With the Premier League kick-off just around the corner, Goal.com is looking at how each of the 20 clubs are shaping up. This article features Gary Megson’s Bolton Wanderers.

2007-2008: Where It Ended

Wanderers found themselves in unfamiliar, relegation territory during a tumultuous last season. Admittedly, the Sam Allardyce era had been one of sustained over-achievement with limited resources, but only the most pessimistic of supporters would have predicted such a close encounter with relegation at the start of last season, especially with an attack spearheaded by the classy Nicolas Anelka.

Allardyce’s successor, Sammy Lee, struggled, as many managers do, to make the step-up from assistant. The majority of his purchases seemed to lack quality, and few established themselves as first team regulars. Not long into the season Bolton found themselves wallowing below league whipping boys Derby County, and the board decided Lee was not the man for the job. His replacement Gary Megson’s task was soon made more difficult with the loss of Anelka in the January transfer window. To some fans, the decision to make a quick six million pounds profit on Anelka provided evidence of the myopia of the Bolton board, but in reality there was little they could have done once Chelsea came knocking.

Many fans felt aggrieved after Megson put out a second-string in the Uefa Cup defeat against Sporting Lisbon, justifying it with the importance of ensuring Premiership survival, but then losing to local rivals Wigan in the next game. Currently, the manager by no means has the universal approval of the Bolton faithful, but he must be given credit for maintaining Bolton’s Premiership status. For one thing, Megson brought in Gary Cahill, whose solid presence at the back and reliable partnership forged with player of the season Andy O’Brien was vital to the side’s survival.

Towards the end of last season it looked as if Bolton’s Premiership future could hinge on a last day encounter at Stamford Bridge. Doom and gloom descended over the Reebok after Wanderers capitulated having been two nil up against ten-men Arsenal. A four-nil drubbing at the hands of Aston Villa compounded a sense of fatalism among fans, but seemed to galvanise Megson’s men for a fine run in. Three victories against Wigan, Middlesborough and Sunderland as well as a draw with Spurs meant survival was ensured before the final day encounter with Chelsea, which also ended in a surprise 1-1 draw.  A huge sigh of relief was felt at the club and Megson was assured by chairman Phil Gartside and owner Eddie Davis that the proceeds of the Anelka sale and more would be provided to ensure that such a close shave would not happen again.

Summer Activity

The board have kept their word and provided more funds than ever before. It seems bizarre that they feel  Megson warrants such financial backing, when they never supported Allardyce in such a way. There has been somewhat of a midfield exodus this summer - Guthrie was not signed permanently, Campo, Braaten, Diouf, Stelios and Andranik have also moved on. Many of these players were admittedly only squad players but the remaining skeletal selection of midfielders leaves Bolton over-exposed to the effects of any injuries.

Of the players in, Elmander will be the most eagerly awaited. He looked uninspiring playing on the right in the European Championships but it would be unfair to judge him on that alone, especially as he will almost certainly play as a striker this season. Fans must hope he settles in and settles quickly as his goal-scoring form will probably be what the success of Bolton’s season hinges on. Muamba, although perhaps a bit expensive, will definitely add steel to the centre of the park. The pacy Mustapha Riga will be expected to fill the void left by the most noteworthy departure of the summer, El-Hadji Diouf.

Megson has also had a complete overhaul of the backroom staff at the Reebok over the summer, the most notable recruit being new first-team coach, Steve Wigley, who left his post with England the Under-21s to join Wanderers.

Analysis & Prognosis

By no means does the £20 million outlay this summer mean that Bolton will be pushing for Europe again. What it should mean is that they stay up. It will not however be easy, but they will be aided by the weakness of the newly-promoted sides around them. Last term, Bolton had a terrible start to their campaign and were playing catch-up from then on. This season they have an easier start, with games against Stoke, Newcastle, West Brom and Fulham first up. A decent start against these clubs will be vital, if they are to avoid a similar plight to last season.

Andy O’Brien and Gary Cahill have forged a solid partnership at the back and the Icelandic international, Steinsson, was impressive last year at right back. J-Lloyd Samuel or Ricky Gardner will complete a solid back four in front of stalwart Jussi Jaaseklainen, now he has ended the speculation regarding his future. If Megson opts for a 4-4-2, then Muamba will do the graft in the centre, allowing club captain Nolan to push forward and try to support Elmander and Davies with goals as well as assists. Nolan will be, as always, trying to push for an opportunity at international level. Matty Taylor, who took time to settle, but was much improved towards the end of last season, should play on the left and chip in with a few of his trademark spectacular strikes. Fans will hope that Riga fits in on the right, although Gavin McCann will be able to do a job if he struggles to adapt to Premiership football.

A major concern is their reliance on Elmander up front. Although not being in Europe this time will ease pressure on the squad, a lack of depth is also a major worry. The acquisition of another quality midfielder looks essential if they are not to be exposed in that department. If fans are thinking that Bolton’s expenditure this summer will propel them back into the top half of the table, where they became accustomed to spending their time with Allardyce at the helm, they should think again.  If Bolton can get off to a good start, then they can look toward a solid mid-table finish. If they do not, then this season, like the last, could be a struggle.

Coach: Gary Megson

Stadium: Reebok Stadium (27,879)

2007/08 Position: 16th

2007/08 Record: P- 38 W- 9 D- 10 L- 19 GF- 36 GA- 54 Pts- 37

Players In: Elmander (Toulouse, £10 million), Muamba (Birmingham City, £5 million), Riga (Levante, undisclosed), Shittu (Watford, undisclosed).

Players Out: Braaten (Toulouse, undisclosed), Andranik Teymourian (Fulham, free), Stelios Giannakopoulos (released), Ivan Campo (released), El Hadji Diouf (Sunderland, £2.5m), Meite, (West Brom, £2M)

Possible-Line-Up: Jaaskelainen – Steinsson, Cahill, O’Brien, Gardner – McCann, Muamba, Nolan, Taylor – Davies, Elmander.

Ref From Tom Mathew - goal.com

Fulham have completed the signing of defender Fredrik Stoor from Rosenborg.

The 24-year-old, who played for Sweden at Euro 2008, has signed a four-year deal with the Cottagers and joined for an undisclosed fee.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson told the club’s website: “Fredrik is a player I have followed for some time through my contacts with the Sweden team.

“I watched him closely with his club side and we did a lot of research on him. I am delighted he has joined us.”

Stoor has won eight Sweden caps, with the most recent of them coming in the European Championship.

Hodgson added: “I had the opportunity to see him at close hand in the three matches that Sweden played in Euro 2008 and we decided that this was the player for us at right-back.

“Certainly with John Pantsil and Fredrik Stoor we have excellent cover for that position for the coming season.”

Pantsil joined from West Ham earlier in the summer, along with Bobby Zamora, as part of a £6.3m deal.

Fulham are also expected to sign striker Andrew Johnson from Everton in the near future after agreeing an eight-figure fee for the England international.

Last week Stoor said he was looking forward to playing in Hodgson’s side.

“This is very exciting and feels like a great challenge,” he told Expressen newspaper last week.

“This is the toughest league in the world. It will be hard but I have the chance of becoming a regular.”

Stoor has become Hodgson’s eighth capture of the summer following the signings of Mark Schwarzer, Andranik Teymourian, Zoltan Gera, David Stockdale, Toni Kallio and West Ham pair Zamora and Pantsil.

Ref From BBC SPORTS