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The Side Netting for some of the most insightful football opinion on the internet. We'll waste no time and dive right in, like last time
AS will be
Andrew Stephenson and
AH will be
Adam Huntington.
NEWCASTLE
Strengths -
AS: Newcastle have added some much needed pace to the midfield with the likes of Gabriel Obertan, Yohann Cabaye and Sylvain Marveaux. The choice they now possess in midfield is huge with this pace complimented by the grit of Cheik Tiote, Dan Gosling and everyone's favourite – Joey Barton. A number of young, pacey players are also pushing for places such as “wonderkid” Haris Vuckic and Sammy Ameobi who thankfully seems to already possess more skill than his older brother.
AH: A strong midfield despite losing Kevin Nolan. Yohan Cabaye was an utter steal at £5 million having just won the French Ligue with Lille. The return of Hatem Ben Arfa will be greatly welcomed by the Toon faithful; he’s a class act and can easily be better than Nolan was last season. Cheick Tiote was formidable last season; big, strong and tireless, he’ll be crucial for Newcastle.
Weaknesses -
AS: Newcastle have a history of a strong attack, but weak defence. However, this season could be the opposite. Through the sale of Andy Carroll, Newcastle have left themselves with Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Best and Ba – four players who will do a job (some more so than others), but are not strong enough to compliment the midfield and help Newcastle to the top ten finish they desire. If they can add the correct striker before September 1st then these average first teamers will become strong back up and their situation will greatly improve.
AH: They don’t possess any brilliant strikers. The loss of Andy Carroll paved the way for Leon Best, who was admittedly decent, but he’s no Shearer. Demba Ba, Nile Ranger and Shola Ameobi are far from prolific and would all struggle to make it in other teams line-ups. The sale of Jose Enrique to Liverpool is a big blow too. It’s vital that Alan Pardew brings in some new players before the transfer window shuts.
Key player –
AS: Cheik Tiote controls the centre of the park and is vital. Arguably one of the best defensive midfielders in the league since the demise of Michael Essien, he is absolutely key for Newcastle. He gives protection to the defence, who are still error-prone, and can turn defence into attack extremely quickly with his pinpoint passing.
AH: Cabaye. Unknown to many but the former Lille man will be magic. An old-fashioned box-to-box midfielder with good technical ability and great ball control, he’ll provide Joey Barton/Ben Arfa with cover if they venture forward.
Manager –
AS: Alan Pardew handles himself well in interviews, but has still split fans down the middle after the sacking of popular manager Chris Hughton. The way he got the job led to some claiming he was Ashley's “puppet”, a view which has not been helped by his failure (so far) to spend the £40 million generated by the sales of Andy Carroll and Jose Enrique. 6/10
AH: Poor but he’s got to work with Mike Ashley, who seems hell bent on ruining the club. Might still find himself in a job come May. 4/10
Final Position -
AS: 9th – If a decent left back and striker are bought before September 1st, Newcastle's squad should be strong enough to end the season firmly in the top half.
AH: 13th - A lack of a remotely decent striker will cost them dear, but they should be safe from relegation.
NORWICH CITY
Strengths –
AS: There are definitely goals in this Norwich City side. The firepower of Grant Holt up front has been added to with the likes of Vaughan and Pilkington, while Bradley Johnson and Wes Hoolahan should also contribute a good few from midfield. Even Simeon Jackson, who seems to go missing for large parts of the season could provide some useful goals as he proved with two hat tricks in the latter stages of last season.
AH: Paul Lambert. He’s worked miracles at Norwich and he’s clearly respected by the players. They’ll perform above themselves for him. John Ruddy is a good keeper, and although he’ll have a busy season, I think he’ll catch the eye of some bigger clubs. Top scorers in the Championship last season, they’re the best equipped of the three that came up to get goals. After an incredible two years at Norwich, Grant Holt will be itching at the chance to carry on his prolific scoring rate in the top tier of English Football.
Weaknesses –
AS: While Russell Martin, Ritchie DeLaet, Robert Ayala and Kyle Naughton are all useful defenders, they are all young and inexperienced at this level. They have been “thrown together” and might find it hard to gel, particularly in a Premier League environment. The lack of a real leader at the back could make it even more difficult to form a solid defensive line-up – it may have to be a case of “we'll score more than you”.
