Portsmouth v Wolves Preview

It was depressing times at the Molineux as we crashed to defeat against Portsmouth. Questions were raised at the manager and if the team were good enough. Look at us now. We have changed the team a lot since then, and I never thought before May we would be safe but we are.

Tommy Smith is just one of many Pompey players linked

 with Wolves

A win would probably see us jump above Wigan and
Bolton. Bolton face Spurs away (although it's not exactly hard there, eh?) and Wigan don't play until Monday. A win would also take us closer to forty points, and make it a very good season.

Mick has confirmed that Geoffrey Mujangi Bia will start. I'm glad he will get his chance. Lots of fans have been to quick to decide he's not good enough. His only start was at Palace, where he played just as bad as anyone but not as bad as made out. For the reserves he has gained some confidence, shown his ability and let's hope he can win himself a deal.

Another player we might see feature is Scott Malone. Widely praised, and possibly our answer to our suggested left back problem. I'd like to see him given a chance at left back, but George Elokobi's recent form will most likely keep him in the team.

Even though Portmouth are relegated, they do have an FA Cup final. This could work two ways. They might be scared of getting injured, or fight for their place. Probably both. Avram Grant has been resting a lot of players recent, so I suspect he will make a few changes.

Hahnemann

Zubar
Craddock
Berra
Elokobi

Foley
Mancienne/Edwards
Henry
Jones
Mujangi Bia

Doyle

With Henry returning, I think Dave Edwards will be the one being replaced. I wouldn't be surprised if him, Guedioura or Milijas get a start.

1-0 to Wolves. Mujangi Bia.

The Contenders

It's come to that part of the year where we dish out the awards. The one Wolves fans will be talking about is probably who the Wanderers' player of the season is. I'll look at what I think is the top five players going for it.

#5. Marcus Hahnemann - Only signed for us in the summer. Started behind Hennessey but came in after we conceded eight goals in two games against Chelsea and Arsenal. Has put in some superb performances, and has made us look a lot more comfortable in defence. For free, he is one of Mick's best signings. I can't see him winning (he would be the third goalkeeper in four years to win it at the club) as he hasn't played as much as the rest.

#4. Jody Craddock - Everybody had written him off in pre-season, myself included. I didn't think his legs would last and I didn't think he was good enough. Fast forward from then and he doesn't have one critic. Been one of the heroes of the season and has scored some very vital goals. Has given us some experience (along with Marcus) and will have helped Christophe Berra to become a much better defender.

#3. Matty Jarvis - Didn't have it going for him at the start of the season. He put in some decent displays but was dropped by Mick for his crosses not being good enough. Has shone for us since getting back into the side and always an outlet for us. If he carries on improving like this he will be challenging for an England place!

#2. Karl Henry - Always criticised for not being adventurous enough on the ball and going sideways. I think he has made the step up to the Premier League look simple. Never looked out of place, and lead the team by example. Has been linked with many higher paced teams in the Premier League. He even scored a goal this season.

#1. Kevin Doyle - Had it wrapped up by Christmas for me. Has put in some superhuman performances this season and although recently looked tired, has been our stand out player of the season. Even though we will be playing Premier League football next season, it will be a hard push to keep him. Wouldn't look out of place in a top four side.

Don't agree, have I missed someone out you think deserves more recognition? Tell me.

Sylvan sees us safe: Wolves 1 Blackburn 1

That is one of the best feelings I've had all season. Maybe because we had got a draw, and in turn secured survival but I think most of all because it was Sylvan Ebanks-Blake who scored it. He hasn't exactly had the best of times in the Premier League, but maybe this is where it starts for him.

It wasn't a very good performance. We conceded a poor goal, Hahnemann got nowhere near the ball and Craddock lost Nelson. In the second half, they looked the more likely side to score. Hahnemann made a couple of decent saves and ex-Wolves player Keith Andrews hit the post. We never had an outlet, or anyone to support Doyle like Jarvis does. I thought Ward played well, his cross for the goal was superb but we lacked any pace on either side. One of the only other pluses (aside from the goal) I got from the game was Big George Elokobi. He looked solid and is really improving on the ball. He charged forward a lot in this game and linked up with Ward to cause a bit of trouble.

It was a bold decision to take Mancienne off and put Milijas on (I'll talk about the first substitution later) but I like to think it worked. Nenad got us going and him and Jones worked better together than I thought they would. Of course, bringing Sylvan on was probably the best substitution Mick has done all season. Ninety seconds it took him, and it was a great header. That was the loudest cheer any player could have got, everyone wants him to do well and let's hope he gains some confidence from this.

Is Chris Iwelumo playing the wrong sport? It was an odd change to make. Maybe Mick felt we needed another forward but why him? Edwards wasn't playing badly and he didn't look injured. I often wonder how he scored fifteen goals last season. His main role is to win it in the air surely, but he never does. I hope Sylvan has jumped ahead of him now.

Anyway, we are safe and that's all that matters. We can look onto next season and maybe Mick can pick up the odd gem in South Africa. Well done Wolves.

