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Wolverhampton Wanderers - Revival

Started on 3 November 2015 by LFC
Latest Reply on 2 December 2015 by Jack
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Kenny Jackett optimistic about Wolves' future after missing out on Championship playoffs



Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Kenny Jackett is confident of another strong season after narrowly missing out on the Sky Bet Championship playoffs last season.

Former Millwall boss Jackett had joined the side in their worst position since 1989 with Wolves relegated to the third tier of English football at the hands of Jackett's Welsh compatriot Dean Saunders.

Wolves' revival began when Jackett joined the club and he led them to the League One title in a season where he was named LMA Manager of the Year for the division.

The former Premier League side had fallen sharply but it seems that Jackett's arrival at Molineuax has done wonders for confidence in the squad. The 53-year-old guided the Midlands club to 7th place in their first season back in the Championship, missing out on the playoffs for promotion back to England's top division only on goal difference.

Some injury problems have plagued Wolves' preparations for the new campaign with key players such as Danny Batth and Nouha Dicko sidelined for long spells. Centre back Batth is expected to miss the start of the season with a damaged foot, while French-born striker Dicko will be out for over twelve months after tearing his knee ligaments.

But hopes remain high at Wolves, a side who have a youthful outlook with the likes of Dominic Iorfa, Jed Wallace, Benik Afobe and Kortney Hause amongst the team's senior squad, as well as Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo who looks to have a bright future in football.

Players such as Carl Ikeme and Adam Le Fondre provide some balance in terms of experience and Jackett believes his squad is capable of fighting for promotion this season.

"We've had a bit of hard luck last season missing out on the playoffs, and now with these injuries to Nouha and Danny. But I'm confident. All the players are confident and I've seen a lot of confidence from the fans.

It's going to be difficult. We've got a very good squad here - seventh last year, and we've definitely added some more quality to the side. I think it's going to be an exciting season. Our aim has to be a promotion effort with the players we've got here."



NOTE: Apologies to anyone who read my Milan story. I lost a important and quite a long update through nobody's fault but my own, and it sort of put me off getting back into writing on that story.
Good luck! Lots of young, but solid players in the squad. Promotion should be a real target.
Good luck!
good luck!
Good luck Adam!

TRANSFER SPOTLIGHT: Wolverhampton Wanderers



Wolverhampton Wanderers are the team in BT Sport's transfer spotlight this week, so without further ado, let's take a look at the latest gossip and news coming out of Molineux.

Kenny Jackett's Wolves been heavily involved with fellow Championship side Fulham this past week, who are managed by Jackett's compatriot Kit Symons. Let's begin by discussing their latest official signing - Shaun Hutchinson.

The 24-year-old centre back joins from The Cottagers after one season with the London club, having previously played for Scottish side Motherwell, for whom he notched up more than 100 league appearances in Scotland's top flight.

Although he was born in Newcastle and grew up supporting his local side, Hutchinson's first professional side were indeed Motherwell, who offered him his first contract aged 16 in 2007 and he completed his switch from Wallsend Boys Club who had previously produced English talents including Alan Shearer and Michael Carrick.

He played 25 times in the league for Fulham last season before moving to Wolves on Tuesday for a fee of £875,000. Steve Bruce's Hull City, who were relegated from the Premier League last season had challenged Wolves for Hutchinson's services, but the defender opted to join the Midlands club.

Speaking to Wolves' official website, Hutchinson said: "Wolves is a club with a great history. It was a bit out of the blue actually. Kit hadn't put me up for sale, and I'd expected to stay in London if I'm completely honest. There's a lot of talent in the defensive positions here, good young players. Danny (Batth) is out for a while though, so I'm hoping I can put up a fight for a place during his spell on the sidelines."

Wolves captain Danny Batth, 24, is expected to be sidelined for another couple of months.




Fulham have also added to their squad, beating Wolves to the signing of Sunderland winger Will Buckley.

It is understood that Jackett had looked to bring the former Brighton man in on a loan deal and Sam Allardyce had accepted the offer but Buckley chose to join Fulham, citing a fresh start at a new club as his reason.

"I had a couple of offers. One was a loan, and I didn't really want that. I wasn't getting the game time I was hoping for at Sunderland, and don't think I was ever likely to. Big Sam confirmed that when he came in this year, and he said I could leave for more time on the pitch. Fulham are a team looking to get back up into the Premier League and I want to be a part of that."

Buckley, 25, joins Kit Symons' Fulham side for a total of £1.4m, signing a three year deal at the club.

Even more links between the two sides now as Wolves striker Björn Sigurðarson has told his boss that he wants to leave following reported interest from none other than Fulham.

Sigurðarson is rumoured to have reacted angrily to Jackett's initial refusal and with his anger threatening the harmony of the wider squad, he eventually gave in to his demands.

However, the Welshman rejected a bid of under £1m from Brighton which suggests that he won't allow the wantaway striker to leave on the cheap.


More coming out of Molineux this week is that Wolves have pulled out of deals for experienced Championship duo Andy Reid and Matty Taylor. The average age of our team at the moment is 23, and I think it's a side capable of getting up into the Premier League. We've got enough experience in the likes of Adam Le Fondre and Carl Ikeme and that's why I cancelled the deals."

The deals would have totalled less than £500k combined, but Jackett feels the signings of two ageing players would undermine his plans for a youthful squad.

