Welcome to the big time, come and join the party, just don’t take what we, the other 17 teams, already have i.e. prior Premiership status. Play as we do, with a squad game and different and varied formations and players to try to find the balance to survive.
We may all, as fans, have our own favoured system and starting eleven, but this season expect to see Jones chop and change to get the ‘golden’ formula to get at a minimum, 17th place.
Expect to see the extensive use of the 4-5-1 formation when we are up against better, more skilful teams on their own patch. I think we’ll rarely see the use of two forwards in the starting eleven in the 19 away fixtures unless Jones believes we can win it with a 4-4-2 i.e. at Bolton and the likes where three points could prove vital to survival.
We saw 4-5-1 effectively employed last season, most notably at Reading in the play-off semi-final. I’m not a big fan as it invites pressure as most of our midfielders were unable to hold the ball for long enough but we theoretically have better players in the squad now.
At home though Jones knows we have to get the points that are going to see us playing the likes of Blackburn in the opening day of the season next year. Therefore, the onus for the main part will be on us to take the game to the visitors. We’ll need the creativity and flair of Silas and Kennedy and the much hyped pace of Camara to unlock defences.
We’re going to need our forwards to take the highest ratio of chances/goals in their careers, as they won’t get the number they might in Division One. We saw Albion’s forwards fail to make the step up we need to make sure we don’t follow in their footsteps. However, this vital responsibility falls on all 10 outfield players shoulders. We need to be more ruthless from set piece plays and get goals from all areas of the pitch.
Expect to see the use of the larger squad we now enjoy. Everyone will play a part as no doubt injury; lack of form, suspension and lack of ability will play a part for all those on our books.
I also expect us to sign one or two more players before the end of the current month and the closing of the transfer window. Jones won’t have completed his signings. He’s got three, possibly four games, to assess what he has before the window closes on re-inforcements until January.
We need Super Jo, King Kenny and Sparky fit and ready to roll as soon as possible as for me they are three first choice players. Irwin and Ince will find the return to the Premiership a real test of their fitness and will need to use their minds as much as possible to prevent them from being exposed as having stayed one season too long.
However, as day one approaches this is my preferred starting eleven at home and away:
Home 4-4-2
Murray
Irwin – Lescott – Craddock – Naylor
Camara – Ince – Silas – Kennedy
Iversen - Miller
Away 4-5-1
Murray
Luzhny – Lescott – Craddock – Irwin
Camara – Cameron - Ince – Silas – Kennedy
Miller
Yes at home, no Cameron and a more attack minded defence. On the road more experience and steady players to battle for points.
However, we are starting life as a Premiership team without three of either of those teams and if we start well then it might be difficult to dislodge those in possession of the shirt. Also, with no pre-season behind them it takes a long time to get back into things which would be compounded by a poor start.
One thing for sure – it’s going to be great.
Wolves-mad in the Premiership 2003.
E-mail me with any comments or feedback to: dave@wolves-mad.co.uk