Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Bully Bites Back with Steve Bull
Thursday 22nd April 2010, 9:30AM BST.
Wolves legend Steve Bull gives it to you straight in his weekly column and believes the time is right for the players to take some credit for their efforts.
Another goalleess draw in a tough game at Fulham may not have been the most glamorous way to edge towards Premier League safety – but there’s nothing boring about staying up this season!
Every point counts whether it comes with a good watch or not and, while I criticised Stoke for being a dull team last week, at least we’re grinding out results without resorting to long balls and long throws. Boss Mick McCarthy simply set the team up right and we got the point we deserved.
I’d love it to be exciting every week, but safety comes first and I’m hoping to be toasting a successful end to the season with a glass of wine and a Chinese takeaway on Saturday.
Wolves will have more of a responsibility to entertain next season, because this year the main goal was to stay up. That was the target to be achieved, whether it was by hook or by crook, and we can’t say there’s been no excitement this year because I’ve been delighted with the way the team have played.
Even if we have to grind out three draws between now and the end of the season the manager will be happy, but it would be good to get everything sewn up quickly because the gap is gradually closing.
The one result that didn’t go for us last weekend was at Wigan, because I was sure they’d be down there after their game against Arsenal, but we can only focus on our own results and, as I said before the game, I felt a draw was a great result at Fulham.
We do need to find a goal against Blackburn on Saturday though and obviously they’ve been few and far between at Molineux in recent home games. It’s one to look at in the summer but I see Mick sticking with 4-5-1 on Saturday, because we have created chances in most games.
There’s no doubt the team will be sent out to win though, because three points would all but seal another season in the top flight. If we can start the party two games early, that’s when we might see the manager giving one or two others a run out.
Mick could let Sylvain Ebanks-Blake and Chris Iwelumo off the leash so they can show what they can do before the season ends, and that could mean a return to 4-4-2.
Both those players will be aware that once the summer comes around, the Wolves boss will on the lookout for another striker because we will need more goals next season. It’s up to them to prove they can be the one to find the net more regularly and make more exciting games for the fans.
Kevin Doyle has worked his socks off this year and if he gets a chance he’ll stick it away, but I think he’d get more goals with a strike partner. He’s not a moaner though, he just gets his head down and does his job so I expect him to keep working hard for the side, not for himself.
At the other end of the field, Wolves are going from strength-to-strength and for me it all comes down to a moment of realisation around four or five months ago, when it seems the players realised they were good enough to play at this level.
If they had started the season like this we would have been flying high, because we have been really tough to break down recently. The likes of Christophe Berra – and the whole back four to be honest – have been unsung heroes because at the start of the season there were real doubts over them.
Since the turn of the year they’ve been working much better as a unit and, while Jody Craddock has been getting all the plaudits, Berra, Ronald Zubar and the others have been excellent too.
Michael Mancienne is another one who, while he has been a bit part player at times, has blended in nicely when he’s played. That’s exactly what you need from your squad and it’s certainly played a big part in our successes.
Mancienne might struggle to get first team football at Chelsea because they can just go out and buy a multi-million pound signing in his position, but homegrown players get their chance at Wolves.
At 22 he could be a real talent for the future, so I would love to see him signed up permanently this summer.
Berra had a few slip-ups in the Championship and at the start of the season that looked like continuing, but he’s taken the bull by the horns and rightfully earned his place.
They have all played a part in our recent record of three clean sheets from four games and it’s one to be proud of, given it has been matched only by Manchester United and ironically enough, Blackburn.
It means we can probably expect a battle of the defences come Saturday and it might need a moment of magic to win it, but Blackburn have been up and down all season. They have pulled out some great results against Chelsea and Manchester United, but they’re erratic away from home and they haven’t come across this Wolves team yet.
I know we will be a totally different proposition to the team Blackburn beat 3-1 at Ewood Park, because we’ve established ourselves as a Premier League side now.
It’s been 50 years this season since we beat them in the FA Cup Final, the last time we won the old trophy, and that could be a lucky omen ahead of this weekend’s fixture – even if it’s only the grandfathers among us that remember that game!
Besides, Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce was born down the road in Dudley and I think he’s a closet Wolves fan – so maybe he’ll let us have three points so he can see us again next year.
