Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Consistency key for Wolves revival
Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd believes the team need to strive for consistency to climb the table after the international break.
I saw the legendary band the Specials wow the Wolverhampton Civic Hall at the beginning of the week and they really were a class apart. Musically tight, they effortless performed with energy and verve, showing that they could definitely teach some of the up and coming bands a thing or two about how to please a crowd.
A couple days previously, I saw Arsenal show why they are also a class apart, giving Wolves a master class in incisive attacking football. OK, we took the game to them for the first 25 minutes or so, but once the Gunners decided to move up the gears it wasn’t a case of if they would win, but just by how many.
I thought the South Bank were in fine form, Richard Stearman did himself no harm at left-back and Matt Jarvis looked lively when on as a sub, but other than that it was difficult to subtract many other positives from the game.
Just like so many of the more talented singers on the X Factor, how is it that Wolves now find themselves in the bottom two?
Perhaps just like Shakira’s hips, the league table doesn’t lie. OK, that maybe one musical metaphor too far, but the fact is that for all the plaudits the team have been winning with some strong Premier League displays, the simple fact is we just haven’t managed to pick up enough points.
But there is hope. In the main, the lads are playing well. We’ve seen it for ourselves that in many games this season, the club deserve their place in the top flight mixing it with the big boys.
We may only have seen two wins out of the 12 games played so far, but have also drawn four games when against Hull and Everton the team played well enough to have gone on to get maximum points.
In quite a few games, Wolves have performed well in spells of 15 minutes here and 30 minutes there. From here on in, the team needs to be maintaining that level of performance for close to the 90 minutes if they are to have any chance of picking up more points.
It doesn’t get any easy next week though with the trip down to Stamford Bridge to play, after Arsenal, probably the next best passing team around in Chelsea.
Like Peter Crouch and Abigail Clancy, it does look like a bit of a mismatch. At an incredible 16-1 for a Wolves win, Sportingbet probably share my pessimistic view that our trip to the capital will be nothing more than a nice day out.
In reality we need to look beyond this game and focus on our next three home games with the visit of Birmingham, Bolton and Burnley – games that could really shape the destiny of our season.
As the old cliche goes, there is nothing like an easy game in this league, but if Wolves do have aspirations of staying in this bonkers league for another term, I don’t think that anything less than seven out of a possible nine points will suffice.
Any points we pick up against the top-flight are, as I have said before, Brucie Bonuses. But if we fail to pick up points against teams in and around us then we really are asking for trouble.
It won’t take many points to haul Wolves out of the bottom three and hopefully into a position come the January transfer window where we will be in a position to be an attractive proposition to potential signings.
So on to international week, where we all hope that key players don’t pick up any knocks and hopefully the likes of Kevin Doyle and Nenad Milijas can pop up with goals to boost their confidence.
Enjoy your Premier League free weekend.
Up the Wolves!
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Do that betting company pay you to plug them? I understand they sponsor Bully’s article so he has to do this but do you as well Nathan?
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At least Wolves can’t lose this weekend!
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Good luck to Doyle and the lads this weekend!
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Number 1, get a life eh? Just cos he mentions some odds from our SHIRT SPONSOR! There my friend is the key, shirt sponsor. Moron.
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At the end of the day we can’t beat Hull and Portsmouth at home. We deserve to go down. We have no quality and teams such as Blues can go to Liverpool n almost win. We can’t. We are relying on Jody Craddock to keep us up. That says it all.
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3. Yeah best of luck to Keogh and Doyle. On the subject of Keogh he must be brought back in for the blues game, Blakey is too static where he’s not that sharp at the mo and Doyle is coming too deep, Keogh does that job so well and Doyle should be in the box.
Michael Ball on a free transfer is a must in Jan to sort out that left back position. v Chelsea the chances are we will get beat, but clutching at straws Lampard is injured and we need to have 10 men behind the ball with the Hoff up top and try to get them on a set-piece. Souhtbank were superb again on sat, stay behind the boys, not that shambles up the road who have confrontations with their players EVERY season. WE ARE WOLVES.
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Must say there is real pressure on Doyle to perform in Ireland this weekend, he has been poor the last few games for Ireland so they are hoping for a big performance from him having done so well for Wolves this term.
He really is the only one to worry about as the others are mainly in friendly matches and should come back ok.
