Premier League preview: Bolton Wanderers
Once, they were always known for getting in your faces and making life difficult on the pitch.
The Bolton Wanderers of old seems to be disappearing now as manager Owen Coyle tries to install an attractive playing style of football, but can a leopard ever change its spots?
Jack Wilshire came to the club on loan for the second half of the season from Arsenal, and this typified Coyle’s aims to get the team concentrating on playing football.
The usual Bolton players will make up the team sheet come the start of the season for another campaign in the top-flight at the Reebok Stadium. Captain Kevin Davies will lead the line, and once again will win every header he goes for and be a nuisance amongst opposition defenders. As the man who commits the most fouls in the Premier League, he works hard for his team, and if can add goals then he will have a good season.
Jussi Jääskeläinen seems to be one of those players who has been around forever between the posts, and Bolton have him to thank for the amount of times he has kept them in games to ensure survival. They can always rely on Jääskeläinen to save them and dig them out of holes.
Martin Petrov, brought to the club on a free transfer from Manchester City, should prove to be a good signing. The Bulgarian will offer that spark that Bolton may have lacked throughout the years, and his trickery and directness down the wing can provide what Coyle wants from his team. It was a surprise he was released, but the move could suit the 31-year-old as he will be a first-team regular having missed most of last season through injury.
Along with Petrov, Robbie Blake brings experience, but at the age of 34, he won’t be expected to score many goals. The signing of Ivan Klasnić on a permanent deal will deliver goals however, and the Croatian striker showed this last season chipping in at vital times.
Big things were expected of Johan Elmander, the club’s record signing, but unfortunately the Swedish striker has failed to live up to the huge expectations. You never know, he could prove everyone wrong and have a fantastic season, at least that’s what the fans are hoping for.
One man who did show signs of being a potential decent player is Lee Chung-Yong, who enjoyed a good World Cup with South Korea, and he will bring confidence to the rest of his teammates.
Coyle took over from Gary Megson at the start of the year, and steered the club to 14th. Survival was the aim last season, but Coyle will surely be looking to do better than that.
Realistically, what can Bolton aim for this season? If they try and play attractive football, it might get them results, but we all know Bolton best for punting a long-ball upfield effectively and getting Davies to win every single header in the air, so a return to a successful style of play is always up their sleeves. Their home was a fortress in the past, and Coyle must bring this back for the fans if Bolton are to be one of the hardest teams to play against.
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