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betting » Previews » Bolton

Bolton

By David, BettingExpert.com | Edited

 

Coyle’s untangled


 

Having come to be known as a fortress under the reign of ‘Big Sam’ Allardyce the fans have lost some of the passion when Megson’s team got swept aside once too often by opposition. Ex-Burnley manager Coyle has to set his sights on getting the team back to enjoying the game and reignite the flame of passion in the fans. Attacking football could be the answer but the manager will have to do with most of what he had last year.

 

 

Coach: Coyle

 

Tactics: 4-4-2

 

Players In: M. Petrov, Klasnic, M. Alonso, Rodrigo Moreno, Eaves, Blake

 

Players Out: Basham, N. Hunt, Al Habsi

 

Current Probable Formation: Jaaskelainen, Steinsson, G. Cahill, Z. Knight, P. Robinson, Lee, Muamba, Holden, M. Petrov, K. Davies, Klasnic

 

 

 

The additions have not been much but two of those should go straight into the first team bolstering Coyle’s predilection for more focus in attack this season. The subject of our attention are here Martin Petrov and Klasnic – the 31-year old Bulgarian and the 30-year old Croatian. Both will have to add on a year to their current age as January nears to a close but their quality is not an argument for discussion.

 

The ex-Manchester City midfielder will not find it hard to command a place in the starting eleven. Perfectly capable of playing on the wing or at the centre he will boost the Wanderers with some much needed class, which had been swept clear from the squad as Allardyce had made it a point to focus on strength rather than technique. Over the years even Big Sam has come to change his mind over this but his ideas are now being employed elsewhere. The left-footed midfielder will thus come to play a very important role at Bolton this season and as his past has taught us he is perfectly capable of getting some goals for the team as well.

 

Klasnic will have a harder time landing a permanent slot in attack due to his similarity with another forward – Swedish giant Elmander. The latter has not revealed himself the goal scorer he was expected to be for the team in his first two seasons at Bolton. He scored just eight goals in 45 Premier League games leaving much of the work to be carried out by captain Kevin Davies. Klasnic can therefore come to displace the Swede although Elmander has been doing well in preseason to impress Coyle and gain his trust. It will be a healthy and combative battle between Klasnic and Elmander with both able to guarantee aerial prowess and goals when in shape.

 

Davies is of course untouchable. He carried most of the burden for goals last season but his 1.83 metres and tough guy look have often been taken advantage of by managers who have asked of him to do some dirty work rather than keep a close eye on the opponents’ net. He gives his best when allowed to roam close to goal and with Coyle begging for such qualities the captain should be banging in more goals than ever this season.

 

Apart from Petrov, the support for the strikers will be coming from Lee, who should be guaranteeing some good crosses into the box as he runs on the right side of the pitch trying to repeat last season’s exceptional displays. The prospects are looking good if his performances for his national side at the World Cup are to be any indication of what is to come. He should be getting a few goals himself as well. Holden and Muamba are the central midfielders.

 

With the likes of Gary Cahill and Zat Knight as central defenders, goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen should have little worries although the Bolton defence cannot really be described as impenetrable judging by last year’s 67 goals conceded, making it the fourth worst in the category. Steinsson and Robinson complete the backline.

 

Predicted finishing position: 15th

 

There are some valid options for Coyle in attack this year but the strong point is the wingers available. In Petrov and Lee the manager can rest assured of some consistent and effective football on the flanks. Will the strikers be able to live up to the quality of the assists though, or are they yet to discover the killer instinct? The defence leaves much to be desired as well as hopes for improvement at the back look to remain unfulfilled.



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