Didn't like this cup anyway

What a second half.

Man Utd came out with all guns blazing, Wolves came roaring back, Jarvis was unstoppable and in the end it was decided by a Little Pea.

Once again, Wolves put in an impressive performance that shows we are here to play and compete with the big sides. There were moments of misfortune, which shifted the game in United's favour but we didn't let our heads go down. Expect a good performance again on Saturday.

Surely someone has told Capello about Jarvis' performance last night? Against two ex England internationals with years of experience he ran riot. He set up four or five good chances that we should have converted. On Saturday, when we get these chances we need to be a bit more clinical. Even if we did score two goals.

Another Italian who should be watching our games is Giovanni Trapattoni. Our second best player, by quite some distance too, was Kevin Foley. He showed all the class required to play teams at the top end of the table, and if he keeps playing like this will be spotted by someone. He get's himself into some great positions, and despite not possessing any pace or power always causes trouble in the other teams area.

Hunt wasn't quite there today. He made some sloppy passes, and at times lost concentration. The impact he is going to have is there too see. He's an infectious player and once properly fit will boost us. Fletcher too was sloppy on the ball. He got himself into some great positions yet, unlike him, he couldn't keep his cool. Up front with him, I was impressed by Ebanks-Blake. Sharp, hardworking and creative and words most Wolves fans would use to describe him but he will be in Mick's good books after that performance.

Hennessey - 7

Foley - 9
Mouyokolo - 7
Berra - 7
Elokobi - 7

Jarvis - 9
Mancienne - 7
Jones - 7
Hunt - 6

Fletcher - 6
Ebanks-Blake - 7

On to City. I see no reason why we can't give them a game. Especially if Jarvis plays like that.

Shocking

The performance was shocking, the result was shocking, Danny Butterfield's six minute perfect hat trick was shocking and even more shocking, Karl Henry scored!
From start to finish we didn't perform. Never looked like scoring, and didn't play the football I know we can play. The amount of defender's in our team says it all really. Why are we not scoring very much? We have centre backs playing full back, and full backs playing on the wing. The continuing exclusion of Greg Halford, a more natural right midfield, makes you think something behind the scenes isn't going all too well. Kevin Foley, as usual, was one of our better players. Calm on the ball, hard working and good defensively but it is unfair on Kevin and the right midfielders not playing. Another option at right midfield, who played in the league cup against Swindon, could have been Mendez-Laing. The perfect opportunity, yet Mick sticks with his more defensive eleven.

Give Crystal Palace some credit though, they really took the game to us. The right back who refused to talk to us on deadline day gave us problems with his menacing runs down the right hand flank. Alan Lee won everything and Ambrose showed why he is too good for the Championship. You could see how much it meant to them, and how little it seemed to matter to the Wolves players.

Not to get too down though, as we have much bigger things to focus on (the league and our battle to survive).I keep saying this side bounces back well, and they keep proving me right.

Hennessey - 6

Zubar - 5
Craddock -5
Berra - 5
Stearman - 5

Foley - 6
Henry - 7
Mancienne - 6
Milijas - 5
Mujangi -6

Vokes - 7

I thought Vokes did well, just had no-one to support him. A starting place on Sunday is a possibility.

This performance was strikingly similar to the one against Birmingham, who we play next. But, as I keep saying, this side is especially good at bouncing back and I hope they can continue to prove me right.

Crystal Palace v Wolves Preview

Back to the FA Cup. We were just five minutes away from being one of the shocks of the round, but Zubar's sublime overhead saved us from any embarassment.

Despite Palace's recent troubles off the field, they are in great form. They won again last Saturday and with the home crowd behind them, we could be in for a tough match. Minus Victor Moses though, we will see what they are like.

Bearing Sunday in mind, Mick will certainly make a lot of changes. It wouldn't surprise me if Mick made eleven changes but I think there won't be that many. Jarvis and Doyle are definitely not playing I hear, and why not rest Craddock, Ward and Berra. Give some others a chance to make sure they are match fit and some to prove themselves. Hennessey, like in the other cup games, should start and Vokes looks set for a starting role.

I think a big decision will be on Ebanks-Blake. He likes this ground, especially as he put us back on course here to win the league. His penalty decided it in the seventy fourth minute. I hope he starts, and more importantly that he get's a couple of goals.

