Premier League Season Preview: Wolverhampton

Jul 23, 2010

With the Premier League season now rapidly approaching, I have decided to take a look at each of the 20 sides that will be playing at the top level of English football during this upcoming season.

To start off my countdown, I have decided to actually go in reverse order with Wolverhampton starting off the list, and Arsenal concluding this list right before the start of the Premier League season.

In the first part of this preview, I will look at the Wolverhampton Wanderers, who finished 15th in the Premier League last season after being promoted from the Championship the year before.

Review of last season:

After finishing first in the Championship in 2008-2009, Wolverhampton returned to the Premier League for the first time since the 2003-2004 season.

And during the season, Wolverhampton was able to impress despite not scoring in 17 of their 38 matches.

Wolves were able to do this with a great defensive effort throughout the season, and some great goalkeeping by Marcus Hahnemann, which made up for their 32 goals (the fewest in the Premier League).

And as a result, Wolves were able to get their best result in the top tier of English football in 30 years with their 15th place finish.

Transfers:

New Signings:

Jelle Van Damme (Anderlecht), Steven Fletcher (Burnley), Steven Mouyokolo (Hull City) and Stephen Hunt (Hull City).

Departing Players:

Jason Shackell (Barnsley), Mark Little (Peterborough United), Chris Iwelumo (Burnley),

George Friend (Exeter City), Andrew Surman (Southampton), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Peterborough United), Daniel Jones (Bristol) and Stefan Maierhofer (MSV Duisburg).

Wolverhampton Premier League Fixture List

All Times are GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

Saturday, August 14 2010
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Stoke City (15.00)

Saturday, August 21 2010
Everton - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Saturday, August 28 2010
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Newcastle United (15.00)

Saturday, September 11 2010
Fulham - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Saturday, September 18 2010
Tottenham Hotspur - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Sunday, September 26 2010
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Aston Villa (14.00)

Monday, October 4 2010
Wigan Athletic - Wolverhampton Wanderers (20.00)

Saturday, October 16 2010
Wolverhampton Wanderers - West Ham United (15.00)

Saturday, October 23 2010
Chelsea - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Saturday, October 30 2010
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Manchester City (15.00)

Saturday, November 6 2010
Manchester United - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Wednesday, November 10 2010
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Arsenal (20.00)

Saturday, November 13 2010
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Bolton (15.00)

Saturday, November 20 2010
Blackpool - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Saturday, November 27 2010
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Sunderland (15.00)

Saturday, December 4 2010
Blackburn Rovers - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Sunday, December 12 2010
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Birmingham City (13.30)

Sunday, December 19 2010
West Bromwich Albion - Wolverhampton Wanderers (12.00)

Sunday, December 26 2010
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Wigan Athletic (15.00)

Tuesday, December 28 2010
Liverpool - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Saturday, January 1 2011
West Ham United - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Tuesday, January 4 2011
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Chelsea (19.45)

Saturday, January 15 2011
Manchester City - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Saturday, January 22 2011
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Liverpool (15.00)

Tuesday, February 1 2011
Bolton - Wolverhampton Wanderers (19.45)

Saturday, February 5 2011
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Manchester United (15.00)

Saturday, February 12 2011
Arsenal - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Saturday, February 26 2011
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Blackpool (15.00)

Saturday, March 5 2011
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Tottenham Hotspur (15.00)

Saturday, March 19 2011
Aston Villa - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Saturday, April 2 2011
Newcastle United - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Saturday, April 9 2011
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Everton (15.00)

Saturday, April 16 2011
Stoke City - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Saturday, April 23 2011
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Fulham (15.00)

Sunday, May 1 2011
Birmingham City - Wolverhampton Wanderers (12.00)

Saturday, May 7 2011
Wolverhampton Wanderers - West Bromwich Albion (15.00)

Saturday, May 14 2011
Sunderland - Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

Sunday, May 22 2011
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Blackburn Rovers (15.00)

Major Questions Going into this season:

1. Will Wolves actually score some goals this season?

Last year, Wolverhampton made their most expensive transfer ever to get Kevin Doyle, but the goal production did not go up at all.

Now this season, Wolves should be able to get some more goals thanks to their new transfers, but it still is unknown if it will be enough to stay in the Premier League.

2. Will manager Mick McCarthy get sacked early in the season?

Already a favorite to be the first Premier League manager to be sacked, Mick McCarthy had a solid season with Wolves last year despite Wolves' abysmal showing at Old Trafford in which they sat almost all of their regulars last November.

Now, he shouldn't be sacked too early unless Wolves get off to a bad start in the league.

3. Can we expect another great defensive season this year for Wolves?

Why not? Wolves conceded 56 goals last year, but their defense helped to keep out numerous other goals.

Now, with Hahnemann back again, there is no reason why they can't perform that well again.

4. Will Wolves be able to stay in the Premier League?

Due to their defense, I think Wolverhampton should stay in the Premier League for this season, as they look to get more offense.

There is no doubt they have the talent to stay up, and they should be able to stay in the top flight this season.