nobody gets you closer

Tuesday, February 9, 2010


Wolves stars to start at Old Trafford

Sylvan Ebanks-BlakeWolves will unleash Michael Kightly, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Stefan Maierhofer from the start in a bold plan of attack in front of 60,000 at Old Trafford tomorrow night.

The trio will get the chance to impress in a 4-4-2 formation as boss Mick McCarthy looks to take the game to holders Manchester United in the Carling Cup third round tie.

Kightly will making his first start since March 21 after a brief comeback in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Fulham, while Ebanks-Blake makes only his second start of the season and Maierhofer will be in his full debut after substitute’s outings in the last two games.

“We’re going try to win the game, but the matches do take it out of us,” said McCarthy in reference to rotating players.

“I’ve got a squad of players, and there are lots of people who have done it (rotation) before me and for a lot longer than me and with more experienced and wiser heads than me who change their team around.

“It (these games) also gets players a game that otherwise don’t get a game.

“For instance, if Stefan, Michael Kightly and Sylvan don’t get a game tomorrow night, when I need to call on them they won’t be ready because they haven’t played at that level.

“So it’s a good opportunity for them to get a game. But I want to win the game.

McCarthy added: “We’re going to play 4-4-2 and have a game. I don’t know what team Sir Alex will play, I doubt very much he’ll play his full side.

“If he does, we’ll play whoever turns out.

“But we’re not going there to sit back and let them attack us for 90 minutes because that’s a recipe for disaster.

“We’ll try to be on the front foot.”

See Also:


  1. 1
    WOZZA D

    THE HOFF’S BIG STAGE COME ON LADS GRASP IT WITH BOTH HANDS

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  2. 2
    Lanesfield Wolf

    I am so pleased with this article, as it shows the approach that we need to survive in the Premiership.

    If they score 1, the we score 2! Stan Cullis 1952. Create a team of young hungry footballers who can achieve that. It worked before with Billy and his coherts.

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  3. 3
    cwf

    Win or bust,just go for it.

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  4. 4
    Spirit of '60

    The fact that players like SEB, Kites and Stefan are coming in for a league cup runout off the back of a decent premier league win shows just how far we’ve come. It’s not long since Marlon Harewood was the strikeforce backup!

    If Keogh plays tonight, then we’ll all know the awful truth: Mick has him in training as Ireland’s marathon entry for next year’s Olympics….

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  5. 5
    Alistair

    I’m nervous already but well excited about “The Neck” (Hoff) playing I hope he and Sylvan have a blinder…..Let’s hope that the united lot don’t damage any nof our stars……COME ON THE WOLVES!!!! Let’s take it to ‘em

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  6. 6
    brummierobwolves

    This is a great opportunity for the bench warmers and our stars coming back from injury to get a proper game under their belt. It is sure to be a reserve United but Owen, Brown, Neville, Wellbeck, Macheda and Carrick will probably start. We can win.
    The only negative is the greed of Moxey in the price of tickets. We will get £600,000 out of gate receipts and Sky Tv money but Man Utd can pay as low as £27. He probably thought we would still sell out – not at those prices in a recession!

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  7. 7
    molly knew

    6 – Ticket pricing is nothing to do with Moxey.Prices are set by the home team

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  8. 8
    SOUTHBANKLAD

    i said at begining of season that soon as big games come kites would be fit,seem im right again,he will be injured again for saturday.

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  9. 9
    get your facts right

    brummierobwolves – Moxey has nothing to do with the what prices Man Utd choose to charge. Get your facts straight before you make accusations – Moron!

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  10. 10
    Mark B

    I heard that they had to charge us the going rate as the season ticket holders have to pay at United for their cup tickets and do not get the option as we do. Anyone clarify this?

    Apart from that I hope they go out and play as well as they can, all be fit for the weekend and move the season on.

