Sun 5th Oct - Upton Park
Last updated: 9th July 2008
Megson: Irons in the fire
Bolton Wanderers manager Gary Megson says he has signed two of his three prime targets in Fabrice Muamba and Johan Elmander.
Muamba has moved to the Reebok Stadium following Birmingham City's relegation from the Premier League, while Elmander has joined from Toulouse.
Megson is now looking to tie up a deal for the mystery third name on his wanted list after insisting Swedish striker Elmander is not a readymade replacement for Nicolas Anelka.
"He's not a direct replacement for Anelka," Megson told Sky Sports News. "He's not the same kind of player. He's got strengths that maybe Nic didn't have and vice versa.
"He leads the line well, he puts in a good shift, he's really honest and he'll fit in well with the rest of the people in that respect.
"We've obviously been doing our homework over the course of the off season and trying to get players in.
"I gave the board the names of three players I really wanted to bring in and not move on until we'd exhausted every possibility.
"That's two of the three, and we're still trying to do the third one and we'll go from there."
James Harper has been linked with a move to Bolton, but Megson did not want to comment on any interest in the Reading midfielder.
He added: "I think it's unfair talking about other people's players until they actually become our players, if indeed that happens.
"We've still got irons in the fire - I suppose that is the phrase that we're looking for. They've got to be good players to get into the squad."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 18th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| Sunday 2nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 16:00 | Bolton vs Man City |
| Saturday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Bolton |
| Saturday 15th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Bolton vs Liverpool |
| Saturday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Bolton |
| Saturday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Bolton |
| Saturday 6th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 13th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Bolton |
| Saturday 20th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Portsmouth |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Liverpool vs Bolton |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 14:00 | Bolton vs Wigan |
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Bolton |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 5th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 1 - 3 Bolton | |
| Saturday 27th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Bolton | |
| Saturday 20th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 1 - 3 Arsenal | |
| Saturday 13th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Fulham 2 - 1 Bolton | |
| Saturday 30th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 0 - 0 West Brom | |
| Tuesday 26th August | |
| Carling Cup | |
| Bolton 1 - 2 Northampton | |
| Saturday 23rd August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Newcastle 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Saturday 16th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 3 - 1 Stoke | |
| Friday 8th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| AEK Athens 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Monday 4th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Aris Thessalonki 1 - 1 Bolton | |
| Saturday 2nd August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Chorley 0 - 2 Bolton | |
| Friday 1st August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Doncaster 0 - 5 Bolton | |
| Saturday 26th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Macclesfield 1 - 0 Bolton | |
| Friday 25th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Rochdale 0 - 0 Bolton | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Sunderland | 7 | 8 |
| 15 | Everton | 7 | 8 |
| 16 | Bolton Wanderers | 7 | 7 |
| 17 | Fulham | 6 | 6 |
| 18 | Newcastle United | 7 | 5 |
The first weekend of October in the Premier League finds harmony in performance analysis.
Pictures from Sunday's Premier League as Chelsea and Liverpool hold first and second respectively.
Ali Al Habsi's agent has warned Bolton that the keeper could leave the club if they do not offer him a new deal.
Manchester United and Manchester City are leading the chase for Bolton starlet Jack Sampson, skysports.com understands.
Bolton youngster Jaroslaw Fojut has joined Stockport County on a one-month loan deal.
Bolton defender Andy O'Brien has pledged his future to the club by signing a new deal at the Reebok Stadium.
Lampard & Gerrard, record wins, new foes and Under 21 info. Martin Tyler is all over England this week...