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Adam Le Fondre reckons Wanderers should adopt a safety-first policy in the Championship this season.
The striker has high hopes problems can be avoided after Phil Parkinson kept together the vast majority of his promotion-winning squad. But the summer signing is realistic about the step up in class from League One and believes the immediate aim should be staying out of the bottom three.
“Bolton is still a big club at this level, looking at the stadium and everything else, and they have already set the benchmark as a Premier League club,” he told The Bolton News.
“But you have to be realistic and say the first thing we need to be is safe this season, and then look to push on from there.”
Last season 13 players were signed worth £7million of more in the Championship and with more big budgets falling into the league in Sunderland, Hull City and Middlesbrough, the forecast is for even heavier spending this time around.
Le Fondre is confident Parkinson will strengthen where necessary but thinks Wanderers have a head start on some of their bigger-spending rivals.
“You look at Aston Villa, and there are some fantastic players in their squad, but it didn’t really work for them last season,” he said.
“You have to have a dressing room spirit. Just collecting good players isn’t enough.
“We will stick together at Bolton. I do think we need more quality because I know it is a big step up from League One and I know the manager recognises that too.
“We have got experienced players. It is an advantage we’ve been promoted together and there is a togetherness in the club.”
Le Fondre feels he can get goals for Wanderers this season but the 30-year-old appreciates his all-round game has also had to improve.
“I realised when I was at Reading that being a goal-scorer is not enough,” the striker said. “That period of my career raised my game ten-fold.
“Maybe when I was younger I took it for granted. I scored goals, I always have, but maybe it papered over the cracks a bit in my game.”
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The striker has high hopes problems can be avoided after Phil Parkinson kept together the vast majority of his promotion-winning squad. But the summer signing is realistic about the step up in class from League One and believes the immediate aim should be staying out of the bottom three.
“Bolton is still a big club at this level, looking at the stadium and everything else, and they have already set the benchmark as a Premier League club,” he told The Bolton News.
“But you have to be realistic and say the first thing we need to be is safe this season, and then look to push on from there.”
Last season 13 players were signed worth £7million of more in the Championship and with more big budgets falling into the league in Sunderland, Hull City and Middlesbrough, the forecast is for even heavier spending this time around.
Le Fondre is confident Parkinson will strengthen where necessary but thinks Wanderers have a head start on some of their bigger-spending rivals.
“You look at Aston Villa, and there are some fantastic players in their squad, but it didn’t really work for them last season,” he said.
“You have to have a dressing room spirit. Just collecting good players isn’t enough.
“We will stick together at Bolton. I do think we need more quality because I know it is a big step up from League One and I know the manager recognises that too.
“We have got experienced players. It is an advantage we’ve been promoted together and there is a togetherness in the club.”
Le Fondre feels he can get goals for Wanderers this season but the 30-year-old appreciates his all-round game has also had to improve.
“I realised when I was at Reading that being a goal-scorer is not enough,” the striker said. “That period of my career raised my game ten-fold.
“Maybe when I was younger I took it for granted. I scored goals, I always have, but maybe it papered over the cracks a bit in my game.”
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