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As is the usual preseason prediction, the three promoted sides are always the favourites to go straight back down. Last season gave us something of a novelty in recent years, with two of the three sides that came up in 2007-2008 staying with us for another year, as close as Hull tried to throw it all away. With Wolves returning to the Premiership after an absence of 5 seasons, they’ll be keen to hang in there for more than one season.
Let’s not forget that Wolves won the title last season and regardless of what anyone says, The Championship is the hardest league in the world to get out of in the right way. Leeds United, Charlton Athletic, Norwich City, Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley have all gone the wrong way out of the league and the division is littered with sides that have big grounds, big squads and plenty of Premiership experience. Sure they faltered at the end, but not many clubs get up without a blip or two along the way. Newcastle United and Middlesbrough beware!
The 1990’s saw Wolves consistently challenge at the top of the Championship table, only to miss out in Play offs and falter in the final straight. Sir Jack Hayward, after taking over in 1990, spent plenty of money upgrading Molineux and attracting high calibre managers to the hot seat. For some reason, Wolves have a reputation as sacking club, but since 1990, they’ve only had 7 managers. Hardly the situation you would see at some other clubs in the same period who you would consider lesser sides in the scheme of things. Barnsley have had 12 managers, Sheffield Wednesday 11 and neither side has come close to returning to the Premiership this century.

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The last experience of the Premiership for Wolves in the 2003-2004 season was one of gallant failure. The side was made up of aging pro’s who had plenty of Premiership experience but not necessarily the legs or skill required to keep them up finishing 6 points adrift of Everton. In the five years since they last played top flight football, the league has changed somewhat. 6 of the teams that finished above them have now been relegated, 3 of them suffering further with Leeds United and from next season Southampton and Charlton Athletic having another relegation out of the Championship.
The key factor this time around is the away form for Mick McCarthy’s men. Last time round, they didn’t manage to win a game away from home, conceding 4 or more goals 7 times and going 7 games without a win in two separate runs. The strike force of Miller, Blake and Iversen didn’t deliver and whilst Ganea, Cort and Camara tried their best once they came in, it was too little, too late.
This close season has seen Wolves smash their transfer record with the £6.5 million capture of Kevin Doyle. If they can get Doyle and the promising Sylvan Ebanks-Blake working in tandem in friendlies, that could be the relationship that keeps them up. With the promising Sam Vokes, Andrew Keogh and Stephen Ward in reserve, they need another striker who can get them goals if injury effects the first choice line up.
<div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignleft" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20090728_WST_9445_Kevin_Doyle_280x390_836133a.webp&amp;width=280&amp;height=390" alt="" width="280" height="390"></figure></div>What he would give for discovering another Steve Bull on a bargain price from West Bromwich Albion again. Don’t forget though that Ebanks-Blake has hit 37 goals in 63 games since he joined them from Plymouth Argyle. He won the Golden Boot for being the league’s top scorer two seasons in a row, so he’s no mug and graduated through the ranks of Manchester United.
McCarthy has also added Andrew Surman, Nenad Milijas, Bobo Balde and Ronald Zubar as well as former Reading players Marcus Hahnemann and Greg Halford. I’m not surprised they went for an experienced goalkeeper, as solid as Wayne Hennessey and Matt Murray are, Hahnemann knows exactly what to expect in the Premier League. A strong character between the sticks is crucial and as highly rated as both current goalkeepers were, confidence can be shattered by a 4 or 5 goal mauling at Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge.
There will be no doubt that Molineux will see Wolves and their fans celebrate wins, of that there is no doubt. Last time round, the home form wasn’t too bad all in all, keep things tight at home and go after teams like Stoke, Hull, Burnley, Birmingham and renowned travel sickness sufferers Spurs, Portsmouth and Fulham.
Don’t forget that Manchester United left with their tails between there legs after losing 1-0 last time they visited Wolves in the Premiership. Stoke City’s home support last season showed just how important crowd backing can be. It is crucial when you’re up against it and can make all the difference. If the crowd sense you’re giving 100%, they’ll match you all the way.
The other factor for Wolves now is the backing of owner Steve Morgan. Wolves have money to spend, but need quality over quantity. McCarthy had his hands tied with a miniscule budget whilst at Sunderland, but brought in too many players who simply couldn’t cope with the rigours of Premiership football. He’ll know that another striker is the crucial signing, but I don’t see Wolves struggling this time.
It’ll be tight but I think they’ll stay up. They’ve got money, passionate noisy fans, the nucleus of a hungry, keen side and the fans should be looking forward to a steady season. A couple more signings are needed but they’ll be fine and with plans to expand the stadium, Wolves could be about to enter a new era in the best shape they’ve been in since 1960.

