Should Wolves, as expected now, clinch Premiership survival I wonder which results will have pleased Mick McCarthy most come the end of the season?
Whilst supporters will fondly look back on champagne victories at White Hart Lane and Upton Park, I suspect our manager will be equally satisfied with the clutch of dour nil nil draws we’ve ground out to add vital points to our tally.
View from the away end (click to expand)
Yesterday was another exercise in restraint from Wolves, containing Fulham comfortably for the most part but struggling to piece together any real attacks of note themselves. It’s certainly wasn’t easy on the eye, but as we close in on our ultimate goal for the campaign, none of the old gold contingent gathered in the Putney End gave two hoots.
The players were cheered off as heroes, shirts were tossed into the crowd and all round there seemed a shared consensus that this season will now have a happy ending. Just as well any complacency that might be setting in, has been confined solely to the stands.
All eleven players contributed to this gritty, dogged performance, which demonstrated this team won’t rest until the maths tell them they can.
The brightest star undoubtedly shone from an unexpected place – left back. Big George was quite simply superb from start to the finish, staying rock-solid and saving our bacon with a last ditch tackle to deny Damian Duff and almost certain goal. The Hulk looked anything but a weak link on this evidence and it was pleasing to see the highly criticised defender show the levels he’s capable of reaching.
Another player with a question mark hanging over his head also upped his game. Christophe Berra was at his best, repelling everything that came near him, shackling Bobby Zamora and most crucially, throwing his body in front of a Damian Duff shot midway through the first half. When you’re defending your penalty area and the game isn’t stretched, the Scottish international is in his element and a major asset to the cause. Nobody can deny that.
Zubar and Craddock continued to meet the standards they’ve set for a long time now and were both exceptional. The midfield trio were more effective than impressive with Mancienne perhaps most prominent, sitting in front of the back four and showing great discipline throughout to hold his position.
Jones got on the ball when he could and pulled the strings, but struggled to really get into areas where he could cause damage. The same could be said of Dave Edwards, the man who literally never stops running. Despite one foray into the Fulham area that saw him smash a right foot volley narrowly over the bar, he was largely ineffective despite bags of effort and enthusiasm. I’d still prefer to see a more cultured, measured midfielder in that slot, so perhaps Guedioura or Milijas will be given the nod against Blackburn, as both looked lively when they were introduced from the bench.
Foley and Jarvis did what they always do, with the latter always a great outlet. A couple of times in the second half he sprinted forward dangerously but was never given a good enough pass to get in behind. As a result, Doyle was starved of any decent service and despite a clever snapshot just before half-time, he never threatened the Fulham goal. His overall play was still impressive, although he wasn’t at his devastating best, as he hasn’t been for a few weeks. If he’s tired, I’m certainly not surprised.
With Burnley losing and Hull only able to manage a draw, the point Wolves took back to Molineux was certainly an important one and it sets up the prospect of finishing the job against Blackburn next Saturday.
And after so much talk this season about Wolves doing the minimum to stay up, wouldn’t it be nice to take care of business with two games to spare?
It wasn’t the best of games, but we got a good point. Thought Elokobi did well, especially when he saved us against Duff. Berra is good defensively, but boots it a bit too much.
I was in the observer today, as part of the verdict for the Wolves game. Here’s the link (scroll to the bottom): http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/apr/17/fulham-wolves-premier-league
Win v Blackburn and we must be safe. Let’s hope Hull lose to Villa in midweek too.
Seriously…. These are the results we simply couldn’t get before. Nil – nil to Wolves.
Barring a miracle we are going to stay up and you don’t need Katie Price to tell us we need more up front.
So it’s Blackburn, Pompey and Sunderland to go…. I reckon all are going to end up draws in a similar fashion and that’ll do me.
The Midland derbies next year will be enough to start that volcano off again!!!
UTW
Nil-nil to the Wolves…could become a chant!
Nil Niiiilllllll to the wanderers……. I like it!
Cheers for the write-up Tom, another valuable point and great defensive performance. Zubar, Craddock, Berra and Elokobi looked an extremely capable premiership defence yesterday!
I like your optimism but don’t think we’ll be quite there after Blackburn, as we haven’t scored in 4 games, and don’t seem to be creating chances. I wonder if Mick’s tempted to start two upfront on Saturday, Doyle could thrive playing off Lumes.
However, small complaint, but overall very happy with the effort from the lads!
While it was a good point and we are heading towards safety, we are definitely struggling to create chances. I don’t see Mick changing it before the end of the season, and he don’t need to. As he said, 3 more 0-0s and we’re safe. The goalscoring problem is a worry for the summer.
Berra and Elokobi, normally the two weak links in defence were impressive which is encouraging. At least we can rely on the defence at the moment if not the attack.
