Bolton: Wandering Into Europe

[s7eve]

After trying numerous games with my favoured clubs Chesterfield & Man Utd with no great success i decided to try with Bolton Wanderers. Not known for being a big force in the Premier League since the days of Big Sam, Bolton have recently released Manager Gary Megson after a dissapointing start to this campaign. Can i turn the fortunes round for this Lancashire Club who all but 3 years ago were experiencing European Football???

PRE SEASON:

Quite a large squad at Bolton, i decided to have quite a clear out as i was given no transfer funds and after searching the Free and Loan Transfer markets, i found nothing that could match and improve my squad to help my ambition of a Top Half Finish.

No less than 9 players were sold to fund spending the most notable being Matty Taylor who was purchased by Arsenal for £4.5 Million, Jay Jay Okocha (a Former Trotter favourite questioned my decision to sell).

On the buying side only 2 players were purchased in the Transfer Window. Danny Wilson, 17 Year Old Centre Back from Rangers and i smashed Boltons highest fee ever paid to bring in Jack Rodwell from Everton with an initial fee of £3.5 Million and £12.5 Million in 24 Monthly Installments.

Results Pre Season:

Penafiel 0 - 5 BOLTON (Klasnic (4), Davies)
Rio Ave 0 - 4 BOLTON (Davies, Elmander)
Fatima 0 - 1 BOLTON (Lee Chung-Yong)
Porto 3 - 0 BOLTON
Elche 0 - 1 BOLTON (Davies)
Wuhan 0 - 3 BOLTON (Knight, Elmander, Gardner)

Some excellent results, 5 clean sheets from 6, scoring plenty and playing very well going into the start of the season. Held our own at Porto for most of the game but tired in the final 30 minutes and were punished, we start at Home to Sunderland, then Away to Stoke.

 

[*Paul*]

Good luck you'll need it

 

[Deleted member 79730]

you sold alot of people to buy rodwell, an odd decision but may come out well. good luck

 

[D14_JDH]

Good luck mate! Young Danny Wilson is a great buy,and so is Rodwell! I'd advise getting James Collins on loan at centre half alongside Gary Cahill! Both were excellent for my West Ham game.....

Hope this helps!

 

[s7eve]

August

BOLTON 4 - 2 Sunderland (Klasnic (3), Rodwell)

Fantastic start to the season racing into a 3-0 lead but Sunderland threatened to ruin the party with 2 goals but nothing materialised, very happy with first game.

Stoke 1 - 0 BOLTON

A game of very little event and had we played in the same vain as the previous match we could have had a perfect start to the season, as it is though it's a first defeat and a reminder there is still plenty to do.

BOLTON 2 - 1 Tottenham (Klasnic, Palacios OG)

An amazing result against especially given we were 2-0 up by Half-Time, Klasnic ran riot again as he did against Sunderland. Spurs struck 1- minutes from time, but we hung on.

BOLTON 2 - 0 Derby County, LG CUP 2 (Elmander, Davies)

Another good win, potential upset avoided as we rested one or two but Derby offered very little of a threat, Newcastle at home in next round.

Blackburn 1 - 2 BOLTON (Cahill, Klasnic)

Back to back wins in the League and another good side beaten all be it bottom of the League, again another excellent performance.

SUMMARY OF MONTH

A fantastic start to the season although bitterly dissapointed about the defeat at Stoke. the Big 4 took there place at the top of the table and had we picked up an extra point or so at the Britannia we could have joined them. Still some work to do especially when injuries start occuring and fatigue of the season sets in but Top Half Finish is well within our grasp i think.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH

Without a doubt this month has to be IVAN KLASNIC, the croat on loan from FC NANTES has got 5 goals in 4 starts, fired us to some big wins and generally made us look like a decent Premiership side capable of bigger things, valued at only £1.6 Million will be looking to get a permanent deal sorted.