betting
Wolves
By David, BettingExpert.com | Edited
With a Hunt-er on their side
Last season the call was not as close as many had thought it would be. McCarthy steered the team to success, eight points above the danger zone, but having failed to secure some valid reinforcements for the team the Wolves do look like missing a few teeth in comparison to what is their direct competition for avoiding relegation.
Coach: McCarthy
Tactics: 4-4-2
Players In: Hunt, S. Fletcher, M. Bent, Mancienne, J. van Damme, Mouyokolo
Players Out: Shackell, Little, Iwelumo, Surman, Friend, D. Jones
Current Probable Formation: Hahnemann, Foley, Craddock, Berra, S. Ward, Jarvis, Mancienne, K. Henry, J. van Damme, Doyle, S. Fletcher
It may seem as if Wolverhampton have signed a good number of players but the truth is that there are doubts as to how the lot can come to play an important part for the team and their bid to repeat a season like last year’s. And to think that after managing just 32 goals in 38 games, the lowest number in the Premier League, the directors would have been spurred to bring on a few true goal scorers. It was not to be and with numbers more likely to be those of a Championship side it may well be the division in which they end up come May.
To be honest Steven Fletcher has been a good move for the club. Whether it was the right one remains to be seen. After all he scored just eight in 35 Premier League games for the now relegated Burnley last season. The 23-year old’s records have not been impressive in a more free scoring league like the Scottish Premier League either, never managing to go beyond 14 in a single season. He is still maturing though and with his impact with the Premier League last season having been promising there is surely more to come from the Scotsman.
English youngster Ebanks-Blake had shown much promise
himself when two years ago steered the team to promotion with his 25 league
goals. He has not lived up to that last season, however, and slowly lost his
starting place in the team. His final tally was a miserable two goals by the
end of the season. Irishman Doyle is not one to be guaranteeing the goals
either, alternating seasons 
of abundance with others of sheer draught in front
of goal. He always gives a generous contribution to the team though and if it
won’t be goals for him this year then maybe he can get double figures on the
assists count. He should be a sure starter in McCarthy’s strong eleven with
either Fletcher or Ebanks-Blake serving as his partner.
Hunt is very much like Doyle with very good technical skills and thus capable of making the attacking stance of the Wolves quicker and more lethal. The two have already been team mates at Reading when the side had become the Premier League’s fairy tale for a while. He is more than capable of finding the net whether he plays as a striker, as support or even as a midfielder with attacking duties. In terms of assisting his companions he is also one who scores highly. He may be an answer when things look blocked on the pitch.
Although originally a defender, the 22-year old Mancienne has proven himself solid as an anchoring midfielder in last year’s Wolves’ pack. His Chelsea loan has been renewed and should thus be a starter alongside captain Henry. With the duo McCarthy has two bulldogs in midfield that can allow him to make the transition from last year’s 4-5-1 to this season’s planned 4-4-2 less catastrophic. Goals are needed after all and thinking that they can get away with the lowest scoring record in the league and still survive for a second consecutive year is unwise.
Jarvis and Edwards are reliable wingers and so should be newcomer van Damme. His commitment is yet to be evaluated though. Hunt may be drafted in that position given his versatility although McCarthy would need to remember that his side will be closer to a 4-3-1-2 with Hunt on the pitch.
The defence still has to rely on 35-year old veteran Craddock who partners Berra. The duo stand tall in front of the 38-year old American Hahnemann. Theirs was one of the better defences in the lower parts of the table last year but the years are rolling on for all. Right-back Foley and left-back Ward bring down the department’s average age but altogether the Wolves’ weakness is their back end.
Predicted finishing position: 19th
Some new signings have been good ones. Fletcher and Hunt should help with their goal scoring problem. In defence, however, McCarthy has had to settle for what he had last year hoping that they can repeat a similar kind of solidity. However, that may not turn out so easy this time as subs are scarce for an ageing few. The insistence on cutting down expenses does impose this policy on McCarthy so he may have a justification for a disastrous end result.
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