The Pack is Back!
by Russell Mullaney

After an absence of almost six years, Wolverhampton Wanderers last season won promotion from the Championship back into the Premier League. For Wolves fans it could not come too soon but already others are speculating as to whether this will be just another brief stint in the top league. Wolves were relegated in bottom position the last time they were in the Premier League in 2003. Wolves, however, hope to silence the critics and this time consolidate themselves as a Premier League team.

Leader of the pack

Indeed all the credentials are already in place to establish themselves in the Premier League; a good fan base, modern ground and training facilities and a chairman in Steve Morgan who is willing to splash the cash to bring in quality players. Wolves proved to be a good investment for Steve Morgan as he quite famously bought the team for only £10 with the promise that he invests at least £30 million. So far he has spent considerably, but again pundits are speculating whether it is enough.

Hungry like the Wolves

Wolves won promotion from the Championship with an exciting attacking brand of football incorporating two wingers. Their style of play and team ethic was based around a ‘young and hungry’ mentality with one of the youngest squads in the league.

This was all a far cry from previous teams when former Wolves managers have invested in more experienced players who were seen as players who had ‘been there and done it’ in an attempt to win promotion.

God or clod?

The current Wolves manager, Mick McCarthy is no stranger to the Premier League; he has been there twice with Sunderland and both times they were relegated. It would seem that he has something to prove and is determined to make more of a fight this time and prove his doubters wrong.

However, some of his fiercest doubters are Wolves fans. Mick McCarthy has enjoyed a kind of love / hate relationship with Wolves fans over the years; for some he is a God who has saved Wolves from darker times when the club were close to relegation from the Championship and worshipped as ‘Super Mick McCarthy’ in terrace chants at the Molineux (home of the Wolves).

Others, however, believe he is tactically inept and chooses to play his favourite players, often when they are considerably out of form. This has drawn equal chants from the Molineux terraces of ‘Stupid Mick McCarthy.’

Early successes

Wolves are already three weeks into their return back to the Premier League and they have fared quite well. In their opening fixture they lost 2-0 to West Ham at home and in the next game they won 1-0 away at Wigan.

This was quite an achievement for Wolves as in their previous stay in the Premier League they failed to win an away game all season. Wolves will now be hoping to build on this impetus and avoid the dreaded drop. So, what do you think; can Wolves beat the drop?

Questions

Vocabulary

Find words in the story with these meanings

1. principles
2. a short period
3. qualifications
4. useless
5. contemplate
6. stupid person

True or False?

1. This is Wolves’ first season in the Premier League.
2. Wolves were bought for £30 million.
3. Wolves played with many experienced players in last year’s Championship.
4. Mick McCarthy has his doubters.
5. Wolves have never won an away game in the Premier League.

What do you think?

Which three teams will be relegated from the Premier League this season?

Answers

Vocabulary

1. ethics
2. stint
3. credentials
4. inept
5. speculate
6. clod

True or False?

1. False
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. False

Sources

None

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