It’s looking more and more likely that Wolves have finished trading in the January transfer window, writes Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd.
Mick has done well in recruiting SEB and Edwards, and he would impress the Wolves faithful even more if he can dump a couple of strikers and get reinforcements in at the back.
But presuming that we now have a Wolves squad to see us through to the end of the season, what would be your ideal line-up?
If everyone is fit (and yes I do keep up with injury news, despite what some might think!) my starting XI would be:- Hennessy, Gray, Craddock, Breen, Foley, Jarvis, Edwards, Olofinjana, Kightly, Freddy and SEB.
Most of the team pretty much picks itself.
We don’t have strength and depth right across the field so it’s a welcome return to Daniel Jones back to fight for that left back slot, even though he is probably more adept at a role on the flank.
With the cup game approaching this weekend and a full gold ‘n’ black army descending on Vicarage Road, I was pondering my favourite and least favourite cup games from recent years.
I’ve got two losing games in the cup that really stick in the memory.
Not too difficult to think of the first one, that will be the fourth round this time last season and that 3-0 drubbing by Albion that actually turned out to be a catalyst to kick start the rest of the season.
Anyway, that’s enough about that game.
My only ever visit to Highbury, was for the League Cup game against Arsenal in December 2003.
I traveled down to Milton Keynes and joined my brothers, Ryan and Morgan, as we headed down to Highbury by train.
It was basically the kids v the grown-ups.
We had a team of Marshall, Naylor, Craddock, Butler, Andrews, Gudjonsson, Rae, Ince, Camara, Blake and Miller against the youthful up and coming Arsenal team with the likes of Clichy, Hoyte, Wiltord, Fabregas, Bentley, Kanu and Aliadiere and a certain Graham Stack in goal.
They are all household names now, but back then most of the Arsenal team hardly had a first-team appearance between them.
We were absolutely annihilated that day. Aliadiere, who later had a brief and unsuccessful loan period in gold ‘n’ black, was fantastic with Kanu up front.
And a certain 16 year-old called Fabregas scored and became the youngster ever Arsenal goalscorer.
I’ve never left a game so early, missing the last 20 minutes of the game, but it was so painful to watch, I just couldn’t take it.
I wasn’t alone; I think 50 per cent of Wolves fans missed Alex Rae scoring our consolation goal in the 88th minute as we were drubbed 5-1.
I think it was hard to take because we hadn’t heard of 75% of the Arsenal team that Wenger put out and just felt that we were beaten by the Arsenal youth team.
It isn’t all bad though. How about Don Goodman returning to the club he supported as a boy in 1997 when we beat Leeds 1-0 to reach our first FA cup semi final in 17 years?
Miracles really do happen. Who would have thought that a central midfield pairing of Carl Robinson and Simon Osborn would see us through to a semi-final FA cup meeting with Arsenal?
Playing that day was also my favourite central defensive pairing from the last 20 years at Wolves; Keith Curle and Dean Richards.
A couple of minutes to goal in the game and Leeds won a dubious penalty after a very young substitute, Robbie Keane (whatever happened to him?) was alleged to have brought down Jimmy Hasselbaink in the box.
The mighty Hans Segers was at full stretch to keep out the pen and the Wolves faithful went berserk. A brilliant ending to a great game.
But my all time favourite cup game was a third round cup tie against Newcastle at Molineux back in 2003.
What a cracker. It was like watching a tennis match with the ball bouncing from one end to the other.
A team of Murray, Irwin, Lescott, Butler, Naylor, Newton, Ince, Cameron, Kennedy, Miller and Ndah did us proud that day.
With Dave Jones struggling for league form, it was a game that lifted the mood at Molineux.
Paul Ince and Mark Kennedy put us 2-0 up before Jenas and Shearer, with the hardest hit penalty I have ever seen, leveled it up before the break.
George Ndah won the game with a bundled goal to make it 3-2 shortly after half time.
In between the goals there were plenty of shots, goal line clearances and lots of fast and fluid attacking football from both sides.
At the back we were solid and going forward we created lots of chances.
It was a performance that really got the crowd buzzing.
Let’s hope we can replicate it down at Watford this weekend.
And for those fans asking the age old question of trying to choose between a cup victory or three points in the league a week later, why can’t we have both?
Come on me babbies.
Wolves fans have your say below
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18 Comments
Great Blog.
I really look forward to reading Nathan’s thoughts, usually the most balanced on the E&S sports pages.
I’d plump for Keogh to support Banks up top and what about Murray in goal?
that newcastle game was amazing! and have to agree about keith curle and richards!
would love a run in the cup but would settle for a surge for the play offs!
But lets hope for both!
COME ON WOLVES!
What is this obsession that most Wolves fans seem to have about Freddy Eastwood? He comes on and wanders around in a bit of a mood before scuffing a shot from about 25 yards and then drifts out of the game. Despite this, The south bank sing his name and call for him when things are going badly. He’s just an expensive Jay Bothroyd!
Good Blog, would go with Keogh for Eastwood though and possibly Murray in goal (although tough, as Hennessy has been brilliant).
