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Wolves blog: Battle with Bothroyd
Friday 31st October 2008, 9:30AM GMT.
Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd mulls over the month of October and the battle with Jay Bothroyd ahead of the Saturday evening trip to Cardiff.
October certainly hasn’t been a dull month to watch the Wolves. Five games with 23 goals, 13 of those going in the wrong net, but yet we have still managed nine points from what has been a bit of a shaky month.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s offside ‘goal’ against Coventry, the penalty miss by Watford and Swansea’s inability to convert some good chances the other night has given us the bit of luck we have missed in recent seasons, enabling us to win games that we might well have lost.
It obviously isn’t all down to luck. SEB and Iwelumo’s form easily the best forward line in the Championship and have already waded in with nine goals a piece, which is a phenomenal return after only a quarter of the season together.
Another man finally getting the recognition he deserves is Kevin Foley. I would argue that the right-back has easily been our best player throughout October.
Against Watford, his two goal line clearances were a big reason why we came away from Hertfordshire with any points. On Tuesday, when the defence looked ready to crumble against Swansea the other night, he stood firm to help Wolves see the game out.
It was superb to hear his name been sung twice from the South Bank, as fans are starting to realize what an essential part he is to our success.
Like many of you, on Tuesday night I had a bit of an ordeal to make the game. After sitting on an icy car park in Coventry for an hour I didn’t think I had any chance of making the game. But after a sprint to the ground, I was in my seat ready for kick off. God bless the toll road!
I work a good 40 miles from Molineux, so evening games are always a bit of a lottery as to whether I can get there on time. So I won’t be overly critical about Richard Stearman’s inability to get to the game in time to be selected, although it looks like it could cost him dearly.
The severity of the bad weather caught most of us by surprise and hopefully Stears is now scouring the property pages to find a little abode closer to Wolverhampton.
See, I knew I could manage to avoid the ‘snow joke’ pun on Stearman’s absence. Perhaps I’m growing up after all, unlikely though.
Anyway, Neill Collins stepped back into the starting 11 against Swansea and was rock solid alongside Shackell, who I have been extremely impressed with and who hopefully isn’t too badly injured.
I have been asked by a couple of people if Geoff and Maggie from my last blog had worked out that the pseudonyms related to them.
Although I sat there a little worried against Swansea that the truth might be revealed, in all honesty they probably haven’t got the foggiest what a blog is, let alone know that I write one, so I don’t think my little rant will end up in a law suit or a 12 week suspension without pay.
Results really couldn’t have gone much better the other night. We go into the mouthwatering clash against Cardiff on Saturday with a six point gap between ourselves and Dave Jones’ men.
Their big dangerman is the Championship’s top scorer so far, Ross McCormack. He will be joined up front by a player that made Freddy look like he was working hard in a Wolves shirt, Jay Bothroyd.
I stated on here last season that Jay should never wear a Wolves shirt again, after another horrendous performance where he looked completed uninterested in joining in with the game.
It was a big relief that he was finally shipped out, but for some reason he is now beginning to earn plaudits with his performances for the Bluebirds. No doubt like Freddy, he will try that little bit harder against us to prove to Mick that he was wrong to get rid.
Unlike the Freddy decision, I think you will be hard pressed to find one single fan who still wished that Jay was wearing the colours of Wolves when the teams line up on Saturday.
Team selection will be interesting for the evening televised game. Most fans were surprised to see that Mick has stuck by his guns by keeping Ikeme between the sticks against Swansea.
Had he made the same sort of mistakes he did against Watford, no doubt we would all be saying how stubborn Mick was for not reinstating Hennessey to the starting line-up.
As it was, Ikeme’s world-class save, when he leapt like a brightly illuminated Salmon in the first half, fully justified his inclusion. There shouldn’t be an argument that he deserves to keep his place purely on merit on Saturday.
The rest of the team probably picks itself. Collins will almost certainly keep his place in the back line and Shackell will start if fit. Carlos Edwards showed glimpses of his talent on Tuesday and I can’t see him losing out to Andy Keogh.
Alongside Karl Henry in the middle is probably the only spot up for debate, with Dave Jones likely to be preferred to David Edwards.
