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Moyes my inspiration - Freedman

Bolton boss Dougie Freedman believes Everton counterpart David Moyes sets a benchmark for young managers making their way in the game.

Last Updated: 25/01/13 at 14:21 Post Comment    Bet with SkyBet  Championship Promotion 12/13. Click here to bet.

Dougie Freedman: Says Moyes is an inspiration to young managers

Dougie Freedman: Says Moyes is an inspiration to young managers

Wanderers entertain Moyes' men in the FA Cup tomorrow having seen off Premier League opposition in the form of Sunderland to book their fourth round place.

Such showpiece occasions provide welcome respite from a trying npower Championship campaign, where Bolton lie 16th despite being strongly tipped in pre-season for an instant return to the top flight.

This indifferent form cost Freedman's predecessor Owen Coyle his job and the 38-year-old Scot, on his second managerial assignment following 20 months in charge of Crystal Palace, points towards countryman Moyes as an inspiration for the rebuilding job ahead at the Reebok Stadium.

"Obviously David's done very well in his managerial career, going back his time at Preston," Freedman said at his pre-match press conference.

"He's a good man, that's first and foremost. I think you try and look at what managers have done in their past and you try and do better than that.

"What David has done at Everton is huge. I think many young managers will look at David Moyes and think they would like to try and do what he's done, but that's not an easy job.

"I think, to many young managers, David Moyes is an inspiration."

Bolton's third round hero was Team GB Olympic forward Marvin Sordell, who followed up scoring in the 2-2 home draw with Sunderland by netting the decisive brace in a 2-0 triumph at the Stadium of Light.

Sordell struggled to settle in the north-west following his big-money move from Watford a year ago, something Freedman - a striker himself during his playing days - identified immediately upon his own move from the capital.

"What happens is everyone tries to be negative when a young man's not quite performing and I think he's had a lot of negative publicity around him," he said.

"I came in and found a young man who was very low on confidence and self-esteem and I just sort of stripped him down, worked back to the basics, worked on his fitness, worked on his all-round forward play and all of a sudden he's feeling a bit better.

"We've helped him off the field with one or two little issues and all of a sudden Marvin's scoring goals.

"It doesn't surprise me, I said that three or four weeks ago, it's no shock to me that he's performing."

Freedman gained an excellent reputation for developing young talent during his time at Palace, with Manchester United-bound winger Wilfried Zaha standing as shining testament to this.

The prospect of polishing another rough diamond in Sordell is one that excites him.

"My experience as a manager and as a coach for three or four years was maybe getting talent that's not quite getting games at other clubs or getting free transfers in and getting young players in and working with them on the training ground," Freedman added.

"It's something, certainly, that I enjoy. So when this challenge came up with Marvin, it kind of excited me because I knew it's one that I'm capable of doing.

"We've done that, my colleagues have worked very hard with him in the video rooms and showed him exactly what's required of him.

"His all-round game is improving. The potential was there, it's just getting it out really."

Bet with SkyBet  Championship Promotion 12/13. Click here to bet.

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