THIS MATCH IS POSTPONED (IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T HEARD)
Upton Park will be a hostile arena come Sunday, when Wolves take to the field. Undoubtedly, this is a massive match, a classic six-pointer and could well prove pivotal come the end of the season.
West Ham will be absolutely desperate to get the win to boost them clear of the bottom three, but if we can leave with a positive result, it will make a bold statement of intent about our own survival ambitions.
Mick knows a win would boost Wolves up the table
But that begs the question, what represents a good result for Wolves?
As Mick McCarthy pointed out, if we’re good enough to beat Spurs at White Hart Lane, we’re definitely capable of taking three points off the Hammers on their home turf. We’re almost certain to go there and play 4-4-2, so I’d like to think that a win isn’t completely out of the question.
Personally though, I wouldn’t be too disappointed to leave East London with a draw. I believe four points from our next two games (the other match being Wigan at home) would represent a good return and judging by the results in our recent poll (see the right sidebar), the majority of Wolves fans agree.
I’m expecting to see our best players on display for this one, which means a team of:
Hahnemann
Stearman
Berra
Craddock
Ward
Foley
Henry
Milijas
Jarvis
Doyle
SEB
I wouldn’t like to see a side much different to this one if I’m being honest. Playing Mancienne in midfield alongside Henry would be overly negative, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see that. Zubar is another option at right-back, but I think McCarthy sees Stearman as a reliable choice for big matches. So in essence, I expect to see almost the exact same team that defeated Spurs and gave Liverpool a run for their money at Anfield.
One thing I wouldn’t expect from this fixture is for it to be as open and expansive as the match the two teams played out at Molineux on the opening day. I think West Ham came into that game thinking they would just play their own game and that would be enough to get the result, which it eventually was. But I don’t believe the Hammers have that luxury this weekend because Wolves are a more organised unit, so it should be much tighter.
Even though I’ve said that a draw would be a good result, I’m going to stick my neck out and forecast an away win. If we can nullify their attacking threat, I believe we’ll create chances at the other end and I’d back us to score at least once.
2-1 to Wolves and Doyle to score first.
If you’re heading ‘down sowf’ to watch the match, have a great time and get behind the lads.
Up The Wolves.
Are we all confident this will actually go ahead? How much snow has there been down south? Regarding the team i think Foley’s been poor at RM. I would put him at RB and play a proper midfielder at RM. It doesn’t necessarily need to make us more open as we could play someone like Surman who can help protect the RB.
Kwolf – there’s not been as much snow down here as there has been oop narth, but that didn’t stop the Gunners having a game cancelled earlier in the week (but that was more to do with fans getting to the game than anything I think than the actual pitch).
The games are starting to get called off now – 3 in the Prem so far. I don’t know why the PL just doesn’t put a blanket 1/2 wk postponement (along witht the FL) and take away the ambiguity and wondering.
But as for WHU…I like that team, apart from Foley at right midfield. He just doesn’t cut it there. Maybe he’l suit the role away from home when we’re trying to be a bit tighter. I just don’t like seeing square pegs in round holes. Kind of sums of why a new winger is so important this window.
WHU web site seems to indicate it will go ahead. I would take a draw.Even though Cole will be out for them.
If we play like we did last Sunday we have no chance
They have beaten Villa and drawn with Arsenal & Chelsea at home so they are no mugs at Upton Park which has never been a happy hunting ground for Wolves. We must get the first goal if there is one.
All looks good in london atm on the snow front but it’ll be decided tomorrow i reckon. I hope its not cancelled as i’ve got a ticket.
As martin said if we can get the first goal i think we should win. I’d take a point i suppose but with things the way they are if we want to be making ourselves safe a win at a wounded West Ham is where we need to set ourselves apart. No it wont be easy but if we play as we have been against liverpool, spurs etc then we should have too much for them.
Give me a point from this ‘six pointer’ and at 3pm on Sunday and I will be absolutely chuffed!
They will be pulling out all the stops to get the match played as its a Sky game.
is it weird that i’ll be wearing the exact same clothes as what i wore to the spurs game?
never been supersitious before but it cant hurt!
Sam 2.0 – totally agree which is mildly annoying for me because when I went to the Spurs game I had not done any washing for weeks, was dressed like a bit of a div and was wearing a rather thin jacket. I you see someone smuggling enormous peanuts in a rather gay green jacket please feel free to say hello!
