Once upon a time, the chairman of Wolverhampton Wanderers was millionaire and lifelong fan, Sir Jack Hayward. Having bought the club in 1990, he proceeded to invest an estimated £40-60 million into his boyhood team, with the aim of bringing the glory days back to Molineux. He revitalised the aging ground and invested a substantial amount of money into the playing staff, but it wasn’t until 2003 that Wolves and Hayward got their long-deserved shot at the Premier League.
Sir Jack Hayward eventually managed to get a taste of success.
From Dark Days To A Bright Future
Unfortunately, Hayward’s pockets were not bottomless, and lessened investment in the playing squad saw them finish bottom the following season. Wolves fans grew accustomed to Championship mediocrity until, in summer 2007, a buyer finally came for the club.
In a display of typical unselfishness, Hayward allowed the incoming owner, Steve Morgan, to buy the club for a nominal fee of £10, provided he invested £30 million into the club. Morgan happily accepted.
Upon his arrival, the hotelier immediately let his plans be known:
It is intended that the new capital, over a period of time, will be used to help re-establish Wolves as a Premiership club. Although this is a significant amount of money, there will not be an ’open cheque book’ approach to signing players; instead the club will build on the current strategy of steadily and progressively developing a team of young, hungry and talented players. – Steve Morgan, upon assuming the chair of Wolverhampton
New manager Mick McCarthy, whose management style is a perfect marriage with the club’s philosophy, quietly set about imbuing his squad with the desired qualities. Having narrowly missed out on a playoff place in the Irishman’s first go ’round, the Midlanders dominated the Championship in the 2008-9 season, and haven’t looked back since.
Hunting Success: The Premier League
If you were to describe Wolves this season, Steve Morgan’s ethos would still hold true. Signings have included understated but impressive imports in Adlène Guedioura and Jelle Van Damme, as well as raids for the best players of the relegated teams in the three Stevens (Fletcher, Hunt and Mouyokolo).
When examined at more closely, these additions look even more outstanding. Guedioura, for example, has spent a few seasons in the French league, known for its physicality, and excited while on loan at Molineux last season. He should therefore need no time to adjust this season.
Van Damme arrives with an formidable CV, which includes spells at Ajax, Southampton, Werder Bremen, and most recently Anderlecht, where he was a regular starter in the Champions League.
"You'd better score me 20 goals this season, or you'll get it"
Mouyokolo was one of the few splendid players in a Hull side that lacked quality and Stephen Hunt was arguably their most talented, influential attacker during what was ultimately a doomed season.
Steven Fletcher came to the club having gained a Players’ Player Of The Year award for his efforts, for relegated Burnley. The Scotsman has been brought in for his ability to create, as well as score goals, and thus should prove an excellent foil for Kevin Doyle. His £6.5 million price tag may seem expensive, but it will seem a snip if he can produce similar form for a better side.
Michael Mancienne, left, is given lessons on how not to become a fan favourite, from the Stamford Bridge/Three lions experts.
These signings aren’t bad for a team touted as relegation candidates. If there’s one that really stands out as the embodiment of everything positive about the club right now, though, it has to be recent signing Michael Mancienne.
Forced out of Chelsea due to a lack of opportunities, the 22-year-old utility man already has an England call-up under his belt and had many clubs vying for his signature, including West Ham and Newcastle. So then, why did he sign for Wolves?
Wolves have been very good to me in the past and I’m delighted to be back. In a way it feels like I’m coming back home and I’m really looking forward to the season. — Michael Mancienne, at his re-introduction
Mancienne is clearly happy to return to an area in which he is settled, to a manager who has improved him, and to a squad with whom he has an established rapport. These, of course, are all results of steady progress with a stable squad and backroom team.
An Experienced Pack
Steve Morgan is plotting a mid-table finish. Or world domination.
The newcomers join a side with a season’s worth of Premier League know-how. The club boasts a solid spine, with Marcus Hahnemann and Jody Craddock consistently rolling back the years and David Jones and Kevin Doyle providing ingenuity and a goal-scoring threat. A front four of Hunt, Fletcher, Doyle and Michael Kightly would give pause to many an established Premier League team.
With the current squad and infrastructure in place at the club, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise to see Wolves punching above their weight and battling for a mid-table position this season. Early form would seem to confirm this, with a win against Stoke being followed up by an impressive draw against Everton at Goodison Park.
The Hunted Becomes The Hunter?
However, Steve Morgan’s ultimate ambitions for the club reach even further.
We mean business. […] In 10 years’ time I would like to think Wolves would be a totally unrecognisable club from where it was in 2007, not forgetting the tremendous job Sir Jack did. –Chairman Morgan, in a June interview
The talismanic Hayward has remained at the club as Life President, eager to see Steve Morgan complete the job that he himself began, 20 years ago. It’s been a long time coming but he’s a happy man because right now, Wolves mean business.
We are wolves!
Posted by Joe | 28 August, 2010, 20:00Mean is definitely the right word having watched the game against Newcastle at the weekend. Has been a long time since I've seen a team genuinely try and kick a couple of the opposition players off the park like on Saturday. Karl Henry was the main perpetrator, trying to make up for a lack of ability by kicking through the opposition and putting them off their game. Joey Barton was the best player on the pitch, in spite of being kicked from pillar to post all afternoon with no protection whatsoever from the referee.
