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The Season Ahead Part Twenty : Wolverhampton Wanderers

Published by Ian John on September 19, 2009

Prospects for 2009 :
It’s really hard not to commend Wolves for their attitude since earning their place back in the top flight. Manager Mick McCarthy has refused to pay silly prices for proven Premiership players and has instead brought in players from abroad and the lower leagues to improve the Wolves squad with admirable alacrity. However, this is a model Wolves followed the last time they were in the Premier League and on that occasion that only lasted a season. It is hard to justify, even with the added bonus of some very talented young players like Michael Kightly, how this season is going to be any different.

2009 is a big season for :
Kevin Doyle. Not only is the Irishman the man Mick McCarthy hopes will score the goals, alongside Sylvain Ebanks Blake, to keep the team in the Premiership, the Irishman is also playing a prominent role for the Republic of Ireland in their quest to achieve qualification for the World Cup Finals. Doyle however has already had one taste of the Premiership with Reading and while he looked decent at times, the consistency in front of goal just wasn’t there. It remains to be seen whether Wolves can create enough chances for their record signing in order for him to have the required impact on the team to lead them to safety.

Guaranteed to irritate in 2009 :
One of the great problems with Mick McCarthy is that no matter what he is saying, or indeed what his mood may be, he always sounds like he is droning on in that terminable Yorkshire whine of his. It does detract somewhat from his talents as McCarthy is a proven manager, certainly at Championship level, and didn’t do too badly in his spell as Republic of Ireland boss. Perhaps the only thing more annoying than that is some Wolves fans delusional insistence that they are still one of the biggest clubs in the country. It is these fans who still fully expect to see Billy Wright, Stan Cullis and Derek Dougan taking to the field at the weekend. Wolves were a very big club once, but that was a long time ago my friends. It’s time to wake up, you’re the third team in the midlands now and a team from their hasn’t won the league title since 1981.

Things they’ll moan about in 2009 :
Good old Mick McCarthy is a fully paid up member of the managers moaning at referees society and no doubt several games will be lost, or drawn, on the basis of some scandalous decision by the official that has put Wolves at an unfair advantage. Also until very recently, Wolves were the only fans in the country who still continued to the “whoooaaaaaaaa! Your sh*t! Aaahhh!” chant when a goalkeeper took a goal kick. Everyone else had grown out of this many years ago. Let’s hope they’ve joined the rest of the 21st century this season!

Song that sums up their chances in 2009 : “Gimme Hope Joanna” by Eddy Grant
Despite all my complaints above, I have a real soft spot for Wolves. I think they run their club sensibly and will not spend and spend and put the clubs long term future at risk (hello, Southampton, Leeds and Norwich!) to try and secure short term gain. I like the youngsters they have brought through and I love the fans optimism and pragmatism. However I feel that this will be a short stop for them in the top flight and they’ll be relegated at the end of the season. However it would not surprise me at all, if they soon become regular and consistent members of the top flight. The foundations are there.

Image Courtesy of ***Eamon Curry123*** at Flickr.com

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