I know there is still *see the blog countdown* days to go until the start of the Premier league Season – but I thought we could have a chat about it now.

Baz upset a few Wolves fans, (all be it accidently), with his post about how the title was lost. I therefore asked if anyone would be willing to have an input into an article about Premiership survival. Well Phil stuck his head up, his money where his mouth is, took one step forward and said – well yes!

Here are Phil’s words:

For me… it’s all about what “Merlin” does with whatever funds Morgan releases.  “Young and hungry” is all well and good against Doncaster, Barnsley, etc.  Put them up against PL quality players and we are doomed.

Your team are the only team to have made us look inept across both games all season.  Look at your squad and it’s full of players who have spent considerable time in the Premier League.

We need that kind of experience through the spine of our team.  But at the same time we don’t want to bring in too many ”big-time-Charlies” and demolish the team spirit that has got us so far.

My observation on Wolves, is they look really good going forward. They have players with speed and agility and can create chances. Having said that, against a couple of the better defences they have been contained and I don’t think Wolves will get the same quantity of chances next year.

The thing that worries me about the Wolves is the defence. It has looked shakey whenever I have watched them on the box. It’s like no one has ever introduced them. You have got away with it in the Championship because you have been able to out-score your opponents, something that will be more difficult in the prem. Phil mentioned in his e-mail to me that Stearman had been omitted in the latter part of the season, and he is probably Wolves best defender. Odd, unless he was injured.

What of us – well as Phil said our defence has been awesome this year. We have certainly been fortunate at times, but on the whole the defence have done well. Our problem has been that we have been too pedestrian going forward a lot of the time. It’s true things improved, but we still somehow seem to lack pace. Sinclair was supposed to inject that – but he was disappointing, (I think he probably didn’t want to be here), Bouazza and Fahey look like they could help that – but on the whole we are slower than most of the top 6 or 7 teams in the Championship. Most of our attacks will be snaffled without any problems with our existing squad.

We MUST buy a couple of creative players with pace – something Brucie failed to do. Seb and Pennant did well – but lacked real pace.

So both sides will need new players, we were discussing this on the forum. We think something like 8-12 players, so a major overhaul. Wolves could probably get away with less, but will then suffer with the small squad syndrome.

Phil then went on to say:

One potential bonus for all of us is if two of the more established teams fall this year.  In THEORY gives us a better chance next year up against Hull, Stoke, Burnley (whoever!), Sunderland, Blackburn, Bolton, etc.

For me this is the most critical information. Let’s asssume that Newcastle and Boro join the Albion. That is 2 pretty big sides out of the way.

So who would be in the bottom 8? Obviously us, Wolves, Hull, Stoke, (the 2nd year is always harder), Bolton, Portsmouth I think will struggle. Add to that possibly Wigan and Portsmouth and our chances increase. Obviously, maybe excepting Sheff Utd, the play-off sides will also struggle.

I think us and Wolves have a reasonable chance of staying up TBH.

Here’s to next season.

Kev