AH: Inexperience. A lot of their players have never played in the Premier League before, and this will obviously go against them. Lambert hasn’t really brought in any experienced players either; James Vaughan was a fringe player at Everton, and Kyle Naughton only played once for Spurs. Their defence won’t be used to playing against top quality strikers week in week out either. I reckon they’ll concede a lot.
Key Player –
AS: If Grant Holt can adapt in the Premiership and continue his goalscoring at a level anywhere near that of last year, then he will be key to any chance of survival. Adapting his questionable physique to the pace of the Premiership might be the main stumbling block, but his size and strength could help him with the more physical side of the league.
AH: Holt. Lambert will look to the skipper to get goals. He won’t get as many chances as he did in the Championship, so it’s important that he takes the majority of them. He’s got a big season ahead of him.
Manager –
AS: Any manager who leads his side to successful promotions must be doing something right, particularly in taking them to the Premier League against the odds for the first time in more than a decade. Paul Lambert is a likeable guy and seems to have formed a great team spirit in his team. If he can keep this up, Norwich could well survive into a second season in the league. 8/10
AH: Excellent. Bigger teams will look at Lambert very seriously next summer. 8/10
Final Position -
AS: 17th – Norwich's team spirit and firepower should help them achieve any promoted side's goal of 17th.
AH: 16th - Their attacking attitude will see them outscore the teams around them, this might just be enough to keep them up.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Strengths –
AS: On paper, their strikeforce of DJ Campbell, who had a great season last year and proved he could cut it in the premiership, and Jay Bothroyd, who played well enough in the championship to warrant an England cap, should provide goals a plenty if they can form a partnership. Add Tommy Smith and the experienced Helguson to the equation and there should be goals. Especially considering they have the much-hyped playmaker Adel Taraabt providing for them, and presumably helping out with a number of goals himself.
AH: Neil Warnock has experience in the Premier league already. He’ll be telling all his players what to do and what not to do. The QPR midfield looks pretty decent with Adel Taraabt and Alejandro Faurlin being the two standouts. Taraabt is probably better known, but Faurlin is the one to watch, he’s got an incredible left foot and has a wonderful accuracy to his passing. I’d tip him to overshadow his midfield partner. Kieron Dyer will be a useful addition, but his fitness is vital.
Weaknesses –
AS: Fitz Hall, Daniel Gabbidon, Clint Hill, Bradley Orr. Doesn't read much like a premiership defence does it? New owners with money usually tend to focus on flashy, attacking players, with the defence often being ignored. If this turns out to be the case for QPR, they could end up with the leakiest defence in the league, and extra pressure will be put on a consistently inconsistent strikeforce.
AH: Their defence. It was solid, but relatively untested last season and we’ll see how they cope with the movement of likes of Torres and Aguero etc. The fixture list has been quite cruel to QPR, who will play Chelsea, Spurs and Man City in three of their last four games of the season, when they might be really needing points. I’ve heard that new Brazilian defender Bruno Perone is average at best, not good initial signs.
Key Player –
AS: With such a slack defence, last season's player of the year Paddy Kenny could be key in keeping their goal difference up. He's a good shot stopper, which is good as he'll certainly be kept busy with a shaky defence in front of him. I'd still definitely expect a negative goal difference come the end of May, but he should definitely help their cause.
AH: Taraabt. Needs to get his head down, can the selfishness and turn on the style. After QPR reportedly blocked his transfer to PSG though, he might have a little bit of resentment for his employers.
Manager –
AS: I do not like Neil Warnock as a person. However, I'm not rating his personality, and his managerial skills are slightly better but not exactly world class. He did well last season to keep their momentum going during rough patches, which he needs to repeat this season to try and ease them over the 40 point mark. 6/10
AH: Harsh season for Warnock who’ll be desperate to stay in after what happened the last time he got relegated. I think the fans will understand the tough season the club faces and back him. 6/10
Final Position –
AS: A respectable 15th for QPRs first season back in the premiership, providing their strikeforce finds its form.
AH: A to-be-expected relegation spot for the London club. They'll perform admirably but the defence won't be able to cope. 18th.
STOKE CITY
Strengths –
AS: Their strength is their strength. A hard team to break down, with strength all over the pitch. Strikers who can hold up play and overpower even the strongest defenders. The likes of Huth and Shawcross provide a solid defensive line and are also useful from set pieces, particularly Rory “not really a footballer” Delap's long throws.
