Wolves go into the International break unbeaten after 3 games and sitting in a very healthy 7th place in the league. And they have done this with plenty of unused armoury with Fletcher, Hunt, Kightly, Mouyokolo and Edwards ready to add to the squad when fit. So it has to be a pleasing start and even the bookmakers have changed their tune with the odds for relegation. At the start of the season they were tipping Blackpool and Albion to go down with Wolves and Wigan vying for the third place. Wolves have now left Wigan behind in the odds to survive and have also climbed above West Ham and Stoke.
It wasn’t a great performance on Saturday against a Newcastle team that look a different cup of tea to the team that went down in 2008/9 and hats off to Chris Hughton for getting much more out of largely the same set of players. And in Andy Carroll they have a player who got more aerial success against Craddock and Berra than any other player has so far in our 12 months in the Premier League. So the geordies also look all set to remain in this division.
It was certainly a highly physical game on Saturday with some good old fashioned hard tackling exemplified by Karl Henry. But I didn’t think there were so many bad fouls to warrant 12 bookings and this was more a case of the referee not controlling the game effectively. He was appalling and clearly not up to this level.
Wolves defended well overall, with a few momentary lapses, and look likely to keep a settled back 4 now barring injuries although there is a decision to be made on Foley or Zubar for right back. Both are perfectly good enough and I am not sure we gained anything from the first substitutiion on Saturday when Zubar came on to right back and Foley moved to midfield. I think Zubar gives us more in terms of height and powering forward, but Foley has shown now he is well up to this level so either can do the job fine.
In midfield Wolves didn’t gain the upper hand on Saturday. Henry fought hard to win us the edge but Jones was largely anonymous and Van Damme struggled to make an impact. As a result Jarvis hardly got into the game.With the next two matches away at Fulham and Spurs I expect Mancienne to partner Henry in the centre and I would like to see Guedioura get a chance on the right with Jarvis moving back to his familiar left wing position.
Up front we have the luxury of three good strikers and Ebanks Blake has defied his critics of last season by being the pick of the three. He has taken his goals well and could have had more, and his work rate and hold up play have been excellent. So big money signing Fletcher will just have to wait his turn. Doyle in the meantime is not quite at his best yet and a couple of games for Ireland next week will help him get back to peak form.
The transfer window closes on Tuesday evening and the squad of 25 then gets named on September 1st. I still expect a new striker to come in before the window closes but am not expecting any major outlay as it is a 4th choice guy we are looking for. Two players linked with Wolves at the weekend were Heskey and Vennegor of Hesselink, but I gather it will not be either of those. If a new man arrives it means two of the senior squad will miss out on being named in the 25. It is generally assumed Matt Hill will be one of those as he is 4th choice at best for a left back spot, so we just have to hope he finds himself a club. There are growing rumours that the other one to miss out will be Nenad Milijas. The Serbian has undoubted ability but doesn’t do enough over 90 minutes to help a team that needs to battle for every point. There are teams on the continent evidently showing an interest, and so either for a loan or a transfer he might move out of the Wolves picture this week.
Category: Team News
Tags: Team News« Wolves 1 Newcastle 1 – highlights | Home | Subscribe
The Offside RSS Feeds
Share.wp-notable img {border: none;margin-left:5px;}
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 COMMENTSMagpies next for Wolves
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 | Europa League Groups | Champions League Groups
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