Another game tomorrow in front of the Sky cameras, kicking off at an inconvenient time for the second time this month, writes Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd.
Being a bloke, Saturday 22nd December is usually the time when I would start thinking about beginning my Christmas shopping.
Instead I’ll be sitting down in my usual spot in the Steve Bull stand in near freezing temperatures, hoping that we can finally see some yuletide entertainment at Molineux.
Watching my beloved Wolves over the last couple of months hasn’t exactly been what you would call exhilarating.
The team of youthful exuberance, who were winning on a regular basis last season, has somehow been transformed into a stodgy misfiring bunch of players who sometimes look like they have never played together.
The last time we played in front of the cameras against Burnley earlier this month, I was almost tempted to forego my usual seat for a place in front of the TV in warmer surroundings.
But I’m not a fair weather fan, and that really was never a serious consideration.
And so I’ll be there tomorrow in my Ushanka and gloves, praying that the defence can look a little bit more lively than late and that George and Karl don’t both play as deep as they have been of late.
Out of the four games over the busy Christmas period, what would be considered a good return in terms of points?
Leicester at home, followed by trips to Hull and Norwich and then back to Molineux on New Years day to play the Blades.
I would like to think that 9 or 10 points out of 12 would be a possibility, but that’s probably as realistic as Santa fitting a Ferrari down my chimney on the 25th.
I wrote in my last blog about the frustration many Wolves fans have at the poor return from our 4 main forward men this season.
How on earth can they be expected to gel when it’s a different combination of strikers for every game?
Mick needs to pick two, stick with them and give them a decent run of games.
Whoever he picks should also start to expect better service from the flanks.
For all of Stephen Ward’s endevaours, he is about as successful at playing down the flank as I am getting my Christmas shopping done early.
I know that Kites is a big loss, but surely we can expect someone else in midfield to create a chance or 2?
I am fed up of watching Collins, Foley, Gray and Ward lumping the ball out of defence only for it to sail over Santa’s little helper (Elliott) time and time again.
If we don’t have a target man up top, so why are we hoofing balls up there that are just easily dealt with by 6 foot + centre halves?
It’s a pity, but my expectations for both the team’s success and entertainment value seems to fade game by game.
It isn’t my intention to write one negative blog after another, but I’m genuinely concerned at the moment that our season could go down the pan.
A repeat at the weekend of one of my all time top game ever at Molineux, when we came down from 3-0 to beat Leicester 4-3 in the Premiership, would be a nice winter warmer.
What I’m expecting instead is a dull affair, played out in front of a small crowd because of the cameras, the cold weather and people’s Christmas commitments.
I hope I’m wrong, and we get a festive cracker with all the trimmings dished up instead, with the same players who performed so well last season finally showing us that we should still be optimistic for the 2nd half of the season.
Anyway, that’s enough lazy yuletide based puns from me.
I hope you and your families all have a cracking Christmas and lets hope that Santa brings the Wolves lots of points over the festive season.
26 Comments
Nathan… Ushanka ??
Does Mick McCarthy wear one of those cos I’m sure I heard a fan asking him where he got it.
Have a good christmas - I’ve enjoyed your bloggs and our little battles - long may both continue !
Happy_baggie
Merry Christmas to you also.
I’ve enjoyed your comments on here, the majority of the time!
I love the banter on these sites and I’m glad that my blogs provoke a debate amongst Wolves and Albion fans.
A Ushanka is a Soviet Military Hat, like wearing a giant rabbit on your head!
Lol, and how is 5:15 or whatever it is an inconvenient time? Perfect time to get the Christmas shopping out of the way and then up to the pub before the match. This guy chats a load of waffle.
Nice one Nathan, you and Jarrod are doing a good job. Keep it up.
”kicking off at an inconvenient time for the second time this month”
i agree, i know someone who can’t go to the game tommorow as has he is going out to dinner with some family from Scotland, which was already arranged before they decided to put us on Sky. Why can’t they just k/o at 3 and put it on Sky Sports 2/3/Extra then it won’t clash with the Prem teams on.
Nathan, Jarrod, keep those blogs coming in the New Year !!
All the best to both of you and to all fans on either side !!
So Breen and Craddock are once again a doubt and we’re supposed to have cheer, You can bet your bottom dollar we won’t see off crappy Leicester tomorrow.
Nathan good skills on the blog, if only watching wolves was as interesting, i will be there also tomorrow hoping to see something a bit special, just hope the half time entertainment is as good as previous weeks.
Hope you get your Ferrari, Happy Christmas Fella’s.
