Nicolas Anelka believes Bolton are showing the style to go
with their steel as they bid for European football. The France
striker is reaping the benefits and aims to improve his nine-goal
tally against Fulham in the Barclays Premiership on
Sunday.
He said: "We have succeeded in combining a long game with a short
game. "Before it was just a long game. We are playing better on the
ball." Anelka, who turned out for his country in midweek, is
anxious to continue his good form after scoring the only goal in
the victory at Watford last weekend.
"We play 4-5-1 at Bolton and I am the lone striker, even if it
isn't a role I prefer," he told L'Equipe. "Scoring my first goal in
the Premiership triggered me off. "Now the goals are coming because
the confidence is there. "Confidence is the key to any goalscorer.
When you score, you try more things."
Bolton trained on their new pitch for the first time on Friday and
manager Sam Allardyce said: "It has been laid very professionally.
"It looks a lot better than before. That will give the players
confidence to go out and do more with the ball. "It should create a
better game and hopefully help bring us a much-needed
victory."
Meanwhile, Bolton have secured the services of two foreign players
for the start of next season. FC Zurich's Switzerland midfielder
Blerim Dzemaili, 20, and Bordeaux centre-half Gerald Cid, 23, have
both drawn up pre-contract agreements with the club and will join
them in the summer.