An Interview with a Rival... Wolverhampton Wanderers

Ahead of tonight's clash with league leaders Wolves, I spoke with Ian Morgans, who's an avid Wolves fan who's impressed with the start they've had this season.

First of all, how long have you been a Wolves fan?

I have been a Wolves fan since 1986 but, fortunately, I was too young to remember the really bad times that we were going through back then.


You're having a fantastic season at the moment and leading the league in style, was this an expectation in August?

I don’t think anyone expected us to be doing as well as we currently are back in August. I think we were all hopeful but also unsure. We knew that we had brought in highly rated players, Neves, for example, but we didn’t know how long they would take to gel (or even if they would).


Who are your favourite players for the club?

It would have been difficult to pick out a favourite player last season that wasn’t Costa but this season it is hard to narrow down your choices. Neves can be a wonderful footballer to watch. Jota is possibly the most talented forward player Wolves have had in many years. Bonatini is has 10 goals and looks perfect for our system. Boly is a beast at the back. Doherty has been incredible at right wing back. Take your pick!


Your favourite era as a Wolves fan?

My favourite era? I’d have to say the McCarthy years but it may soon be the Nuno years.


Both clubs are in a current transition with new ownership. Although yours are into their second year, how are you finding your new owners?

You can’t speak too highly of Fosun at the moment. Last season, however, was a mess. They made rash decisions on managers and compounded that with a scattergun approach to player recruitment. This season has been wonderful so far though so we hope they learned the lessons of last season. If the rumours about the financial commitment of Fosun if we do get promoted is true then they will be feted for decades in Wolverhampton.


Again, you've improved your side impressively this summer and are reaping the benefits, who has been your major signing?

It is hard to pick out one major signing. Neves makes us tick. Jota can take apart any defence. Bonatini is scoring the goals. Boly is stopping them going in the other end. In the last few games, Ryan Bennett is pushing a claim to be another really important signing.


Ruben Neves was a bit of a coup, how did that one come about?

Neves was a coup. I think we can thank Jorge Mendes and Porto’s financial woes for him gracing the Molineux turf.

Who will be your biggest threat on Wednesday?

Biggest threat? I’ve already mentioned two; Jota and Bonatini. Cavaleiro, if revved up, is a big threat. Costa might be the ‘dark horse’; he started the season injured and had no pre-season but is just beginning to show glimpses of the player he was last season.


We can see on your Twitter @ian_morgans that your an avid cricket fan. How do you think the ashes will go?

The Ashes? Tough one. It’d be nice to shut those flapping Australian mouths. I’ll go 2-1 to England.


Prediction and Scorers for tomorrow's match?

I think Wolves will win tomorrow; it’s hard to see us losing because even when we don’t play at our best (like against Reading on Saturday) we just seem to find a way to win. If we play at our best (like against Aston Villa) we will be too good for most (if not all) teams in the division. I will go 2-0 to Wolves. Bonatini and Jota to score.

We'd like to thank Ian for taking the time to answer our questions and wish him the best of luck in a season that could be a memorable one for the Wolves faithful.

By Ryan Ingham