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...It must be a pretty stupid question.
Seriously, I don't see why on earth we would buy Zamora, and thankfully, that rumor has started to fade away. To be honest, I don't think we should buy a forward this month. Now, I am not an idiot, if a Daniel Sturridge type is available, I will be thrilled and thankful. But this is unlikely, especially at the prices Bolton are willing to pay.
Ivan Klasnic has 7 goals, and he has shown throughout his entire career that, when given the opportunity, he will score goals. David Ngog, in my opinion, is the ideal partner for Klasnic. He is mobile, he has some pace, he does a lot of running, and he is a decent passer. There have been signs in the last few games of the two developing a very useful partnership. On top of that, I really think that Ngog is a confidence player. Many strikers are, especially young ones. If he gets a goal or two, followed by a run of starts, he will play well, and he will score a lot more goals. In fact, I am going to make a bold prediction. As long as we don't sign another striker, I think Ngog will have a Sturridge-like second half, and finish the season with 10 goals.
So, no new strikers. But we need something new! 3, 2, 1, JUMP!
We need a new American! Well, maybe not, but we look likely to get one. Tim Ream, central defender for the New York Red Bulls, has supposedly all but signed for Bolton. The price seems reasonable, let's hope we've got a good one. But I think he is one for the future. Over the next few months he will do little more than provide depth in case Zatyiah Knight or David Wheater get injured. That said, Ream will be it as far as defensive reinforcements go. Sam Ricketts is back. Marcos Alonso is almost back. Tyrone Mears is almost back. And Dedryck Boyata, regardless of what the Bolton Twitterverse thinks of his abilities, is staying at the Reebok for the rest of the season. Truth is, we don't have room on the 25-man roster for any more defenders.
That leaves the midfield. Do we need help in the midfield? That would be a hell to the yes. Let's get one thing out of the way. Chung-Yong Lee and Stuart Holden are not going to ride to our rescue on white stallions in shining suits of armor. That's just not going to happen.
Our two most creative midfielders are out for the season. It's no surprise that our midfield lacks creativity. Mark Davies is young, and shows flashes of filling that roll, but he needs more experience. He also doesn't have the technical ability of Lee or Holden. Martin Petrov has perked up of late, and had some good matches. However, he is the type of player that needs service from his central midfielders. Tuncay could provide some impetus as an attacking presence in the center of the pitch, but given our defensive frailties, we can't afford to start him most weeks. And our pal Darren Pratley? Same problem as Tuncay, along with less technical ability.
The question is, who can we bring in? Junior Hoilett is not coming. I don't blame him. He can finish the season at Blackburn or go to a club where he might win something. But to leave one relegation battle for another just down the road doesn't make a lot of sense. Juan Manuel Iturbe was never going to happen either. I love Owen Coyle for trying though.
Josh McEachran is going to Swansea. Albert Adomah is a winger at Bristol City that we were rumored to be looking at, but he looks likely to join Fulham. In fact, the only interesting name linked to Bolton I have seen so far is Apoño, a Spanish midfielder who was an integral part of Malaga's promotion and survival the past few seasons. Earlier this season he had a falling out withthe club's manager, Manuel Pelligrini, and Apono has been told he can find a new club. He's only 27, and we have had some luck with creative Spanish midfielders in the recent past.
Owen Coyle has also been known to unearth a gem or two, often under the radar and outside of the transfer talk columns in the tabloids. Let's hope he does it again. Because if Apono is all we get, and he turns out to be more Mikel Alonso than Ivan Campo, we could be in trouble.