Anelka's departure 'has hurt Bolton'.Byline: Ian Parkes BOLTON boss Gary Megson Gary John Megson (born 2 May, 1959 in Manchester) is a former English footballer and manager. He has recently been appointed as Leicester City's new manager. As a player, he is arguably best remembered from his days at Sheffield Wednesday, where his father Don Megson also played concedes the club are missing the services of Nicolas Anelka Nicolas Anelka (born March 14, 1979 in Versailles, France)[1] is a French footballer who plays in the forward position. After winning the 1998-99 PFA Young Player of the Year award and making his name at Arsenal, he has changed clubs several times. . It is nearly two months since Anelka left Bolton to join Chelsea for pounds 15m, and he comfortably remains the club's top scorer this season with 11 goals. In the 10 games since his departure in early January, Bolton have found the net on just six occasions. Although they finally secured their first away win of the season at Reading early last month, Megson's side are only out of the bottom three in the Barclays Premier League on goal difference. The loss of Anelka has obviously had an impact, but Megson believes the players who remain must learn to live without his presence. "We miss Nicolas, like any team would," admitted Megson, ahead of his side's Uefa Cup last-16 tie with Sporting Lisbon at the Reebok Stadium tonight. "He is a fantastic talent, but then we've had decent results since he left. He gave us a lot of things, more than just his goals, but he has gone. We've had to accept it, and we have. We have got on with life without him. He is a Chelsea player now, and has done well for them." Kevin Davies has had to step to the fore Verb 1. step to the fore - make oneself visible; take action; "Young people should step to the fore and help their peers" come forward, come to the fore, step forward, step up, come out in Anelka's absence, and while Megson admits to being "delighted" with the 30- year-old, he believes a little greed now and again could go a long way. "He works his socks off, he makes a great deal of good runs and other people benefit from that," said Megson. "I just wish he was a little more fortunate and a little less unselfish." With El Hadji Diouf
Nolan was brought up in a football playing family, and wanted to be a footballer from a young age. potentially out with a back injury, the onus will again fall on Davies. Wanderers have yet to be beaten in 10 matches in the competition this season, and critics would say that has been to the detriment of their league form. But Megson said: "The fact we're in a precarious position is not as a result of Europe. The position was far more precarious a few months ago when we were at the bottom of the table." BOLTON (from): Jaaskelainen, Samuel, Nolan, Meite, Stelios, Campo, Helguson, Gardner, Davies, Teymourian, Vaz Te, J O'Brien, Al Habsi, A O'Brien, Cahill, Taylor, Alonso, Guthrie. SPORTING (from): Patricio, Abel, Tonel, Polga, Grimi, Veloso, Izmailov, Romagnoli, Vukcevic, Moutinho, Liedson, Stojkovic, Ronny, Purovic, Farnerud, Tiui, Pereirinha, Celsinho Referee: Alon Yefet (Israel) Match odds: H 6-5 D 11-5 A 9-5 Kick-off: 2000 TV: No live coverage CAPTION(S): HARD WORKER Kevin Davies. |
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