Hungry like a Wolf

Wolverhampton Wanderers missed out on a play off place last season due to a pure lack of firepower, this season they are finding no such problem.
For much of last season goals were as rare as Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane sharing pleasantries. As the 53 goals scored in 46 games was, in truth, excessively laughable. Last Christmas was not generous as Wolves only picked up 4 points from a possible 21 over the festive period, despite having a strong finish they fell agonisingly short, in fact a mere two goals was the difference between sixth and seventh spot.
The ‘goals for’ tally was the second worst in the top 16 of The Cola-Cola Championship, even the team known for its pedestrian sideways pass and punt up field - Bristol City - conjured up an extra goal. Rock Bottom Colchester United somehow scored 9 more goals as they were condemned to hell (League one, well Leeds United do reside there).
However, in January 2008, they made a shrewd signing of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and the clubs fortune swiftly changed. The undisclosed fee agreed was well and truly worth it.
The Ex- Manchester United youth player became pinnacle to the Wolves side, scoring 12 goals in 20 games becoming their top goal scorer. Ironically, he remained Plymouth Argyles top goal scorer for the season as well.
This season, McCarthy’s team have taken the Championship by storm, the end of last season form carried on into this one. Ebanks-Blake continued his prolific streak and been fundamental in his team’s success as they have scored 55 goals this term already with 19 games still left to play.
McCarthy kicked out the untainted waste in the summer – the mediocre strikers Freddy Eastwood and Jay Boothroyd, as they could not find water from a boat. The Yorkshire man replaced them with experienced Charlton Athletic forward Chris Iwelumo and Bournemouth’s youngster Sam Vokes to freshen up the attack.
With the new forwards, Wolves embarked on the clubs strongest start since 1949. Ebanks-Blake (16) and Iwelumo (13) have scored 29 goals between them already this season to fire Wolves to top spot.
McCarthy won’t be counting his chickens quite yet, there is still a massive job to do. Ebanks-Blake will need to be fit and on form to fire Wolves a return to the top flight.
As last season proves, goals come at quite a price but Ebanks-Blake looks quite the bargain.