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PREMIERSHIP TEAM PREVIEWS
BOLTON WANDERERS FC
Coach: Gary Megson (Eng)
Last season’s miracle escape from relegation probably ranks as Gary Megson’s 2nd best achievement in management, with the 1st being West Brom’s promotion to the Premier League in 2002.
Despite having managed at 8 different league clubs, he has been in charge for more than a year for only 2 clubs (Stockport and West Brom).
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Recent record: (Pos); Pl; W-D-L; F-A; Pts
2007/08: (16th); 38; 9-10-19; 36-54; 37
2006/07: (7th); 38; 16-8-14; 47-52; 62
2005/06: (8th); 38; 15-11-12; 49-41; 56
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Good:
Bolton ended last season with 5 games unbeaten (winning 3) to narrowly avoid relegation by 1 point; with the added motivation of survival, Gary Megson eventually managed to get some form out of Bolton’s players and if he can instil that same motivation earlier in the season, they will have less to worry about come May.
Their performance in the Uefa Cup surprised many; they drew 2-2 at Bayern Munich and won 1-0 at home to Atletico Madrid on their way until their exit at the round of 16 stage at the hands of Sporting Lisbon.
Bad:
There were points last season when Bolton seemed unable to turn their form around – a valuable asset for a bottom ten side; at different points last season, they were winless for 7 games from October and for 10 games from February to April.
Diouf has left and though he is loathed by most football fans, he was important to Bolton in offering some quality up front; his replacement, a £10 million signing, Johan Elmander only just helped Toulouse survive in Ligue 1 (also by just the one point), and doesn’t seem good value for money.
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Transfers, Loans, Retirements...
IN: Johan Elmander (Toulouse), Fabrice Muamba (Birmingham), Mustapha Riga (Levante), Danny Shittu (Watford).
OUT; Daniel Braaten (Toulouse), Andranik Teymourian (Fulham), Stelios Giannakopoulos (released), Ivan Campo (released), El Hadji Diouf (Sunderland).
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Star Player:
Bolton captain Kevin Nolan is starting his 10th year at Bolton after making 276 appearances for the club. He has been key to Bolton’s successes under Sam Allardyce, and played a big part in Bolton’s escape from relegation last season.
Now 26, he is unlikely to achieve his ambitions of playing for England if he is stuck down in the lower reaches of the league and so this season may well be his last at Bolton.
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Summary:
For much of last season, Bolton looked certain to be relegated; Gary Megson has to be applauded for his efforts in saving them, but another relegation-avoiding campaign will be hard to get out of.
Bolton only scored 34 goals in their 38 games last season (3rd worst in the league), and Megson has splashed out £10 million for Swedish striker Elmander, who scored a not particularly special 22 goals in 62 appearances for Toulouse, in an effort to increase his sides’ goal tally.
Yet, there are bigger problems with Bolton’s side; their defence looks poor and the addition of Watford’s Danny Shittu is not going to alter matters much in that area.
Bolton will struggle again to stay up this season, but they may not be able to escape at the death a second time.
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TO WIN PREMIERSHIP:
Bet on Bolton to win Premiership: $2,001.00 @ Bet365
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Match Previews 20-22 December:
Betzine UK is covering just the 15 games this weekend, with the Bundesliga shutting for the winter break.
Among the games are Arsenal against Liverpool at The Emirates, plus Everton's hosting of Chelsea.
read the Previews...:
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*** BETZINE UK RECORD ***
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*** LATEST PROMOTIONS ***
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London Calling! (Sun 31st Aug)
If Deco scores at anytime, Paddy Power will refund all losing 1st /last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on the match.
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Weekend Match Reports
Links to the match reports of games in the Premiership, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga
HERE
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