Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Burnley 1 Wolves 3 – report
Saturday 15th March 2008, 6:29PM GMT.
Wolves breathed new life into their play off push with a terrific win at promotion rivals Burnley.
Mick McCarthy’s men blew away their hosts with a quick fire first half double from Seyi Olofinjana and Michael Gray – producing some of their best football of the season at Turf Moor.
And they closed the game out in the second half with an assured defensive effort, despite losing first choice defensive pairing Gary Breen and Jody Craddock just 24 hours before the game.
They started brightly and with the recalled Olofinjana handed an attacking role in the midfield five they looked dangerous from the first whistle.
Olofinjana had already tested The Clarets defence with a couple of bursting runs before he opened the scoring on 14 minutes, driving in behind the Burnley back four to latch onto a smart Sylvan Ebanks-Blake pass before sweeping past Burnley goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly.
Burnley barely had time to mount a counter offensive before a calamitous error of Kiraly gifted Wolves a crucial second goal.
Defender Clarke Carlisle sold the goalkeeper short with an under hit back pass and Kiraly compounded the mistake by whacking his attempted clearance straight against the chest of Gray with the rebound rolling into an unguarded net.
Burnley came back strongly as the half wore on but Wolves held firm with Wayne Hennessey in inspired form to tip over a Graham Alexander shot looked destined for the top corner.
The game was effectively over as a contest within 11 minutes of the restart as Ebanks-Blake benefited from another Kiraly calamity when his low drive squirmed through the goalkeepers hands to give Wolves their third.
Former Molineux striker Ade Akinbiyi prompted brief hopes of a fight back for the home side when he plundered a consolation goal from close range but Wolves held firm for a fully deserved victory.
Wolves fans have your say below
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yes great game by wolves another win on the road and another goal for ebanks-blake
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Good win!! but as per usual still wont go towards achieving anything this season.
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mick mick super mick!!
thats right, i’m back and in the mood for the playoffs.
who would be a wolves supporter………….me!
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Now if only we can win those games in hand….
Well done today lads.
DO IT FOR US!
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No earlybird for me, so whats the betting Wolves hit the form they did at the end of last season and push for promotion.
After watching the dross I’ve seen so far this season do I support them or hope that this win is a flash in the pan?
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THAT’S MORE LIKE IT!!!!
SUPA, SUPA MICK, SUPA MICK MCARTHY.
COME ON YOU WOLVES..
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Great result lads. Could this be the catlayst to finally kick start our season?
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Attacked, scored and won! That’s what we haven’t done for so long!
Great result, keep it up and we may get something out of this season after all.
Just give the fans at the Molineux something to cheer about, and the lads will get all the support they can handle!
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What no moaning?
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This is the Wolves way….
After 45 years supporting them it is always the case that when they seem ‘down and out’ they always do something to give you hope. Burnley are far better than Preston and yet….
I daresay the victory will bring out the optimists who will post their expressions of new hope. The miserable brigade will wait for the next disaster. However we should all be cautious about a victory born out of very bad play by the opposition. It could be said we were lucky. AND ABOUT BLOODY TIME.
So will our ‘run’ start from now?????
75 points will see us in the play – offs but maybe less because so many teams are beating each other in the top half of the table. So lets say 20 points from now. Can it be done?
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Could be to late to start playing well. Sadly it sounds like a few Burnley errors may have made the performance seem better than it was.
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well done lads a good win just keep it going even if its grindout wins we just need to keep picking up the points the playoffs are within reach.so come on all you wolves fans lets get behind the team like last year and over haul the tesco bags from the checkout ground we can do it but we all have to work as a team on and off the pitch
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Nearly the perfect sporting weekend….terrific win for me babbies despite my gloomiest predictions! The Creme got stuffed 4-1 by the Foxes; Villa lost; England beat Irelend in the Rugby (suck on that MM)….but oh tthose effing Taffs..how I was praying for the French to get a result!!
Perhaps…just perhaps…the play offs are still within reach….but then again we do still have Kevin Kyle!!
