Midlands club Wolverhampton Wanderers or ‘Wolves’ were the first club to achieve promotion out of the Championship this season by winning the league. It has been five years since Wolves graced the Premier League and represents a massive achievement for manager Mick McCarthy, who has previously been in charge of Sunderland and the Republic of Ireland.At the start of the season Wolves were definitely not the favourites to get out of the league. Birmingham, Reading and Sheffield United all have, on paper, stronger squads and McCarthy’s aim at the start of the season was to get the Wanderers into the play-offs and winning the league was truly a massive bonus for the Wolves boss. Staying in the Premier League next season will be no easy task for Wolves. They haven’t really got the money to splash out on top-quality players but the squad does need a lot of improvement if they are to stay in the league. This means McCarthy will have to be shrewd in the transfer market and maybe take a risk or two by picking up some youngsters and players with potential from the lower leagues.They do have a couple of players in their squad who I think are good enough for the Premier League already. Michael Kightly is a decent winger and he has been linked with Premiership clubs in the past, he has pace and skill on the ball and should adapt to top-flight football fairly easily. The backbone of any good team is a quality goalkeeper and Wolves have one in the shape of Wayne Hennessey, who has also been linked with moves to bigger sides but looks likely to stay and play for the Wolves in the Premier League. Former Hearts defender Christophe Berra is another quality player and although McCarthy needs to add to his squad he doesn’t need to make wholesale changes, just add a bit of quality and strength in depth.It will be hard for Wolves next season but I see no reason why they can’t upset the football odds and emulate clubs that have gone up and stayed up before, like Stoke City who find themselves in mid table this season. They will need a few more players and a bit of luck but in McCarthy they have a manager who has been at the top level before and knows what it takes to keep a club in the Premier League, despite one disastrous season at Sunderland a few years ago.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Gareth Freeman - Premier League new boys: Wolverhampton Wanderers
Midlands club Wolverhampton Wanderers or ‘Wolves’ were the first club to achieve promotion out of the Championship this season by winning the league. It has been five years since Wolves graced the Premier League and represents a massive achievement for manager Mick McCarthy, who has previously been in charge of Sunderland and the Republic of Ireland.At the start of the season Wolves were definitely not the favourites to get out of the league. Birmingham, Reading and Sheffield United all have, on paper, stronger squads and McCarthy’s aim at the start of the season was to get the Wanderers into the play-offs and winning the league was truly a massive bonus for the Wolves boss. Staying in the Premier League next season will be no easy task for Wolves. They haven’t really got the money to splash out on top-quality players but the squad does need a lot of improvement if they are to stay in the league. This means McCarthy will have to be shrewd in the transfer market and maybe take a risk or two by picking up some youngsters and players with potential from the lower leagues.They do have a couple of players in their squad who I think are good enough for the Premier League already. Michael Kightly is a decent winger and he has been linked with Premiership clubs in the past, he has pace and skill on the ball and should adapt to top-flight football fairly easily. The backbone of any good team is a quality goalkeeper and Wolves have one in the shape of Wayne Hennessey, who has also been linked with moves to bigger sides but looks likely to stay and play for the Wolves in the Premier League. Former Hearts defender Christophe Berra is another quality player and although McCarthy needs to add to his squad he doesn’t need to make wholesale changes, just add a bit of quality and strength in depth.It will be hard for Wolves next season but I see no reason why they can’t upset the football odds and emulate clubs that have gone up and stayed up before, like Stoke City who find themselves in mid table this season. They will need a few more players and a bit of luck but in McCarthy they have a manager who has been at the top level before and knows what it takes to keep a club in the Premier League, despite one disastrous season at Sunderland a few years ago.
MisterGoal Show #01
