Wolves 0 Birmingham 1: It's not looking good.

When I saw the team line up on sky sports, I was angry. Hahnemann (who did ok and made a good save) in for Hennessey. Here's a stat - Marcus Hahnemann conceded a goal on his PL debut for Wolves without having touched it. The goal isn't his fault, it was the midfielders not covering that space. It happened vs West Ham and it's happened now. If it had been at the other end, I'm sure Lee Bowyer and Barry Ferguson would havebeen there to put the atacker off.

We don't have a settled team. Last season we had Wayne in goal, Foley right back, Stearman and Mancienne when he was there (later became Berra and Craddock) with ward at left back. Jarvis and kightly on the wings with Henry and Jones in the middle. Sylvan and Iwelumo upfront. Ok, injuries have stopped us. But you'd expect some kind of consistency with the formation. Mick went for 3-5-2 for the first ever time away at Chelsea. I do think 4-5-1 would suit us but 4-4-2 does too.
I thought it was obvious at the start. Milijas in for Jones. Dave Edwards has had a good season so far though, which has gien Mick soem choices.

Onto the performance. It was horrible to listen to. Birmingham would win 9/10 headers and on the 10th, which we won, they got the second ball. We didn't create at all and had no shape I hear. Why narrow the pitch when our style is supposed to be with wingers attacking? You can't try to combat the other teams style, your have to have your own.

Here's what I'll give for marks based on what I have heard and seen.

Hahnemann - 7
Mancienne - 7
Berra - 6
Craddock - 6
Stearman - 7
Halford - 6
Henry - 7
Edwards - 6
Jarvis - 7
Ebanks-Blake - 6
Doyle - 6

Milijas - 7
kightly - 6
Ward - 6

Stearman sounded good when attacking, and the man I kept hearing winning the ball in the air was Michael Mancienne. Hahnemann made a very good reactive save too.

VitalWolves

I have jutst written an article on VitalWolves which is posted on newsnow. VitalWolves is for the fans and by the fans. You can join in, they have a forum which people post on and talk about the Wolves!

My articles is about us needing a clean sheet!

The Site:
http://www.wolves.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/category-view.asp

My article:
http://www.wolves.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=179205

Wolves v Birmingham preview

With Portsmouth, Burnley and Hull all getting beat and Blackburn drawing, we could really stop a potential gap with a win tomorrow. We have failed to beat the teams around us (maybe Wigan), but it stops with a win this weekend. It is crucial we win, not draw and especially not lose.

Birmingham fans must be delighted with the start they've had. They have beaten the teams they need to beat and given Man Utd, Tottenham and Liverpool a decent game. Mick has admitted that he was interested in Johnson and Dann. We all knew about Dann, who had pretty much signed for us until The Blues offered him a better deal. Johnson I have never been that convinced by, and Dann I have never seen but they are being praised a lot so far.

Last season I never thought they were going up. They just didn't seem that good and they hardly scored at all. McLeish, someone else who has never convinced me, has created a decent team at Birmingham. He has been a manager at bigger clubs but this is arguably some of the best work he has done.

We have had a miserable league record over them in recent times. No win in seven (5 of them draws) but overall we have had the better record. We have won 55 of the 116 clashes while Birmingham have won 34. 27 have ended in draws.

Zubar is out, which I reckon means Stearman at right back with Stephen Ward at left back. Ward only played 60 minutes in the last reserves match which I means Mick is making sure he is fit for the match. Doyle will return to the side and hopefully Matty Jarvis will have done enough to ensure his place on the left wing. I reckon Kightly will start, which will make us more of an attacking threat. Kites and Jarvis haven't had the chance to play with each other, but this will really bring concerns to the Brummie defence. SEB sounded alright last week, a bit isolated but he nearly scored a great goal. let's hope he gets his second and third goals of the season.

I reckon a one nil win. Milijas to score his first, a real cracker which he is known for in Serbia.

Team like this?
Hennessey

Stearman
Craddock
Berra
Ward/Mancienne

Kightly
Henry
Milijas
Jarvis

SEB
Doyle

Come on you Wolves!

