Prediction - Bolton Wanderers

Little Sammy has the weight of Big Sam on his shoulders. Turning a provincial club into consistent top half performers required a lot of skill and ingenuity as well as a big character. Big Sam's departure to Newcastle will definitely affect Bolton.

Little Sammy has continued Big Sam's eccentric transfer policy of bringing in failures to rehabilitate, and unknown foreigners to exploit, but has shied away from the Bolton Care Home signings of yesteryear, bringing the average age down. Losing Tal Ben Haim will create problems, and the squad has been trimmed of some wastage. Keeping Anelka and Diouf will give them the goals they need to survive, providing their mental rehabilitation at the hands of Big Sam isn't thwarted, though they might lose them before the transfer window closes. The likes of Gary Speed and Kevin Nolan are too canny to let Bolton go down without a fight, but if their potentially explosive dressing room does turn into a fight, even they may be helpless.

Chairman Phil Gartside will be expecting a good UEFA Cup run and pushing on to challenge the Big Four. Everyone else seems to be thinking that if they stay up it'll be a miracle. I'd put money on Paul Jewell being manager by the end of the season, probably keeping them up at the last minute. They will definitely struggle.

PREDICTION - 17th