Bolton Wanderers
Odds: 500/1
Last Five Seasons
2005/06 - 8 (Premiership), 2004/05 - 6 (Premiership), 2003/04 - 8 (Premiership), 2002/03 - 17 (Premiership), 2001/02 - 16 (Premiership).
2005/06 Cup Progress
UEFA Cup Last 32 vs Marseille - lost 2-1 on aggregate.
FA Cup Fifth Round (replay) vs West Ham United (a) - lost 2-1 after extra time.
Carling Cup Quarter Finals vs Wigan Athletic (a) - lost 2-0.
Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Stylianos Giannakopoulos (midfield) - 12 goals.
Players In
Abdoulaye Meite (Marseille - Undisclosed), Quinton Fortune (Manchester United - Free), Idan Tal (Maccabi Tel Aviv - Free).
Players Out
Radhi Jaidi (Birmingham City - '2 million), Bruno N'Gotty (Birmingham City - Free), Jay-Jay Okocha (Qatar Sports Club - Free), Chris Howarth (Oldham Athletic - Loan), Khalilou Fadiga (Released), Oscar Perez (Released), Bedi Buval (Released), Matt Jansen (Released), Chris Howarth (Released).
Bolton Wanderers continued to prove themselves as a top Premiership club despite financial restrictions preventing manager Sam Allardyce from taking the club on further. Allardyce himself was the subject of speculation, linking him with the England job as well as both Sunderland and Aston Villa over the summer.
Last season's involvement in the UEFA Cup took its toll on the squad and this summer more players have been shipped out than have come in. Cult heroes Jay Jay Okocha and Bruno N'Gotty have moved on to Qatari side Sport Club and Birmingham City respectively after long spells at the club.
Radhi Jaidi who made an impression in the World Cup with Tunisia has also moved to the Midlands side while Mexican striker Jared Borghetti, who made little impact since joining the club last summer is set to leave the Reebok Stadium.
Manchester United stalwart Quinton Fortune arrived on a free transfer after being released from Old Trafford in the summer. The South African midfielder joined the Reds for '1.5 million from Atletico Madrid in 1999 and made 76 appearances.
Ivory Coast defender Abdoulaye Meite signed for an undisclosed fee from Marseille after making over 100 appearances in five seasons for the French side, but fell out of favour with coach Jean Fernandez last term.
Idan Tal, who had a spell in the Premiership with Everton between 2000 and 2002, joined on a free transfer from Maccabi Haifa. The Israeli international, with 58 caps to his name, has also played for Real Vallecano.
Verdict
Sam Allardyce will find life tougher in the Premiership this season after losing several key players, including on loan Hidetoshi Nakata, who returned to Fiorentina. Not participating in Europe will help the reduced squad stay fresh for league duty but the Trotters could see themselves slip out of the top 10 for the first time in four seasons. |
