With the England friendly at Wembley tomorrow, it reminded me of the summer rumour that Slyvan might be getting an England call-up. Games like this one against Egypt, would have been an ideal chance for him to show what he can do at the very highest level and I just wonder whether he’ll be sitting at home, watching the match on the box and thinking what might have been.
As well all know, good old SEB has had trouble even proving his worth to Mick, let alone Fabio.
SEB - Struggling
After a stunning Championship season, in which his goals undoubtedly gained us promotion as champions, he has failed to make even the smallest dent on the Premiership.
His eye for goal, great work ethic and tasty first touch really looked the business in the Fizzy, but we haven’t seen even the smallest hint of this since entering the Greed League.
Disappointment is an understatement.
We all have a soft spot for the guy and we cheered his name and sang his praises practically every match last season. Even now when he makes a cameo appearance, there are still sections of the crowd that sing his name with the heart and gusto of times not long past. But if we’re being honest, with all personal feelings put to one side, SEB has been an utter flop this season.
It’s got to the stage where just getting on the field is an achievement.
I don’t think the guy has lost any ability and I don’t believe he’s incapable of performing at this level, but it just isn’t working for him this season. Why is that?
A lot has been made of his ‘extra baggage’ and although I’m not quite sure if this is true, he does seem to have lost that speed and anticipation that made Championship defenders quake in their boots when we were sniffing around their goal.
Injury has also blighted our beloved number 9 and he’s just never seemed sharp enough to take the opportunities when they came his way. Uncharacteristic horror misses have worryingly crept into his game too. That meek toe-poke against Wigan with the goal at his mercy will haunt my thoughts for many years to come.
The introduction of Kevin Doyle has also highlighted inadequacies in his game.
That boy runs all night, has a great eye for goal, beautiful touch and the ability to hold up the ball and bring players into the game. Essentially, he does everything SEB does and more. I salivated at the thought of seeing those two tearing up defences together, but now the Irishman seems more effective doing it on his own. Sad times indeed.
You could argue that SEB has been unlucky and had it not been for the width of a post and some great saves, he might well have had quite a few more to add to his meager tally of 1 (pen).
And despite all the disappointment so far this season, I’m not ready to give up on him just yet.
I just don’t believe that the ability he so obviously possesses has disappeared. I really hope Mick keeps hold of him and tries to get his confidence up and back to playing like the days of old.
The Premiership has so far made him look like an old mare but mark my words, SEB isn’t ready to be put out to pasture just yet.
Great post Sam.
Cheers for writing that up for us mate.
I fear you’re going to get a lot of comments along the lines of:
‘He’s just not good enough for the Premiership’.
It’s hard to argue with that given how little he’s shown this season.
Whether or not he is good enough, I’m positive he’s a much, much, much better player than he’s showing at the moment.
Going so long without a goal and all the pressure building up on him has shot his confidence, which explains some of the horror misses.
Something you didn’t touch on in the post, was the lack of width we’ve got this season, compared to last year.
With crosses bombing in from both sides, he was in his absolute element, feeding off the balls bouncing around the penalty area.
We’re playing a completely different style this season and he just doesn’t fit in with it.
He’s never going to be the kind of player to run around the pitch for 90 minutes or come out wide to link up the play. He’s just not comfortable doing it, but that’s what he’s being asked to do.
If we ever get back to playing with two proper wide men, I think he’d start scoring again almost immediately, whatever league that might be in.
Many will disagree.
I definitely think SEB is Premiership material. Injuries halted him in the first place.
Then when he finally got fit and scored. What did Mick do? Drop him.
When he got back in the side he had some fine saves against him, shooting just wide and all the stuff he would have scored last season. It’s just confidence.
I think you are right Thomas, with Jarvis and Kightly life was made easy for Sylvan. With those two supplying chances for him he would score in any league, and a few. Mick hasn’t played two wingers all season and Ebanks-Blake has had barely more than one chance a game.
Even if it doesn’t work out for him this season, he will be better for a seaosn in the premier league and next season (hopefully in the EPL) he will bang in the goals next to Kevin Doyle.
