The Premiership so far...It's been a long hard season.

It's a Marathon not a sprint...

Arsenal) There seems to be disquiet among the Gooners about their club not spending any money so far this season,most notably on twitter from Piers Morgan who appears to have installed himself as leader of the unofficial Wenger out campaign.Despite losing to a young Villa team on opening day they will be fine.Nowhere near as bad as their own fans think.Have to get a settled forward line and drop the needless red cards...

Aston Villa) Had a tough time last year but survived with help from the goals of Benteke.Need to keep him if it's possible.They're a very young team but have some decent players.However sometimes watching them is like watching kids in the park all chasing the ball at the same time...Dare i say they need some experience down the spine of the team.

Cardiff)What a great fillip the 3-2 win over Man City is for them.One of the favourites to get relegated but may well survive if they can make the most of their home form in front of a hostile crowd.Maybe the away teams will be blindsided by the blue & red shirts donned by the Blue(red)birds fans...

Chelsea)Roman Abramovitch once got shot of Jose Mourinho because he wanted Chelsea to play attractive football all the time whilst still winning league titles.Six/seven/eight managers later---seriously who's counting?---and he's sussed that for league titles pragmatism may win the day so bought back the self styled "Special One" ----Don't know if Jose knows that being called "Special" in the UK has different connotations to his meaning---After three games his team have played well for one half and ground out the rest of the games gaining seven points on the way.Last night at Old Trafford he employed the Craig Levine school by not playing a striker...It's gonna be a long season.But ultimately could be a title winning one.

Crystal Palace) Everyone's whipping boys i'm afraid.Not that i think they're really that bad but not strong enough for the Premiership.For one thing they won't score enough goals.When the lily livered Chamakh is your striking focal point you have severe problems.Expect lots of unfounded conspiracy theories concerning bias from boss Ian Holloway...

Everton)Will Roberto Martinez turn them into Wigan part 2? If they lose their best players in the next two transfer windows they could well struggle to emulate the relative success of recent years...Expect discontent from their fans especially if ex manager Moyes buys Fellaini & Baines...

Fulham) With Super Mario taking over the reigns from freaky Al Fayed at The Cottage they have more money to spend on players.Have already bought Parker & Taarabt to compliment Berbatov but need to strengthen the defence...Will do what Fulham tend to do and finish mid table after flirting with relegation...

Hull City) Their new owner has insisted they be called Hull City Tigers.They won't be of course,except in jest.Did well to bring in Livermore & Huddlestone from Spurs.Tom Huddlestone in particular is a fine addition as he will run their midfield,he's not going to cut his hair till he scores.We're all hoping he grows the biggest Afro in history before that day comes....Think they'll have enough to stay up,just...

Liverpool) Say it quietly but there may be finally something going on at Liverpool after years of under achieving.If Sturridge can strike up his partnership with Suarez again---Providing Suarez does'nt spend half the term at the FA getting suspended---goals won't be a problem.Have also signed one of the best Premiership goalkeepers in Mignolet.Might be challenging for top four...

Man City) Got rid of Roberto Mancini for some reason or other---Footballing reason's barely seem to matter these days---Could win everything.Could just as easily not win a thing.This is Man City we're talking about here and messing up seems to be hotwired into their DNA(And this coming from a Wolves fan!) No one better going forward when they hit their straps but struggle at the back when Kompany is'nt playing.Joe Hart has also lost his mojo a bit too...

Man Utd) New manager! That's not been written about United for twenty five years.New boss David Moyes clearly clued up on Fergie's handbook by whinging about the fixtures even before the season began.Still need to strengthen at the back and get a commanding midfielder in.If Rooney goes and Van Persie gets injured may struggle(By struggle i mean finish second of course.It's all relative...)

Newcastle)Mags boss Alan Pardew is already getting his excuses in early so we can expect a hard season ahead.Like Man City you can always trust Newcastle to find ever inventive ways of messing up...If results don't go their way expect to see an unshaven Pardew by mid October...Expect to see a new manager by November.

Norwich)Signed the wonderfully named Ricky van Wolfswinkel in the summer.Does'nt appear to do much but very good in the air.Needs a good supply of crosses from the wing.Need to start picking up more points away from Carrow Road to remain away from bottom six...

Southampton) Always look good and with the manic Pablo Osvaldo joining Ricky Lambert upfront will be a bit of a force.Top ten is clearly not out of the question.Saints keep producing good youngsters too,especially left backs and they have unearthed another in Shaw.Expect a £10m bid from an un-named London club soon...

Spurs) "One nil to the Tottenham" Two games,two 1-0 wins.Both goals from penalties...George Graham would be proud.The Bale saga is still ongoing.Obviously the sooner it's sorted out the better for all concerned,especially Spurs, as---let's be honest here---£90m is a shed load of money and no player is worth that.Mind you Real Madrid still have'nt paid up for the last player they got from Spurs so don't hold your breath.Top four a possibility esp if they've gone all Arsenal circa mid 90's on us...

