Source: Team_Talk
Davies keen to lead by example
The arrival of new manager Owen Coyle has given everyone at the Reebok Stadium a much-needed lift, but that could not prevent a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal yesterday in his first match in charge.[LNB]Wanderers are next-bottom of the Premier League but are by no means doomed to go down, and Davies has pledged to personally kick-start their scrap for survival.[LNB]"We are in a difficult position and that is a big challenge to myself and the team," said the striker.[LNB]"I'm the captain and I'm one of the ones who has to get the boys going, roll the sleeves up and get on with the battle.[LNB]"It is about getting Bolton out of the bottom three."[LNB]Davies said Coyle's return to the club, having previously been a player, has had a noticeable impact on the squad who have all risen to the challenge of trying to impress the new manager.[LNB]"From what I have seen in training everyone has been working hard to get themselves in his plans," added the 32-year-old, who was ill last week but had Coyle on the phone to him regularly.[LNB]"There are certain players under the previous manager (Gary Megson) who were frozen out and you could see their confidence draining away.[LNB]"Now I have seen a big change in some of the players: from the lads who have been starting to those on the fringes and those training with the reserves.[LNB]"I have been really impressed with the way the players have responded to him and I think that is a credit to him.[LNB]"Speaking to players individually they have been impressed with his man-management skills."[LNB]Coyle has had little time to work with his new players, having taken over just 10 days ago.[LNB]He knows it will take time to condition the squad to his style of football and drop the more direct approach of his predecessor.[LNB]Davies said they had not worked much on tactics, with Coyle focusing on giving his players more freedom.[LNB]"We have not overly worked on the shape because the manager recognises our strengths and does not want to take that away from the side," said the Bolton captain.[LNB]"He'll look to incorporate the way he wants to play over the coming games and I imagine we'll be working on things on the training ground.[LNB]"But he has said he wants us to go out there and express ourselves the way we can."[LNB]Coyle believes if the performance against Arsenal was an indicator of things to come then Bolton should soon start to see a more positive return.[LNB]"If we were to carry on at that level, game in, game out, in the Premier League that would result in a lot of points," said the Wanderers boss.[LNB]"We can take a lot of confidence from that performance.[LNB]"You don't come in, click your fingers and everything falls into place. There will be a gradual evolution at the club.[LNB]"But in the short term we have to pick points up and take ourselves up the league."[LNB][LNB][LNB]
