Most hypothetical scenarios thrown at you and your mates usually end in some kind of consensus after a beer and a chinwag don’t they?

When it comes to the Wolves, people can throw any proposition my way and I can swat it away like a Matt Prior cover drive. When I’m with friends, we all swat it away and generally arrive at a unanimous verdict.

I wonder what Mick would say?

This one however, is different. And no amount of rational discourse over a bag of scratchings could lead me and my friends to a comfortable conclusion.

See what you think folks…

So a Portsmouth fan – who is known for taking centre stage in our little social circle – triumphed again after the Stoke City game in the Clarendon, where he asked us if we’d take eight years of what he has just had, with the one condition that it ends in relegation at the end of it all.

So the deal is: An FA Cup final win, an FA Cup final appearance, European football including AC Milan at the Molineux, and a collection of some of the best players in the club’s recent history over the course of the period.

Also thrown into the mix are regular, virtually guaranteed spankings of our arch rivals, a brand of football for purists to purr over, and some atmospheres and memories to tell the grandkids about. Let’s not forget winning at Old Trafford and Spurs in the semi-final, as well as a load of others in between.

The one condition is that it ends, after eight years, in relegation.

Would you take it? Or, would you take eight years similar to the one we have just had where we carefully build, stabilise and supplement our admirable young squad as we go?

Mr Portsmouth’s conundrum is probably as much a commentary about the Beautiful Game itself, and the expectations and romance that comes with it compared with, say 30 years ago, when anything seemed possible.

He is basically arguing thus: Where is the fun in following a Premiership side whose odds will long be stacked against them, while an elite band of clubs always challenge for honours every single year?

With that in mind, isn’t the prospect of an FA Cup final win at Wembley too alluring to turn down? Remember how such successes in 1949 and 1960 shaped our own club’s history. Remember what the competition means to Sir Jack. I’ve even got an original gold-tinted ‘It’s Ours’ Sporting Star framed on my wall from the final against Leicester!

After a few too many Carlings I arrived at my conclusion, and I’m sticking by it.

Like most things in life, football evolves. So too do expectations and outlooks. So I gratefully consider Mr Portsmouth’s enticing offer and hand it back to him.

Instead, I opt for eight years of stability, growth, and fighting like hell against the odds to stay in the league no doubt.

Why? Because this way, our great club will be in the strongest position ever to give my little boy years of enjoyment at the right end of the football hierarchy, along with every other Wolf cub of his generation. No 4th division for them!

We would have honoured the principles that we were founded on in 1877 and would be in the strongest financial position to make our long-term future a resounding success.

The fact the FA Cup matters little these days – thanks to Manchester United’s revolting snub in 2000 – is sad. The fact the Premier League’s riches matter more, and that we barely stand a chance of winning it, is also sad.

But like I say, football evolves and we act accordingly. I’ll take eight more years of what we’re getting, with the hope that the following 80 could then be something to really make Portsmouth fans jealous of.

What do you think?

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SEB - in the right place

If there is such a thing as ‘Second Season Syndrome’ Wolves are so far showing no signs of contracting the condition.

In fact, on the evidence of yesterday’s stirring second-half fightback, it seems entirely plausible that Mick McCarthy’s young side could very easily eclipse the achievements of last year.

To an outsider, yesterday’s scrappy one-all at Goodison Park will inevitably be attributed to an under-par Everton performance and consigned to the scrapheap of immediately forgettable Premier League stalemates.

Fortunately though, we’re not ‘outsiders’ and we didn’t just watch the ten seconds of footage crow-barred onto the end of Match of the Day, followed by Hansen and Lawrenson talking about the important issue of ‘Arteta for England’. Thanks for that, glad I stayed up til midnight.

No, this wasn’t just a score draw to tick off the coupon. Not to us. It was yet another clear example of just how good this Wolves side actually is.

We were battered in the first half. Everton enjoyed almost complete dominance of the football and spent the lion share of the 45 minutes camped out on the edge of our box. But the fact they only had one slightly controversial goal to show for their authority outlined the determination and character we have in abundance. Whenever danger loomed, there was always the boot of Berra, the head of Craddock or the hand of Hahnemann to rescue the situation.

But a goal down, Wolves needed more than defensive guile to leave Merseyside with anything other than a respectable defeat and having failed to string more than two passes together in the first hour of this contest, things looked decidedly grim on that front.

