nobody gets you closer

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

5 day forecast


Wolves blog: Early Bird catches…

moxey.jpgIt’s going to cost Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd a few more pounds than first thought, but the thought of the Premier League experience is still all that engulfs his mind.

Like a lot of fans, I probably think about Wolves an unhealthy amount of time during the day.

I could be at the office working on a presentation, or something as equally tedious, and my brain will kick into life and say “Why don’t we have a quick look online to see if there is any news on Matt Jarvis’ injury, or how about we get involved in an internet debate to discuss the best flavour of pie to eat during a game?”

Rather than focus on what actually pays my mortgage, my brain is constantly distracting me towards all things Wolves.

So why is it that my brain neglected to inform me that the early bird deadline was looming? By the time my grey matter had decided to give me a nudge, it was half an hour past the deadline and I was sitting on the M6, powerless to do anything about it.

When it had dawned on me that I had missed the deadline, I remember sitting in my car and shouting out a very loud expletive, then tried to think of ways my brain and I could convince the lovely Molineux ticket office to make an exception and let me buy the early bird a bit late.

I couldn’t think of anything remotely plausible and when I spoke to the ticket office the next day, they apologised but said that I had already had a while to renew and that rules are rules.

So I’ll have to now find the cash in the summer to either stump up for a Championship season ticket, or the more costly Premier League offering.

A lot of Wolves fans seemingly have already counted there provable chickens and have promotion signed, sealed and delivered ready for their top-flight season ticket.

I try hard not to get carried away, stay level headed and not get embroiled in discussions about where the supposed £50million Steve Morgan investment will be best spent on the squad in the top flight.

It’s not easy though is it? If not talking about who will play for us in the top flight, most Wolves fans conversations tend to involve a lot of numbers.

Seven games to go, three at Molineux and four away, seven points clear of Reading in third, six really because of the Royals’ superior goal difference.

Unbeaten in six, with four wins and two draws, our promotion charge is gathering pace once again.

The football has been far from pretty at times, more functional than entertaining. But who gives a monkeys as long we keep grinding out results.

We had more entertainment before the New Year than the whole of last season combined, so I for one couldn’t care less if we don’t see a decent game between now and 5pm on May 3, as long we get enough points.

I suppose you could argue we got away with it against Charlton. The stunning goal by Zheng Zhi, was sandwiched in between two rather ugly goals by Wolves. And how did the referee miss the tug in the box in the dying seconds of injury time, that would have given the Addicks a penalty and a probable point?

But the footballing gods were looking after the boys on Saturday, just like for goalkeeper’s Dimitrios Konstantopoulos own goal when we played Cardiff in the 2-2 draw, a goal which we are probably only now realising the importance of.

But we probably can’t keep playing as disjointed as we have done recently and keep getting results, or can we?

Our striker Sylvan Ebanks Blake was again outstanding on Saturday. He has been without doubt our most consistent performer all season and his goals are a major factor as to why we are in the position we are.

Stephen Ward has also been incredibly consistent this season, especially in the left-back position, but on the left wing he really doesn’t possess enough of a threat due to his lack of pace

When he went off at half-time against Charlton, I was slightly bemused to see Karl Henry come on in his place, which meant David Edwards had to switch to the flanks to accommodate Henry slotting into central midfield.

When that didn’t work, on came Andy Keogh to replace Edwards and again have the thankless task of playing completely out of position.

Why shoehorn Henry into the team? Why not bring on Kyel Reid and keep the shape as it was? Anyway, we got three points from a dreadfully dull game and I suppose going to back to what I was saying, that is probably all that matters.

As mentioned in my last blog, I spent a bit of time before the Charlton game with Alfred Camilleri, the President of the Maltese Wolves fan club.

Alfred set up the fan club in 1960 and he amazed me with his knowledge of everything Wolves and he could also recite every goal in every game he’d been to in the last 50 years or so.

He had also met every Wolves legend you care to mention and had photographic evidence to back it up.

You would struggle to meet a nicer bloke than Alfred and there wouldn’t be many who will have his encyclopedic knowledge on all things gold and black.

I’ll forgive him for introducing me to the rest of the fan club as, “this is the blogger, Nathan Blake!”

