Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Wolves blog: Boro and out
Friday 23rd January 2009, 9:25AM GMT.
Wolves blogger Nathan Lloyd comes out fighting and makes a case for NOT progressing in the FA Cup against Middlesbrough.
I took a lot of stick in my last blog by some Wolves fans, who were unhappy that I had candidly expressed my nervousness at the football served up over the last month or so.
For having an opinion, I was told to stay away from Molineux, called a negative idiot, a boo-boy and even an Albion fan. You know what? I loved it.
Perhaps I was, and still am, a little worried that we might not make it, but then isn’t that what football is all about?
I make absolutely no apologies for my opinions, but maybe I should try to relax and enjoy the ride a little bit more than I am.
But I don’t expect that my blogs will now just become happy clapping, sycophantic or public pleasing. Just what would be the point?
We have played some exhilarating football this season and it has been a joy to be at the Championship summit for so long. Yet recently we have started to wobble, when we could have almost had this league sewn up by now.
It’s no coincidence that since Michael Mancienne’s departure back to Chelsea, we are shipping in far too many goals and we can’t seem to keep a lead for toffee, as was illustrated at Ashton Gate.
If manager Mick McCarthy believes that plugging the defensive gaps with Jason Shackell or Neill Collins (who I think he has taken me off his Christmas card list) is the long term answer, then our season could be in danger of fizzling out.
I’m not going to turn this into chapter 74 of the Neill Collins character assassination story, but I will never be convinced that he is a player for this level of football.
The Nigel Quashie signing from West Ham doesn’t exactly fill me with any great confidence either and seems to have split the opinion of the fans.
In a time when our centre of midfield is screaming out for some creativity, why bring in a player that surely will only compete against Henry in a defensive role? I don’t think he is any better than we already have.
It has been said time and time again, but most fans I talk to would love to see Mark Davies back at the club from Leicester – and competing against Dave Edwards and Dave Jones for that second spot in the centre of midfield.
There was a rumour in a certain newspaper this week that Bolton could come in for him for a pathetic fee of £650,000. I know it was just more transfer speculation designed to fill a few more column inches, but I can’t see Mick letting a player of his quality go and I wouldn’t have thought Mark would want to go and be embroiled in a relegation battle.
With Stephen Hunt looking like he could be on his way, Jay Tabb has joined Reading and was a player who really impressed me when we played Coventry. He is a player I and a few others would loved to have seen sign for Wolves.
A central defender of real quality won’t be an easy find in the transfer window, but I feel this must surely be Mick’s top priority. What are your thoughts?
Up front, we have perhaps been a little one dimensional with our style of football when Chris Iwelumo has played and, while he isn’t firing on all cylinders, it’s an ideal opportunity for Andy Keogh or Sam Vokes to step up and prove their worth.
Keogh has shown some decent form in the last couple of games, which I never thought I would say. Although I would prefer to see Vokes partner Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in attack, most feel that Keogh does warrant his starting place.
Moving on to the weekend and the FA Cup and a lot of fans have lambasted Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, for honestly stating that he will field a heavily weakened team against United on Saturday.
Spurs have already reached one cup final and their main aim this season is to avoid relegation, so I think Harry has got his priorities spot on. Hee is also right when he said that his missus could have scored THAT goal against Portsmouth!
Like Harry, I have absolutely no interest in this weekend’s cup game against Middlesbrough. I simply don’t want anything to detract from this season’s main aim.
Fans will argue that if we win on Saturday, then we will go into the Reading game on Tuesday brimming with confidence.
OK, I would probably agree. But my worry is that let’s say we beat Boro and draw a plum tie against one of the top four Premiership clubs.
Do some players then go into the league games before that fifth round tie and play at 80 per cent, so they won’t be injured or perhaps they duck out of an important tackle and are not booked and subsequently banned for the game?
We are not blessed with a squad deep in quality. Apart from the strikers and maybe our three central midfielders, we don’t have adequate cover if key men like Matt Jarvis, Richard Stearman and Michael Kightly to pick up a knock.
Remember the Cambridge cup game last season and how costly that became, when Kightly came on as a substitute and subsequently missed the rest of the season with an ankle injury?
If you could pick one, what would you rather have – a win on Saturday or three points at the Madejski on Tuesday night?
We don’t get many seasons where we get to February and only need to win around 10 of the remaining 18 games to probably see us promoted, but that’s where we currently stand.