What a start it would be to November it we grabbed all three points on Saturday. I would settle for a point, but if we score in the first minute I might just change my mind.
Have a cracking weekend. I was born under a Wanderers scarf.
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“he leapt like a brightly illuminated salmon”….LOL
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Good blog Nathan.
I for one hope Jay has one of his poor games. You are right about McCormack having seen some of his goals on the ‘Championship’ he could be a real threat. I do how ever expect a 3 pointer for us!
Up The Wolves
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those of you not going to cardiff wont be able too buy tickets to watch albion cuz we sold out in the prem the MOWBURY WAY aye boing boing donk
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I remember on here not too long back when everybody was saying “I bet Eastwood scores.” But did he? No. Some people even put bets on our old players scoring first, i mean, what’s all that about? These players arn’t good enough for Wolves, so why should we be concerned about them. They can try hard all they like, but at the end of the day we should be able to see them off and i doubt Bothroyd will be a threat.
It will be another scrappy game. Always is at Cardiff. Poor ground, poor pitch. 2-1 wolves.
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4,poor apponents aye boing boing donk
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I’d rather have Bothroyd than Freddy the Flop any day!
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I’m not worried much about Bothroyd if i’m honest.
Their top scorer poses more of a threat, hopefully our defence stays sharp for a change and I think we’ll get a goal or two. UP THE WOLVES!
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3) Who would want to come and watch the side that have scored the least goals in the Premiership except for you Terrydimwit and Baggy1.
Nathan we may have had a bit of luck but you are forgetting Iwelumo’s 3 disallowed goals – at least 2 should have stood- and the second Swansea goal was offside!
Anyway I am off to Cardiff and dodging the ‘bubble’!
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terrynuggetbaggie will you please go away as you must know we dont care what you say on WOLVES pages.
i even had a look on the boggies pages and you dont even get any joy out of your own supporters as you are an embarrassment to them.
say somthing logical or worthwhile and you never know people might start to think you are over 8 years old.
you are a pathectic excuse of a human being.
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i’d rather have Terry playing for us than either of them.
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7. Brummie Rob
I certainly didn’t forget the other bits of bad fortune. Iwelumo was desperately unlucky not to have his goals stand, he just out muscled the opposition.
But we probably won 2 of the 3 October wins ugly!
See you in Cardiff.
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I wasn’t a fan of Bothroyd or Eastwood – but at least Jay put “that goal” past that lot!! What did Eastwood do except sulk?
Another chance to turn over Dave Jones? BRING IT ON!!!
UP THE WOLVES!!!! WE HATE ALBION!!!
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il taske a point on saturday.
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Is Kites not injured? He hobbled off on Tuesday night., That might be an area of contention for us.
As for Bothroyd, when he is bothered he cna be really dangerous, and I am sure he will be bothered come Saturday.
Put it this way, I am in more fear of him scoring than Freddy. How amny as Freddy scored this season?
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Me and Geoff know who you are son, we’re watching you, waiting for the right time for revenge …. have you seen the film Saw????
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have the albion reduced the ticket prices again then terry?
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On the Stearman thing a few things spring to mind.
1. I assume there would have been some sort of training that morning in or around Wolverhampton. If this was the case then with the weather forecast as it was why did he travel back to Market Harborough?
2. I have some sympathy with the location, even footballers can’t buy and sell property quickly, easily and economically in today’s climate, especially as he has only been with the club a matter of months. You would think he may be considering rental now though.
3. The thing which I found most puzzling was that apparently Wolves didn’t even get a call. I’d have thought he has a mobile and hands free facilities in his car – or pulled over if he doesn’t.
I agree this could cost him, no nonsense Shackell and Collins looked a decent pairing last Tuesday.
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October could also be remembered for the calamity defending and the Norwich, Swansea away horror shows.
Got to sort the defence or else we wont win nowt.
There doesnt seem to be a leader at the back, but I do agree Foley is a different gravy, a very professional right back who will be a regular for ROI.
Come on me babbies!
