From Solbakken To Saunders

Wolves today unveiled Dean Saunders as the man tasked with keeping them in the Championship. The 48 year-old former-Villa striker joins from joint-top of League 1 side Doncaster Rovers, taking over at Molineux following the dismissal of Stale Solbakken. The appointment of Saunders is one that has drawn a mixed reaction from fans, with many fans feeling that there are better options out there.

Saunders had guided Doncaster to the top of League 1

I must admit, I am one of those fans. Personally I would have liked Karl Robinson to take over, or even Sean O'Driscoll or Owen Coyle. Three men who like to mix hard work with passing, technical and progressive football. However, one thing these managers would've wanted is money to spend - something I think our board seem reluctant to give lately. One thing that cannot be disputed is Saunders success on a shoestring budget. He got Wrexham to the top of the Blue Square Premier on very little money, and has done the same with Doncaster in League 1. But he's done it, according to fans of both clubs, through a style of football I thought we'd seen the last of at Molineux. It would appear Saunders favours a direct, almost hoofball style of football. This will suit the likes of Berra, Johnson and Ward, but I do worry that some of the more ball-playing, cultured players in the side (particularly in midfield) would struggle to fit in to this style of play.

Cassidy will surely relish the chance to work with Saunders

One thing that can never be levelled at Dean Saunders, however, is a lack of goalscoring nous. At his peak, the Welsh striker 22 goals in 59 games for Oxford United, 42 in 106 for Derby County, 37 in 112 for Aston Villa and 15 in 27 for Galatasaray. That's around an average of just over a goal every 3 games - a good scoring rate for a striker. His knowledge could help spark some life into struggling frontment Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, while young striker Jake Cassidy must be licking his lips at the prospect of working with a man who must've been among the Welshman's heroes growing up. Regardless of the football played, one thing you can be sure of is that Dean Saunders will have these players fighting for the shirt again - otherwise they're out. It should see more passionate performances coming from players who seemed to have lost their own personal sense of pride under Solbakken. And if Saunders can bring in some of the young players like Cassidy, Danny Batth and Matt Doherty, to name a few, then he will instantly begin to win me over.

Heads Down: Wolves have suffered a relegation hangover this season

Saunders has already had his "Merlin the Magician" moment it appears. In his first press conference this afternoon, he announced "What Wolves players have had is they've been to the greatest party ever and woken up with a hangover". The message to the squad was clear - get over your relegation hangover, accept you're in the Championship, and fight damn hard to get back to the Premier League. He certainly won't take any crap from players and if there's something they're doing wrong on the pitch, he will make it very clear to them - something Solbakken didn't appear to do. He does talk a good game and says he likes to have a Plan A, B and C as you never know what the opposition will do. He will drill in to the players exactly what those plans are, aiming to make it second nature to them. Those who don't fit in will be gone - particularly as Saunders feels the squad is too big and needs cutting down. This should see a lot of the deadwood leaving - something that has needed to happen for at least 18 months now.

Whilst I am personally uninspired by the appointment, I will give Saunders time because every manager deserves (and needs) that. I will gladly be proven wrong about him, and if I am I will openly hold my hands up to it. But right now I am still very unconvinced he is the man to take Wolves forward long-term. He may talk a good game, but it's whether he plays one that matters to me. But the proof, as always, will be in the performances and the results.

Over to you, Deano.