Enter Adlene Guedioura.

The tenacious Algerian changed the game, not just because of his individual contribution, but because his arrival signaled an important change in shape. Elokobi lumbered off, Ward slotted in at left-back and Matt Jarvis began prowling down his favoured left flank.

Suddenly we looked a threat and it wasn’t long before Guedioura mowed down two blue shirts, shifted the ball out to Doyle and made a lovely run into the box that freed a grateful SEB to fire home a deserved equaliser.

And just how pleasing was it to see our number 9 in there, exactly where we needed him, to gobble up the scraps and complete the comeback? OK, it was a tap-in, but everyone has to start somewhere and if this is the beginning of a long-overdue resurgence, I think we’ll all be delighted for the formerly prolific hitman.

A mention too for Kevin Doyle, for a lovely ball across the face of the penalty area which allowed his strike-partner to cash-in. It wasn’t his best game in a Wolves shirt, but nevertheless it was great to see him back out there.

It seems likely that Steven Fletcher will be fit and ready for the visit of Newcastle next week, so Mick better get his thinking cap on quick-smart and come up with a plan to make the most of his joint record signings and a forward who might just be getting into his Premiership stride.

Other conundrums lie ahead too. Think about the side we put out yesterday, how well they played and then consider the fact that £20 million worth of summer signings didn’t figure, as well as a clutch of other talents who could certainly aid our cause. No Fletcher, no van Damme, Mouyokolo, Hunt, Kightly, Edwards.

Two good results prove nothing of course, but don’t pretend you haven’t enjoyed a cheeky wry smile and an extra skip in your step at how things are shaping up at Molineux.

You can’t fool me.

* Just another shameless plug for my mate’s site as he’s promoting Birthday gifts for her on his excellent gift shop.

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Kevin Doyle scored at Goodison Park last season

Following last weekend’s opening day victory over Stoke, Wolves will head to Goodison Park high on confidence and feeling they have every chance of picking up another positive result.

By contrast, the Toffees lost their first game to Blackburn thanks to a massive clanger from Tim Howard. They’ll be keen to turn things around quickly and put in a solid performance in front of their own fans.

Wolves came within a whisker of winning this fixture last season, so David Moyes won’t be underestimating the boys in old gold. That being said, there’s a lot of quality in the Everton side so they’ll rightly feel they’re favourites to edge this one.

Tim Cahill is one player we’ll need to guard against, particularly from set pieces, and he knows his side are in for a scrap if they’re to emerge with anything come Saturday. “All Mick McCarthy’s teams are well drilled and fight very hard and they have a bit of flair as well. We have to make sure we are firing on all cylinders and ensure that as a squad we are ready for a good Wolves outfit.”

It will be interesting to see how Mick sets his stall out and whether or not key players such as Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher are fit enough to feature from the start.

Assuming everyone is fit, I believe Wolves will field the same side as last weekend, with Fletcher and SEB once again leading the line, but with the possibility that one of those players can be shifted out wide to adopt more of a 4-5-1 shape.

So that’s a team of:

Hahnemann

Foley
Craddock
Berra
Ward

van Damme
Henry
Jones
Jarvis

Fletcher
SEB

I also hope to see Kevin Doyle feature at some point. He of course scored in this fixture last season and was a thorn in their side in both matches. When he returns to full fitness, he’s an automatic first choice in my book.

Prediction League

For those of you who haven’t noticed yet, I’ve added the prediction league table to a brand new page, which you can access via the menu at the top of the page or by clicking here.

It’s not too late to join in, so if you’d like to make a prediction, simply do so by leaving a comment below.

Not that I’m showing off or anything, but I correctly predicted a 2-1 victory for Wolves last weekend. Well done also to Ben, Sam 2.0, New kid on the blog, Jub, Ezz and Rich for getting it spot on.

This week, I fancy a score draw so I’ll go for the same result as last season – 1-1.

If you’re going to the game, have a great time and roar the lads on.

Up The Wolves.

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Keogh - heading for the exit?

I’ve only ever had my loyalty and love of the Wolves questioned on one occasion.

That came on Tuesday August 18 2009 after we’d secured our first ever away win in the Premiership, courtesy of a faint Andy Keogh header in the far corner.

