wolves - by vinny banks
Why I fear the worst for Wolves unless changes are made!Posted by: Vinny Banks,
Football FanCast columnist Vinny Banks cannot help but feel the worst for Wolves, as their prize assets are constantly linked to the Premier League.
As I sit here taking in the early summer sunshine, with pre season only around the corner, I cannot help but feel the worst for my beloved Wolves. With prized assets like Michael Kightly and young goalkeeping sensation Wayne Hennessey, both heavily linked with Premier League clubs - you kind of sense, if a suitable offer was to come in, that neither will be starting the season at Molineux.
So what is the right price for the pair? I'm guessing we should pick up around £10m and for me it is vital that we reinvest that money straight back into the market and rebuild on the core players that are already there. Will Merlin do it? Call me negative if you will, but I cannot see Mick McCarthy splashing out on the quality that we need and those of the same calibre as Kightly and Hennessey. I may be proved wrong, but on past form I have my doubts.
Where do we need to improve? For one it is vital that we bring in an adequate replacement for Gary Breen. Christian Berra of Hearts has been recently linked and I personally feel would be a good investment at the back, but I prefer the bulk of the money to be spent on the midfield. We constantly gave the football away last season and failed to retain possession for long periods. We lacked that quality in the middle of the park to dictate a game of football and we were often overrun by the opposition.
I hate to say it but we need to emulate the Albion. The secret of their success lay at the feet of Jonathon Greening and Robert Koren, who controlled the game in midfield and as they proved against us they simply ran the show. I appreciate it may cost a bit of money but if we have any designs on being a Premier League outfit, then the only way to get there will be by investing. You have to speculate to accumulate; otherwise you stand still in the Championship.
One area that is cause of concern for me at Molineux, is the lack of experience within the squad. You look back to 2003 and with the likes of Blake, Ince and Irwin, we had winners all over the park and who knew what it took to win certain games. In the home stretch this season we were crying out for some strong heads out there, ones who could lead by example and I really felt that bit of experience could have dragged us into the play-offs this season.
What about Mick McCarthy? I have continually backed the man from the start but in the last year I have started to grow disillusioned. His transfer policy, among other things has baffled me beyond belief, no more so than the whole Freddie Eastwood fiasco, which has most Wolves fans pulling their hair out. I feel the time has come for a change at the helm and whoever does arrive shows far greater ambition.
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