As said before you can seperate the striking spots into two, based on attributes. SEB and Elliot going for one spot as striker and Keogh and Eastwood going for the support striker spot.
I personally enjoy remembering THAT penalty shoot out (the one against Sheffield Wednesday).
Tuesday? night 3 nil down in the shoot out with Pressman almost managing to take the net off the posts (that would rival Shearer hey Nathan).
Remember De Wolf just stroking his custom penalty into the keeper’s top left corner and grinning at a certain Mr Waddle who had missed some penalty in some World Cup match against some Germans.
Waddle missed AGAIN and I think it may have been Goodman who sent us through.
went tto the arsenal wolves game even thou they thrashed us it woz a good night out and ales rae’s goal was from about 5yards if i remebemr correctly
the newcastle game was also a great game
miss them days down molineux
Why didnt we get Fox from Walsall surely a snip at 350K & Sadler from blues??? Baffled.
Freddie Eastwood needs to be loved he is that sort of player. At the moment he lacks confidence and belief. Perhaps the FA Cup will bring out the player we saw briefly if not I can see him moving on. As a wolves fan for over 30 years I want promotion now not later and who ever has the boots of of regular goalscorer is my pick to lead the attack. Maybe the cup is his last chance but another bum game and my patience is too thin to support someone who is fine in a small pond but lost in a bigger one. Up the Wolves lets have a cup run and promotion.
newcastle game had everything, and when mags pulled it back to 2-2 everyone had that feeling off that was our chance to put them out! but then we continued that great 1st half performance for whole 90mins which was fantastic
i quite liked leicester in cup 4-0 i think? bout 4-5yrs ago, leicester always seemed to beat us in my 20yrs supporting wolves and to drum so many past them was sweet
strike force for season… my choice freddy and s.e.b but mick will plump with keogh & s.e.b which would be my 2nd choice
my team if everyone fit (bar murray as he wont be)
gk hennessey
rb foley
lb gray
cb craddock
cb ward (improved since start season, but then other week lost his head again)
rw kightly (yes not wing wizard in elliot)
lw JARVIS (finally in his position)
cm edwards
cm seyi
fw freddy
fw ebanks-blake
subs
stack, keogh, elliot, henry (cover several position) breen
locker room and never to return
s.ward and collins
Keogh everytime for me. I know he’s not the 20 goal a season man Wolves fans expect from their number nine, but he’s talented enough to create 30 for another front man and an attacking midfield.
Just look at Billy Sharpe, a man who most Wolves fans wanted in over the summer (but have since settled for Freddie). He is not as good without him, and even an underfire Robson won’t use him.
We can’t play Ebanks-Blake or Edwards, as they’re both cup-tied. So there goes any chance of some goals!
Freddy and Keogh up front tomorrow?
11 Penn Wolf:
With the return of hopefully Craddock,Breen,Kites & Matty Jarvis playing a blinder last week, anything is possible, even the thought of Bothroyd scoring (well maybe not).
If the lads show the same amount of commitment as they did last weekend,
anything is possible.
I’ve just read that Edwards IS NOT cup-tied on the bbc website.
Great blog my fellow Nathan. The cup game against Newcastle was fantastic, I recorded the game and watched it again when I got home!!! Even managed to spot myself celebrating in the south bank.
Personally I am only interested in the league this season, not to fussed about tomorrow’s game as long as we have no injuries. Although obviously it would be nice to win!
Albion target waiting for call
On this particular page,bigbadbaggie is calling for a Wolves/Albion merger.
You couldn’t make it up.
Cup memories:-
Kenny Hibbett taking the dive to earn the Penalty Vs Spurs at Hillsborough & getting the sack ’cause I finished early (11.00) on the Saturday morning.
My favorite Cup memory was the 87 Sherpa Van final.We (my wife,5 year old daughter,Clare & myself drove down early as Clare had never been to London.We did all the sites including London Zoo to see the Panda.Picnic lunch on the car park at Wembley.80,841 fans, a 2-0 win, Burnley fans asking if my car was OK as I checked the Oil/Water prior to our return.Fantastic atmosphere. Absolutly NO trouble at all.
The way football should be!
How times change.
Clare now as 2 kids of her own & they are Wolves Nuts.
great blog m8
the cup game that stands out for me has to be the newcastle game and to see a certain mr bellamy point to his prem badge live on sky.what a sore loser my prodiction for tomorrow 1-1 and take em back to the golden palace
I agree with most of your team selection although I would go for Edwards instead of Gray, Ward instead of Breen and Keogh instead of Eastwood. It’s a toss up between Olifinjana and Henry.
Eastwood would be my first choice to replace either of the strikers but I always think we play so much better as a team when Keogh is playing well.
Cup memories? That Newcastle game was great. John Richards getting the winner at Wembley against Man City in the League Cup and scoring a brilliant goal to beat Liverpool in the Quarter Finals. Also an FA Cup away game at Oldham where we were 2-0 down after 89 minutes and got a draw then thrashed them in the replay. Showing my age now!