Elmander takes a swipe at Megson

Last updated : 12 October 2010 By Team Talk

The Sweden international has been banishing the blues of his first two seasons at The Reebok this time around, with four goals in seven league games for the Whites.

Elmander was viewed as one of the biggest flops in the division after Wanderers, then managed by Megson, shelled out over £10million to take the frontman off Toulouse's books back in 2008.

Revitalised under current tactician Owen Coyle, the 28-year-old feels he is benefiting whole-heartedly by the Irishman's approach to football.

And Elmander, speaking in the build-up to Sweden's European Championship qualifier against Holland at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, criticised the managing style favoured by Megson.

"It doesn't help to stare and scream at me," said the striker of Megson's full-on approach. "I got tired the more of it I heard.

"Coyle is a great coach, who I really enjoy working with.

"It's fantastic and great that I can play my game. As soon as he came to the club I started to play well, even though the goals didn't come right away."

Way back when he first arrived at Bolton, it was against Saturday's opponents Stoke that Elmander made a scoring debut.

But things have rarely been the same since, and the striker admits it is only now that he is feeling his natural instincts in front of goal return.

"I'm not thinking about things as much now," he said. "It has been a long time since I felt that way.

"I probably had the self-confidence when I came to Bolton, so it disappeared somewhere along the way, but now I've found it again. I have known all along that I am able to play at the level I'm at and now."

The burning question on Wanderers fans' lips right now is whether Elmander will reciprocate the faith shown in him by Coyle by sitting down to discuss a new deal in the near future.

But the Swede is currently reticent on that subject, with talks yet to commence.

"I have a year left on my contract and then we'll see what happens then," he added.

Source: Team Talk

Source: Team Talk