What should the starting eleven be?

With nearly all of our key players coming back from injury, Mick has a selection dillemma. Which defenders will play, one or two upfront? I was wondering what people think we should start with on sunday?

I like this:
GK: Hennessey
RB: Foley
CB: Michael Mancienne
CB: Christophe Berra
LB: Stephen Ward
RM: Michael Kightly
CM: Dave Edwards
CM: Karl Henry
CM: Nenad Milijas
LM: Matty Jarvis
FC: Kevin Doyle

With Hahnemann, Craddock, Zubar, Castillo, Halford, Maierhofer and SEB on the bench.

It is hard to leave SEB out, but I would go with two wingers who need to play together. Doyle has enough to play upfront on his own whilst I don't think Sylvan is as mobile and hard working.

Berra and Mancienne should be the two centre backs, but my guess is Craddock will pair Berra at the centre of defence with Mancienne at left back.

Mick might go with four in midfield. That will mean either Edwards/Milijas has to srop to the bench. It would be harsh for Edwards who has been one of our best players. Then Ebanks-Blake can play upfront with Doyle.

What formation do you think we should play? You may feel differently to me, so comment what you think.

Don't worry wayne, I'll stick up for you.

Alright, a bad result. A demoralising result. We must hold our heads high because it is after all one of the best teams in the world. We knew that getting promoted meant a few beatings, so we must not get too moany. We aren't going to go around beating all the top four. Hey, we might even get a mention on MOTD today!

Jarvis had a top game I hear, which is why I have been backing him recently to start. He is our biggest threat and created chance after chance in today's match.

Cech made a world class save, we missed a couple of chances so it wasn't all one way but our defending needs to be better. We will get better at that, expecially with Mancienne coming back. He will make a real difference, he is top class.

Searching around some articles, I have already seen the comments on Hennessey. Come on. Leave him alone, he is only 22 and is already a Prmeiership goalie. He is young and going to learn from his mistakes. I personally believe he will play for a top four club for ten years (maybe us!). Get behind him, as you would with Matt Murray and he will get his confidence back.

I think some of Mick's decisions of late have been very weird. Surman and Halford are suddenly ahead of Kightly and Foley! Surman souunded good but I think it's unfair. Milijas has dissapeared again. If we are to have a go (as he says) then why don't we play our style, instead of narrowing ourselves down to other teams styles. Mick made the pitch wider at the start of last season, and we won the league. This season he made it smaller so that we could play against other styles. What's the point? If we don't win on Sunday, he could be in trouble.

Hennessey - 6 - Made a top save from Essien.

Halford - 6
Berra - 6
Craddock -6
Stearman - 6

Jarvis - 9
Edwards - 7
Henry - 6
Castillo - 6
Surman - 7

SEB - 6

Subs: Keogh - 6, Kightly - 6,

Wolves v Chelsea Preview

Is this the best time to play Chelsea? I don't know if there is ever a good time, but with their injury problems since the international break Signor Ancelotti may have to field a weaker side. Not that a weaker side is a bad one at mega-rich Chelsea as we will most likely see at Stamford Bridge tomorrow afternoon. This is the game where it is most unlikely for us to get anything, as Chelsea probably have the best home record of the last five years in this league.

Petr Cech hasn't seen a ball in the back of his net at the Bridge since a first half Stephen Hunt put Hull one nil up (Chelsea later won 2-1 thanks to Didier Drogba) on the opening day of the season. with all the best strikers in the league failing to make their mark there, maybe it's Sylvan Ebanks-Blakes' chance to show the league what he is capable of. They've only scored 16 in their six home games, nothing compared to our 5 at home, 7 away or 12 in total. The main threats of the Chelsea line-up, messrs Lampard and Drogba, are both out! Didier Drogba has hit 9 goals in the league so far, behind Fernando Torres only in the goalscoring charts, and has provided his team-mates with 8 goals aswell. Frank Lampard had a slow start for his high standards in terms of scoring, but with 4 goals in the last three games he looks set to continue his run of 20 goals every season. Like Drogba, he has also set up 8 goals, which means the two of them have been involved in atleast half Chelsea's goals. Terry and Cole (Ashley) will both be having late fitness tests which means even if they do play, they won't be fuly fit which gives us a bit more reason to be optimistic.

