Reality Check

Mick McCarthy's Wolves have returned from Ireland, a win and a draw under their belt, well on the way to full match fitness, and looking as strong a team unit as they have done in years.

Ok, so the results weren't of the emphatic nature that some would have liked, but pre season tours are rarely all about scorelines.

There is always a bigger picture to be found.

Widely circulated press photo's showed a squad enjoying their stint abroad, looking genuinely relaxed and happy being put through their physical paces.

Every player questioned speaks of the teamspirit being built, the characters the squad contains, and the ease that new members are being accepted and encouraged.

All this amid the pressure of competition for places in a line up where no one is guaranteed an automatic starting slot.

If there is extra pressure on the players with the imminent Steve Morgan take over, they are not letting it show.

Although there are those within the black country media, lets call them the Excess & Barf, who are jumping on every admission of ambition and turning onto something it quite blatantly isn't.

From top to bottom, the club is happy with its stated goal of a top two finish.

That's not a pressure cooker environment with much gnashing of teeth at the thought of failure, as much as some would like to think it is.

It's nothing more than a confident club looking to make a step up from achieving last seasons internal goal of a play off position.

What seems to have been missed, in the same spectacular fashion as a Gabor Gypes free kick, is the current feeling of unity within the Wanderers camp, on the pitch and in the stands.

The level of trust that has been forged between those paid to wear the shirt and those that choose to wear the same colours, earned and rewarded by the same displays of passion from either side.

With three weeks to go before the Sky cameras arrive at Molineux for the opening day fixture the only Wolves news thats remotely worthy carries a message of positivity, unity and anticipation of an exciting ten months ahead.

It's time that the hint was taken, and the sensationalistic salivating drew to a timely close.