AH: Physicality. They’re a big strong squad and teams find it hard to battle against them. The addition of Matthew Upson to their defence will be a boost, as Robert Huth is prone to lapses in concentration. Kenwyne Jones, Jonathan Walters and Ricardo Fuller are all handy players for Stoke who can all offer something different in attack. Now an established Premier League team and FA Cup finalists, confidence should be high at the start of the season.
Weaknesses –
AS: The Potters, while incredibly strong at home, have a terrible away record and haven't won a Premiership match away from home in 2011. They also had a poor goalscoring record compared to those around them, but were solid defensively.
AH: Not enough quality. Stoke have a good team, but there’s no real stand out talents within it. They also had a nasty habit of losing games last season, tasting defeat on 18 occasions (the fourth highest total in the league). They only have one game plan – dangerous from set pieces and in the air - so when it doesn’t work, and last season it didn’t work a lot, they have nothing to fall back on.
Key Player –
AS: For all the strength, they need a certain amount of flair in their team and for that reason, I think Matthew Etherington could be key. Never thought he would turn out to be such a key player for a premiership side but he seems to be thriving in this Stoke side. He is vital for linking up with Walters and Jones.
AH: Walters. Came in last season from Ipswich after a long time in the lower leagues of English football and held his own. If he manages to form a good partnership with Jones I think Stoke might manage to improve on the 46 goals they managed last season.
Manager –
AS: Another manager I dislike. Luckily his managerial sense is better than his fashion sense and he seems to match Stoke incredibly well. He plays to their no-nonsense strengths and doesn't pretend to be anything they aren't. 7/10
AH: Pullis will work on last seasons 13th and just miss out on a top half finish. He might fancy another cup run but I wouldn’t hold my breath for that. 7/10
Final Position –
AS: Could be the surprise of the season. Their strong side could lead to a lot of 1-0 wins and I'm backing them to finish 7th.
AH: A strong season from Stoke, they'll show everyone why they are now an established Premier League side.
SUNDERLAND
Strengths –
AS: Nine new faces in so far this transfer window, Sunderland have bought well. A combination of experience (Wes Brown, John O Shea), youth (Connor Wickham, Dong Won Ji) and creativity in the middle of the park (Craig Gardner, Sebastian Larsson). These have improved the side considerably and if you offered me these players in a direct swap for Jordan Henderson, I'd rip your arm off and buy you some flowers.
AH: Their strength. Physical players like Cattermole will upset the rhythms of teams with hard tackling, which will probably spark another debate about dangerous tackles. They’ve got a good keeper in Craig Gordon, permitted his brittle bones don’t break any more. The Black Cats also have a young midfield, full of running and a willingness to work hard. Asamoah Gyan looked isolated at times last season, so the arrival of Connor Wickham will please him, but it remains to be seen how good the youngster is.
Weaknesses –
AS: They lack a real goalscorer. The real turning point in their season was when Darren Bent left. With Danny Welbeck not returning for another loan spell, it is left to Gyan and the new boys to provide goals. While Wickham and Ji are undoubtedly talented, it may take a while for them to be consistent first team performers and while Gyan is a good player on his day, he's not the consistent goalscorer that Darren Bent is.
AH: Gyan’s isolation was a problem last year, and goals were hard to come by, scoring only 45 (the fourth lowest in the league). Their dependency on him was evident and if he wasn’t playing it was hard to see them win. They also have a pretty new defence, with Wes Brown and John O’Shea arriving. It might take them a while to acclimatise to the workload they’ll experience at Sunderland, which will be very different to United’s.
Key Player –
AS: Sessegnon could be a key player for Sunderland, especially with his creativity and eye for goal. He had a difficult season at times but the signs of an excellent player were there, which I'm sure he will show this year. He needs to link up with Gyan and chip in with some goals of his own if he is going to play just behind the striker as it appears, but if he does, he could be key.
AH: Gyan. He adapted well in his first season, scoring ten. He’ll continue to develop and given the right type of service I’m confident he’ll improve on that tally. His goals will be the difference between a top and a bottom half finish.
Manager –
AS: Steve Bruce has lead Sunderland to a couple of solid premiership finishes in the past couple years, and has been much better than usual in the transfer market this summer. Despite being a Geordie, he seems to have the support of the Mackem fans and should have another solid season in charge. 7/10
AH: Strong season for Steve Bruce. Shouldn’t have any real trouble. Might focus more on the league than the cups. 8/10
Final Position –
AS: 11th. Improved squad on last season, except the strikeforce which will just stop them finishing in the top 10.
