Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd has a startling revelation about where his allegiance once lay before the trip to Everton.
“If they doh win today, they want cowin’ shooting.”
That was the funny, if slightly ineloquent, opinion I overheard one Wolves fan exchanging with another before the Portsmouth defeat nearly a fortnight ago.
I forgot to put it in last week’s blog, but it does say so much about some of our fans who bizarrely think we should be steamrolling any of the teams in the Premier League.
You might now be shouting at your computer monitor that Pompey were on the back of a seven game losing streak and had sold nearly every decent player they had in the summer, so why shouldn’t we have expected to beat them?
In the stars, fate or scripted, call it what you want but the basement boys were always likely to end their winless run against us, even our Mick McCarthy knew it in his pre-match build up.
I sat in my J4 seat of the Steve Bull stand with a sinking feeling even before kick off. The starting XI aside, which I still think Mick got wrong, Portsmouth had one of those weeks where they were obviously eager to bite back and prove the critics wrong.
Luck may have gone against for the penalty, but Wolves were woefully short of Premier League class all game and deserved nothing from the game.
On a brighter note, I took advantage of the fortnight’s domestic break to travel down to the big smoke with some good friends on Wednesday night and experience the new Wembley for the first time.
As you can see from the picture above, I was towards the top of the stadium and watching the game from there was akin to playing Sensible Soccer on an old Amiga computer, if that isn’t too geeky an admission! By that I mean that the players looked minuscule, similar to the view I had at the Millennium Stadium on that wonderful day in May 2003.
The England game on Wednesday wasn’t exactly compelling, but for me the evening was about sampling that wonderful Wembley experience. My mates still won’t believe me that I had a hunch that Peter Crouch would get the first goal and England would win 3-0. Probably due to the fact I’d put a fiver on Lampard to get the first goal and England to win 3-0!
Hopefully the couple of weeks Wolves have had off have given Mick the time to set a strategy to get some points from this very tricky set of five games coming up.
We start the quintet of games with a tricky trip to Goodison Park on Saturday. A venue where we haven’t won since Andy Gray scored on his debut in a 3-2 win back in September 1979.
I must admit I got quite excited when Mick said that Ronald Zubar would be starting at Everton, along with Michael Kightly and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.
Without our three best players from last season in Kites, Sylvan and Foley we have looked a little clueless and pedestrian in games at times, which is probably no surprise given the quality that trio possess.
For me, Mick still shows the stubborn streak that has plagued him during his tenure managing our great club. Greg Halford isn’t a player I’m particularly fond of, yet Mick seems insistent in fitting him somewhere down the right side for the sake of a long throw.
OK, that may seem like a simplistic point of view, but Greg is never going to get fans on the edge of their seats like a Doyle or Kightly can.
Mick’s latest example of obstinacy is to come out this week with some bizarre metaphorical musings regarding the worthiness of George Elokobi’s place in the Wolves starting line-up.
Up there with Eric Cantona and his barmy speech about seagulls who follow a trawler, Mick compared George’s Premiership performances thus far to an electrician who has now turned his hand to plastering.
Next Mick will be talking about himself in the third person and it really will be time to call in the men with the white coats!
Was it really wise for Mick to call on the fans to give Elokobi some slack and then in the same sentence say that actually the fans have treated George brilliantly as it is?
We know George has had a tough eight months coming back from a nasty cruciate injury, but unless we see a massive improvement in his positional sense and distribution, then I really do think the top-flight is a step too far for him.
I personally don’t think we have anybody on the books at Wolves, Stephen Ward included, who is good enough to play in the left-back position at this level of football.
I know it is ridiculous to mention it already, but I would seriously consider making the left back a priority for the January transfer window, which after all is only half a dozen games away.
The intriguing scenario at Everton will be with the likely inclusion of Zubar alongside Berra in the middle of defence and Elokobi seemingly bulletproof at left-back. Will Mick stick with Greg Halford at right-back and drop reportedly the club’s highest paid player in Michael Mancienne?
And will Andy Keogh be warming the bench, with Mick stating that Ebanks-Blake will be a likely starter?
