Compared to last season, Bolton Wanderers will feel much more confident about the start of the new season. Twelve months ago, following Sam Allardyce’s departure, Bolton made a torrid start to the season under Sammy Lee. It was only after Gary Megson was appointed during the mid-season that results began to improve and the team were able to accumulate enough points to avoid relegation.

So far, this summer Bolton’s transfer activity have been relatively quiet when compared to some other clubs. Megson has signed Fabrice Muamba from relegated Birmingham City for £5 million. His physical presence and tackling ability should certainly help the team become more competitive in the middle. One of Megson’s big problem’s last season was the lack of a goal scorer. Nicholas Anelka was sold to Chelsea in the January transfer window and was never replaced. Johan Elmander has joined from French club Toulouse for a club record £10 million and the hope is that the Swede can provide the goals that Bolton lacked towards the end of last season.

Gary Megson has also signed Watford defender Danny Shittu for £2 million and Dutch winger Mustapha Riga has joined from Spanish team Levante.

During the summer, Bolton have also released a number of the more experienced players at the club. Ivan Campo has left after six years; he is expected to join Championship team Ipswich Town. Greek winger Stelios Giannakopoulos has also left and is training with Watford. Senegalese forward El-Hadj Diouf has also left to join Sunderland for £2.5 million. Megson has allowed Andranik Teymourian to leave after failing to impress last season, he has joined Fulham. Finally Daniel Braaten has left after just one season at the Reebok Stadium, he has moved to Toulouse as a part of the Elmander transfer.

For Bolton Wanderers supporters, the new season brings a sense of optimism. Although Megson was not the ideal candidate for the job, he has managed to keep the club in the Premier League and restored some of the stability that existed under Allardyce. They will be hoping for a less precarious season this time around and if the team plays as a unit then a mid table position is a realistic aim for the club. Once again Megson will expect the team to play to its strengths and will expect the likes of Kevin Davies, Kevin Nolan and Gavin McCann to provide the necessary leadership and drive on the pitch. Davies and Nolan had difficult season’s last year but will be hoping to raise their game this time around.