Football News
Three selection headaches facing...Mick McCarthy
Wolverhampton Wanderers have continued the solid form they showed at the end of last season into the new campaign and, with Mick McCarthy having laid to rest his Premier League hoodoo, the groundwork looks in place for Molineux to become a hotbed of Premier League football.
With the new season still in its infancy, Sport.co.uk takes a curious glance at Wolverhampton Wanderers’ squad and wonders to what extent McCarthy knows what his best side is as he attempts to keep the Wolves revolution rolling.
What do you think, Wolves fans? Are there any changes to personnel that you’d like to see McCarthy make? What do you expect from the side this season? Have your say in the comments section at the bottom of the page…
Who/how many up front?
Last season’s tactic of Kevin Doyle as the lone striker proved ultimately to be successful but the signing of Steven Fletcher and return to form of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has given rise to questions over how Wolves should now be set up. The debate was made no clearer by the fact that a Doyle and Ebanks-Blake-led 4-4-2 yielded only a 1-1 draw at home against Newcastle – largely due to the reduced numbers in midfield - but judgements should not be cast after just one game. The acquisition of the much-travelled Marcus Bent further strengthens the case for two up top, although a tough away game at Fulham this weekend might call for a more conservative approach in McCarthy’s mind.
Full-backs
On the right-hand side, there’s a choice between Ronald Zubar or Kevin Foley. On the left, Jelle Van Damme, Stephen Ward or George Elokobi. There will be disappointed absentees and bench-sitters along the way but these options enable a ‘horses for courses’ approach and make for a pretty decent problem to have, as problems go.
On the flanks
Meanwhile, Foley, Van Damme and Ward can also be considered for the corresponding midfield positions, along with the rejuvenated Matt Jarvis, Adlène Guedioura, David Edwards and even Marcus Bent, who has been known to play wide right in the past. Wolves fans will be hoping to add the name of Michael Kightly to this list in the second half of the season.