Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Steven Fletcher a doubt for QPR game
Tuesday 13th September 2011, 11:00AM BST.
Wolves have suffered a blow with the news Steven Fletcher has emerged as a doubt for Saturday’s clash against Queens Park Rangers.
The £7million club-record signing sustained a groin injury in the 2-0 defeat to Tottenham last Saturday and is not expected to train until Thursday – if at all.
Manager Mick McCarthy admitted he feared the worst for Fletcher, but that the injury has since calmed down.
The Wolves boss said: “It looked really bad on Sunday but it had settled down yesterday. We are hopeful, that’s how I would rate him.
“Kevin Foley has an ankle problem and he won’t train until Thursday – he’s had to have an injection.
“Stephen Hunt has had to have one as well and he won’t train until Thursday.
“Those two will be fine though.”
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This bad news really – the cover up front now looks light weight … with SEB out will Vokes play or will MM go with 1 up top
or
Will Ward who has been playing sterling at Left Back be moved upfront.
We really need another reasonable striker. Vokes is ok but who really feel that when he comes on he’ll do something to change the game???
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It looked as if Fletch was off the pace on Saturday,also Hunty.So it looks like Wardinho for the strikers role and Big G to look after Shaun Wright Phillips OH DEAR!!!
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WBA2 QPR3 wembley cup final
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Hate to Say told you so but we needed to spend some money Mr Moxey to get cover for things like this 16 players out 3 in is no good we only need a couple more key players to be injured and we could be in deep trouble its no good in the bank and playing fizzy pop football next season.
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So early in the season, hope it doesn’t get worse. But lets be honest if the three 3 M’s had invested in players during the transfer window we wouldn’t be in this mess. Please oh please leave Wardy at left back and bring back Zubes.
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Play Kightly up front. He seemed to have ended up there on Saturday anyway. Alternatively 451 and bring Guidiera back in.
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This is exactly why we needed to bring in another striker (maybe just on loan) before the end of the transfer window.
I strongly believe that our first 11 are good enough to lead us to a comfortable mid-table position. The problem remains that we have not got sufficient quality in the back-up department.
Vokes or Ward coming in upfront for Fletcher proves my point.
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I gave up a long time ago trying to guess what team Mick will select!
How far away is SEB from being fit?
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Agree, if Fletcher is out for the qpr game i think Ward will go upfront with Doyle and Elokobi at left back again.
Elokobi against SWP, interesting, a bit of a difference in size between them!! afraid SWP will run around him. Big George will have to give him a powerblock
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3 M’s we told u so ,should have spent some money instead of trying to manage on the cheap again …….
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Best player out, shows how fragile the Wolves team really is….this is a must win game, the whole team needs to be revamped, include Milijas and Elekobi, and play O’Hara and Doyle as joint strikers.
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I always try to be positive, but I went on record in the transfer window, saying “never mind about a left-back, it’s up front where we’ll be light, given SEB’s injury and the track record of Doyler & Fletch getting injured”. I also said we should have signed Nicky Maynard from Bristol City. Hope this don’t come back to haunt us. Shawn the sheep is right – 16 out and 3 in just doesn’t add up, even if we did need to get rid of a lot of fringe players – we didn’t even have enough to complete our squad of 25. Let’s hope McFadden proves his fitness and gets a contract soon.
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Still cant understand why we didnt bring in a striker.
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Play O’Hara just behind Doyle and Milljas in midfield with Henry alot mor solid. Mick won’t though he will play Foley instead of Milljas. As someone said earlier we needed bulking up in squad numbers but such a poor display in transfer Market.
Although QPR looked handy last night I expect wolves to beat them on Saturday!
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Best bring my boots with me just in case. Quite fancy a game up front.
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Maybe Mick will look at playing 4-5-1 with Doyle on his own up front and Kightly just behind him as the attacking midfielder? He did seem to spend a lot of time in the middle of the park against Spurs.
Hennessey
Ward
Johnson
Berra
Stearman
Henry
O Hara
Kightly
Jarvis
Hunt
Doyle
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I love Sam Vokes. He’s a real hotty, can’t wait until Saturday now.
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This is bad news as we are strugglig to score goals, once more, this season in the league.
