Shining light

If there's any kind of positive to take from our recent performances, it's the form of Matthew Jarvis.

After a slow start to the season Matty came in for a lot of criticism, he looked a shadow of the man last season who had won our player of the year award and been capped for England.

Since December though, he's slowly improved as the games went by, increasing in confidence and recently he's hit a new level. It's the best I've seen him play.

We all know about his pace, but he is using it even more effectively. Not just waiting to get square on with his full back, he's started turning a running straight at them and causing all sorts of problems for the opposition defenders.

And now he's showing a bit of fire in his belly, whether it be in his goal celebrations or when he is encouraging his fellow team mates.

In the likely situation of relegation, it's hard to believe we can keep him. If we do, it would be massive. If we don't, I think a bidding war would spark. The likes of Liverpool, Villa and Everton's wingers have struggled for a lot of this season, while Tottenham have showed recently that they don't have much in back up for when Lennon or Bale get injured. With Moxey's negotiation powers I could see us getting a decent fee for him.

Then there's the little subject of England.

If he can grab himself a few more goals, and continue to play the way he is with a bit more help from our other attackers I'm sure he could get himself into contention. Looking at the wing options, Walcott and Young stand out as the two current main wingers. Downing has had a poor season too and I would take Jarvis above him at Wolves for sure. Never say never?

I'm getting carried away, but as you can tell I'm delighted that Jarvis is playing so well. In difficult circumstances he is giving is something to be positive about.

Norwich v Wolves preview

With Blackburn hosting a fragile Bolton side, the relegation battle could be about to be cut to four teams. 

And it games like this, at Carrow Road for us, where we prove that we aren't completely down and out and that their is still some fight left in us. 

Fight is exactly what we need right now too. 

Michael Kightly showed it when he came on last weekend in the drubbing at home to Man United. Stearman and Jarvis too. A bit of spirit can be infectious sometimes, so let's hope the rest can get in on the act on Sunday. 

Our opponents have had a fantastic season. Most predicted them to be down there fighting for their lives, but on 36 points, there's nothing for them to worry about anymore. They've played the kind of football Wolves fans dream of seeing. Fast, attacking football with wingers and strikers who fight for their lives and score goals. 

However, their defence is certainly there to be got at. They've made plenty of changes at the back and never really got themselves a proper system at the back, so if we can get the ball to the likes of Jarvis and Kightly in decent areas we may get some joy. That's if we actually have the ball though.

I expect TC to go with this team:

Hennessey

Stearman

Johnson

Bassong

Ward

Kightly

Edwards

Foley

Milijas

Jarvis

Fletcher

Still no Karl Henry, and David Davis out for a few weeks Foley stays in midfield. In the absence of Ronald Zubar, Stearman moves out to right back and Roger Johnson could make his return. I've been very critical of our captain, but this is a chance to prove that the man we bought last summer is a good defender and deserved the plaudits he had received before. I think Kightly has earned himself a place in the team, so out goes Doyle, with Fletcher ahead of him up front. 

This is a very tough game, and it's going to take a very good performance to get anything out of it. After last Sunday, I think we may just produce something. 2-2. 

Go for it?

After Sunday's defeat, things are back to looking gloomy.

Add to that we now have Karl Henry sidelined, and David Davis looking like he will make his Premier League debut, we are in desperate trouble.

Which is why I think it's a case of just going for it now.

In previous seasons, we have bounced back from the low points by giving a strong attacking performance and on Saturday, that is exactly what we need.

How do we go about that though?

First of all, play both Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher, in their best positions. Yes that means 4-4-2, but we have hardly looked good with five in midfield recently either! They both have the quality to get us out of this mess and if they can finally start playing well together than it will give us a fighting chance.

Secondly, play Stephen Hunt. I've resisted saying this recently, mainly because I don't really rate our tiny Irish winger! I'm of the opinion that his injury has Hull has taken away any of the pace he had, and he doesn't look fit very often. However, it's games like these that he thrives in. Look at the Birmingham game last season, or against Albion, or against Chelsea. And even if he doesn't offer the quality we need, we know there is no chance he will give up.