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  11. 11
    london wolf

    Spirit of ‘60 and all you other muppets! Leave Keogh alone he is our best player at the moment. Set up another goal on Sunday! Those who ciriticise such a good player need their heads looking at! UTW

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  12. 12
    SOUTHBANKLAD

    stop worrying about travel arrangments with the amount of tickets we have sold we could all go in a taxi.

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  13. 13
    Peter

    Number 6 you are a complete tool!
    Well said number 9…… get your facts right!
    That is why Man utd are an extremeley wealthy club. Big sponsors, big finances, and big ticket prices!!!!!
    Wolves can do the deed tonight! 2-1 Wolves win

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  14. 14
    jan rhodes

    COME ON THE WOLVES YOU CAN DO IT.

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  15. 15
    BIDDULPHDEK

    The game plan seems to be death or glory.

    Whatever happens (and I hope they win), the main thing is to give the players coming back injury and the second choice players an opportunity to gain match fitness.

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  16. 16
    brummierobwolves

    9) and 13) I do not think that you are totally right on this one. This is not a league game and one of the big papers has said that Wolves fans are boycotting the game tonight.
    Anyway jog on you clowns!

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  17. 17
    ItalianWolf

    To Clarify ticket prices for carling cup games are negotiated between both clubs and yes Moxley did agree to man united prices.

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  18. 18
    brummierobwolves

    This was posted yesterday and as 17) clarifies there is some negotiation when it comes to this Cup. How do you think Albion paid a tenner last night?

    1. stuwolf said: Sep 22nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm

    The reason wolves are so slow in selling tickets moxey is that united offered us cut price tickets for the game but you decided that the wolves fans should play full price of a ridiculous £41, you say its about wolves winning so if you are that concerned about it why didn’t you let the fans pay around half of that which united where offering, im sure at £20 a pop wolves woould near enough sell out that allocation but instead you decide to line the pockets of the club for the sake of a few extra thousand pounnds. Don’t get me wrong i’m grateful the work that goes on in the club but the supporters are still getting a rough ride and paying over the odds. this so called £30 million steve morgan was going to invest where has it been spent? the signings we have made total to around £15 million and we get £40 for getting promoted! I just hope that if we do survive this season there is some major investment put into the club i.e modernising and expanding the stadium and the most important thing bigger investment in the team so for years to come a force to be reckoned with and not a team who is battling ti stay up every year

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  19. 19
    Stoke on Trent Wolf

    Just hope for a good game and that Kites and SEB come through the encounter ok.

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  20. 20
    Stoke on Trent Wolf

    Hey chaps in our last really good season in the top flight (1979-1980) we did the double over this lot! At home Joe Jordan scored early for Man U. I remember but then we played brilliantly and beat them 3-1 and I think King John scored two. We then beat them 1-0 away. Aah, those were the days!

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  21. 21
    Loopy

    To clarify (!)

    REDUCTION in ticket prices has to be agreed by both parties – Not the setting of the hosts prices.

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  22. 22
    LeeWolf!

    to London wolf keogh set up the 2nd goal but anyone cud of passed that ball to edwards. mick changed keogh’s position 3 times on sunday just because he didnt want to take him off, prob to spite the fans. we cant keep doing that for keogh it should be straight swap!!

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  23. 23
    carl wolves

    I’m not a great fan of how mick has a tendency to announce the formation and most of the personnel to the opposition the day before a game. He’s done this a couple of times already this season and I can’t help thinking that quality managers will punish us for this as the season goes on.

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  24. 24
    Surinder Jakhu

    Wolves – we have the technology now to impress with Knightly, SEB and Maierhofer back, and if you perform like we did against Fulham, then we are looking at a mouthwatering clash. Focus is the key and stamina.Good Luck!

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  25. 25
    Winslow Wolf

    13. Sorry to do this to you but United are way down the list in terms of ticket prices, bottom half of the table in that respect

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  26. 26
    bobbbwolf

    Live in Manchester and paid £36 for mine, am in the home end end mind.

    But yeah if i was still livin in wolves and had to fork out the extra for travel costs I would boycott too!!

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