Steven Schumacher is making an exciting Bolton Wanderers change – It’s something Ian Evatt failed to do | OneFootball

Bolton Wanderers boss Steven Schumacher is getting his own way with transfer business.

Bolton Wanderers have been extremely busy in this summer’s transfer window, with the Trotters looking to rebuild and finally get themselves out of League One next season.

Senior players, such as former captain Ricardo Santos, vice-captain Gethin Jones and goalkeeper Nathan Baxter, departed the club at the end of their contracts, whilst as many as seven players have already arrived at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

The two latest additions, Thierry Gale for an undisclosed fee from Rapid Vienna and Amario Cozier-Duberry on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, are both options that Bolton have never sought in previous windows: they are both wingers.

Ian Evatt discussed his desire for a ‘Plan B’ last summer but that saw Bolton make only the slightest change and the inability to adapt eventually saw him depart mid-way through last season as one of the pre-season title favourites dropped into mid-table.

Steven Schumacher has discussed his desire to recruit to a different shape and that is exactly what is happening as the former Plymouth Argyle and Stoke City boss gets his way.

Bolton are finally identifying their weaknesses

Rather than just stockpiling players in positions where Bolton were already blessed because there would be no veering away from the three-at-the-back system, Wanderers are now identifying where they are weakest and filling the gaps.

Schumacher had a squad with no real out and out wingers this summer, such was Evatt and former Director of Football Chris Markham’s desire for wing-backs and number tens.

Carlos Mendes Gomes and Szabolcs Schon can play in those roles, but they haven’t and didn’t under Evatt, whilst Cozier-Duberry and Gale have arrived to supplement the signing of Charlie Warren from Felixstowe and Walton United about a month or so ago.

Schumacher switched to a 4-2-3-1 system for much of the second-half of last year, but it didn’t work and that is because it couldn’t work with the players available to him.

Now, as he prepares to take his squad to Marbella for their first pre-season friendly of the summer against South African giants the Orlando Pirates, Schumacher is building a squad that is capable of playing the way he wants to play.

Schumacher is getting his way

Schumacher had warned supporters that there may well not be a massive clear out and rejuvenation of the squad because so many players are under contract for this season.

However, he has been able to still wheel and deal with Aaron Collins, who was last season’s top scorer, moving to Milton Keynes Dons, whilst Luke Southwood has joined Bristol Rovers.

There is an expectation that the departures will not end there, either, with club captain George Thomason now being linked with a move to Huddersfield Town.

A move for Norrkoping midfielder Jesper Ceesay appears to be edging closer, whilst a back-up goalkeeper is wanted to replace Southwood and former Wigan Athletic man Jamie Jones is on trial.

As per The Bolton News, Wanderers also want to add a striker, having had a bid rejected by Celtic for Johnny Kenny, as well as a left-back; which would see the arrival of an actual out and out left-back for the first time in nearly half a decade.

Last season ended poorly for Bolton, but there were mitigating circumstances and the biggest being the fact the squad had been so poorly constructed.

The squad is now beginning to shape up as though it makes sense again, at least on paper, and, at least on paper, it should excite Bolton supporters that Schumacher is getting his way and making the changes that he wanted to make.