Wolves face their first West Midlands derby of the season on Sunday with the longest injury list they have had for many years and in desperate need of results to improve their plight towards the bottom of the Premier League. The midfield area in particular has been decimated by injuries and McCarthy will have to juggle the squad to give the team the best chance of defeating a Birmingham side that have one of the tightest defences in the league.
Ironically one of the factors that has seen the Blues do well since their return to the Premier League last season is that it is a team that McLeish has been able to leave largely unchanged with very few of their key players having any long term injuries. They have a solid back 4 that rarely changes with Carr, Johnson, Dann and Ridgewell and the keeper Foster has done well in replacing last season’s loanee Hart. The defence is the strength of the Blues set up with Ferguson, Bowyer and Fahey creating a solid line ahead of the defence. Gardner is the only really attcking midfield player and he is their top scorer. Campbell plays up front and the other position is the only one that varies with Zigic competing recently with Beausejour. Wolves will be envious of such a settled team and one that has found the nack to being hard to score against at this level. Additionally Wolves will be fearful that Kevin Philips is fit after injury and will likely be on the bench. His goalscoring record against Wolves is 10 in 11 games and most of those have come in local derbies and often when he has arrived from the bench.
Wolves have long term injury absentees in Henry, Craddock, Kightly and Guedioura and also definitely missing on Sunday will be Mouyokolo. There are also big doubts about David Jones, Michael Mancienne, Stephen Fletcher and most worryingly Matt Jarvis. With 6 of those injuries coming to midfield players including both the recognised defensive midfielders there is a real selection headache for McCarthy.
Hennessey has conceded 5 in two games since returning to the team but I don’t think he could be faulted for any and he should continue in goal. Defensively there will be places for Berra, Zubar and Elokobi but the latter two could be used as full backs or as deputies in the centre of defence. Failing that, Stearman may return. In midfield Foley looks the most likely to be given the defensive role. Milijas will retain his place and a recall for Hunt is likely given the number of injuries. And how Wolves now need him to find his form. Stephen Ward surprisingly started in central midfield at Blackburn and might retain that place or even occupy the left wing role if Jarvis is unfit. But at least David Edwards is now fit and is likely to go straight back in to the starting line up given all the absentees. If all the mifdfielders that are doubtful do not make it then that might force McCarthy’s hand into going 4-4-2 and playing 2 strikers with Ebanks Blake partnering Doyle. That might prove to be a blessing in disguise and lead to more of a goal threat from the team.
My guess at a starting line up would be;
Hennessey
Zubar, Stearman, Berra, Elokobi
Hunt, Edwards, Foley, Milijas, Ward
Doyle
The defensive record of Blues coupled with Wolves lack of goals in a 4-5-1 formation hints at a lack of goals from the home team. The visitors have only lost one of their last ten games but don’t often score more than one and their away league record is 5 draws and 3 defeats from 8 games. So if Wolves can find a way to score two goals they will likely be winners. They certainly won’t be lacking in support for this derby game against a team that a big rivalry has developed in recent years. Wolves have not beaten Blues at Molineux since 2001 and thats something they could do with correcting this weekend.
Category: Team News
Tags: Team News« December Derby Days beckon for Wolves | Home | Comments | Add your comment linyipin | December 11th, 2010 at 6:11 am
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