Zubar and doyle will be having their own late fitness tests, Doyle played 120 minutes on wednesday and will be pretty distraught after the events which occured. Ronald picked up a hamstring strain after a training the other day which means he is a doubt.

Jody Craddock has recently found his dusty old shooting boots, with 3 goals in his last 2 games (not to mention an own goal). Not half bad for a centre back. When he scored at Stoke it was his first Premier League goal for over 5 years, which actually took place at the Bridge....

Everyday I would hear of a new injury, each one giving me a tiny bit more hope to be squashed tomorrow. If we played like we did against Arsenal for the opening 25 minutes, for the whole game, then we can cause an upset. Harrass them from the start and fustrate their team like we can, then it won't be as big a scoreline as you might expect.
Probable line-up

Hennessey

Zubar/Foley
Craddock
Berra
Stearman

Edwards
Milijas
Castllo
Henry
Kightly

SEB/Keogh

Doyle might not be fit or Zubar so Foley could fit in at right back with Keogh (don't be surprised) or Ebanks-Blake getting a start.

Maybe Milijas can provide the goals from set pieces, somewhere chelsea have been hurt by teams though they look like they may have fixed that.

Whatever the score, cheer on the Wolves!!

Don't really want to predict a score and this is top of the league we are playing, so don't expect any points for the Wanderers. If we do cause an upset, I will be going on about it at school for a very long time. Remember stranger things have happened, like when we beat Chelsea 7-1 on March 15th 1973 (or 74) on Willie Carr's debut.

Calls for video technology as Doyle and Ireland crash out of the World Cup.

And the subject is up again. We need a video referee to help with making the big decisions. I think they need to either put the rule in now or just forget about it. I think it would please a lot of people if they did.

Henry has instantly become Public Enemy no.1 in Ireland, not only has he handballed it, but he's brought it down, touching it more than twice. Irleand are demanding a replay, something that just won't happen but what I think they seem to have forgotten is when Robbie Keane score versus Germany in the 2002 world cup when he controlled with his hand and shot past Oliver Kahn.

They do it in rugby and cricket where it seems to work. Only a few added seconds will stop all the moaner's in football. Referees will be less in the spotlight for the bad reasons. The fact is, if they replay the Ireland game, they will have to replay the games v Portsmouth and Sunderland where we should have had a penalty and not had one awarded against us.

Kevin Doyle had a good game and played the full 120 minutes which might mean he will be rested as we are likely to play 4-5-1. Maybe Ebanks-Blake might get his chance against a big team or will Andy Keogh be opted due to his work rate?

Time to make the Mol a fortress?

With three home games against bottom half opposition in the next month, dropping points is not a possibility.

With points dropped at home to West Ham, Hull and Portsmouth, all teams around us, the Molineux has only seen one league win this season, at home to Fulham. Look at Burnley, who have had to play much harder teams at home than we have, they have 15 points form home games (one point away)

If we drop points in the next two, Mick will have to be worrying about his job soon. Mick has said he doesn't care where the points come from if they stay up, but our away points tally is identical to at home, which is not good considering we only have 10 points.

Think it's imperative that we win all games, or think we only need 6/7? Comment!

International Round up for the Wolves

Wayne Hennessey, Sam Vokes and Dave Edwards all played in the three nil thrashing of Scotland. Edwards scored again and Hennessey made some good saves. Vokes got a second half. Christophe Berra was an unused sub for Scotland.

Doyle was voted MOTM by the Irish guys, despite them losing. He did alright and as soon as he went off they scored!

Milijas played the first half in the one nil win over Northern Ireland for the Serbs.

I don't think Austria (Maierhofer) had a game, or Ecuador (Castillo).

Come on Ireland!