BULLY’S TIP OF THE WEEK
The games are running out for you to have a go at the Wolves Accumulator, where you can win the chance to play an 11-a-side match at Molineux without spending a penny!
Register at www.sportingbet.com/wolves and take me on at the fantasy betting game, with £5 Free Bets to anyone who can better my predictions.
Don’t expect an easy ride though, as I have been in great form of late!
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Bully you scored more goals playing for Sandweeli Town that our forwards have scored all season.
I think you might have missed a chance in your column to remind the supporters what to do IF we score that goal against Blackburn.
Ready:
Jump up and down.
Clap your hands and cheer.
Here’s hoping !!!
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Can’t see the creative midfield players getting a chance. Does not bode well for guadiora and milijas that neither can get a game with a five man midfield and henry suspended.The manager prefers full backs and water carriers like foley,edwards and jones.Milijas will be off in the summer(too good a player to warm the b.ench).If people are happy to spend £40 to watch this then good luck to them, but count me out. Like your optimism Steve but don’t share it.
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With Hull losing to Villa in such an abject display, we are safe and sound. Please, please, please can we have an attacking team on Saturday. Go against the grain, Mick, I know statistically we could get caught, but what the hell, treat the crowd to some ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’. Otherwise I’ll just sit there being bored stupid again. Please go for the win.
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we will send you down next season dont worry,thats if you stay up of course,UP THE RDM WAY IN STYLE OF COURSE OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS BOING BOING
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If we win on Saturday and secure our PL status for next season I’d like to see a couple of the fringe players have a run out for the remaining 2 games to show if they are worth keeping around. Give the likes of Seb a couple of games to try and score to get his confidence back before the summer break.
I see according to the BBC web site that Liverpool are lining up a “surprise summer move for Wayne Hennessey”.
I hope MM’s world cup media job doesn’t interfere with any transfer dealings.
Here’s to survival on Saturday.
UTW
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Hi Bully,
Totally agree – we’ve become one of the hardest teams to beat since switching to 4-5-1. It’s given the whole team a real sense of confidence. Yes, it’s a shame we didn’t figure out the formula earlier in the season, but everyone at the club is on a learning curve in the Prem – not just the players. Since the turn of the year, Man U & Arsenal only put a goal each past us, Chelsea two goals and Liverpool none. Villa, Spurs, Everton & Fulham couldn’t beat us.
We definitely need more goals next season, though. I wouldn’t want a situation where everyone’s worked us out, 4-5-1 is nullified and 4-4-2 doesn’t work either.
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Sorry 4 (not 2 apologies)
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I see sirboggie has reared his ugly head again,Oh well lets hope it,s just for 1 season as per boggies yoyo team if we stay up this season as it is looking highly likely, we have done something they have have NEVER done.Don,t underestimate WOLVES we are way better than the last time you played us.oodcl
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Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee they put my post on,it does pay to complain,aye boing boing
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6 your rite yow will need more goals next season,we put ten past ya last time we met so you,l need at least 11 just to beat us,and we got inglands no1 keeper this time and loads of world cup stars aye boing boing
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Sir Terry..
Yeh right ‘up the RDM way’ just like it ‘was up the Mowbray’ then down the ‘mowbray way’
Yoyo club, only time you stayed up was when it took a record low amount of points, and then you had to do ‘the great escape’
You lot do make me laff!
aye, wey hey gerrof!
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4,8 and 9. Sir Terry Tesco Bag. Are you always so adolescent ? I understand your excitement at your recent promotion to the big boy league but do you really believe that 1, you have England’s best keeper and 2, that you will hammer us by so many goals to nil and send us down to boot ???? You really are a little delusional my friend ! Hopefully we will indeed have some good Midlands derby games, but I would strongly advise you to calm down a bit because you will find it much more difficult to survive than you seem to perceive !
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9- Havent got a chance mate. We will see how good your keeper is when you finnish the season with most goals conceded. I think youve got youself a decent team, at championship level, but it wont stand a chance in this league, its a shame really as you wont be able to witness Wolves restored to our former glory from within the same league.
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Sir Terry Baggie (multiple posts)
Congratulations on your promotion, I’ll get that out of the way first.
I seem to recall, we strolled to the title last season (a few blips along the way granted).
