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Wolverhampton: 2011 Team Preview | EPL Betting Odds

Matt Martz weighs in with Barclays Premier League 2011 futures betting article on Wolverhampton. The Wolves’ Manager Mike McCarthy is a very talented and knowledgeable boss, and he seems really content and confident in his players…

English Premier League – Wolves 2011 Preview

The Wolverhampton Wanderers finished the 2010-11 season on a high note beating out relegation by just one point on the last day of the season to finish in 17th place. They now return, trying to improve upon that in their third year in the Premier League.

Odds to win the 2011-12 Premiership outright 5,000/1

The Wolves’ Manager Mike McCarthy is a very talented and knowledgeable boss, and he seems really content and confident in his players, having never swayed one way or another through the club’s tough season. This will go a long ways for a not-so-talented team as they will likely have another tough season.

The players will look to their manager for leadership, and he is likely to give it in a great way with his unwavering charisma.

Despite their woes last year, the team still has a winning record under McCarthy dating back to their time in the Championship League, and he has to receive a lot of credit for where the team is at right now.

The club was rather quiet during the transfer season, but did add a couple of really promising players in midfielder –Jamie O’Hara and defender Roger Johnson; both of which are expected to be on the first-team and are a major upgrade from the players they replace.

The team’s most obvious weak spot going into the season is in goal and net minder Wayne Hennessey will be back this year after being a big disappointment last year.

In 2010-11, Hennessey conceded 41 goals in just 24 total starts, a line that just won’t get it done in top-level soccer. Fortunately for Hennessey, though, the side did add to the backline with Johnson, who was just appointed team captain by McCarthy. [ad-3678122]

The Wolves also held on to their other top defenders in Kevin Foley, Christophe Berra and George Elokobi, and will hope that their experience of playing together as a unit will pay off this season.

Wolverhampton’s 4-4-2 scheme fits the roster perfectly this year compared to last, as there was always a gaping hole that Johnson will be filling along the defense.

The midfield is rather pedestrian, and will likely be the deciding factor of success for the squad. O’Hara is no doubt the best player in the group, but with the 4-4-2, they need another player to step up and be dominant. Matthew Jarvis has shown signs of taking over some of the duties in the engine room, scoring four goals and six assists last year, and only time will tell if he is the answer.

The two forwards, Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher, were very inconsistent last season, and with them being the pieces that make the scheme go, they will have to raise the level of their game for this team to be successful.

Matt’s Wolves Prediction:

The Wanderers have a very promising squad and a manager that the team has rallied around in recent years, but I just don’t think they have enough talent to get through another year in the Premier league. Last year, a lot of people said the same thing, though, and they ended up beating Manchester United and Chelsea during the season.

However, I wouldn’t count on lightning striking twice.

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