AH: My tip for the surprise of the season, a good side that will perform above themselves. 8th.
SWANSEA CITY
Strengths –
AS: Swansea's play last season lead to a lot of praise for their exciting, attacking style. Their attacking players all have pace and flair, and while they didn't score quite as many goals as their fellow Championship title challengers, that should be helped by the divisions top scorer – Danny Graham. With such players providing for Graham, Swansea should continue their exciting style, for their excited fans, even in a league where they start the season with expected relegation.
AH: The 2011/12 Blackpool. They’ll have a go at teams and try to outscore them without worrying about their defence. Scott Sinclair looks to be the Swan’s most dangerous player and the pressure will be on him to perform. I think the fans might play an important part too, having never witnessed the Premier League before I’d like to think that a capacity crowd would be a common sight at the Liberty Stadium. If the fans can get behind the team regardless of their position, they’ll have a decent chance of upsetting a lot of people’s predictions.
Weaknesses –
AS: While they have a solid(ish) defence and great attacking prowess, Swansea seem awfully lightweight in midfield. They have a very pacy midfield, with great attack-minded players such as Sinclair, Dyer and Routledge, but this is a rather one-dimensional midfield. Leon Britton is probably the closest they come to a leader in the middle of the park but in my opinion, he is not strong enough to lead the team from midfield when the going gets tough.
AH: The 2011/12 Blackpool. They’ll concede a bucket-load of goals with their attacking mentality and poor defence. I seriously think they could concede a record amount of goals this season. Ashley Williams will struggle without an accomplished centre-back partner. Defeat after defeat would play havoc on the team morale, effectively losing games before they’ve kicked off. Brendan Rogers needs to keep his team happy, and believing.
Key Player –
AS: For newly promoted sides, a good goalkeeper could well be the difference between reaching the goal of 17th or dropping to 18th by the skin of your teeth. New signing Vorm is a highly rated Dutch International and seems like a great deal at £1.5 million. Swansea's back four looks good on paper and they should feel the safest out of the promoted sides defensively, with Vorm behind them.
AH: Scott Sinclair. Absolutely crucial they keep him fit and healthy. A long spell without him would be catastrophic.
Manager –
AS: Brendan Rogers currently has the highest ever win percentage as Swansea boss. While this will no doubt take a severe hit this season, he has still done incredibly well to take the first Welsh side to the Premier League. A likeable character who has the support of his fans and is unlikely to get sacked, even if they have a poor season. Low expectations could mean Rogers could be a hero if he can lead Swansea to survival.
AH: Rogers is expected to be in a relegation dogfight so the fans shouldn’t be too hard on him. I think it’s inevitable that they’ll be relegated; I hope they stick with him though. 5/10
Final Position -
AS: 19th as much as it disappoints me to say it. I'll be rooting for Swansea, but can see them being a bit lightweight for their Premier League.
AH: They'll prop up the table, but they'll be able to hold their heads high as the provide some entertaining games. 20th.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Strengths –
AS: If they can keep hold of all their players, they have a very strong midfield. Luka Modric is one of the best players in the league, and keeping him could be vital for Spurs. However, should they lose him, Niko Krancjar is a highly underrated player himself who has been unfairly pushed onto the bench. Gareth Bale, although probably not worth of Player of the Year, is still obviously a great player and Sandro had an excellent first season in the Premier League.
AH: The ability to pass the ball about in their midfield. Luka Modric was one of the players of the season last year; technically wonderful, not afraid of a tackle and has a exceptional range of passing. Should they manage to keep him away from the lure of Chelsea, he’ll be instrumental again. Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon and Rafael Van Der Vaart are all capable of playing teams off the park too.
Weaknesses –
AS: Spurs have a number of average but not very effective strikers. Jermaine Defoe had a horrific season last year, Peter Crouch is only useful for bullying defenders and Redknapp doesn't seem to rate Pavlyuchenko ) who I think is the pick of the bunch. This is not a good enough strikeforce to mount a real challenge to the top four which Spurs should ultimately be aiming for. They are constantly linked to some of Europes top strikers but can't stump up the wages, in Harry's own words. If they can land a top striker, they could be a force to be reckoned with.
