Can the Trotters build on the progress they made last season?
Hopes and fears The Trotters took their foot off the gas once safety was assured last term, losing their last three games to plummet down a compressed table. No matter – under Owen Coyle they have thrown off their dour reputation, and now play a crowd-pleasing brand of football. Expect a strong bid for Europe this term.
You’re the boss After years of pragmatism under Sam Allardyce and Gary Megson, Coyle has put some of the fun back into watching Bolton, and in his first full season justified his controversial switch from Burnley.
Who’s the man? Skipper Kevin Davies – not the most obvious figurehead for a switch to ‘total football’, but he provides vital steel and effective link play. He’s also a totemic figure up front for the Trotters, having missed just one league game in the last three seasons.
Young guns Mark Davies engineered a fabulous team goal against Blackpool last term, and the 23-year-old looks to have the quality and composure required to thrive at the top level.
In and outs Sadly Johan Elmander is off to Galatasaray just as he starts to deliver (notably, with a Best-esque pirouette goal against Wolves). There have been a host of new arrivals with former Reds winger Chris Eagles, Tyrone Mears, Darren Pratley and Nigel Reo-Coker all joining.
Away-day heaven or hell? Heaven. Just 20 minutes from OT; a healthy ticket allocation (with incognito Reds all around the ground); and only one defeat in 11 visits. What’s not to like?
Well I never… The nickname Trotters originates from the 19th century when their ground backed on to a pig farm.
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