2007–08 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season

Wolverhampton Wanderers
2007–08 season
Chairman Steve Morgan OBE
Manager Mick McCarthy
Football League Championship 7th
FA Cup 5th round
League Cup 2nd round
Top goalscorer League: Ebanks-Blake (12)
All: Ebanks-Blake (12)
Highest home attendance 27,883 (vs. West Bromwich Albion, 15 April 2008)
Lowest home attendance 9,625 (vs. Bradford City, 15 August 2007)
Average home league attendance 23,496
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
← 2006–07 2008–09 →

The 2007–08 season was the 109th season of competitive league football in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. They played the season in the 2nd tier of the English Football system, the Football League Championship. The season saw them finish seventh, narrowly missing out on a play-off place only by virtue of goal difference.

This season was the first under the ownership of Steve Morgan, ending the seventeen-year reign of Sir Jack Hayward.[1] Morgan had bought the club for the nominal sum of £10, with the proviso that he invested £30 million into the club.[2]

Season review

The close season saw businessman Steve Morgan take control of the club for a nominal £10 fee in return for a £30 million investment into the club, resulting in the departure of Sir Jack Hayward after 17 years as chairman. The protracted takeover, originally announced in May, was finally completed on 9 August 2007.[1] The announcement of the deal saw the club set out their future ethos:[3]

“ It is intended that the new capital, over a period of time, will be used to help re-establish Wolves as a Premiership club. Although this is a significant amount of money there will not be an ’open cheque book’ approach to signing players; instead the club will build on the current strategy of steadily and progressively developing a team of young, hungry and talented players. — Club Statement ”

After last season's unexpected play-off finish, hopes were high for the club to go one step further this time, with manager stating automatic promotion was his aim.[4] The side was strengthened by signing Freddy Eastwood,[5] Stephen Elliott[6] and Michael Gray,[7] but last season's Player of the Year, goalkeeper Matt Murray - who had only just recovered from a broken shoulder - missed the whole campaign after suffering a knee injury in pre-season training.[8]

On the field, the team started the season inconsistently, but a strong October and November saw them push as high as third, just three points from the summit. However, an injury suffered by key player Michael Kightly[9][10] seemed to severely weaken the team's creativity and preceded a dismal Christmas period that saw them pick up just 4 points from a possible 21, leaving them mid-table and without hopes of an automatic finish.

More players were brought in during the January transfer window, most crucially striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake from Plymouth Argyle,[11] who scored 12 goals in the remainder of the season, finishing the division's top scorer on 23 goals. However, his goals alone could not bring about a second successive play-off finish as the side finished outside the final spot on goal difference, two goals short of Watford. Despite suffering just two defeats in their final 15 games, several crucial late goals that were conceded in the second half of the season ultimately proved costly. Indeed, just two more goals on the final day of the season would have booked them a playoff place.

Results

Pre season

"Wolves XI" pre season results: 0–0 v Brighton & Hove Albion (26 July; home), 7–0 v Holyhead Hotspur (28 July; away)

Football League Championship

A total of 24 teams competed in the Championship in the 2007–08 season. Each team would play every other team twice, once at their stadium, and once at the opposition's. Three points were awarded to teams for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats. The provisional fixture list was released on 14 June 2007, but was subject to change in the event of matches being selected for television coverage.[12]

Final table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 West Bromwich Albion 46 23 12 11 88 55 +33 81
2 Stoke City 46 21 16 9 69 55 +14 79
3 Hull City 46 21 12 13 65 47 +18 75
4 Bristol City 46 20 14 12 54 53 +1 74
5 Crystal Palace 46 18 17 11 58 42 +16 71
6 Watford 46 18 16 12 62 56 +6 70
7 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 18 16 12 53 48 +5 70

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
46 18 16 12 53 48  +5 70 11 6 6 31 25  +6 7 10 6 22 23  −1

Source: Statto.com

Results by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
Result L W W D L L W D D W W W L D D W D W W L L D D L D D L W W L L D W W D L W W D W D L D W D W
Position 18 10 2 5 10 15 11 12 11 7 4 3 5 5 6 5 5 4 3 6 6 8 7 8 9 10 12 10 9 11 12 12 10 10 10 11 11 8 9 6 7 8 9 7 7 7

Source: Statto.com

FA Cup

League Cup

Players

Statistics

Key

  ‡ On loan from another club   * First appearance(s) for the club

# = Squad number

Pos = Playing position

P = Number of games played

G = Number of goals scored

GK = Goalkeeper

DF = Defender

MF = Midfielder

FW = Forward

A yellow card = Yellow cards

A red card = Red cards

† Permanent player left club during the season

¤ Loaned to another club for part or all of season

Correct as of end of season. Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances in parentheses where applicable.

