SEB - in the right place
If there is such a thing as ‘Second Season Syndrome’ Wolves are so far showing no signs of contracting the condition.
In fact, on the evidence of yesterday’s stirring second-half fightback, it seems entirely plausible that Mick McCarthy’s young side could very easily eclipse the achievements of last year.
To an outsider, yesterday’s scrappy one-all at Goodison Park will inevitably be attributed to an under-par Everton performance and consigned to the scrapheap of immediately forgettable Premier League stalemates.
Fortunately though, we’re not ‘outsiders’ and we didn’t just watch the ten seconds of footage crow-barred onto the end of Match of the Day, followed by Hansen and Lawrenson talking about the important issue of ‘Arteta for England’. Thanks for that, glad I stayed up til midnight.
No, this wasn’t just a score draw to tick off the coupon. Not to us. It was yet another clear example of just how good this Wolves side actually is.
We were battered in the first half. Everton enjoyed almost complete dominance of the football and spent the lion share of the 45 minutes camped out on the edge of our box. But the fact they only had one slightly controversial goal to show for their authority outlined the determination and character we have in abundance. Whenever danger loomed, there was always the boot of Berra, the head of Craddock or the hand of Hahnemann to rescue the situation.
But a goal down, Wolves needed more than defensive guile to leave Merseyside with anything other than a respectable defeat and having failed to string more than two passes together in the first hour of this contest, things looked decidedly grim on that front.
Enter Adlene Guedioura.
The tenacious Algerian changed the game, not just because of his individual contribution, but because his arrival signaled an important change in shape. Elokobi lumbered off, Ward slotted in at left-back and Matt Jarvis began prowling down his favoured left flank.
Suddenly we looked a threat and it wasn’t long before Guedioura mowed down two blue shirts, shifted the ball out to Doyle and made a lovely run into the box that freed a grateful SEB to fire home a deserved equaliser.
And just how pleasing was it to see our number 9 in there, exactly where we needed him, to gobble up the scraps and complete the comeback? OK, it was a tap-in, but everyone has to start somewhere and if this is the beginning of a long-overdue resurgence, I think we’ll all be delighted for the formerly prolific hitman.
A mention too for Kevin Doyle, for a lovely ball across the face of the penalty area which allowed his strike-partner to cash-in. It wasn’t his best game in a Wolves shirt, but nevertheless it was great to see him back out there.
It seems likely that Steven Fletcher will be fit and ready for the visit of Newcastle next week, so Mick better get his thinking cap on quick-smart and come up with a plan to make the most of his joint record signings and a forward who might just be getting into his Premiership stride.
Other conundrums lie ahead too. Think about the side we put out yesterday, how well they played and then consider the fact that £20 million worth of summer signings didn’t figure, as well as a clutch of other talents who could certainly aid our cause. No Fletcher, no van Damme, Mouyokolo, Hunt, Kightly, Edwards.
Two good results prove nothing of course, but don’t pretend you haven’t enjoyed a cheeky wry smile and an extra skip in your step at how things are shaping up at Molineux.
You can’t fool me.
* Just another shameless plug for my mate’s site as he’s promoting Birthday gifts for her on his excellent gift shop.
It’s been a great opening two games for us, but let’s try and keep our feet on the ground!
there’s no doubt that going forward we look stronger this season, and SEB must be causing a slight conundrum for MM, the obvious front 2 are Doyle and Fletcher. After a decent game for SEB against stoke and a goal v everton I’m sure he won’t be dropped.
let’s just hope our defence is stronger than villa’s next saturday!
Great point! If adlene has played his way into the team and van damme and fletcher are hopefully fit soon, who do you drop? Lovely position to be in. Good to see Newcastle stuff villa-they’ll be suitably cocky and presumptuous by the time they get to molineux.
Great result, things are looking good.
Who plays next saturday? I would guess Adlene will come in at the right with Jarvis on the left. He should rip Perch apart like he did to Hibbert right infront of a certain Mr Capello.
I reckon he will stick with Doyle and SEB, purely because they don’t deserve to be dropped. If we need a goal, he can bring Fletcher on. It’s great that we have all these options.
Anyone know when Kightly is fit? A question that has been repeated many times but it would be great for him to get a run out against Southend.