We looked far too fragile in the centre of midfield against Portsmouth, so unfortunately I think David Edwards will be sacrificed quite rightly for the more defensive minded Segundo Castillo.
If Mick is going to carry on playing 4-4-2, especially away from home, then playing two holding midfielders should allow the creativity to come from the flanks and the forward line.
One thing is for certain, I don’t want to see Kightly or Ebanks-Blake introduced with 20 minutes to go at Goodison. Let’s get the best team we can out from the start.
A quick confession before I go. Back in 1985, my family and I moved to the shiny new concrete city of Milton Keynes. Aged 13, I started at my first secondary school with Wolves languishing somewhere near the bottom of the old Division Three.
I was already getting enough stick because of indecipherable Black Country accent, so being a young teenager I wanted to avoid anymore abuse and thus disowned my home town football club. I adopted Everton who had just won the league, the now defunct European Cup Winners Cup and had been runners-up in the FA Cup.
My bid for popularity lasted a fortnight until the only other Wolverhampton-born lad in the school, a kid called Craig, came into class one day and threw a Wolves hat at me, then told me in no uncertain terms to get a grip.
So for two week in 1985 I was a Toffee, until I saw the light. I realised then that you support the club where you were born and not to support the popular team at the time simply because your great, great, great Aunty once went their on holiday.
Let’s hope we go and give Everton a good game on Saturday. Who knows they might be under the impression that we will be a pushover, but I doubt we will be anything but.
Have a good weekend, up the Wolves!
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22 Comments
Only a left back in the January transfer? What about goals? IMO we need a new central midfielder, a left midfielder and a complete new back line oh and lets get Murray back in goal.
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simple! Move Mancienne to left back, Berra and Zubar in the centre and Foley on the right (assuming he can run). Henry and Castillo, Kights and Jarvo and Ebanks and Doyle. I don’t want to see Halford on the pitch. I’ll support anyone who wears the shirt but he isn’t very good is he! Also think about loaning Elekobi who obviously wasn’t fit again Pompey! Looking forward to see Chris back though!
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“they might be under the impression that we will be a pushover, but I doubt we will be anything but” – Nathan, did you just get this a bit wrong or do you actually think we WILL be a pushover for Everton?
I hope to see us giving 100%, fighting for each and every ball, and most inportantly of all, taking our chances – I think the team Mick should start with is Hennessey, Foley, Berra, Craddock, Zubar (LB), Kightly, Henry, Castillo (if fit – if not then Edwards), Jarvis, SEB and Doyle. I have a feeling he may opt for the 4-5-1 though, which may involve Milijas at the expense of SEB, but if I were manager (if only!), then I would stick with the tried-and-trusted 4-4-2 and really go for it. I think Keogh, Mancienne and Elokobi could do with a spell on the bench as they seem to have lost a bit of form going on the last couple of matches, and as you have rightly pointed out, Halford offers little but a long throw which thus far hasn’t exactly been hugely effective anyway… so if MM goes with the line-up I suggested then the bench would consist of USA, Halford, Mancienne, Edwards (or Castillo), Milijas, Keogh, Maierhofer.
Whatever we line up with, we have got a tought afternoon in store and every player needs to be fully at it – and the defensive errors need to be eradicated if we are to get anything from the game.
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Leave big George alone. Fast, strong. The rest of his game will improve.
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Worrying times. I think Mick’s limited management style is being shown up again in the top flight. He has done very well in getting us up but i remember thinking when we appointed him that he isn’t a top flight manager. His tactics, substituations and the bizarre way he backs his players worries me. He has made some great signings but the money spent in the summer hasn’t exactly reaassured me that we will stay up comfortably.
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At the end of the day you don’t start Kightly and Ebanks on the bench at HOME against a team who have lost 7 on the bounce, it is a shocking decision and too negative.
Like i’ve said every day, bring in a Manager who knows how to manage at this level. End of.