Perhaps we would be better of with Milijas or Guedioura in the side, especially at home, as they can create something from nothing.
A good point, even if it was as much of a snore as the Stoke game. We’re pretty safe now barring some real freak results, like – um – Wigan 3-2 Arsenal …
Craddock was immense in stifling, and getting under the skin of, Zamora (well, apart from when he let him get away for the shot that hit the post), and the whole back four did the business.
Not sure I agree that Guedioura and Milijas looked lively when they were introduced though. To me they both seemed subdued. My only memory of both is them putting the ball into the stands when attempting a delivery onto someone’s head (Milijas’ hoof out was from a dead-ball too – his much-vaunted left peg seems to have lost its lustre …). I’d stick with Edwards.
I only watched the 2nd half, was out at pub with “other” (ie non-football) friends. We looked very, very solid I thought – even the shot which hit the post was a bolt from the blue, against the run of play.
A good team effort, I’ve been wondering how Milijas would go in the Dave Jones role, as I think at the front of a midfield 5 is his spot and frankly was unimpressed. That said, I still think he can do it, and will be stronger next season once he’s had that year to adjust. Don’t forget about him!
Dreadful stuff …sorry, but we really have become a boring mind numbing team.If this is all we have to offer again next season, we may as well go down. At least Wigan play the game as it was intended, not bore the pants off the paying public.
We still need one more win, where the hell is that coming from?
“We still need one more win, where the hell is that coming from?”
Three x 0-0 draws! Pay attention!!
C’mon Dazza, a point at Fulham is a good result. We do need to start scoring a few at home though
Anyone else still a bit twitchy about staying up?
The Wigan v Arsenal game highlighted how freak results can happen and as the papers pointed out we havent scored a goal in 6.5 hours of football now. Dont want to sound like the voice of doom but for me the end of the season can not come quickly enough!
A draw was a good result away at Fulham (given their home record). Looking at the three remaining games…
Blackburn – for as long as I can remember we seem to have a poor record against this lot. Draw at best.
Portsmouth – hard to win away from home but I think this is our best chance of three points given their situation. More likely a 0:0 draw though!
Sunderland – please dont make us have to sit in terror on the last game of the season, Jones and Bent run our defenders ragged earlier in the season.
I think I would put Adlene back in the starting line up to give us a third player that will push forward with Doyle and Jarvis. At least this way we might register at least one shot on target!
i’m a bit twitchy too stourbridge. its that 11pts clear with 8games to go stat (2002) that accounts for it. i worry that hull will go and beat villa in the week,then its down to 3pts. we should be okay,but it doesnt stop me worrying!
True say Ben, but I think the difference between now and 2002 comes down to ones key word – ‘momentum’.
Albion went on an unreal run and looked like they were going to win every game. Wolves looked twitchy the second the tide started to turn.
This time round, we’re still picking up points, competing in games and not particularly looking like a side that’s on the verge of catastrophe. As I say, I think we’ll get a win at some point and even if we don’t, a couple of draws will be enough.
Hull by contrast aren’t exactly coming like an express train. OK, should they get three wins out of their last four games, they’re in with a real shout, but do you honestly think they will? I don’t.
I keep mentioned to people the last time Norwich City were in the Premier. They went on a decent run towards the end of the season, were fourth from bottom on the last day, and got destroyed by Fulham and ended up relegated.
I’m really scared something like that will happen to us; we need to be safe before the Sunderland game.
Too true Neil and Ben – can you imagine having to face Albion fans if we f*ck it up now? It would be worse than the 2002 debarcle!
I now regret kissing the premier league badges on my wolves shirt in front of my Albion mate when scoring a five-a-side goal! I was just tempting fate and asking for this to happen!
Come on the mighty reds tonight and the Villa later in the week!
I have a ticket for the Sunderland game and was looking forward to a day out in the sunshine! Hope it doesn’t turn into an edge of the seat all or nothing game!
I fully understand everyone getting a bit ‘twitchy’ and I’m still watching over other people’s results like a hawk, but let’s face it, we already know Pompey are down and Burnley are as good as down (well, they won’t catch us), so that leaves one spot.
Hull have Villa on Wednesday night and then Sunderland, again at home, on Sat. I think they both look winnable fixtures, but I feel they’ll struggle to get much out of either game. They need three points minimum, four in reality. I don’t think they’ll get them.
You can say what you like about Wolves being negative, not scoring goals and not offering enough in general going forward, but I still think there’s a win for us somewhere in these last 3 games, which would make other people’s results academic, for us anyway.
Hope you are right Thomas – for me Portsmouth is the chance for a win.
