Out of Darkness....

Anyone remember the last time we were easily beaten three nil, away to a long ball team?

We then went into the game without key players, looking in serious trouble...

We faced Birmingham. Mick put faith in Ward and Ebanks-Blake up front, and we bulldozed our way past the Blues. Well, could it be about to happen again?

I don't think it can get much worse than the defeat on Tuesday. We didn't look like we had the fight and that was what worried me most. In times like these, our team have always seemed to fight their way out.


The only person you can guarantee starting tomorrow is Hennessey, the only player who came out of that game with any credit. But what will Mick go with?

Fans favourites Ward, Edwards and Hunt celebrate

Even with our lack of striking options, I can see Mick going with 4-4-2 in an attempt to push us forward. Usually this worries me, but against a team like Birmingham I think you can afford to do it. Birmingham aren't a team blessed with pace on the break. Alex McCleish is known for adopting negative tactics, if we press them back we can do so without having to worry so much.

I can see Mick ringing in the changes. In the defence, Christophe Berra has been nowhere near his usual solid self recently. I can see Stearman moving back inside, and Kevin Foley being restored to right back. Michael Mancienne played most of the game at left back on Tuesday, which could see Stephen Ward partner Fletcher up front (if he's fit). Jamie O'Hara and Matthew Jarvis both look like they need breaks, while Stephen Hunt looks ready to come into the team.

This is my vague idea of what could be going on inside Mick's head:

Hennessey

Foley
Craddock
Stearman
Mancienne

Kightly/Jarvis
Henry
Milijas/O'Hara
Hunt

Fletcher
Ward

I'm a big fan of 4-5-1, and think it represents our best chance of staying up but I think that type of team could get a positive result at St. Andrew's on Sunday. 

I'm sure there are plenty who disagree!

Away days

We did it last season and now we need to do it again.

It was around this time that we strung two or three away results on the spin, pushing us up the table and helping us on our way to safety. Now we have the chance to do so again.

The next two games at Stoke and Birmingham represent two opportunities. Both sides have very good home records, but with this Wolves team expect the unexpected.

I would take a point from either, and a draw tonight at Britannia Stadium would lift us two places to 17th place. A win would be huge.

The draw against Fulham was disappointing, but only because we were winning the game. When you look back at it it's a good result and we were lucky to get that point. As Mick said, 'every point is a prisoner'.

What side should we expect at Stoke then? With Ebanks-Blake out injured I can't see Steven Fletcher not starting. He put in an excellent performance, and he looks like he can do the job on his own up front. I also expect to see Kevin Foley come into the team at right midfield. Adlene Guedioura kept drifting into the middle, which is where I think he will play instead of Nenad Milijas. This means Jamie O'Hara dropping deeper slightly, which could be a good thing because his performances of late haven't been as good as at the start of his loan spell.

Jody - right to be brought back?

What I think the team will be:

Hennessey

Stearman
Craddock
Berra
Ward

Foley
Guedioura
Henry
O'Hara
Jarvis

Fletcher

That team certainly has enough in it to get something, but it's going to be tough.

Wolves v Fulham preview

The next four days of the season could prove to be massive, with our home game against Fulham and trip to Stoke being games we need to get some points from.

Win tomorrow, get a result at Stoke and we will be looking down on the table and really be looking like we can stay up. Crazy isn't it, how we can all be so down and two weeks later be back alive and kicking.

We really do need a win against a Fulham team who are never very good away. They've always relied on results at Craven Cottage but they will still look to this game to surpass the 40 points mark.

Someone sure to receive a hot reception will be Danny Murphy. His comments are still not forgotten amongst Wolves, Stoke and Blackburn fans. However he's probably their best player and if we stop him we stop Fulham.

The question that sticks out is, what formation will Mick go with? He's publicly defended playing 4-4-2, saying it wasn't the reason we lost to Everton. Despite that I think Mick will revert to a five man midfield. With two out and out wingers, supporting either Fletcher or Ebanks-Blake I'm convinced it can work. Especially in a home game where we should have a large majority of the possession.

What I think Mick will go with:

Hennessey

Foley
Craddock
Berra
Ward

Hammill
Milijas
Henry
O'Hara
Jarvis

Fletcher

That team has a good mix of work rate and quality in the final third. I see this as Fletcher's chance to prove his worth, and I think he might.

It's a scary game, but if you are going make sure to make even more noise.

I think we will take a two nil lead before half time, through Fletcher and O'Hara but concede early in the second half to make it a nail-biting finish. I'd take that though because three points would be precious.

The key?

In the aftermath of Saturday's defeat, there were plenty of ideas across the internet put forward about the Wolves line up.

Do we bring back player of the year Jody Craddock? Another hero of last season, Marcus Hahnemann a potential change to bring stability to the defence. Others said we need to keep Adam Hammill in the side, and even some said drop Karl Henry!

There was a lot to be said for the formation. Funnily enough I didn't think we look that outnumbered with a four man midfield. However, I certainly agree four five one is the way to go.

Of all the changes people wanted, there is only one I am really bothered about. Nenad Milijas.

For me he is the man that can keep us in the top flight. In his quarter back role, I don't think there are many better passers of the ball. Honestly I don't.

With Milijas in the side in that role, we keep the ball ten times better and with his quality it's a crying shame that it is often at his expense when we look to be a more attacking side. Not to forget his dead ball ability, which we do not use anywhere near enough.

We have a week and a half to speculate what Mick will go with against Fulham, but what would your eleven be?