No. Pos Name P G P G P G P G A yellow card A red card Notes
League FA Cup League Cup Total Discipline
1GKEngland Murray, MattMatt Murray 0000000000
2DFEngland Ward, DarrenDarren Ward 300200032010
3DFScotland Collins, NeillNeill Collins 34(4)3211037(4)450
4MFNigeria Olofinjana, SeyiSeyi Olofinjana 34(1)3100035(1)380
5DFRepublic of Ireland Breen, GaryGary Breen (c) 18(1)0100019(1)030
6DFEngland Craddock, JodyJody Craddock ¤ 22(1)1101124(1)220
7MFEngland Kightly, MichaelMichael Kightly 20(1)40(2)11(1)021(4)510
8MFEngland Henry, KarlKarl Henry 38(2)3202042(2)380
9FWRepublic of Ireland Keogh, AndyAndy Keogh 33(10)8322138(10)1120
10FWEngland Bothroyd, JayJay Bothroyd ¤ 13(9)3310016(9)430
11DFRepublic of Ireland Ward, StephenStephen Ward 23(6)0100(1)024(7)030
12DFWales Edwards, RobRob Edwards 4(4)11(1)0207(5)130
14MFRepublic of Ireland Potter, DarrenDarren Potter 11(7)0301(1)015(8)030
15DFEngland Little, MarkMark Little ¤ 0(1)000000(1)000
16MFEngland Davies, MarkMark Davies 0000000000
17MFEngland Jarvis, MattMatt Jarvis 17(9)1200019(9)100
18MFRepublic of Ireland Gleeson, StephenStephen Gleeson ¤ 0000101000
19FWRepublic of Ireland Elliott, StephenStephen Elliott 18(11)41(1)10019(12)500
20DFScotland Mulgrew, CharlieCharlie Mulgrew ¤ 0000202000
21DFEngland Jones, DanielDaniel Jones ¤ 0(1)000000(1)000
22MFEngland Gobern, LewisLewis Gobern 0000000000
23FWWales Eastwood, FreddyFreddy Eastwood 10(21)30(2)02112(23)410
24MFRepublic of Ireland Gibson, DarronDarron Gibson 15(6)11(2)00016(8)150
25GKRepublic of Ireland Stack, GrahamGraham Stack 0(2)000202(2)000
26MFWales Edwards, DavidDavid Edwards 101000010100
27FWEngland Ebanks-Blake, SylvanSylvan Ebanks-Blake 20120000201220
28DFEngland Clapham, JamieJamie Clapham ¤ † 00000(1)00(1)000
29MFRepublic of Ireland O'Connor, KevinKevin O'Connor 0000000000
30GKNigeria Ikeme, CarlCarl Ikeme 0000000000
31GKWales Hennessey, WayneWayne Hennessey 460300049000
32DFRepublic of Ireland Foley, KevinKevin Foley 42(2)1302047(2)110
33MFEngland Gray, MichaelMichael Gray 29(4)32(1)01032(5)330
34MFEngland Riley, MartinMartin Riley † 0000000000
34FWScotland Kyle, KevinKevin Kyle 3(9)110004(9)100
35MFEngland Bennett, ElliottElliott Bennett ¤ 0000202000
36DFEngland Collins, LeeLee Collins ¤ 0000000000
37FWEngland Hughes, LiamLiam Hughes ¤ 0000000000
38MFRepublic of Ireland Salmon, MarkMark Salmon ¤ 0000000000
39MFHungary Rósa, DénesDénes Rósa 00000(1)00(1)000
40DFCameroon Elokobi, GeorgeGeorge Elokobi 150000015030
41DFEngland Bailey, MattMatt Bailey ¤ 0000000000

