McFarland Believes Bolton Can Challenge For Top Spot

Published June 23, 2014 / by admin

Former Bolton Wanderers manager Roy McFarland has claimed that it would not be surprising to see Bolton challenge along with Derby County for a top six spot in the upcoming championship season. Bolton have been struggling in the Championship for the last two seasons after their relegation from the Premier league. They were one of the established Premier league teams after spending almost a decade in the top division. Since their relegation, they have been crippled with financial problems and mounting debts. The club have debts of more than £ 150 million, which is not helping manager Dougie Freedman to sign top class players.

Despite this, McFarland expects his former club to challenge for a promotion spot in the upcoming campaign. A good run towards the end of the season saw Bolton finish only a couple of places below the top six. Freedman will be hoping that this run continues going into the new season as well. Recently, he expressed that the club will be looking to sign players with a lot of potential. After allowing the likes of Tyrone Mears and David Ngog to leave the club in the last few months, it is expected that several new faces will be present at the club for the new season.

“Things haven’t gone well for Bolton in the last couple of years but the club is solid and it is only a matter of time before it starts heading back in the right direction. They have been at this level for a little while now and they know what is expected of them. Bolton’s is still a result I look for. I follow them with interest because I enjoyed working at the club. But I think Bolton can make the top six this time around – and then who knows after that?” said McFarland.

Lonergan Future In Doubt

Published June 2, 2014 / by admin

The future of Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Andy Lonergan has been a major doubt over the last few weeks, as there have been no talks about extending his contract, which comes to an end next summer. The 30-year-old is no longer the first choice goalkeeper at the club after having conceded this position to Adam Bogdan. Dougie Freedman has stated that he is still prepared to hold talks with Lonergan and get him on a new contract, but he accepts that the 30-year-old should fight for his position.

After flirting with a relegation for a couple of months, Bolton managed to end the Championship season in relative safety in the 14th position. However, the club will need to challenge for a play-off place next season in order to return to the Premier league. The £ 150 million debts have become crippling for the club in the last few years. It has not about the Freedman to strengthen the squad in the transfer window. Bolton have also sold a number of quality players in the last few transfer windows.

Freedman has accepted that a player of Lonergan’s does not deserve to be in the number two position, but he says that the 30-year-old should show the fighting spirit in order to get back to the number one spot.

“Andy knows his position and that he has a year left here. But he’s another player – and I have told him this – who I would be very comfortable sitting down with over the summer and looking to sign a new contract. But he needs to be comfortable fighting for his position. He isn’t guaranteed anything. I’m comfortable saying that because I think his game has come on. I think the way I want to play eventually,” said the Bolton manager, whose team finished with 59 points.

FUTURE IN DOUBT

Published May 1, 2014 / by admin

The future of several Bolton players is a major doubt since they are either out of contract or the club is unwilling to spend huge amounts of money to renew their deals. Manager Dougie Freedman has his work cut out in order to convince as much as five players to stay at the Reebok stadium beyond this season. It also remains to be seen if he will be willing to keep those players considering that some of them have been suffering from numerous injury problems. As a club, Bolton are in financial meltdown after they recently revealed debts of about £ 160 million.

Getting to the Premier league will help solve the financial problems to a great extent, but the club are also aware that they cannot overspend in the hopes of achieving this dream. Freedman will also have to assess the futures of two senior players, who have spent time away from the club in the hope of getting first-team football. Freedman says that he is likely to hold onto most of his current players with the likes of Zat Knight being offered new deals. Stuart Holden and Chris Eagles are some of the other players coming to the end of their deals.

Rumours have suggested that Freedman may look into selling some key names like Sordell, but he has rejected those rumours.

“The plan won’t be ripped up. There will be a natural progression because there are contracts up, some players will be coming back from loans too. There will be a natural turnaround and it will enable me to bring in more players I think can cope with the Championship. I have three or four targets that are already lined-up but there will still be a good nucleus of players here,” said the Bolton manager, whose team are 17th in the table.

BOLTON CONTINUE SLIDE

Published March 12, 2014 / by admin

Bolton Wanderers continued their slide down the table after a 1-0 defeat against Ipswich Town. This result has left them in the 18th place. Even though they are separated from the relegation zone by a comfortable 10 points, the current run of form threatens to pull the club into the relegation zone if results do not improve. Manager Dougie Freedman recently received the dreaded vote of confidence after the defeat against Ipswich. The club has managed just one in the last nine matches, which is threatening to pull them closer to relegation trouble.

Freedman has accepted that he will be taking the blame if Bolton failed to stay up, but he is confident of avoiding relegation. The club are suffering from severe financial troubles after they recently revealed debts in excess of £ 150 million. The only way of recovering from this trouble is by getting back to the Premier league, which recently came to an end after more than eight years in the top division. They failed to get back last season and are looking on course to stay in the second edition for another season. For now, avoiding relegation is the most important priority since they will continue to get the parachute payments next season.

Freedman has said that he needs the support of fans over the next few weeks in order to help the club out of trouble.

“It’s a wonderful club and it’s one I want to take forward but right now we’re in a difficult moment. It’s not a time I want to start blaming people, that’s not my style. Of course I’m responsible; I’ll take the blame if people are dishing it out. But I need to make sure we’re all in it together and that includes the fans. Yes, we are letting the away fans down right now,” said Freedman.

Van Persie’s United Future Doubtful

Published February 25, 2014 / by admin

Manchester United is all set to restructure its squad this summer which could mean the axe falls on some of its existing players. One of the most possible names to be axed is Dutch captain Robin Van Persie – he is odds-on to leave according to one online betting offers website.

After Vidic’s announcement on leaving Man U for a fresh challenge, speculations were that persie could be the next skipper. After all, the soccer star is that present captain of Netherlands soccer team and also holds experience of leading Man U arch rival Arsenal.

But a recent article published on Man U website has shattered all such speculations by omitting Persie’s name from the possible Man U captain roster. It is now being said that with Manchester United boss David Moyes prepping up for a series of new signings, Van Persie might be out of the team by the end of summer season.

According to sources, Moyes has planned a grand 200 million pounds for world-class signings as part of their team restructure campaign. With Vidic and Patrice Evra moving out, it’s only natural for the Old Trafford club to look for new stalwarts in their squad. As there is not enough room inside the squad at present for the new signings, there are high chances that Moyes could order a depart for 4 team players.

Persie does not claim a happy innings with the Old Trafford club and has even tagged playing under Moyes as a frustrating session in his career. Over time, he has reported of increasing differences with the Man U boss which could be a string reason of the Dutch captain’s name in the list of possible players to be excluded.

The other possible names to be excluded are Javier Hernandez and Nani.

Man U is planning to sign in Mario Mandzukic from Bayern Munich & Edinson Cavani from PSG.