A dull 0-0 draw at West Midlands rivals Aston Villa in the lunchtime kick off on Saturday saw Wolves enjoy their second stint at the top of the Premier League in two weeks. This doesn’t suggest that Wanderers will be challenging for the title come the end of the season, however it does show that Mick McCarthy’s men can be hopeful of a little more than staying up by a point on the last day again. An unchanged side for the third week in a row may not have troubled Villa as such, but they showed maturity to hold on for a hard earned point after riding the second half storm.
Despite the fact Wolves have not done a “Stoke” or a “QPR” in the summer transfer window doesn’t mean the squad hasn’t  been significantly strengthened, just ask any Wolves fan to spot the difference between this seasons back 4, and last seasons. The services of new captain Roger Johnson for what seems to be a bargain short of 5 million has tightened up a defense that if called “leaky” last season, would have been an understatement. The other stand out transfer was the permanent signing of the creative midfielder, Jamie O’hara, who impressed massively at the back end of last season after his January loan move from Spurs. Both are sure to play pivotal roles in a settled looking Wolves side this season, who have also managed to hold on to Jarvis and Doyle, amid much summer speculation of the pair moving away from Molineux.
The biggest difference you will notice around Wolverhampton after 7 points from 9 and a unfamiliarly comfortable Carling Cup win against admittedly a second rate league 2 team, is the optimism the fans are showing and the expectations that follow. Many of them have followed the boys from the Black Country through thick and thin, a turbulent 30 years, which at one point nearly saw the end of the club, has perhaps finally been put behind them and becoming an established Premier League side does not seem a million miles away.
The 3 Ms, Moxey, Morgan and McCarthy working in harmony as well as the multi million scheme which will see Molineux completely revamped, suggests that it’s an exciting time to be a Wolves fan. As it stands, it seems the only way is up and this season, Wolves can look to push on from the relegation fighting team to really challenge up the table, but if you know a Wolves fan, you will know they will not get carried away just yet. A view that is reflected by the brutally honest Mick McCarthy, who seems to have assembled a mighty fine Wolves side to progress in the Premier League.
My Prediction: 11th
