If, it is a little word that often says a lot

Last updated : 24 April 2008 By John Bray
If Michael Kightly had been fit over the last five months of the season, I reckon we'd be in the play-offs already.

If a recognised right winger could have been brought in on loan to cover for Kightly, I reckon we'd be in the play-offs already.

If Matt Jarvis had been fit for the first three months of the season, I reckon we'd be in the play-offs already.

If Kightly and Jarvis had lined up in the same team together before last night, I reckon we'd be in the play-offs already.

If we didn't have disgraceful Wolves fans who think it's right to boo one of their own players on to the pitch, I think we might be in the play-offs already.

If the victim Neill Collins hadn't scored some match-winning goals this season, the play-off dream could have been all over by now.

If we hadn't signed Freddy Eastwood, I don't think Mick McCarthy's relationship with the fans would be in the position it is.

If McCarthy had bought pacey defenders, I reckon we'd be in the play-offs already.

If McCarthy had done what Coventry did, and signed left back Danny Fox and centre half Scott Dann from Walsall, I reckon we might be in the play-offs already.

If Seyi George Olofinjana had played like he did last night on anything approaching a regular basis, I reckon we'd be in the play-offs already.

If we'd had someone like Sylvan Ebanks-Blake all season, I reckon we might have been in an automatic promotion place already.

If there had been a midfielder on the bench on Saturday, Collins, one of the stars of last season, might not have endured such a difficult afternoon as an emergency right back.

If we look at the league table today, we see that Wolves can still reach the play-offs.

If we reach the play-offs, I agree with McCarthy. We'll win them.

If you haven't bought your ticket for Coventry yet, get one.

If you join us at the Ricoh as part of a travelling gold and black army that could be 5,000-strong, you could make the difference.

If we fall short, all eyes will be on Steve Morgan.

If he's sensible, which I believe he is, he will look around the football world and see what has happened to most clubs that have undergone managerial change.

If you want success, you need continuity.

If you get your diary out, you'll see that McCarthy has been in charge for less than two years.

If you ignore the romantic connotations of a Paul Ince return, who can you identify as a genuine, intelligent, option to make us a mid-table Premier League team?

If you cast your mind back five years, Dave Jones was at the helm. Two managers later, are we in a better position than back then?

If you think I'm McCarthy's PR man, you're wrong - there have been mistakes during this frustrating season.

If you want success, you need more than honest endeavour and commitment, which Wolves have in absolute spades.

If you want Premier League football, you need to take attacking risks and you need players with pace and skill.

If McCarthy latches on to that, Premier League football can be ours - in 2008, or 2009.

If we achieve it this season, I'm confident we'll do better than Derby next season.

If we can finish fourth from bottom, it will be like winning the Champions League.

If we don't have dreams, what's the point.

If the season was over today, the inquests would already be underway. But it's not. Not by a long way.

by John Bray http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A35036543, Uploaded by Gary Brookhouse