Why does nobody like Freedman?

[Swiss Tony]

Is a good tutor worth 2.5k a week? Is a player that scores maybe 5 times a season worth nearly 150k a year?

The answer is no.

Sorry dougie , but do us all a favour and retire

Yes agree jog on Freedman,but do watch those hamstrings.

 

[Dick Bate's Protege]

Because he's crap.

 

[The Big Shrimp]

From what I heard from a certain board member you'd be surprised to know that Dougie isn't on as much as you think......

but on a lot more than the rest & isn't wanted by certain people at the club!

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

Spot on. Saying Freedman plays balls beyond our players capabilities basically infers that Freedman is too good for League One so it's a bit of a redundant argument. Thought Dougie played well when he came on and I think he'd be the ideal partner to Paterson at this point.

If you look at the inexperience of our strikers (Spencer, Paterson, even Walker) then playing alongside a player like Freedman would be invaluable at this time. Not only that but when a side in general is in this state experienced heads are necessary, Dougie is by far our most experienced player. He's also the only forward player we have capable of a defence-splitting pass and seeing as we have pretty much bugger all creativity this season that's something that should be taken into account.

I really don't see why some people don't like Freedman, he was an absolute class above everyone else before his injury last season and if he can get a run of games and get back to that sharpness he's still one of the best strikers in the lower leagues. I just hope Tilly starts him on Tuesday (I won't hold my breath though, if we're playing 4-5-1 at home to Wycombe it will obviously be the same at the Den). :unsure:

Personally I was surprised to see Dougie play the whole ninety mins in the reserves on Wednesday..........must of known then that Barney was't going to be around at the weekend and the consequences that would bring. I know it was only a reserve match but that seemed to be quite a strong Ipswich side. Freedman and Spencer seemed to get on quite well in the first-half, with the former providing for the latters goal. Puting Paterson up front instead of Spencer wasn't exactly choosing experience over youth and at least he has been scoring recently. Slinging either one of them up there on his own didn't look the ideal recipe for helping to develop confidence in young and rather inexperienced players. Felt that Dougie could well have been used with either, for the first half at least.

 

[GBJ]

He's utter crap. What did he do today when he came on? Sweet F.A.

- He doesn't run around at all. He trudges along at a rather slow pace.
- The idea of making a tackle just dosn't register with him. 3 Opportunities yesterday to do so, yet decided against all of them.
- Headers. Doesn't even bother jumping.
- Does he get anywhere near the box at all? For a striker, he's never in there working the defenders, he's more interested than shouting, oh no, sorry "encouraging" the rest if the team. He's a dream for most defenders.

 

[Beefy]

He's utter crap. What did he do today when he came on? Sweet F.A.

- He doesn't run around at all. He trudges along at a rather slow pace.
- The idea of making a tackle just dosn't register with him. 3 Opportunities yesterday to do so, yet decided against all of them.
- Headers. Doesn't even bother jumping.
- Does he get anywhere near the box at all? For a striker, he's never in there working the defenders, he's more interested than shouting, oh no, sorry "encouraging" the rest if the team. He's a dream for most defenders.

You're hardly unbiased though, after he ran over your cat.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Is a good tutor worth 2.5k a week? Is a player that scores maybe 5 times a season worth nearly 150k a year?

The answer is no.

Sorry dougie , but do us all a favour and retire

What he said.

Absolute waste of space.

 

[GBJ]

You're hardly unbiased though, after he ran over your cat.

Nah not really Beefy. I'm just not blinkered mate. Too many people are clutching onto his past. How many times do we hear, "he was brilliant before he got injured", etc etc. He was good. Now he isn't. Thats it unfortunately.

Here's a question for the Freedman lovers, why did Tilly try and loan him out earlier in the season. If he's so good, why was the best manager in Southend's history trying to bomb him out? Is it because;

A) he's on top wages
B) He's crap

Now will this question get any sensible answers i wonder?

 

[loz]

for a bit of context, this thread links to Freedman's interview shortly after signing, where he explicitly states that his wages are within the club's existing pay structure. remember as well that he turned down offers from Championship sides to play for us.

for what it's worth, I think it's clear that at the moment, Freedman lacks the fitness to play up front. He may not get that back, although it's hard to tell given the time he's had with injuries since autumn 2008. That said, I can understand Tilly persevering given a) his experience, b) his obvious vision/creativity compared to our other options, and c) that last season he scored 5 goals in 11 starts.

The question is whether it's still possible to get the positives out of him. personally i'd rather see him used, if he's to be used at all atm, inbetween the midfield and attack. less running to do, hopefully more chance to find space and pick passes.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Still think Dougie is going to be a massive help in the development of Patterson and Spencer.

 

[McNasty]

Still think Dougie is going to be a massive help in the development of Patterson and Spencer.

Do you mean during the match ? If so it would help if he was on the pitch at the same time as Paterson.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Do you mean during the match ? If so it would help if he was on the pitch at the same time as Paterson.

No, I mean on the training ground actually Ken.

 

[bilbyboy]

Still think Dougie is going to be a massive help in the development of Patterson and Spencer.

Kay i could not agree with you more, but, not on the pitch, his legs have gone, he will never get his fitness and speed back, i think yesterday once again proved that he is not the player he was and never will be again, if we need him to help the younger players along then fine, but he should not be on the pitch, keep him as a mentor or a coach by all means, but not as a player. I still believe that he was a Ron Martin signing not a Tilly signing, i still think that Tilly is under pressure to continue playing him, it is time that Tilly was unshackled and allowed to drop Freedman from the first team squad. UTB.

