Megson urges Elmander to shine

24 August 2009 16:53
Bolton travel to Prenton Park in the second round of the League Cup looking to kick-start their season after suffering two defeats in their first two Premier League matches. Having gone down 1-0 at home to Sunderland on the opening day, Wanderers were beaten by the same scoreline at Hull on Saturday, despite creating a host of chances. Elmander, the club's record signing, was among the culprits in front of goal and has only netted five times since joining from Toulouse last summer. It was hoped the Swedish striker would be able to fill the boots of Anelka, who scored 21 times in 53 league appearances for Bolton and went on to win the Golden Boot with Chelsea last year. And after seeing Anelka finish in typically clinical style against Fulham on Sunday, Megson said it was time for Elmander to fulfil the role for which he had been brought to the club. "We haven't got the resources that some other clubs have got and that's why we couldn't hang on to Nicolas Anelka, never mind going to get another one," said Megson. "But we have got Johan Elmander, a lot of resources were put in on him. "I said before Saturday that I don't want to put undue pressure on him, but he's got to start scoring goals - that's what he's here for. "I don't think there can be any more pressure on him, because everybody from the outside is starting to look at the fact that he's doing a lot of good things, but he isn't getting goals. "He's got to start stepping up to the plate - (that feeling) is happening from the inside too. Pressure exists in every walk of life." Megson said that for someone to play the part Anelka did at the Reebok Stadium would completely change the club's fortunes. "We had the best finisher in the country in my view in Nicolas Anelka 18 months ago," Megson said. "When he was here, the fact that he was the finisher that he is just completely transformed the football club. I feel that's what we need now. "Whether that person exists here and isn't doing it yet or we need to bring someone in remains to be seen. Nicolas Anelka played for Bolton, he went down there (to Chelsea) and becomes the Golden Boot winner. "Chelsea are very fortunate to have him. It's a fact of life that if you've got strikers as good as that, then it's going to completely change your club." Bolton currently only have two recognised strikers, and the manager acknowledged that scoring was a problem throughout the team. He continued: "Kevin Davies scored 12 last year, but he hasn't scored this year yet and he's got to do it. Matthew Taylor too - goals have got to come from midfield. "We're in a position where everybody realises that Saturday was a really good performance from ourselves, every stat we're up on. "But we've lost, and what we've got to do is try to replicate that each and every time we play, and the stat we have to improve on is with the amount of chances we're having on goal, we have to start registering." Before returning to Premier League action by hosting Liverpool on Saturday, Bolton must first deal with the Reds' Merseyside neighbours Tranmere, and Megson admitted that the game held the potential for an upset. He said: "It's a difficult one for us, being away from home. "We haven't set the season off well in terms of points, so people will be looking at this and thinking it's a banana skin for us, as we will ourselves. "But the important thing is that we get through to the next round." Bolton 5/6, Draw 12/5, Tranmere 11/4  

Source: Team_Talk