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I’m impressed. I really am. And WBA lot 4-1 at home. I’m off to check how the planets are lined up, something is wierd. And England winning rugby and cricket? No something really wrong here. Happy Baggie please explain.
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Where are all the doom merchants? 4 points off the play offs and two games in hand. we are having a terrible season eh? Watch out the tesco tweety bird, the wolf is back and showing his teeth.
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Lets all get behind Mick and the lads on Tuesday and next Saturday now. We can make a big difference!!
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There you go internet whingers, moan about that! No it hasn’t been great this season, yes we all expected better but we are where we are with plenty still to play for. The percentage of ‘Mick out’ merchants on these pages is thankfully not reproduced yet in the home or away support. We have a chance to get something out of this season and continually posting negative/insulting comments says more about the shallow characters of the self proclaimed ‘loyal supporters’ than the integrity of the staff and players. Get a grip, support the club and moan after 46 matches…if it’s warrented. Up the Wolves.
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Sorry, I can never remember, least of all pronounce, the name of Seyi Olofinjana. So I call him George, my pals know that and it makes our lives simpler. However, it is not disrespectful to Seyi, who we all rate as an honest player, still with more potential once he gets to play for a good manager.
Once again, sorry to Seyi Olofinjana (aka George).
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Rumour Monger.
I can believe that this victory today came from the players and not Mick.
It doesn’t surprise me that the players have revolted and started playing their own game. They have careers and reputations as well.
Many will not get another decent club when they are sold on after this seasons debacle. McCarthy has blighted the careers of many of the clubs players as well as subjecting the fans to poor football, not seen at Wolves in 60+ years.
MM, just go now!
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A win on Tuesday will make the table look a lot better for us.
Still a chance so lets get behind the lads for the last push.
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Well how are all you muppets feeling now? Oh of course they were fluke goals, Freddie didn’t play, the wind was against the home team the ref was on our side, the rain was in their faces, they had been out on the town all night. Or was it that mick picked the best team that could have been picked with some good tactics for the day, now what ever your hang ups PLEASE get behind the team and manager for the next match and scare the life out of the visitors, lets look for the opportunity together, or I promise you we will fail.No I am not a relative of MM just sick and tired of all the negativity surrounding our team.
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A good win and deserved when we came up against a poor defence and for once took advantage. Olofinjana and Foley did well on their comebacks. Still don’t think this line up can get enough results to get promotion but if we are still in contention when Kightly gets back then who knows.
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Well that paper’d over the crack’s for a bit longer.
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…remember, MM has no idea, with players not available at the last minute he played what he had left.. they won! Watch for changes for the Scunthorpe game, he ain’t smart enough to keep the same team…still 11th in th league.
We will see all the pots “We have cracked it, on the way to the premiership!”….rubbish. With so few games left we can even possibly win, we will still be 11th. or worse at the end of the season. Just watch.. season ticket money still in my pocket!
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Excellent performance from our pick n mix squad but it’s about building a push for the play offs well done mick & the lads.
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WHAT A GOOD RESULT AND I BELIEVE A GOOD PERFORMANCE. LETS ALL ENJOY THIS TIME.
WELL DONE, CAN WE HAVE SOME MORE PLEASE?
JAMIE LANYON HOLIDAY PARK CORNWALL
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Kiraly was dreadful and yes we had a bit of luck, but 3 points was thoroughly deserved.
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What have those doubters have to say now? Yes, the team has been inconsistant, but those
fans who have written what I call garbage should feel thoroughly ashamed.
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i really hope we sign Gray up for another season, he is the only player that had the desire to chase that ball down and nobody deserves to score more than him when it comes down to his effort. he maybe a touch slow but we must sign him so he can teach the younger guys his stuff aswell as fill in nicely down that left flank!
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thats better lads, now take the three points against scunny. this season aint over by a long way, come on u wolves…
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Good win! That’s more like it! First time in a long time that we’ve had neutral goal difference, so let’s get going now lads. Onwards and upwards!
Interesting that it’s 18 hours since this story was posted and all the doom merchants and whingers haven’t logged on yet….