Stoke) A football revolution is taking place in the Potteries.Instead of  just humping the ball to the big lads upfront,under Mark Hughes they now pass it to each other a couple of times before humping the ball to the big lads upfront...Have struggled to score goals the last few seasons and will continue to do so...

Sunderland)This is the season we find out if Paolo Di Canio is any good as a top manager.Needs a goalscorer if Fletcher remains sidelined for much longer.Like Newcastle the fans will get restless pretty quickly if things don't start going right soon...Di Canio is already referring to himself in the third person.A worrying sign...

Swansea)So South Wales have two representatives in the Premiership for the first time ever.Doubtful if Swansea can reproduce the form from last season but have enough to stay out of trouble.Expect a lot of puns from newspapers with their impressive looking new signing Wilfried Bony...

West Brom) Suppose i'd better be objective here---Much as it pains me---West Brom will be fine but nowhere as good as last season.Now they have lost Lukaka and possibly Anelka(along with the recalcitrant Obemiwinge) They will be relying on Shane Long for goals.He's ok but will never get more than maybe ten a season.Needs help.Have done well to sign Sinclair from Man City's reserves.A lot could depend on how long the impressive goalkeeper Ben Foster is out for...

West Ham)Big Sam has finally laid the ghost of the "West Ham way" and now seems to have most Hammers fans onside...The service Matty Jarvis provides will be crucial.Still the best crosser of a ball in the Premiership by a mile.If Kevin Nolan & Joe Cole can keep producing the goods i can see a top ten finish...

So that's my look at the Premiership teams...

Meanwhile in Division One...

More than just another game...The promise of a bright future...

You could sense the tension walking to the ground on Saturday.After beginning with a creditable 0-0 draw at much fancied World Wrestling competitors Preston in the previous league game and then a non event defeat at our bogey team Morecambe in midweek the brave new world at Wolves was struggling to get into first gear...

Before the game there was a moving tribute to Dave Wagstaffe,the ex Wolves player and arguably the best winger never to play for  England,who sadly died earlier in the week at the age of 70.----RIP Waggy----The atmosphere in the South Bank was pretty charged for what non Wolves fans would regard as a routine league game.But every home fan knew the significance of what was about to occur.It was cranked up a notch by the kick off being delayed for ten minutes.Presumably so that the Gillingham manager,Martin Allen could squeeze into his frankly ridiculous red Chinos...

It's been well documented what's happened at the club these last two years and new manager Kenny Jackett is well aware of the schism between the club and it's fans.Indeed he's made a point of talking about it on several occasions.But the goodwill is slowly coming back helped by putting the emphasis on young homegrown players.Players who have no baggage about playing in front of a Molineux crowd known to make nervous out of form players cower and disappear in the past.These players know they have the fans backing from the off.They also appear to have carte blanche to attack and entertain,especially at home...

Wolves started at a brisk pace and it was no surprise when we took the lead on five minutes.A raking crossfield pass from Captain Sam Ricketts found Griffiths in space on the edge of the area,he took it on his chest and volleyed a sweet left footer into the bottom corner.Dare i say it but that was a finish Steve Bull would have been proud of...

This is the first time i've seen Leigh Griffiths live and he look's a player.Never mind his natural goal scoring ability he also makes space by being constantly on the move---he must be a bugger to mark----Has a great first touch and can spot a pass.Not bad for £150,000!

Griffiths has had his run ins over the last few years with authorities---Both within football and in the real world---And there's no doubt he can be what's termed as a loose cannon.But i'm also sure he'd become a target for every Jakey in Scotland wanting to make a name for themselves by giving it to him.Leaving his own country and settling in the Midlands may be the making of him.At only 22 he has time to mature and make a name for himself in the right way...

It was all Wolves and no great surprise when Lee Evans grabbed his first goal for the club either.Latching on to a Griffiths shot/cross to steer the ball into the corner.Again this was my first view of Evans live and he looked comfortable in the middle of the park alongside David Davies---who had his best game for us by a long way----Another player who looks a bit of a bargain at £200,000.

Bakary Sako grabbed the third---He's only been at Wolves a year but seemed like a grizzled old veteran compared to most of his team mates---His blast into the top corner nearly uprooted the goals from the pitch.he was nicely set up by Zeli Ismail,another player i was seeing live for the first time.he's got something about him without a doubt.

Ismail is Albanian born His mother came to the UK as a refugee with the then three year old Zeli.They settled in Heath Town,Wolverhampton---Not unlike Albania but with a better bus service,i'm an ex Heath Town resident so can say this----He's been at the club since he was ten and may have made an impact earlier but lost his way a bit,partly due to an ex coach saying he'd be the first £100m footballer.At 15 you don't need that kind of pressure.Anyway he's 19 now and hopefully his career at Wolves is about to explode.

