Not just another manic Monday
Friday 28th January 2011, 9:05AM GMT.
Wolves blogger Tim Spiers believes how Monday’s transfer deadline day pans out could be more pivotal to his club than FA Cup tie with Stoke.
If last weekend proved anything, it’s that Wolves perform far better when portrayed as the underdog.
It also suggested that in future my blogs should steer well clear of glorifying the virtues of individual Wolves player as it will merely cause them, in Ronald Zubar’s case at least, to duly give an absolutely stinking performance the next time they play.
While it’s therefore tempting this week to exult the goalscoring skills of Peter Odemwingie, or the shot-stopping abilities of Boaz Myhill, I thought it best to stick to a Wolves brief.
The Liverpool game left a sour taste, with the manner of defeat as disappointing as any so far this season.
We badly missed the urgency and the early goal that the Chelsea win gave us earlier in the month and far too many players had off-days.
As the first-half wore on, Liverpool visibly grew in stature and after their opening goal our task was made all the more difficult with the visitors defending deep and in big numbers, such is their current plight and state of mind.
The final delivery, both from open play and set pieces, was desperately poor and a major factor in our inability to test Liverpool’s fragility.
Matt Jarvis, who hasn’t looked the same player since failing to make the England squad in November, gave another below-par performance by his high early-season standards.
On the opposite flank, Stephen Hunt didn’t fare much better in an attacking sense, so it was a regulation afternoon for Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger.
Adam Hammill showed them how it should be done within seconds of coming on with a perfectly-placed cross, in what was a promising cameo on his debut after signing from Barnsley.
As for set pieces, where has the potent left boot of Nenad Milijas been on that front lately?
The Serbian has served up a fair few goals from his whipped corners and free kicks but for some reason – presumably his height, certainly not for his heading ability – Milijas now lurks in or around the box.
It was a pity we didn’t have a midweek game to right the Liverpool wrongs, just as we did at Anfield after losing so miserably to Wigan on Boxing Day.
What we do have is an FA Cup clash with Stoke, a fixture that sends shudders down my spine with memories of last season’s hopeless, a turgid goalless bore-fest, still far too raw.
Personally I’d have much preferred Wolves reserves – also known as Cardiff – to visit Molineux this Sunday and, although we beat Stoke in an entertaining game last August, it’s not a game to get particularly excited about.
People say Arsenal play like artists, such is their creativity and beauty when in full flow.
Well Stoke are the Premier League equivalent of the cast of that annoying ear-bleeding music Stomp.
They make an almighty racket, aren’t to everyone’s tastes and subtlety isn’t in their vocabulary but, somehow, they get the job done.
Still, I’d take a 1-0 victory over the Potters right now, because winning breeds confidence and we need as much of that as we can get right now.
I expect that Mick McCarthy will again pick a strong team with Jody Craddock, Karl Henry, David Edwards and George Elokobi all needing game time, although sadly Hammill won’t feature as he’s cup tied.
One man who might play a part is our new signing from Dundee, Leigh Griffiths.
It’s unlikely the young Scot has been earmarked to make an immediate impact in the Premier League and he will more than likely compete with Sam Vokes for a place on the bench.
Griffiths certainly needs bulking up – you’d find more meat on a Linda McCartney sausage.
But, if this were a film, that would be nothing that a quickfire gym montage played out to You’re The Best by Joe Esposito wouldn’t fix.
In reality it may take Griffiths, who has an impressive scoring record in the Scottish First Division, a few months before he’s ready to compliment our three leading strikers.
Just a few days of the transfer window remain and it appears that with the capture of Griffiths our business is nearly done.
Rumours of a centre-half or central midfielder arriving on loan seem to have been doing the rounds since Bruce Forsyth still had a natural head of hair.
However the likes of David Wheater, Curtis Davies, Gary O’Neil and Steve Sidwell have all moved to different clubs – while Jonathan Woodgate has turned down a loan move to Molineux.
Tellingly all of these transfers have been permanent deals and that’s what most selling clubs are looking to do, earning a couple of million quid and lightening their wage bills.
Perhaps, as happened this time last year, the three Ms are plotting an audacious big-money Adam Johnson-style swoop for a few million quid.
Or maybe we’re going to give a Robbie Keane loan deal another shot – or even Joleon Lescott – although again it appears Tottenham and Manchester City are only interested in a permanent transfer.
The latter pair seem like far-fetched pipe dreams but if the board could pull a high quality, crowd pleasing, big name transfer out of the hat it could – could – set us up for the rest of season.
Whether that’s a risk worth taking is for them to decide, but we can’t afford to be left behind our competitors as the fight for Premier League survival approaches its frantic finale.
