Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Wolves set to bring back Sam Vokes
Wednesday 13th April 2011, 11:34AM BST.
Wolves were today eyeing a shock Premier League return for Sam Vokes to ease their striker shortage.
The Wales international is currently on loan at Championship high-flyers Norwich for an initial 28 days.
That expires on April 21, the day of the Canaries’ derby against Ipswich at Portman Road and two days before Wolves’ next game against Fulham, leaving the 21-year-old to play one more game at Carrow Road, at home to Nottingham Forest this Friday.
Vokes appears to have struck form too, having scored his first goal for the Canaries in last night’s 2-2 draw at Watford with the opener after two minutes.
Wolves are struggling for numbers up front with Kevin Doyle out for the season and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake battling to be fit with a hamstring strain.
Steven Fletcher is the club’s only senior striker, with Stephen Ward as makeshift back-up.
Manager Mick McCarthy said: “We can take Sam back and there’s every chance I will.
“He’s got his month to see out and we’ve got a recall on him. But I always have a recall on them after the first month.
“It’s something we’re looking at.”
Vokes has scored twice in 12 games this season for Bristol City, Wolves, Sheffield United and Norwich, although only five appearances have been starts.
While keen to add Vokes, McCarthy was also relieved to see a positive update on Ebanks-Blake, who is back training after picking up an injury in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Everton.
Andy Keogh is also back at Compton and attended Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Everton, but is injured.
McCarthy said: “He’s come back to have some treatment, that’s all.”
Stephen Hunt could also be fit for either the derby at Stoke on April 26 or the clash at Birmingham five days later, after coming through his hernia operation last week.
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While I can well understand the need to bring back Vokes, I really do not see him playing much part in the final run-in.
At best he will probably be sitting on the bench and only used as a last resort.
I will not be surprised to see him sold in the summer irrespective of whether we are relegated or not.
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Definately a wise choice to bring vokesy back considering were lookin very thin on forwards at the moment. Hopefully the young lad will do well.
WOLVES AY WE :)
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Judging from the number of starts he has made whilst on loan he may as well have stopped at Molineux.
He will always an option coming on as substitute simply because he offers something different to Doyle, SEB and Fletcher.
I hope the club stick with him because he will develope into a good traditional centre forward much like Davies at Bolton.
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No 1. I very much hope your wrong, in that Wolves will sell Sam Vokes, has i think he could yet prove to be a decent player in either League. You must remember he’s only 21, so has plenty of time to develope his game, plus he offers us something different,has did big Chris Iwelumo did for us, and the Legend the ‘Doog’. All our other strikers are short compared to Sam. UTW:
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After what has happened in recent weeks, we must bring him back. It would be crazy not to. Hopefully, our striker injury problems, bar Doyle, are behind us and SEB and Fletcher can push on – but who can say? We need every insurance policy we possess.
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Lets hope this guy gets his chance if he is called back! I think he has the potential!
We need some added fire power if were going to get ourselves to safety!
Keep the faith! UTW!
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Is Keogh not available to bring back. Surely he will be a better choice. Although not as good as Doyle he has a similar style play and is much better at holding the ball than SEB and Fleth. He’s not everyone favourite but were struggling with the sudden absence of Doyle and adapting to a change in formation and style.
SEB and Fletch are more impact players who appear to do better off the bench later in games.
I know we have at least 1 slot in our squad since Hammill don’t count
Bent out – Ohara in
Halford out – Kightly in
Hoff out
Van Damme out
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Give the lad a chance if they bring him back, can’t be any worse than what we have!!
come on wolves..
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Well – no sooner questioned than done!
Perhaps MM does listen to the M(P)uppet?
Nah it was obvious thing to do BUT Vokes is different.
He creates goals from other player contributions and reads the game. He needs to explain his mind to the others to get the right feed. He has the nouse too but pressure will mean probably his time on pitch will be the last 20mins of match.