No worries tom. Thanks for putting it up and being editor in chief.
I was tempted to mention wingers but in the end we can’t play the exact game we played in the ccc. Teams and players have to adapt to the changes around them. Knights was out and with no obvious replacement we could never find the same rhythm. Others stepped up whereas seb didn’t.
In the end there are a lot of reasons for his failure but the main point I wanted to get across was not to give up just yet. Yes we are annoyed and disappointed but let’s not forget those who have served us so well in the past. I am interested to see however the debate that will soon rage.
I don’t think you can blame Mick Louie, SEB had enough games early season and fluffed them. The lack of width and balls falling in the 6 yard box hasn’t helped his cause and his confidence dropped like a stone.
The defenders are much tougher in this league too, he can’t turn them and expects the ball to come to him. Sad to say, but i don’t think he’s good enough for the Prem, which is sad, because with Doyle’s all round brilliance what we desperately need is someone to finish the tap ins.
It would be very interesting to see if he stays if we stay up
You lot just knew I was gonna chip in with my two pennyworth!!!
I’ve been saying for 3 seasons now ( Scooped will bear me out) that SEB is overated and over weight.
If he was a good player, he a) would have scored double what he did in the ccc, and b) would have been snapped up by a Prem club well before we got promoted.
There is a good reason Fergie didnt want him.
It just proves that the Prem defenses, except ours, obviously, are much better than in the ccc, and SEB cannot perform.
He is and always will be an average ccc player, and to be fair, there are a lot of them about, players who are just not good enough for the Prem.
I remember people like Don Rogers, who was a wow in the third division, and when bought by a first division club, couldnt cut it.
I’ts no disgrace to not be good enough, the problem arises when we have a manager who cannot or will not see the shortcomings of his players, and continues to play the “not good enoughs”, and out of position as well.
Fact is, Manager is not good enough either.
On a happier note, I see Bruce has been given the backing of his chairman. This bodes badly for us, coz he will inevitably be sacked very soon, they will get a new or interim manager in for the rest of the season, the players will start performing again, and they wont be in the relegation battle.
FOWB
he can’t have been an average CCC player mate, he scored 50 in two seasons.
As I said before, this experience of a year in the prem can only have been good. He will know what he has to do (and maybe lose some weight?
)
So to be a good championship player he had to bag 50? That’s crazy talk. And mick hasn’t stuck with him, he’s dropped him
Interesting debate.
Lots of theories as to the reasons. I think the weight issue is a red herring simply because he has appeared fat since day one to be honest.
The chances issue is the main one. I had £10 on him to be topscorer last season (he made me £150) and trust me – he missed chances (I felt every one of them!).. in broad terms he scorer 20 goals from 60 good chances. Of course, the problem with the Premiership is strikers get judged on so much fewer chances. Both Doyle and SEB have probably had 10 good chances each this season.. Doyle has put most of his away but it could have been different. SEB, Off top of my head:
- clean through vs West Ham, saved by Green.
- skied chance vs Pompey, 6 yards out.
- header vs Chelsea is brilliantly saved by Cech.
- good shot hits post vs Everton.
- header saved at point-blank range by Jensen vs Burnley.
- superb one-two with Doyle well saved by Jensen vs Burnley.
- Doyle’s headed miss takes ball off SEB’s toe 2 yards out at Liverpool.
- the horrible toe poke vs Wigan.
You might say the fact none of those were scored proves SEB is a Championship striker. We also know him well enough to be able to easily see how 5 of those could have been scored and suddenly he’s our joint top scorer with more Premiership goals than Heskey, Crouch, Owen etc.. Basically, you really cant stress enough the small margins for Premiership strikers: Bobby Zamora has 10 in 58 for Fulham and there’s a World Cup bandwagon!
As for his long-term future, I’d be extremely disappointed if he left any time soon. At present, SEB’s situation perfectly mirrors that of WWFC: too good for the Championship, struggling in the Premiership, but with potential to improve.