Ireland's play-off begins tonight with the first leg at home. Never beaten at Croke Park, I do hope they can continue that.

We have a few irish players in our squad, many of them ex-sunderland, and atleast one of them will be playing. Kevin Doyle has 28 caps for the Republic of Ireland with seven goals. His partnership with Robbie keane (ex-wolves) has looked impressive. He thinks they have a real chance, despite getting in my opinion the toughest draw. France will feel the saem way aswell, Ireland haven't lsot in this campaign and their stuttering form and behind the scene aruments could cause their downfall.

Ireland's expected team:

GK:Given
RB:O'Shea
CB:Dunne
CB:St.Ledger
LB:Kilbane
RM:Mceady
CM:Whelan
CM:Andrews (another ex-Wolves)
LM:Duff
CF:Doyle
CF:Keane.

Whatever the team France put out, it will be strong one.
Rumours have it this will be the team.

GK:Lloris
DR:Sagna
DC:Gallas
DC:Abidal
Dl:Evra
CM:Diarra
CM:Toulalan
LW:Henry
RW:Gourcouff
CF:Anleka
SC:Gignac

Something like that anyway, so I hope wolves supporters (except french Wolves fans!) cheer on Ireland cheer them on!

Prediction:2-1 to Ireland. It will be tight in paris.

I'm on the Wolves site..again!

I was the junior reporter for the Everton match and my report was published in the YoungWolves section.

Here is a link:
http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/YoungWolves/0,,10307~1868141,00.html

And I forgot to add my blog adress I know!!

Oh well, been doing a spot of advertising around places.

I'll probably do a player focus tomorrow.

Wolves 1 Arsenal 4

After 25 minutes I think a lot of us were thinking, we're in a game here. They get 1 corner and goal, we are losing. I don't think it was a foul by Zubar and the ball is already out but we really should defend corners better. Hennessey was no where near the ball and there was nobody on the front past or back post to clear it. Then to make matters worse Berra is caught upfield and Jody scores an own goal, very unlucky espeically as it was a poor cross by Eduardo. Another piece of misfortune when Milijas produces a very good pass but the referee blocks it, was he through on goal? It's a fantastic move though and that was the best goal of the game.

At half time I check my facebook to see the mountain's of abuse from my friends; there wasn't too much. It seemed they didn't really care at all. I think Milijas shouldn't have wussed out of the challenge, and Arshavin gets their fourth.

It's over but we all still cheer for Jody Craddock's third goal of the season. Your views? Any issues about the team selection? I have my own, but I need to go quickly. Will carry on soon.

Hennessey - 6
Zubar - 6
Craddock - 7
Berra - 6
Stearman - 6
Edwards - 7
Castillo - 6.5
Henry - 7
Milijas - 6
Doyle - 6.5
SEB - 6

Jarvis - 6
Kightly - 6
Mancienne - 6

Our best players were probably Edwards and Henry, very energetic displays and impressing Arsenal.

We're gooner gun them down?

The team reckon they are better against better opposition, and this is
their big chance to show it. Arsenal are due a defeat to the lesser teams, but they haven't lost to anyone from outside Manchester this season. Last season they were defeated at home to Hull and away at Stoke. We just drew with both of them, but Hull were on a flukey run and Stoke bullied them. That is what we need to do, pressure them into mistakes and beat them to every ball, everywhere. Deserves a start?
They are easily the best team to watch in the league, they have so many attacking options. Walcott and Bendtner won't be starting while Eduardo isn't quite fit yet. This leaves them with only Arshavin, Van Persie,
Fabregas and Nasri attacking wise. In real trouble they are, eh?. Clichy is out which means the inexperienced Gibbs will start. Very highly rated by many, but people are going a bit far by saying he has a chance of a place in the world cup squad. He's quick, but can Kightly take adavantage of his naivety? Maybe this will be Kightly's big game and prove himself.

I think we will start with the same side as last week, and if losing throw Milijas on. Mick will want to make sure he has Henry and Castillo to stop the most creative players in the league. We need to be strong there and break up everything.