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Looks like Mick is preparing a championship squad to me, what a numpty!
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Good idea to bring him back. I still think we will finish 17th despite our poor display against Newcastle and Everton.
Can’t comment on the Newcastle match but I hear that it was dismal, but I was at the Everton match and to be honest the first 20mins we was the better team and should have scored “but the words should have is no good”.
The last time I saw them play like that at home was against Birmingham last season and look what happened then, they picked themselves up and stayed up.
I am still like many others 100% behind them and am convinced that we will stay up.
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10) I think you need to explain that statement. It’s a thoughtless throw away line we just don’t need at the moment.
In case it passed you by the January window has long since closed. With the injuries we have the only options MM has are the recall of loan players or picking up an out of contract player such as Aliadiere. Like everybody else at this club our manager will be preparing a squad to STAY in the Premiership.
Numpty ?
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Sam’s only a kid learning his trade so it’s too early to assess his true potential. If he gets a game (though I doubt it), let’s back the lad to the hilt.
He can’t do any worse than we’ve had recently, so it’s a no-lose situation as far as Vokes is concerned.
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I would give him an opportunity, he has not fulfilled his earlier promise, however he would give some hight to the attack and if SEB is fit could provide him with much needed service in the box.
I would also look at some of our younger defensive players, if they are as good as we are led to believe then give them an opportunity at LB and in the CB position, lets face it they cannot do any worse then what we already have.
We do however still need to find someone to be Captain and a leader, unfortunatley McCarthy will not make that decision.
It is not Henry’s fault that he is not a Captain, you cannot blame him for accepting the role it is McCarthy’s for appointing him.
McCarthy now needs to make some brave decisions, however I doubt whether he has the bottle to do so.
I respect the opinions of fans who say he has done wonders over the last few years, but we are in the here and now, and he has been found wanting.
Bottom three since October says it all really.
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Vokesy gets in to good positions and holds the play up well and is good in the air. It’s important we don’t lose sight of the fact we are only 1 point away from safety at present. I believe we need a MINIMUM of 37 points from 37 games going in to the last one against Blackburn at home. We will then probably need to win that to survive. But at least we are in with a chance. Anything less than 37 points from 37 games I believe will see us go down anyway. Hope not. Just dreading the consequences of May the 8th to be honest ! WWFC AY WE!
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Vokes is a good kid but he won`t make a difference now. We`ve suffered from not having someone who can score 10 or more. The albion have survived due to odemwingies 11 goals in just 24 game. If we stay up a goalscorer must be our priority, in fact we should be scouting in eastern europe as we speak but doubt we are.
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16 frobowolf
As Vokes is playing for Norwich I think our scouting is limited to Eastern England at the moment!!!
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Had too much spare time on my hands today and so decided to look at the stats of our 3 main strikers.
These figures are for Premiership games only.
Doyle; Played 2170 minutes, scored 5. Equal to 1 goal for every 434 minutes
SEB; Played 1308 minutes, scored 7. Equal to 1 goal every 187 minutes
Fletcher; Played 1013 minutes, scored 5. Equal to 1 goal every 203 minutes.
I like Doyle and know he has a great work rate and holds the ball up well for us, so you can’t take too much from these stats, I just thought they made interesting reading!
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He hasn’t had a lot of time on the pitch whilst he’d been on loan, has he ? Not that I’m judging him on what I haven’t seen, but, I think he will only play a peripheral if any at all.
If we are going to turn this mess around one of the established players has to be the catalyst. O’Hara, Henry, Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake….who knows ?
Im not sure whether this fortnight off is a good thing or not, but, at least there aren’t any International matches and some of the injuries might heal. I think we’d all agree it has to be 4-5-1 from now until the Fat Lady sings.
Hands up all those who’d take a winner takes all against Blackburn…and them having the draw. Sqeaky bums all round that day, eh ?
Chris Hoggard. I was at the Wolves Liverpool game you mentioned on a previous thread. Wolves win, they stay up. Liverpool win they’re Champions.