I reckon:

Hennessey

Foley
Mancienne
Zubar
Elokobi

Mujangi Bia
Milijas
Jones
Surman

Ebanks-Blake
Vokes

We should beat them, but that's what I thought last time. One nil to the Wolves, a ninetieth minute Vokes goal.

Saved

I think had we lost we could have counted ourselves unlucky, a draw was probably a fair result. Annoying that we have to go to a replay now, and it will not help our cause in our battle for survival.

Our debutant from the bench Mujangi Bia looks very promising. He made the second equalizer and caused Palace problems with his pace. Hopefully he can create some goals like he did today in the future. Once again, Doyle was one of our best players. He completely changed it when he came on and hit the bar with his first touch, what a start that would have been for him.

It's good that we kept fighting back when we went a goal down, we showed some spirit and for some points in that game I thought it was going to be the usual Wolves, dominate but can't get the goal.

Another plus was to see Zubar score at the right end! Sounds like a cracking goal and Jones scored a good goal too. I think Jone swas probably our most dangerous player. He kept on delivering perfect corners in and made some chances with his range of passing.

Hennessey - 7

Zubar - 7
Mancienne - 7
Berra - 7
Elokobi - 7

Foley - 7
Henry -7
Jones - 8
Surman - 7

Ebanks-Blake - 7
Vokes - 7

Subs: Doyle - 8, Bia - 8, Ward - 6

I think Jones deserves man of the match, closely followed up b y Doyle and Bia.

The only positive I see out of getting a replay is I can probably go to it!

FA Cup preview: Wolves v Crystal Palace

Palace come to the Molineux this weekend, and will probably come witha lot of self-belief. They have been doing well in the recent weeks (on the playing field, not off) and have some players who on their day can produce something.

A lot of attention has been on young talent Victor Moses. He has shined recently and even himself said he thinks he is ready for the premier league. Rumours are he won't play so that he's not cup tied when someone buys him.

Someone else who has been performing well for Palace is Darren Ambrose. He has had a superb season and is the second highest scorer in the championship - all of his goals comning from mdifield.

Our new recruit Mujangi Bia looks set to be thrown into the deep end. This will be Bia's chance to prove himself to the Wolves fans.
Most people will be interested to see how Mick picks his team tomorrow. we have a game on wednesday which is arguably more important so he might rest his stars. Mick being Mick though, may pick a full team.

I don't think he will, some first team players but not all.

Hennessey
Foley
Zubar
Berra
Ward

Jarvis
Henry
Jones
Surman

Iwelumo
Ebanks-Blake

Sylvan really needs a goal, and I hope he can get one. I've been saying for weeks now he will score and soon I will be right!
3-1 to the mighty Wolves!

100% record so far.

We made hard work of it but we earned a tie at home to Crystal Palace. A decent draw I must say, Palace mid table in the championship, we should send them out of the cup.

It was a good goal, the pass by Milijas was sublime and the finish equally as good by Matty Jarvis
A better team would have scored at least four. They had a few chances but they weren't as good as us on the ball.

Hennessey - 8

Stearman - 7
Mancienne - 7
Craddock - 7
Ward - 7

Foley - 7
Henry - 7
Milijas - 8
Jarvis - 8

Ebanks- Blake - 7
Iwelumo - 7

Subs: Vokes - 6, Elokobi - 6, Halford - 6

Despite his moment of madness, Hennessey was superb. He made two fine saves and commanded his area well.

Onto the new year.

What does 2010 bring us? Will we end the year in the premier league, or in europe? Maybe a cup run is on the cards. I'm content with premier league football, and this month could prove vital. We need to make the right signings, and I'm confident we can.

A french winger Mansare is supposedly in talks for a loan move. He is probably a right winger, with Kites and Edwards injured. I'm not sure why Mick wants him because they are back pretty soon.

FA Cup Preview

An away trip to Tranmere is what the FA cup draw brings us, a team struggling since the end of last season. John Barnes was brought in after Ronnie Moore took them to seventh, it's all been donwhill since then. Barnes has been sacked, they lie third from bottom too.

Usually I feel very worried of an upset but I don't think I really care. We have more important matters this season, and a cup run might even be bad for us! Mick will field a storng eleven, but I doubt a full strength one. He will give some a chance and rest some fo our star players.

