THERE are exactly 101 reasons why nobody around the Reebok Stadium can stop talking about Nicolas Anelka.
The Frenchman passed the century mark in English football with two sublimely taken goals against Birmingham to raise his already sky-high stock yet further.
His manager claims he is "sick to death" with continuing speculation linking Anelka with a move away from the club - and reiterated the fact that no manager had yet lodged a bid.
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But the tabloid conjecture merely mirrors the form which the striker is currently in. And that can only be a good thing for Wanderers.
Aptly for the festive season, all three second-half goals were gifted to Wanderers by a Birmingham side seemingly intent on spoiling new manager Alex McLeish's Christmas.
Anelka's partner in crime, El-Hadji Diouf, also the subject of rumours placing his name elsewhere in January, claimed his third goal of the season and Kevin Nolan had a perfectly legitimate goal ruled out for offside.
It was a scoreline, if not a performance, which will turn heads in the Premiership and gives Wanderers a healthy three-point advantage over the bottom three heading into the Boxing Day clash with Everton at Goodison Park.
By then, the man who can now boast 101 goals for Bolton, Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal, could be clear of Manchester United's Ronaldo at the top of the Premiership scoring charts where he already lies halfway to the magical 20 mark last reached by a Bolton player in the league by Michael Ricketts.
Megson admitted if he were in charge at another Premiership club, the two strikers who condemned Birmingham to defeat would be top of his shopping list. But he restated his desire to keep hold of the pair long after the January sales are over.
"We'd like to keep all our players," Megson said. "There is no price to discuss because no one has contacted me or the board about them.
"We're in the market to bring players to our football club and I'm sure everyone else is exactly the same. If I was elsewhere, I'd be looking at Anelka and Diouffy, along with a couple of the others.
"But until such time as there is a bid, to discuss it is pure speculation."
Anelka was in business as early as the fifth minute on Saturday as he brought a reaction save out of Maik Taylor, who then did well to scoop the ball away from the loitering Nolan.
The game quickly lost its quality, though, and though the Reebok crowd did their best to create an atmosphere, there was little to warm the cockles on a cold afternoon.
Birmingham's best chance of the game arrived on 36 minutes. Hitting on the break, Gary McSheffrey slid an inviting ball across the six-yard box towards Cameron Jermone, but Ricardo Gardner did well to make up ground and shepherd the ball to safety.
Wanderers had a decent penalty appeal turned down just before the break when Andy O'Brien helped on Nicky Hunt's cross, which appeared to strike Rafael Schmitz on the arm.
The dearth of ingenuity continued into the second half, though Jussi Jaaskelainen had to be on guard to palm away a wild clearance from Hunt on a rare Birmingham foray.
A single goal looked like winning it - and Nolan thought he had it when Diouf's free-kick eluded Davies and Schmitz and landed invitingly for him to stab home at the far post.
Referee Chris Foy, on advice from his linesman, disagreed, but the disappointment was only temporary as the visitors' generosity had only just begun.
Anelka cut in from the left five minutes later, and though his cross bounced up off Fabrice Muamba's boot, Stephen Kelly's comedic attempted clearance gave Diouf the simple task of composing himself and placing the ball into the net.
From there, Wanderers relaxed into their game and Birmingham became even more charitable.
Johan Djourou might well have been thinking about starting his Christmas shopping when he threw an aimless ball at keeper, Taylor.
Anelka was on it in a flash, dancing around the Northern Irishman before stroking home his 100th goal in English football.
To make it a hat-trick, Cameron Jerome got in on the act with a wasteful ball in midfield which allowed Nolan the freedom of the Reebok to play the ball through the middle for Anelka to rifle in his second of the game.
Posted by: Simon, Kearsley on 8:47am Mon 24 Dec 07
Lets all hope Nicolas Anelka stays, but if he is sold then anything less than 15 million for one of the worlds best strikers in his prime would be ridiculous.
Lets all hope Nicolas Anelka stays, but if he is sold then anything less than 15 million for one of the worlds best strikers in his prime would be ridiculous.
Posted by: jp cotton, heywood on 10:41am Mon 24 Dec 07
I did risk my doubts about Nics attitude pre and early season but if he wants to stay he must be given the support by the signing of good quality players to support him and the rest of the squad we do have a few players who we can release as soon as quality players are brought in. If Anelka leaves for at least 12 million we must bringa couple of top quality forwards in which is a very difficult task for all concerned ask Fergy and the big bore at City. I would like to see Bolton having enough clout to attract bigger name players not for the name but for the quality.
I did risk my doubts about Nics attitude pre and early season but if he wants to stay he must be given the support by the signing of good quality players to support him and the rest of the squad we do have a few players who we can release as soon as quality players are brought in. If Anelka leaves for at least 12 million we must bringa couple of top quality forwards in which is a very difficult task for all concerned ask Fergy and the big bore at City. I would like to see Bolton having enough clout to attract bigger name players not for the name but for the quality.
agree! anything less and the figures just don't compute, you have to look at the cost of him not being there to understand what he is worth
I'd say £18,000,000
when you see it written down you realize how crazy the whole thing has become for example a million quid in cash takes up a full pallet so to move that amount of money you realistically need to get a fork lift.
agree! anything less and the figures just don't compute, you have to look at the cost of him not being there to understand what he is worth
I'd say £18,000,000
when you see it written down you realize how crazy the whole thing has become for example a million quid in cash takes up a full pallet so to move that amount of money you realistically need to get a fork lift.
Nic should not be sold at ANY price our survival in the Prem and new signings depend on players of his stature. You see how many empty seats Gartside has created now with his remarks about 'fickle' fans - sell Nic and then see what happens, by remaining in this division the money the club would recieve will be far better than the 'profit' they would make on selling one of the best players ever to wear the shirt, ST ticket sales next season without the board showing commitment now will be down around 8k.
Nic should not be sold at ANY price our survival in the Prem and new signings depend on players of his stature. You see how many empty seats Gartside has created now with his remarks about 'fickle' fans - sell Nic and then see what happens, by remaining in this division the money the club would recieve will be far better than the 'profit' they would make on selling one of the best players ever to wear the shirt, ST ticket sales next season without the board showing commitment now will be down around 8k.
Posted by: John Tread, East Lancs on 1:08pm Mon 24 Dec 07
have i misunderstood or does the contract that he signed in september not mean that it is up to the club and not him whether he leaves or not?
if so we should just stop talking about it.
have i misunderstood or does the contract that he signed in september not mean that it is up to the club and not him whether he leaves or not?
Posted by: Right said, Stockport on 7:15pm Mon 24 Dec 07
I feel if Bolton do decide to sell Anelka ? Gary Megson will not get the proceeds. Gartside had the position to invest last season when we were well placed for a top four finish! Did he invest then or at the start of this season? We all know the answer to that!The fans might be fickle no wonder with a w##### like Gartside running the club! Anyway a Merry xmas and a fantastic New year to all you Wanderers fans . Come on you Whites!
I feel if Bolton do decide to sell Anelka ? Gary Megson will not get the proceeds. Gartside had the position to invest last season when we were well placed for a top four finish! Did he invest then or at the start of this season? We all know the answer to that!The fans might be fickle no wonder with a w##### like Gartside running the club! Anyway a Merry xmas and a fantastic New year to all you Wanderers fans . Come on you Whites!
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