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“One man who might play a part is our new signing from Dundee, Leigh Griffiths”
Or, if you new anything about football: “one man who is carrying a 3 match ban and will not be playing any part at all this weekend is our new signing from Dundee, Leigh Griffiths”
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Bigoll, that is one of the best comments I have ever read on here, outside of my own many zingers of course.
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I’m concerned we may not significantly strengthen in Jan, as our current position suggests we are not good enough.
I was disappointed with Henry last week against L’pool, i think we are a better team with him not in it and results this year suggests that’s right.
If we continue to play 4-4-2, then a quality midfielder to play alongside Milijas is essential. I fear that will not happen and we will continue to be over run by teams and continually leave the defence exposed.
We can’t outscore teams so I worry we will not pick up points f we keep conceding. The season changed last year when we went 4-5-2. Whilst I prefer 4-4-2, I don’t think we are good enough to play it.
Also, the forwards are not scoring enough. Doyle is a class act but two goals is pathetic and not going to keep us up.
My heart says we’ll beat the baggies twice and stay up. My head says we’ll continue to struggle not win the 6 or 7 games required and go down. Hope my heart is right.
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I was not too surprised to read this week that Wolves are the leaders of the ‘Number of attempted crosses into the box’ table.
When half of them are the quality level that they were against Liverpool, it gives plenty of game time to try again because we’re never going to score from them!
One thing I also saw which surprised me given the amount of noise you hear about such a great style of play, I’ll add here that I’ve not seen them play this season, was that actually the Baggies have attempted more long balls this season than Wolves.
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Even when his 3 match ban is over, Griffiths is not for this season. There are enough numpties posting on this site who don’t understand he’s an investment for further down the line without the official blogger joining in !
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Bertie….
Just because he’s one for the future, does that exclude him from game-time, as your comment suggests?
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Bigoll – You obviously find Tim’s blog worth reading the same as I do, or you wouldn’t have made the observation so far through the report. So let’s cut out the negativity – there is far too much of it on these message boards and it doesn’t help anyone!
There are better ways of saying what you wanted to say without saying something about him being ‘new’ to football. Maybe something like…”Thank you for your blog Tim, I too would like to see what Leigh can do, but unfortunately he is suspended at the moment.”
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3 John de Wolf – Didn’t know of this 4-5-2 formation mate?
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8.Edd – I believe it is the formation England have been adopting for a while…. no goalkeeper. lol
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talking of defenders over here in oz a certain Kevin Muscat just go banned for 8 games for trying to break both legs and neck of a winger whilst playing for Melbourne Victory, an absolutely fantastic tackle i thought in true Muscat style and he told the ref to F off as he was sent off.As that will take him past the end of the season he wil probably retire, so lets raise a glass to the mighty Muscat at least he gives good entertainment value lmao.
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As the article suggests, I think Sundays game will be useful for match practice for a number of players.
I would like to see Danny Batth playing alongside Craddock just to see if he is good enough at this level.
Whatever the result on Sunday, (and I’m hoping we win) there is a bigger and more important game on Wednesday against Bolton. We may need all our central defenders to be fit to play or available on the bench.
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10 Brisbane Wulf
I loved Muscat, when peshidildo tried to wind him up Muscat raked his studs down the back of his ankle. Pesh jumed so high and looked in agony.
Then we have the certain Craig Bellamy episode while he was playing for Norwich.Telling him before the game that he was going to break his leg.
And true to his word he did! Classic!
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Negativity breeds negativity.
I am fed up of hearing the word, the lads do not need it.
Come on the Lads you can do this
Up the Wolves
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this january window has been a complete waste of time,weve missed the perfect opportunity to put a bit of impetious into our flagging season but as allways with mick & moxey they go into these things totally unprepared its as if they dont know the window starts in january.mick as had 4 months to assess the squad and identify potential targets,but instead he bleats on about the squad being good enough but surely if that was the case we would’nt be 2nd bottom
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Its clear that Wolves have purchased many players on the cheep over the last few years often from clubs in administration or from who have just dropped a division but the fans will not stand this for ever. Keep asking £20 for Cup Tickets and you will not fill the ground. Buy sub standard players and your season tickets sales will drop. Go down and your revenue from the Prem will stop. Please wake up now Wolves Management and invest in better quality, and Mick please play them in the team in their correct positions and we may have a chance.
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6)Mr Smug
2 strikers or 1 striker up front.
Fletcher, Doyle, Ebanks-Blake (soon fit again) Ward, Vokes, plus Winnall and possibly Hemmings.
Club stating that he needs bulking up.
In a desperate relegation fight
Now let me think !
I’ll eat two of Jez’s Fan’s Feasts and put an obscene c£12 into the coffers if he starts a game
(Okay, some minutes as sub, with FA Cup his best chance.)
