31 points, 7 above the dropzone and 15th in the table.
Absolutely brilliant Wolves.
That electrifying performance at Upton Park was undoubtedly the pinnacle of the season to date, as we picked West Ham apart and ruthlessly dispatched another of our relegation rivals.
Kevin Doyle gave Wolves the lead at Goodison Park
My old man even cracked a smile, pumped his fist jubilantly and proclaimed a word I never thought I would hear him say in connection with Wolverhampton Wanderers – Europe.
That was of course in jest, but it demonstrates perfectly the energising effect the last three games have had on the old goal faithful.
And so our heroes return to a buoyant Molineux, with a united crowd hoping to witness another courageous performance from our rapidly improving side. Confidence should be sky high in the home dressing room, but across the hall, the opposition are in pretty good shape too.
Having seen off Man City last night to continue their excellent from and cement their place just below the clutch of teams challenging for the Champions League, Everton are rampant at present.
The return from injury of key players such as Phil Jagielka and the classy Mikel Arteta has taken them to a new level and they now look capable of handing out a beating to anyone. It is not a good time to be playing them.
However, seven defeats on the road for the Toffees should encourage Wolves and a decent home win is certainly long overdue.
There’s a few selection dilemmas for Mick McCarthy with Guedioura and Mancienne both pressing for a place in our three man midfield and Big George looking determined to hang onto his slot at left-back ahead of Stephen Ward.
After such a strong showing at West Ham, I would imagine the same eleven will take to the field on Saturday, so that’s:
Hahnemann
Zubar
Craddock
Berra
Elokobi
Foley
Henry
Mancienne
Jones
Jarvis
Doyle
I wonder if Dave Edwards will make the bench? I’d love to see the Welsh international back in action, even if it’s only a small cameo. I suppose with the team doing so well, the temptation will be to hold him back.
I was pleased to see Halford on the bench on Tuesday. I know he’s not exactly a fans favourite but if you’re chasing a game or looking to see out a few minutes, it can’t do any harm to have a bloke who can throw the ball half the length of the pitch knocking about.
You might call me an optimistic fool for getting sucked in by our good form, but I’m going for a Wolves win – 2-1.
If we do get it, I believe we’ll be on the verge of crossing the line, which would be a fantastic achievement with six games still remaining after Saturday.
If you’re going to the match, give the lads the reception they deserve, get behind them and have a great time.
Up The Wolves
As a little bonus, Richard Knowles, lifelong Toffee, has taken the time to give us his thoughts ahead of the big game at the weekend. He spoke to us earlier in the season before the match at Goodison Park, so we’re delighted to welcome him back. Here’s what he had to say:
This weekend’s fixture between our clubs should be a classic, well judging by our respective midweek results. Typically it will probably end in similar fashion to your home game with our lovely neighbours – a 0-0 bore draw with possibly one shot on target.
Fair play to Wolves for the results in the last ten days, 7 points out of 9 from three tricky away games is something the players, fans and club should be rightly proud of.
I said in a rambling before the game at Goodison that I hoped and thought you would stay up this season; I see no reason to change my mind now.
The club needed to find a different way of playing to the previous season in the Championship. A solid, defensive set-up with the option of good counter attacking play. In Kevin Doyle you have a great head to the front line.
As for the game I hope to see Wolves being a little more attack-minded, especially given the recent results, although I expect our great win at City might make you think a point is a good result.
For Everton I expect a win, but know the game will be tough and, with the greatest of respect, think a point or less will be a bad haul for us.
The keeper Hahnemann is on good form and Doyle is leading the line well, but just like Everton, Wolves have found the team spirit that can get performances and points from teams who individually may have better players.
Would I want any Wolves players in Everton’s squad? Doyle is probably the only one, although the team spirit is something many teams would like; see West Ham!
I’m going to go for a 1-1 draw on Saturday, but if Pienaar, Arteta, Osman and Cahill put on a show, I think it’ll be three points for us.
Good luck for the last few games, after 5pm on Saturday of course, I reckon I’ll be back to Molineux to cheer on Everton in the Premiership next season.
I don’t really expect any points from this one – just don’t hurt Tim Cahill. Isn’t that right Daz.
A point would again be amazing though for momentum.
