I’ll be completely honest, I think Wolves are safe.
Even if the worst should happen and we lost the remaining three games, I don’t think Hull or Burnley have what it takes to overhaul us. Aston Villa’s comfortable midweek victory at the KC Stadium extinguished any doubt in my mind that we might not achieve what we set out to do at the start of the season – survive.
Wolves played poorly at Ewood Park in the 3-1 defeat
That being said, we shouldn’t take our foot off the gas and a home fixture against a Blackburn side who aren’t particularly good away from home, represents an excellent opportunity to secure the victory we need to make it a mathematical certainty.
To achieve that, Wolves will have to score at least one goal, which is something we can all agree is long overdue. I just hope we come out of the blocks quickly and get on the front foot, as we have done in the four home wins we’ve managed thus far.
Team selection will also play a part and I’d personally like to Milijas given a start alongside Jones and Mancienne in the center of the park. The Serbian just gives us that little bit of menace in the final third, as well as outstanding delivery from dead balls. He’s obviously in a three way tussle with Edwards and Guedioura to secure that slot, but I think this weekend he might just get the nod.
That would mean a team of:
Hahnemann
Zubar
Craddock
Berra
Elokobi
Foley
Mancienne
Jones
Milijas
Jarvis
Doyle
I know we’ve all been bored to tears with some of the performances of late, even though the results have been reasonable. An early Wolves goal in this one should see the game open up a bit, which would make it a more entertaining spectacle. Let’s hope we get it.
This won’t be the first time I’ve made my way to Molineux, half expecting Wolves to get the job done against a side most people feel we can beat on our own turf. However, victory is not a foregone conclusion and if we don’t play well, Blackburn certainly have enough to put us to the sword convincingly. We only have to look back at the battering they handed out to us at Ewood Park earlier in the season.
Still, I’m going for a home win, simply because we still need it and Blackburn don’t, so hopefully that little bit extra desire will see us through.
2-1 to Wolves.
As always, if you’re going to the game have a great time and get behind the lads. Don’t forget to put your vote in for the Player of the Season award either. According to the Wolves Blog poll, Kevin Doyle is likely to take home the trophy with just under half of the overall votes. Jody Craddock with 26% and Marcus Hahnemann 16% are closest behind. That seems about right to me. Will be interesting to see how our poll reflects the official count.
Up The Wolves.
Boring yes, but I’ll take it for a season or two…or three even.
What teams entertain in this league? Nothing in the bottom half so lets be realistic and take survival for a few years.
Player of the season has to be Doyle by default but I agree, JC is a close contender. I’d give signing of the season to Hahnemann mind….great deal.
Up the boring Wolves.
I’m going to piss off a few of you, but I think there really is only 1 candidate for player of the season, Marcus the Yank.
Since he came into the side, the defense has been 100% better, except Ward, and he has given everyone confidence with his no nonsense approach, handling and assurance,
Yes, Doyle has been brilliant, but for me, Hahnemann edges him out.
Craddock is a good third place, but his improvement is down to Big H.
Just thought I would stir the pot!!
FOWB
I’d say that’s probably one of the least controversial things you’ve said Clive.
There’s definitely an argument to say that Hahnemann should take home the gong. Like you say, he’s been a revelation since coming into the side and it’s no coincidence that his selection coincided with an upturn in our defensive performances.
Personally, I think it’s close between Hahnemann, Doyle and Craddock. Jarvis and Henry have had good seasons but I don’t think they’re quite up there.
I’ve just go to give it to Doyle though for some superhuman performances. Keep in mind that we couldn’t have played the 4-5-1 without him and you could easily argue everything else would have therefore crumbled.
Nothing wrong with expressing your opinion Clive. Hahnemann has been good, vital in these last few games as we struggled to create chances. It’s almost as if Doyle had an unassaiable lead in the player of the season which has slowly been cut into, but i’d still give it him.
I’d give a mention to Jarvis too who i think’s been good. Has done well to stay free of injury for a whole season.
Talk of late fitness test for Jarvis.. surely it can’t be Ward to replace him? SEVEN defenders at home?! Mick certainly means it when he says he’d take three 0-0s so it wouldn’t shock me.
I too would like to see Milijas.. and, given I think we are safe, SEB (and Wolves) could really do with him getting a goal at some point in next 3 games otherwise it’ll hang over him all Summer.
Ward was signed as a striker remember!!!! As unbelievable as that might seem!
Adlene for me – need more attacking options if Jarvis is out.
Is The Cowardly Lion coming out from the bushes again??!!
If MM plays Ward and 6 other defenders, then he really has lost the plot.
We should go for Blackburn’s jugular from the off, Big Sam will be expecting us to play for the draw, and we’ll take him by surprise, score a quick four goals, then sit back and defend!
Oops, I just woke up.
I’ve got more chance of scoring in Madam Clarkes, which has been closed for years, than our lot.
Anyrode, FOWB
Need to score a goal at least – hate to say it though but I would be happy with a draw!
From memory we have a terrible record against Blackburn in recent games.
No ticket for this one so I am praying iraqigoals is working!!!!!
We can’t score, and Blackburn are pretty dire away from home . Has got 0-0 written all over it, I bet the bookies won’t even take bets on it !!
We should be going for as many points as possible, not just to be safe.
This is an unusual year for points total at the bottom of the table and any less than 37 or 38 will be seen as a “would have been relegated in a normal year” failure by many perspective recruits.
I think our Wolves side would have gone down in most other years. We have been very lucky to have three very poor sides in the league this year, we won’t have that luxury next year
I agree Rich.