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12 Dingle Dave
I’ll let others hurl the abuse you deserve for those comments. Quite awful.
Muscat was, and still is a total disgrace. When he got sent off against Grimsby he started the slide that cost us promotion that year.
In those few words you’ve encapsulated the embarrassment that you people (hopefully the minority) bring to this great club of ours.
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The difference with the Liverpool side is they had a New Manager.
Whilst we have McCarthy we will continue to struggle.
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neg, neg, neg, neg . . . .
Up the wolves – down the neg!
- Bilston Wolves :)
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I went to the Doncaster game, but I can’t bring myself to watch Stoke. I like to watch football, not handball. Another factor is the early kick off, which will mean no atmosphere. I really get sick of PC Plod changing the kick off, because today’s police aren’t up to dealing with a bit of aggro [Haven't witnessed any aggro at Wolves in donkey's years]. They’d rather hide behind their women and cameras, or waste our money by hovering in that noisy helicopter.
At least Mick had the flu for the Doncaster game, so with any luck he’ll catch a cold and we’ll win, hopefully from a long throw in.
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Just read Cuddly Dudley’s comments about Muscat. I couldn’t agree with him more. I am ashamed he ever wore a Wolves shirt.
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Good blog!
Deffo keep schtum about Zubar :)
Certainly could be left behind in transfer market.
But there’s always Jody Craddock…. if he can do the job he did last year we’ll save a fortune and be good to go.
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12 Dingle Dave
Kevin Muscatt was a thug that played a large part in making Wolves one of the most hated teams in the Championship.
His sending off against Grimsby started the slide that led to WBA taking our promotion place.
I would give him about 10 minutes before getting sent off in today’s game.
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I think that we need to look at the Championships elite or Academy players from the top clubs. I would like to see Ashley Williams (Swansea), Matt Mills (Reading), Armand Traore (Arsenal), Mc Guigan (Forest).
I still think we will survive by the skin our teeth as we have had bad injuries all season and once Mick is able to choose from the majority of our squad we will finish above West Ham, Wigan, Albion and Blackpool.
In all honesty not too bothered about the Stoke game aslong as a replay is not needed I am sure we will give a good account of oursevles.
A friend of mine (Man United fan) said to me he has this horrible feeling that Wolves will be the team next Saturday to take their unbeaten record, lets hope so.
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Elokobi could play centre half and I was impressed with him V Sunderland and United in the Cup, I’m losing patience with Berra’s lack of pace and grabbing around the area!
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Sky Sports this lunchtime are saying Woodgate loan deal to Wolves is still on.
There has been no suggestion of a snub and Redknapp is keen for a deal to go through.
Have the E & S got it wrong this morning??
I hope so.
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People typically commenting on here today when they have nothing to contribute relevant to this post,this negative commenting dynamics confounded by so many numpties, Every post is read by many thousands of people. For the self-involved who could never attract such a large audience on their own, this is an irresistible E&S forum for some to expound pet vile statements axe-grinding of the great WOLVES, and generally shouting at or expressing meaningless insults to our great club …..STICK WITH MICK Brigtet
ALWAYS WOLVES
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Well said we live in hope. It’s about time we had more debate on early kick offs. Most Wolves and Baggy fans live cheek by jowl and don’t come to blows, but come a derby PC Plod comes along and moves the kick off to 11am on a Sunday. This means I miss Sunday school. Inconsiderate **!!***!!s! Still they get double time don’t they.
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Talksport continue to run the Woodgate to Wolves story.
The medical could take a while!
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Who got it wrong E&S or Sky ?
I said ebfore Christmas that we should take a chance on Woodgate. Harry probably won’t name him in his 25, he needs the games to get his Spurs career back on the rails and we need him to bolster that defence of ours.
Yes, we’re all aware of his injury woes, but this guy is CLASS. I can only assume that some of the ridiculous comments on this post are sour grapes because he was said to turn us down. Grow up children
We can’t lose, if he breaks down (and for Woodgate and Wolves sake I hope he doesn’t) he goes back to White Hart Lane.
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Glad to hear others don’t rate Henry, shame cos his heart is in the right place its just his feet are in the championship ,mind you he is not only championship quality we have, Berra, Stearman, ward,Elokobi,… whoops that’s the whole of the defence…. don’t wish to be negative but have no choice with these players trying to keep us in the premiership
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Sky Sports News have confirmed that Woodgate has rejected move to Wolves.
Sunday Lunchtime kick offs kill the atmosphere, which is exactly what the Police want.
But we still tolerate hooligans in football so what do we expect?
Why weren’t Birmingham thrown out of the Carling Cup?
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Muscat was a legend.