I’m still positive that we can get the points we need to see us through to the end and the promotion we all crave.
I’ve no doubt we are in for an all mighty scrap between now and the end of the season, but wouldn’t it be great to win the league before May? Then maybe I will get back to writing some fluffy blogs.
In next week’s blog, will Mick ever play a different system to 4-4-2?
Have a great weekend.
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Not hard enough on collins for my taste.
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Let the fight begin!
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Agree with the above, I would take the 3 points against reading! But lets all be honest id like us to win both!
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As i keep saying, Quashie is here as cover for Henry. He is on loan and has it all to prove as his contract with West Ham is nearly up. Is he that bad a signing? I really don’t think he is. He is an experienced pro who has been involved with promotions and relegation battles, just the sort of player you need in the dressing room. Especially as we have such a young squad. Id rather have him than somebody like Lee Bowyer thats for sure. We do need a centre half, i only hope the club are trying their hardest to get Mancienne back on a perm deal, that would show a statement of intent for definate.
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Bit less negative this week Nathan and i think thats something we all need to be!Yesterdays reaction to the signing of NQ worried me a lot more than our recent performance’s,it was hysterical and dont mean funny.!!!!!That will rub off on the players if we are not careful.Once the window is closed we must get behind the team whoever we have or have not signed SIMPLE.You are all entitled to your opinion and this is the place to vent it.We can do it this season,Keep the faith.
WE ARE WOLVES!
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If you could pick one which one would you rather have?!!! Both of course. Winning in the league is important but so is confidence.
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We made a big mistake not buying Christophe Berra in the summer. Now a few of Premiership clubs are chasing him!
That’s the sort of penny pinching that will cost us promotion.
See all the Loyal supporters on Sat!
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Nathan I can understand where you are coming from but the romance of the FA Cup and giant killing is what it’s all about, the problem is the championship has far to many teams in to get through all competitions amd league matches in a season witout having a very large squad costing a lot of money. Cut the amount of teams in our league and we would all have a decent chance of a good run in Cups and the league without running a decent squad into the ground half way through the season.
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Nathan-A moderate “Blogg” with which I have no problem except for the reference to Harry-
In my opinion he is at the brink of losing it mate, there is obviosly a lot of money at Spurs and HR is spending it regardless-Having seen Spurs several times on SKY – I would say thay are going down.
Wolves have never taken a serious view of cup competitions and I agree why risk injury to our players when it looks as if we will go out so you intimate.
The FA CUP is however apart from promotion to the prem was our last great day of glory-
Anything can happen each game is treated like a cup final, Middlesborough have serious injury problems we could move on to the next round and welcome big-teams to the Asda Dome or get a trip to the “Fields of Dreams”—
Thats how I look at it but I am not MM. Mad Mick is un-predictable he has his own way which some of us find difficult to follow. Prediction Wolves 3- Borough 1—–Chris makes a return and plays out of his skin.
Not to get caught up in the Collins debate mate-You are infact a Molineux Man but like us all , we are all warped by MM’s decisions and selection–
It is clear to me though mate that that Mr. Moxey still likes to balance the books and there is not enough money on the table to get some big-name to sign–
What sort of money was laid out when we signed “Crazey Horse” and “Andy Gray”—Just think about it Mr. Moxey two good players make it woth their while and get us up—-Keep the faith
Crazey Dave
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I agree with Golden Balls, Quashie is cover for Henry which is an area where we had no similar type of player. Birmingham tried to play him alongside Carsley but they are the same type so it didn’t really work. I think we need a right back cover for Foley plus two quality signings, better than we already have to excite the fans and help ensure promotion, a centre back and a creative midfielder.
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Bit too mild and conventional for my liking, i much preferred the last one! However i agree and i never stop fretting that we are missing a trick or two in the transfer window.We talked about quality signings and then get a West Ham reserve and his mate who is anything but quality.Disappointment is the way i am feeling at the moment and i hope our lack of ambition in the market doesn’t cost us promotion.I would like to win tomorrow but would swap for a win Tuesday.Centrehalf regardless of cost should be our priority and obscurity for NC our next.
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Why if we beat Boro and get a glamour 5th round match would players give only 80% in the league matches before. These players should have the mentality to be Premier League standard. After all, we should be playing these “glamour” matches every other week next season. We need to up our estimations. We are good and shouldn’t be daunted by top sides. That sort of talk is expected from League 1 and 2.