We must tempet this optimism.We beat a very poor Stoke side, and drew with a side that lost at Blackburn. Yes, it was a good result, but better teams would have buried a few of teh chances Everton had. Elokobi was woeful at left back, and we were totally over run in midfield. Blake did nothing until he scored , and it was only when Guediora come on that we looked like scoring. Yes, happy with teh result, but Newcastle’s 6-0 thrashing of Villa shows we are in for a tough game next week. Well done Mick on the subs, but we still need 2 or 3 more quality players
So doesn’t it show how good it was to recover and take something from a game where we were largely poor? Other teams would have rolled over but we didn’t. That’s a positive, escape with a point and improve where we went wrong
Fair play to SEB too. I’ve been crowing all week about Doyle and Fletcher so I’m glad he shut me up. I have been desperate too see Guedioura in the team, and for me is a nailed on starter
Agreed Rich, there were many positives, but, Everton would have been out of sight if they had got their shooting boots on. We deserved the point nonetheless and a credit to our fitness levels
Yeah well done Rich, you were right about not dropping SEB for this game.However, i haven’t seen any Wolves player in many a year with the touches and flair Fletcher showed last week.He would be first pick up front for me,certainly in home matches.
It’s difficult isn’t it NKOTB. Can’t we just play all three of them??
Having watched the first two games I’d still drop SEB if Fletcher and Doyle are both fit.
SEB has already looked sharper than last season, but Doyle and Fletcher just have that little extra with the ball at their feet.
Totally agree that Adlene should be on the right with Jarvis on the left.
Dazza my only surprise at your comment is that you have revealed your knowledge of the word ‘optimism’. I never thought that was in your vocabulary at all.
Not too sure what the word ‘tempet’ is though. Is that a euphemism for shafting?
My cable tv broke and I still haven’t even seen the goals. So no comment from me other than: bloody good result!
Let’s hope we can tempet Newcastle next week ….
LOL…typo…I meant to sat “temper”. I think we are getting ahead of ourselves in the expectancy stakes, and sooner or later we all know we will lose one of the game we thought we would win.Optimism is great but it does sometimes make us look daft
1. Im pleased the magpies ripped apart villa, its v v rare promoted teams win conseutive games and im still not convinced they wont be down there at the end of the season. For those reasons i still favour us next wek and whilst a point is always welcome, its a great opportunity for us to distance ourselves from a rival. Its just given our boys the reminder taht theyl have to play well too!
2. Iv said it before and will say it again. The 442 partnership that will do us best will be SEB and fletch…doyle is awesome but i dont think its a given that he wil play well with another player even one as classy as fletcher. I just dont see where those ‘tap ins’ will come from.
3. I dont think he’ll bring adlene in to start, JVD and Ward showed good form over a whole game and I think the algerian looks best coming off the bench anyway.
Im predicting same starting lineup on sat as stoke game (unless injuries).
4. who’s going to get a game tue: Doyle? Adlene? Miljas (the worst kind of game for him he wont perform)? Muyo? Will Zubes be fit?? Think most players will be rested.
Henners/Ikeme
Zubes(?) Stears Muyo Elokobi
Adlene Henry Jones Miljas Bia/Keogh
Doyle
not to mention the young lads Batth et al
Whats ur predicted line up tue?
Obviously this is a complete guess, but I’ll take a stab at it:
Hennessy
Batth
Stearman
Mouyokolo
Zubar
Milijas
Halford
Guedioura
Henry
Keogh
Winnall
Milijas really has to pull his finger out regardless of whether or not it’s his kind of game. Otherwise, he’ll remain on the periphery. Desire is his only problem. He’s got everything else in his locker to be in the first eleven.
Milijas will play against Southend but not the Toon. If Fletcher is fit, SEB will be on the bench, however Gued must start instead of Jones, and Elokobi needs to warm the bench too
Surely the logical choice is dropping ward for guedioura, jarvis on the left an# van damme back in for elokobi? dropping Jones unthinkable!
Van Damme isn’t ready to play left back. Mick said he needs to get up to the pace first and that will take a few games. He’ll put Ward there, who will do a job.
Ward has been one of the better players so far, and have to say looks far better at left back than George doncha fink?
Yep. Ward over Big G for me any day of the week.
Cant believe we have given the G man an extended contract really – works hard but is he really a premier league left back? Probably only signed him just in case we end up in a fight – then I’d defo want him on my team!