Premiership Promotion Preview No.1: Wolverhampton Wanderers - World Soccer Talk

Premiership Promotion Preview No.1: Wolverhampton Wanderers

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Maybe I’m a sentimentalist, but watching a former top flight stalwart fight for promotion holds an undeniable appeal. Former league giants Leeds United nearly made it back to the top flight in <a href="http:\/\/www.statto.com/football/stats/england/league-championship/2005-2006" target="_blank">2006</a>, and I found this notion exciting. Leeds repaid my interest with a disastrous season the following year and relegation in the spring of 2007.
Now, Wolverhampton Wanderers sit atop the Championship table, five points clear of Birmingham City.
The once mighty <a href="http:\/\/www.wolves.co.uk/page/HistoryIndex/0,,10307,00.html" target="_blank">Wolves</a>, who won three top tier titles in the 50s (and were a mere point away from winning a fourth in 1960), sunk as low as the fourth division in the mid 80’s until they were saved from an untimely death by an ownership change in 1986.
Eventually, Sir Jack Haywood bought the club in 1990 and invested in making Molineux Stadium into “one of the most modern in the country.”<a href="http:\/\/www.wolves.co.uk/page/History/0,,10307~482291,00.html" target="_blank">¹</a>
Wolves made it to the playoff semi-finals in 1995, 1997 and 2002. They finally enjoyed promotion to the top in 2003, but were relegated again at the end of the season.
In the summer of 2007, Cheshire businessman Steve Morgan bought the Wanderers. “I remember the days when Wolves were the greatest club in the land,” said Morgan after taking over the club.<a href="http:\/\/news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/6937817.stm" target="_blank">²</a> “And, although times have changed, we are going to do our best to take Wolves back to where they were.”
Now, Morgan’s Wolves may have a great chance at making the leap back to the top flight.
Wolves certainly have a fight in them. Their goal differential of 24+ is second only to Reading, who sit third. And they have one of the most exciting strikers in the Championship in 23-year-old Sylvan Ebanks-Blake who was <a href="http:\/\/www.wolverhamptonwanderers-mad.co.uk/news/loadnews.asp?cid=TMNW&amp;id=440348" target="_blank">named</a> FourFourTwo Championship Player of the Year and also won Mitre Goal of the Year for a stunning individual <a href="http:\/\/www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ4sB-PHlgk" target="_blank">goal</a> against Charlton Athletic in 2008.
Nine points clear of the playoff zone, Wolves still have <a href="http:\/\/www.wolves.co.uk/page/Fixtures/0,,10307,00.html" target="_blank">to face</a> Birmingham, Southampton, Derby County, Queens Park Rangers and Barnsley. Wolves have a strong away record (11, 3, 6) and are unbeaten against the sides they still have to play away. Birmingham, who held Wolves to a draw when they visited Molineux, will likely be the biggest challenge as they too are fighting for promotion. Southampton who currently sit in the relegation zone will also have the motivation to cause problems for Wolverhampton as three points and some goals could deliver them to safety.
Wolves hit a five match rut in February, earning two points from five matches, but seem to be back on the right path lately, enjoying four wins and a draw since their slump.
A lot can still happen and who knows how Wolves will fare if they do win promotion, but this remains one of the most exciting times for Wolverhampton in years. The dream is in sight. If only the side can remain focused.

Will Wolverhampton Wanderers Return To The Top Flight? - World Soccer Talk

Will Wolverhampton Wanderers Return To The Top Flight?

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Premiership Promotion Preview No.1: Wolverhampton Wanderers

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Will Wolverhampton Wanderers Return To The Top Flight?