"Andy and Matt are both brilliant players. They're coming to the end of their times at their respective clubs and would have been very cheap to sign. But they're 32 and 33.

Reid is currently recovering from a 10 month injury which saw him sidelined for most of Nottingham Forest's campaign last season, while Taylor has been deemed not quite good enough for Burnley's side by manager Sean Dyche.



Finally, Italy legend Alessandro Del Piero has joined Preston North End from Delhi Dynamos on a free transfer.

Now 40 years of age, Del Piero's performances for Juventus and Italy sealed his place as one of the nation's greatest ever players.

It is unclear how key a role he will play at Deepdale but his arrival is sure to affect merchandising sales at the club in a positive way.

Again Wolves passed up the opportunity to sign a more experienced player, and Jackett showed great resolve in rejecting the chance to work with a player like Del Piero, claiming that his wages would be too high and suggesting that he simply hasn't 'got the legs to compete' any more.
Del Piero at Preston North End... well that's a new one :))

Transfer wise, Hutchinson looks a solid acquisition - and hopefully you can get the money you want for Sigurðarson.
Del Piero in the Championship is magnificent! You did well to snap up Hutchinson. He should fit right into your English nucleus. With Afobe, Dicko and Le Fondre up top, I'd also cash in on Sigurdarson.

Wolves launch Scandinavia raid after appointing Danish scout Mads Jørgensen



Wolves have appointed former Brøndby player Mads Jørgensen as a scout at Molineux. Manager Kenny Jackett has sent the 36-year-old straight out on a scouting assignment in his native Scandinavia and the Dane's knowledge of the area has already proven to be useful after the club announced the signings of Danish trio David Boysen, Jonas Brix-Damborg and Tobias Mikkelsen.

While none of the three players are well known outside of their respective leagues, winger Mikkelsen is perhaps the most reputable of the trio, having notched up eight caps for Denmark's senior side. The 28-year-old has managed to score one goal for his country in a 1-3 defeat to Slovakia back in 2012 but had found himself on the transfer list at last year's Tippeligaen runners up Rosenborg.

Despite protests from fans of the Trondheim-based club, manager Kåre Ingebrigtsen allowed the right footed winger to leave the club for around £145,000 and he is expected to start in Wolves' first Championship game of the season against Blackburn Rovers at Molineux ahead of the likes of James Henry and Rajiv van La Parra.


Meanwhile Jonas Brix-Damborg is a lesser known player, having only won international experience for Denmark at youth level. Now 29 years of age, he joins from Danish Superliga side Hobro IK as one of Wolves' only natural defensive midfielders, and if Jackett is to use a formation which uses such a player, Brix-Damborg could find himself with a serious run in the first team this season.

Often praised for his high work rate and passion while playing for his teams, he signs a two-year deal at Molineux which sees him complete a £375k switch to the Midlands.

The final Dane to join is the youngest of the lot - David Boysen, 24, played in Denmark's second division for Lyngby prior to his £250k move to England, and the left winger was named as the division's Player of the Year. Much like Brix-Damborg, Boysen has not been capped at senior level by his national side but has represented them at various youth levels.

Boysen is also eligible to play for Israel through his Israeli father, and he still has plenty of time to find a way into either of the two squads before his playing days are over. Many expect Boysen to feature heavily on the left flank for Wolves, with his compatriot Mikkelsen attacking the other wing.


Scandinavia is undoubtedly one of the most underrated areas for footballing ability - hope you can pick up some bargains!
I can tell you now from personal experience that Mads Jorgensen is one of the finest scouts in the world, and he'll find many many many many many many many many many hidden gems for you in Scandinavia! He's probably one of the best signings a manager could make, in my eyes. Oh, did I mention he'll find you many hidden gems?

Jackett adds depth up top with Valencia signing but confirms this as last action of the transfer window



Wolverhampton Wanderers have completed the signing of former Portland Timbers striker José Valencia, but boss Kenny Jackett has ruled out any further signings for the Championship club.

Valencia was released by Argentinian club Rosario Central last year but the Colombian attacker is confident of improving his fortunes at his new club Wolves.

"It's been a bit disappointing in the last few years. I've not been at my best but I've been given a real opportunity here in England and I want to grab it with both hands and really just go for it.

They have one of their top strikers out so I really do have a chance to step in and make a name for myself. It won't be easy but I will be giving it my all to hold down a place in the team."

Valencia has represented Colombia at Under-20 level on six occasions, scoring once, and the 23-year-old will surely be hoping this spell at Wolves will allow him to see his performances recognized by Colombia's senior team manager José Pékerman.

It is understood that Valencia, who can also play on the wing, has been brought in to cover the injured Nouha Dicko who is set to miss out on over a year of first team football with torn knee ligaments.

The signing means that Kenny Jackett has three first team strikers available to him in Adam Le Fondre, Benik Afobe and now José Valencia but he has confirmed that no more signings will be made this summer.

"I am really pleased with the team we've got here. I think we've got both depth and quality in every single position and that's ideal.

So, no, I wouldn't expect to see anyone else join before the transfer window shuts. We might review the team in January but for now I'm very happy."

Valancia looks like a great pick-up mate, hopefully he can bang a few in for you! Good luck.
Enner Valencia's v2 :P
Valencia looks to be a very good signing.

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