MATT Taylor believes Wanderers fans will see a different Johan Elmander next season.
The club’s record signing suffered a disappointing first campaign in English football following his £8.2million move from Toulouse, managing just five goals and failed to score in 2009.
But Taylor has backed the Swedish striker to come out firing next term and silence his critics. “The best of him is still to come,” said the Reebok midfielder.
“Next season will be the defining one if he can pick it up – and I see him in training every day and I’m sure he can.
“He’ll work hard in the summer and will come back as fit and as strong as anyone and it will give me as much pleasure as him to see him prove everyone wrong and shut everyone up.”
Elmander struck 22 times in 66 games for Toulouse in France before joining Wanderers — and had an even better goal-scoring record at Danish club Brondby — but has flopped in front of goal in his first Premiership season.
Taylor admits the 28-year-old hitman has struggled since moving to the Reebok. But he feels it has taken Elmander time to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League, a new environment and different style of play - and is convinced he will come good.
“It must be difficult to move from a different country and culture and come over here,” Taylor said. “That’s not making any excuses for him because he’s a striker who wants to score goals and he’s as hard on himself as anybody.
“Johan has had to adapt his game slightly and probably made sacrifices in what he does for himself and what he does for the team.
“But that’s the way we play and if he wants to play for our team that’s what he has to do because we have a fantastic work ethic and Johan has understood that now.
“It hasn’t quite happened for him yet but he’s a good finisher and in training he puts it away.” (
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/wanderers/wanderersnews/4434074.Matt_Taylor_backs_Johan_Elmander_to_answer_critics/)
Hopefully next season we will play him in his correct position when we get some creative players into the club then he will get more chances to score and he will have some decent service to him.
