The Opposition Give Their View Ahead Of Friday's Game

Last updated : 09 August 2006 By @pnemad

Your under new management after Hoddle left, how have the fans taken to McCarthy?

The Glenn Hoddle regime will not be remembered fondly. We were promised free flowing attacking football, shrewd signing and entertainment. However his time at the club featured some of the most boring and gutless performances for many a year, so when he bottled the challenge and resigned less than a month before the season we were delighted.

The Fans have taken to Mick McCarthy really well. He's a manager who will take no messing and someone who will blood the youngsters. Considering we had to cancel a friendly due to not having enough players to field a side two weeks ago he has done remarkably well in the short time he has been with the club.

You finished just outside the play-offs last season so how do you think you will do this season?

Last season was another season of huge under-achievement but 12 of those players have now left the club. If the players play to their full potential we should finish mid-table, however with some new signing and luck we may just be able to push on and sneak into 6th spot. However the expectation is a mid-table finish.

The match is live in front of the cameras, so is there anyone we should look at for Wolves who is going to impress us?

Matt Murray if he's fit. The lad has been ravaged by injury and has played less than five games since his awesome display in the 2003 Play Off Final. He's a giant of a goalkeeper and can be the match winner with he's superb saves. He was brilliant on the first game of the season and if he remains injury free between now and the game he's the man to look out for.

Any new signings since we last met?

The squad is totally different since we last met. Gone are the likes of Lescott, Miller, Kennedy, Seol etc have all gone. We now have a youthful side whilst Mick McCarthy has added Brazilian Gui Finkler, Gary Breen, Jamie Clapham, Craig Davies, Karl Henry and Jay Bothroyd to the squad.

How has this hectic first week of the season shaped up for Wolves and in particular the fans?

I am writing this before our mid-week game with Preston, so if we get a positive result it would have been a decent first week.

Finally a prediction for the game?

All we seem to do is draw at the moment - 1-1.