‘At present, SEB’s situation perfectly mirrors that of WWFC: too good for the Championship, struggling in the Premiership, but with potential to improve.’ I enjoyed line that Adam.
Christ why don’t we write and debate wolves rather than the shite over at e&s
Qyuite simply, he is out of his depth.Has had more than enough chances to prove himself I’m afraid. He’s lazy, has no real idea of holding teh ball up, and is a complete passenger.If we stay up, he should be sold. Yes, he fired the goals at the lower level, however, no room for setiment in this game,,,get rid, and take Kightly and Murray with him.Waste of wage, waste space
Why don’t you say what you really feel, Daz, instead of sugar coating it!!!!
No one has mentioned his chesting ability.
If he lost some weight, his chest might be more concave, and when he tries to control the ball, it will drop towards his feet, instead of ballooning all over the place!!
As for leaving, it all depends on the individual’s contract. Might be cheaper to keep and sell when contracts expire, and realistically, who’s gonna buy them???
I would definitely persevere with Kites, he needs a good run, so he can “put in his shift”, but Murray is no longer worth keeping, he has proved his vulnerability over and over.
“We should have no room for sentimentality, this is a business, and needs to be run efficiently and profitably”
Jez ” I’m a slimeball” Moxey. 3.2.10
FOWB
We can’t even beat AFC Telford United!
The same team played who were due to play Portsmouth reserves!
SEB plays 90 minutes against a Blue Square Premier League team and still can’t score!
“say no more”
Sometimes a striker just gets blocked. Sometimes the reasons are nowhere to be found. One thing is clear, Houston. SEB is not fat! He just happens to look it.
Friends of mine have suggested that the fact that he is now a father could have something to do with it, but I think I’ll dismiss that as well.
A third reason for the lack of goals could be that he was played too early after injury in the PL. He was only about 60% of his capacity when he came in and that is not fair and made him struggle and lose confidence. A confidence that has not returned since.
That I believe is a valid explanation. I had hopes that he could gain confidence by scoring tonight, but no goals. I have almost lost hopes for him this season now. I’m just glad we signed Doyle. Made a good performance tonight again for his Ireland. I think he is among the top 10 of strikers in the PL. Ebanks-Blake has a long way to go to reach that. If ever.
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, its probably a duck.
If he looks fat, plays like he’s fat, then he is probably fat.
I can only go on his appearance, I do not know the man personally, nor have I ever seen him with his clothes off, so can only go on appearances.
I dont care how much he weighs, he is still crap at the moment
FOWB
There were bound to be players who struggled the first year, just as there were bound to be players who took longer to recover from injuries than people predicted.
I predicted that one of the strikers, might have been Chris, would have trouble adjusting to the league and just not be good enough.
I have, Clive. Seen Ebanks-Blake without clothes, I mean. You can do it for £1 now if you buy the player calendar.
And there it is obvious that he doesn’t have a pound of overweight on his body. But he is not good enough – I agree – we all now that. But the question was why. And I believe that the reason is situated in his head – not in the rest of his body.
I saw that horrible calendar – looked like a homo-erotic w@nk mag!
Rather see them lifting the CCC cup than their tops off – looking like the dance floor of the Nighingdale!
I have to say that I dont think SEB is any fatter than he was when he was banging in the goals over the last two seasons. He has always had a big chest and arse – get your season review DVD’s out and take a look.
The difference is that no one noticed it when he was doing the business for us.
I know I have said this a number of times but seeing SEB and Kites in the Prem was one of the things I was really looking forward to this season. I said that as young players (too good for the championship) how they stepped up would make all the difference. To be fair to MM no one could have imaged SEB would be as aweful as he has been – when Mick compiled his list of players required for his big adventure I think whoever he signed would have been expected to play with SEB.
I wonder where SEB will go from here? If we stay up MM will undoubtably try to sign another striker, if we go down what will this season have done to his confidence? Still he is only 23 and all Wolves fans would love to see him come good. From what I have seen though I just cant see it happening – he looks to far short of the touch, speed, gile and fitness required.
