club managed by a seriously likeable man, and with the odd seriously good player in their ranks, Wolves were probably one of the unluckiest sides in the league last season – often turning in good performances yet coming away with nothing. They also managed to surprise the bigger sides more often than not – they were of course the first team to beat Manchester United in the league last season.

Again, like Fulham above, Wolves have a good player in each “row” of their side. Wayne Hennessy is a quality young keeper who will only improve with age; Roger Johnson is a very wise signing – although he clearly missed Scott Dann last season, he was still an unerringly consistent stand-out in the Birmingham City side; Matt Jarvis isand at times dire season, before leaving with a well-publicised and well-known health problem, which had caused him to leave Liverpool some years previously.

Then, to add fuel to the fire for some Villa supporters. the club appoints Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish as manager, having knocked back, among others, Steve McClaren (who opts for a berth by the Trent with Notts Forest). In the summer they lose two of their best players, and the two who would have provided the ammunition for £24m (!) man Darren Bent to score the goals which would have lifted Villa into the top half of the table.

In all, the second city giants are in a mess. They have a manager (who is undoubtedly talented, if not perhaps Premier League quality) who half