Even if Iwelumo had been fit, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake would've started. If him and Doyle get a partnership going, they will be deadly. Hopefully he can carry on from where he left off in his last appearance, with a goal!

I reckon it will be close. 2-1 to them sorry.

It will start like this
GK: Hennessey
RB: Zubar
CBs: Craddock and Berra
LB: Elokobi/Stearman
RM: Kightly
CMs: Henry and Castillo
LM: Edwards
FCs: Doyle and Ebanks-Blake

What do YOU reckons the score will be??

Player Focus: Ooh ah George Ndah!

Now an agent, George Ndah was one of my favourite players when he was fit. He started his career at Crystal Palace, and made 101 appearances scoring 11 goals. Never really a goalscoring forward, he brought about pace and made the game much more exciting. I remember his fantastic performance against Leicester when he scored two, one of them a run past several City players. Unable to find any film of this, I did find this clip of a top class goal versus Preston.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al-F4IJU3-I

That was the season we were promoted. When Nathan Blake and Dean Sturridge got injured, both on around 10 goal each, it seemed we were in trouble. George and Kenny Miller struck up an immense partnership scoring at least thirty goals between them to lead us to promotion.

He is still only 34 years of age. On only his third game for us, he suffered a broken leg against West Br*m. When he recovered he became a popular man at the Molineux, when he returned with two goals against the very club he got injured against.

After short loan spells at Bournemouth and Gillingham, George joined Swindon Town for £500k. Unsuprisingly he was a fan's favourite there too. after 75 games and 15 goals, financial problems led to his departure and Wolves signed him for £1 million.

In 1999 George was called up for the Nigeria national squad however it was cut short due to injury and he missed the trip.

He has recently set up a company 'Creative Sports Management' and is an agent for some of Wolves younger players.

George suffered injury again when he got injured against Reading, which meant missing the play off final and then, the whole of our season in the premier league.

Jody and Nenad rescue a point.

What a subsitution. I think Mick can take credit for that. When he sent Milijas on I was very suprised, but we had to go for it and it payed off. I was unable to even get a glimpse of the match but it was very clear how bad we were in the first half. The first goal I think was quite unlucky for George. who did have another poor game. The second goal was really annoying, when I saw Berra clear it I thought 'hey, who's marking him?' The answer was noone obviously. A real blow to concede just before half time, especially against such a formidable side at home.

Jody Craddock (above) scored one in the whole of the last season, and in one game has scored more. He is definitely offside for the first one after Berra nodded it on (his third assist of the season) however we were due a bit of luck. The second one is a brilliant header, across the goal which Sorensen almost saves.

What shocked me most was the decision to start Big Chris Iwelumo. I can see why, to compete at set pieces or throw ins. Nevertheless, Ebanks-Blake has just got his first goal of the season and is on a high so Mick decides to drop him. Not great for his confidence and he doesn't even get a look in from the bench. Chris just gave away a lot of free kicks and was replaced by Maierhofer.

We got a point away at a very good home side which is rather impressive. Where you there? What was the atmosphere like? Comment!

Hennessey - 7 - Made a fine save to denie Beattie (I think it was him who headed it)

Zubar - 7 - Looking very reliable and getting forward a lot.
Craddock - 9 - Stayed solid and got two precious goals.
Berra - 8 - A real presence and nuisance at set pieces.
Elokobi - 6 - The weak link in our team, had to be replaced.

Kightly - 6 - Failed to deliver but he needs the games to get going.
Henry - 7 - Kept it tidy.
Castillo - 7 - Replaced at half time but a rock in the heart of the midfield.
Edwards - 7 - Another good performance, he seems tireless.

Doyle - 7 - A bit quiet,still a threat going forward.
Iwelumo - 6 - First start in the premier league and penalised a lot by the referee, as he will be.

Subs
Milijas - 9 - In the second half, everything went through him and we had a bit of flair in the centre.
Maierhofer - 6 - Only on for a short while and didn't do much.
Stearman - 7 - Replaced Elokobi and did well.