The one way traffic continued after the break but the only reward was the most obvious penalty your ever going to see expertly converted by Griffiths...

So 4-0 in the end and it could have been double that but never mind.I'm happy to keep a few goals back for tighter games.The manner of the win was most pleasing however.The young lads showed a vibrant attacking game many Wolves fans feared we'd never see again,We made more chances in this one game than about six last season...

It's quite nice coming out of the ground happy with the team's performance...It's been a while since that happened.

Wolves 4 Gillingham 0 Hopefully a game that saw the new Wolves rise from the ashes...

The 7 unofficial rules of life...A self help Blog.

I don't know how well self help books do in the rest of the world but in the UK we tend to shun such fripperies as against our national psych,which, as you all know, is stiff to the point of rigor mortis...

Anyway i thought i'd redress the balance on here.I don't go in for psychobabble----I'm British after all---but i feel if you follow these rules and undoubted truisms of life you won't go far wrong.(But if you do it's a waste of time suing me as i'm as broke as a Greek hobo)

1) If you're buying a round of drinks and one of your number wants a Guinness----It seems popular,though for the life of me i can't see it.Is it a drink or industrially recovered slurry?---Then order that first before any of the other drinks.Y'see it takes about three minutes to pour a real Guinness so it gives the bartender time to get the rest of the drinks.If you don't follow this simple rule not only will you wait longer for your drink but those waiting to be served will henceforth know you as a "Bloody waste of space amateur dickhead"

2)Talking of nicknames:There are no rules regarding nicknames.They are what they are,be it rude,crude or downright unfathomable.I'm on about real clever nicknames like Chariots(Martin Offiah) or Afghanistan(Mark Waugh,twin brother of ex Aussie cricketer Steve.Afghanistan= The forgotten war) The habit of adding "Y" to the end of the recipients real name is lazy in the extreme.The best nicknames are those that last a lifetime,especially when the only people who know your real name are your family...But there is one rule everyone should stick to...Nicknames are earned,either through looks,an unfortunate incident or an inspired bit of piss taking.You can never,ever----and i can't stress this enough----choose your own nickname.If in doubt see Paul "The Guv'nor" Ince or David "kid" Jensen(Now close to 60,but to his credit not on bail)

3)"Alright?" "Yea fine thanks" "you?.. That's the conversation we all have daily with casual aquanintances.It means nothing apart from keeping to the script of social protocol.At a push the weather can be discussed or the awful journey into work but the one thing that can't be discussed is the truth.Imagine this: "Alright?" " Well not really,i have debts up to my eyeballs,the kids are running amock and i think the missus is having an affair,i'm at the end of my tether..." See? No bugger wants that at 8am.You've got your own problems...

4)Ah work.I think it's a truism that  many of us don't actually know what even our closest friends & family do at work.we have an idea and  know their title but that's it.When in a social situation like a party it's fraught with danger.If you ask someone what they do you've already switched off after ten seconds and are now wondering if you've remembered to record the football.Keep the description of what you do concise otherwise you've lost them.Never say "I dabble in this and that" They'll think you're a crook.Never say "I import and export" They'll think you're a drug dealer.Never say "I'm a banker" they'll think you're a twat...

5)To paraphrase Sartre "Hell is other people's babies" Yes we're all happy when those close to us have a baby of course...but,well you know.The excited parents regail all and sundry with the joys of the first crawl,walk,word,nappy filler etc...and then there's the photo's,oh lord the many many photo's....And we all do our duty of feigning interest whilst dying a little inside.It's only the restraining social fabric that stops us screaming " That's the ugliest baby i've ever seen,poor bugger's got a face like a lizard's chuff" The rule is;Respect the restraints of other's pride and joy.It may be your turn one day. otherwise you'll never be invited anywhere by anyone ever again...

6)Embrace your inner child: Now this sounds like a load of new age drippy hippy bollocks and of course it is but there's nothing wrong with being a bit silly in your dotage,jumping in puddles,chasing balloons etc.So yes embrace your inner child just as long as that child is happy,carefree and lights up the room...If it's a bit of a whiny brat don't bother.there's nothing remotely attractive about a 47 year old with the sulks.If your inner child is a cross between Violet Elizabeth Bott and Chucky then it's advisable to keep your inner child inside you.Deep,deep inside you...

7)The water cooler moment; Now obviously this is'nt meant to be taken literally.The only conversation i've ever had at the water cooler goes thus " Where's the bloody cups? who's job is it to replace the cups? Ferchrissakes..." No it pertains to the Zeitgeist,usually the tv Zeitgeist,usually the reality tv Zeitgeist.Simple rule.If someone starts up a conversation with " Did you see Big Brother/X Factor/I'm a Z list celebrity get me some publicity  ?" The correct, indeed the only, reply is "Oh do fuck off " Trust me you'll feel much better and will also be doing the world a favour...

These are my seven rules.Stick with these and you won't go far wrong.You won't go right either but hey,i'm not here to save the world...