If we are without Fletch on Saturday I’d go for 4-5-1 and bring in Milijas. O’Hara can then play that little further forward.
This game will not be easy.QPR played some good stuff last night and, with a decent striker, would have won. Luckily they only had Bothroyd!
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Manager Mick McCarthy said: “I’ve always got ‘Superman’ – Stephen Ward”
STEADY ON MICK LET’S NOT GET CARRIED AWAY!
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I think the vast majority said ” what happens when we get injuries and suspensions” , and now, it starts to happen. Won’t be long before O’Hara is crocked and Johnson suspended, we will then look a very poor side, All of this smacks of brinkmanship, and a shocking gamble that will backfire by Mahagony Row. They knew Blake was long term injury, they know Vokes isn’t up to it, yet we sit back and do nothing…look at what Stoke have done this year.Forget the damn stadium, let’s get the players to get the results first.7 points from 4 games ( make that 5 games after we lose on Saturday) doesn’t fool me
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Love the way suddenly we can’t afford not to have Ward at LB. Always good for a laugh on here. Fletch will be OK. On the down side after watching them last night I suspect 3 points may be harder to come by than we hoped!
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4-3-3 hunt n jarvo down the wings Doyle down the middle might score the goals that everyone no’s he can
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I did say a few weeks ago, when the Hoff was let go, that all the Top clubs run with Four Good strikers. I know its hard for the Two left on the bench, but its times like this when you need your squad of 25 to come into their own,we’ve got four good wingers,who can all cover each other,yet we’ve only really got three top strikers and young Vokes, and lets be honest all three are injury prone, and do miss their fair share of games,thats why you need Four good strikers. Lets hope Fletcher can shake it off by weekend, but i somehow doubt it. The way QPR played last night, i think id be inclined to play 4.5.1, play Ward behind Doyle, with Elokobi at LB. They ran Newcastle ragged in midfield most of the game,thats imo anyway. UTW:
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We may have to revert to 4-5-1 with Doyle up front on his own at the start of the game should Fletcher be declared unfit to play. Depending on how the game goes, there is always the option to push Ward up alongside Doyle if need be.
Somehow though I think Fletcher will be fit.
Looking at last night’s game, the dangerman for QPR is definately Wright-Phillips. Both Ward and Jarvis will have to work together to curtail the threat on Wolves left flank.
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6: Play Kights up front? I wouldnt play him at all………
Sure he needs to regain his sharpness but I cant see what he is at the moment, a midfielder or a winger type?? He doesnt appear to be either but morphed into almost confusion of whats expected of him. How many times did he take on his man and whip the ball across against Spurs?
If Jarvis is fit then we need to play to our strengths and Keep Hunt and he having a constand go at the wing backs. As for strikers maybe its time to give Vokes a go. We have enough crosses coming into the box with those 2 wingers to give him a chance of finishing 1 or 2 off so why not. Remember we have not scored in our last 2 games anyhow.
4: Theres no point bemoaning our lack of signings now as we have what we have. End of so may aswell get behind them hey?
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Fletcher is only a doubt at the moment. Tbh I’d rather see Fletch play at 90% than a fit Vokes!!
Not sure how Kightly got the nod on Saturday ahead of Hamill, and he struggled so would not be the answer.
Wardy has to stay where he is.
On that basis – and I hate to say it – we nedd to go 4-4-1-1. Need to shackle their midfield. Taarabt and Forlan will take some looking after, so I would be in favour of seeing Guedioura back in the mix.
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Mick,why not give Vokes a go?Secondly you say you have “a good left back in Elokobi”,Mick ,you know ,I know and everyone else knows,You Have not got a good left back on the books.Wake up 3M`s its time to get real.
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I bet mick goes with ward.
get real Micko, Play 4-5-1 bring Millias into the frame.
no Vokes or ward up front thanks.
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Ward might have to play upfront in anycase, if Doyle does not up the ante! This highlights the fact that with SEB out, we are light up top. Elokobi could come in but if we resort to a 4-5-1, due to the injuries to Guedioura and Edwards, we surely must go with Milijas?
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Striking problems already?
