I'm back...

[Wivey Wolf]

... from two weeks in Sardinia, no papers, no radio, no internet access. We flew out immediately after the Preston defeat, and I've had a scan through the official site, the BBC Sport site and here to catch up on the main news, so I think know all the comings and goings. What I need to know is what have the performances been like - have the team been playing well, or have we been lucky? Is fifth a realistic position at this stage?

[kennyB]

Welcome back Wivey. Can only tell you that I went to the Burnley game and it was a good solid performance and a deserved win. The only player who didn't perform there was Ricketts who was subbed at half time. A poor performance at Chesterfield in the league cup apparently but who cares about that? And I believe another satisfactory effort against Luton on Saturday but I'm sure the Luton thread will tell you that. We seem to be performing above expectations and with maybe another player or two to come in and a couple of the injured players due back I think we should have enough depth in the squad to finish mid-table or even better, possibly reach the play-offs, although still early days I know.

[AndyP]

Big Seyi may well be the new Vieira, Jemal Johnson is like $$$$ off a shovel. :D

[scottishwolf II]

i thought seyi was the new gerrard now?

[cannockwolves]

Good holiday i hope Wivey. I have been away in spain for two weeks so missed the Ipswich game, but caught the Preston game on Sky while sitting in the sun with a jug of sangra!

The most obvious feature for me is the defence is looking a very solid unit. Craddock and in particular Breen have looked very good. Clapham has been sound but he is not as good as Naylor getting forward and i think his lack of pace will be found out against the better sides, but for a mid table finish he will be fine. Dan Jones has impressed me he is very raw but can cross a very good ball from deep - he perhaps needs to run at people more but another good find.

I like the partnership that is developing between Big George and Karl Henry i thing they look very good together, maybe a little defensive with not enough goal threat but I like them and as big George improves his match fitness we could have a very good midfield paring.

Righ side of midfield has not been sorted yet, Potter may be good in the centre but not too sure he can make much impact on the right. Bothroyd looks a great find and I have great hopes for him. There has been a lot of hype around young Johnson and yes he is fast and the goal against Luton was taken early with power so maybe he has something. He is very raw and i think its too early to say he is going to get 20 goals. I do think we need another striker but all the speculation sugests MM is looking at a centre half and a left winger.

On the whole i think we have played OK without being fantastic but its still early days and there where signs against Luton that we can play very well. I think we are in a slightly false position but you never know. I never felt that Sunderland side Mick got promoted with was all that good. We will know more at the end of this week when we see the final transfers before the window closes.

Much more progress than i dared to expect but don't get carried away yet.

[Essex Wolf]

Sounds a nice relaxing holiday WW and hope the weather was good for you.

As regards the Wolves, biggest change I can report is that the whle team works hard, are fully committed and show a passion and desire not seen under GH.

With injured playes to return and a couple more signings? then McCarthy could well have a very good squad capable of acheiving something positive.

I'd say having seen a few teams in the CCC via watching them play against Wolves or on TV that 5th is a very realistic position right now.

[Lupo Italiano]

Hope you had a good time over there in the end WW. Im off to Calabria in the south of Italy in 3 weeks, looking forward to it!

As others have said, the team is playing a much more effective kind of football more suited to this level. Everyone is giving their all and trying their hardest.

What sometimes they lack in ability, they more than make up for in effort and desire.

Even at this early stage, its very much MMs team, and plays as such.

Some of the players he has brought in have been nothing short of revelations. Most notably Breen, Henry, Bothroyd and Johnson.

Between them (they haven't played together yet) JB and JJ have scored 4 goals, 3 of which have been match winners.

Whilst not being silly enough to compare the two, Bothroyd's displays so far have put me in mind of Bully. Fast, powerful, hungry and selfish. Not afraid to have a shot and both his goals have been corkers. The one against Ipswich was one Bully would have been proud of.

Can't wait to see him and Johnson together. I was really disappointed he missed out on Saturday as already, he is a Wolves player I look forward to watching.

Matt Murray has been a colossus, the difference. 3 clean sheets in 5 games tells you all you need to know.

Early days but so far, they have put the fun back into watching Wolves.

A telling sign is that the team haven't been booed off once, even against PNE when we lost 3-1.

Keep up the good work Mick!

[Oldgold Wolfcub]

Do you mean to say that you did not leave Mrs Wivey here to look after your interests while you went swanning off?:cool:

[goldeneyed]

Its looking good. The main thing is the change in attitude imbued in the players by MM. Olo and Henry look good together in the centre. Johnson and Bothroyd could work very well. Breen and Craddock doing the business but need a younger back up/challenger. Next two (?) signings before end August will be crucial. If they are good and some of the injuries clear up we could be challenging for the play offs, if not, we will probably miss out. Daniel Jones very promising. Murray's current injury worrying as he is crucial - hopefully it is nothing serious. We badly need more width and MM hunting for a left winger.

[leedswolf]

Breen and Craddock doing the business but need a younger back up/challenger.

Bischoff? ;)

[Manitoba Wolf]

Bischoff? ;)
Butler?!!!!!!

[thekentwolf]

Bischoff? ;)

Coventry!!!!

[thekentwolf]

Bischoff? ;)

Eric Young?

[Lupo Italiano]

Eric Young?

Isaac Okoronkwo?

[Essex Wolf]

Johnathan Woodgates available.

[HICKO]

... from two weeks in Sardinia, no papers, no radio, no internet access. We flew out immediately after the Preston defeat, and I've had a scan through the official site, the BBC Sport site and here to catch up on the main news, so I think know all the comings and goings. What I need to know is what have the performances been like - have the team been playing well, or have we been lucky? Is fifth a realistic position at this stage?
Welcome back Wivey.
There has been quite a bit of optimism thank goodness. In the main the vibes I'm getting are positive, it's apparent MM has got his players and most Wolves fans on his side. I think the photo of him on the Wolves World page at the Mol on Saturday epitomises the current atmosphere.

[MickMac]

Welcome back, Mick McCarthy is now manager, half the board has left and Bullys out with a bad knee. Yes, I think that's about it. :)

[scottishwolf II]

Johnathan Woodgates available.

with his injury record he really should have been at the mol, hanging out with murray, ndah et al in the treatment room for a couple of years