I agree Nathan, if it came down to play we would be out of the bottom 3, some teams are really poor in this league, but hey its a results business and as for results, we have not done the business!
I for one am optimistic, I think we can haul ourselves out of this and stay safe. We do have genuine quality, we do have players under-performing who can produce more and I think will (Kights, Blake, Jarvis to name 3!)
I also think if we can win the blues game it takes the edge of the Bolton and Burnley games, it means in those 2 there is that less pressure to get that win, as we will already have the first 1 in the bag.
So Blues for me is huge.
There are not many movers or shakers in January so we might be only 1 of only a few offering a way out for some players from some clubs, hopefully we might pick up the odd bargain.
All in all there is hope, I think we will be ok in the end, just as it keeps being said, Chelsea next probably means its going to get worse before it gets better.
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One of our biggest problems is this incredible work-rate of our best striker. Far too often do we see KD tracking and tackling back in his own half and even his own penalty area. How on earth do we expect to catch good teams on the break if our lethal weapon has spent an hour running round like a headless chicken and then when we do get the ball, he is stood next to our own keeper. Wayne has a massive kick that we should be exploiting, letting KD and Seb run at their defence and keeping them pushed back, so they can’t be adding numbers to their own attacks without facing the consequences.
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We must win 2 out of the 3 next homes games and certainly can do. All 3 of these teams are in the 8 that could go down. The others are Pompey, Hull, Blackburn, West Ham and Wigan.
We must get tighter at the back and get the correct midfield and forward line on the pitch.
It is unlikely that we will get anything from Chelsea and I suggest we go with a 4-5-1 with Milijas, Henry, Castillo, Jarvis/Kites and possibly give Keogh a go again. Doyle would be the loan forward!
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“Andy said: Nov 13th, 2009 at 9:54 am Do that betting company pay you to plug them? I understand they sponsor Bully’s article so he has to do this but do you as well Nathan?”
It is more than likely due to the fact that they sponsor the Wolves team…, Lets hope we keep injury free this weekend and enjoy the Chelsea fixture next weekend. keep the faith, we’ll get 7 points from the 3 home games coming up (Burnley, Notlob and Blues) and be sitting 14-15th soon. We were never expected to pick up points against the big 4 (if Liverpool are still a big club?) but then again we should have got more out of Pompey and Hull at home…time will tell….
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5) Mate you are sooo boring, are you sure your a wolves fan. Never once have i seen you say anything positive. You’ll be absolutely gutted come May when we stay up.
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5) You keep praising the Blues up, why? They were unlucky with the penalty the other night – how many have gone against us? – but were totally dominated in the game. They got nothing against the Villa and it is doubtful whether they will play as well as Wolves did at Everton and Stoke. Let’s see what they do at Molineux!
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We have good strikers. What we need is someone like Joe Ledley in midfield and on the wing who is creative, scores goals and can feed our strikers with intelligent balls. We also need cover at the back on the left (Quality that is and who can take the lead).
If we can get those two areas covered with quality then we will be fine otherwise I think we are going to struggle.. :-)
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We need to beat birmingham or there will be big questions asked about us and the fact that someone else said were relying in jody craddock no disrespect to keep us up there must be a problem and i dont think taking a gamble on a league 1 striker “simeon jackson” is the answer. We need to get rid of Keogh because he is a waste of space and isnt premiership quality and get in an experianced striker who has played at this level. Ebanks-blake will score against birmingham if he is played mark my words.
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I’ve seen nothing from Wolves so far this season to suggest that we have any hope of survival.
Were doomed I tell yee…dooomed
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Not praising anybody, just stating the truth. We will beat Blues but they always seem to take points off the big four. And the comment regarding Craddock is also true. We are relying on this guy to keep us up.
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IMO the team against chelsea should be:
Hennessey
Zubar Craddock Berra Stearman
Castillo
Henry Milijas
Kightly Jarvis
Doyle/Hoff
I think we need our 2 quick wingers to cause any problems, but 5 in midfield is a must against such a strong chelsea team.
Hoff up top to cause them trouble with set pieces, long balls etc.
Any thoughts?
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11.cradleywolf, agree with you, but dont take the bait number 5 is one of only a few who come on here and churn out negative drivel his other mates include bobwolf/spanish ray/wolveswolves/silasluzny/jiwal, and a few others as for wwfc we will survive comfortably, utw
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looks like MM’s about to dip in the young and hungry bucket again… We will have a fantastic championship side next year.