Spot on Thomas. Completely agree about Guedioura, his impact was quite stunning. I hope he starts ahead of Elokobi against Newcastle.
I had a look at the increased involvement of Matt Jarvis on my blog that might interest you boys: http://ghostgoal.co.uk/2010/08/23/everton-1-1-wolves-analysis/
We were horribly outplayed 1st half and Mick is right to point out that we shouldn’t forget that. Even so, we were presented with a problem and we solved it. More encouraging signs for me.
PS. Charlie Nicholas really hates us doesn’t he?!
Charlie Nicholas is a c___!
Excellent result.
Game not shown over here, just the goals, and what a brilliant ” Break your leg” tackle from Guedioura!!
However, they did show extensive footage from The Emirates and Wigan, and I dread to think how our defense is going to stand up to a pacy attack.
I think all of you lot are winding me up,
“Ward had a good game”
My arse.
Never. Just shows how bad Everton are.
Also, I predicted (somewhere) that Stoke would be relegation fighters this season. With their 2 outings so far, looks a good bet!
And with Wigan and West Ham confidently taking up their losing habits from last season, we should already be safe!!!
And, the shit look shit.
FOWB
After Ward’s brilliant tackle on Beckford, did you look away and convince yourself it didn’t happen?
Match saving tackle
Hi Guys
2 things
1) Is it not odd that Matt Hill is being used as Sportingbet’s mascot on the A League Fantasy Football website http://aleaguefantasy.foxsports.com.au/
2) How good is it that we’ve not (as far as I can remember) lost any first team players to “bigger clubs” since Lescott?
I don`t do many away games, but I thought our support at Everton was incredible.
My MOM was Karl Henry, almost single handed took on three very good, pacey Evertyon midfielders, particularly in the first half when Wards lack of pace and mobility was seized on by the opposition who played round him. How Ward was given a holding midfield roll, before Guidera is a joke.
Our back four were immense in the first half when under pressure from our midfield being overun by quick nimble skillfull players.
However second half with Ward out of the way was much better, although thank goodness Everton don`t play a quick winger. How will Ward fare against Routledge I don`t know, I suppose poor old Jarvis will have to bail him out again, and we lose our quickest attacking player as he will have to play very deep.
At this level Ward is a liability, and why on earth is Halford put on as a sub before our quicker players. Halford offers nothing and both he and Ward just don`t have the pace needed to play in the premiership.
Clive I`ve said it for you mate !!!
Agree about Karl Henry. Superb again on Saturday but no doubt ignored by Don Fabio.
Agree that picking Ward down the left side of midfield wasn’t great. I would have started him at left-back and played Guedioura from the start. So essentially how we finished.
I expect that to be the starting lineup next week against Newcastle, barring injuries.
Got to pick you up on your barrage of hate towards Ward though mate. OK, he was largely anonymous in midfield in the first half, but then again, so was everyone else.
Back in defence though, I thought he did a solid enough job and let’s not forget he saved our bacon with that tackle.
I’d also point out that it was only when Ward went to left-back that Jarvis was able to get into good positions and exploit Hibbett with his pace and trickery.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not Ward’s biggest fan, but to criticise him after the two games he’s played so far is very harsh indeed.
But that’s just my opinion of course.
Reports are suggesting that Lescott is going to be sent out on loan by Man City – we should be in for him IMO.
As long as City cover a percentage of his massive wages!
Would love to see Jo back in a gold shirt, but never going to happen.
He’s a quality center-back and proven as one of the best around in the Premiership, but we can’t guarantee him a game so what would be the point?
I know that sounds mental, but there’s no way we should be breaking up the Craddock/Berra partnership at the moment. I know what people are saying about ‘what will happen when we play a team with pace’ but those two have not only been rock solid in the two games so far, but were immense for the entire second half of last season.
We also spent around 3 million smackers on Mouyokolo so I’d rather see one of our permanent players given a chance to develop, rather than nursing one of Man City’s stars back to fitness.
Yeah, and if memory serves proper like, Lescott couldnt wait to go to Everton when we were in the lower levels.
Now, if he’s that good, why can’t he hold down a first team spot at Man City?
And, if he aint good enuff for them, he certainly aint good enuff for us.
Let’s play the ones who really want to play for us……………..except Ward.
FOWB