For one fan, whose name I forget, it appeared to matter little that we’d beaten Wigan, but far more important to ram it down my throat that Keogh had ‘proved me wrong’ before advising me to tootle off to the Hawthorns for the foreseeable future. (Well, you get the gist)

I wonder what he’d make things now, after Keogh’s Molineux career appeared to come full circle against Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.

If you want to avoid questions about your parentage and supporting credentials, it might be best to keep your opinions to yourself.

I’ll stick my head above the parapet for the sake of a blog and a good old chinwag.

On Saturday afternoon, Keogh was a disturbing ghost of Molineux past, putting in the most lifeless, listless and utterly dangerous performance seen since Gordon Brown met that bigoted Rochdale woman on the election trail.

It’s always been something of an irony that Keogh is so well mannered and unassuming when at the very same time he is causing a near civil war amongst hundreds of fans.

If you are a fan of Keogh’s, you see the bigger picture. You’re a purist. If you’re not, you must surely sit in the South Bank and drag your knuckles along Waterloo Road, apparently.

So why is it that this one player has divided so much opinion like no other player I can ever remember playing for Wolves?

Maybe it’s because Keogh always was a hard worker. He always used to cover more blades of grass than any other striker in just about any other league and was selfless to a fault. He could make you feel tired just watching him, and proud to have his name on the back of your shirt.

If only he could repeat his heroics away at Sheffield Wednesday, home to Hull City and home to QPR (to name but three games), when John Gregory positively pined for a player of his ilk in an after-match press conference.

If only he could cover the Britannia Stadium pitch like 2007/08, while Freddy Eastwood idly watched on with his hands on his hips. I could have cried for him that day.

For me, his inability to hit cow’s arse with a banjo has never mattered much. He was utter tripe in front of goal when he first came. He’s still utter tripe in front of goal now.

It is more his apologetic, hunched demeanor that has worried me for the past two years, when even a lengthy run in a successful, goal-laden team couldn’t rouse him from an on-field paralysis.

Maybe Pro-Zone would prove me wrong, but he now seems to have run through his Molineux career to stand still, offering none of his brilliant defensive work from the front.

When coupled with a goal ratio of about 1 in 6, it’s a wonder he’s still here now. With an aching chasm in our forward line and the need for 25 quality squad men, maybe he won’t be for much longer.

If that’s the case, then we should toast him for the gut-busting good times and not the shadow of a man we’re seeing today.

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It was appropriate that such erratic weather surrouned Molineux yesterday, as we were instantly reminded of how quickly things can change in a Premier League game of football.

A downpour of biblical proportions engulfed Wolverhampton as we all went about our respective pre-match rituals and the news filtered through that Kevin Doyle wasn’t playing.

Yet the clouds soon parted, the sun shone and Wolves went about taking Stoke to the cleaners.

Kenwyne Jones threatened to spoil the party with a fierce strike that rebounded off the bar, but when he hobbled off just a few moments later, the boys in gold took full control.

David Jones strolled around the park, twisted and turned their midfield into submission and sprayed the ball around like a man who’d been bossing the Premiership for years. Anyone who thinks selling this guy to bring in Mancienne would be a good move, needs to take a look at yesterday’s game. It was the complete performance from a central midfielder as he tackled, headed and competed for everything, always using the ball intelligently and capping it all off with a stunning goal to set Wolves on their way.

He was ably supported by the superb Karl Henry who did, well, what Karl Henry does. Tony Pulis must wonder why he ever let this guy go as he swept up everything and kept Wolves ticking over with simple passes that retained possession and strangled the life out of the visitors. Stoke could have done with a player like Karl Henry yesterday and dare I even suggest it, England could do with a player like Karl Henry. There, I’ve said it.

Matt Jarvis switched to the right-wing and effortlessly went about his business. Although I’d still prefer to see him operating down the left flank, it’s impossible to deny that his link up play with Kevin Foley was anything other than a complete joy to behold. As usual, he also weaved his way into dangerous positions and was a thorn in Stoke’s side for the entire 90 minutes.

van Damme was handed the job of taking over the attacking duties down the left and his combination play with Stephen Ward was really quite brilliant. But when he didn’t have the ball, boy did this guy impress me. He might not be blessed with too many natural gifts, but he’s a scrapper in the Mick McCarthy mould and to use one of his manager’s favourite phrases ‘I’m pleased with him. He put a real shift in.’ Enough said.