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Agree that 3 points at Reading is key. BUT, in these times of inconsistent (some would say slightly poor) form, then an FA CUP win could really help. A bit like when the Newcastle win started off a great run of form that saw us get promoted. The most notable turning point of any season in recent history for me!
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I for one was harsh last week Nathan, and apologise. You’re right, Collins isn’t good enough, neither is Keogh. Remember when MM first bought Iwelumo – all the platitudes about him bringing something we don’t have etc etc…Well after 15 goals, Mick now obviously has had a change of heart, and has gone public to tell Big Chris he is effectively dropped! Can’t work it out. Who do you think Bikey, Ingimarson and Duberry would like to face on Tuesday night?
And why won’t the club just come out and put us out of our misery about Mark Davies? A short statement would do it. The reason for all the hysteria is the silence amongst the Molineux hierarchy. It is deafening.
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As I always, nice to read your blog Nathan.
I understand how you feel about the FA Cup. Its a shame because its such a great tournement with a massive history.
In the last 20 years when I’ve been a fan, I remember some great FA Cup games, such as the penalty shoot-out win against Wednesday, or beating Birmingham back in 1995.
For now, the FA Cup is a chance for us to rest key players, and also make sure the fringe players stay hungry. Its also a chance to test ourselves against Premuership opposition as well. And if we do win, I certainly wouldnt mind.
By the way – if the FA Cup was ever to gain its glory back, I think 2 things needed to be done.
1. Dont play semis at Wembley.
2. Take one Champions League qualification place from the 4th placed team in Premier League and give it to the winner of the FA Cup. ´
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I do not agree with the comment that we could have been out of sight of other times. We put 2 undefeated 7 game runs together and scraped through quite a few games. This is an extremely tough league and the sides that came up play football. We were about the 5th favourites to go up, so to be top is overachieving.
In terms of Quashie, we needed a player of his ilk to keep Henry on his toes. Jones has shown that he has regained the creative spark and Edwards likes going forward. Don’t forget Gleeson is back now and with a few more games under his belt, Davies could yet play his part. He better not be sold.
A centre half is a must and I believe it will happen shortly.
Forget the negatives. Blues will fail and we are going up!
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I do not agree with the comment that we could have been out of sight of other teams. We put 2 undefeated 7 game runs together and scraped through quite a few games. This is an extremely tough league and the sides that came up play football. We were about the 5th favourites to go up, so to be top is overachieving.
In terms of Quashie, we needed a player of his ilk to keep Henry on his toes. Jones has shown that he has regained the creative spark and Edwards likes going forward. Don’t forget Gleeson is back now and with a few more games under his belt, Davies could yet play his part. He better not be sold.
A centre half is a must and I believe it will happen shortly.
Forget the negatives. Blues will fail and we are going up!
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I agree with your views on the priority (or lack thereof) of the FA Cup. Promotion must be our focus.
I welcome the signing of Quashie (remember Blues didn’t necessarily prefer Bowyer – Quashie was with them on an emergency loan and couldn’t have stayed any longer even if all parties wanted him to).
I am worried about Bolton’s approach for Davies. Despite Moxey’s reassurances I don’t think Davies is part of MM’s plans. Why? You’d have to ask MM. If Davies is sold I would suggest that heads should roll as it would reflect a total disregard for future improvement.
There have been several suggestions that Craddock will leave on loan soon. I’d rather he stayed and played and we loaned out one of the other CHs like Shackell or Collins.
As for signings in the remaining few days of the window – I expect no permanent deals (although I’d like to see us going after Mifsud) and perhaps we can expect AN Other journeyman-type loanee.
What we need is another midfield creative player and a class CH.
I didn’t say it would be an easy task, but those are our minimum requirements.
Are the wheels about to fall off? My current assessment, given the recent dire form is “Three wheels on my wagon…” Let’s just hope it doesn’t get any worse.
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Like Nathan I hoped we would sign Tabb,we were linked with him and it looks like we we we beaten to it by one of our rivals.The negative reaction to yesterday’s signing was I believe down to the apparent lack of ambition from our club. I think there is something wrong with the state of our finances,and I hope someone can dig deeper on this issue.I also hope all fans bury the hatchet and get behind Mick McCarthy:he has done a magnificant job so far. All managers have their favourite players who they think will do a job for them.I can remember moaning like hell at Ramsey picking Peters in 1966,but he won the World Cup with him.If we fail in May it will be down to those above Mick McCarthy.