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9, thanks mate aye boing boing donk
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great blog Nathan.totaly agree with you on the foley remark he is easily the best wolves player strikers tend to get all the plaudits for the goals they score but his defending this season has been class and those goal line clearences are as good as goals they got us the points.now ikeme he is a great keeper but he needs help from the defence and the more he plays the better he will get he is still relatively inexperienced in first team football but given time we might be saying wayne who or mat who.now the strikers easily the best pairing in the division these two are getting better and better they just look full of goals and long may it continue.WE ARE WOLVES
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Bothroyd who?
Lets just hope he doesn’t have one of those games in about 100 appearances where he actually plays well and scores.
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good blog nathan.dont think we have mutch to worry
on sat think it will be another three points in the bag.come on the wolves.
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11 who cares if we play ugly aslong as there are 3pts that come wiv it.i would take ugly and 3pts
than fancy football no pts or a draw anyday.
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Terryproudto be baggie
If you want to see real entertainment with lots of goals you going to have to switch to old gold.It must be really depressing seeing your team hammered every week
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9 upthewolves Dont worry about stray imbeciles infiltrating this site – what we must all realize is that all these moronic ramblings are all connected to the individual in question’s therapy,whilst being treated in whatever institution he resides in.I would suggest that the posts are actually instigated by his carer after he has dictated what drivel he wants the world to read.Obviously they will very soon cease when the results of the brain scan show that his cranium is completely devoid of grey matter.I’m not expecting a response to this as there are far too many words of more than five letters therefore there will be no comprehension whatsoever in the ward!
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You are right that it was great to hear Kevin Foley’s name being sung. He has been consistently good since he arrived and been exceptionally good in the last few weeks. It’s good that his play is getting the recognition he deserved.
I liked Bothroyd, although I obviously wouldn’t swap him for Ebanks-Blake or Iwelumo. He scored some good and important goals, was playing well at the end of the season before last and although it’s old hat now I think last season would have been very different for Bothroyd if he had started the season as a first choice striker (which he desreved to do) rather than the supposedly “different class” pair – one of whom has now gone and the other reduced to a more marginal role. I do hope he doesn’t get the usual treatment from the crowd that ex players often get. He certainly doesn’t deserve it.
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“another boring log nathan”. Sorry, had to say it, seems like that is repeated yet the same people still read the blog every week :) Like seeing a bad film, only to watch again.
it was in fact another good blog bro. We are starting to begin a more regular season pattern, up/down etc. I will be happy if we are still in the top two come Christmas. Reading are rolling up the table and Brum seem to be at our ankles relentlessly.
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TerryNOMATESBaggie,
It amazes me that you still like to come on our site and yet you are an embarrassment! It shows that you must have a sports car syndrome. It makes up for you shortcomings you have….
IDIOT!
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bothroyd’s a donkey.
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6 qb wolf are you a total fool or are you that idiot terry boggie in disguise
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Cheers bro. At least my family support me :(
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Going tomorow managed to get round the bubble restriction’s!! I hear weve only sold a few hundred tckets? I hope so it might ccfc put up more of a fight when they are losing tens of thousands of pounds because the bully boy police!
2-1 wolves
UP THE WOLVES
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Bahrain – The idiots backed Freddy.
Bothroyd was at least entertaining, he did a lot more than than Eastwood ever did, let’s just hope he’s quiet tomorrow.
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I remember Bothroyd’s agme for us against Charlton, one game last season where he was awsome. Twas against his old club though and for all the stick we the supporters have given him i fear he will be concentrating on this one a lot. We will need to be be on our toes 110% and be up for it in all quarters if we’re to get anything from this game. I have the faith though that our players will want it as much if not more than their lot.
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UP THE WOLVES bothroyd is a kind of a threat and can nip in a few goals but he wont score passed us
2-1 wolves
mcormack scoring first then ebanks-blake then iwelumo
TOP OF THE LEAGUE!!!!!
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Mick pick Neill based on performance? Stearman will be back (assuming he’s found the coach to travel). Maybe his dad will buy the pub he used to have in Wolvo to live in.
Both is providing more assists at Cdf- there was never anyone in the box for him to pass to last season. At least he beat the Baggies!
Took me four hours from Portsmouth Tuesday. 1 hour was the last 12 miles.
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He had a poor night here endeth the lesson–Crazey Dave
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