Wolves fans would have been pleased to hear this week that Jamie O’Hara has joined the club on a 5-year deal, after they activated a clause that lets him join for £5million on a permanent basis. Impressing during his loan spell, he played a big role in helping the club narrowly avoid relegation last season and says that he thinks they can push on for an ambitious mid-table finish in 2011/12.
Whilst playing at Portsmouth, Tottenham and Wolves, he has proven to be solid midfielder, with defensive and attacking qualities. I think Wolves will again benefit from his strong presence in their team and I’m sure he will have a big impact on the way they play. He was often deployed as a more advanced midfielder last season and demonstrated good passing and creative ability, as well as his tenacious attitude and high work-rate. He should chip in with a few goals as well, as he is a reasonably good striker of the ball and scored a couple of good goals last season, one of which against Blackburn helped save Wolves from the drop.
Being a hard-worker and strong character on and off the pitch, Jamie is definitely one of the players the team should look to to have an impact and improve the league position next season. Having being quoted as saying that he wants to play 300 to 400 games for the club, and the fact that he is starting already to create a rapport with the fans, could lead him on to becoming a future club captain. In what might be a tough season ahead for Wolves, I think O’Hara has the potential to instil a positive strong-willed attitude to the team, inducing some gritty and determined performances.
Wolves have a reasonable chance of performing well next season and I think, if they cut out some of the sloppy errors that saw them lose points in the last campaign, they could improve on their league position. When trying to improve the fortunes of a club that has found it hard to establish itself in the league for a number of years, it is important to have a team of strong characters and ones that play for the team game by game. You can tell who these players are who want to take every possible chance to gain points and relish opportunities to further the clubs reputation.
On the pitch it shows with players who always look for the ball in space, drive the game forward looking to create chances and constantly hassle the opposition for the ball, not allowing them time or space. I think O’Hara has many of the characteristics that Wolves need in order to help further them towards their goals next season. He started off his time at Wolves after coming back from a lengthy injury and for the new season should look stronger and fitter with pre-season training.
As ambitious as Jamie is, he knew this was the right time to cut his ties with Tottenham as he just wasn’t going to get enough first-team football. Hopefully this will open up a new chapter in his career and allow him to become one of the favourites at a club in which he can drive to new heights. The fans loved watching him play last season, and with plans to develop the stadium, the club needs to give them something good to watch in the next campaign, hopefully matching the ambitious plans off the pitch to some ambitious and invigorated football on the pitch. No one is expecting miracles at Wolves next season, but over time O’Hara could become a key influence in steadying the ship and bringing some flow and continuity about the team’s performances.
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