Of course it is unusual to watch on the internet and it be legal, we are the first ever premier league side to play live online. While I won't be bothered if we lose, it might be good for confidence if we get some goals.

I think he will start with Ebanks-Blake, he could easy get some goals which will leave him mich more confident for the West Ham game. Vokes has been brought back from loan, and will most likely be sub. The Hof could start, but he might miss due to illness.

Elokobi and Mancienne were very good at centre back at Man Utd, and I expect Mick to play them again. Zubar and Hill should fill the full back places. Kevin Foley will continue to get some games and play right mid. Castillo and Jones could make a good pairing. Last season Jones was our creator and contributed massively, he will want to take his chance to show us why he should be in the team.

I reckon the team will be this:

Hennessey

Zubar
Mancienne
Elokobi
Hill

Foley
Jones
Castillo
Surman

SEB
Iwelumo/Maierhofoer

I'll go for a 3-0 win, SEB to get two and Jones to score a curling freekick.

Fustration for the fans, but let's get ready for sunday!

To be dissapointed about losing one nil at Old Trafford for a newly promoted team can't be a bad thing. I'd have rather Kightly put it away, because the substitution when the quiet Macheda was taken off, was definitely changed the game. It was good to see Kites, Foley and SEB. Sylvan looked slightly off the pace of the game but Kightly should play at least half the game against Sunderland.

MOTM: Berra & Doyle. Another good perfromance form Berra, Doyle is looking every bit worth of the £6.5m we paid for him.

On to Sunday. Another game on the tele at the Stadium of Light, somewhere we have never one at, nor has Mick McCarthy won their in the premier league.

Hopefully the defeat mid week won't get anyone down. If we can press like we did last week, we will cause Sunderland some problems. It looks like Castillo will get the nod over Milijas. He was very quiet, and played too deep.

Prediction: Doyle to bang in another goal but Bent and Jones could create problems for the defence. 1-1

Probable Team:
Hennessey
Halford
Mancienne
Berra
Elekobi
Edwards
Henry
Castillo
Jarvis
Doyle
Keogh

Wolves v Man Utd - We're on the telly!

It's our first game against top four opposition. Luckily it's only in the league cup so nobody really cares. The only thing I really care about is the return of our key players. Ebanks-Blake returns to Old Trafford and Michael Kightly should get his first start of the season.

Owen looks set to start, Kusczak should start too for Manure. He'll get a bit of stick being ex West Br*m. Last time we faced a Premiership team in the league cup we got beat 5-1 by the Arsenal reserves and I was there. Cesc Fabregas made his first ever appearance. It was a bit worrying, and of course that season we were relegated from the prem.

Here's my line up.

GK: Marcus Hahnemann
RB: Kevin Foley
CB: Ronald Zubar
CB: Jody Craddock
LB: Matt Hill
RM: Michael Kightly
CM: Nenad Milijas
CM: Segundo Castillo
LM: David Jones
FC: Stefan Maiehofer
FC: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake

Prediction: 1-0. SEB?

Bloody Boring but we did it

From everything I've haeard it sounded very dull yet we got through it. I can't remember when we last one on penalties (if you know please tell me) . All six penalties were scored the winner being Neill Collins.
I think the draw is on saturday, let's hope we get an easy one.

Anyways.. well done Wolves!

Cup Preview

Our first cup game of the season starts in several hours against Swindon. Swindon have won one game in the league and one in the cup. They beat Paul Ince's MK Dons 4-1 at the Don's stadium just days after Gillingham gave them a 5-0 hammering. They will be looking to create an upset but can they really beat our team of fringe players. I think not, we haven't been on a decent cup run for a few years and I think this could be our chance to get to some of the latter rounds.

I reckon this will be our team;
Hahnemann, Elekobi, Berra, Zubar, Stearman, Surman, Milijas, Jones, Edwards, Doyle and Vokes.
Halford and Ward picked up knocks, Mick will want to rest his key players for the bug match on saturday. There are rumours that James Spray will start but I can't see who instead of, maybe him on the right of midfield. Can't see it though. Milijas needs another half a game, he's come off every game which won't be good enough over the whole season.


A deal to sign holding midfielder Segundo Castillo is supposed to be completed in the next few days, I remember him as being crap. Everton fans were glad to see the back of him, his only highlight of the season being a wonder goal against Belgian side Standard Liege.

Blog ya later.