Damn, I just knew that losing ‘Super Pole’ Stefan Maierhofer to Salzburg was a mistake!
He’s the missing piece in the jigsaw, I’d say…
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I think we will definately sign a striker on loan now, possibly before Saturday.
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10
rich5wolves
The Knightley issue is simple.
Much was expected of him in the Championship following his move from non-league. To expect the lad to transform into a Premiership player, particularly following his injuries is unrealistic. Undoubted talent, but should only be kept if a return to the Championship is envisaged.
My veiw is that people who now advocate him playing upfront in an Alien roll expect the earth.
Ward up front Elokobbi left back.
Taxi
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I bet people begging Mick to keep Wardy at left-back are the same ones who were howling at him for ‘not being good enough’ a few months back. Amazing that.
Fletcher isn’t even 100% out of this game so to have a go at the manager for ‘not investing’ in another forward is a bit stupid when we’ll probably have a full selection available for the Liverpool match.
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Bring on the problems – Mick will solve them as usual, we’ll have another good season, and we’ll all get to keep laughing at the numpties being wrong yet again.
Yet again !!!
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23 Sir Lupi – check the rules on loans, Wolves are not in the Championship any more.
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Having such a successful start to the season resulted in no additions to the squad in my opinion.
now we have a couple of injuries and its clear we lack depth.
I am happy we got rid of the fringe players but disppointed there was no new left back and no striker.
With the tranfer window shut we have no other choice but to head into the loan market for a quality striker, goals win games after all!
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4 matches into the season and we have striker problems. Any fool knew we needed another striker before the deadline.. This is just a joke of team management.
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Dont panic – Steven Ward is that good he could play left back and up front at the same time. Good old Mick and Jez – struggling for players 4 games in WHAT A JOKE!!!!!!!!!!
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If Wardy is such a superman why can’t he play LB and up front – slacker !!
Anyone got any ideas where the goals will come from cos i think we now know Doyle won’t get them.
Watched QPR last night and they looked good – they have pace, barton will mix it and unlike us they brought players with experience.
I hear James Beattie is on the way – whoopee !!
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What are these people on who think playing 4-5-1 against QPR at home is acceptable??
You could see this happening and in my previous posts stated this would happen, look how short we are for cover. Same old story put Ward up front, move a player out of the position he has played 4 really good games playing in and stick George there. It changes the whole dynamics of the team, and George isnt championship standard let alone Prem. We needed a striker in pre-season to prevent all these changes and we failed to deliver. Look what 1 injury causes!!
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32 – Barnes
I don’t think many people do expect the world out of Kightly at this level with the lack of games he has played(not any sane fan anyway) How can you say that he is only Championship level based on 5 starts in 2 years? Whilst he didn’t take players on and whip crosses in against Spurs, he did manage to thread some balls through to the strikers and create some half chances. I do agree with 25 Rich that on Sat he was caught between a midfield role and strikers role. Nobody would expect Kightly to play an out and out striker role, however he may be able to create something from the middle of the park behind Doyle and infront of 2 holding midfielders in Henry and O Hara. It’s no different to what Edwards or Guadiora did last season
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we could all see this happening with the squad but thought it would catch up with us later in the season, not so soon. wright-phillips was superb last night but if bothroyd plays ten times better than he did we still have nothing to fear from him. the qpr midfield looked strong but their defence is frail, especially gabbidon. i think we will go five in midfield as vokes does not appear to be up to it. but le’s hope for 3 points. also what has happend to warnock’s face, it looked like it had been ironed out last night.
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<Tongue in cheek time:
If Fletch is unfit,why not play Elokobi up front with Doyle? Just imagine Big muscle bound George running at you in full flight? I know it would frighten me anyway.
I honestly think Wardy is probably the most improved player on the books. He has had his sniper's in the past,me included.But Bale didn't get much change out of him last weekend.I have watched the goals several times over & the position of Henry on both of them is questionable :-(
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Just shows how paper thin our squad is and the arrogance of certain individuals at the club saying we would be absolutely fine with the players we’ve got!
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Look on the bright side, at least it’s given you idiots licence to moan and state I told you so, bet you were gutted when we stayed up!
Even JIWAL has arrived!
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Machedo on loan! nuff sed.
