With the start of the season just days away, the some of the Wolves Fancast writers make their season predictions before Wolves kickoff against Blackburn Rovers.
Ross Watson
In less than a tweet, how Wolves will fair this season?
At this stage it is impossible to say. With 2/3 signings – automatic challenge/comfortable play off push. With no signings – 9th-14th.
Which players are likely to impressive?
I am very excited to see Dominic Iorfa cement his place at right back. His unorthodox style is intriguing to watch and, proving he can improve his final ball, he stands to be one of the most promising players in the division.
Which Wolves youngster will have the best chance of stepping up?
Bright Enobakhare. If Wolves decide not to purchase a striker, it seems the baton will fall to Bright. With an impressive tour of France under his belt, as well as another striker against Telford United earlier this week, the future certainly looks Bright.
Any positions where we are likely to struggle?
Width. Jackett’s persistence with a Roy Hodgson-esque narrow midfield does scare me somewhat, especially in a league like the Championship.
One signing you’d like to see us make?
I would love to see Matt Jarvis back at Wolves, as he’s currently wasting away at West Ham United. It would just be perfect, wouldn’t it?
Who should start against Blackburn?
CI
DI-RS-KH-SG
CC-KMAC
VLP-BA-(new left winger/Wallace if fit/Jordan Graham)
ND
Final league position?
With 2/3 key signings – 3rd.
No signings – 9th.
Craig Talbot
In less than a tweet, how will Wolves fair this season?
Wolves will continue to show flair and a good attacking play but our lack of experience will let us down. Expect a solid but unsurprising year
Which players are likely to impress?
Dicko and Afobe will impress onlookers both inside and outside the club yet again while Iorfa should continue to improve on his solid debut season.
Which Wolves youngster will have the best chance of stepping up?
I think this is a huge chance for Kortney Hause to step up and prove himself in the centre back position with Danny Batth out injured for a couple more months. Jordan Graham should also be given chance to shine for a run a games.
Any positions where we are likely to struggle?
Although Dicko and Afobe are two of the best strikers in the championship, we lack any significant back up for them. With Sako and his healthy goal haul having now left for pastures new, we are crying out for another striker, attacking forward or winger that can help with the goals and assists.
One signing you’d like to see us make?
Slimmest of slim chances but I wouldn’t mind seeing Matt Jarvis back in a Wolves shirt with his opportunities at West Ham dwindling to help out our problems out wide.
Who should start against Blackburn?
The same starting eleven that started in the Aston Villa friendly. Although I would like to accommodate a more out and out winger to give Edwards a more central role.
Final league position?
8th-While I think Jackett has made some shrewd signings so far, our squad is still looking thin outside our starting eleven and as the campaign rolls on I think this could take its toll when injuries and suspensions come into play. However if the right new signings come in or enough youngsters make the step up, we could be right among the promotion chasers.
Compton Stars
In less than a tweet, how Wolves will fair this season?
Comfortably in the playoffs flirting with the top 2 but falling just short
Which players are likely to impressive?
Predictable answers but Afobe, Iorfa and Hause
Which Wolves youngster will have the best chance of stepping up?
If you nailed me down to one would say Jordan Graham as he’s a few years older
Any positions where we are likely to struggle?
Even with the Ojo signing still don’t think we have replaced Sako on the left wing with anybody of the required standard, need more quality on both wings in my opinion
One signing you’d like to see us make?
Alex Pritchard on loan from Spurs
Who should start against Blackburn?
(4,2,3,1) Ikeme, Iorfa, Stearman (C) Hause, Goldbourne
Coady, McDonald,
Henry, Afobe, Rowe,
Dicko
Final league position?
4th
Dan Sherriff
In less than a tweet, how Wolves will fair this season?
I am genuinely confident. I feel that the minimum we will achieve is a playoff spot. Beyond that, you just never know in the Championship.
Which players are likely to impressive?
After watching him in pre-season I expecting big things from Connor Coady. I said to the person sat next to me that he reminds me of Steven Gerrard. He is a box-to-box midfielder who can get stuck into a tackle, exactly what was missing at times last season.
Which Wolves youngster will have the best chance of stepping up?
With us only having two senior strikers the player who has the biggest chance to set up, in my opinion, is Bright Enobakhare. In pre-season he was looked like he would fit into our side as he possesses great pace and an eye for goal, as his goal against Doncaster shows.
Any positions where we are likely to struggle?
I imagine that each blogger is going to give the same answer for this question….. Left wing. The hole left by Sako has not been filled, and as things stand that does make our starting XI weaker and the whole team looks unbalanced.
One signing you’d like to see us make?
A winger is priority number one. As I have previously mentioned I like the look of Sean Scannell. Another player worth mentioning is Anthony Pilkington, currently at Cardiff. When he was in the Premier League with Norwich he looked a real talent. Since then he has gone a little quiet. Could Kenny be the man to revive his career?
Who should start against Blackburn?
Ikeme, Iorfa, Stearman, Hause, Golbourne, Henry, Coady, McDonald, VLP, Dicko & Afobe. No real surprises, but it is our most balanced side and it is full of threats.
Final league position?
I am going to be bold and say 3rd. This will be after a valiant fight for the top two, which we lose out on in the last couple of games. Let’s hope this prediction is incorrect though.
Graham Large
In less than a tweet, how Wolves will fair this season?
We have a young group of players who are only going to get better with another year together. I think we will surprise a lot of people.
Which players are likely to impressive?
I think Conor Coady is the combative midfielder we have been missing for the last couple of seasons. He looks like someone who is capable of adding much-needed physical presence to the engine room.
But all eyes will be on the attacking triumvirate of Nouha Dicko, Benik Afobe and new signing Adam Le Fondre. Each of last season’s promoted teams had something in common: three clinical finishers.
Bournemouth – Wilson-Kermorgant-Pitman = 48 goals
Watford – Ighalo-Vydra-Deeney = 57 goals
Norwich – Jerome-Grabban-Hooper – 42 goals
For the first time in a long while, I think Wolves have three strikers capable of notching 40+ goals between them – and that could be worth an extra point come May.
Which Wolves youngster will have the best chance of stepping up?
I fully expect Bright Enobakohare to make his first-team debut during the opening weeks of the season. His confidence is sky high at the moment. Hopefully he can build on that and notch a couple of goals in the process.
Any positions where we are likely to struggle?
Left-wing – as highly regarded as Sheyi Ojo is, we can’t expect an 18-year-old kid to play 46 games. I don’t see either Tommy Rowe or David Edwards as wingers, and we are yet to see where Jed Wallace fits into Jackett’s plans.
In goal – Tomasz Kuszczak proved a safe pair of hands (no pun intended) in Carl Ikeme’s absence, but he has moved on and now it’s up to Aaron McCarey to step up should anything happen to Ikeme this season. For me, we lack an experienced number two who can come in and challenge Ikeme for the number one shirt.
One signing you’d like to see us make?
Jamie Paterson from Nottingham Forest.
Who should start against Blackburn?
Ikeme, Iorfa, Hause, Stearman, Golbourne, Coady, McDonald, Ojo, Afobe, Henry, Dicko.
Final league position?
I think Middlesbrough and Derby will run away with the automatic spots and there are some very strong teams in the play-off hunt. I’ll say 5th – and then it’s down to the lottery of the play-offs!
Let us know how you think the season will pan out on twitter, facebook and on the comments below.
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