Bolton striker bid rejected

Bolton Wanderers have failed to land striker Louis Saha from Manchester United after a 7m pound bid was rejected for the French international. Bolton are looking for a boost up front after selling Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea last week.

Gary Megson, new Bolton manager, has money to spend after the 15m pounds garnered from Anelka's sale and it appears he’s going to spend it during the window as Bolton are in a fight to stave off a relegation to the Championship.

Saha has been recovering from an injury and appears to be ready to re-join the side.

United rejected the bid outright and told Megson the player was not for sale.

City, City, City!

Sven-Goran Eriksson continues to do a brilliant job at Manchester City with a perfect home record to show for it. With a 4-2 win over a determined Bolton side today, they move into fourth place in the Premier League.

It was by no means a runaway 4-2, City scored the first goal but broke down in the first half to let in 2 to fall behind. Bolton were playing well, it looked unlikely anything could be salvaged.

It was the ninth win at home for City, a very, very impressive record going into the toughest stretch of the season. City are on 33 points and with Liverpool taking on Manchester United they could see the weekend out in a place to qualify for the Champions League.

The more I watch City, the more they begin to resemble Arsenal. Sven is pushing possession football on the squad in training and it shows. After the break they made some tactical changes and took the game back over.

There were chances for both sides. Anelka hit the post, and Kevin Nolan was stopped by a brilliant save. But Bolton are still wandering, especially at the back, when at times they were Keystone Cops.

City went ahead early through a Rolando Bianchi redierct but El-Hadji Diuof made it level on 31 minutes. Kevin Nolan scored from a Ricardo Gardner cross just before the half.

City evened the scoring in the 48th minute as a Dietmar Hamann shot was deflected into the goal and shortly after Darius Vassell put City ahead for good, a fourth was added as substitute Kelvin Etuhu, who I thought was impressive, scored his first Premier League goal in injury time.


Lend Money and Make Profit!!

Bolton climb mountain

Bolton had a very tough task on hand tonight in the UEFA Cup: away against Bayern Munich and did very well to earn a hard fought draw. Relegation zone, one win in the league, struggling, but with a new manager in Gary Megson and a recent creep in their form, there was a chance which they took.

Kevin Davies' scored a late goal in the 82nd minute as he slipped the ball under keeper Oliver Kahn, the funniest keeper in Europe to score against. Bolton actually took the lead when Ricardo Gardner had a shot deflected after only eight minutes. But on the half hour, a low driven strike from Lukas Podolski put the game on terms but he claimed a second goal just after the half to see the German Bundesliga leaders (with an amazing +23 goal difference so early on) ahead.

It was Gary Megson's first time at the helm in a European competition and judging by the result there might be more in Bolton's tank that we've seen so far this year.

Bolton Wanderers have new manager

Former Leicester manager Gary Megson has signed for this season plus 2 more to become the new Bolton manager as the club try and right their rocky start against a quality Aston Villa side.

Megson takes over from Sammy Lee who just couldn’t seem to inherit what Sam Alardyce built and now has an uphill task to right a side sitting bottom of the table with a meager five points from their first 10 games this season.

Bolton were denied permission on 2 separate occasions to speak to Megson and it wasn’t until the manager stepped in to force a deal that the club relented.

Megson has managed Norwich, Nottingham Forest, West Bromwich Albion, Blackpool, Stockport and Stoke City.

How about a word of sympathy for Leicester who will now be looking for their fifth manager in just the space of an astonishing six months?

Premiership’s worst three teams so far this season

The Premiership table aside, the three worst teams in the Premiership so far this season are Derby County, Bolton Wanderers and Birmingham City.

Far and away the worst has been Derby. They are a decent side but don’t seem up to the pace and pressure of the Premiership. When you reach the Premiership, you have to spend. Derby has not spent much and it’s showing. Reading was successful last season without spending the money but they were a different side than Derby, Reading could run and score goals. Derby has a shocking -11 goal difference and has yet to score an away goal this season. To stay up your first season in you absolutely must force some draws and an occasional win away. Derby don’t look capable despite a hard fought first win of the season against Newcastle during the week.