You lightweights having a pop doesnt bother me one jot.
who do you like from the past? Robert Taylor and Co.
Yeah lets blame one guy for bottling the last 10 games to lose out on promotion. Really? one guys fault? again, Really?
The mind boggles somtimes with some Wolves fans.
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if 1/2 the ssquad showed as much commitment in tackling and not losing as muscat did i doubt we’d be as low as we are,
i for 1 loved muscat in the 90′s (as a kid) i loved the way no-one would wanna go near him, but saying that it made his defensive duties a whole lot easier lol
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ARE YOU OUT THER? THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE MY FRIEND !
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15. Mossman, ‘we’ve purchased many players on the cheep’? Must have got them from the Canaries.
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Bertie…
You miss the point.
open your eyes before you open your mouth
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How can any rational person ,if they are honest, be optimistic and positive,when we have been linked with so many players and they have all gone elsewhere.Where is success ever going to come from,if this continues? We are always going to be signing the scraps that no one else wants.We may have beaten a few clubs to Doyle,but that is about it.And Doyle will be gone as quick as a flash if we are relegated.We have signed some good players,Jarvis and Ebanks etc,but it is very difficult to build a Prem team without serious investment in Prem quality players,that is why all the other clubs are spending their Sky money.If money is restricted now,it will get even harder if funds are diverted to rebuilding the stadium.This slowly developing the club is just spinning a pipedream.
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Same old, same old, same old – we got pipped by the Alex McLeish for Scott Dann last season. He becomes injured, in steps McLeish with a 1.75 – 3.00mil offer to Villa for Curtis Davies & he signs…didn’t I read somewhere on here in Dec 2010 that a deal had already been done with Villa & Wolves while he was on loan at Leicster?? Clap trap! We have now been snubbed by Woodgate but as other posts have said there are others out there we could go for.
Ambition – look at the Tesco’s – Calos Vela on loan.
Give me strength
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I’m afraid Steve Morgan’s ambition for the club matches mine in my crusade to get fit. Woodgate turned down a move to Wolves because he could see a club with no ambition. I was really excited when Morgan took over the club, but with his loyalty to Mick and his lack of ambition in this transfer window, I have to conclude that we have a chairman with an eye on the balance sheet and not on the team sheet. Such a shame.
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cannon&ball(aka Brigtet&Tonly)Look in the mirror,STUCK WITH MICK.
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Blog echoed a lot of my thoughts on the Liverpool game. The pool looked geed up by Dalglish being in charge and total different side to the 1 we beat few weeks before that. Was Jarvis’s worst game and ironically against 1 of his admirers, kept giving ball away and his crossing was abysmal. BUT I aint knocking a player who has performed for us many many times and if (or when) he does get sold i for 1 will wish him best of luck as the guy deserves a go in an England shirt, and i am afraid to say he won’t be allowed that while at wolves for some reason only Mr Capello knows.
As for transfers i am very disaponted the 3 m’s havent produced better results in aquiring new players (loan or permanent) when Mick knows we are struggling more this season to last season. Too many under performers, maybe cuz they in the “comfort zone” of surviving last season n feeling they got nothing to prove this season. But as for Woodgate, who cares he turned us down? Too much of a risk in my opinion. Hurts more when Blues n Baggies are purchasing quality players on loan to help yet we sign “for the future” ?? Strange…
Love da Wolves!
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Do we really need Robbie Keane or another striker surely it is the service to our front men that is the problem. When we attack I don’t expect us to score unless it is against a weaker time ie. Dons and even then the quality of finishing was just adequate. My heart says we will stay up but don’t know how. Wolves performing well are a good team but at the back we are no better than the championship.
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37)Mr Smug
Missed the point ? Exactly what point ?
Do you mean trying to put words in my mouth like “exclude”.
Try reading what is posted not what you imagine. You certainly have nothing to be smug about
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33) Dingle brain
“Muscat was a legend” Really ?
The only thing that makes most Wolves supporters mind boggle is a statement like that ! Muscat made any sensible football person cringe, and he still does apparently.
Don’t try and hide behind Robert Taylor, he was probably the worst centre forward who ever played at Molineux, but, that sure as hell doesn’t justify Muscat’s disgraceful behaviour.
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Finland Wolf
Although you’ve had more crosses and we’ve had more long balls,we’ve definitely sold more bovril than you have balti pies so as you know being an anorak this translates to us finishing second thus qualifying for the Champions league and you being deducted 12 points for serving 23 cold balti pies during a season thus being relegated.
Adeu
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McCarthy has done the damage already. He sent Ireland crashing out the World Cup because he removed Keano for disagreeing with his crazed strategy. I think he should close the door behind him on the way out. Lets have Big Sam in or Andy Gray!
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