Bolton got back from a relatively successful pre-season tour America but got a bit of a wakeup call when playing Oldham Athletic, the League 1 side coming out 3-0 winners at home with young striker Tom Eaves scoring all three goals.

Calm down, it’s not who you think. Bolton have signed 18 year old left back Marcos Alonso from Real Madrid for an undisclosed fee. The teenager is apparently quite talented but even Coyle admits he’s not ready to be a first choice yet.

Backup keeper Ali Al-Habsi has gone out to Wigan on a season’s long loan. While he will still be second choice at Athletic, given Wigan’s first choice keeper Chris Kirkland is apparently made out of balsa wood he will probably get more games than he will at Bolton. If Jaaskelainen should get an injury, Bolton can recall him on 48 hours notice.

Al-Habsi is a talented keeper and I’d always assumed would be in Bolton’s first team before now. Possibly the backroom staff though so too but Jaaskelainen has managed to pull off the admirable trick of being excellent (and almost ever present) for several years without any bigger clubs making a whopping offer for him; quite how he’s still at Bolton when, for example, Arsenal have been playing with Manuel Almunia as their first choice is a bit mind boggling. Given this is very much being talked of by the club as ‘a loan to get experience, not a loan with a view to sell’ it may well be he still is Bolton’s long term plan.

Bolton are currently on a pre-season tour of the USA and beat the Charlotte Eagles 3-0, with goals from Gary Cahill, Johan Elmander and new signing Martin Petrov (not Mustapha Riga as the report says). Highlights (from the local viewpoint) are here.

Bolton will be live on television four times in the first half of the season.

Birmingham City at the Reebok has been moved to 1.30pm on Sunday 29th August. Also at home, Bolton vs Liverpool has been moved to 1.30pm on Sunday 31st October and Bolton vs Tottenham has been brought forward slightly to a 12.45pm kickoff on 6th November. All three games will be shown on Sky.

Bolton’s home game against Man United will also be on TV, this time on ESPN on Sunday 26th at midday.

I have updated the ICS file with the new dates.

Bolton have signed former Burnley player Robbie Blake, who was out of contract after leaving Turf Moor, on a one year contract.

Bolton have signed Martin Petrov on a free after the Bulgarian was released by Manchester City. Although recently troubled with injury, the pacey left winger has been very effective in the premiership up until now. A good signing, in my opinion.

Here’s the Premiership schedule for 2010-2011. Bolton start with a home game against Fulham and end with a home game against Man City.

Update: There is now an ICS file available for iCal, Outlook etc..

Sat Aug 14 - Fulham (H)
Sat Aug 21 - West Ham United (A)
Sat Aug 28 - Birmingham City (H)

Sat Sep 11 - Arsenal (A)
Sat Sep 18 - Aston Villa (A)
Sat Sep 25 - Manchester United (H)

Sat Oct 2 - West Bromwich Albion (A)
Sat Oct 16 - Stoke City (H)
Sat Oct 23 - Wigan Athletic (A)
Sat Oct 30 - Liverpool (H)

Sat Nov 6 - Tottenham Hotspur (H)
Wed Nov 10 - Everton (A)
Sat Nov 13 - Wolverhampton Wanderers (A)
Sat Nov 20 - Newcastle United (H)
Sat Nov 27 - Blackpool (H)

Sat Dec 4 - Manchester City (A)
Sat Dec 11 - Blackburn Rovers (H)
Sat Dec 18 - Sunderland (A)
Sun Dec 26 - West Bromwich Albion (H)
Tue Dec 28 - Chelsea (A)

Sat Jan 1 - Liverpool (A)
Tue Jan 4 - Wigan Athletic (H)
Sat Jan 15 - Stoke City (A)
Sat Jan 22 - Chelsea (H)

Tue Feb 1 - Wolverhampton Wanderers (H)
Sat Feb 5 - Tottenham Hotspur (A)
Sat Feb 12 - Everton (H)
Sat Feb 26 - Newcastle United (A)

Sat Mar 5 - Aston Villa (H)
Sat Mar 19 - Manchester United (A)

Sat Apr 2 - Birmingham City (A)
Sat Apr 9 - West Ham United (H)
Sat Apr 16 - Fulham (A)
Sat Apr 23 - Arsenal (H)
Sat Apr 30 - Blackburn Rovers (A)

Sat May 7 - Sunderland (H)
Sat May 14 - Blackpool (A)
Sun May 22 - Manchester City (H)

Bolton have announced the season ticket price will remain the same for the third (I think) year running and that there will be discounts for buying online and for buying before July 19th with a cumulative discount for both. Details can be found and season tickets ordered via the new website for it, which seems very organised.

In the final game of the season at the Reebok yesterday, Bolton beat Birmingham City 2-1 in a game that was entertaining, given it had next to nothing resting on it. Kevin Davies opened the scoring with a header before Ivan Klasnic finished cooly after being set up by Vladimir Weiss. James McFaden scored for Birmingham after Jussi Jaaskelainen had saved Benitez’s penalty and the first rebound by Bowyer, onlyo to see the Scot finally bundkle the ball over the line.

The goals are here.