Alfred, like the Express & Star’s own Martin Swain, was also perplexed as to why a recent Daily Mail so-called list of the top 50 league managers of British clubs didn’t feature a certain Stan Cullis.

Lists like this pop up almost on a daily basis and are really quite insignificant. The Daily Mail article actually referred to a commemorative poster commissioned by the LMA and there were more than one shocking omission from the list of names presence.

The collection was commissioned by the LMA but was designed by Colin Yates, so who cares who is picked? It’s just another irrelevant list, put together by someone of no real great importance to football.

But I did take notice when yesterday, when the Daily Mail listed the great Sir Tom Finney’s pick for his all time great England XI. As well as Alf Ramsey, Duncan Edwards and Finney himself, there was also a place for Billy Wright at the back and the cat Bert Williams ahead of Gordon Banks in goal. Now, who’s opinion is more valid, an artist or a footballing legend?

To continue the reminiscing theme, I still recall the game against Saturday’s opponents Nottingham Forest at Molineux in February 2000, as the most bizarre I have ever seen.

Ade Akinbiyi refused to leave the field after receiving a red card for head-butting Tony Vaughan and then Michael Branch scored when their goalkeeper Dave Beasant had kicked the ball out of play, so that Lee Naylor could receive treatment.

A bewildering series of events, not least for Steve, a Forest fan who was sitting next to me and shaking his head so much it looked like he had developed a nervous tick!

I’d just settle for another scrappy win on Saturday up at the City Ground and we can leave the excitement for another day.

It’s unlikely we will see Jarvis return until after the International break. But although Forest have brought in goalkeeper Iain Turner from Everton on loan for the rest of the season, they are missing quite a few key personnel.

If we can get close to repeating what I consider to be our best home performance of the season, when he tore Forest apart 5-1, then we should easily have too much for Billy Davies’ men.

Enjoy the game and your weekend.

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  1. 1
    Business Wolf

    good blog nathan, gotta be a balti pie for the best pre match warm up with me complimented by a bland molineux coffee!

    you’re right about the henry substitution – why mix it up that much? especially as dave edwards for me has looked a million miles better than henry, because of his pace and willingness to get the ball on the deck and pass it forward. not the henry classic of head tennis, a cryuff turn and then pass it to a centre half in danger!

    i hope friend returns to the left side, saw him away at birmingham and the lad was different class, apparently similar response from sheff wed and palace games. he’s one of those lads mick plays away.

    doubtful about harewood signing – but as a loanee, i’ll take that – better than having him go to forrest and score against us.

    i’ll be there with the 5,300 other gold and black army on saturday! come on the wolves

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  2. 2
    Bob Wolf

    Without the pace of Jarvis we will go and try and grind out a win. Lets hope that Ward doesn’t play on the wing as he is a muppet.

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  3. 3
    laughingwolf

    Firstly mate, you had along time to renew!

    I see happy baggie has had his usual underhanded pop at us on the previous story because he is feeling bitter about the albions shocking season.

    Firstly, we may not like Jez, but he is a very shrewd businessman. I fancy borough stoke and obviously albion to go down and we can get players without breaking the bank and follow the lead of man utd by giving the players performance related bonuses to enhance their wages, survival bonus, win bonus all team and not individual bonuses. go for:

    Bale (spurs) not playing
    Huddlestone (spurs) not playing
    Wheater (borough) stay in prem
    Ledley (cardiff)
    Roger Johnson (cardiff)

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  4. 4
    Dublin Wolves

    Nathan

    Fully agree with you on the performance basis, we have looked dis-jointed at times but also look to have a solid base (which we have been lacking most of the season really). I really get the feeling if we go 1 up we can grind it out and see out results.

    I still think the Blues game is going to decide alot in terms of not just winning the league, but also promotion. If we can beat the Blues that will put them in serious danger of being caught by either Reading and Cardiff, where as if we are beat it just merely puts us back in the pack with the 3.
    I do think a draw would probably suit both teams, and that is what i think the result will be.

    I think we will win tomorrow against a poor Forest side, but we do not have a great record there at all, so no way should we be making this a banker result. 1-0 with Iwelumo scoring.

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  5. 5
    cpt_wolves

    Nathan shame on you for not renewing. What you gonna do next season, write the blogs after listening to the game on the radio?

    I’d take a point away at Forest, unless we can get Harewood starting against his old team and scoring the goals?