AH: Goalkeeper. The numerous comedy moments Gomes produces must be hard to laugh at for Spurs fans. He’s good if he’s got a split second to react, but give him longer than two seconds to think and he’ll cock up spectacularly. This creates a very unsure back four, uncomfortable with him at set pieces and the like. To get any higher, they might have to play new boy Brad Friedel, who rarely makes mistakes. However, at 40 years old, his reflexes aren’t exactly razor sharp.
Key Player –
AS: I think Sandro will have a big year and do a vital job in protecting their sometimes weak back four, and linking with the attacking players in midfield. After taking a few games to adapt, he was one of their better players last year and was extremely underrated. He better not try and score any more 30 yard peaches though (a la last season against Chelsea) or Redknapp will shout at him, even when they go in.
AH: Defoe. If he can consistently find the net, Spurs will be in a good position. He’s got the ability to trouble the best defenders in the league, he’s just always been a little bit hit and miss. If Modric plays behind him, he’ll get plenty of chances this season.
Manager –
AS: He's not a wheeler dealer, that's for sure. Redknapp has turned Spurs into a top side and for that, he definitely deserves a lot of credit. He is surrounded with suspicion over transfer dealings, but he has got the best out of his players for a few years now and for that, he can't be faulted. He should perhaps use his tricks to secure some better reinforcements up front though. 8/10
AH: Nothing out of the ordinary from Redknapp. Decent in the league and I’ll shout a cup final too. 7/10
Final Position –
AS: Spurs will not really be pushing for 5th, or be pushed from 7th and should probably ease through the season to 6th place.
AH: They should be able to manage a respectable 6th, after spending the summer trying to keep their best players.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Strengths –
AS: West Brom have established a large squad, with a good number of options, considering this is only their second year back in the Premier League. It has often been said that it is a good squad, not just a good team that leads to success. West Brom have a good variety of midfield and attacking options in particular. If Long and Odemwingie can form a partnership, they shouldn't have a problem with scoring goals.
AH: They’ve got a good, relatively young midfield and this’ll help them out this season. Many overlooked skipper Chris Brunt last season, but he’s a very important player for WBA and he’ll be important again this season. Peter Odemwingie was incredible last season too, taking to the Premier League with ease and ending the season with 15 goals in 32 games. Ben Foster has replaced Scott Carson, which is a good move; I’ve always thought Foster was better than Carson.
Weaknesses –
AS: West Brom don't have a particularly solid back four and despite finishing a very respectable 11th, conceded the second most goals in the division last year. They have not improved their defensive line much (apart from their goalkeeper), and this year could see them leak a similar number of goals. They started the season with only three recognised defenders on the field, which they need to sort out and ideally get a four-strong defensive partnership to try and improve their goal difference this season.
AH: Utter dependence on Odemwingie for goals. He and Shane Long need to hit the ground running for the Baggies to better the 11th place they managed last season. I also feel that they’re weak defensively, with no real leaders amongst the big number of players they have to choose from. Foster could be in for a busy season.
Key Player –
AS: Chris Brunt had a good season for West Brom and provided a good number of assists as well as goals to the side, with his free kicks a particular highlight. He also brings good strength and leadership qualities to the midfield and is certainly no pushover. Just what is needed in midfield.
AH: Odemwingie. His £1million signing a year ago was the signing of last season for me. He’s a clinical finisher and still has a good amount of pace for a 30 year old. Could be a dark horse to finish top scorer, if he gets the right service and Long hits it off with him.
Manager –
AS: Woy is an excellent manager and while perhaps not the best match for Liverpool was given an overly hard time by Scousers who claimed he was a terrible manager, just several months after winning the Manager of the Season award from the LMA. He did much better at West Brom and took them from being in serious danger of relegation when he took over, to a brilliant 11th place finish. A case of a brilliant match of manager and club. 9/10
AH: Roy Hodgson will prove again that he’s better with lower level teams. Good campaign but I wouldn’t anticipate much of a cup run, a top half-finish is more important to him. 7/10
Final Position -
AS: 10th Another good season, similar to the last with plenty of goals scored, more conceded but a solid mid-table position.
AH: A good season for Roy and his Baggies as he works his magic to turn them into an established Premiership side.
WIGAN ATHLETIC
Strengths –
AS: Wigan have a lot of players who are still getting used to life in the Premier League, some who came to the club as highly rated players. They have struggled so far, but if they can find their feet then Wigan will have a lot of flair going forward, through players such as Di Santo, Gomez and Moses. Although it seems they've already given up on Boselli, who has been loaned to Estudiantes.