Next, the defence. I hate to say this, but I think it's time to bring in good old Jody Craddock to sort it out again. Pair him with Bassong and he doesn't need to worry so much about pace. Jody has the cool head we need at the back right now.

And finally, don't drop off! After spells of pressure, or playing at a good tempo when it doesn't work we drop off and give the impetus back to the other team. We need to be persistant.

There's no doubting how big this game is, but we can't settle for a point, it is MUST WIN.

5 things we learnt at Fulham

I'm don't think I want to say much about the actual 'match' (if we are going to call it that) so I thought I'd talk about 5 things we have learnt today.

1. Jamie O'Hara is a luxury

Karl Henry - more important than some think

Jamie, TC or any coach/player can talk about him playing through the pain if he doesn't even bother trying and plays like an idiot! Unfortunately, we haven't seen Jamie play consistently well for a while, if at all which is a shame because he is obviously a talent, but he is a luxury we can't afford right now, unless he decides to pull his finger out. 

2. Without Henry we crumble

We weren't playing particularly well with Karl today, but as recent results have proved we simply can't handle not having him there. He gets a lot of stick but he is vital to our chances and we have to hope his injury isn't serious, otherwise we are in a huge amount of trouble. 

3. Zubar (a defender), can't defend

After a promising performance last week, Zubar reminded us why we much prefer a host of other defenders to him at right back. He simply went AWOL today and atleast two of the goals came from him not being at right back, his bloody position!!

4. Berra hasn't learnt his lesson. 

After costing us goals with the same mistake against Villa and Newcastle, you'd think Berra would stop being so laid back when he has the ball at the back but no, he tried to give them a goal but letting someone sneak in behind him as he went to clear it. He got lucky this time.

5. Generally, anything good comes through Milijas

The only times we played any good football, Nenad was involved and he was one of the only players to come out of this game with any sort of credit. He has some faults but what he does have is quality and a brain, we really need to use him more and better. 

Agree with my points, think there are more (there are). Comment your views below.

Fulham v Wolves preview

Oh August, what a distant memory you are.

One of the finest performances I've witnessed from Wolves came in our first home game of this season, against Sunday's opponents. Everything seemed to be right, we'd finally got it right with two up front, O'Hara looked fit and Johnson was a rock.

How things have changed since that game.

Good times

We sit 16th now after a horrible run of three wins in twenty four, with a new manager but it looks like things might finally be turning around. An excellent point at St.James's Park (and I will keep calling it that), a solid performance all round and Fletcher, Kightly and Bassong all in contention to start.

After a poor start to the season Fulham have been playing really well lately. Clint Dempsey has scored goals regularly, Moussa Dembele is an unbelievable talent and Bryan Ruiz looks like he is starting to get used to the Premier League. They almost play 4-2-4 at home, something that we need to try and expose instead of letting it be a threat because if we allow them to play like that, we will get punished.

Wayne Hennessey and Kevin Doyle have been declared fit to play after injury scares, which is a bonus. Connor's biggest dilemma is who he starts up front. He has noted that we have found it hard to fit them both in, so it should be one or the other. I think we will go with Doyle up front and Fletcher on the bench, ready to be used as an impact sub. With Sebastien Bassong fit, I think we will see him come in for Christophe Berra. Berra can count himself unlucky after a decent performance, but Terry has said himself he is not afraid to make tough decisions.

Here is how I expect us to go:

Hennessey

Zubar
Stearman
Bassong
Ward

Foley
Henry

Kightly
O'Hara
Jarvis

Doyle

A solid base, but with enough attacking threat to make sure we are in a game. It would be nice to see us go there and try to play again, which is what I think we may do.

Craven Cottage is a very hard place to go, but with our recent away form I will back us for a score draw. 1-1, which would give us a great base to build on for the rest of the season.