    Awards

    Award Winner[13]
    Fans' Player of the Season Wayne Hennessey
    Players' Player of the Season Wayne Hennessey
    Young Player of the Season Elliott Bennett
    Academy Player of the Season Ashley Hemmings
    Goal of the Season Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
    (Second goal vs Charlton Athletic, 29 March 2008)

    Transfers

    In

    Date Player From Fee
    20 June 2007 England Matt Jarvis Gillingham Undisclosed[14]
    3 July 2007 England Darren Ward Crystal Palace Undisclosed[15]
    6 July 2007 Wales Freddy Eastwood Southend United £1.5 million[5]
    17 July 2007 Republic of Ireland Stephen Elliott Sunderland £750,000[6]
    25 July 2007 England Michael Gray Unattached Free[7]
    14 August 2007 Republic of Ireland Kevin Foley Luton TownUndisclosed[16]
    11 January 2008 England Sylvan Ebanks-Blake Plymouth Argyle £1.5 million[11]
    14 January 2008 Wales David Edwards Luton Town £675,000[17]
    31 January 2008 Cameroon George Elokobi Colchester United Undisclosed[18]

    Out

    Date Player To Fee
    18 May 2007 Scotland Jackie McNamara Aberdeen Free[19]
    8 June 2007 Guyana Carl Cort Leicester City Free[20]
    June 2007 England Michael Oakes Released Free[21]
    June 2007 England Rohan Ricketts Released Free[21]
    12 July 2007 Scotland Michael McIndoe Bristol City Undisclosed[22]
    31 August 2007 United States Jemal Johnson Milton Keynes Dons Undisclosed[23]
    31 August 2007 Poland Tomasz Frankowski Released Free[24]
    3 December 2007 England Martin Riley Released Free[25]
    31 January 2008 England Jamie Clapham Leicester City Free[26]

    Loans in

    Start date Player From End date
    9 August 2007 Republic of Ireland Graham Stack Reading End of season[27][28]
    19 October 2007 Republic of Ireland Darron Gibson Manchester United End of season[29][30]
    30 January 2008 Scotland Kevin Kyle Coventry City End of season[31]

    Loans out

    Start date Player To End date
    8 June 2007 England Keith Lowe Port Vale End of season[32]
    3 August 2007 England Daniel Jones Northampton Town 26 January 2008[33]
    17 August 2007 England Jody Craddock Stoke City 19 September 2007[34]
    20 August 2007 England Jamie Clapham Leeds United 21 November 2007[35]
    25 October 2007 England Elliott Bennett Crewe Alexandra 3 January 2008[36][37]
    14 November 2007 England Lee Collins Hereford United End of season[38][39]
    22 November 2007 Republic of Ireland Mark Salmon Port Vale 6 January 2008[40]
    22 November 2007 England Liam Hughes Bury 2 January 2008[40]
    10 January 2008 England Mark Little Northampton Town 12 March 2008[41][42]
    31 January 2008 England Elliott Bennett Bury End of season[43]
    31 January 2008 Scotland Charlie Mulgrew Southend United End of season[44]
    31 January 2008 England Matt Bailey Kidderminster Harriers 27 February 2008[45]
    21 February 2008 Republic of Ireland Stephen Gleeson Hereford United 23 March 2008[46]
    29 February 2008 England Liam Hughes Stafford Rangers 16 March 2008[47]
    6 March 2008 England Daniel Jones Northampton Town End of season[48]
    14 March 2008 England Jay Bothroyd Stoke City End of season[49]
    27 March 2008 Republic of Ireland Stephen Gleeson Stockport County End of season[50]

    Kit

    The season saw a new away kit, navy blue with an old gold and white trim.[51] The home kit remained the same as the previous campaign and that season's white away kit was retained as a third kit for this term. The kits were manufactured by Le Coq Sportif, Chaucer Consulting sponsored the club for a fourth season.