You have managed to finish 2nd. You can say what you like but let me tell you this. If WBA DON’T invest in some quality players for your current crack at the Premiership, then take it from me that you’ll have a MAJOR shock if you think pretty football will win you games. One or two injuries/sendings off to key players and it starts to bite in this league.
Do your gloating IF you beat us next season, not now.
Now enjoy promotion before the inevitable thrashings begin next season :)
Oh one more thing, we ARE staying up make no mistake, Hull need a ridiculous amount of goals to catch us also they need points.
Also to beat us you’ll have to do what NO team has managed this season so far, keeping super Kevin Doyle quiet for 90+ minutes. Well good luck with that one!
I’ll await the clever comeback comments but to be honest, I don’t care. See you next season for the Derby matches. OH YES!!!!
We Are Wolves.
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14, keep kevin doyle quiet,yam avin a laff aint ya,he`s only scored 5 goals seems like most the teams have kept him quite,but the quietiest place will be the southbank when we 3 non up agen,aye boing boing
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Sir Terry Baggie – how nice to see you and Jack the Hat are still taking your medication.
Firstly – England’s number 1? Oh yes, that’s Scott Carson, who embarrassed himself against Croatia, I think it was. One-Cap Carson, who lets goals in under his body and through his arms. Bert Williams he ain’t – now there’s a REAL England goalkeeper for you.
Di Matteo – a total novice who hasn’t a clue about survival in the big league. He’s had it on a plate at MK Dons and down yours, but how’s he going to manage when the chips are down and Liverpool have put ANOTHER six goals past you? What’s his tactics going to be at Arsenal, when Bendtner misses sitters for fun and you look like you’re going to lose by a cricket score? The RDM way – don’t make me laugh. His way will be the same as the Megson Way, the Robson Way and the Mowbray way – more defeats than I’ve had hot dinners and yet another relegation at the end!
Our defence is now one of the tightest in the Prem – do you think Prem failures like Bednar are suddenly going to carve their way through it? Do me a favour. You’re a one-man team – Dorrans – and he’ll hardly get a kick next season, if he’s still playing for your lot.
Loads of World Cup stars?!?!? Go see your GP mate, get your medication strengthened – then we’ll see about stripping that knighthood!
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Come on Steve, wolves glamorous is a bit strong isn’t it?. “Nothing boring about staying up this season”, can’t beleive you said that and having the audacity to ridicule Stoke.”Stay up,Hook or by crook?, I thought “Hoof and by crock” was more like it. You’ve been
“Delighted the way they have played”?. You wouldn’t be if you’d have still been playing and running your cobs off like Doyle has been doing, I know. Well said a chinese meal and wine will
“TAKE-AWAY” the bitter taste of watching Wolves
not scoring goals this season. Steve,How can one
goal in eight games down the “Custard Bowl” be few and far between?. It will be a different proposition, Wolves scored in that 3-1 defeat.
Yes, Norman Deeley scored twice and there Centre half broke his leg, Whelan I think it was, no subs in those days Steve.
Omen yeh, the way wolves go in somebody could again have their leg broken. JtH.
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hi no 2 at last some one here with a football
brain i for one having lost my job will not be
paying £40 for rubbish being served at home,
stoke was like watching paint dry how are we
going to score playing 8/9 defenders it a bad
joke that milijas does not get a game when we
play 5 in midfield.but when the muppet came
i did not want him but he got us up so prepared give him a chance,but it took him
25/26 games to understand that if you make
4/5 changes every week the team will not play well. it will be much harder next season to
stay up.
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Go on Sir Terry, yo tell em
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16,no matter what yow say yow know im rite,and judging by the post on here and on our site,we are confident of beating you twice next season with ease,but your post seem to have a fear factor about playing us,maybe you know wot the outcome will be,aye boing boing
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Oh and another thing,enjoy watching our players in the world cup,almost every game thats played will have an ALBION star on the field aye boing boing
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No21 sir TERRY, Lets see if you have that smile on your face when you get beat down here it seems as if you are always on here jog on! HI OH WOLVERHAMPTON!
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15.
Yes that just shows how ill informed you are doesn’t it?
Doyle has scored 7 (so far), it’s Craddock who has scored 5.
I’m gonna love next season because you are going to be eating your childish little words and crying into you bovril!!!
You keep dreaming because the reality will be quite different.
Up The Wolves
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