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you could play your reserves and still beat us the form we are in at the moment, consequently i wouldn’t mind going out at this stage to allow us to concentrate on the relegation battle
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nathan to be fair, it is again very negative. If we beat borough and reading but play poorly your blog next week will be full of negative vibes. You sum up why us fans have a bad name. I am a realist but I am very proud of what our young team have achieved so far and you my friend opitimise why we may have failed in the past. Steve coppell is a shrewd manager and tabb is a good signing but hunt is probably the best player at reading and he will be missed. Quashie will be a good signing blues got him fit and he didnt work with carsley but we will benefit bringing him on when we have a lead. I cant predict the borough score as I am not sure what side he will put out but I am confident about tuesday, we will be up for it big time, I have my ticket!
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Nathan, interesting blog this week.
Think you are just looking at the all together negative idiot posters from last week who were sprouting for you to go elsewhere. My point was simply that you were stuck on the previous season and on previous blogs, but hey, you didnt answer me so the debate on that one went dead.
I agree about the cup, even though I am traveling from Dublin at 6.30am tomorrow I would still prefer 3 points Tuesday than a win tomorrow.
I think the Davies thing is being made to look worse than it is. Do people forget he missed 2 years of football?? He needs regular games at a lower level, he has what, 7/8 so far, let him have another 5/6 then get him back for the final push. I agree though that Mick will sell him, he is a player I think Mick likes alot and will use when he is fully back up and 100%.
We do need an urgent decent centre back but feel we are ok elsewhere really. Maybe another centre forward who is bang in form at the moment.
I disagree about Jay Tabb, I think if Reading lose Hunt then they will suffer, Tabb is a good player but is no Hunt and that will be great if he is out of Tuesday’s game. Lets hope a bid for Doyle comes in too before Tuesday night!!
I do have 1 question to Nathan and others….. Quashie, who I think knows his way around this league and can do a good job, so, do you think he is a better leader than Henry?? I have watched for a few games now for Henry’s leadership qualities on the pitch, especially now we are stuttering, and I can not see them. He goes hiding in games, he can’t pass forward and rarely opens his mouth. Maybe those lack of qualities is why Quashie was brought in?
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Just a quick topical rhetorical question RE Sparky Davies, which should hopefully allay some of my fellow fans’ fears:
Goes a little something like this…..
“Why would Mick allow Sparky to play in the FA Cup for Leicester if he wasn’t seen as a vital component in our promotion push?”
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Hi Nath.
having seen middlesbrough last week i can tell you they are awful at the back. Attack them and you will win, Downing trys to do everything for them and if you can keep him quiet you will be ok.
It will be a good chance for you to benchmark your current squad against a lower end Prem side.
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meant to read above Mick will NOT sell Mark Davies !! ooopppss. :D
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If idiot mick thinks collins is good then god help us, anymore players like him and we can forget going up we need quality players most of our players are not good enough.
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Good blog. Priority is the league, so I’d rather win on tues.
Must get a CB. I’d go for someone in the Mancienne mould like Onohua (Man City) or Djorou (Arsenal)!
I’d also bring back Mark Davies. I get the feeling Mick doesn’t like him. Thing he could bring an extra dimension and the creativity that we currently lack.
Play Iwelumo. Yes he’s not scroed in 7 but we will not score enough or be threaten the opposition in the same way if Keogh starts. He might put a shift in but he’ll never get half as many golas as big Chris.
Tues night is a massive game. I worry what will happen if they beat us 3-0 again! C’mon wolves, don’t let us down.
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I agree with a lot of your views in this blog. We cannot rely on Shackell and Collins, which I fear we have to this weekend due to Steermans suspension…………I fear Boro will have too much for our defence this weekend. I also feel apart from Jarvis, something lethargic has creeped into the strikers…..they just dont look lively at all apart from, and cant believe im saying it, Keogh and Vokes…….
I hope we bring in a decent midfielder who has a bit of creativity, a decent defender who knows how to………defend and I know it sounds daft but another striker??……
I do not think for one second that our defence is good enough to see us through and get promoted. Foley and Steerman seem to be the only quality we have at the back….. We need reinforcements and quick!!!