Liverpool were Champions…Aaaargh !
Do you remember the progamme ? Victorian melodrama, with theatre curtains and all,on the front cover.
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Its all hands to the deck now so bringing Vokes as back up is a positive move, while were at it how about bringing Craddock back into defense to steady the ship he also offers an attacking threat from corners, Berra needs a rest and i,m allways scared when he marks at set pieces and he,s to clumsy for my liking.Come on Mick its time to be brave and positive.
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Not an expert by any means on this subject, but, you all must have noticed the superb state of the pitch on Saturday after looking so wretched since Christmas. I understand the contractors have been working non stop with lamps etc.
SEB pulled a hamstring, Fletch was struggling and there were one or two Everton players hopping about and cramping up, particularly the Russian with the unpronouncable name and the thunderbolt shot.
Any connection ?
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16 ‘frobowolf’
You say Odemwingie 11 goals in 24 games.
SEB has scored 7 in just 11 starts and Fletcher has 5 in 9 starts.
Our problem is we don’t keep enough clean sheets.
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I would not like to see Sam Vokes sold. With our current team it is a blatantly obvious where the problem mainly lies… Premiership experience. Yes most of them have played in it last season but you can look at the other clubs in the relegation mix and they have vastly experienced Premiership players, Blackpool aside. For example, Scott Parker, Stephen Carr, Lee Bowyer, David Dunn, Pedersen and Barry Ferguson spring to mind immediately!
Craddock must come back in and although Hennessey has done well enough, USA may need to come back in? With 7 goals conceded in the last 2 games, the defence and midfield must be looked at and changes made. One thing is for sure in this very average league we are not out of it!!
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21 – slightly surreal. Did the pitch kick Fletcher’s calf? Did it cause Sylvan’s always suspect hamstrings to twinge? The grass is growing because it’s April – do you have a lawn? Quite why our ‘state of the art’ 10% plastic pitch has been so poor is a good question though, but given our improved home record this season maybe we should be grateful?
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Anyone who remembers that horror miss against ManYoo last March and still persists in describing Mr Samuel Vokes as a ‘Striker’ probably risks being charged under the Trades’ Description Act 1968.
If he’s the answer, it’s a very silly question.
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Bournemouth fans really missed Vokes and no doubt would have him back ….so just give him back to them as a kind gesture.
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12 Bertie, I have an opinion that I am entitled to air on here, Mick has had all season to prepare for Premership survival and been given funds to do so, his tactics are floored, he will always play his favourites. Like Henry, ward etc, these players have cost us valuable points long before this stage of the season, I hope we stay up I really do but bringing Vokes back is not the answer.
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I know Sam Vokes is only a young lad but he is not ready for the Premiership. He missed a sitter V Man Utd and Hull last season. He has hardly played in the Championship this season.
Alot of people will not agree but Keogh holds the ball up much better and unselfishly runs the flanks, he is the most similar player to Doyle.
A few changes are needed for the Fulham game and experience is the key during this run-in:
Hahnemann
Foley
Craddock
Stearman
Mancienne
Hammill
Milijas
Guerdioura
O’Hara
Jarvis
Fletcher
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A friend of mine once described Christophe Berra as a ‘slightly more comfortable on the ball but not as good in the air version of Neill Collins’
Although the lad has a big heart he is too slow and gives away silly free-kicks around the area
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Play ‘never walk alone’ upfront hes a killer …just ask the scousers…
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25 Sammy
If every 21 year old striker that missed a chance was confined to the scrap heap I doubt Lionel Messi would be playing for Barcelona!
Vokes has potential, proved himself in the lower leagues as a teenager and is now continuing his develoment with Wolves.
No he is not ready for the Premiership ‘week in/week out’ but he may come on for 15 minutes and score the goal that keeps us up.
Young players develope at different rates (they are humans!). Vokes needs time.