Bolton are lost and in freefall. Bottom of the table, they have completely forgotten how to do the basics. Sammy Lee doesn’t seem capable of holding the squad together and is allowing tactical lapses to continue. When you watch this new version of Bolton, you don’t see that compactness of the Allardyce teams of the past. The players lack discipline and this looks like the end result of bringing in a lot of players with past troubles: when you lose a manager capable of keeping the difficult personalities in check, it works, but Sammy Lee just can’t. Bolton have scored three points, and the only light at the end of their defensive trouble tunnel is at least they can score a few goals.

Birmingham has scored a few points this season but it’s been a lucky 7 points. 12th place could easily be 16th as there are a number of teams tied at that points total. Three of Birmingham’s points came against a weak Bolton side, a result badly needed to survive this season but a result achieved amidst a host of problem. The problem with Birmingham is that they are not terrible in any part of the pitch, but they don’t excel anywhere either. A side like that can only really rely on luck to survive this season.

Rat trying to leave sinking ship

Times are not too good for Bolton Wanderers. Early on in the Permiership season they are bottom of the table, haven’t scored a point, and now, their serial spitter wants to leave. Celtic, Tottenham and Lyon have all been linked by Senegal international El-Hadji Diouf, to their own detriment at that.

Diouf has revealed he wants to leave Bolton for a club with Champions League ambitions and thinks that the club is intentionally overvaluing him so he can’t leave.

Diouf claims that Tottenham, Celtic and Lyon have all made bids, as have two other mystery clubs.

"Bolton want a lot of money for me. They are asking for 10m pounds. I want to play in the Champions League or with a club that wants to be there next season." – Diouf

“Wants to be there next season”, that must sting if you are a Bolton supporter. And judging by the teams performances, you can see that attitude on the pitch as well. But you have to stay together to climb from a hole and clearly Diouf can’t be bothered. When a player starts this kind of talk, get rid of him. He’s a bad influence on the team and generally has a nasty disposition. I would never have signed him in the first place, regardless of what he has achieved.

Newcastle steamroll

Man, when I saw the Premier League’s day 1 schedule, I felt sorry for Bolton. Getting Newcastle and thus playing a guy that knows your every player inside out could only go one way, and it did.

Sammy Lee looked out of his depth. He was tactically dismantled by Sam Allardyce. Bolton was physically dismantled by Newcastle. Newcastle looks a totally different side than in the last, oh, decade and the North of England may just get to watch some great football again.

Starting for Newcastle was Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins up front, both preferred to Michael Owen who certainly faces a fight for a place in the starting lineup. New boy Alan Smith was in midfield and the new look defense was on display.

Bolton manager Sammy Lee started with 8 players who were on last year’s books.

It was one way traffic from the start and 2-0 within the first quarter of an hour. Obafemi Martins showed extraordinary agility to score the second with a fantastic overhead kick slammed into the goal -certainly a goal of the month contender.

Soon after, Newcastle made it 3-0 as it started to look like a home game.

At the half Ricardo Vaz Te was substituted in favor of El Hadji Diouf but that was an excuse. Bolton’s back 4 were a shambles, all over the place. Kevin Davis, Mr I always start but can’t score, was useless, but the 20 year old had to take the blame. Bolton were brighter after the half and it could only have been Anelka to get a goal back.

Newcastle gave the best performance from Saturday, Liverpool a close second. Bolton were tied with listless West Ham for the worst. Bolton should bounce back, its a team loaded with experienced professionals and Vaz Te should retain his starting position and be given the chance he deserves.

Big Sam got his dream start. The funny thing is that Newcastle looked like last year’s Bolton, and Bolton like Newcastle. If there were ever an example of how the basics matter at the top level, here it is.

Alonso joins Bolton in pre-season training

Mikel Alonso, brother of Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso has been given a trial and has joined Bolton Wanderers pre-season training camp in Austria. The midfielder was with Real Sociedad last season but the club was relegated to the Spanish second division.

There is quite a football pedigree in the Alonso family. Mikel, at 27, is actually Xabi’s older brother and the son of Real Sociedad legend Periko Alonso who during his playing career won 20 caps for the Spanish national team during the 70’s and 80’s and also played for Barcelona.

The older brother started his playing career in 2001 against Real Valladolid. Since his start in 2001 he’s had a full career at Sociedad starting 37 games last season.

Vaz Te looks to jumpstart career

20 year old Ricardo Vaz Te has fueled transfer speculation by admitting that he would like to leave Bolton Wanderers and return to Portugal. Sporting Lisbon, flush with cash from their sale of Nani, appear to be the youngsters target.

