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Behind all the positive vibes, mission statements and pledges of “fresh starts” Neil Lennon acknowledged the job of rebuilding Wanderers’ season would not be an easy one.
The new Whites boss is gearing up for his first game in charge against Birmingham City this weekend but has already set about addressing some of the core problems he feels have contributed to a disastrous run of just one win in 11 league games under his predecessor.
Here we look at 10 things the Northern Irishman may look at in the coming weeks as he attempts to make a winning start to life at the Macron Stadium.
1. Time to shut up shop
The full-back positions have been problematic, while lapses of concentration at the back have cost Wanderers dear.
Lennon was quick to point out that the team had been conceding too many goals in his first press conference and that will probably be where he concentrates his efforts in the build-up to the Birmingham game.
David Wheater’s return to fitness may have come at the perfect time for the new boss, with the Whites desperately in need of his stabilising, no-nonsense influence.
2. Play to strengths
Craig Davies is a target man, Jermaine Beckford likes to play off the shoulder of a defender and Joe Mason is an intelligent runner who likes to drift and does not play well in a lone role – three general appraisals of three senior strikers, but you sensed that none of them were really getting what they wanted under Freedman.
Wanderers need goals and it is time for the front men to step up and score them but they need some help.
3. Get a hold on things
Even on Lennon’s first day of training there was a sense he had laid down some ground-rules to his new squad with the relatively trivial order to remove woolly hats during training.
Some players may need to come out of their comfort zone to rediscover their form. The introduction of a new manager always has some kind of effect – we will wait and see who rises to the challenge.
4. Get the fans on side
You could argue that the Northern Irishman has done this without even playing a game. He has spoken passionately and positively about the job at hand – and Wanderers fans have made an instant connection.
Results will dictate how long that lasts, of course, but home fans in particular need to unite behind the manager and the club to help make that happen.
5. Break down the walls
The decision to separate the Academy, the development squad and the first team created issues from the very start under the previous regime.
Internal politics were rife, leading to an unhappy atmosphere outside the first team, even when things were going right on the pitch.
Lennon has already stated his desire to see his young players train on the same facility as the first team – a huge step behind the scenes at Euxton.
6. Give the kids a chance
One for “further down the line” according to Lennon, but clearly a message he was given on taking the Wanderers job.
The Eddie Davies Academy has to start paying for itself but the only way that can happen is by its young players getting exposure to first team football with the Whites, or out on loan.
Freedman got the last bit right – but you always felt that opportunities handed to youth were temporary.
7. It’s good to talk
As time started to run out for Dougie Freedman, the under-fire boss was not helped by the fact he was the only member of Wanderers’ management team answering questions on a daily basis.
Fans, somewhat understandably, were not in the right frame of mind to take on board his views and so the situation got worse.
Recent moves from Phil Gartside to address fans’ concerns, plus the upbeat message coming from caretaker boss Andy Hughes have been a big step in the right direction.
Wanderers can count on experienced heads like Johan Mjallby and Garry Parker to give an alternative view and lighten the load on their manager.
8. Entertain us
Freedman’s tactical approach was seldom appreciated by fans – but anyone hankering for a return to the days of 4-4-2 and flying wingers is probably in for some disappointment.
Lennon has shown an appreciation for several tactical systems in his time at Celtic, including Freedman’s favourite 4-2-3-1, but has already hinted he could be willing to embrace a three-man defence, or the 4-4-2 diamond that has become commonplace in football over the last 12 months.
Regardless of systems, Wanderers are in the entertainment business. All the Whites fans want is a team that shows passion, a bit of flair, and gets results, simple!
9. Glass half full
Such was the situation under the previous manager that too much emphasis was placed on what the club “didn’t have” as opposed to what it “did” – the glass half empty effect.
Lennon will need to work quickly to identify where his squad needs improvement and he is almost certain to delve into the transfer market in January with the limited resources available.
But in the meantime he needs to coax performances out of a squad that still compares favourably with many in the Championship.
Too many good players – Chung-Yong Lee, Mark Davies, Dean Moxey - were under-performing in the previous regime.
10. Spread the word
One of the masterstrokes pulled by Owen Coyle when he surfed into Wanderers on a wave of goodwill in 2010 was that he immediately got himself out into Bolton, meeting the fans, embracing the local culture.
He has sampled it as a player, of course, but Lennon could do worse that following that particular lead if he wants to get the whole town behind him.
Dougie Freedman did his bit – speaking at fans’ question and answer sessions, schools, even coming to open the new offices at The Bolton News – but Lennon needs to capitalise on the good vibes currently flowing round the club by making his profile as public as possible in his early days.