Hahnemann - 6

Zubar - 7
Craddock - 6
Berra - 6
Elokobi - 8

Foley - 6
Edwards - 6
Mancienne - 7
Jones - 7
Ward - 7

Doyle - 7

Subs: Iwelumo - 6, Milijas - 7, Ebanks-Blake - 8

I've given Ebanks-Blake an eight (obviously) for the goal. Disagree with any of my views? Comment.

Wolves v Blackburn Preview

This was another one of those games you look at and think, 'We can win that' and we certainly can. Whatever result we do or don't get today we will probably be safe by the end of the day. A win and we are definitely safe, a draw and Hull draw/lose we are fine. Even if we lose we are fine as long as the others lose (which is likely).

We haven't had the greatest times against Blackburn in the Premier League. That opening day defeat where we we thrashed five one in 2003 is a particularly bad memory. We then drew two all that season and one of our worst performances this season came at Ewood Park when we were easily beaten three one.

I think everything points to a nil nil draw in this game. Three goalless draws in four, Blackburn are hardly a team that scores freely but they have a super solid defence. Allardyce has done a very good job since taking over from Paul Ince, and has taken them to mid table and a cup semi final.

It's a well known fact that Allardyce is a Wolves fan. Could that help us in anyway? They have nothing to play for, and I'm sure he would like to see Wolves in the Premier League next season. Of course he would deny this, but I hope secretly inside he wants us to win.

Doyle, while he wasn't at his absolute best, was better last week than in the previous games. He looked a bit more confident, but he needs more support. Could Mick possibly go for two up front? He has recently said that 4-5-1 has kept us up, but he could be tempted. If he does, I hope he goes with Ebanks-Blake and not Iwelumo. When Big Chris came on last week he won absolutely nothing in the air, and I don't want us lumping it up anyway.

Rumours are that Jarvis isn't fit, as he picked up an injury at Craven Cottage (which would explain why Mick too him off) so I'll look at possible replacements. He could put Edwards on the left wing and bring Milijas/Guedioura in the middle. If he wanted to go to 4-4-2 he could bring Ebanks-Blake or Iwelumo and shift Edwards or even Jones out on the left. What about Mujangi Bia? Apparently he played well again in the reserves, and came off at half time. He would be a 'like for like' replacement. And an option I hope Mick doesn't go with but expect is Stephen Ward. I think he is better suited for left back but Mick would probably do anything to get him in.

I reckon:

Hahnemann

Zubar
Craddock
Berra
Elokobi

Foley
Edwards
Mancienne
Jones
Jarvis/Ward

Doyle.

I don't think there will be many goals, but I'm going for 1-0 to Wolves. Doyle with his eighth, surpassing Henri Camara's goal tally from 03/04. What do you think?

Almost there?: Fulham 0 Wolves 0

Are we a point or two away from securing another season in the top flight? Burnley were beaten, Hull needed to win but drew, Bolton came from behind to win as did Wigan. We've dropped two places, although it doesn't feel like it.

Ok, so another nil nil draw. Our third in four games. When your down scrapping at the bottom, and you don't concede many goals it is much more valuable than scoring goals. Burnley have scored quite a few goals, but their leaky defence is what has them struggling to survive. Hull haven't scored as many, yet their defence is just as bad. It has taken us a while, but defensively we are sorted. In the summer, IF we survive, we will have to look to improve our little problem in the other team's half.

Mancienne was superb. On the ball, he was in control. He kept the ball almost every single time. Off the ball, he helped to keep Murphy and Gera quiet. In the absence of Henry, he has held that midfield together. I wonder who will be dropped, should Henry get his place back in the side. The two just in front of him, Jones and Edwards, worked tirelessly but on the ball we lacked that creativity to unlock the Fulham defence. We only looked like creating something when Mick brought on Milijas and Guedioura on.

Of course, as we kept a clean sheet, our defence did well. Hahnemann had a dodgy couple of moments where he dropped the ball right on Damien Duff's foot but he shot wide. The back four won every ball in the air. On the ball, they weren't so good. Zubar is very good at driving forward and linking with Foley but the other three often give away possession. Craddock and Berra have formed a very good partnership, but are too predictable. Hoof. Elokobi is improving, but I get the feeling Mick might search for a new left back. It was probably one of Big George's best performances defensively. He saved us from going home with nothing with his superb tackle on Duff but unlike Ward, doesn't get the ball to our main outlet in Jarvis enough.

Doyle won the ball in the air a lot, and often had to create something out of nothing. Maybe he needs a partner up there? Our just someone to support him, as he looks quite isolated. It puzzles me however why Mick shifts Doyle out the left, and sticks Iwelumo up front who won absolutely nothing in the air. Aside from one good chest down he might as well not have been there.

Hahnemann - 7

Zubar - 7
Craddock - 7
Berra - 6
Elokobi - 7

Foley - 6
Jones - 6
Mancienne - 8
Edwards - 7
Jarvis -7

Doyle - 7

Subs: Guedioura - 6, Milijas - 6, Iwelumo - 5.

Still, one defeat from seven. That's the sort of form that keeps a team out of the relegation zone. A win against Blackburn could all but see us safe.

Here is a link on the observer website from 'The Verdict' which I participated in:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/apr/17/fulham-wolves-premier-league

Don't agree with my observations, or my markings for the players? Comment and tell me.