After the kick in the guts of the Bolton game I also started to think about our last season in the Prem and how many of those players would walk straight into our current side. Answers on a postcard please but I think Irwin, Ince, Rae, Lescott (cheating a bit), Camara & Ndah. That’s half a side, and they were relegated! Although to be fair the league was harder that season.
Top blogging Sam. Stourbridge, agree with you.
Because a player is out of form, there’s no need to start banging on about his size etc, as he’s always been that build and always will be.
He’s just out of form! And the fact that he is, more than anything else, must kill Mick. Yes, Mick has made mistakes, but he could not have legislated that SEB would be so poor for so long. Even a string of 6/10 games would surely have been enough for an extra few points by now.
He would often look anonymous last season, but would pop up with a goal and nobody would blink an eyelid. EG Palace home, bagged after 10secs, job done. Also, QPR at home, when he looked bloody awful, but got the winner that got us promoted and everyone forgets!
Like Sam said, you can’t write him off just yet, just like I can’t write off KP in the cricket for having a load of bad innings. They’ll both come good IMO. Unfortunately, KP can work out his shortcomings on a dustbowl in Bangladesh with nobody caring. SEB hasn’t got that luxury, and we might be back in CCC by the time he works out his game.
Stourbridge, your point about our 2003 Prem side particularly interests me. I made a similar point mid-season. For a side that has gone down in history as a bunch of Premier whipping boys, I’d take at least 6 players out of it. I’d take Miller up front in a heartbeat. In any other season, this side would be adrift in the bottom 2 by now, with the points we have.
To clarify, I’d take: Naylor, Irwin, Ince, Rae, Ndah, Miller, Cameron. Even at a push, the much maligned Newton. At least he was an out and out right midfielder with years of Premier experience, unlike a full back playing the role. (even Iversen?!)
Do you omit Camara on ability or the fact he was a total tw@t?
No, an oversight sorry. I forgot him! As for Naylor…He used to miss the pitch with his crosses, let alone his intended target, but he was a square peg in a square hole and a million times better than Ward or Elokobi.
Not trying to be miserable here, but just my opinion.
Apart from Henry, Doyle, Craddock, Hannemann and Jarvis (possibly Jones), I’m struggling.
You are totally right about Naylor.
I just remember being sat in the John Island shouting ‘for f**ks sake Naylor’ as he blasted another cross into ASDA car cark!
Just like now when I say ‘For f**ks sake Henry get the ball forward more quickly!’
Only the players change – the frustration doesn’t!
Forgot about Cameron and Miller – Add them to my list too!
Have to draw the line at Naylor though – always looked like he had been sniffing glue! Too prone to the Ward-like hoooooofff up the line too! Actually no, he was better than Ward or big George!
Agree with a lot of that. I’d have Ince, Cameron, Rae, Kennedy, Camara, Naylor, Irwin. Though i’d want room for Jarvis in there.
Lescott was injured. Miller scored what …3? Ince Rae and Camara are the only ones who’d make this team with Irwin excellent cover for our full backs Even today’s Craddock is better than the one in 03 though still not fit to lace Michael Mancienne’s boots. The point being we tried the old way and now we’re trying the young way. If the Jones team had stayed up he’d have had to dismantle it the season after anyway. At least if this team survives we’ll have something to build on
Bob, I was thinking you were making a few good points there, but then you ruined it all with a bananas statement about Craddock.
Not fit to lace Mancienne’s boots?
You’re havin’ a larf mate.
The bloke has barely put a foot wrong this season.
His only problem is that he’s having to struggle alongside either Berra’s mistakes or Mancienne’s immense physical weakness.
In my eyes, Doyle has been the standout player by a country mile, but Craddock is nailed on second place. Without question.
This one has really got people going – I love it!
Bob – I did say lescott was cheating a bit, but Mancienne looks short in this league from what I have seen at the molineux this season (especially for someone reportedly on £1.5million wages per season!).
Here’s a radical solution – why dont we try a ‘balanced way’ with a mix of young and old? Oh sh*t it’s too late now as we made a balls up of the transfer windows!