Even my wife demanded I go upstairs and put on ‘the lucky wolves top’ prior to the Tranmere game. I thought it had magical powers over females and that my luck was in – but she just didn’t want me to be a miserable b*stard on a Sunday night if they lost!
I will add that this is that same ‘lucky top’ I had on during the Man City game – it was obviously only good before I washed it!
Sorry to rain on all your “lucky” charms but Jonah is heading over to catch the lads away this week-end (Record so far – 3 matches & 3 x 1-nil defeats),,,, so the least i’m expecting is the cancellation of the match as I board the Dublin-london flight… however, is all goes ahead I’m hopeful of a positive result, the team nearly picks itself (see Thomas above)… Fingers crossed & see you all on Sunday,,,,, C’mon the Wolves………
Match postponed. Gutted
Fucking boo. If arsenal and brum can play why not west ham. I’m sitting in ldn now and it’s cold but better than it has been for days!
Shame, but an extra weeks rest for the boys!
That’s my Sunday spoilt – back to the Eastenders omnibus!
Bloody southern softies, they have had days to sort this out. I wonder if Upton Park has undersoil heating?
On the bright side lets hope they have to sell Cole, Upson and Parker in the transfer window so that we will stand a better chance of beating them!
Might have to watch Blues v Man Utd now – just to get my fix!
Really bollocksed up my weekend, this has.
Interesting to note that they game was postponed shortly before Wolves set off for their overnight stay from Wolverhampton. If I’m correct, if the match is called off after the visiting team have set off, the home club are liable for any costs incurred (coach, hotel etc) but not if it comes before the away team’s journey has started. I’d wager that played a part.
As with 90% of top flight postponements these days, it’s not the pitch that’s the problem, it’s around the ground – a catch all term that would surely allow anyone with the authority to postpone any match that does not take place on a dry, clear, mild day.
Yet another victim of the Heath and Safety mad world we live in! Rediculous really – I can’t believe the clubs can’t just throw down some rock salt and get on with it. Instead they have to ruin my (and every other Wolves fan with access to Skysports) weekend!
To be fair though I’ve just been on the sky website and many of the cancelled Prem games are listed as ‘Frozen Pitch’ – so it might be so cold that the under soil heating isn’t working. West Ham are so poor I bet the owners wouldn’t fancy the bill for leaving it on constantly (like I do with the Mrs and our central heating!)
Come on the hovering vultures – snap up Upson, Cole and Parker in the January sales! Who knows we might even have Hunt and Gardner by the time he match is rescheduled!
Can someone explain how Blouse game was on today when our cup match last year with them wasn’t! The weather conditions are biblical in comparison to last year.
kwolf – you have to have undersoil heating in the premier league so i’m guessing they’ve had it installed since
My season ticket holding blue nose mate reckons they had undersoil heating fitted in the summer.
However he reckons they will sign Babel and K.Jones so it’s probably all fantasy!
Did anyone else see the pictures outside Upton Park this afternoon? There was no snow on the ground! What’s that about?!
As we had no game at teh weekend, and everyone is fresh as a daisy, I assume McCarthy will be able to pick his best and strongest line up against Wigan. As no-one seems to know what this is ( including the Manager) this should be very interesting doncha fink?
Rich – I have seen the pictures it’s a disgrace!
They also hinted that West Ham had no strikers fit which was why they were so keen to get it called off.
I dont see them closing shopping centres because of the snow – people should be able to make their own minds up on whether it is safe to attend the game or not.
I have a ticket for the Wigan game so full strength team (and three points) are expected!
Dazza im pretty sure we could guess the 11 he’ll put out. Whats with the constant criticism?
the team will be as stated in the article above i’d have thought. mccarthy is talking up the doyle-seb partnership in the sunday mercury so he’ll probably be looking for a repeat of the burnley display.
Hope SEB can produce another much improved performance like he did against Burnley (and pop up with a goal or two!).
Hopefully the transfer links with strikers will help too – after his performances over the past two seasons in the CCC nothing would make me happier to see him scoring regularly in the Prem.
Liverpool have been linked with a move for Stearman.
Sam , guessing , and being correct regarding picking MM’s best 11 would be akin to getting those 6 numbers on a Saturday night. ….and where was the criticism in my post?