Yep, kick him. don’t maim him.If ever one player was central to a Nation’s WC hopes it’s Cahill… more important to us than Rooney is to England
On viewers’ choice T’om… so can;t record it, so another “go-to-bed-at-3am” night…. and a dirty look from her indoors
I’m meant to be out at a cocktail party at a mate’s place. I might have to pull the it’s midnight, lets go home card, so I can catch the second half
And I don’t know about “if ever there was one player”, I reckon Adebayor for Togo last time was more important than Timmy for us, but he is really, really, really crucial.
It could be worse for you, you could have daylight savings and be going to bed at 4am.
True, no daylight savings here. Which means that now teh UK have put their clocks forward, I get to see the games at midnight
Three points in the bag.
They flatter to decieve, and Yakiebooboo or whatever his name is, is vastly over rated.
Everton will be cocky and thinking we are a pushover.
We have to win at home sometime!
MM will keep the same team that started, and we will be triumphant, have no fear!!!
They are not showing it live on my TV stations so it’s gonna be swearing at the ‘puter again!!
FOWB
Clive, where has this optimism come from? I love it.
I’m always optimistic, I just like winding you lot up like clockwork mices!!!
Back in the “olden” days, when we played on Saturday afternoons, if we lost, I was miserable up until about Tuesday afternoon, then come Wednesday, looking forward to the next game with the recent loss a fading memory.
My house, truck and body ( I have one tattoo) are shrines to WWFC, but as previously stated on this show, I have no filters, so what I’m thinking comes out regardless!
I still think we will go unbeaten for the rest of the season.
FOWB
I think you were just hormonal.
I don’t know about that, but I made a few whores moan in my time!!!
FOWB
I like Everton and their mighty midgets midfield. I think a point would be a good result.
Snatch your hand off for a point right now!
Everton are in good form, so it’s going to be tough!
I’d take a point, momentum and all that. Everton haven’t done as well this season as they’d expect either so they’ll want a good run in to prove a point.
Keep the same team and I hope the Mol crowd dont expect too much. Just because we’ve played well over the last 3 games doesn’t mean we deserve anything, we have to earn it again. At least we can go at this game a little more freely, i expected 4 points from the last 3 so maybe the liberation of a good win and the safety net we have made will give us the performance we need.
Spot on Sam!
3 points would be dreamland but I expect no more than a point at best and if Hull or Burnley fail to register then Happy Days even if we get beat, especially as they are both at home and playing ‘beatable’ teams!
yep, a point wud do me too. were we to win, i wonder what odds mick getting manager of month? and is that award given purely on pts gained in a month (or other circumstances on top of pts,like the context of a relegation scrap v a man utd title team?) all pretty irrelevent…just wondering
Should be a decent game with both teams in form, and if we attack them, and there’s no reason we shouldn’t, then it could go either way. I’d go along with the rest and take a point defo, it’s another towards 36/37
I’ll go for 2-2
I’ll take a point and hope Moyes holds onto the ball a little bit longer than usual and MM bites his nose off. This would ensure that we get some media coverage…… mind you they would probably talk about how well Everton have done this season still.
What pisses me off is the media are still going on about how badly West Ham played, not the fact that we played so well that they were not allowed any room.
Fuck ‘em all, half of them never seem to have been to the games they report on anyway.
FOWB
Clive, I couldn’t agree more (one decent win and love and peace breaking out all over eh). And bloody Sullivan saying they made us look like Man United! We made them look like W*** ***m more like!
Let’s not go overboard, I’m still gonna piss people off on this blog………….or at least try to, that’s my mission in life!!!!
You came dngerously close to swearing in your last blog entry. In the future, will you please refer to them from the Sandwell Crem as the shit.
Thank you.
a bit of decorum goes a long way!!!!!!!!!!!!
FOWB
Every point is one point closer to clinching it. Let’s just hope no one gets injured.
I can’t believe the press are still going on about West Ham, and their poor performance against us.
No less than 3 headlined articles in today’s Electronic Telegraph.
If any other team had given them such a stuffing, it would be” how brilliant, etc, etc”, but no, coz it’s us, then no praise at all for the way we totally demolished them.
Hope the fuckers go down now.
Bollocks to them.
3 points today, easy peasy.
FOWB
West Ham are in big trouble now, they have a pretty tough run in.They would have banked on 4 points from us and Stoke, and they got a big fat zero