Do you remember a player called Steve Bull, late developer I think?
UTW
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Once Hunts back we could give him a go up front in the case of if it doesn’t work out with SEB and Fletcher, i don’t think Vokes will be much help, he’s Championship quality at best but if we do recall him and play him we’ll see what he can do at this level.
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I’ve had a bit of fun in the past making Rainbow Jokes about Zippy, Bungle, George and Geoffrey for those who remember.
Unfortunately the time has come to be serious about the mess the wolves are in.
Well documented here about goalkeeper/defence system/ injuries etc., but now through all this fans believing that young inexperienced players Kiteley and Vokes are the answer beggars belief.
Before long they will be getting the blame for the 3 M’s inadequacies.
How great are the loanee’s Mancienne and O’ Hara doing now the chips are down?
How much will Wolves pay for their services Full Time now?
How fit are Hunt, Guadiera?
Why even mention Andy Keogh?
Consider all, but to EXPECT Kiteley and Vokes to do better than the likes of Fletcher/SEB/ Hunt and OHara is unfair.
Taxi for Bungle
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Boing Boing Baggies ;)
As much as I want Wolves to stay up so all us hardcore fans can witness Englands best derby twice a season, honestly Wolves fans I think your going down! And face it, West Brom will always have a better team than Wolves because we spend, spend, spend!
BaGgY_bOi69
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25 ST Whilst everyone is entitled to an opinion I dont believe Sam Vokes is the only striker guilty of a glaring miss
It wasnt that long ago that Big Chris missed a ‘sitter’ But people easily forget the other goals he did score along the way
The lad deserves a break and I hope he gets one But I doubt he will be anything more than a bit part player under MM
Up the Wolves!
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Cuddly, I was in the North Bank that night,gave up on the South Bank,seeing all the Scousers going over the walls and I think charging one of the gates.We were in the lead for a long spell to a Steve Kindon goal. I remember saying to a Scouser next to me,’what’s wrong with finishing second’,he replied ‘what’s wrong in getting relegated’.Mind we did bounce back the following season.And yes I have still got the programme,somewhere.
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25.Sammy I think the same applies to Mick McCarthy who “thinks” he is a Premiership Manager!!!!!!
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The Flying Winger – where do you always have a dig at Karl Henry, it’s getting boring!
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38, please read it again the ‘the dig’ as you call it is at McCarthy, perhaps if you would for a minute consider my comments, (I note you haven’t contributed to the debate) you will see that we do not have a leader on the pitch, if we did we may have some organisation in the defence and with a link to midfield. Then we would not be where we are.
Boring or consistant in my comments? Unlike our Managers decisions all season.
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38 SB
If you keep poking at the peoples conciousness, even though they may not recognise it themselves, you are in motion to change their ideas. Patience being the virtue, it works in the end.
Somebody more famous than me said that but it doesn’t lessen the truth of the statement.
How do you think they sell toothpaste? It’s all done with toothy smile bright lights and mirrors, mate.
Moxey whispers sweet nothings and the happy clappers roll over to get their early birds. It’s a great trick of advertising. WWWFC is better at that than producing the goods on the pitch. Doubtless it makes them more money too.
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Bring back Vokes, and give him a run in the team, i’d pick him over Flecher any time.
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32 “Once Hunts back we could give him a go up front”
..That’ll be next season then as Hunt won’t make it in time this season
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I only ever post on ere after reading the whingers posts……….get a grip, personaly i would like to see Keogh back but Vokes has the same potential……………………………………..Look we have a run in that says staying up, yes ebanks, fletcher arnt getting the goals as wat Doyle was gettin but give the kid a chance….we on paper should stay up. nuff said
UTW
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40 Enough is Enough- oh you are clever!,
Regarding Jez Moxey I would get my early bird whatever he says.
The Flying Winger-I will contribute to the debate, I think it’s a good idea to bring Vokes back can’t do any harm, also who would you have as captain? Ok so you weren’t having a go at Karl but you don’t often support him do you….