I wouldn’t say Craddock is nailed on for second place. He wouldn’t have been in the first team had Mancienne not been struck down with illness!
Henry, and Jarvis would be the next two I would say.
Just because he scored a couple of goals shoudn’t mean he is second. I think he has done well but he is too slow and not smart enough to make amends for that.
Saying Mancienne is weak is silly, he really is not. Looks can be deceiving and his body may not look strong, but it is. He has the pace, and more importantly twice the football brain of any of our defenders.
Louie, nobody debates the qualities that you constantly bring up about Mancienne.
He is quick.
He is good on the ball.
He does read the game.
But there are also problems with his game that you seem blind to.
He gets caught out of position often. He’s cost us goals.
He gets muscled out by big strikers. This is a fact, based on seeing it with my very own two eyes on numerous occasions.
The way you talk Louie, is like you think he’s the complete package? Honestly, do you think he’s up there with the best centre halves in the Prem?
I take your points about Jarvis and Henry being impressive this season. Jarvis more so.
Thomas,
I know he is not the complete package. Nobody in our squad is at all. I jsut think he is better than Craddock.
All the faults people see in him (which can be true, mainly caught out sometimes). He is twenty one, and like our other young players will develop.
In a few years times I can see him being a regular at Chelsea and one of the best in the league. I really can. And I reckon Chelsea think this otherwise they would have sold him.
I just think he is a better choice than the others, and others will have opinions too. I everyone had the same opinion it would jsut be boring wouldn’t it?
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head Louie.
He will be good player ‘in a few years’.
We need him to be good right now.
And there’s no way he’s a better option than Craddock.
Berra maybe.
Have to agree with you Thomas. Saying Mancienne’s a world beater is laughable. He has the potential, but from what i’ve seen he looks a pretty poor defender. The best i’ve seen him is in the holding role. I’d take Jody every day of the week
A couple of games thatmade my mind up on Mancienne were Man City – where Adebayor left him on his @rse and Blues where Mick had to switch him as Jerome was turning him left, right and centre.
He is a million miles away from the Chelsea first team. That England call up (one) seems a long time ago. Average squad player at best – I doubt we would sign him given the opportunity.
It’s an age old question. Class or endeavour? Jody has indeed exceeded all expectation this season and he does appear to bleed old gold but he could play for another 20 years and never make the England squad which Mancienne will (again) within the next two years
I’d definitely take Camara when he was that age in 2003.
If Lescott and Murray had been fit who knows what could have happened.
I think Naylor and Ward are quite similar really, with Naylor a more natural full back. The centre backs we have now are better and I’d rather Milijas (if Mick would play him ofr more than 60 mins egery fortnight) than any of the other midfielders. Of course there was Rae and Ince but they were getting on as was Cameron.
Agree with Bob, we tried the old EXPERIENCED way and did it work? No.
Now we have Mick who wants young and hungry with not much experience and it seems to be working, and there is a back up plan for if it goes wrong.
Miller! In a heartbeat are you kidding. Ben, he was good but no where near as good as Doyle or dare I say it SEB.
He scored what, 3 goals? Did many moan about his miserable tally? Can’t remember, I guess it’s jsut because of the goal against United.
That’s two more than SEB has managed so far – or looks like managing for the rest of the season (and I guess Miller’s were all from open play?).
Bring back Steve Claridge I say! Leave Keane and Bull on the bench! ha,ha,ha!
I defo prefer Doyle – but would rather have seen Miller on our bench than Keogh, the Hof, BCO or Vokes! Especially with Man Utd at the weekend!
Miller was injured, then played out of position on the right of midfield instead of a striker for most of the season, if memory serves. Am I stretching this hypothetical debate by saying I picked Miller as a striker, to play as a striker, in a 4-4-2 with Doyle? Or can I only choose the Miller that was out of position all season? I’d want him today, for sure, but I digress!
And Bob China, you’d have Irwin as back up for Ward then? Seriously?!
We can all eulogise over our ‘young and hungry’ policy as we have done since Mick came here. I am all for it.
