Bolton Smash Transfer Deadline Day

Bolton Wanderers had a very busy Deadline Day, bringing in five players, and the departure of three players.

Four of the signings were all announced in one fell swoop. There was one permanent deal, with Ben Alnwick joing from Peterborough on a two year contract. Keshi Anderson has signed from Crystal Palace on a season-long loan, as has Rotherham defender Tom Thorpe, while wingers James Henry and Sammy Ameobi have joined from Wolves and Newcastle respectively on half-season loans,

Kaiyne Woolery has joined Wigan on a permanent deal, while Conor Wilkinson and Tom Walker have gone out to Chesterfield and Bury on loan.

Quite frankly, the club has played a blinder. We now have two goalkeepers again, Alnwick will provide good competition for Mark Howard. He is strong at this level but apparently can be weak at coming for crosses. Henry shouldn’t be playing at this level but the amount of players Wolves have bought of late would have limited his opportunities at Molineux, Anderson did get three goals in seven at Doncaster last season before breaking his leg, while Sammy Ameobi could be very useful in League One. Thorpe probably isn’t quite as exciting, to be blunt, but it’s back up while Dorian Dervite remains injured and means four centre backs.

We also have two players in every position now, and Phil Parkinson can change his system if needed. While the diamond has worked well, it was a formation he has been somewhat forced into.

Part of me is sad to see Kaiyne Woolery go, he has pace in abundance, but he hasn’t broke through in a way Zach Clough or Rob Holding have. I would have kept him, but it’s difficult to know the dynamics, and who we had to move on to do deals.

Walker and Wilkinson need loans. In the former’s case, it’s a chance to breathe some impetus into his career. He’s been around the first team for at least 18 months but has never really set the world alight.

Wilkinson has done okay when coming on this season. Games and starts in the same league as us may make him a very useful weapon after Christmas.

Phil Parkinson wanted to come into the training ground on Thursday morning and have a better squad, few would argue that hasn’t happened.

Now let’s get back into the Championship.