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Hope you lot stay up, thought you looked solid at our place but it seems Doyles ability to hold the ball up is being sorely missed. You need 3 wins and a draw but I think you`ll do it.
Albion are safe now now, deservedly so, they play great football and now they have defensive know how thanks to hodgson to back it up.
Us, you and blues are still in the thick of it but hopefully all 4 will be in the prem next year again.
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We must stick together and, for the time being at least, patch over our differences. We must support the lads during these final weeks. We can chew the fat soon enough. As we aren’t playing this week end, things may look even more grim come Monday – but we must remain optimistic and still believe we can save the situation. Because we can. UTW
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Why not bring back.
Williams
McLean Crook.
Gally Cullis Wright.
Hancocks Pye Wescott Forbes Mullen.
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24) Noisy
Yes, I do have a lawn, but, I don’t have to direct lamps on to it 24/7, even in April….and neither do any of the neighbours as far as I can see.
Ever played the game ? A spongy pitch can affect an injury like a calf that’s been kicked in training, or a weakness in the hamstring area.
How about the two Everton players who were obviously suffering from cramp ? Unable to scatter a little sarcasm there ?
There is and always has been a link between muscle and tendon injuries and spongy pitches.
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Does the statement made that “all contract are on hold until the end of the season” apply also to Mick McCarthy? Oh no I forgot he has a job for life!!!Thats of course unless I have misunderstood Mr Morgans comments.
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Farmer Ted – Theres also a link between bad tackles and injuries, as well as poor fitness and injuries and Louis Saha and injuries.
What we really need to figure out is the link between our current position and our goals conceded, and then correct it. I agree with Mick about the 442 situation. In the first 20 minutes 442 allowed us to dominate the game. We now need to cut out the mistakes and make the defence more solid in order for the formation to work throughout an entire match.
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41+42+43
Just listen to yourselves you are putting belief in the injured infirm and quite honestly not up to Premiership Standard.
If you think these cast offs will come back and save Wolves season, having failed to impress in the past, then get back to sleep.
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46…I will will never stick with or support the numpties on here…never ever..ever ..I would sooner support Gaddafi
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50) Mick will save us I hope.
Forgetting the injury debate. Those first twenty minutes when we dominated also allowed Everton (David Moyes) to work out with a bit of reorganisation they would be able to run straight through our midfield …..and didn’t they just ?
The only consolation was we weren’t more than 0-3 down at half time and MM was able to switch to 4-5-1 and damage limitation. Whether SEB’s injury was forced on him or not it needed doing.
Whatever he says (on another thread)MM cannot be stubborn and ignore the obvious. This midfield is not good enough to protect a vunerable back four unless they do it in numbers. Everton reserves proved that.
(Not one of the antiMick brigade, by the way)
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Farmer Ted, Spot on post.We also played too high a line and Beckford curved his runs to stay onside,then a simple through ball and they were away.Like taking candy off a kid.
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49) Who R etc
Morgan never gave Mick McCarthy a job for life he simply took the pressure off a beleaguered manager and gave him room to work in.
Whether he takes advantage of that and keeps us up, or, brings us back up at the first attempt remains to be seen.
However I believe you know that and your just having a pop !
Players contracts have been put on hold for very obvious reasons IMO.
Concentrate on keeping us up.
Negotiations will take on a completely different slant should we be relegated.
PlayerPower will tend to dictate whatever the outcome of our status.
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He can bring in Messi, Ronaldo, Pele, DiStefino,his tactical niavity and lack of ability at this level will always mean mediocrity. Judgement day for MM will be a home defeat to Sandwell Town that finally puts the last embers of this wretched season to an end with confirmation of relegation, then will we see those who see this fool as a messiah talking their tripe on these message boards, we can only hope that 2011-2012 starts in the Championship with 10 defeats, perhaps then the Board of do nothings will have to act. Bayern sack their manager, who did the double and reached the Champions league final, even though they are one place off CL again, now that shows ambition Mssrs Morgan & Moxey !