Source
The new Whites boss is gearing up for his first game in charge against Birmingham City this weekend but has already set about addressing some of the core problems he feels have contributed to a disastrous run of just one win in 11 league games under his predecessor.
Here we look at 10 things the Northern Irishman may look at in the coming weeks as he attempts to make a winning start to life at the Macron Stadium.
1. Time to shut up shop
The full-back positions have been problematic, while lapses of concentration at the back have cost Wanderers dear.
Lennon was quick to point out that the team had been conceding too many goals in his first press conference and that will probably be where he concentrates his efforts in the build-up to the Birmingham game.
David Wheater’s return to fitness may have come at the perfect time for the new boss, with the Whites desperately in need of his stabilising, no-nonsense influence.
2. Play to strengths
Craig Davies is a target man, Jermaine Beckford likes to play off the shoulder of a defender and Joe Mason is an intelligent runner who likes to drift and does not play well in a lone role – three general appraisals of three senior strikers, but you sensed that none of them were really getting what they wanted under Freedman.
Wanderers need goals and it is time for the front men to step up and score them but they need some help.
3. Get a hold on things
Even on Lennon’s first day of training there was a sense he had laid down some ground-rules to his new squad with the relatively trivial order to remove woolly hats during training.
Some players may need to come out of their comfort zone to rediscover their form. The introduction of a new manager always has some kind of effect – we will wait and see who rises to the challenge.
4. Get the fans on side
You could argue that the Northern Irishman has done this without even playing a game. He has spoken passionately and positively about the job at hand – and Wanderers fans have made an instant connection.
Results will dictate how long that lasts, of course, but home fans in particular need to unite behind the manager and the club to help make that happen.
5. Break down the walls
The decision to separate the Academy, the development squad and the first team created issues from the very start under the previous regime.
Internal politics were rife, leading to an unhappy atmosphere outside the first team, even when things were going right on the pitch.
Lennon has already stated his desire to see his young players train on the same facility as the first team – a huge step behind the scenes at Euxton.
6. Give the kids a chance
One for “further down the line” according to Lennon, but clearly a message he was given on taking the Wanderers job.
The Eddie Davies Academy has to start paying for itself but the only way that can happen is by its young players getting exposure to first team football with the Whites, or out on loan.
Freedman got the last bit right – but you always felt that opportunities handed to youth were temporary.
7. It’s good to talk
As time started to run out for Dougie Freedman, the under-fire boss was not helped by the fact he was the only member of Wanderers’ management team answering questions on a daily basis.
Fans, somewhat understandably, were not in the right frame of mind to take on board his views and so the situation got worse.
Recent moves from Phil Gartside to address fans’ concerns, plus the upbeat message coming from caretaker boss Andy Hughes have been a big step in the right direction.
Wanderers can count on experienced heads like Johan Mjallby and Garry Parker to give an alternative view and lighten the load on their manager.
8. Entertain us
Freedman’s tactical approach was seldom appreciated by fans – but anyone hankering for a return to the days of 4-4-2 and flying wingers is probably in for some disappointment.
Lennon has shown an appreciation for several tactical systems in his time at Celtic, including Freedman’s favourite 4-2-3-1, but has already hinted he could be willing to embrace a three-man defence, or the 4-4-2 diamond that has become commonplace in football over the last 12 months.
Regardless of systems, Wanderers are in the entertainment business. All the Whites fans want is a team that shows passion, a bit of flair, and gets results, simple!
9. Glass half full
Such was the situation under the previous manager that too much emphasis was placed on what the club “didn’t have” as opposed to what it “did” – the glass half empty effect.
Lennon will need to work quickly to identify where his squad needs improvement and he is almost certain to delve into the transfer market in January with the limited resources available.
But in the meantime he needs to coax performances out of a squad that still compares favourably with many in the Championship.
Too many good players – Chung-Yong Lee, Mark Davies, Dean Moxey - were under-performing in the previous regime.
10. Spread the word
One of the masterstrokes pulled by Owen Coyle when he surfed into Wanderers on a wave of goodwill in 2010 was that he immediately got himself out into Bolton, meeting the fans, embracing the local culture.
He has sampled it as a player, of course, but Lennon could do worse that following that particular lead if he wants to get the whole town behind him.
Dougie Freedman did his bit – speaking at fans’ question and answer sessions, schools, even coming to open the new offices at The Bolton News – but Lennon needs to capitalise on the good vibes currently flowing round the club by making his profile as public as possible in his early days.
Source