McCarthy should be ashamed of himself, he clearly provided instructions to players to target certain members of the opposition. The thing is, he has a talented pool of players at his disposal, to employ archaic tactics like that undermines his faith in his players, does he not think they can win fairly? On another day they would have had two or three players sent off in that game – it was only because their main target was Joey Barton that it was allowed to continue.
David Jones is a genuine talent, great delivery and has looked dangerous every time I've seen him play, maybe Wolves fans can tell me if that I've just seen him on good days, but he looks quality to me. Fletcher likewise is a genuine talent, and one I think can go far in the game. It's not long since Real Madrid were looking at him at Hibs. Kightly looked superb in the Championship, but was riddled with injury last season, big year for him I think. They look a good side, but lack something in the centre of midfield in my opinion to get them into the top half, should be safe though.
Posted by Steve Atkinson | 31 August, 2010, 10:39(For those of you who were unaware, Steve is a Newcastle supporter.)
Posted by Editor's note | 31 August, 2010, 14:16The last time I saw a team trying to kick their opponents out of the game was NUFC against Everton in Feb 2009.
Victor Anichebe is still recovering now, bless him.
Posted by geoffedwards | 31 August, 2010, 16:22You're right Steve, centre midfield is a bit of a dodgy area for Wolves. Karl Henry's decent, but he's not exactly Claude Makalele. To be fair, though, he's not usually the malicious type, which leads me to think the whole "let's kick Joey" debacle was a ploy to exploit his history of poor discipline. I think Barton surprised everyone last Saturday, and after what he's been through, it was a nice surprise. Smith, Guthrie, Barton and Gutierrez are a gutsy quartet I must say – maybe McCarthy was trying to counter that.
David Jones is good, you're right. There are rumours that he's unhappy though – his contract runs out next summer too. I'm sure a few clubs would be interested.
Posted by Tapesh Patel | 31 August, 2010, 22:34Don't criticize Wolves' midfield then? I'm assuming you didn't watch that game? Was apparent from about 3 minutes in what was happening, unfortunately the referee did nothing to prevent it from going that way and had completely lost control of it. You should read again if you think I was criticizing Wolves midfield, my target was their antiquated manager.
Barton isn't exactly a big bloke, and he's hardly got a record of ill discipline on pitch, he plays the game fairly if you watch him. He hasn't caused any trouble at all when here at Newcastle, bar calling Alan Shearer a rubbish manager, which as a Man U fan you will no doubt agree with him anyway. His most commonly referenced indiscretions have all occurred on nights out – he doesn't drink any more. That said Barton has been booked twice already this season, both simply because he's Joey Barton though, neither challenge warranted a yellow. He has been the best player on the pitch in both the Wolves and Villa games now, could be that he's back to his best or just really likes upsetting people from the midlands?
I wouldn't say Smith is a dirty player, just enthusiastic and unfortunately not very good – ergo he mistimes tackles and is regularly booked for doing so.
Oh, and you're right Chelsea would have no chance of competing against Newcastle man for man.
Posted by Steve Atkinson | 2 September, 2010, 12:40By all means, criticise. A black pot has just as much right to express itself as any kettle.
Posted by martin | 2 September, 2010, 14:34He's a Man Utd fan, their midfield, Scholes aside, have a decent disciplinary record, as do Newcastle's by and large. No need to insult him, he was just making a point – no hypocrisy intended on his part I believe. Nor mine for that matter.
Posted by Steve Atkinson | 2 September, 2010, 16:53I think that the black pot comment was aimed at you mate, not the above Steve. I think, although you may be claiming great levels of sarcasm, that he was also referring to the fact Wolves would struggle against Chelsea technically moreso than Newcastle United.
Posted by James | 3 September, 2010, 23:28I did say that there was no element of hypocrisy on my part as well mind you. I didn’t criticise Wolves midfield for their approach to the game – that was absolutely due to the direction they were given by their manager. As it is, they looked awful and technically inferior in that game being overrun by a midfield that ,with the exception of Joey Barton, lacks in class. Shame really because, as I also said, Wolves have some quality players, they just need the addition of one or two more to step on a tad.
Barton ran the show in that game, and has looked a genuine driving force from midfield so far this season. All season long he’s going to have teams try and kick him into reacting, or just kicking him because they can get away with it. The press are just waiting for him to fall from grace again, but he has surprised me so far this season. His passing has been superb, displaying true vision and always weighted well. Here’s hoping he plays himself back into the reckoning for England, he certainly has the ability.
Posted by Steve Atkinson | 6 September, 2010, 17:34Actually I wasn't trying to insult him, I was trying to have the piss with you.
As it happens, I'm a Toon fan. One of the things i like about the club is the inherent mean streak of its best players. Whether it be Shearer, Smith, Barton or Carroll, they play with an edge. Another player of that ilk, whom I like is Mark van Bommel. Especially when you consider his rough style of play, he has an exemplary disciplinary record, as well. For some reason, some people can get away with the ticky tacky stuff and others can't.
You're right about one thing, though. Right now, Barton is well entrenched among the cannots.
Posted by martin | 2 September, 2010, 19:23