AH: Wigan’s spirited attitude towards the end of last season was what kept them up. Roberto Martinez is capable of raising the player’s game when it matters. Despite supposed interest from Villarreal, Hugo Rodallega remains at the DW and his attacking play is a huge benefit for Wigan. As a huge fan of Connor Sammon, I’m slightly biased, but I reckon if he gets played often enough he’ll be better than most expect; he’s a good finisher and has a wonderful first touch.
Weaknesses –
AS: Most of Wigans squad is of Championship quality, and their captain is Gary Caldwell. Oh dear. They have failed to replace their best player Charles N'Zogbia and with Rodallega being linked with a move away, it seems this is the time when about nine people will be disappointed when Wigan exit the Premier League.
AH: The loss of N’Zogbia means that they don’t really have a playmaker who’s able to make something out of nothing anymore. James McArthur and James McArthy will have to step up and play above themselves for Wigan to stay comfortably clear of relegation. A poor defence cost them a lot last season, shipping a huge 61 goals in the league alone.
Key Player –
AS: James McCarthy is one of the most promising young players in the league, and could be an incredible player in a few years. He performed very well last season and will surely continue to improve. He is the key to some creativity in a stale midfield.
AH: Rodallega. Didn’t score as often as he’d have liked last season, but he’s definitely got the ability to cause defences problems; he scored against Spurs and Liverpool last season.
Manager –
AS: Martinez was known for his easy on the eye football whilst at Swansea, and is a good manager for managing to keep this Wigan side in the league for the last couple of seasons but I think this is the year his luck runs out. Hopefully he can relocate to a team more suited to him.
AH: The fans adore Martinez, especially after agreeing to stay on for a little longer. He’ll get his players fired up and I think he’ll avoid relegation a bit more comfortably this season. 7/10
Final Position -
AS: 18th – Martinez will be unable to match his performance of the previous two seasons and lead a lacklustre Wigan squad to survival.
AH: I predict Martinez will improve on his finish last season if - and it's a big if - he stops playing the god-awful Franco Di Santo. 14th.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Strength –
AS: Doyle and Fletcher is a fantastic strike partnership for a team usually found near the bottom of the league. Both are great finishers, and Fletcher was instrumental in Wolves avoiding the drop, as he found form at the crucial time. Doyle was linked with a move to Arsenal but since he has stayed, Wolves have a brilliant chance to improve on their league position from last season. Fletcher should get more games than last season though, as in my opinion, he is vital.
AH: Mick McCarthy likes his team to attack, which is good to see, but it might put them in trouble. They’ve got a decent striker force in Steven Fletcher, Sylvain Ebanks-Blake and Kevin Doyle, but none are particularly prolific. Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is a consistent performer for Wolves; his performances will have a direct bearing on how the team finishes in May.
Weaknesses –
AS: Last season, Wolves were incredibly week defensively. On paper, their squad is much better than their league position would suggest (going forward at least), and they won some very impressive games last year – they were the first team to beat Manchester United, as well as wins over City and Chelsea. But they lost the most games in the league, mostly down to their leaky defence.
AH: Defence. A poor backline coupled with a team with an attacking mentality is a recipe for disaster. The addition of Roger Johnson, who is now captain, will help a little, but he’s not the definitive answer for Wolves. Scoring was a problem for Wolves last season, and without adding anyone it might be another one.
Key Player –
AS: Sometimes, all it takes is one player to effect a team. Roger Johnson has been signed from Birmingham and could be the answer to their defensive issues. As well as being a very accomplished defender (and a bargain at £5 million, compared to some other defenders), he is a good leader and could inspire the rest of the defence to a much improved season.
AH: Fletcher. His five goals in five games at the end of last season almost single-handedly kept Wolves up. Could be vital for Wolves again provided he plays regularly and stays injury free.
Manager –
AS: Mick McCarthy is a terrible commentator, has a terrible accent and is a mediocre manager. He kept Wolves up in the end last year, and inspired his team to some huge scalps, but lost far too many games. He probably needs to improve his team talks.
AH: McCarthy survives by the skin of his teeth, but avoiding relegation was always his goal. I wouldn’t expect them to light up any cups either. 4/10
Final Position -
AS: 14th – an improved defence and great strike partnership should see a much improved league position from Wolves.
AH: 17th. A good start to the season is absolutely crucial. It took them till October to manage six points last season.