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  6. 6
    wolvesmod

    What’s this i’ve heard, we’re on the verge of signing Marlon Harewood!!!

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  7. 7
    wolvesmod

    Iain Turner, the forest keeper, hasn’t played a professional game for two years.

    I think we’ll score 5 again on Sat.

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  8. 8
    Wilko

    Nathan – all these people reading and commenting on your blog and not one of them reminded you to renew!!

    How’s that for gratitude??

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  9. 9
    WOZZA IN TENERIFE

    Nice blog Nathan your reference to the Henry,Keogh switching of personnel is something that gets just about every supporters goat with intelligence above the average Amoeba. Will he ever learn or change his tinkering of round pegs square holes and favorites I worry maybe not and what will the cost be when we get to the check out till on May the 3rd???

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  10. 10
    laughingwolf

    Marlon Harewood would be an excellent loan signing for the run-in, a real handful and I think a good prem player. I cant wait for tomorrow and for the brum game aswell. As Mc Carthy has said only a handful of players could cut it in the prem and I have given my suggestions of signings but we need to keep:

    Hennessey (for back up)
    Murray (no.1 if fit)
    Foley
    Berra
    Stearman
    Kites
    Jarvo
    Jones
    Ebanks blake
    Iwelumo (mick needs to start moaning to the media about the way refs treat him and watch them let more go)

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  11. 11
    Wolves AY I

    NATHAN BLAKE!!!!! LOL Thats funny!!!

    Got to say Nathan your an idiot (In a nice way!) how you forget your early bird. LOL No summer holiday for you this year. Dont worry I will enjoy my summer in Miami and Cancun thinking of Premiership football for £370!

    Sorry that Im taking the mick but this blog has made me smile! :-D

    See you all 5278 of you at Forest! WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED!

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  12. 12
    Nathan Lloyd

    11.Wolves AY I

    Glad to make someone happy! My missus thinks I’ve just been frugle in these current credit crunch times. Wait till she finds out the cost of my season ticket for 09/10!

    C’mon me babbies!

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  13. 13
    we are going up

    Nathan,
    Hope your missus does not read the blog

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  14. 14
    brummierobwolves

    Things are not going to be pretty in the last 7 games. It’s the business end of the season after all.
    We have enough in our locker though. Hennessey has regained some form. Craddock is forming a tight partnership with Berra – he could be the quality centre half that we have been looking for. Hill has been steady, although his distribution is erratic. Jones and Edwards is far more effective than Henry and Quashie and finally big Chris is back to forge the deadliest front line in the division.
    IT SAYS ONE THING. I DON’T WANT EGG ON MY FACE BUT WE ARE GOING UP!!!

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  15. 15
    Dublin Wolves

    Poor showing on her today Nathan……not offensive enough to get people snapping I guess!!

    All goes quiet when we win on these pages, no one has anything to moan about.

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  16. 16
    Nathan Lloyd

    15.Dublin Wolves

    I think the blog got overtaken by lots of other stories that people wanted to comment on. I can’t really complain about much at the moment. Even bringing in Harewood in, who I’m not a massive fan of, is probably the right thing to do as we go on that final push!

    Obviously not controversal enough to get people riled!

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  17. 17
    Danish Wolf

    laughingwolf (3)

    I think you and a lot of Wolves fans are getting carried away at the moment and are already talking about who we are going to bring in when we get to the Premiership. Can no-one remember the agony of 2002?

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  18. 18
    Dublin Wolves

    I agree Nathan, had a good rant myself on the other page to the whingers. Think some just come on here to moan, god knows how there wives cope!

    Anyway, sorry to hear you missed the early bird, I was so close myself, got to the lengths of me ringing my mum back in england and getting her to do it for me at 3.30pm on the Friday.

    Good blog tho nathan, Doesn’t hurt to look at the bright and cheerful at times, especially when everyone is nervous and tense. The blog is probably what everybody needed this week, everyone will be nervous, especially after Reading won.

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  19. 19
    Wolves AY I

    17 – its called being positive!

    That was 2002 THIS IS 2009!

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  20. 20
    Carol Lloyd

    Wolves AY I… you stay positive… we are going to do it! We can afford to lose half our of 6 games remaining and still go up as champions!

    Report abuse

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