Mine:

Hennessey

Foley
Stearman
Berra
Ward

Kightly
Henry
O'Hara
Milijas
Jarvis

Fletcher

I don't think that's a bad team. Sure, Fletcher doesn't look like he can play on his own up front but I believe that is due to a lack of services. Play to his strengths, get the ball into his feet , use our wingers effectively and we can finally see thman we bought for six and a half million pounds.

Down but not out

After the abject defeat to Everton, you can hardly blame many for accepting defeat and relegation. It was not just that we lost, but the manner of it. Despite twenty minutes of control, we never looked like scoring and once the inevitable happened it was disappointing to see the players' heads drop.

At the back, our full backs were particularly poor. Elokobi looks like he has returned to his former self after a good run of form and Kevin Foley, our most consistent player looked a shadow of his usual self. Our centre backs and keeper I thought, did well considering they had barely any protection. Wayne Hennessey kept the score down with a string of fantastic saves. Everytime I've been to a Wolves game this season, he has made two or three fantastic saves to keep us in it.

I was surprised to see Adlene Guedioura thrown in the deep end. However, he was arguably our best player. Twisting and turning, trying to get a shot in and keeping the ball moving. He was one of the very few positives to come out of the game. While it took Michael Kightly a while to get going he was bright and another who tried to keep the ball moving. He cut in to often for my liking but with fitness, I think we could see the old unpredictable winger we all know and love.

Mick looked worried early on

We could be in real trouble if both Steven Fletcher and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's injuries are serious. We could be forced into recalling Sam Winnall, with Stephen Ward our only other fit first team forward. That would leave is in a spot of bother.


Hennessey - 7

Foley - 6
Stearman - 7
Berra - 6
Elokobi - 5

Guedioura - 7
Henry - 6
O'Hara - 6
Jarvis - 6

Ebanks-Blake - 6
Fletcher - 6

It makes the home game against Fulham huge and 'must win'. With this Wolves team you know they can bounce back and get a result as they have done so many times over the last two years. It looks ugly, but we have to keep the faith.

Wolves v Everton preview

After a bad weekend, Wolves will want to set things straight against Everton tomorrow lunchtime. Our form is still pretty good but we need to make sure that the defeat at Newcastle was just a blip.

Everton are in good form themselves yet Wolves fans still have reason to be confident. The Toffees will have Arteta, Fellaini, Saha out. Add to that Cahill, Coleman and Rodwell are all doubtful we could face a depleted Everton side.

Of course, it will still be a tough game. David Moyes' side have picked up of late after yet another poor start to the season and sit in seventh position. Jermaine Beckford is slowly proving himself in the Premier league and we will have to watch out for his pace.

The biggest question is, once again, who will start up front. Mick has talked about Fletcher proving his worth this week, so we could see him start up front. If he does, I reckon it will be in a pair with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. He has the ability to be a top class striker and a run of games can show that. I'm still not sure if he will start.

Michael Kightly and Adlene Guedioura should both be on the bench. Guedioura won us a point at Goodison Park earlier in the season with his crunching tackle and break away. I'm sure he can have an impact between now and the end of the season. Kightly is also nearly ready to start, but he needs some more time on the pitch not to mention the fact that Adam Hammill has done nothing to lose his place.


What I think the team will be:

Hennessey

Foley
Stearman
Berra
Elokobi


Hammill
Milijas
Henry
O'Hara
Jarvis

Ebanks-Blake

As I said, Fletcher could start and if he does it will probably be Nenad Milijas who misses out. I wouldn't rule out Guedioura starting either. He could play in the role Dave Edwards has performed so well as the runner. He has the energy and is a better player on the ball.

Prediction League: Chance to win a signed Wolves football!

Back after a nice break, it's time to get predicting again.

Bob China has closed the gap but Wolfie still leads!

It's never too late to get involved with the predicting, here's how:

Five points for a correct result (e.g. Wolves win)
Ten points for a correct score (e.g. Wolves 1-0)
Three points for each correct scorer (e.g. Karl Henry)

Here are the fixtures:

Wolves v Everton
Blackburn v Birmingham
Bolton v West Ham
Chelsea v Wigan
Man Utd v Fulham
Sunderland v West Brom
Tottenham v Stoke
Blackpool v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Newcastle
Liverpool v Man City

Good luck!

Dirty Newcastle v Wolves preview

How good would a win at St James Park feel come Saturday evening?

It would probably see us go out of the relegation places, drag Newcastle into the relegation battle and two fingers up to those poor fragile sensitive Newcastle souls who were so upset after our game at Molineux.

Match of the Day's editing that night affected our season for a while after they highlighted strong tackles on Barton. The period where we were labelled dirty produced our worst period of form but we are pulling ourselves out of it now. Look at the fair play league and decide for yourselves who the dirtier team is.

I do however think that that saga will be our advantage tomorrow. We have nothing to lose, but Newcastle are in a dangerous position with one win in ten and very likely to play in an aggressive nature. Hopefully, they will be more intent on kicking our players instead of using their talented players. Barton and Nolan in particular have been impressive this season, as much as I dislike them although recently Barton's excellent crossing ability has been of little use since the departure of £35 million man Andy Carroll.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is set to start tomorrow, and although the loss of Kevin Doyle is huge I'm confident that Sylvan can produce the goods. He may not be as clever, or as good at holding the ball up but he is a top class finisher and he will get in good positions. Doyle does a massive amount of work outside the box, though sometimes we need someone to get in the box and Sylvan can do this.

With a trio of Henry, O'Hara and Milijas up against a likely two man midfield for Newcastle, I can see us winning the midfield battle and ultimately the game.

2-1 Wolves, our number nine with a brace.

If you are going, have a great time and roar on the lads.