Twitchy? Dead right I am… Villa and Liverpool are useless and could hand Hull and West Ham a lifeline… should we then lose against Blackburn and Nathan Lloyds ridiculous blog may well come back to haunt him…and all of us !!
Isn’t this what being a Wolves fan is all about?
Nail biting, worrying ourselves sick, all the what ifs, etc, etc, etc.
My old Ma used to say that 90% of what you worry about never happens.
Villa and Liverpool still have the delusion they can get into Europe, so will go all out to beat Hull and Ham, even tho’ no one can get into Europe at the moment, Iceland has seen to that!
Fuck ‘em all, we are gonna stay up, buy some fantastic goalscorers in the summer, and finish in the top 4 next season.
If ‘Arry and that lot from North London can do it, despite being “doubled” by us, and having Rodney Trotter playing for them, so can we.
FOWB
In fairness – their starting line up against Arsenal cost over 70 million pounds (source – The Guardian), we have Hahnemann on a free, Zubar 3.5m, Craddock 1.75m, Berra 2.5m, Elokobi guess 500k, Henry 175k, Mancienne Loan, Jones 1.2m, Jarvis (undisclosed guess 200k), Foley (undisclosed but Luton were broke guess 250k), Doyle 6.5m
This for mine is roughly 17 million pounds. Not bad eh…
was there a point to this comment?
FOWB
Just comparing the relative costs of our squads – that we turned them over twice having paid about 1/4 the money to them. Passed the time at work.
Ha,ha,ha – didn’t realise how one word ‘Twitchy’ could generate such a response – the power of the blog! Glad I am not alone!
Anyone seen this…
Chelsea will make a decision on the future of on-loan defender Michael Mancienne this week but Wolves manager Mick McCarthy has warned that the England Under-21 star, who has been the star performer for the Molineux club this season, is not good enough to play for the London side yet. (Daily Mail)
Star performer my @rse! He wasn’t even in the team not so long back! Done ok since coming in for Henry but the £7million valuations would have me saying thanks for the memories!
Also…
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is to go to the World Cup – as a summariser for BBC TV. The 51-year-old former Republic of Ireland captain and manager, who skippered the Irish at Italia 90, acted as a co-commentator for the last tournament in Germany in 2006 and is to repeat the role in South Africa. (E&S)
Lets hope he uses the time to scout some decent players for next season (and doesn’t just waste the time milking our license fee!)
Agreed Stourbridge, he aint worth 7 mil, not even half. I reckon if we can get him on loan for another year then we should keep him, but if not then he aint worth it
I would say atleast three and a half million Rich, but seven seems alot. More than Doyle.
I think we might get him on another season long deal
Another slow news day for the Express and Star, so they drag up the bullsh*t again…
Lay off Elokobi warns Wolves boss
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has urged fans to give George Elokobi a break after insisting the left-back is well down the road to becoming as a Premier League player.
Elokobi was targeted by a small section of fans at Molineux in the goalless draw against Stoke but responded with a fine display in Saturday’s second 0-0 stalemate at Fulham and won a standing ovation from the away support.
From what I saw on the extended highlights on Football First big G played well against Fulham. Wouldn’t a more positive headline have been ‘Elokobi wins standing ovation’ or ‘Elokobi silences doubters’.
Or Elokobi stares at both (I’m sure there were only 2) booing fans. Fans disintegrate.
The odds of us going down were slashed from 50/1 to 33/1 after the weekend’s results.
I believe we can stay up and think we should. But with Wolves anything could happen.
33/1 is still long odds and the bookies don’t get it wrong very often!
Now I’m just confused!
Yeah it confused me too seeing as we’re the same points clear with one extra game
You never meet a poor bookie though…
one extra game gone I meant to say
It’s because we have less of a cushion now, with bolton and wigan both leapfrogging us.
First time I cheered for liverpool btw, hope the hammers get relegated!
Agreed Jub, fewer teams have to win games now for us to go down. I’m happy to keep knocking them down 1 point at a time.
Come on you Reds!!
At the time of going to press, Liverpool are leading 3 – 0, thanks to Green’s own goal. Cant see Hammers doing a Wigan.
One more hurdle overcome.
I saw the PL review show this morning, and they showed more of MM’s post match interview than they showed of the match.
Was it as bad as the Stoke game??
Fuck it, anyroad, who cares, we are Wolves and we are staying up!!!
FOWB
Not as bad as the Stoke game. Ball not being thrown around as much aswell. Fulham kept it on the floor, we did most times
Packed midfields and defences.
Get in!!!! Well done Liverpool, we now forgive you for Wards sending off at Anfield! (second favour they have done us this season!!!!)
Just need the mighty Villa to turn Hull over on Wednesday and we can have two days of feeling a little safer!