There are some poor sides in the Prem this season (and some better sides coming up next year). But at the end of the day we didn’t select the teams – so all we can do is finish out of the relegation places and push on next season.
We have to use the summer transfer window to bring some real quality into the squad – otherwise the only benefit will be enjoying 4 years of parachute payments! We have been lucky this season, but Morgan must invest in at least four quality first team (not squad) players – around £20million at least by my calculations.
I know it’s a case of “I’m alright jack so pull up the ladder” but does anyone else think the extension of the parachute payments is just there to make the gap even wider? Starting a leccy league season with £16million more than your rivals must be a massive advantage in anyones books!
Thank god we are in this exclusive club, as I fear there will come a time where only a small number of yo-yo clubs will realistically have a chance of promotion to the promised land!
I think a close one nil win, but a nil nil draw is very likely. Mujangi Bia came off at half time in the reserves match, which I think means he will be on the bench atleast. I expect Ward to start if Jarvis fails the late fitness test.
In the player of the year poll, I voted for Doyle. The next two for me would be Henry and Jarvis. Craddock and Hahnemann would be up there too. I think Craddock’s partner Berra should get some credit too.
Heart says Jarvis for player of the season, but head says Doyle or Craddock!
Great to see Jarvis really make the step up from the players that won promotion last season. He has really grown in confidence as the season has developed. His goal against west ham is probably my favourite for the season.
Doyle has been outstanding all season – I have never seen a bloke that small win so many impossible headers against a massive centre half! His last couple of performances have looked a little jaded compared to the high standards he has set – maybe our own superman is finally feeling the strain of playing up front on his own for almost an entire season!
Where would we be without the goals Craddock has scored this season? Yes a couple were offside, but who cares! Our second highest scorer has won us points with goals and great defensive performances – his best season as a Wolves player by a country mile!
I hope Mick’s decision to start with Ward & Edwards works in our favour. I would have loved to have seen him make a brave decision & start with both Milijas & Guedioura! Looks like we are going for a nil-nil then! I hope I’m wrong and we get the win to make us safe with 2 games to go.
fucking yes. well done seb, talk about stealing the headlines.
but have to admit those who rushed the pitch, idiots. we dont want to look like hull who celebrated last season for just staying up. disappointed with that tbh. dont get me wrong i danced round my living room like a loon but i think invading the pitch is silly. hope we dont get penalised for that.
only upside was it was good to see the fans pick seb up in celebration, hopefully will do his confidence some good!
Hope they don’ drop him. Maybe Mick wioll give him a couple of games!
Does anybody else think it’s a bit stupid to be running on the pitch when we’re not actually safe though? Hopefully Liverpool can seal it for us tomorrow.
Great header from SEB. It’s almost like he’s been out injured for a year and is continuing from where he left off. Scored the goal to send us up and scored the goal to (probably) keep us up
Great header by Sylvan, first touch I think. We were pretty poor, but we probably just about deserved a draw.
Weird decision to put Iwelumo on, and he was bloody awful. I wouldn’t mind him if he won it in the air all the time, but he never does!
I have a soft spot for big chris but im just not sure about him in the prem, seems a touch slow.
come on mick, gets some quality in this season. stuff a new left back, we want some creative players, people who can put the ball into dangerous areas and someone else to to help put them in.
With hull down and skint anyone want to see if we can get hunt and bullard. £5million for the pair?
I don’t want Bullard, think he is a bit too over rate. Plus he’s getting on and he’s injury prone. Wouldn’t mind Hunt, but where might he play? Agree on left back, and maybe a top centre back.
right wing
Kightly ain’t coming back kidda…
There’s optimism for you!
He’s back training isn’t he? Hopefully a good pre-season and he will be back flying.
Never been the same player since that injury vs reading last season
Good result again, but (the goal apart) we were not really at the races today. We had to rely on the woodwork twice and we could not cope well with crosses – Pedersen’s deliveries in particular. I have to say that I thought Blackburn were the better side, especially in the first half.
Great goal for SEB though. Couldn’t see it coming, but was glad when it did! Here’s hoping he can notch a couple or three more in the last two games.
The Hong Kong satellite feed cut off just as the crowd started to run on the pitch. Shame – sounds like that could have been some of the best entertainment of the day!
If you think that’s bad.
My iraqi goals coverage switched to the Hull v Sunderland game at half time for no reason what so ever!
Managed to find another link with no sound after around 10 mins of frantic searching!!!
To be fair when the final whistle went I was too busy dancing around the room/watching skysports news for confirmation of the end of the Hull game to care about the pitch invasion!
Can’t understand the pitch invasion really. Fair enough last season when you have won the championship. But for finishing out of the relegation places and celebrating before everything is totally signed, sealed and delivered seems an unnecessary risk to me. Probably just bitter as I normally sit in the upper tier Steve Bull and would need a rope to join in!
Like my Liverpool season ticket mate said last year after the last three games of the season ‘You like a pitch invasion you lot!’
Well done SEB – great header, and I hope it brings the confidence required to be a premier league striker. I hope MM also starts him in the next two games so we can see if he has turned a corner.
Agree with everyone else on BCO – we need a replacement in the summer! I think MM probably knew it all along too – given the signing of the Hof!
It’s interesting isn’t it. Those players who’ve been out there haven’t been able to score, yet SEB’s first chance and he scores. He just looked a lot more up for it and you could see what the goal did for his confidence.
Dead right, he should start the next two games then it’s decision time in the summer
Well done to all the morons that run on the pitch. We now risk points deduction and another fine.What exactly where those buffoons celebrating?