Taking shape

It's taken until mid-January, but it finally feels like Woves can kick start their season.

It's always seemed to take us a while to get a fixed formation set, to get the players in the correct position's and for Mick to finally realise what we need. We need that more than ever now, with us trailing the team above us by five points, and four others breathing down our necks, it's quite remarkable that we haven't been in the bottom three this season.

Here is how I think we are going to, or try to set up from now.

I don't think there's any doubt that this man would be first choice keeper, Wayne Hennessey is vital to our survival chances. We can't afford for him to get injured, or sold because I'm not convinced Dorus de Vries has what it takes to play in the first team.

Oh Kevin Foley, how I have missed you. Mr Consistency showed his class in the cup game at Birmingham, looking infinitely better than Richard Stearman or Ronald Zubar have at all this season. Mick has hinted that he will start at Tottenham, thank god.

Roger Johnson finally looks like returning to form, with impressive performances lately. Injured his ankle in the cup, but should be okay at White Hart Lane where we are going to need a big performance from him.

You don't need to ask for a big performance from this man, he's given them week in week out all season long. Christophe Berra has shone lately, and has even been linked with a move away due to his brilliant form.

Stephen Ward completes the back four. Our player of the season so far, and though he has been a bit shaky lately continues to be a great outlet going forward as well as solid at the back. His partnership down the left hand side with Matt Jarvis is vital for us, when George Elokobi has played there we have seen Jarvo get less of  the ball and be less impressive.

It was a great sight to see Michael Kightly finally looking sharp and ready for first team football at Wolves. He's been so unfortunate over the last two and a half years, but I firmly believe that this time 'Kights' is ready to make an impact in the Premier League.

I was delighted when we signed Emmanuel Frimpong on loan, because he's exactly the type of player we've been lacking. Infectious, moves the ball quickly and can get about the pitch. He looks like he has the right attitude, and hopefully we can get the best out of him.

Karl Henry comes in for a lot of criticism from the fans, but I think he's been one of our most consistent players this season. He does a great job for us, and you can see he's improving on his attacking side of the game. In the Chelsea game he was excellent, moving the ball quickly. Maybe it was to do with having Frimpong next to him, he seemed less scared to go forward.

I'm not convinced that we have seen the very best of Jamie O'Hara,  but once he's fully fit I think he will be one of the players who benefit's most from this system. With two more defensive minded players with him in the middle, it gives him the freedom to get on the ball further up the pitch. We have seen he can get in good positions to score, so it's a case of using him effectively.

In Matt Jarvis we have one of the most dangerous wingers in the land. When he's confident, there's not a full back that can handle him. He is huge for us, and if he carries on with his recent form an England call up won't be far away.

12 starts, 8 goals. Has the best chances to goals record in the league. It's not hard to see why Mick is warning potential suitors not to bother bidding for Steven Fletcher. If we sell him, we are doomed.



So a 4-5-1 for me, with Frimpong and Henry holding, and O'Hara playing in front of them just off Fletcher. To me that looks like a decent side, as good if not better than the sides around us. It's not just the first eleven, we have Zubar, Stearman, Milijas, Edwards, Hunt, Hammill, Ebanks-Blake and Doyle all waiting to take their chance. All of a sudden our squad looks a whole lot stronger, and with time to make more signings could look even more impressive come the end of January.

Manchester City v Wolves preview

If Wolves come away with anything less than a beating come 5pm on Saturday, I think we can all feel grateful. But against a ruthless Manchester City team, it's going to be one hell of a hard task.

The last time we came to what is now the 'Etihad' Stadium, we were involved in a fantastic football match. We went one nil up, City raced into a four one lead and then we scared the life out of them, coming back to four three with rare Geoffrey Mujangi Bia and Stephen Mouyokolo cameo performances to go with it.

There's a similarity to that game and the cup tie on Wednesday. It was the spell where every time City attacked, they seemed to score. They did that for three minutes forty two seconds a couple of days ago, and when we last went to City Tevez and co. turned it on and scored three in fifteen minutes. Mainly, it's because they have fantastic footballers who can at will tear us apart, but I also feel it's down to lack of concentration on our part. Once the first one goes in, that really breaks us down, westop doing what we were doing so well before that.

It's hard to predict what team Mick will pick and what formation we will go with. Will he make changes at the back? Will he bring in those that impressed in the cup, like Nenad Milijas, Adlene Guedioura, Stephen Hunt and even Sam Vokes? Will he stick with 4-4-2, or put an extra man in the midfield so that we don't get over run. I'm hoping Mick goes with that latter, because it's painful to watch when we clearly need some one else there, like last Saturday.

If there's one player I want in the side, it's Nenad Milijas. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of the Serbian and I think he deserves a chance in his proper position this time. Against Albion he played further forward, and had less effect than when he came on against Swansea and played the deep lying role. It also lets Jamie O'Hara play as the attacking midfielder and give him the freedom he needs. He's scored two good goals since playing there in the last two games.

I can see Mick going with this:

We need a performance from Johnson at the back, urgently

Hennessey

Stearman
Johnson
Berra
Ward

Henry
Milijas

Jarvis
O'Hara
Hunt

Doyle

I'd be happy with that, and think it gives us our best chance against this scary City team.