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Some people on here havent got a clue. Someone stated we need 4 quality strikers like the big clubs. I hate to dissapoint you but were not one of the big clubs, so how exactly are we going to attract these quality strikers when we cant even offer them regular football. The big clubs only get away with it because they can offer £100k+ a week, and can promise them trophies. We have 3 quality strikers, and Vokes who could be considerd promising, We also have Ward who has scored and played well at this level before. We also have experience in playing a 451 formation which we can revert to if needs be.
We have 3 injured players at this club at the moment, Edwards, Blake, and now Fletcher. 2 of those players wouldnt be in the first 11 anyway, so why on earth is everyone coming out of their holes and having a moan. Its amazing how many people have come on saying ‘I told you so’ yet these are the same people that claimed Mick wouldnt get us promoted, claimed he wouldnt keep us up, claimed we survived by default and we wouldnt surive for a second season. I guess at this point they will try and use any bit of information, just so they can finally say they were right.
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41 George, totally agree!
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I said all along we needed cover for our strikers, not just for injuries but also for theyre not performing.
Even Albion have that dept. sorted with Long, Odemwingie, Tchoyi, Cox and Gera to choose from.
Now we`ll have to wait till January.
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Mccarthy to blame should have never sold maierhoffer and should have signed long or church in transfer market but oh no its got to be wardy mad and henry mad bring in hamill and elokobi and try and get a descent striker on loan eg sturridge of chelsea cant wait to ebankes blake is back because fletcher and doyle never stay on there feet plus score enougth goals especially doyle good work rate but no goals play hamill instead of henry and de vries for hennesssey bring back jarvis in the team then you will see a diffrence ian from netherton
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When you thought things could not be worse!! Ward to replace Fletcher……………… and MK thinks we can win! He needs to stop getting in the way of the other forwards and learn how to pass the ball to another Wolves player before he thinks he can think he knows what the result will be. I also agree with others about our squad We bring on BIG SAM who is no better than a Sunday morning pub player and QPR bring on DJ last night. You spend peanuts and you get non prem standard players to make up the numbers. Bottom three and no better unless Jez and Morgan start to drink more coffee!
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now we see the metal of the team
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still trying to stay up on the cheep no cover at all for flech bring in oneil now before its to late
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If we lose Fletcher, I’d much rather see us go 4-5-1; i’m yet to be totally convinced that he and Doyle are a comfortable partnership anyway.
We’ve been a least 1 man short up front from day 1 at this level, but given Doyle’s abilities, and the genuine potential for goals that O’Hara, Jarvis and Hunt all carry from midfield, I don’t think the problem of Fletcher’s absence should be insurmountable in the short term, at least.
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If Doyle doesn’t make the line up then I think Kites will be moved upfront with Hammill coming in on the wing. This leaves Ward at full back to deal with SWP. Failing that then it will be Ward up front and Big George at full back. I can also see the time coming when some of our out on loan players will be recalled, if our injury problems get any worse. That will put a dent in Moxey’s plans!
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OOOps mean’t if Fletcher doesn’t make it.
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There are too many possibilities until we know Fletcher’s true fitness, but groin injuries can be forever if not properly dealt with in the early stages – rest is often the way and without it they can become a problem for months.
George at left back bothers me no end and I hope it doesn’t happen. He takes on the look of a mobile roundabout more each time I see him. How did Wolves come by George? 5’8″, 14st 5lbs – should he have gone to the Saracens but landed in Wolverhampton by mistake?
QPR made some useful signings late on in the window and may prove a difficult nut to crack, I just hope we don’t crack instead!
I’m not going to bet on this one, I can’t, my fingers are too tightly crossed to write out a slip! Then again, looking on the bright side it could be arthritis! ;)
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Let the “BATTLE” begin….QPR are going one-way down!!After all we have “SUPERMAN WARDINHO”.
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Think QPR will be a good opportunity for Vokes to get amongst the reckoning for more games. Keep Ward at left back with the option to change to up front with George coming in to cover. Think O’Hara could take a rest with Milijas starting:
Hennessey
Ward
Berra
Johnson
Stearman
Hammil
Milijas
Henry
Kightly
Doyle
Vokes
Changes:
Elokobi for Vokes to LB
Ward up front
Hunt for Kightly
Jarvis for Hammil or O’Hara for Milijas
UTW!
