Premier League preview: Wolves
Well Wolves fans, that wasn’t so scary after all was it?
After widespread predictions that Mick McCarthy’s men would go straight back down following their promotion to the Premier League last summer, the Midlanders ended up in a comfortable 15th place, eight points off the relegation zone.
After making the headlines for December’s decision to rest many of his squad for a trip to Old Trafford, McCarthy ended up having the last laugh (and how he’ll have enjoyed that) by not only winning his next three matches – including sealing the first of a double over Tottenham – but by staying up with something to spare. Now, with a larger squad than many of his rivals, he sets out to repeat the trick with the signs looking good.
By the closing months of the season, many of the so called “reserve” line-up that participated in that 3-0 defeat at Manchester United had become first choices for McCarthy. The likes of Marcus Hahnemann, Ronald Zubar and Kevin Foley all played their part in Wolves’ successful end to the season, but there can be little doubt as to who was their player of the year.
Eyebrows were raised when McCarthy decided to pay Reading a club record £6.5million for forward Kevin Doyle last summer, but the Irishman’s displays ensured that it was money well spent.
Perhaps McCarthy’s declaration that one particular performance in a goalless draw against Liverpool in January was “surely the greatest striking display that Molineux has ever seen” was being just a touch dramatic, but Doyle’s importance to Wolves’ season cannot be understated, as the Irishman led the line in McCarthy’s 4-5-1 formation, scoring nine goals in the process.
Having realised his success rate with Irishmen who’ve played for Reading, McCarthy has snapped up winger Stephen Hunt this summer – although a foot injury rules him out until late October – alongside Hull City team-mate Steven Mouyokolo, while Algerian World Cup midfielder Adlène Guedioura joins on a permanent deal after last year’s loan spell, and Geoffrey Mujangi-Bia is back on a temporary deal again.
McCarthy’s most important signing of the summer comes in form of the Scot Steven Fletcher, probably the most impressive performer in Burnley’s sole season in the Premier League last time out.
Coming in for a record fee that matched Doyle’s, it would appear that Fletcher’s arrival will necessitate a change in formation for McCarthy’s men, with a switch to 4-4-2 now looking the most likely.
How that will affect results is up for debate, but would certainly be a brave move if McCarthy was to abandon the system that served him so well last season if favour of another, more attacking style. A Fletcher-Doyle partnership certainly suggests goals, but would it leave Wolves short in other areas?
That remains to be seen, but Wolves supporters should be confident as they enter their second successive season in the top flight.
With a top-division Black Country derby to look forward to, they certainly look stronger than both West Brom and Blackpool on paper, and so that suggests a battle with the other lower-half sides to avoid the final relegation spot. Under McCarthy, there is every chance that they’ll do that.
Supporters need not be as fearful as they were this time last year.
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