As for NQ, I will not make any negative comments on a player who has not kicked a ball in a Wolves shirt………..that would be thick. Who knows he could turn out to be a bit better than some people expect.
In short, Wolves need to sign some quality defenders and a decent midfielder this January. We could even bring back Mark Davies…………not exactly a hard decision is it?
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i simply catnt understand all this nonsense about Mark Davies, yes he was a very good youngster, he had a couple of decent games for us ( 3 years ago)so lets start getting realistic.He is on loan at Leicester to play some games and get fit. After a number of games MM will no doubt access the situation.So lets not start this hang up on Mark Davies V Qaushie. Quahsie himself was a very good player 3 YEARS ago as was Davies.Nathan dear boy you had used to write some sense but me thinks you now write stuff just to get a reaction. Go back to being sensible please so i all i need to write in my response is Ditto instead of all this time wasting bumf.
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Didn’t I read somewhere that Mick has been to watch 2 of Davies’s games since he has been on loan?? Also that we have a scout watching all his games??
I know Mick went to the watch him when our game vs. Blues was called off for sure, so don’t think he has forgotten about him.
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Mr Morgan needs to get his chequebook out, MM is working with limited resources. This isnt on.
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i never read your article but decided to, and i am honestly dissapointed you and martin swain always focus on the negative and never focus on the positvie.
why couldnt we have a decent cup run and still go up. why?
theres no good reason, sods law tells all wolves fans we were going to have sustained amout of bad football being played, nobobdy plays well and wins convincingly.
so also plss dont critices mccarthys decisions, he is the manager and if you were any better then you should have signed up.
it doesnt fill me with great pleasure to see an ex albion player at the golden palace,but i didnt see why he bought iwelumo aswel but i still got behind them.
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nathan.
Whilst I agree that the league is without doubt the most important objective, the football season is about doing well in the league AND progressing as far as you can in the cups! Thats what footballers get paid for and this creates additional revenue for the club.
I can’t see our players sayin ‘onlying givin 80% today as weve got a tough game tuesday’!! They will play with the same desire when they pull the wolves shirt on regardless of who/where or what cup their playing in.
It will be Mick who may decide to rest players this sat for the tuesday game, but we should have enough strength in depth to do this!! And if we haven,t, then boy we need to sign a lot of players should we go up.
Get behind the team Sat and if you ain’t going….shame on you!!
The Southbank!!
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fair column again pal. i dont think for a moment that we will make the fa cup final, but its a competitive match so why notuse it to give the less used players a go like we did at blues, and look what happened there! of course if we progress to the semis then we would be extremely foolish not to be taking it seriously, but as we all agree, the main priority is the premiership at all costs. lets keep believing in them and we’ll get there, i hope they do so i can collect on my 20 quid each way at 14-1 on wolves at the start!!!!!!!!!!
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Hang on what a bit nathan. What Mick has done to Mark Davies is a very good move. Sending him out to a very good league one side where he is playing everygame, and yet, you go on saying its a bad move. please explain. He will be back at the end of the month to fight for his place against Dave jones. I like jones he is our creativity, look how many goals he ha sbeen involved in he is our out let ball from the midfield to the wingers and strikers.
Why are you coming out and slagging off our players such has neill collins and jason shackell. When neill collins has been very good this season for us, and was quality against the blues.
Nigel quashie is cover for Karl Henry with premiership experience and knows what it takes to kept promoted which will help the young lads in the dressing room, but nathan you fail to pick up on this.
We are top of the league playing a premierhsip side tomorrow, albeit not a very good one, and then the day before you write another negative article not has negative has last week though.
what gives you the right to write an article in the local paper when you don’t know much about the club. I am not a happy clapper but i get sick of all this negativity. The future is very bright so why not get behind the young lads and cheer them on to promotion. Instea dof coming out and slagging off keogh, collins and shackell in there local paper what confidence will that give them.
A poor article. again.
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Nathan, while I take your point about getting our priorities right -and therefore not giving a flying fcuk about the ‘Boro game- let’s remember three things:
*A good Cup run can actually inspire better league form because it builds confidence.
*We are NOT guaranteed promotion at this point in time. So, if we were to miss out, how many of us would later regret a missed Cup opportunity?