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From what I saw of QPR v Newcastle – their passing and inventive play – if we don’t pull our finger out and improve on the past 2 games, we will be slaughtered.
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For those who have obviously forgotten Long came to the mol for talks 2 seasons ago and was sent back with a flea in his earole for slagging us off do you really want someone like that wearing gold and black? plus as was said at the time he is injury prone big time, no he is where he should be with the scum down the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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We are not all that good if anybody says we are they trying to pull the wood over your eyes
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There are some clueless people on here. We are not allowed to make any loan signings until January but can sign free agents, such as McFadden. When has Zoltan Gera been a forward?
Why is there a panic? Fletcher might be fit and we are just unfortunate that SEB is injured. We are talking one game only, as there is no way that we should consider going to Anfield with two forwards! If we are going to play two against QPR and Fletcher is out, Ward can play there. Him alongside Fletcher kept us up last season!
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49.laughing wolf, hate to say it but youre right, the albion have got the striker department nicely stocked. Long, Odemwingie, Cox, Tchoyi and Gera, never really thought about their strength in depth.
We should have moved for Long, a snip at 4.5m, and if not him then another forward as this situation proves.
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We cant afford to lose on Saturday and judging by QPRs performance we need to stop them playing in midfield so I would suggest 451 with Wardy as the loan striker and Doyle wide right,pack the midfield with O,hara Henry and Foley this will hopefully limit the supply to Wright Philips.
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I think there is an element of panic creeping in here….Wolves are the premiership club not QPR…last season Big George weighed in with a couple of important goals and performances (i.e Man Utd) – QPR might have purchased some attacking midfielders but defensively they are poor Newcastle never put them under any pressure, Wolves will from corners with 4 big men attacking their box and the likes of O`hara from free kicks and Doyle will run them ragged – I think we need a realty check here and a bit of confidence in how far the Wolves have developed they`ve lived with the likes of Man U, Chelsea & Man City for 2 Years QPR are still embryonic and providing that the fans don`t pass on any negativity the Wolves will devour them!!!!!
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Im afraid that Vokes is not the answer as a back up striker I dont remember one good game hes had,it would have been better to loan him out to a championship club for a full season to gain experience and see if he has the potential to make it at Prem level.
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63.marston
I view Gera as a forward because hodgson often used him as one in europe and he scored a fair few goals that year. He also played behind Phillips and scored at the Mol one year I seem to painfully recall.
Anyway, doesn`t matter what Gera is, he could be goalie for all I care, point is we needed to bring in another striker before 31st august. Seb is injured, Doyle doesn`t score goals and is injury prone, fletcher is terrific but is injury prone, vokes is not good enough, ward is not an option.
Disguise it and argue it how you want but we simply ain`t got enough up top.
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Some great stuff coming out of the camp.
Kightly – ` We can win on Saturday ` – hey cheers for that Kites. Anyone would think we had Real Madrid away.
McCarthy – `I was so proud of the lads on Saturday, they kept trying to score right to the end`. Well my word, I had no idea that’s what they were trying to do but now I know I think we should all be proud of them.
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Dear Mick we got two strikers kevin doyle and steven fletcher who could not tie derek dougans and john richards boot laces up both not scoring enougth goals. Doyle runs and runs but he dont seem to know where the net his. and has for fletcher spends more time on the floor it is time now to go out and get a good goal scoring striker before its too late so come on mick and look hard in the transfer market in january for a good goal scoring striker. why does karl henry has to keep passing the ball backwards and square instead of going forward to try and sore goals like kenny hibbett used too.im a wolves supporter untill the day i die come on you wolves.good luck mick
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I wish mick could understand that you cannot make a silk purse out of a sows earhole, its not looking good.
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68) He is classed as an attacking midfielder and a poor record of 26 goals in 222 games in England, is worse than someone like O’Hara, I would suggest. I do agree, though, that we should have been looking to sign both a defensive midfielder and a forward.
Ward is a option, as proved last season in many games, but I would suggest that bringing in big George is a gamble!
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