After impressive performances against Stoke and
Everton, Wolves welcome Newcastle United to Molineux on Saturday for a game between two teams in very good spirits. The Geordies lost as expected in their opening game but then produced probably the most remarkable result of the Premier League season so far by beating Villa 6-0 last week.
How much that was about Newcastle being a good team on the day or Villa a bad one is difficult to say but it will have done the confidence of the men in black and white no harm at all. The Newcastle team does not show many changes from the team that were relegated in 2008/9 so it could be argued they are in for a season of struggle again as the funds have not been there for majot investment. But they won the Championship with something to spare last season and Chris Hughton seems to have done a good job in getting the players to perform in a way that they certainly didn’t in the relegation season. So it will be a good marker for them to see how they get on at Molineux and it’s a game that should give them some indication of whether they will be in for a season of struggle or not.
They will meet a Wolves team also possessing a feel good factor and with Mancienne’s return adding even more to the quality of the squad, McCarthy will again have some issues to ponder over when selecting his starting 11. Wolves defended well against Stoke with a back four of Foley, Craddock, Berra and Ward, and also looked sound in the second half at Goodison with the same four. I cannot, therefore, see Elokobi retaining his starting position from last week and what might be more open to question is the right back position. Foley has had two typically sound games so far but anyone that saw Zubar against Southend in midweek will know that he has so much to offer and it would be a brave decision to leave him out as long as playing 120 minutes in his comeback game didn’t take too much out of him.
In the continued absence of Kightly and Hunt there is a weekly decision to make on who plays on the opposite wing to Jarvis. If Van Damme is fit he may well come back to take the left wing slot he occupied promisingly against Stoke. While Guedioura’s performance as a sub at Everton brings him into contention on the right. The third option is to reinstate Foley to the position he occupied for the second half of last season on the right of midfield and this allows Zubar to be recalled to the defence. Henry and Jones look sure to continue in central midfield unless Mancienne is considered ready to start, but I would expect him to only make the bench on Saturday.
Ebanks Blake and Doyle will surely continue as the two strikers and it would be a concern if Fletcher remains unfit that Wolves could go into the game without a striking substitute now Keogh has moved on. Winnall might make the bench after showing some promise in midweek but I didn’t feel he looked ready for the big time and it could be that an injury to one of the strikers would necessitate a wholesale mid game change with a move to 4-5-1. This emphasises the need to bring in another striker before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.
Should be a good game and may well be one with a few goals. A win for either team would see them elevated to the top six on Saturday night which would go down as a fantastic start to the season for either club.
Category: Team News
Tags: Team News« Wolves fans mourn Matt Murray retirement | Home | Subscribe
The Offside RSS Feeds
Share.wp-notable img {border: none;margin-left:5px;}
Comments | Add your comment marie | August 27th, 2010 at 7:50 am 
Hello, DJ. What a great blog!
I’m a japanese wolves fan. Sadly wolves arent very popular club here in japan… so im really happy that i could find here. Thanks!
May I link your blog to my website as my favourite blog?
Posted from 
Leave a ReplyIf you have not commented here before, please take a moment to peruse our
Commenting Guidelines.
Name (required)
Mail (will not be published) (required)
Website
Follow Us
Where's the Revolution? Joe Hart: He's Really Quite Good Exclusive interview with Raphael Honigstein! more news... Search The Offside
Related Links
Categories HistoryPollsReportsRumoursTeam NewsVideo
Send Your Tips! Found a great story, photo or video that's perfect for The Offside?
Email wolves[at]theoffside[dot]com
LATEST COMMENTS
marie: Hello, DJ. What a great blog! I'm a japanese wolves fan. Sadly wolves arent very popular club here ... [read more] Mancienne back at Wolves
DJ: t'OM - We have seen Ward play striker, left wing and left back and no doubt in my mind that left bac ... [read more] Wolves fans mourn Matt Murray retirement
Daryl: Obviously this isn't a big surprise, but it's still sad news. Like you said, the way he dominated hi ... [read more] Mancienne back at Wolves
t'OM: Stephen Ward or Halford can pinch hit up front if required. S Ward = former Championship player of t ... [read more] Everton 1 Wolves 1 - the goals
Burt Kosbab: great website! Wolves earn great away point
Cameron: I loved the mentality of the squad today, Wolves should have no problem staying up with players play ... [read more] Next stop Goodison for Wolves
Tim: I don't think Doyle will play, unless he's been training on a "dead" leg. Opening day reflections on Wolves
Stuart in Toronto: I know we're only one game in, but the team looked confident and played with purpose. When Hunt, Kig ... [read more] Opening day reflections on Wolves
Steve Williams: He only did a great job because he got Jones taken off , Until then he gave craddock the run around ... [read more] Opening day reflections on Wolves
DJ: Steve - I have no doubt Mouyokolo's day will come and hopefully we will get to see him in the game a ... [read more]
Archives Select Archive Month August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 May 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008
About The Offside | Advertise on The Offside | Privacy Policy
Top Content: Football Match Tickets | Football Kits for Sale | English Premier League | Italian Serie A | Spanish La Liga | German Bundesliga | French Ligue 1 | Major League Soccer
Related information: Betting on Football | Travel to a Football Match | The DA - Football Humor | International Flights | Cheap Hotels Worldwide
© BootsnAll Travel Network - All rights reserved
EuropeEngland: PremiershipEngland: ChampionshipEngland: League One England: League Two FranceGermanyGreeceHollandItalyPolandPortugalRussiaScotlandSpainTurkeyAfricaEgyptTunisiaAustraliaSouth AmericaArgentinaBrazilColombia North AmericaMexicoMLSNPSLUSLWomen's SoccerCup CompetitionsChampions LeagueEuropa LeagueCopa LibertadoresCopa SudamericanaPlayersJozy AltidoreAlberto AquilaniDavid BeckhamGianluigi BuffonAntonio CassanoAlessandro Del PieroDaniele De RossiCesc FabregasSteven GerrardPippo InzaghiKakaLionel MessiMidoCristiano RonaldoRonaldinhoFrancesco TottiSoccer Betting | World Cup 2010
Plan Your Soccer Travels | Soccer TicketsClose X
Home 
World 
Europe English Premier League 
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 
StoreTravelScores 
England: PremiershipEngland: ChampionshipEngland: League OneEngland: League TwoEngland: ConferenceFranceGermanyGreeceHollandItaly PolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaScotlandSpainTurkeyUkraineChampions League | Europa LeagueClose X
No comments:
Post a Comment