Unsure how he will fit into new manager Sammy Lee's plans, Vaz Te has always been somewhat erratic in his form for the club. Feeling like he needs first team football to develop consistency, a move abroad might just suit him well. For Bolton, a loan deal might be of more interest because in my opinion, Vaz Te is a really talented player who needs to find his feet.

At Bolton he’s always been surrounded by players, for better or worse, more experienced and consistent than him. I have never rated Kevin Davis and have always felt that Vaz Te should have been given his spot in the lineup to try and develop him. While my opinion on this in is not popular with Bolton supporters, I do think not allowing the kid a chance to prove himself without the pressure of the up and down bench-and-start roller coaster he has been on has potentially spoiled a chance to have a really hot property on your hands.

Vaz Te told a Portuguese paper:

"I always had the objective to play in the Portuguese league. My preferred club would be Sporting. It is a team that promotes youth”

Vaz Te came through the academy ranks is likely going to start for Portugal in tonight's Olympic Games play-off against Italy in Nijmegen.

I think Bolton should consider a season long loan at Sporting with a season of first team football -something he has never had. From there we can see what Vaz Te is worth.

Names finally emerge in bung inquiry, Newcastle and Bolton worst offenders

Two top flight football managers have been named by the Premiership bung inquiry. Sam Allardyce, when he was at Bolton for conflicts of interest and former Newcastle boss Graeme Souness for inconsistencies in evidence. Additionally Chelsea, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth have been named for having breached transfer regulations.

The clubs will now be facing further investigations from the FA but the report names Newcastle and Bolton are viewed as the most serious offenders.

Also, concerns about 15 agents were raised including Allardyce’s son Craig.

Of the 17 named in the report, four each relate to Newcastle and Bolton: Emre Belozoglu, Jean Alain Boumsong, Amady Faye, Albert Luque at Newcastle and Ali Al-Habsi, Tal Ben Haim, Blessing Kaku, Julio Correia for Bolton. Chelsea score three with Didier Drogba, Petr Cech and Michael Essien. Three also for Portsmouth with Collins Mbesuma, Benjani Mwaruwari, and Aliou Cisse and two to Middlesbrough with Yakubu and Fabio Rochemback.

Notice how every one of those transfers is for a player arriving from another country. Clearly the problem here resides on a lack of regulation at a higher level. The FA plans to send the findings to FIFA, but with a corrupt crony like Sepp Blatter in charge, don’t hold your breath.

The question outstanding for me is who took money?

Ben Haim a Blue

Chelsea beaten out Newcastle and have signed Bolton Wanderers central defender Tal Ben Haim on a free transfer.

Ben Haim has passed a medical at Stamford Bridge this afternoon and afterwards singed a 4 year contract. Rejecting a 2m pound price tag by Bolton during the January transfer window, it looked like the Israeli international would follow his former boss to Newcastle but Chelsea have done enough to convince the stalwart that his future remains in London.

The 25 year old former Maccabi Tel Aviv player now looks set to compete for a place in the Chelsea lineup. While a good player, I doubt he will force his way into the side and replace Ricardo Carvalho in the starting lineup, especially as he had a career season last year. It probably comes down to salary: Chelsea offered the most. Whether it will end up being in Ben Haim’s interests will have to be seen.

Bolton’s new manager Sammy Lee was hoping to keep Ben Haim on the books but could not match Chelsea’s salary structure. Ben Haim will now join Jose Mourinho's squad for their pre-season tour of the United States in July.

Ben Haim becomes the third new addition to the Chelsea first team following Claudio Pizarro and Steve Sidwell, all on free transfers as Chelsea follow thru with their new cheapski strategy.

Wandering

Bolton Wanderers have lost their way. 5 losses in a row have seen them slide all the way into 8th place which has me wondering, has the Premiership’s toughest team to play been figured out?

Chelsea came into the Reebok yesterday and took Bolton apart 2-0. While they made things hard in midfield and could have taken the early lead when Ricardo Vaz Te hit the post it always looked like Chelsea would win.

So what has happened to Bolton? Well, as much as I like Sam Allardyce I think he is partly to blame. With so much talent on his side, smart signings, and a relatively healthy group to choose from he seems too committed into molding a team in his own image.