However, it was another new signing who stole the show in the first half. Steven Fletcher bobbed and weaved his way into our hearts with more than a few touches of the very highest quality. His ability to emerge with the ball from the tightest of spaces and pick out intelligent passes will be a real asset. He also brought out the best in SEB, as well as showing his own goalscoring instincts by getting on the end of Christophe Berra’s looping cross to head home the second crucial goal. We’ll all hope and pray his injury doesn’t turn out to be serious. Mick McCarthy seems to think both he and Doyle will be ok for the trip to Everton next week. What a prospect that is.

But to simply cast aside SEB after his exertions yesterday would be disrespectful and foolish. As previously mentioned, he linked up cleverly with Fletcher and seemed to share a good understanding with the Scotsman. That can only bode well for the season ahead.

We’re short a striker though, of that there can be no doubt. I’ve always been one of Andy Keogh’s biggest supporters but he isn’t the required standard and is surely destined for the exit door in the not too distant future. Despite one or two neat touches after coming on, he was all too often guilty of picking the wrong option or being a yard off the pace. The fact that he, the substitute, was eventually substituted himself says everything about his role within the squad and his contribution to yesterday’s result.

And as much as the first half was about our attacking players basking in the sunshine, the second 45 was more a testament to our defence who stood firm during the thunderstorms to see off an aerial bombardment.

Sure, there was a momentary lapse as Faye headed Stoke back into the contest, but other than that the back four held strong with Craddock and Berra once again showing what they’re all about. You know what you’ll get from those two and it was brilliant to see them continue where they left off from last season. It was clear to see though that they struggled a bit more to cope with the pace and intelligence of Tuncay when he eventually entered the fray, so it will be intriguing to see how Mouyokolo is used this season and who will be sacrificed when he’s eventually given a chance.

Marcus Hahnemann was again brilliant. In fact, I’m quite sure if you look up the dictionary definition of ‘a safe pair of hands’ you’ll see his grinning, bald, Amercian head staring back at you. How nice was it see him hurtling out to smother the ball with his body as Tuncay went in hard with his studs? A lesser man would have rolled around in agony to make more of the incident, but as usual, he simply dusted himself off and gave the back four a dressing down for their lapse in concentration. I cannot for the life of me, injuries aside, see anyone usurping him from between the sticks.

This was Wolves’ day though, summed up perfectly by Rory Delap winding up for a long throw in the dying seconds only for the ball to cruelly slip through his fingers and roll about 30cm from his feet. Not so big without your towel are ya?

Far greater challenges will of course lie ahead but I think yesterday demonstrated that we have nothing to fear.

Walking home in the sunshine surrounded by glowing smiles in gold shirts, that seemed to be a shared opinion.

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Well, this is it.

Wolves finally kick-off their second consecutive season of Premiership football tomorrow, as Stoke make the short trip down the M6 for an opening day dust-up at the Molineux.

Optimism is never in short supply in game one and both sets of fans will feel this fixture offers a realistic opportunity to stick three points on the board early doors.

Last season's 0-0 will live long in the memory (for being boring)

Most predictions thus far seem to point towards a close contest, which isn’t surprising given the two draws between the sides last year. I think everyone can agree that whatever the result, we hope to enjoy a far better spectacle than the paint-dryingly boring nil nil played out at Molineux towards the end of the last campaign. That was possibly the worst game of football I’ve ever been subjected to.

By contrast, the match up at the Britannia was a heart-pumping, action-packed game of two halves, so we know the teams have what it takes to put on a show and with Wolves almost certain to go 4-4-2, it should make for a more open affair.

Interestingly, Stoke had failed to make any significant additions to their squad prior to Wednesday, but the club record £8 million signing of Sunderland striker Kenywe Jones has given the Potters a massive boost ahead of tomorrow’s opener. Wolves know better than anyone how much of a threat the Trinidad and Tobago international can be after his goals in both matches against us last season.

Wolves will also have to guard against the Delap throw of course, which they did admirably in both fixtures last season. Disappointingly, it doesn’t seem like Ronald Zubar will make it back in time to play, which is a huge loss considering the power and pace he injects into our back four. In what’s likely to be a highly physical encounter, I suspect Kevin Foley won’t able to contribute as much.