*Finally: Wolves fans have paid GOOD MONEY to attend this Cup game. There’s been no reductions for ST holders -or even free admission, as Blues did for their ST holders. On that basis, I think our fans deserve to see a proper game served up. Anything less is money for old rope and cheating the paying public.
That said, and given the choice, I’d much rather take the 3 pts from Reading, thanks. Avoiding defeat, though, has got to be the top priority next Tuesday….
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Both is my answer,a win on Saturday and a win on Tuesday.Why is it to much to ask??the baggies are one place above us and the thrashed Midlesbrough,and Swansea put two past Reading,we owe Reading.I will tell you all of little faith that Cardiff wont surrender to Arsenall,and they will be in the shake up at the end of the season..Think on this Nathan,,iff we get what we want,in seven months time we would be expecting to beat Midlesborough on a Saturday and maybe Reading midweek.
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A pointless blog. A good cup run will generate extra revenue which will improve the financial position of Wolves. A cup run would pay for a loan player until the end of the season
There is a risk of injuries but we do have strength and depth in the squad.
A good cup run will also be good for moral and allow fringe players to strut their stuff to the manager. After all if your a bench warmer you need a lift now and then.
We also as fans get to see the likes of George Friend and friends. A chance to see the progress they are making or not.
Not sure how Nathan can be a Wolves fan if he does not 100% support the team when the Gold and Black is worn. The fact is the player on the pitch will care and if they lose they will need picking up.
Get someone who gives a dam to right the Blog in future. Someone with half an ounce of footballing pedigree would be good. I’m sure Steve Bull would right a better blog than this drival
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my mate is an albion fan and is a steward at the hawthornes and he said if we keep downing quiet we should win easy, also he made the joke tht alfonso is a bothroyd except 10 time hte money paid for him. he makes late runs into hte box and goes down under and pressure.
for me if we win tomoz with a second string i think then if we go up we will easily stay up.
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It’s a good job you love the abuse, as if you’re going to write such anti, negative rubbish, you deserve it. I bet you were gutted when we didn’t get Ince as manager, or Souness’s cohorts didn’t buy the team. Still, you go on and chant for Eastwood when anyone misses the target…
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Agree with 37. I would never wish for a Wolves defeat, the FA CUP is a special occasion and it would be great to be in the hat next round. A draw at Reading will be a good result aswell, although I hope for a win. I say we beat Boro 2-1 and draw 2-2 at Reading…and I’d be happy with that.
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People saying that this is a pointless blog. Well, there isn’t really much else new to talk about really is there at the moment!? I mean, we havn’t bought a single player in the transfer window! Only a couple of loan rejects. And our defence is still looking embaressing with Collins playing.
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Here here No40! I bet he is, like many on here, an Eastwood chanter and one of those asking for Ince before we missed the boat and went to Blackburn. Remind me, how did he do there and where are we now? Yes Collins is carp but we are still top and in Mic we trust.
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i tell you di you see the amounts of comments on the nq story was that the most ever lol. but anyway did any of u brainiacs think that davies might not b on recall? and he back at the end of the month anyway so shut it you lot! and if we can get promoted with spending uch money then we wilbe able to spend it on the better players that become available when we do go up(i admit is is so effing risky) but if it pays off were laffing.
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42. As Thunper said in Bamby “If you cant say nothing nice then don’t say nothing at all”.
You seem to have forgotten that collins has bailed us out with a couple of goals this season.
The loan rejects. Reid impressed greatly against the Hungarians so what do you base you opinion on.
I quote the article in the express and star”New signing Kyel Reid made a highly impressive debut including both assists to suggest he could provide competition for Michael Kightly and Matt Jarvis, while left-back George Friend also stood out in a highly impressive 90 minutes.” So is he a loan reject?
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hi to all the loyal wolves fans ive bin to 7 away games nd all home games ive seen wolves play wel nd play bad we all moan bout the defence nd that is a weak spot in the team i dnt think collins has got wot it takes we leak to many goals hes dodge nd to slow wen we had manncinne on loan him nd super stearz were class y dnt we make a 4 mil bid 4 him we need some 1 like him quick if we lose satday it wud not bother me i just want a gd performence from the lads up the wolves southbank number 1
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Super mick what a joke,,how can you call Mark Davies one of our best young players, yet you are willing to sell him and you dont use him.You havnt a clue mate,you started with a good side that got you top of the division,so you split that up to accomodate Keogh and Collins,now we are struggling to win a game,no wonder Sunderland got rid of you,,how many offers for Keogh and Collins have you had.
