The headache that can be the January transfer window

During Neil Lennon’s opening few months at Bolton Wanderers, the chances are you’d only ever see the former Celtic boss with a smile on his face; he has been relishing his new job since day one. But, in recent weeks, you get the feeling that he is beginning to become frustrated.

It’s not hard to work out why: the January transfer window. So far, Lennon hasn’t been able to bring a single player to the club. He’s known since he took charge that his squad is thin in particular positions, but he would have hoped to have been able to bring in reinforcements once the window opened.

Since Lennon came in, Wanderers’ defence has been much-improved and steady, but the attack is the problem.

Neil Danns, Darren Pratley and Liam Feeney have all been solid in the midfield, but there is a lack of creativity in the side. All of the previously mentioned players work tirelessly and are in decent form, but they don’t always create what is sometimes required going forward. Lee Chung-Yong is away on international duty with South Korea, although he has returned early due to an injury he picked up during a match, and the Whites may have to adjust to life without the 26-year-old for a longer period, as his contract ends at the end of the season and it’s likely he could leave the club during this transfer window. Meanwhile, Wanderers’ injury list of attacking players has increased further recently. Add Zach Clough, who stole the headlines after scoring the winner against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fourth round on his debut for the club, to the likes of Max Clayton and Mark Davies. Emile Heskey and Eidur Gudjohnsen, both 36, who Lennon signed on short-term contracts and would have ideally been used as impact players, have found themselves playing for the 90 minutes on occasions. Though Craig Davies has now returned from injury, he still needs support and a striker has to be on Lennon’s wishlist.

Wanderers’ 1-1 draw with Leeds at the Macron Stadium will have highlighted to Lennon that additions are needed – quickly – as the lack of depth, with a number of players not having had a rest for a long period, and struggle to create were there to see. Despite that, Bolton did pick up an impressive 2-1 away victory at in-form Sheffield Wednesday earlier today – a sign of what Lennon can get out of his team even with a thread bare squad.

Darren Pratley scores what proves to be Wanderers’ winner against Sheffield Wednesday. Source: Bolton Wanderers FC

Lennon has serious ambitions of making a late surge for the play-offs this season, but additions are needed if that is to happen. The 43-year-old has been close to sealing a number of deals in the window so far, but none have been finalised to date.

Bolton have been strongly linked with Kris Commons, who played under Lennon at Celtic, but there are a number of factors that have stalled that potential move to date. Celtic have offered Commons a new one-year deal, but the attacking midfielder is holding out for a longer contract offer. Plus, he doesn’t come cheap, and Bolton don’t have a big budget – if any – to spend on players. However, there have been reports in Scotland that Commons played his last game for Celtic against Hamilton earlier today, signalling that he could be on his way out of the club. There is no doubting that Commons would be a big coup for Wanderers.

Kris Commons: a target for Wanderers. Source: Sky Sports

Jay Spearing is set to join Watford on loan until the end of the season, with a player possibly heading the other way to Bolton – also on a loan deal. Lennon was reportedly in for Diego Fabbrini, but he has opted to join relegation threatened Millwall instead on a three-month loan. Now, it emerges that Lloyd Dyer could be on his way to the Macron from Watford. Lewis Baker preferred Sheffield Wednesday to Bolton, after he joined the Yorkshire club on loan until the end of the season from Chelsea.

Wanderers showed interest in Watford’s Diego Fabbrini, but he recently joined Millwall on loan until the end of the season. Source: The Bolton News

Indeed, transfers are often left until last minute in the window, but Bolton need to start their activity sooner rather than later. It’s clear that it’s not through the lack of trying, but there are a real lack of options at the minute. That one creative midfielder could well be the difference; there’s some big games coming up for Wanderers in that push for the play-offs.

How much can Bolton actually achieve this season under Neil Lennon?

Following Friday night’s 1-0 victory over Millwall at The Den, Bolton have now gone on a run of seven games unbeaten.

But how much can Bolton actually achieve this season under Neil Lennon?

I’ve previously mentioned on this blog that a striker should be the priority for Wanderers in the January transfer window, and if they bring in a decent striker who can bag at least ten goals from January until the end of the season, there is a realistic chance of them making it to the play-offs.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that you need a goal-scorer if you want to be successful. When you look at the clubs at the top end of the Championship table, there’s players chipping in with a lot of goals. Bournemouth, who have scored the most goals in the whole of the Football League, have five players who have scored more goals than Bolton’s joint top goal-scorers, Joe Mason and Craig Davies (four goals). Meanwhile, all of the other clubs that are currently occupying the automatic promotion or play-off places have a striker scoring nine or more goals. Clubs that have been promoted to the Premier League in the past have had a striker scoring well over 15 goals and, on occasions, into the 20s.

After starting to find some form, it was unfortunate that Craig Davies picked up an injury, although he could be back for the Boxing Day clash with local rivals Blackburn Rovers. With a bit of luck, Davies will pick up where he left off. He has shown in his time at Barnsley that he can find the back of the net and I believe that he can finish on a good tally in the 2014/15 season with Wanderers. But Bolton still need someone else. You want more than one striker hitting ten goals. It’s a long old season – 46-games long to be precise.

Max Clayton looked as though he would be an important player for Bolton for the remainder of the season, but he will now be out for around six months after having surgery on a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, which he picked up during the 0-0 draw with Ispwich at Macron Stadium.

The addition of Eidur Gudjohnsen, who started his first game for the Whites against Millwall, is a good move; he’s an experienced player, he was a free agent and he is certainly worth a try. Then, you have Emile Heskey, another player who is currently on trial with Bolton. Whether he will sign with the club or not, we will soon find out. There you have two players with vast experience at the highest level. Are they what is needed? It’s not easy to tell. Experience in the Championship itself can often prove to be more important than experience higher up, especially when you’re near the end of your career. It’s one of the toughest leagues in the world and a player who knows it inside out can be extremely valuable.

Emile Heskey playing for Bolton Wanderers’ U21 side while on trial with the club, looking to secure a contract. Source: Bolton Wanderers FC

Eidur Gudjohnsen started his first Wanderers game against Millwall. Source: Bolton Wanderers FC

One of the main issues that Bolton will face soon is life without Lee Chung-Yong for around a month. After all, strikers can’t do their work if they don’t have the service. The South Korean international has been in fantastic form of late and will be sorely missed when he is on duty for his country. Neil Lennon has previously alluded to the fact that he had too many midfielders to work with in the squad he inherited, so hopefully some of those players will step up in Lee’s absence. Admittedly, he has been of a different class in his more central role since Lennon arrived, though.

Lee Chung-Yong in action at Millwall. Source: Bolton Wanderers FC

Bolton have shown in the recent win at Millwall that they can grind out results even when they’re short of a striker or two. Neil Lennon has got the squad hungry and the improvement since the former Celtic boss took over has been quite significant. But, as I’ve previously talked about, he needs that striker. It would be great if he was given a bit of money to spend in the transfer window, but that is unlikely due to the financial losses Wanderers have made in recent years. There’s 12 points to make up to earn a play-off places with 24 games to go. We’re not even halfway through the season yet. People talk about the ‘honeymoon period’ when new managers come in; this isn’t one of them. Lennon’s been in charge for 11 games now. Since his arrival, Bolton are 21 points and seven places in the table better off. Some may say that Bolton fans are getting carried away now that Lennon is in charge, but a play-off place is far more realistic than hopeful given the current revival.