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The result should give the players about 30 minutes patience from the supporters on Tuesday night, before the permanent frustrations at dreadful football inevitably surface. Let noone be in any doubt-the home performances this season have been a disgrace and the fans that keep turning up deserve better. Starting Tuesday, from the kick-off please.
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I’m not saying MM haters change your views, but how can you question that performance?
The fact of the matter is MM can get us promoted.
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please let this kick off our run into the playoffs and beyond…i still dont think MM is the man that would successfully consolidate us in the prem, IF(a big if at that) we get there…however, lets just enjoy the result and look to press on, on tuesday and beyond.
One more thing though, is this a good or bad thing though, we only have 3 away matches out of our 9 games remaining.
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Only a good win against Scunthorpe will put this victory into context. It was a fantastic win, well done to the lads for what sounds like a good attacking performance.. I have to admit I was amazed that we managed to score twice from midfield, particularly with Potter, George and Henry all playing, but then this team and club never fail to amaze me, whether it be a good or bad experience. SEB looks like he has the potential to be the 20 goal per season striker we have lacked for so long.. credit must go to MM for signing him. I still do not believe that McCarthy is the man to take us forward but at least with 10 games left we are still in with a fighting chance of achieving something, so I guess we will just wait and see what happens between now and May. What price another meeting between Wolves and Albion in the play-offs? Put Scunny to the sword on Tuesday and maybe we can start believing in that possibility (because let’s face it, the ‘shoot ourselves in the foot’ merchants down the road seem quite happy to throw automatice promotion away and look destined to finish in a play-off spot again).
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Good win – & like most of us we didnt see that coming – 9 games to go……. Agree with 32 Birdy about the home performances – most of the away ones have’nt been much fun either! We have 6 Home games to play – and we are sure that the fans will get behind the lads – We just hope that the lads go out and perform – Its not just down to the fans!!!
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A mixed bag here today, eh? I said on Friday we’d win and Me Babbies didn’t let me down.
Bring in “Scunny”…6 out of our last 9 games are at home. Get behind them, sing your hearts out, if you want to whinge/moan/boo etc, STAY AT HOME YOU NUGGETS!!
UP THE WOLVES!!!
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mark my words wolves will clinch second spot this season if you think about it if wed of actually taken advantage of our lead on tuesday night we would be in 7th on 57 one point outside the play offs and ten points away from bristol with two games in hand so if our players realise that it is in our own hands t0 be able to get within just four points off an automatic promotion place then maybe it mi9ght get them thinkin if we can win our two games in hand and beat bristol away on the 12th of april we will be in a very strong possition
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Good result and I’m pleased as a Wolves Fan for it, however it did sound like Burnley were having a bad day and we took full advantage. It will still be difficult to make the play-offs and even if we did I can’t see any progression from there either. Scunthorpe on Tuesday and they will be fighting for every point they can get, we just need to field an attacking line-up and go for it right from the start and hope we score early on
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Typical crap from the non-supporters.
For those who have kept their money ion their pockets good riddance, dont bother coming back.
Good win away from home , lets hoppe we can sustain the momentum.
Back the boys Tusday night
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Thought I’d come in with a balanced view now we’re World beaters again… Nah, I’m just like everybody else, WE’VE WON! Its all about highs and lows this being a Wolves fan.
Top two anyone?
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21. John.
Your record never changes. I am sick and tired of your happy clapping. The fat lady is getting ready to sing.
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Terrific result at Burnley with so many last minute injury problems. Ebanks – Blake 6 in 11 games since he joined QUALITY. We MUST win on Tuesday & Saturday to make it even better.
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finally a good result, and we score some goals!!!
its not over yet… the fat lady hasn’t sung… oh no disrespect to any fat ladies on here! :)
we have the players, they just need to be left too it… if only we Ebanks-Blakehad at the start of the season…quality player..
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cant understand how anybody hasnt questioned and pinpointed the difference between last seasons home games and why they have been so poor this season you could just say mm or my theory is did anybody notice that last seasons visiting teams all came to have a go at us even clubs like southend. how many have put all out attack this season were back to 9-0-1 most weeks yes its our job to break them down but last season we didnt have to.