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Nathan agree 100% Now is the time to start with our best 11 and see how well we can compete in this division.All through the pre season i called for the signing of a recognised specialist left back as i too do not think big george or Steven Ward are good enough try as they might.A tough month ahead but who knows a little bit of luck and SEB/DOYLEY firing on all cylinders then maybe a chance to stay out of the bottom 3.
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Shouting at my computer screen??? Dont think so Nathan. 100% agree, far too many Wolves fans think we have the right to win every game and be in the Prem. They are the ones that moan right away and get on players backs about mistakes! Thats why people call us FICKLE!
On the point about George, Mick didnt really say we should give him some slack. He did say we understand and support him well!
I cannot believe you hid you was a Wolves fan! Remember ONCE A WOLF ALWAYS A WOLF!
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nathan – u will get slated for that comment about george! these lot on here think he is the best left back wolves have ever had…
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Great blog.
If you support the team where you were born……..what about us mad Norwegians supporting Wolves. Many of the supporters haven`t even been to Wolverhampton.
I think you also support teams you can associate yourself with in some way, and You probably have a week spot for Toffees…. :-)
Up The Wolves
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I agree that Kites, Ebanks Blake and Foley make a difference but we havnt looked pedestrian. v Fulham we were superb. I really think that some fans need to put into perspective that we have had the worst injuries so far and we have the youngest squad in the prem (something to be proud of)If Man Utd lost their captain, top scorer, 2nd top scorer, player with most assists and player of the year would they be in the top 2. Absolutely not. Are we in the bottom 3 despite our bad luck with injuries – NO. Surprise result coming soon. Referees have also cost us alot of points so far and I agree with the Sandwell fans that refereeing is shocking at this level.
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Nice blog Nath, agree with all points.
I would like to see Mancienne at left back personally, with a fit Stearman and Berra as our two centre halves. But its still trying to make a purse out of a pigs ear. Signing Dunne from city would of been a masterstroke.
Its quite funny you mention your efinity with the toffes.
My friends somewhat more ridiculous reason was that he started to support Everton believing they were a local Black Country club.
The fool got confused with Netherton! He didn’t realise this until he was 13.
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Spot on. Mick’s stubborn to the point where it may cost him his job if performances don’t equate to wins soon.
The last few games have highlighted the inadequacies of certain palyers, in particular Keogh, Edwards, Halford and Elokobi. Try as they might, they’re not premiership quality yet and may never be.
As the majority of fans agree, a shake up is required. Zubar (our most expensive defender, who was playing champions league football last season) deserves a chance.
Milijas, who’s touch and ability isn’t in question, just his fitness and adaptability needs game time, sitting on the bench aint gonna do him any good. I’d like to see him in midfield alongside Castillo and henry, possibly at the expense of Jarvis.
And finally, if fit KITES and EBANKS have to start Mick!!!
I think a draw’s a possibility with our best players playing!
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Some good points but firstly we are not half a dozen games away from the transfer window – it’s double that. Castillo is unlikely to play.
Everton are a top 8 team and if we get a point we will be lucky. Playing Sylvan is brave but I agree with my mate Nick that 4-5-1 is what we should be looking at for this game!
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If he intends to play 4 4 2, we may as well ring them up and give them the 3 points.Everton are strong ,very strong in midfield,if we give them a numerical advantage in that area they will wipe the floor with us.
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i hope mr morgan will make money for the transfair window in jan and not a few mill
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That’s a real shame, if only that lad had never given you that hat you could have been a toffees fan, instead you’re here writing this garbage about my beloved club.
Do you just go with the flow Nathan or do you actually have any opinions that you are willing to stand by
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Number 4 – Elokobi maybe strong but he wasn`t fast against Portsmouth even my five year old was shouting at him to run faster.
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Hennessey
Foley Berra Zubar Mancienne
Kightly Melijas Castillo Keogh
Doyle Ebanks Blake
4-4-2
;-)
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I thought that plasterers played part time in non league and drove a taxi during the winter when the building trade went slack !
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and wolvesmod as i have been saying everyday , you or any other supporter will not choose the manager of wwfc, that responsibility lies fortunately with mr morgan. utw everton 0 wwfc 1 doyle.
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Elokobi well done son, much better game!
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