Maybe I am going on a bit of a spurious argument as I’m not looking at a big picture.
All I (and Stourbridge) am talking solely about that 2003/04 team, and how many of the players would get into today’s team to keep us in this league come May.
I choose a good 7 players from a team that is consigned as a dogshit Premier League team. That’s all.
Yes today’s boys are young, but I seem to recall Moxey telling us all that we bought big in the Championship in 2002/03 so we wouldn’t have to strengthen when we got there as we’d stay up with experience. This young and hungry mantra sounds great, just like the ‘experienced’ one in 2003 did, but it will count for little if we don’t stay up.
Denis Irwin v Stephen Ward = ha,ha,ha lets ask any football fan who is the better player- it’s not even worth commenting on!
Irwin is probably a better player now, but to be fair to Ward he was signed as a striker not a left back!
Of course Irwin was better than ward, no doubt about that
Ward was signed as a striker, but I think most will agree he is better at left back? I think ward will become a decent left back though
Stourbridge I disagree, If we had option to buy Mick definitely would. He has not been played at centre back for a while because of the form of Berra and Craddock who have done well in his place.
I mean buy Mancienne. Haha Missed that out
Ha,ha,ha – If I could buy Mick I’d shove him under my staircase until he promised never to say ‘put in a good shift’ ever again!
Funny how people see the game differently isn’t it? I dont rate Mancienne or see any form from Berra! But I am a miserable fan I admit it! Guess that’s the fun of this blog though!
denis was about 38 that year! His legs had clearly gone. It would’ve been a great opportunity for ward and foley to learn was all i was saying
They need to learn fast or it will be too late!
Don’t start me on foley either – he’ll never make a midfielder as long as I have a hole in my a___!
Square pegs, square hole please!
From the Express and Star…
Villa boss Martin O’Neill is reported to be keeping tabs on Wolves midfielder Karl Henry.
Surely not – hope he comes in with a good bid. Could be our best bit of business since Jamie Smith went to Palace! (at least Dick Turpin wore a mask!)
2003 vs 2009 team?
One had relegation written over it from day 1. Remember Blackburn away, Charlton at home anyone?
The other is in with a fighting chance of staying up and is competing.
On the other topic – pure comedy to say a Professional Footballer who trains everyday is fat. SEB is suffering from the step up, his weaknesses are exposed like never before and his confidence is shattered. Time for him to have a look at his game, get his head down and improve his touch, movement etc.
Matt, but hasn’t the 2009 team not got relegation written all over it because the league is so shockingly poor?
The start back then was shocking, but we did have as many moments of encouragement (Man Utd home, Leicester 4-3 after being 3 down, Everton home)
To flip it another way…Would the ’03 team have stayed up if the league was as poor as this one?
Maybe Clive is right – I should stop hypothesising!
Also the Premier league is p**s poor this year compared to back then.
We never have a better chance to at least boost Morgan and Moxey’s bank accounts for two years running. As fans if we do stay up we can look forward to buying even more quality like Halford, the Hof etc
Maybe we could start a list of “fat players” from history – I’ll start with…
* brian jensen
* steve cherry (remember him pulling a big mac out of his bag and taking a bite during a game! when the south bank were chanting you fat b… at him hillarious)
* Paul Stewart – when we had him on loan
Then there was Piggy Wharton
Skipper Mike Bailey looked fat, but had a barrel chest.
Frankie Munroe was big too.
And Danny Hegan should have been fat, the amount of booze he put away.
And John Holsgrove who was fat but didnt look it coz he was 6′ 7″ tall!!!
FOWB
Agree Ben the 04 league was much stronger. I reckon the team would survive a year like this one
I think Ron Flowers would be better in goal, with David Burnside playing right back, Billy Wright at center forward and Stan Cullis in the tea room.
Who the fuck cares about then and now comparisons?
What matters is the next match, and the ones after that, not digging up old
players.
We’ve all got our favorite “past 11″, but so what?
