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ADAM Le Fondre can do no wrong in the eyes of Bolton Wanderers’ fans – but he’s well aware that the opinion may differ on the home terraces at Cardiff City tonight.
After a goal-laden spell at Reading, the striker made a move to South Wales in 2014 in a deal worth £3million. But by his own admission, the move turned into a full-fledged nightmare.
Just three goals in 25 appearances saw him loaned out to Wanderers by the end of his first season.
When financial problems made a permanent return to Bolton impossible, Le Fondre tried to salvage his Championship credentials at Wolves and Wigan Athletic to no avail.
In the end, a heavily-subsidised loan to Bolton – then in League One – enabled him to see out the remaining days of his Bluebirds contract and finally seal a two-year deal in the North West.
Le Fondre boasts the kind of confidence which comes with a career spent scoring goals yet he remains at a loss to explain why his shooting boots failed to join him at Cardiff.
But with the hope his wonder-goal against Fulham on Saturday may have reignited his third spell with Bolton, the 31-year-old heads back to his former club aiming to make sure he is the only striker grabbing the headlines on the evening.
“I’m sure it won’t be a fond reunion,” he told The Bolton News ahead of tonight’s clash. “Well, at least not for them. I didn’t do too well down there and I don’t know why.
“I’ve chalked it up to experience, it happens, but I’m hoping I can go down there and get a start and a goal.
“They must think ‘what a waste of money’ because it just didn’t happen.
“So I want to go down there and prove a few people wrong, get a result, make sure we carry on pushing up the table.”
Wanderers could climb above another one of Le Fondre’s old haunts, Reading, with victory tonight.
What once looked like a four-way fight to avoid the three relegation positions has now broadened, with anyone as high as QPR in 15th still looking nervously over their shoulders.
Le Fondre has his sights on reeling in the teams above. Wanderers’ improved form since September is illustrated by the fact they would be sitting 11th in the table had the Championship started on October 1.
“We have got to look up the table because we’re in the position we wanted to be in. There are definitely teams who’d trade,” Le Fondre said.
“We have to keep pushing, try and drag a few other teams in there, and hopefully we’ll edge up the league.
“We’ve proved at home we’re a match for anyone. Our record stands up to most teams in the league. Obviously we have to try and match that away but we’ll just keep pushing on and take every point on offer.”
Le Fondre also has his own personal battle to get a regular starting spot at Wanderers – a task made easier by the fact Gary Madine will be lining up in opposition colours tonight.
His goal against Fulham has been touted as one of the best since the Premier League era ended. Now the striker wants to prove there are more where that came from.
“My only target is to play,” he said. “Anyone who knows me knows I don’t like watching games.
“I am a goalscorer. I want to score goals and affect games.
“When I came here first time I came to score goals, and I did.
“I signed permanently because I think – no, I know – I can do it in the Championship.”
Le Fondre is not alone, and a small group of players are now knocking loudly on Phil Parkinson’s door looking to get a starting spot.
“I think we’ve got strength in depth,” he said. “Jem Karacan has been brilliant in training and doesn’t make the bench, Craig Noone is one of the best trainers I know and he’s been in and out.
“It’s tough. But we have got good players who can come into this squad. There have been spells where we have all been out, under-used, and we’re all champing at the bit. We all want to fight for Bolton.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/15990094.Le_Fondre__Cardiff_fans_must_think__what_a_waste_of_money_____But_I_ll_prove_them_wrong/
After a goal-laden spell at Reading, the striker made a move to South Wales in 2014 in a deal worth £3million. But by his own admission, the move turned into a full-fledged nightmare.
Just three goals in 25 appearances saw him loaned out to Wanderers by the end of his first season.
When financial problems made a permanent return to Bolton impossible, Le Fondre tried to salvage his Championship credentials at Wolves and Wigan Athletic to no avail.
In the end, a heavily-subsidised loan to Bolton – then in League One – enabled him to see out the remaining days of his Bluebirds contract and finally seal a two-year deal in the North West.
Le Fondre boasts the kind of confidence which comes with a career spent scoring goals yet he remains at a loss to explain why his shooting boots failed to join him at Cardiff.
But with the hope his wonder-goal against Fulham on Saturday may have reignited his third spell with Bolton, the 31-year-old heads back to his former club aiming to make sure he is the only striker grabbing the headlines on the evening.
“I’m sure it won’t be a fond reunion,” he told The Bolton News ahead of tonight’s clash. “Well, at least not for them. I didn’t do too well down there and I don’t know why.
“I’ve chalked it up to experience, it happens, but I’m hoping I can go down there and get a start and a goal.
“They must think ‘what a waste of money’ because it just didn’t happen.
“So I want to go down there and prove a few people wrong, get a result, make sure we carry on pushing up the table.”
Wanderers could climb above another one of Le Fondre’s old haunts, Reading, with victory tonight.
What once looked like a four-way fight to avoid the three relegation positions has now broadened, with anyone as high as QPR in 15th still looking nervously over their shoulders.
Le Fondre has his sights on reeling in the teams above. Wanderers’ improved form since September is illustrated by the fact they would be sitting 11th in the table had the Championship started on October 1.
“We have got to look up the table because we’re in the position we wanted to be in. There are definitely teams who’d trade,” Le Fondre said.
“We have to keep pushing, try and drag a few other teams in there, and hopefully we’ll edge up the league.
“We’ve proved at home we’re a match for anyone. Our record stands up to most teams in the league. Obviously we have to try and match that away but we’ll just keep pushing on and take every point on offer.”
Le Fondre also has his own personal battle to get a regular starting spot at Wanderers – a task made easier by the fact Gary Madine will be lining up in opposition colours tonight.
His goal against Fulham has been touted as one of the best since the Premier League era ended. Now the striker wants to prove there are more where that came from.
“My only target is to play,” he said. “Anyone who knows me knows I don’t like watching games.
“I am a goalscorer. I want to score goals and affect games.
“When I came here first time I came to score goals, and I did.
“I signed permanently because I think – no, I know – I can do it in the Championship.”
Le Fondre is not alone, and a small group of players are now knocking loudly on Phil Parkinson’s door looking to get a starting spot.
“I think we’ve got strength in depth,” he said. “Jem Karacan has been brilliant in training and doesn’t make the bench, Craig Noone is one of the best trainers I know and he’s been in and out.
“It’s tough. But we have got good players who can come into this squad. There have been spells where we have all been out, under-used, and we’re all champing at the bit. We all want to fight for Bolton.”
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/15990094.Le_Fondre__Cardiff_fans_must_think__what_a_waste_of_money_____But_I_ll_prove_them_wrong/