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Really amusing to read the posts, ONE WIN with more than a goal scored and it is made to sound like we walked off with the European Cup!~ get a grip guys..I said on here during the second game of the season that Burnley would be the dark horse team, even though we beat them.. they will finish above us.
It takes so little I have found to make you guys get over excited, you can see why Moxey picked a “Pie and pint” last year to get back in favor….easy to please the chumps…
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Bit your tongues–Keep the faith-Win the games in hand and beat the Baggies we are in business–
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Three Pts against Scunny – a must.
Let’s hope MM gives em hell before they get on that pitch.
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The stats says:
3 attempts on goal
2 corners
Possesion: Burnley 58, Wolves 42
How on earth can that be one of the performances of the season?
Sorry to sound pessimistic, but it didnt sound like we were tearing Burnly apart yesterday, more sounded like we capitalized on some stupid mistakes.
Let’s not get carried away…yet. I think we have players capable of promotion – I am more worried about the manager.
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The fact that Breen was not in the team, meant that they were able to play their natural games and ignore Mad Micks, so called, strategy. As a result George went attacking, instead of lying in covering defense where the Mad One wants him to play.
The other team members joined in and we saw the capability of the team, no longer constrained by Mad Micks stupidity!
The sooner the moron walks, the better!
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Pushing for a play off place, it’s laughable.
We are only good enough for that, and had it not been for the fact that every other team in the division is as bad we would have been out of the race long ago. Lets remember what was being said at the begining of the season what our hopes and aspirations were, well we haven’t even come close to them. A season long of very poor football, which is why everyone is hoping for a play off place. There is a way to win and a way to lose, we’ve done neither, tactics have been awful, decisions taken awful, Manager awful. What we offer as supporters is loyalty but not stupidity. Yes we all want to believe our hearts say yes, but realisticaly if we all use our brains then we know we have been let down, and that is badly. The support for the MM was there, last year when we were getting thrashed at home we still chanted for MM, because the effort was there week in week out. This season there has been very little effort, and good luck apart we might or might not might make the play offs. Where is the passion, MM has no idea just a bucket full of excuses. Well let me tell you MM every WOLVES supporter does look at the table, we study it, we plan where the next points will come from, who might drop points, day after day we look at the table hoping to be in a better position, and if you MM don’t share that same passion then you should no longer be in charge of our beloved WOLVES.It is not a case of what will be will be MM, it’s a case of quality wins and what you MM have given us this season is not quality, but poor poor football, with lack of PASSION, PRIDE, DESIRE and a love for WOLVES. MM I know you don’t have the honour to do the right thing and RESIGN, because it takes a MAN to make the right decision, and all season long you have been making the wrong decisions.
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All ya need is faith.
Magic magic Mick.
Bring on the Baggies.
We’re going up again,
We’re going up again!
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What that result did yesterday has cemented us as a mid-table side. We draw against 10 man Southampton, we lose against Preston, we win against Burnley and all of a sudden MM is the saviour. I find it incredible reading all the “C’mon me babbies” articles. Let’s face it, we are going nowhere. As much as I enjoyed Sandwell getting stuffed yesterday, they are still twice the team we are. The sooner we get rid of McCarthy, the sooner we can realise our ambitions.
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one swallow doesnt make a summer BUT …
maybe just maybe we can do this
seems hard to believe
but lets get behind them all
(admittedly i dont like some officials or some players) but we have nothing to lose and everyting to gain.
kights maybe back for the playoffs???
jarvis on the other flank ???
george starting to find a bit of form after a couple of weeks in the african sun
SEB looking like our first true goalscorer in ages
dreaming of freddy to score the winner in the playoff final vs sandwell town
but in all seriousness we need kights
and a fit kights !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and if we do make it …..
it will be difficult to invet much less than last time ???
come on you wolves !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
get together folks – lets all go for it !!
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At least we’re pretty well safe from relegation now.How far we go from here remains to be seen,
but judging on the performances generally up till now,we certainly are not good enough to get promoted.
Aucklandkiwiwolf
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Everybody but everybody has got to be supportive from now. Most of our gamnes are at home and some against opposition that are in contention. The lads need all our verbal and moral support.
