Season Preview: Wolves

Overall Outlook - One of the teams that I saw live and in person last season and I have to say I went from being a little down on them to really appreciating the effort and commitment that they got from limited talent last season.  There were some numbers (Fletcher, Mouyokolo, van Damme) as well as some proven quality added over the Summer in an attempt to consolidate their place in the Prem.  The quality comes in the form of Stephen Hunt arriving from Hull to reunite with Kevin Doyle and Marcus Hahnemann to see if they can recreate the Reading-in-2006/2007 magic that shocked the Premier League with an 8th place finish.  The big question is whether the talent exists on the current Wolves roster to fill the roles that players like Dave Kitson, Sidwell, etc. filled on that Reading squad to push them towards the top half.  I think that Wolves will indeed consolidate their place and survive.  That said, there is one thing worth mentioning at this point, I'm pretty sure those two exact players - Sidwell and Kitson - are extremely available if Mick wants to get Stevie Coppell's band back together.  In fact, I guess Coppell himself is pretty available at this point as well - perhaps a first team manager in waiting?  Just saying...

Round-up

Six footballers playing for Iran's national team, including the captain, have appeared in a World Cup qualifier in Seoul, South Korea, wearing armbands in green - the colour used by Mr Mousavi in his election campaign. Our correspondent says this was an incredible thing for them to do with the match shown live on Iranian television.

In other transfer news:

• Hahnemann joins Wolves A good signing. He's prone to do some stupid things from time to time, but a great shot stopper and with that vital Premier League experience.
• Kelly joins Fulham It doesn't bode well that he couldn't get a game at Stoke last season, but this is a good squad-building move for Fulham. Nothing more, however.
• Coyle ready for tough start Burnley's opening month fixtures are @Stoke, Manchester United, Everton, @Chelsea, @Liverpool. Ouch, baby. Very ouch.