Hopefully we can gives them a scare ourselves, and show that this bad run of form is just a (bad) blip. Come on you Wolves.

One of three

After hearing that Stephen Fletcher was a doubt for the game on Sunday the first thing that came to mind was, 'It's got to be 4-5-1'.  In fact as important as Fletcher is for us it could be a blessing in disguise, just for this game.

This looks like it is going to be a tight game with both sides desperate to avoid defeat to their closest rivals. With Peter Odemwingie also a doubt it means Albion are also more likely to pack the midfield. That's where the game will be won, and if we make a similar mistake to the one against QPR (in terms of selection and formation) the witch hunt will definitely be out for Mick.

But who comes in? Well for me it is one of a possible three.

Dave Edwards, Nenad Milijas and Adlene Guedioura.

All have their strengths and weaknesses, but it's a tough trio to decide from.

While Edwards brings enthusiasm and forward runs, he also lacks the quality. Milijas brings composure and keeps possesion but perhaps lacks the mobility and aggression for a derby like this. Adlene Guedioura (extremely impressive against Newcastle when he came on) has the grit, determination and skill yet the problem with him is discipline and the fear that he will do something reckless or stupid.

It's a tough choice, assuming Mick goes with a five man midfield.

What would you go with?

Post Hoc, Ergo, Propter Hoc‏

Once again, here is Phil Chell with another article for the blog. 

For anyone reading this that knows me you will know that my favourite tv program of all time is The West Wing. Now, forgive me for saying that I don't believe the average Wolves fan will know what it is but be that as it may and truer words have never been spoken. The American political system isn't something that appeals to many.

There is an episode when the amiable, likeable and folksy President Bartlett played brilliantly by Martin Sheen, comes out with the saying 'Post Hoc, Ergo, Propter Hoc'. This is Latin and means 'after, therefore, because of it'. Roughly put in lamens terms it means one thing leads to another. However I don't always agree with it.

Case in point; our current league position. As I write this we sit 5th which is our lowest position this season. We have topped the table and held Champions League positions. We have 7 points from 3 games, and are unbeaten. Now even the most optimistic Wolves fan would see this as a good yet somewhat fortuitous start and we will soon find ourselves in the bottom half. Or 'after our little purple patch we will lose key players to injury and we'll slip down the league as usual'. After, therefore, because of it. 

Well I don't think so.

I think our squad at the moment is as good as, or even better than teams like Fulham, Bolton, Stoke and Albion all of whom I'd class as a mid table teams.

Last year we didn't really have a settled line up. This year the same team has started the 3 league games. Also, when Mick made 11 changes for the league cup game, there were 4 or 5 players who were in our best line up last year. I agree that injuries could be a problem, especially if we lose either Johnson, Jarvis, Doyle or Fletcher but I think we have enough strength on depth to survive this campaign easily. 

But there are 35 games to go. In the words of President Bartlett 'what's next?'

The Bullys - MyWolvesBlog silly awards

It's been a funny season hasn't it, a memorable one with some very funny moments. Here are some I remember..


Silliest moment

I really wish I could find a picture of it, but this happened early in the season away at Chelsea. Christophe Berra had been fouled, and as he was lying on the floor not knowing a freekick had been given he was trying toget the ball out of play with his head. Had me in bits!

Act of braveness that was really stupidity

Here is one picture of Berra I have found. No wonder he never scores when he does ridiculous things like this! A cross comes in for the right and instead of tapping in from a yard he decides to go for a diving header. He connects... with the goalpost.

Best opposition fail

This came on the opening day, in our victory over Stoke. Holding onto a two one lead, Rory Delap stepped up to take a throw in in probably their last attack.His throw ins are nearly always a threat but not this time. Rory look in disappointment as it slipped as his hand to give away a foul throw.

Best slip

Richard Stearman hadn't been on the pitch long when he broke away from two challenges against West Brom. We got on our feet, he had the legs to make something of this opportunity. Unfortunately his legs decided not as he tripped over himself, cue laughter.

Grooviest dance

Forget Gyan's celebration, I think everyone should try the Mick!

Best Mick QuoteS

It wouldn't be right if there wasn't a classic Mick quote somewhere. In fact, let's have a few.

"The sending off last year was disgraceful – I didn’t think it was a particularly bad foul on Lucas,” said McCarthy. “Pepe Reina ran 70-odd yards to get involved and get him sent off but he was going anyway so it wasn’t needed. “If he recognised Wardy’s face bearing down on him and sticking the ball past him for the winner then I’m delighted.”

"I'm surprised because I told them to go out and knock seven bells out of them like I usually do, and they've actually played free flowing football" - Mick McCarthy following Wolves' draw with West Ham, mocking the allegations that he informs his players to foul the opposition. 

"It's Wayne Rooney in the news this week, is it? Blimey, we've not tackled him have we?"

"What is the wing-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?" 

And on Sunday, after being sprayed by George Elokobi: "If it was anyone else I'd do them....my body double."

Think I've missed out some funny moments, comment below with yours!