Bolton Wanderers – Getting Ready for the New Season

Article by Alan Houghton

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The World Cup is over, so it’s back to the reality of the Championship and Bolton Wanderers’ attempt to get out of it, in the right direction. Dougie Freedman had a lot to sort out and he has set about it with a vengeance.

Most of the remaining big earners have left; Chris Eagles, Zak Knight, Tyrone Mears, Marvin Sordell, Keith Andrews and Alex Baptiste, the latter two on season long loans, effectively to the end of their contract with Bolton.

Signings have been made, mostly securing tried and tested loan players from last season like Neil Danns, Liam Feeney, Kevin MacNaughton and Liam Trotter. New faces include Dorian Dervite and Dean Moxey in defence and Ross Fitzsimons in goal. There was a brief encounter with Andy Robinson from Southampton but he was homesick after three weeks in Bolton, where he had just spent the last six weeks of last season!

I've seen all the pre-season friendlies so far and there's definitely a more togetherness about the team now. Adam Bogdan hasn't played so far and the word is that he has got the back injury from last season which is not clearing up and he cannot train. We've got plenty of options in defence, although David Wheater hasn't shown yet. Matt Mills, Tim Ream, Dorian Dervite and Cian Bolger all look capable. Kevin MacNaughton and Dean Moxey look steady at full back, while Joe Riley should challenge them, now that he is fit. Dean Moxey has one of the longest throws on him, I've seen since Ochocha left.

The problem in midfield is overpopulation. Josh Vela, Mark Davies, Darren Pratley, Jay Spearing, Chung-Yong Lee, Liam Feeney, Rob Hall, Neil Danns, Liam Trotter and Medo Camara. We need to sort out a balance, supporting the defence and the attack and contributing goals because we’re struggling up front. Jermaine Beckford and Craig Davies are not convincing. Unfortunately, James Rodrigues decided he wasn't up for a real change and signed for Real Madrid instead of us. Conor Wilkinson is impressing with every performance, so that could help. Zach Clough is a good finisher in the box, a la Neil Whatmore. Dougie Freedman is aware of the shortfall in attack but his hands are tied. It was disappointing to lose out on Lukas Jutkiewicz to Burnley of all teams but in fairness to Dougie Freedman, who had heard of the Duke before Dougie Freedman signed him on loan? Sean Dyche knows a bargain when he sees one and Marvin Sordell and Lukas Jutkiewicz could turn out to be the Premier League’s bargain signings this season. We need to put our faith in Dougie Freedman to solve the problem under the tight financial circumstances.

We must get off to a better start than last season and I'll judge them after the first ten matches. Last season was the worst start for over a century and it effectively killed our season by the end of October. What has been evident in the friendlies so far, is that we are much better at keeping possession and passing the ball. We're struggling on the creative side but that improved when Mark Davies played in the first half on Friday against Tranmere Rovers. I still think that there will be a lot more transfer and loan activity in and out at Bolton. There are still more pieces needed to complete the jigsaw. The financial position dictates that we are open to any decent offer for any of our players as well as forcing us to balance the books by letting someone go before we can bring someone in. Indeed it is likely that a few of the youngsters will be loaned out to get experience and today Joe Riley has gone on a short term loan to Oxford United. We desperately needs a target man/striker in the Lukas Jutkiewicz role as Matt Mills and Tim Ream explained last season, the defence will have no-one to aim at and the ball is going to come straight back at them.

The jury is still out on Dougie Freedman for a lot of the fans. He really needs a good season and to show progress is being made at all levels. What constitutes a good season; nothing less than a serious challenge for a play-off place in my opinion. That will be difficult as there are a lot of decent sides in the championship with not much between the top and the bottom. The three relegated sides, Cardiff City, Fulham and Norwich City will be coming down with more parachute money than ever. Last season’s near misses will be there again, Brighton, Derby County, Notts Forest, Reading and Wigan Athletic. Teams like Bournemouth are on the up, and there’s new money at Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday. There’s a resurgent Wolverhampton Wanderers to contend with while Brentford and Rotherham United are unknown quantities.

As for our first match at Watford, I'll be happy with a draw and a decent performance and to progress from there. Mind you, I seem to remember we drew the first match at Burnley last season and went downhill from there!

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