Bolton Wanderers

A boring game and a big signing

Mark — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:36:30 +0000

We could have done a lot worse, a loss would not have helped our cause. But the game against West-Brom yesterday which ended in an extremely boring 0-0 showed just how badly we need balls in the back of the net. The trotters were par with WBA in just about every category.

This brings me to a slightly more optimistic bit of news. Racing Santander have loaned us their star Polish player, Ebi Smolarek. Ebi had a dismal campaign last year, netting only 4 times in 34 games but his count internationally is 13 goals in 34 games. During the Euro 08 qualifying stages, he scored 9 goals, leading Group A which had the likes of Portugal, Serbia, Finland, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Belgium, and Azerbaijan. Here’s to hoping that he can inspire play a little and get us some goals

Late but I didn’t want to write about it.

Mark — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:34:21 +0000

Can’t deny it for much longer. Two bad losses, one was a missed penalty at the Toon and the other was a 2-1 loss to a lowly Northampton. It looked so positive last week but these losses are making us look like Bolton of last year. I just want Jimmy Bullard and a bolstered midfield. I’m sorry that I haven’t been writing but these games rarely come on over here.

A day late but Bolton 3 Stoke 1

Mark — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:25:24 +0000

We don’t really get Bolton on TV here unless FSC shows them playing Chelsea or Blackburn. I spent a good part of the first half looking for a stream online only to find one where the owner of the site kept switching between the Bolton match and the Hull match. Needless to say, he happened to switch during all 3 goals. I’m still jubilant over the fact that we started the season with a win.
I wish that I could’ve done a liveblog or even provided a good game analysis but unfortunately, I couldn’t really watch the game.

However, here are some highlights

Really glad to see Elmander, Davies, and Steinsson get on the scoring list. The Steinsson goal was an absolute firecracker. Just wow. Bolton were down on possession by the end of the game but dominated the shooting aspect.

Great way to start the season boys

Please welcome….. Danny Shittu!

Mark — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:01:54 +0000

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have just signed a 6 foot 3 inch defender who goes by the name of Danny Shittu. Shittu is a Nigerian center back who has formerly had stints with Charlton Athletic, QPR, and Watford. He is also capable of scoring once in a while having scored goals for all of his previous clubs

“Danny’s a mountain of a man, he’s aggressive, he’s quick and his biggest strength is in the air. Anybody who has seen him play will know his defensive qualities already, plus he is dangerous from set pieces as well,” Megson told the club’s official website.

I hope that he can make it into the starting line-up.

Its shaping up to be an exciting season with all of our new signings. Can’t wait to see some play.

The New Away Kit. Seriously?

Mark — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:26:14 +0000

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
The home kit I took as a mistake, maybe some idiot just OK’d the design. I could live with that shirt, it wasn’t the ugliest thing that I have ever seen, but this? Come on, seriously? It honestly looks like someone threw up on the home kit and didn’t rub the stain out fast enough so that it set in. Then Gary Megson walked by and in blind lust fell in love with it. This is just stupid. I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry at a shirt. I fully endorse this for ugliest kit anywhere ever.

Bye Bye Dioufy, Hello Riga

Mark — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:22:23 +0000

El Hadji Diouf
is gone. He has to pass his medical and then hes officially with Sunderland. I liked Dioufy over the years that he played for the Trotters. Even though he only scored an average of 5 goals a season, he was exciting. You never knew when he would blow up in someone’s face and then have a moment of sheer brilliance from the wing. Given that the medical goes well for El Hadji, Bolton are looking to receive £3.5 Million

Mustapha Riga is our new man. The 26 year old striker from Levante will be coming to Bolton for at least 3 years on a free transfer thanks to FIFA’s Article 14 which allows a contract to be terminated if the player or team has just cause to do so. In Riga’s case, the just cause comes from Levante not having payed the player his salary in 9 months. I don’t know much about Riga because there really isn’t much information on the player. I know that he is: 26 years old, a striker, born in Ghana, he has the same goal per season average as El-Hadji Diouf. I hope that he can produce more goals this season than Dioufy did. We just got a terribly underrated player.

Who is Fabrice Muamba?

Mark — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:40:42 +0000

Fabrice Muamba
He’s young. Only 20 years old and he’s earned 7 caps for the England U21 squad in the last year. Fabrice Muamba is our new defensive midfielder and he can fill in right where Ivan Campo left off. Campo spent 6 seasons at the Reebok and he was a welcome sight for just about every Trotters supporter over the years, but he got older and he got slower. Now comes in fab Fabrice to fill in.

Megson on Muamba:
“You need to have more than just a good engine - you need ability to compete in the Premier League. He has got that, but the exciting thing from our point of view is that he can get even better.”

Its exciting to have young talent on our team, especially after seeing the way that another youngster by the name of Danny Guthrie played for us. Here’s to hoping that Fabrice will bring some speed to the midfield, hopefully add a few goals to our tally, and bolster the defense.

Who is Johan Elmander

Mark — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:29:56 +0000

There has been almost no news in the past few days. The team have slapped a 3 million pound price tag on Abdoulaye Méïté. No big deal. He’s obviously unfit to carry on as a Trotter if he can claim that he was injured enough to let 2 Man U goals go by. Other than the expected price tag, there has literally been zero information coming through the news wire.

Now, who is Johan Elmander?
£11 million is a club record for the Wanderers. Is this guy worth it? I sure hope so, £11 million is a lot of money for a club our size. At least this guy looks to be a much better player than Anelka. Looking at his stats, he produces a goal in 1/3 of his games. Nicolas Anelka has scored less goals in more games in the same amount of time at Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea. The thing that impresses me most about this guy is the heart that he has. He’s strong, he’ll run through players but he doesn’t give up. I can’t wait to see him play for us!

Who are our transfer targets: Simon Vukčević

Mark — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:38:24 +0000

Next on the transfer list is Simon Vukčević.
Who doesn’t love a young midfielder? Simon Vukčević is a 22 year old attacking midfield who currently plays for Sporting Club Portugal. He’s played one season for Sporting CP and in that season he earned 32 caps and 12 goals for Sporting CP in all competitions, a good ratio for anyone. Simon Vukčević was also nominated for a Best Young Player Award during the 2006/07 season. Vukčević has also earned 8 caps for his national side, 5 of which were earned when Serbia & Montenegro played together.

He is looking very good.

Here comes the problem with signing Vukčević: Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers are also very interested in his services. Each of the teams are offering about €6.3 million for Vukčević even though his contract contains a clause which states that the minimum amount that he would be released for is €20 million.

Who are our transfer targets: Jonathan Bottinelli

Mark — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:14:36 +0000

Lets start off with Jonathan Bottinelli.
Bottinelli is 23 years old, a defender for Argentinian side San Lorenzo. Bottinelli has also been called up for the Argentina international squad when Martin Demichelis was forced to serve a ban. In 5 seasons at San Lorenzo, Bottinelli had amassed 116 caps with 9 goals for San Lorenzo. Seems very good for a youngster. Only 23 years old and he obviously has to have a fair amount of skill if he’s going to be called up to Argentina squad which is currently ranked 6th in the world but was ranked as high as 1st only a month ago.