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Please,Please,Please let Wolves beat Boro tomorrow I am a Wolves fan living in Middlesbrough and would love to spend Saturday night wind in up all these smoggies see you all Saturday coming to the match with my 9 year old son who is a Boro fan
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47 1 bid from Tipton town they offered to cut the grass at th Mol as payment, sorry to say Collins Keogh and both Wards are not good enough, some of you on this site are so Brainwashed you really beleive everthing that maniac MM tells you. MM is not a quality manager, he is a yes man, to Moxey.
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north bank muppet you truly are one your comment makes no sense at all.
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#19 chris
Yes but Peters was 10 years ahead of his time!
I still would like Wolves to win every game, it’s called being a fan. However it is easy to make the arguement for a cup exit this week.
Up The Wolves
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Nathan – You make me want to pull my eyes out. Your writing is technically poor, dull and depressing. I don’t know how you get to write on this site, but I think it says more about the E&S than your journalistic abilities. You know so much about scouting, tactics and football in general, it astounds me that you are not managing a top international side. (is Nathan a pseudonym for Jose Mourinho?!)
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WHO SAYS YOU CANT WIN THE LEAGUE AND HAVE A CUP RUN? WE WON THE LEAGUE LAST SEASON AND GOT TO THE SEMI FINALS OF THE FA CUP AS WELL AS SCORING OVER 100 GOALS!! IM NOT BOASTING BUT YOU CAN DO BOTH
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Dear Nathan,
This season, this Wolves squad has brought a huge ray of sunshine. A young, committed, tireless team put together by a manager who at times I concede will rile fans, but only based on methods and practices of respect, effort and hard work from all of his players and staff.
A few points :
We have accumilated one of the largest points total of any team to have played in this league by this stage of the season.
We have a team based on youth, and not over priced, over paid has beens.
The club have stated again and again that they are looking to invest during January – and As I type there is still 1/3 of the transfer window to go. Historically the vast majority of deals go through in the last few days, so lets not shoot the manager, the board, Keogh or Collins just yet.
Mark Davies : He’s been injured for 3 years man. 3 years. If you find yourself using two hands to count memorable performances by the lad then please feel free to respond and let me know which games these were ?!
These comments are fast turning Davies in to the Freddie of 2008/2009. Can we just see what happen when his loan expires please ?
We’ve had two very long unbeaten runs, but we’re currently in a sticky patch of form. Is that all it takes for some people to start questioning the people that have put so many good things in place over the last few years ?
I see a club top of the league, hopefully in the process of strenghtening with some huge and exciting games coming up. I wish you would try and see that as well. I think its more a case of you and many a fan on here bottling it. Toys have been thrown from the pran, nappies have been wet, people they are a choking, yet we’re in a position that we could only have dreamed of at the start of this season.
Come on mate, grow a pair and get behind the club.
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52, A bit harsh, Nathan makes some good points and he gets us debating, which is the complete point if the blog.
I do however have to say that Nathan does come across negative, worried, anxious and unconfident with his unquestionable support for WWFC.
I remember Nathan leading the charge for the Mick out nuggets last season, so clearly his judgement in our team is often wrong.
All I can say to Nathan is ‘have more faith ma mon, wim gooin’ up and yowd better believe it!!
We are Wolves.
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48. Much respect from me for travelling to watch the Wolves from so far away.
Now, why on earth did you allow your son to be raised as a ‘BORO fan, ffs???
Cor believe that!!!
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Been reading quite a few of these comments over the last few weeks whilst awaiting the signings to bolster the squad and can’t believe the amount of debate that goes on considering we’re all here for the same reason we support Wolves.
I’ve been dying to comment so here goes:
1. Neil Collins on the whole not everyone’s cup of tea, probably the best header of a football in the division but is far too much of a liability. He doesn’t read the game like a quality centre back does. Verdict: squad player and quality centre back replacement required.
2. Mark Davies has not played enough games for Wolves for anyone to form a true opinion on his credentials. Rumours have circulated about his attitude but must have something or he would’nt have captained England at youth level, is currently playing exceptionally albeit at a lower level and his performance on T.V on Monday was outstanding. Verdict: leave him on loan to get some match practice we can only have 5 players on the bench. Call him back if we get injuries but don’t sell.