Let’s move on with what we’ve got now, shit or not, and get behind the Lads on Saturday, and stuff the Red Shite of Manchester!!!
I’m writing this at 8.30 in the morning, hoping that ferdinand and Rooney get niggling knocks tonight which will keep them out of the line up for Saturday, but not damage thier world cup places.
FOWB
I care you old fart, hence the debate.
If the only thing that matters is the next match, we may as well close the blog down and leave it exclusively for prediction threads, which you’d never be interested in.
Using your grumpy argument, I should never look at your picture in a gold and black jester outfit in 1974 (I keep it under my pillow BTW), listen to stories about playing Juve in the UEFA Cup, and dodging punches from Leeds fans at the train station.
Just get yourself a coffee and humour me!
You and your Dad are just like clockwork mouses!!!!
Wind you up and off you go!!!!
Great fun piss taking on this site!!!
When are you coming over here, to watch a real sport, like baseball????
Be a bit boring if we just talked about the next match all the time!
especially as it is likely we will get dicked 3-4 nil!
It gets pretty boring here sometimes, reading the same stuff over and over.
Why don’t we discuss something all red blooded males like and have an opinion on, ……………knockers!!!!
Personally, I prefer women with them, the bigger the better.
In fact the only tits I don’t like are the ones that play for sandwell town.
FOWB
I’m with you Clive – big knockers are best.
Some of my mates prefer them to ‘look like a twelve year old boy’ which I find quite disturbing!
Ben – I dont think it has relegation written all over it. We are not in the bottom three. One of the relegation places has been taken by Pompey barring a miracle. There are two places left and we are one of a number of clubs battling to stay away from them. We have never been cut adrift. You couldnt say that in 2003.
Yes there were highlights that season but there were also some major drubbings the frequency of which we havent seen this season. Also I would say the double over Spurs, the battling performance against Everton and Villa were this seasons equivalent highlights.
“Would the ‘03 team have stayed up if the league was as poor as this one?” – not sure this can be answered with any degree of accuracy. Interesting debate tho.
However there is one thing I have no doubts about and that is the crap standard of the men in black both then and now. Shocking is not the word. CCC refs are inept but this lot in the PL are bent.
Can’t disagree really, just trying to throw something out there – you’re right…It’s impossible to answer my question, but something to while away the hours before Man Utd!
But my memory of the drubbings were that they all came before Xmas?
As for the men in black. Agree completely. And we’re all told to respect them!
Here, here Matt – totally agree.
Not been one to moan about Refs before this season but from what I have seen there is a hidden agenda against all of the smaller clubs (not just Wolves). I’ve watched 90% of Wolves home games live this season and seen decision after decision waved away only to see blatent penalties when I watch the highlights.
We too have scored a couple of dodgy offside goals, but that no way makes up for all the decisions given against us.
Yeah the respect campaign – what a joke!
Does anyone know what the rules are for players pulling out of international duty? Looking at Utd Vidic is not playing for Serbia and Rooney might not play tonight. Does this mean that these players cant play on Saturday?
The rules are simple.
What Ferguson wants he gets, whether it’s players rested from international duty, or Fergie time at the end of a game, until they score the winner or the equalizer.
The rest of us don’t matter.
Has anyone looked at the stats of Utd games with regard to how much fergie time is played when they are winning??
Be a task for you, Ben, as you aint got anything else constructive to do, except watching the clock until Saturday!!!
And while I’m on to you, Young Benjamin, it’s Mr. Old Fart, and you are a sad, sad bastard if you keep a 35 year old picture of me under your bed.
Why don’t you carry a picture of your left hand, like all good wankers do???!!!!
FOWB
Maybe we will get a second suspended fine for playing our first team in this game.
They are all pretty weak compared to the top four, so if we cant play squad members where does it all end?
Never Forgave Rab C Nesbit (Fergie) for selling us his waste of space son – if we get to 90 mins and we are level with them I will be amazed!
64 comments! Are we on for some kind of WolvesBlog record?
now its 65, any more offers??
66 – I’m just trying to get into the european places on the home page leaderboard!