It also seems that we’ll be without our talisman and shining light from last season, Kevin Doyle. If this proves to be the case it’s a massive loss but we’ll all hope that record signing Steven Fletcher and an improved SEB can plug the hole.

The other quandry is who Mick chooses to play on the opposite flank to Jarvis. Last week I was lauding Greg Halford for a recall, but judging by last week’s team selection against Bilbao, it seems far likelier to be Stephen Ward.

So, here’s my predicted line-up:

Hahnemann

Foley
Berra
Craddock
van Damme

Ward
Henry
Jones
Jarvis

SEB
Fletcher

Prediction League

We kick-off the all-new prediction league this weekend and if you want to join-in, all you have to do is enter your predicted score in the comment section below.

I’ll record and publish a table for you all to see.

I realise that there’s been some confusion this week, with people posting their predictions in the Interview with a Stoke Fan, so for this week only, I’ll take all the predictions from there. So it’s up to you whether you want to update your prediction and post it below or just leave the one you’ve added to that previous post.

In future weeks, please only leave predictions in the preview. It will always be titled ‘Wolves Vs Whoever Preview’ (The whoever corresponds to the team we’re playing. No jokes please.)

Seeing as it’s the first game of the season and I’m feeling optimistic, I’ll go for a 2-1 Wolves win, despite my better judgment telling me that momentum might have swung back towards Stoke with their new signing and our injury problems.

If you’re going to the game, have a great time and roar the lads on.

Up the Wolves.

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West Ham spoiled the party last year

After trumpeting our summer signings, welcoming our wider pitch and assessing the dangers of Stoke City, we’ve all come to the same conclusion haven’t we?

Wolves to win, possibly Fletcher to score, and 27,000 happy fans to skip home and freeze Ceefax on page 324!

Georgie Thompson will shine like an angel on SSN. She’ll bite her bottom lip for a one exhilarating micro-second and smile directly at you, before urging you to stay tuned for a hilarious Mick McCarthy anecdote after the break.

Jim White will hold our remotes – and erections – in place, chortling: “This is a good one folks, so stay with us here on Sky.

Big Mick will duly oblige in front of a sandy coloured breeze block wall, his dark mischievous eyes betraying his best efforts at dourness. He’s bloody cock-a-hoop in his crisp suit and Wolves tie, and he’s not kidding us. Go on Mick, give us a smile you tinker!

Rob Dorset or someone-or-other tells him we’re top of the league on goal difference. Wrong move Rob. Mick blows his top and tells the idiot to stop being so incomprehensibly stupid.

He ‘ain’t as green as he is cabbage looking, and he ‘ain’t shoving a coathanger in his gob for christ’s sakes, and he ain’t answering anymore stupid questions.

We cry with love and admiration for the big man and reach for a beer!

And then, at 8pm, you spontaneously combust as Sarah Jane-Mee presents Football First and tells you to press your red button. I’m a-comin’ Sarah!

Boy Saturday night is going to be a good one.

Or is it? I don’t want to be a harbinger of doom, but in the last 10 opening fixtures, we haven’t won one of them.

Mick has never won one as a Wolves manager, and I was 20 years-old when we last triumphed in our season opener – a 1-0 win at Man City thanks to Robbie Keane.

Here is the list:

1999/00: Man City (a) WON 1-0

2000/01: Sheff Wed (h) DREW 1-1

2001/02: Portsmouth (h) DREW 2-2

2002/03: Bradford (a) DREW 0-0

2003/04: Blackburn (a) LOST 5-1

2004/05: Stoke City (a) LOST 2-1

2005/06: Southampton (a) DREW 0-0

2006/07: Plymouth (a) DREW 1-1

2007/08: Watford (h) LOST 2-1

2008/09 Plymouth (a) DREW 2-2

2009/10: West Ham (h) LOST 2-1

Admittedly, history counts for very little, but I thought the same about a docile German octopus, who seemed to predict every single result at the World Cup!

So without wishing to sound like a miserable git, let’s not get our hopes up too much and brace ourselves for the worst. That way, we won’t be too disappointed. Naturally, let’s not outwardly display such thoughts or feelings at the Molineux and instead shout ourselves hoarse.

This way, we can prepare to avoid Ceefax like the plague, tell Georgie Thompson to piss right off, and write letters of complaint to MOTD when they put us on first.

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