Wolf in Swansea – you may be on to something there – Keogh and SEB are of no use to us up front, so perhaps its time to give the big guy his first run out.
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18) “WWFC will survive comfortably” and you have the nerve to call other people’s comments drivel… We are in the relegation zone having just about everyone fit – how do you warrant that statement?
Optimism is one thing, delusion something else completely.
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as i am not a fan mm what worrying me was his
comment that may be he expected to much of elokobi
what a joke every body knew that 4/5 weeks ago
but he played him had he dropped him before we may have
3/6 point more now,like most of the players he is
not prem class it going to be along season if he
does not pick the best players in right positions,we have little chance of staying up
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Wolvesmod.. Dont forget like Birmingham at Liverpool, we could of won at Everton and Stoke.
Infact i’m more impressed with our 2-2 draw at Stoke than Birminghams draw at Liverpool with the way Stoke are at home. Liverpool have no confidence what-so-ever right now, i hope they’re in the same form when we come to play them because i believe we’d have a chance of beating them.
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Usually enjoy the bloggs and find them to be spot on, this one is a bit of a non event. Of course we need to be consistant, but we need to be in good form first and then be consitant, it’s no good playing well and getting nothing and being consistant. We need to be better organised, harder to break down, confident in our ability and much more ruthless. Lets stop being the underdogs and be THE WOLVES!!!! Underdogs get put into shelters and given the injection then cremated. Wolves hunt in packs and tear their prey to shreds
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20. i dont need to warrant or justify anything to you or anybody else. as for delusion, i remember you and many others calling for the manager to be sacked last nov. because as you put it, reading and cardiff were gonna catch us and we would miss out on promotion. as i recall we were eventually champions and as for this season , relegation ? what after 12 games lol, now who’s bieng delusional, utw
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Luck has always been a bedmate for success in football. (eg Why weren’t we playing Liverpoorly instead of the most inform team in Europe last weekend ?)
We’ll need a large slice of luck to get anything at Stamford Bridge; I’m sure they have a number of alternatives to Lampard.
The Blues, Bolton & Burnley games now become massive we all know that ‘cos we must not be in the bottom three on Jan 1 if we are to attract a couple of players in the transfer window.
Here’s a thought for our goalscoring problems. He’s a proven goalscorer at Premiership level. He’s stated recently he’s not happy where he is…..and he once played for the Wolves (McGhee sold him)
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Bertie- Jason Roberts you are talking about? I spoke to him in the summer he invited me to a charity match/function he was holding and I spoke to him about coming back he laughed and his words were ”I never got the chance there I still don’t know why? Never say never….maybe” With a knowing smile that seemed to suggest that he doesnt have great feelings about the club, his mum said he wasn’t treated very well. I spoke to him, Benni and that Moekewena(?) and said they should all sign….didn’t work obviously!!!!!
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Nathan, you say there are no easy games in the Premiership. but I think Chelsea expect there to be 2…both against Wolves. Hopefully that will be their undoing.
We were never going to beat Arsenal, they prepared for a battle away from home and are just too professional to be complacent against the likes of Wolves. Chelsea however are a collection of superstars that won’t like it, or expect, it if we dare to play with a backbone at Stamford Bridge.
Again I expect us to do very well up until our first mistake & if we can do that for more than 25 minutes we might have a chance. Obviously if we concede early they will put their usual 5 past us. Looking through Chelsea’s squad is more than a little scary.
So how are we going to, err, win…here’s the plan…bring back Andy Keogh! You might as well have Keogh back doing his headless chicken thing & not scoring, than SEB doing nothing, also not scoring. Keogh gets through a lot of quality work, & seems to be the only player that can get the best out of Doyle.
How can this team lose!
Hennessey
Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Stearman
Henry, Castillo, Milijas, Jarvis
Keogh
Doyle
Halford on for Jarvis & Hoff on for Keogh Edwards or Kightly on for Milijas.
Realistically the best we can hope for is a competitive defeat, no injuries & confidence still intact for our critical games. Anything more…like another consolation goal will be a bonus!
Simon :)
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20) so you are saying we arent in the relegation zone ? Perhaps your league table is upside down.
just as you dont have to justify yourself, you cant bloody well belittle others for voicing their opinions either.
I’ve never been a mccarthy fan but think he’s done a great job this season and duly lauded most of our performances – I just dont see us having enough to stay up.