All the best to everyone out there especially you… happy baggie (u swine)!
Lets hope Santa drops two Premiership Promotion Vouchers down the chimney this Xmas and we both use them!!
I hope it is a 4-3 in wolves favour, that for me would be a great game to watch. Watchin that in the temporary stand really was something to behold even though all the goals were scored at the North bank “squint squint of the eyes”
MM please drop Ward, and change the formation.
Mr Blogger, have a great xmas mate
Good blog my fellow Nathan. I agree with the inconvienient time, I have to leave at half time tomorrow as I had previously made other arrangements, tempted to watch it on the box, i dunno?
Have you heard this rumour that we want Henderson from Watford. If MM buys another forward he needs his head testing! We need creativity and flair in midfield to create chances, i think any of our 4 forwards would put the ball in the spout bag if they had the chances, the service is non existant. Good point about Henry and Oli playing too deep, I couldn’t agree more. Give Mark Davis or Rosa a run out, but that’s not going to happen because there not “chomping at the bit”, or prepared to put a “shift in”, or “Irish” or “ex Sunderland” ……….. grrrrr.
Merry Christmas all
until the wolves players are allowed to exspress themselves all we are going to get is a team in micks mould runners and hoofers.defend from the front to the back goals win games so cmon mick let them attack attack attack,merry christmas to the wolves fans everywhere.
Nathan & Jarrod Happy Xmas to you both..you are a credit to the paper.
Always interesting articles for us to debate on (long may they continue)
The banter between the Baggies and the Wolves brighten my days.
Good will to all men.Boing Boing
Your right, Nath.
Terrible time to KO.
Merry Xmas everyone!
Merry Christmas to all Wolves fans, and to you Nathan, another great blog.
You Shanker!!!!!!
Quality.
Inconvenient time!!!! TEll us about it. There will 5 of us gathered (4wolves, 1 fox he he he) at 330am around Foxsports. It is much more convenient and easy when games are at 1am or the favoured midday kick off (9pm bliss). Oh and it will still be a balmy 25 degrees at that time opf the night/morning
Good blog again Nathan and thanks for the good reading matter this year . Not sure if MM reads any of the comments but it is amazing just how similar so many are . The creativity from the midfield / flanks is almost non existent and there must surely be a place for Mark Davies now , along with runs for Matt Jarvis and Freddie . Come on Mick take some notice of the fans after all we do know what we are watching and it has not been very pretty for much of the season . Good luck to The Baggies too and let us all hope that both teams reach the premiership together this time around .
A great Christmas and New Year to all Wolves fans and let us just keep hoping for better performances around the corner .
merry xmas to all midland footie fans.
0-0 me thinks tomorrow!
Nathan we ‘hoofed’ the ball at QPR generally out of panic. Yet when we gained a bit of confidence in the second half and kept the ball on the ground we outplayed them. There was some excellent work down the left wing.
DO WE EVER DO WELL IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS. When was the last game we won on TV? I want Moxey to tell sky to leave us alone. Leicester will be up for it even more and they are the sort of team we always struggle against.And yet what a perfect time for keogh to come good and score a brace for Christmas. Then to be replaced by Freddy who promptly stuffs the foxes with another two….
A man can dream can’t he
However we must win.
Get that damn shopping done Lloyd! You could always forgo tommorrows match for the Bullring shopping centre…
Hello Dingle boys & girls. As a loyal Baggie I can still find it my heart to wish you a merry Christmas & a peaceful & prosperous new year, God Bless you one & all, plus everyone at the E&S who make this message possible.
BOING BOING.
20. blogwidow
Sorry darling, but I think you understand where the Wolves comes in the order of importance in my life.
I’m not missing a game!
Love you xxx
Nathan - women huh ??
My wife once said she thought I loved albion more than her.
I didn’t like to tell her I like WOLVES more than her… they get touchy about such things !
Niceblog Nathan. I do enjoy reading, if not agreeing with all, you write. I’ll look out for your ushanka from the family enclosure. Merry xmas and happy new year to all wolves fans.. I also think 0-0 tomorrow 9 or is it today) Cioa
I am inconveniently 3,000 miles away. Will try to catch it on the commentary at 1am. I think we should win 2-0. Happy Christmas to everyone.
Time to call an halt–Loosing the plot –listened to Super Micks interview–said “He did not see what was coming-” WM Radio—Well performances over the last four games have been below average–No direction no passion—-Please Mick put it right——-Elliott is no better or worse that some of the players you have locked out—–Dave H