Liam's thoughts on another week

Another week has passed us by and our squad continues to look threadbare at best as Neil Lennon's reported transfer targets continue to pass the Wanderers by. Rotherham duo Ben Pringle and Craig Morgan have signed for Fulham and, incredibly, Wigan Athletic respectively. Whilst Bolton continue to be linked with players across the continent, the fact remains that only 14 senior players remain on the books.

It is always difficult to earmark potential targets at this level but there are one or two that seem more likely than others and I will look into those a little deeper.

Adam Bogdan completed his move to Liverpool and Andy Lonergan was today announced as a signing for Fulham, leaving two voids in the vital position of goalkeeper. Last season's loanee Ben Amos has reportedly agreed to join as Bolton Wanderers' number one and everyone, myself included seems happy with that but that does leave space for one more goalkeeper.

There are quite a lot to choose from the released groups alone particularly experienced goalkeepers which may be more of an appeal for Lennon and the Bolton management as despite Amos' talent, his first team opportunities have so far been limited in his career so some experience would be valuable.

There is one candidate that stands out and it is former goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. I try and be as balanced as I can with my pieces but it is hard to find some real reasons not to turn to the former Finnish international. He still resides in the area and his promising goalkeeper son continues to progress through the youth ranks at the club. It goes without saying that Jaaskelainenknows the club inside out and his influence should have a massive effect not only over Amos, but all young goalkeepers at the club.

The only stumbling block could be wages, which is the reason he left the club in the first place as Bolton would not continue to pay his considerable pay packet after losing his place as number one to Adam Bogdan. Hopefully some common ground can be found here in what is clearly a good move for both parties and if I am honest, I would expect this to happen.

Another position still left void is that of competition in the central defensive area as Matt Mills left the club on a free transfer. Alex Baptiste returns to the club after being successfully scapegoated by the previous regime. He did very well at Blackburn and it is widely understood that Lennon is keen to include Baptiste in next year's plans. Baptiste would likely slot into Right-back allowing Josh Vela to move into midfield.

So who can step in? For me the influence Paddy McCarthy had a real impact in the Bolton defence last year and I would love to see him installed there permanently or at least on loan for next season. If McCarthy was partnered with Dervite I think that would give real balance to the defence and would bring the best out of both players.

Of course for Bolton, McCarthy was not target number one as that was clearly Rotherham United captain Craig Morgan. Morgan seemed to have all but signed for Bolton until the deal seemed to collapse at the 11th hour and Morgan opted to sign for League One side Wigan Athletic. Morgan has since claimed the decision was not influenced by money as Wigan enter their final year of healthy parachute payments.

This made it harder for me to understand the move, if isn't money, then why? Of course it's money, if it isn't then Morgan is a fucking idiot and I wish him the best of luck although I doubt I'll hear how well he gets on as he trundles back into anonymity. Please don't confuse this as bitter, it simply is my take on a ludicrous career move, well done to his agent.