Megson happy to keep top Trotters

29 August 2009 10:47
Wanderers host Liverpool on Saturday with the transfer window nearing its close, and with no points on the board so far from two Premier League games, Megson is keen to bolster his threadbare squad before the September 1 deadline. The Bolton forward line looks to be a particular concern, with Kevin Davies and Johan Elmander the only recognised strikers currently available and a host of chances squandered in the 1-0 defeats against Sunderland and Hull. Megson hopes to boost his attacking options with the signing of Cameroon midfielder Achille Emana from Real Betis and the reacquisition of former club captain Kevin Nolan from Newcastle. But in a volatile and unforgiving transfer market, the manager claims that the most significant negotiations have already been completed at the Reebok Stadium, after he convinced senior figures like Davies, as well as the rapidly maturing Gary Cahill, to commit their futures to the club. "We wanted to try and keep as many of those established players as we could, and there are some real good ones in there," Megson said. "Last year we managed to keep Jussi (Jaaskelainen) and we managed to keep Ali Al Habsi, who would manage to get in most Premier League clubs, so in that position (goalkeeper) we are well stocked. "Kevin Davies is always linked with some clubs, but nobody has ever been onto me and said that they'll take Kevin, because I think there is a realisation that we just wouldn't entertain it. "The same goes for Matt Taylor - he came out of Portsmouth's reserves and got 10 goals last year and we need him to start doing the same things again. "And the biggest one was (Gary) Cahill. Gary came out of Aston Villa's reserves, had a full season here, found himself in the England squad and will kick on and go on even further. "I think in a couple of years time he will be a fixture in England's team. That is the best bit of business that we have done over the summer - to get Gary to commit." Since arriving at the club two years ago, Megson has seen a number of significant first-team players depart, including Nolan, who notched 50 goals for the club, and Nicolas Anelka, who plundered 21 in 53 league appearances for Bolton and went on to win the Golden Boot with Chelsea last year. The experience has left Megson with little sympathy for the plight of Portsmouth, who have been forced to sell a host of big-name stars over the past 12 months in order to balance their books. "People are talking about Portsmouth and how difficult it is that they are having to sell all their players," Megson said. "We did that, that happened quite a while back - not all in one go, but it has happened, and you try and move on from that point."

Source: Team_Talk