Even if you hate Mick put that aside and give the lads encouragement. If everyone won their games in hand and all the top ten had played 39 games we would be fifth.
However with 6 home games we have got to make them count. remember Southampton last year, hold your heads high and give the golden ones all your cheer….. WE COLD MAKE IT
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Reading articles on the site, and it seems that the In MM we trust people, shout and scream promotion
hear we come, good luck, however if you have been to many games this year you will also agree with
all the MM out brigrade, so simple everyone has theer wright to a view, and to gain promotion you must
do what was done on sat on a regular fashion
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Save from relegation? 55 have you been hitting the home brew?
We’re in good shape for hopefully squeezing in to the playoffs if we can get 6 points from the next 2 games
Great win at the weekend!
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1. John…You are as much a Muppet as Muppet Thick!!! Did you actually see the goals? Seyi’s was quality granted, Gray’s was a fluke and SEB’s the keeper just could not hold on to a weak shot so yes we did fluke the goals YOU MUPPET. Otherwise they had most the possession and taking our two flukes away it should have been a draw at best. Lets face it, we were lucky but I’m not complaining about that. Get your facts and a reality check right before posting Muppet Type comments on here 21. John
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Yes Dudzie but two incorrect penalties cost us three points in our last two games. These things even out.
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A positive for me is that George is scoring again. His scoring ability has always been crucial in the
past when the strikers haven’t been finding the net. It may not be pretty but we’re giving ourselves
a chance and you can’t argue with a 3-1 scoreline away from home.
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2 games in hand? 4 points off the play offs? 6 out of 9 games at home? the baggies losing form just as last season? kightly going to be back sooner than expected? we will be difficult to beat away from home BUT AT HOME WE ALL NEED TO PLAY OUR PART, PUT A FEW PAST THOSE TESCOBAGS AND MAKE THIS A SEASON OF COMPLETE SHOCK, WE ARE WOLVES GREATEST FANS ON THE WORLD COME ON ME ABBIES!
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59. Malvern Wolf…Granted, but as ours was not given it is not clear if we would have scored it anyway. The table does not lie and up to now we deserve to be where we are, however with a more positive team selection and a greater effort from the players we could just make the play-offs. If Albion don’t get auto I’m sure they will probably win the play-offs or at least get Wembley…Again. So I still do not see us being good enough to go up this season and that hs to be down the players the manager has sought to play for us this season. Frankly not good enough as a team or squad
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Haven’t we all been here before? Building up the expectations of the fans one week and sending then crashing own the next has become a familiar trait of late. Lets just wait and see what the situation is at the end of the campaign. Having more home then away games bring enormous expectations that it is all in our favour, yet if we examine the football facts of recent years we will see that it hasn’t exactly favoured the home teams and our home form isn’t exactly something we can shout about is it?
Lets get support the team and see where this season takes us??
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muzza ay it…….. you change your mind so often you’ll probably support albion next week
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mccarthy do not change a winning team, keep the same side as long as everyone fit.
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great win on saturday lads, lets grab another three points on tuesday night, i think this could be a turning point in a so far doom and gloom season, its good to see olofinjana back in the side playing well, he was terrific last season, and think we have missed his good perfomances this season. he hasnt exactly played well but saturday, played very well, like the olofinjana we all saw last season being joint top goal scorer. i still believe that Mick can take us up through the play offs if we can grind results out like saturday, so lets win tomorrow night, i’m one wolves fan that is behind the manager and team week in week out, through thick and thin, I wish there were more wolves fans like me, COME ON YOU WOLVES!!!!!
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McCarthy – do change a winning team. If anyone thinks that 4-5-1 is going to win us enough games to get promoted they are kidding themselves, and if we only play one striker at home to Scunthorpe then win or not it will further confirm to me that this is not the manager I want for Wolves.
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Hi 58, thanks for your comments think you proved my point. The goals did go in didn’t they.
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Great game on saturday, best one for months
hope we can keep it up
come on u wolvessssss
super mick !!!!!!
Bring on scunthorpe tomorrow night
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Good match, flukey win
MM OUT!
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