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Farmer Ted – Even though Everton won the game 3-0, they by no means dominated any part of the game, The only difference was, they took theyre chances, 2 of which were superb efforts that on another day wouldnt have even been on target.
Its common sense that it wasnt David Moyes that figured out our tactics but theyre first goal that changed the game in theyre favour. If our defence would have dealt with the cross, it would have remained 0-0 and we would have continued to dominate. They didnt though, which caused our players to change theyre style of play, to a more long ball style rather than passing.
To conclude, we contributed to our own downfall, as Everton didnt change theyre style of play in the slightest, apart from being able to play more defensive. This formation can really work if our defence perform allot better, which probably means, if we stay up i think we should sign at least 2 defenders, 1 of which probably needs to be a left back, and the other could in all honesty be as good as Berra or Stearman, but have premier league experience and be a leader on the pitch, which is something i think we are still missing in this team.
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WHAT IS WRONG WITH WOLVERHAMPTON ?
WHY PAY 7 MILLION FOR STEVEN FLETCHER IF YOU DO NOT PLAY HIM, WHEN HE CAME HERE HE WAS IN THE SCOTTISH TEAM, HE IS OUT OF HIS NATIONAL TEAM, RELEGATED TO THE SUBS BENCH, AND NOW IT SEEMS HE IS OFF TO BOLTON AT A CUT PRICE!!!!! WAS IT JUST TO STOP OUR SO CALLED RIVALS BUYING HIM? A RUN MAY HAVE PRODUCED THE SAME AMOUNT OF GOALS AS THE BAGGIES SUPER FIND!!!!! I HAVE FOLLOWED WOLVES FOR A LIFE TIME, AND I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY WHEN WE GET DECENT PLAYERS WE SELL THEM WE AINT A FOOTBALL CLUB WE ARE A AGENTS SHOP WINDOW, JARVIS, DOYLE, FLETCHER, HUNT, WHEN THEY ARE SOLD WE WILL JUST GO BACK TO THE MONEY FACTORY, BRING IN YOUNG HUNGRY PLAYERS TO BRING ON THEN SELL,
WATCHING EGG HEADS THE OTHER DAY A QUIZ PLAYER TOLD THE PRESENTER HE WAS A KEEN FOOTBALL FAN,WHEN ASKED WHO HE FOLLOWED THE LAD SAID WOLVES, THE PRESENTER SAID I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU FOLLOWED FOOTBALL, LIKE I SAID AT THE TOP WHAT IS WRONG WITH WITH WOLVERHAMPTON? WHY WONT PEOPLE STICK TO IT, VOKES MAYBE A NICE LAD BUT WHEN OR IF HE BECOMES A PREMIER QUALITY PLAYER WE WILL JUST SELL HIM
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no58 Actually it is worse,much worse than you say.We have had massive, and I mean massive generosity, from Sir Jack.A new stadium,which is now being pulled down,lots of cash for players over a 20 year period.The most generous give away to another multi millionaire,and still we appear unable to establish ourselves as a decent Premier league club
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the other fletch – Hes out the scottish team, not because he moved to Wolves but because he decided to.
As for the not playing him, in all honesty, Blake and Fletch both have deserved more minutes on the pitch this season from the goals they have scored for us. But on the other hand, Doyle offers us so much more than just goals, I think the proof is in our last 2 performances. Is it really a coincidence that when our star stirker gets injured, and our other 2 get given a chance, we get slaughterd in both.
Doyle holds the ball up fantastically as well as winning us plenty of freekicks, gives the defence a horrible time, as well as defending from the front for us, and he sets up other players, as well as getting a few goals himself. People will say he doesnt score enough, but he is without doubt a vital part of this team, and our last 2 performances shows that Micks was right not to drop him for Fletcher or Blake.
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