Allardyce needed to play his summer signings more this season and really give them a chance. He’s allowed players like Jared Borghetti and Hidetoshi Nakata to wallow all season on the bench. He’s also hardly played Ivan Campo and turned his nose at Jay Jay Okocha when a dip in form took place, even Gary Speed has not featured as often.

It wouldn’t surprise me if a lot of frustrated players are in the Bolton dressing room and that has a lot to do with the dip in form.

Sam Allardyce has a reputation for grudges against players and making decisions too much on the whim. He’s done very well to build Bolton to where they are now and all along the results always came as a surprise. There is a new pressure now for the squad, the expectations of a result and with that a new paradigm. Sam Allardyce has never has so much talent at his disposal and he’s not as skilled dealing with it as more experienced Premiership managers.

So, I doubt Bolton has been figured out. I think it has more to do with the mood in the camp. Bolton are more talented than 8th place, and Allardyce has done some smart things this season like giving Ricardo Vaz Te a real chance but at the same time he’s relied too much on players like Kevin Davies who holds the ball up but rarely score. Note that besides the Chelsea loss, the other 4 losses were by a single goal. Virtually all Bolton’s games this season only have a goal in them, a team like that, which grinds out results doesn’t need a lot to upset the balance and start a slide.

Bolton loaned Nakata and linked with Ono

Japanese international midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata has been loaned from Fiorentina in Italy to Bolton Wanderers for the season.

Sam Allardyce has brought in an iconic figure. When it comes to popularity Nakata is Japan’s version of America’s Michael Jordan. At 28 he’s a complete midfielder who can create and defend; The Reebok Stadium sure needs some creativity looking at their first game of the season.

Jared Borgetti from Mexico looks set to start with the team soon enough. With a healthy Okocha and Nakata the team should be a lot more entertaining.

Rumor has it that Japanese midfielder Shinji Ono from Feyenoord and Sam Allardyce talked over a move to Bolton recently.

The 25 year old Ono was on Feyenoord’s UEFA Cup winning squad a couple of seasons ago. He went to the Netherlands via Urawa Reds in the J-league in 2001. Apparently there is a dispute with the player and team and Ono wants to leave.

Bolton vs Aston Villa took 10 minutes

Fours goal hit the net in 10 minutes at Villa Park yesterday and after that, you pretty much could have taken a nap.

On 4 minutes Aston Villa took the lead as Kevin Phillips took advantage of Bolton's Nickey Hunt crossing himself up with the keeper to convert the easy header.

Jittery Aston Villa defending led to the second goal. From a corner, 1 minute later, Kevin Davies evened the score. Again from a corner, Bolton took a 2-1 lead on 8 minutes, Ivan Campo providing the conversion.

Steven Davis restored the parody again for Aston Villa as the Bolton back line dozed into a 1-goal-lead-induced, 2 minute cat-nap. It was a decent enough goal, but schoolyard defending from Bolton Wanderers. 10 minutes, 2-2, last goal.

The following 80 minutes saw a few changes and chances but not even Jay Jay Okocha was enough to restore interest.

Aston Villa were average. Angel doesn’t see the ball much anymore. Remember when you were a kid and you never passed the ball to someone because they sucked, or, maybe that was you that couldn't score (or was it me?), anyway, in the adult world, more refined, we say ‘his teammates have lost confidence’, but didn’t it seem that way?

I seriously had an inkling Bolton were going to be the best looking team yesterday, my inkling turned into a 2-2 schminkling.

Allardyce at it again for Bolton

Italian club Fiorentina are having to sell players to balance the books. Italian financial regulations are much stricter than in other European countries and Fiorentina have already been burned once.

That’s where Bolton Wanderers come in. After losing out on Olivier Dacourt, Bolton are tageting 28 year old Hidetoshi Nakata, who looks to be getting sacrificed in the restructuring.

Today Fiorentina’s website confirmed the Nakata transfer talks with Bolton. Nakata has traveled to London to sort out terms. Bolton’s website also makes mention.

Nakata’s been with a large number of Italian clubs since starting with Perugia in 1998. The Japanese international has been capped 66 times. Since moving to Italy he’s also played for AS Roma, Parma, and then Bologna.