    References

    1. 1 2 "Morgan completes Wolves takeover". BBC Sport. 9 August 2007.
    2. ↑ "Wolverhampton Wanderers sells for £10". BBC Sport. 21 May 2007.
    3. ↑ "Wolves in takeover talks". wolves.co.uk. 21 May 2007.
    4. ↑ "McCarthy eyes automatic promotion". Birmingham Mail. 4 July 2007.
    5. 1 2 "Eastwood completes move to Wolves". BBC Sport. 6 July 2007.
    6. 1 2 "Elliott completes Wolves transfer". BBC Sport. 17 July 2007.
    7. 1 2 "Wolves win race for defender Gray". BBC Sport. 25 July 2007.
    8. ↑ "Murray faces long Wolves lay-off". BBC Sport. 8 August 2007.
    9. ↑ "Kightly could face Christmas out". BBC Sport. 18 December 2007.
    10. ↑ "Kightly suffers fresh ankle woe". BBC Sport. 28 January 2008.
    11. 1 2 "Ebanks-Blake ties up Wolves move". BBC Sport. 11 January 2008.
    12. ↑ "Scunthorpe get Charlton first up". BBC Sport. 14 June 2007.
    13. ↑ "Hennessey scoops Player Of The Season titles". wolves.co.uk. 2 May 2008.
    14. ↑ "Wolves capture Jarvis from Gills". BBC Sport. 20 June 2007.
    15. ↑ "Defender Ward makes Wolves switch". BBC Sport. 3 July 2007.
    16. ↑ "Wolves sign Luton defender Foley". BBC Sport. 14 August 2007.
    17. ↑ "Five players leave troubled Luton". BBC Sport. 14 January 2008.
    18. ↑ "Wolves sign Colchester's Elokobi". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008.
    19. ↑ "Wolves' McNamara joins Aberdeen". BBC Sport. 18 May 2007.
    20. ↑ "Leicester swoop for striker Cort". BBC Sport. 8 June 2007.
    21. 1 2 "McCarthy begins Wolves clear-out". BBC Sport. 18 May 2007.
    22. ↑ "Bristol City sign winger McIndoe". BBC Sport. 13 July 2007.
    23. ↑ "MK Dons boss signs Wolves striker". BBC Sport. 31 August 2007.
    24. ↑ "Contract terminated". wolves.co.uk. 31 August 2007.
    25. ↑ "Riley contract terminated". wolves.co.uk. 3 December 2007.
    26. ↑ "Leicester capture Wolves' Clapham". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008.
    27. ↑ "Wolves sign Royals keeper on loan". BBC Sport. 9 August 2007.
    28. ↑ "Keeper Stack extends Wolves stay". BBC Sport. 7 January 2008.
    29. ↑ "Wolves set to sign Gibson on loan". BBC Sport. 9 October 2007.
    30. ↑ "Man Utd extend Gibson Wolves loan". BBC Sport. 24 December 2007.
    31. ↑ "Kyle joins Wolves from Coventry". BBC Sport. 30 January 2008.
    32. ↑ "Port Vale pull off triple swoop". BBC Sport. 8 June 2007.
    33. ↑ "Cobblers sign Wolves midfielder". BBC Sport. 4 August 2007.
    34. ↑ "Stoke add pair to bolster defence". BBC Sport. 18 August 2007.
    35. ↑ "Leeds recruit Clapham from Wolves". BBC Sport. 20 August 2007.
    36. ↑ "Wolves winger joins Crewe on loan". BBC Sport. 25 October 2007.
    37. ↑ "Wolves midfielder stays at Crewe". BBC Sport. 20 November 2007.
    38. ↑ "Hereford recruit Wolves defender". BBC Sport. 14 November 2007.
    39. ↑ "Collins extends stay at Hereford". BBC Sport. 23 January 2008.
    40. 1 2 "Wolves young duo sent out on loan". BBC Sport. 22 November 2007.
    41. ↑ "Northampton sign Wolves defender". BBC Sport. 10 January 2008.
    42. ↑ "Wolves defender stays at Cobblers". BBC Sport. 11 February 2008.
    43. ↑ "Bury bag Wolves youngster Bennett". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008.
    44. ↑ "Southend sign Grant and Mulgrew". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008.
    45. ↑ "Harriers clinch double loan move". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008.
    46. ↑ "Hereford bring in Gleeson on loan". BBC Sport. 21 February 2008.
    47. ↑ "Learn from the master". wolves.co.uk. 29 February 2008.
    48. ↑ "Wolves man returns to Northampton". BBC Sport. 7 March 2008.
    49. ↑ "Stoke complete late Bothroyd deal". BBC Sport. 14 March 2008.
    50. ↑ "Stockport clinch Gleeson return". BBC Sport. 27 March 2008.
    51. ↑ "On sale tomorrow". wolves.co.uk. 7 June 2007.
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