Thank gawd that this blog is not in the form of a podcast, because all you would hear from me is a whisper, writes Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd.
I strained my voice by bellowing for joy as super Hennessy saved Gera’s well struck penalty. My throat is extremely sore, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Last season we were thumped at home by Albion in the cup and it seemed to be the wake-up call the club needed. We went on a nine game unbeaten run from that hammering, culminating in beating the Baggies at home.
Sunday could prove to be the catalyst for another great sequence of results.
We showed that against arguably the most talented midfield on Sunday that this Wolves team has a terrific resilience about them.
Defensively we have one of the best records in the country, but attacking wise we are only averaging about a goal a game and for me this is where the real problem lies.
Seeing Kites on crutches at the end of the game was a sad sight and I wish him a speedy recovery.
And the same goes for Ishmael Miller, a young player with bags of pace and a very bright future in the game.
We have two fixtures coming up where you would hope we could grab all six points.
No disrespect to Colchester, but the thought of losing a midweek game against such unattractive opposition, probably in near-freezing temperatures at Molineux, is too much to contemplate.
But wins against the ‘U’s on Wednesday and the Lillywhites on Saturday are a must if we are to keep a grip on a top six place.
Hopefully the majestic Kites won’t be missing for many games. But who will replace him on Wednesday?
The likelihood is that MM will go back to a 4-4-2 and play Gibson in his place on the right.
Bothroyd will probably also be missing for the midweek encounter, which will give a chance once again for Elliot to prove his doubters wrong.
Or how about a chance for Jarvis to show us what he can do on the left flank with Ward switching to a forward position to support Freddy? (thanks to Brommers for that suggestion).
And what about Mark Davies? Will he soon start to figure in Merlin’s plans now that he is getting fitter?
And if Rosa isn’t good enough for even a place on the bench, then surely we have to let him go in the January window?
From Sunday’s performance, I really see bags of optimism for the rest of the season.
We need to tinker in the January window, but for me it isn’t the defence that’s the main concern, it’s up top where we need to bring in a target man.
Yes a decent left-back and a centre half with pace would be nice, but we are not leaking goals, we just can’t score many.
I really hope that MM doesn’t go for the likes of a Shefki Kuqi, as has been muted, a player who works hard but rarely scores.
We ideally need an Earnshaw or Billy Sharp, who isn’t really getting a chance at the Blades to show how good he is. We need a striker that will make a real difference, not just make up the numbers.
I still hope that Freddy can turn the corner and start turning those half chances into goals.
A lot of baggies fans were shocked and slightly bewildered at how passionately Wolves fans celebrated the draw at the weekend.
My favourite image was the orange carrier bags left on the seats as we left!
Anyway, I’m off for some honey and lemon to soothe my post-Albion throat.
25 Comments
You watch Teddy score on Wednesday.
Ok comments but Sharpe ?? He cant cut it in this division! He has had a chance!
What about Jarvis on the right covering for Kightly?
The kid must be fit by now so when is he going to get his chance to show us how he made the league1 team of the year?
Richard, Sharp HASN’T had a chance - he’s hardly played, and even when he has, he’s had Bryan Robson as a manager, a man guaranteed to stifle almost any striker with talent. Ask Earnshaw, Ellington, Hulse, Horsfield…. even Koumas!
Yeah - come on Mick what about the lad Jarvis ? Big hype from you when he signed, but why won’t you give him a chance over 90mins to show us why ? Oh and by the way, Sharpe has not had a chance at Sheffield - Robson is treating him like he did Earnie at WBA - you can’t score goals sat on the bench.
If we are after a big man up front I would much rather get Kuqi than Kyle. I don’t rate either of them as highly as the 4 we have at the moment though. Someone like Kitson at reading would be ideal but I don’t think we have a chance there.
Spiritualwolf
It would be impossible to say anything more truthful re Robson,
a more negative and tactically
inept manager there has never been.
I reckon Sharp would be a great coup for you.
Sharpe still deserves a chance in this division, he has been a bit-part player at best!
iv always said i want to see elliot n eastwood as i believe this could be the partnership
eastwood dropping into the keogh sort role from deep, elliot who the goal poacher
everyone moans about elliot, but he scored in to big away games vs sheff utd n plymouth
Is that orange (yes orange not gold!) bags on seats????
Didn’t we do that (but about 3 thousand!) Very original.
A lot of baggies fans were shocked and slightly bewildered at how passionately Wolves fans celebrated the draw at the weekend.
Yes like i’ve said i’d have been embarrassed!!
Just goes to show who is bigger and better club- which is why we’re above you!
P.S Don’t go banging on about the 50’s… zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Nathan 10-3, have we touched a nerve?
Bigger and better? Look at your trophy cabinet, look at your awful ground, look at your attendences!
The answers say it all.
Yes we were celebrating at the fact that our young team that did not cost much more than Brunt and Barnett more than matched you.
Bring on the Molineux return, when we will have strengthened and got players back!
Nathan 10-3…. Were the bags you left in the South Bank perfect representations of the albion strip? No, they were just Tesco bags, which although uncanny similar are not the exact Pantone (look it up). Therefore we left the gift of orange bags, not gold and black branded ones.
Nathan, if we cant mention the 50s, can we mention the 60s….70s..cup wins…eufa cup final etc etc lol lol
Nathan
Very touchy these days.
Ruffled a birt of fur there Nathan
out of the 92 profesional clubs, Wolves are ranked 14th biggest club and West Brom are ranked 15th biggest club. I cant work it out. we’ve won 20-30 trophies in our history and they’ve won about 10.
You say we need a target man and then name Earnshaw as a player you want us to sign. ???
I disagree anyway we have the strikers we just need to get them firing, with a consistent partnership which we havent been able to get yet due to injuries we will start scoring more goals.
Are you sure you haven’t lost your voice from the speed drinking at the great western the other day !!!!
Earnie is more of a striker than a target man, I don’t think a man of his size can really be called a target man!
Nathan, as we left???
I have it on very good authority you didnt attend the game????
True??
Sharpe hasnt had his chance with Sheff UTD yet this season! he started the cup game v’s morecome and score 2 i think. would be a good signing but if he scores loads of goals will MM say we should have signed him last summer?
Don’t sign Kyle or Kuqi both hand me downs players!
Andy well said about the kitson signing i would welcome him into our team anyday!would only be about £1mill as he cost so little and is down the pecking order!also still very young but he’s ginger!!lol joke.
secretsanta (22)
Well done! I listened to the game on the radio, so technically speaking you are correct!
You told you anyway? What good authority?
I’m at the Colchester game tonight, honest to god!
Sharpe has not had a good run in the first team at the Blades, but I don’t think he’s any better than Bothroyd (although different) or Eastwood or Elliott or Keogh. The same goes for Kyle, although Lafferty might be a good buy for us.
Relax! If we can stay four points off 2nd and six points off the top until the end of the year, even if it’s nothing re the strike force, I trust Morgan and McCarthy to do the right thing in January.