Much like the bride-to-be, who has second thoughts about committing the rest of her life to the scruffy rogue that once swept her off her feet, it seems many of us are getting last minute jitters.
Looking at the comments on yesterdays post it’s plain to see that the slowdown in transfer activity has left many in old gold biting their nails.
I’ve got a question for you: Why?
I’m going to float a few of my thoughts out there and see which one gets a bite. Here goes…
More good times to come...hopefully
First off, where do we want to finish as a minimum requirement so we can call this season a success? The answer is surely 17th. Therefore we need to finish above three teams. In my opinion, the squad we have already is stronger than:
1. Burnley
2. Hull (No signings)
3. Blues
4. Portsmouth (Key players have left and not been replaced)
5. Wigan
Another point is about our injuries. Nobody has said Doyle or Kightly won’t be back in time for the West Ham match. But so what if they aren’t? We’re not going to be relegated after the first match. We’ve got the bloke whose going to get our goals (SEB) and we’ve got the players that will give him the ammunition (Jarvis, Milijas, Surman, etc). Attacking is not going to be an issue.
Where I’m prepared to concede a little ground is the issue of defence. We certainly haven’t recruited the personnel I’d hoped (yet) and as I’ve previously stated, I think we need to get at least one player in, who is better than what we’ve already got. That being said, whoever we bring in, I can’t see us ever being rock solid. That’s just the cold reality. We’re an attacking team, jam-packed with players who want to get forward, create chances and score goals. Personally, I’d rather be in our position, with good attackers and a dodgy defence than the other way around.
Another thought is about players like Ward, Keogh, etc i.e Mick’s supposed favourites. I’ve heard a lot of people saying that they just expect these guys to be cover or fringe-players. Well, if that’s what you really think, then I feel you’re in for one hell of a shock this season. The two names I mentioned in particular will rack up a fair number of appearances between them, simply because they 1. Try hard. 2. Are versatile and 3. Mick does favour them for the two previously mentioned reasons. When they do get a game, we need to give them a fair crack of the whip. They know as much as anyone that they have to step up their game if they want to play at the highest level. Don’t be surprised if at least one of them does.
Finally, when the Premiership is mentioned, most fans immediately think about the top four and nothing else, making the whole league seem like an impossible challenge. In reality, a lot of these teams aren’t that good and if you close them down when they’re in possession and use the ball well, you can get at them. I’m more sure than I’ve ever been about anything that we’ll get some good results this season, particularly at home.
Anyway, if you take notice of anything I’ve said in this post, make it the following: Don’t be negative about our Premiership chances until the team has given us something to be negative about. The West Ham match will give us clues about how far away we actually are from being competitive. I think some of you will be pleasantly surprised.
Of course jitters are expected. Getting to the premiership is everything a side out of the PL desires and strides for, but as you said why so negative or plotting our own failure before it has even happened.
Certain players will step up and find themselves in this league, we are better equiped to to score than we ever have been, also we need to trust in Mick – i didnt know a thing about big chris and look how well he turned out.
I definitely think we can do better than Hull and Pompey. Burnley could be a dark horse for survival and the blouses future will depend on if they can score, otherwise they will be the kings of draws!
I think because of our defence and naivity in this league we will get smashed on occasions but then also cause a good few upsets. To stay up with 46 points!
Great post Tom. Absolutely dead on!! Don’t think I could have said it better myself!!
Some good points well made, Tom. I can definitely see us finishing above Hull and Burnley. Burnley in particular were miles behind Wolves and B’ham last season, and of the three have definitely made the weaker signings (so far).
I can see us competing with B’ham, Portsmouth, and there’s usually one unexpected team involved, for 18th. To make a prediction: Wolves to finish the stronger, and with a final string of victories fly up the table and qualify for the Europa league. Maybe.
Andrew, your kind words warm my heart, but I can’t help but feel your prediction is on the ambitious side.
Back to something more fun tomorrow. Ben has sent me his next article to post and it’s an absolute corker.
Hi Thomas – good site!
I am thinking we are still three players short of giving me any kind of confidence for this coming season. We need at least one centre half (and unfortunately Mick’s purchases in particular area leave alot to be desired). Not sure Mancienne is the answer due to his lightweight physique but there is no doubt he possesses the speed we require. I had wondered if he would be better suited to a holding midfield role. That brings me to the need for a defensive midfielder to challenge Henry and shield that back four. And finally, i still think we need another forward to replace big Chris and offer something different to Doyle and SEB. If one of those were to miss games then I think we would struggle. Young Vokes is a prospect but needs a run of games in the Championship on loan before being thrown into a relegation dog fight.
Hopefully if the lad Jerome Thomas impresses he will give cover and challenge to Kites and Javis.
I suppose my point is that I havent forgetten we won (what I consider to be) a poor Championship last season and had a massive wobble in doing so. The baggies were never in the hunt for PL survival last season which is why I think the gap between the Championship and the Prem is massive and not to underrated.
I appreciate we are playing in a mini league of around 6 clubs but at the moment I still think we need a bit more added to the squad to be able to complete with those clubs with Prem experience and most of all know how.
Dont get me wrong I am not a moaner nor am I a happy clapper but rather a realist and one that hasn’t forgotten our last PL campaign where I saw what I considered average players rip our heroes to shreds.
Keep up the good work
Matt
Hi Matt.
Glad you like the site mate.
I don’t think you’re alone in thinking we’re short of players and I certainly agree that Mancienne won’t be the final answer to our defensive problems. I’d take him though, like you say, for his pace and guile.
I also know what you mean about the last PL campaign where we lost convincingly to less than convincing opposition (4-0 at Half time home to Charlton was particularly painful). However, this time round we’re a much more potent attacking threat, so even if teams do score a few against us, I think we’re far better equipped to do some damage at the other end.
Good stuff Matt. Make sure you come back and comment more often!
That’s weird there is a another Sam. What is weirder is that I couldn’t work out if I had actually posted that (I concluded that I hadn’t). With that existential moment over with I have to say I agree with Thomas’s post and in particular the bit about there being a lot of average teams. I honestly think we are underestimating the squad we already have when compared to those in the Premiership. I think SEB, Kites and Foley could walk into a top 7 side and others like Hennessey, Berra, Jarvis are improvong all the time and will do the business. I think we are agreed however that we definitely need another central defender
We chatted to Mick at the WACA whilst the lads were training, he told us that 17th was the aim, as this was another improvement on previous years.Which, is true. The one thing that has got us all perturbed is the lack of signing players with the much vaunted “Premier League Experience”. I still think left back is a problem, I think we are still short of that creativity in the middle, and what if Blake gets sidelined for a few games? It seems we are hoping there will be teams worse than us in order for us to survive.Personally, I reckon resting on our laurels is a potential disaster. What we need to cheer us all up, as it as all gone a bit stagnant, is a couple of “names” to be on board. I was hoping for Lucas Neill and Robert Huth, not world beaters, but leaders and workers. The West Ham game is not the be all and end all, but it sure will be a yardstick for those “kind few games” we have at the start of the season.
I think the nerves come from memories of last time we were in the Prem and the opening run of hidings we got
That and the fact that we are pessemistic by nature ha ha.
I have been going to the Wolves for over 40 years and this season I am probably more eager to get going (present run of friendly results excepeted) than any time since the days of Doog and Waggy…we can deffo survive and WILL cause some people to eat their words along the way…just so you don’t think I am tripping, we will take some canings as well but who won’t? I watched West Ham play Spurs live today and they couldn’t have bought a goal…there are at least 6 teams we should finish above and 3 or 4 we will finish above
Cheers….Paul