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clearly that should be 24)
though i will argue with myself if need be.
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Bertie(25) who is it you on about, I can’t even think who it is.
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Nice to have a weekend off from football, I for one am looking forward to going to the garden centre this weekend to pick up some new shrubs. What do other readers do with their time off? I also like to watch old black and white movies with a nice glass of sherry.
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26. Winslow Wolf I think Bertie is on about the great Robbie Keane hopefully. How good would that be to have the ROI forwards in the same club, hope they give it to the French tonight, moreover how good would it be to welcome Robbie Keane back home. Aahhhhhhh Doyle & Keane as the Wolves forward line, mouthwatering. On another note what has happened to Izzie, he is not even in the Wolves reserves….Cloughie motto was if they are good enough they are old enough, & why did Sam go to a League 1 club & not a CCC. I know he is in a rampant Leeds side at the minute. Its been a long time since anyone refered to Leeds as rampant, but surely he would have gained more ability say at the Boggies or Geordies???
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Heard Frank Lampard is out of our next game but lets be honest it wouldnt matter if they played Frank Carson we are beaten, SACK MCCARTHY NOW
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In the Times today Mourinho wants to come back to the Premiership. Any chance he knows where Wolverhampton is?
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Its the case with wolves that they haven’t got good enough players with a rubbish manager who thinks his tactics that won him somehow the championship will work in the premier which he is having a laugh. Most home games I have seen this season and I have to say I notice something that all premier teams do even the less experienced eg Hull and that its all channels. Comparing this with how wolves play is a joke. Get the muppet out and quick casue he doesn’t no how to spend money properly. These summer signings there have been halford,doyle, milijas, zubar and mancienne that are good signings what does that make 14 million pounds out of 18 or 20 million that are worthwhile. Sorry but spending 20 million if anyone thinks that will keep you up in the premier they are having a laugh. 40 million is alot more realistic. 4-6 million pound has been wasted and including agent fees probs even more. This summer should have been huddlestone matt derbyshire peter crouch geovanni and those sort of players. Playes that no where the net is and are creative players. Because these are the players you need. Can’t pay 2.5 million here and there expecting summat amazin. GET HIOM OUR NOW!!!!!
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Sorry 32) I try not to have my head in the clouds; I don’t think there is a remote possibility of Robbie Keane re-signing for us. Winslow was right, I was talking about Jason Roberts who has scored goals at Premiership level for teams of our standard. It’s a different regime to the one he left and was disenchanted with.
Torquay Man. Stay down there ….or in the Brummie Road End or where ever you dish up your drivel.
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TOwnsville would love to see Keaneo back ut think that is asway off and we will have to have established ourselves. Bertie, I think Jase would be a great signing but I just feel after talking to him its something that would be difficult to make happen, bit like going back with a girlfriend who did you dirty
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It’s clear that Wolves have problems on the left side both in midfield and defence. Mr McCarthy has a perfectly good left back in the squad who he just won’t play, a man who has done very well whenever he HAS played. I mean, of course, George Friend. What’s the problem here, surely he must be better than the inexperienced Elokobi or Stearman,good as he is, playing out of position.And as for Ward playing there, he clearly should be playing on the left wing, not the out-of-position Jarvis,an old-fashioned winger,who I rate very highly-if only he could play on his correct side he could be devastating. Surely to survive in the Premiership every player MUST be playing in his natural position, or does Managerial muddled thinking prevent that?.
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36 & 37. It’s not like Robbie needs the money guys, he has made so much in tranfer fees since he left us let alone salary, sponsors, add ons & add ons. He won’t win anything with Spurs so he might as well come & win nothing with us. He will always have his ROI position providing he keeps scoring. He went to his ‘boyhood’ club & didn’t fit with Benitez system rotating the squad. Robbie come back to the club who nurtured you to keep us in the EPL, pay him the same as the Doyle with a bonus at the end of the season if we stay up.
On another note, I hope we have been practicing shots from distance during the International break for our visit to Chelsea, & with Bosnigia, Lampard & Drogba (possibly Terry) out they will still probably have more than enough to push us to one side, but boys go down there & give it 120% & you never know, might just catch them on an off day.
Congrats to Hennessey, Edwards & Vokes in the demolition of Scotland the weekend, may be time to bring Vokes back MM, Hennessey is definitely on the up & up.
What has happened to Izzie?????
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