an ideal world.

I'm sure you're right and he's realised he can't afford to alienate Cravies now his options are so limited. I still don't think that means we don't have any more targes though, I think we'll be working at it until the window shuts. But as always it comes down to finances.