 

[OldBlueLady]

it is time that Tilly was unshackled and allowed to drop Freedman from the first team squad. UTB.

No, I don't agree, still think his football brain is a massive asset on the bench. He CAN come on and exploit other team's weaknesses but it has to be in the right circumstances.

 

[The Big Shrimp]

Still think Dougie is going to be a massive help in the development of Patterson and Spencer.

Let him coach & stay off the pitch!

I know from a few ex-Youth/development players that Dougie is a quality bloke teaching, advising & helping the younger players. Perhaps thats what the club have in mind, as he does live fairly local!

 

[chapperzUK]

He's utter crap. What did he do today when he came on? Sweet F.A.

- He doesn't run around at all. He trudges along at a rather slow pace.
- The idea of making a tackle just dosn't register with him. 3 Opportunities yesterday to do so, yet decided against all of them.
- Headers. Doesn't even bother jumping.
- Does he get anywhere near the box at all? For a striker, he's never in there working the defenders, he's more interested than shouting, oh no, sorry "encouraging" the rest if the team. He's a dream for most defenders.

1) You expect a 35 year old to out run Usian Bolt?
2) Eastwood can't tackle but he is a STRIKER.
3) A small chap like Freedman doesn't stand the chance and he knows that a poor header could drop right into his path.
4) He was standing around the penalty area for at least half the time he was on the pitch. Did you hear what he was shouting?

Also, would you rather have Freedman, Walker or Revell?

 

[Hooly]

Let him coach & stay off the pitch!

I know from a few ex-Youth/development players that Dougie is a quality bloke teaching, advising & helping the younger players. Perhaps thats what the club have in mind, as he does live fairly local!

But Rich we can't pay our players regularly so how can we afford another body on the coaching staff?

I would imagine that Dougie (as a player) would be on more than Tilly & Brush so who goes to accommodate him? We simply don't have the funds for another non-playing role at the club & this is my gripe with those who keep on with this "great off the pitch" mantra. He's sodding paid to be "great on the pitch" & if he can't then using him in a coaching capacity means to me that someone has to make way. Then we can release his wages from the playing budget & use it for a couple of younger players.

As a bean-counter it's just a case of balancing what little we have & a non-playing player-coach is a luxury we simply don't seem to have the space for.

 

[chapperzUK]

But Rich we can't pay our players regularly so how can we afford another body on the coaching staff?

I would imagine that Dougie (as a player) would be on more than Tilly & Brush so who goes to accommodate him? We simply don't have the funds for another non-playing role at the club & this is my gripe with those who keep on with this "great off the pitch" mantra. He's sodding paid to be "great on the pitch" & if he can't then using him in a coaching capacity means to me that someone has to make way. Then we can release his wages from the playing budget & use it for a couple of younger players.

As a bean-counter it's just a case of balancing what little we have & a non-playing player-coach is a luxury we simply don't seem to have the space for.

Non-playing staff are usually on less than playing staff. If we offered him a coaching job at the end of the season then he will be on less wages (if he rejects and decides to get a coaching job at Palace then he will be off the wage budget).

 

[Hooly]

4) He was standing around the penalty area for at least half the time he was on the pitch. Did you hear what he was shouting?

Chapperz. His body language gives away what he's going on about not hearing him. Most of the time it ends up with a petulant throwing of the arms or a pointing out of something vaguely improbable.

I'm sorry but there's a huge difference in the encouragement offered by Shaun Goater when he was here to all around him & the sort of stuff I see from Freedman & I do watch this very closely.

The great thing is that the Goat knew it was time for him to go, despite Tilly's efforts to keep him, & will always be remembered in a positive way. Freedman should have taken the same route & then would be thought of reasonably, but I'm sorry he simply has undone what good he did last season (& personally I don't rate his as highly as others) by overstaying his useful life as a footballer.

 

[GBJ]

1) You expect a 35 year old to out run Usian Bolt?
2) Eastwood can't tackle but he is a STRIKER.
3) A small chap like Freedman doesn't stand the chance and he knows that a poor header could drop right into his path.
4) He was standing around the penalty area for at least half the time he was on the pitch. Did you hear what he was shouting?

Also, would you rather have Freedman, Walker or Revell?

Freedman is a lazy **** out on the pitch. He's far too casual, there's no urgency about him, except yesterday when he's trying to take quick freekicks, despite non of our players being forward.

You can't compare Freddy boy to the lazy Scot in any way. Fred can do things that are amazing. All Freedman can do is a little flick here and there on an incredibly obvious shimmy.

If Freedman is not a headerer of the ball etc, then please explain, why the ****, at goal kicks he calls for it??? Why call it if he's not a winner of headers? He doesn't even try and win a header, he doesn't even jump. That is pure laziness in my book.

Freedman was totally ineffective yesterday and has been nearly every time i've seen him over the past year. Quite simple really.

Walker is crap, Freedman is crap. Revs might not have been the best talented, but he worked his nuts off, and that is something i'd never criticise. If Freedman could give half of what Revs did workwise, i'd be happy.

You seem to like Freedman, and are keen to defend him, along with other people on here. But can you answer my very simple question; If Sir Dougie is THAT good, why did Tilly try and loan him out? I mean, why on earth, would you want to get rid of someone who is such a key man to the development of the young strikers and capable of coming on a changing a game with his defence splitting passes etc etc. What magical excuses can you come up with for that?