3. Nigel Quashie, I can’t understand the moaning I was under whelmed by the signing as I was expecting a centre back however unless you’re the one paying his wages he is an extra player to strengthen the squad and hopefully push Henry to play the way we know he can.
4. Andy Keogh, every Wolves fan knows he’s not a goal scorer and for that reason he will never take the headlines and be every Wolves fans cup of tea. What he does do is works extremely hard and brings people into play. Verdict: Play him or Chris Iwelumo depending on the team and defenders being played against. Bring him on as a third striker but don’t bring him into games on 80mins to get you a winning goal.
5. Happy Clappers Vs Whingers (southbank vs northbank) Yes we are 5 points clear and it’s great we haven’t been in this position for years and we are in pole position for the Premier League. The form we are in and the football we are playing isn’t what it was in the first 9 games. Verdict: Tactical change needed every team in the division ups their game 10% to play us and changes their tactics to ultra defensive and closing down. The gung ho approach won’t work everytime. A confident performance against Reading and another run of wins will reunite the fans.
6. Transfers: Before all the doom and gloom we are probably better off not hearing about speculation until we’ve signed anyone. Why would we want other clubs hijacking the deals look what happened to Ben Watson how many clubs wanted to sign him once it hit the news?
7. Mick McCarthy, yes some of his decisions tactical awarness and player loyalty are questionable, but he is a motivator and speaks his mind. Verdict: not all fans opinions are wrong and sometimes you have to swallow your pride and admit your not always right.
Top of the League, and havin a laugh.
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Nathan, our w/r (win rate ) % since the Reading game is 55% (11 from 20).
To reach the magic 94 points, we need to win 12 of 18, w/r 66% leaving only 6 throwaway games.
If we lose our next league match we will need 12 from 17. W/R 70% and only 5 throwaway games.
The other teams have sussed us out and we hold no fears or surprises for them.
The remainder of the season will be the toughest.
We need to freshen up.
Keep on blogging.
Ignore the happy claptrap.
Don’t blog off at the end of the season.
Cheers, mate.
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Here we go again, what is a happy clapper?? and for the wolly that posted last week with the meaning’s of this, I mean if you are a Wolves happy clapper, what is it?? what does it mean you do that others dont?? ……..Nathan???
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56 It was not my choice but he was born up here you cant knock anyone supporting their home town club by the way he still has both home and away kits (wolves) and if he was honest has a soft spot for us
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47 – Spot on. Couldn’t agree more. Collins and Keogh didn’t work last season, we failed miserably, but as if by magic, they are back. And from what Mick has said about them – they ain’t going anywhere fast. He must be the only manager in the Football League who would break up the Iwelumo / SEB partnership, then go public about his preference for Keogh. Steve Coppell must love it!!
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“MM Quotes So how do we get from £3m for a young left-back who’s played 20 games (Mattock) to £300,000 one of our best young players.Davies”.So why then are you even considering selling?Obviously when MM falls out it is worst than an argument with your missus at least she will come round eventually. Boro look to be playing a weakened team Sat hopefully a morale boosting result will set us up for Reading.
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This is goin 2 be a direct comparison 2 our 3-0 hammein of boro last week!
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Smurf this is for you,Super mick says Mark Davies is one of our best young players.Mick doesnt use him,he loans him to Leicester,,OK so far Smurf still with me,,we started the season with Big Chriss and Sylvan,they got us top of the league by scoring loads of goals,then mick split up the partnership and started playing Keogh and Collins,and we stopped winning games,(still with me Smurf)now we have a premiership side trying to buy Davis,,how many clubs are trying to buy Keogh and Collins.Hope this explains it better for you.
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The last time we had a decent cup run, involving a game against a North Eastern team, we totally blew promotion, didn’t we…
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MM is incapable of anything other than 4-4-2 with one tall striker – remember quinn and keane for ireland. MM is an okay manager but lacks sophisticated tactics and will struglle in the prem. This is a shame becos we have the players to play something like 3-5-2 allowing someone like davies ro even keogh to go for an all out attacking midfielder role. 4-4-2 is far too predictable and okay if you want to play hoofball.
Having said that I think MM is good enough to get us promoted.
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