With Jay Jay Okocha and Nakata in the same midfield Bolton are well reinforced. Nakata has traditionally been an attacking midfielder but has assumed a more defensive role internationally, so I’m curious to see where he’d play at Bolton.

I’m sure Nakata will give Bolton the extra push for a European place. Unless we see a sudden breakdown in talks, this looks like a done deal, and a good deal for Bolton. Sam Allardyce, Bolton manager, has pulled off another great swoop.

Bolton bolting up front and back

Sam Allardyce has agreed to a season long loan deal for Senegalese international defender Abdoulaye Faye.

The snag in a full signing is probably the player’s work permit.

Faye makes a trio with Senegal international team-mates Khalilou Fadiga and El-Hadji Diouf now at the club. This will likely help the player adjust and improves his chances of success.

Mexican international Jared Borgetti has signed for Bolton Wanderers in a 1m pound deal. What a bargain! Allardyce is brilliant. Borgetti is a fantastic striker for that money.

I’m willing to bet he starts and impresses because he’ll compliment Diouf and Okocha well and scores good goals. He’s similar to Liverpool striker Fernando Morientes.

What a penchant this coach has for grabbing good players that are going unnoticed.

Finally, the rumor mill says Bolton are also on the verge of landing Spanish defender Juanfran. The ‘officials’ are saying there are negotiations taking place and the player is very keen to play in England.

Dacourt not joining Bolton

Olivier Dacourt won’t be a Bolton Wanderer just yet. The deal is on hold as Roma are banned from transfers for a year.

FIFA have levied a transfer ban on Roma who have appealed the decision. That could last months though.

Sam Allardyce’s plans look different from a week ago, that’s for sure. He wanted a player with Premiership experience. Dacourt had spells both at Everton and Leeds United.
All may not be lost as Dacourt only has one season left if forced to stay on at Roma. He may join on a free contract in a season, but there would probably be other bidders by then.

On another note, I sure hope Allardyce plays Ricardo Vaz Te over Kevin Davies next season. He's very talented and deserves a starting chance.

Bolton lose Candela

Bolton Wanderers short term contract signing Vincent Candela, who joined during last season from AS Roma, has decided to join Italian club Udinese.

Candela has opted for the Champions League, Udinese has qualified. Bolton managed a good UEFA Cup place for next season but it was not enough to tempt the former French World Cup winner to stay.

Bolton now has the left back role to fill again. Fellow Frenchman Olivier Bernard from relegated Southampton might be a quick fix. Competition exists for him though from Middlesbrough.

Candela originally joined Roma in 1997 from French side Guingamp but left a turbulent situation. He returns now for a second stint in Italy.

Bolton and Allardyce to take on new problem child

Looks like Newcastle United fallout Laurent Robert is set for a switch to Bolton Wanderers.

Robert claims a contract will be signed tomorrow.

This could bring to an end a bad episode of player vs. club for Newcastle United.

For Robert, Allardyce may indeed have what it takes to make him listen. For Allardyce, Robert may prove one difficult player too many. To integrate Laurent Robert into the mix, however, should already earn him coach of the year, no matter what Mourinho does.

For everyone involved, let’s hope the contract is indeed signed. Robert’s got a lot of talent and its better to read about that rather than his antics. Bolton has saved a few careers in a short time, who knows, Diouf’s growth (spitting aside) was a big surprise to me.

Southampton vs Bolton, what a football match

It’s nice when two teams have something to play for, isn’t it?

Last night was a classic football match as relegation strugglers Southampton took on Bolton Wanderers, Champions League .

Bolton should have had the match swept up by halftime; instead they took a rickety 1-0 lead into the break after a superb display of football which should have yielded then at least 2 more goals. Jay Jay Okocha made piercing passes and switched play to great effect while El Haji Diouf was active. Southampton was all over the place and couldn’t keep the ball. They were struggling mightily with 3 center backs and couldn’t string more than 3 passes together. It looked like relegation to me.

For the second half coach Harry Redknaap switched into a 4-4-2 and suddenly we had a match on our hands. Southampton gained in confidence with every pass as Bolton deepened into their own half to protect their lead. From around the 60th minute both team traded spells of pressure and Bolton missed clear chances on many occasions.

Others in impressive form last night included Fernando Hierro and both Finnish goalkeepers Jussi Jaaskelainen of Bolton and Southampton’s Antti Niemi.