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FOR some time, Dougie Freedman’s “one up front” system was a bone of contention among Wanderers fans – but could a switch to the unpopular formation now be the key to getting the team back on track?
In times of trouble, the Whites boss has usually sought to shore up his midfield with an extra man, even if it meant his popularity on the terraces took another knock.
And after five winless games in the Championship, you might argue that anything is worth a shot.
Freedman has come in for criticism from all angles over the last month, and can have little complaint given the results his side have mustered.
Amidst all the soft goals and possession conceded, chances missed and mistakes made, the fact he has been playing two recognised strikers up front – something that has been championed for a long time on the terraces – has rather been missed.
Since bringing Joe Mason back on loan from Cardiff City, Freedman has employed him alongside the re-born Craig Davies, but has he paid a price for going on the offensive and taking away the insurance policy in midfield?
It is 10 league games since Wanderers last kept a clean sheet. And Freedman gave away a little of his frustration at the lack of defensive resolve after the 2-1 defeat at Brighton.
“We were a little bit open – it was a case of ‘you have a couple (of chances), we’ll have a couple’ – but that’s not the way I want to play. I want there to be one chance, and we win 1-0.”
Those comments were seized upon by fans as being overly negative but secretly, the manager must long for the days when the only criticism he seemed to get was that his side were “boring” in victory.
He has built a squad of hard workers but one that has developed a worrying habit of failing to defend a lead.
Defeat in either of the upcoming home games against Sheffield Wednesday or Rotherham is unthinkable for the Scot but given time to think over the international break, he may well be contemplating an unpopular selection decision.
Davies would be the obvious choice for a lone striker, although Mason has also played in that role with little success in his first loan spell last season.
Jermaine Beckford was also used up front on his own against Wednesday at Hillsborough back in April, and while he had his problems with the offside flag, he exploited a genuine lack of pace in the Owls back line at the time, contributing to a 3-1 win.
Going one up front at home could easily be construed as a negative move, and Freedman might wonder whether he wants to hand out free sticks to beat him with at present.
But after getting themselves into some handy positions early on in games, Wanderers have got to start learning how to shut up shop.
Their predicament is summed up by the fact they are the only club in the Football League yet to score a goal in the second half.
While they have left it late against Bury and Crewe in the Capital One Cup, all the fruits of their attacking labour have been harvested inside the first 45 minutes in the Championship.
It seems the longer Wanderers have to think about it, the less steady they become. And so it might be time for Freedman to bite the bullet and sacrifice a little of his attacking threat for another midfield option.
Quite how he does that is a different matter altogether.
Many fans would love to see Mark Davies back in the middle of the park, free of injuries and transfer windows to weigh him down.
With Liam Trotter out injured, Darren Pratley is the another more physical option, and after breaking a year-long duck by scoring in the cup he may feel he is due a chance.
Liam Feeney would also be a less defensive concession to make – although his presence often highlights the lack of balance that Freedman has in his midfield when he ventures away from the diamond formation.
“We’ve got to learn how to hang in there longer,” Freedman said after the most recent defeat at Leeds.
Perhaps going back to what he knows best is the only way?
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/11458239.Lone_striker_Craig_Davies_could_be_key_to_Wanderers__success/?ref=mr
In times of trouble, the Whites boss has usually sought to shore up his midfield with an extra man, even if it meant his popularity on the terraces took another knock.
And after five winless games in the Championship, you might argue that anything is worth a shot.
Freedman has come in for criticism from all angles over the last month, and can have little complaint given the results his side have mustered.
Amidst all the soft goals and possession conceded, chances missed and mistakes made, the fact he has been playing two recognised strikers up front – something that has been championed for a long time on the terraces – has rather been missed.
Since bringing Joe Mason back on loan from Cardiff City, Freedman has employed him alongside the re-born Craig Davies, but has he paid a price for going on the offensive and taking away the insurance policy in midfield?
It is 10 league games since Wanderers last kept a clean sheet. And Freedman gave away a little of his frustration at the lack of defensive resolve after the 2-1 defeat at Brighton.
“We were a little bit open – it was a case of ‘you have a couple (of chances), we’ll have a couple’ – but that’s not the way I want to play. I want there to be one chance, and we win 1-0.”
Those comments were seized upon by fans as being overly negative but secretly, the manager must long for the days when the only criticism he seemed to get was that his side were “boring” in victory.
He has built a squad of hard workers but one that has developed a worrying habit of failing to defend a lead.
Defeat in either of the upcoming home games against Sheffield Wednesday or Rotherham is unthinkable for the Scot but given time to think over the international break, he may well be contemplating an unpopular selection decision.
Davies would be the obvious choice for a lone striker, although Mason has also played in that role with little success in his first loan spell last season.
Jermaine Beckford was also used up front on his own against Wednesday at Hillsborough back in April, and while he had his problems with the offside flag, he exploited a genuine lack of pace in the Owls back line at the time, contributing to a 3-1 win.
Going one up front at home could easily be construed as a negative move, and Freedman might wonder whether he wants to hand out free sticks to beat him with at present.
But after getting themselves into some handy positions early on in games, Wanderers have got to start learning how to shut up shop.
Their predicament is summed up by the fact they are the only club in the Football League yet to score a goal in the second half.
While they have left it late against Bury and Crewe in the Capital One Cup, all the fruits of their attacking labour have been harvested inside the first 45 minutes in the Championship.
It seems the longer Wanderers have to think about it, the less steady they become. And so it might be time for Freedman to bite the bullet and sacrifice a little of his attacking threat for another midfield option.
Quite how he does that is a different matter altogether.
Many fans would love to see Mark Davies back in the middle of the park, free of injuries and transfer windows to weigh him down.
With Liam Trotter out injured, Darren Pratley is the another more physical option, and after breaking a year-long duck by scoring in the cup he may feel he is due a chance.
Liam Feeney would also be a less defensive concession to make – although his presence often highlights the lack of balance that Freedman has in his midfield when he ventures away from the diamond formation.
“We’ve got to learn how to hang in there longer,” Freedman said after the most recent defeat at Leeds.
Perhaps going back to what he knows best is the only way?
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/11458239.Lone_striker_Craig_Davies_could_be_key_to_Wanderers__success/?ref=mr