The players celebrate Stearman's extra-time winner
A Richard Stearman goal was enough to ensure Wolves squeezed passed Southend in the second round of the Carling Cup. But having squandered the lead given to them by Nenad Milijas from the penalty spot, they needed extra time to see off the plucky League Two outfit.
I wasn’t at the game so I can’t really assess individual performances but based on the scoreline, I can only surmise that it wasn’t a sparkling team effort from our second string. Anyone who did go, please chip in with feedback in the comment section below.
What I can say is that I would have been gutted to have seen us limp out in the early stages of a competition I feel we have every chance of doing well in this season. A good cup run is certainly long overdue.
Of course, while that was going on, Andy Keogh was putting the finishing touches on a season-long loan move to Cardiff. Here’s what Mick McCarthy said about the striker’s move following last night’s match:
“It’s a racing certainty that Andy will be going to Cardiff.”
“He didn’t want to be cup tied and Cardiff didn’t want him to be cup tied and it was a chance for us to give Ashley Hemmings a game.
“Andy has been fabulous here both for me and this football club.
“It’s a good move for him to go to Cardiff and good luck to him.
“He wants to play football and doesn’t want to be fourth in line here which I can fully understand.
“It was my decision to let him go but he goes with our best wishes and warmest regards.”
What surprises me about this move is that Cardiff already have a wealth of strikers on their books, with Chopra, Bothroyd and Bellamy the preferred trio. It seems entirely plausible that Keogh could become their fourth choice, unless he knows something I don’t. Regardless, good luck to him.
Anyway, with Keogh seemingly now out of the picture, I’ll be staggered if the transfer window shuts and we haven’t brought in another striker to compliment the three we have on the books.
The rumour circulating last night was that Michael Mancienne was close to completing a move to Wolves as a replacement for Keogh in the 25-man squad. And while I’d be happy to welcome the Chelsea-man back, whether it be in a loan deal or permanently, I can’t help but feel we’d be left short in the attacking third.
Caleb Folan from Hull has been linked with Wolves in recent weeks, so perhaps something will develop on that front.
Looking at the three forwards we have, I can’t shake the suspicion that Mick will want a more physical option to throw on in games where it’s difficult to get the ball down and play. If that is the case, I wouldn’t mind seeing us make a move for someone like Jason Roberts at Blackburn. Not the most technically gifted player around, but a proven threat at Premiership level and destined for the exit door from Ewood Park this month.
So a busy 24 hours and some interesting developments around Molineux.
What do we all think?
I think Cardiff are going to play a 4-3-3 with Bothroyd, Chopra and Bellamy. So even though Keogh may be 4th choice he’s 1st reserve. If/when we go to 4-5-1 he would be 3rd reserve so he’s clearly going to get more football.
Sending Keogh out on loan is a mistake – once the team actually see him play there is no way they will part with any cash for a striker that is afraid to shoot.
(Except from the half way line against Arsenal to result in us losing the game!)
Mancienne back……….?
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/premiership/chelseas-michael-mancienne-joins-wolves-on-loan-again-as-blues-reject-3m-offer-14922788.html
Belfast Telegraph = fuck it we’re gunna wroit it first t’b sure.
“we’re gunna wroit it first t’b sure” – that made me laugh and I’m from Belfast.
There must be a cast member from Darby O’Gill and the Little people now working for the Belfast Tele
)
Madness… I know Keogh has his limitations, but are badly short in the striker department with “popadom” Fletcher still on the sidelines
Now is anyone as daft as David Jones, and willing to take Ward????
Pleeeeeeeeez!!!!!!!!!!!
FOWB
I hope Mick takes the cup seriously from now on, without harming our chances in the league. The League Cup’s a realistic possibility for us.
Mick surely has a striker coming in. To let Keogh go, he surely knows something we don’t, unless he’s gonna rely on Vokes or the kids
We could easily draw to championship sides in the next 2 rounds and i think we’d be in the QFs then!
I’d take relegation if we won a cup.
That’s a tough one kwolf. Relegation would be a disaster, we could be back to square one and lose all the top class players we’ve aquired.
On the other hand i’d like to see us win a trophy in my lifetime (other than that Championship one)
I don’t think there is a direct trade off between the two.
I meant draw two!
I’m not too bothered to be honest. 4 strikers: desirable, but not necessary. I get the feeling that we’ll play a fair amount of 4-5-1 (especially away) when we come up against the stronger sides anyway (for which Mancienne would be a near-certain pick). Plus, there’s always another transfer window which will open in mid-season.
Besides, can’t we call Vokes back if necessary?
Not too sure about Jason Roberts coming in, here’s why.
We signed him years ago (was it McGhee?), as “one for the future”, but he never played in the first team for us, moved on, and eventually found himself at Wigan. As did I, one freezing night where they beat us (I think) 2-0. I remember two things about that night; eating a big Snickers bar in an attempt to get some sugar/fat/energy and therefore warmth into my system, and a moment when Mr Roberts had the ball. Three Wolves players surrounded him, trying to get the ball, but seemingly more bothered about kicking him. They seemed keener than they had all night, as if they didn’t like old Jason and wanted to prove something to him.
Those players? Lee Naylor, Joleon Lescott and Keith Andrews.
Why would they – all players who had come through the ranks at Wolves, and presumably played and trained alongside Roberts in the reserves – be so keen to do some damage to him?
Looks like Cardiff is quickly turning into Wolves’ Old Boys – Naylor, Gypes, Olofinjana, Bothroyd and now Keogh. Shame the Rae in their team is Gavin, not Alex.
Lee Naylor, Joleon Lescott and Keith Andrews – all players that deserted our beloved team!
Roberts as a 4th striker wouldn’t be a bad shout for me. He was only a kid when we signed him the first time and he was never given a chance (although he did look like a headless chicken from what I saw!)
Cant think of anyone else we could get who would be better.
I wouldn’t mind Jason Roberts either, strong with some pace, would give us a different option too. I’d be happy with those four strikers
Watcha chaps.
Ipswich have funds from selling Walters to Stoke, and have been chasing Chopra for ever. Cardiff seriously need some money, maybe he`ll go play for Keane and Keogh can slot in there.
Last night – made a decision late afternoon to go over to the Golden Palace, actually enjoyed the match. It was very pleasing to see some academy players actually get a game in our first team.
Our two small strikers were playing typical division four mountain size centre halves and I thought they both looked lively and pacey against big physical defenders. Was made more difficult for them as the two wide midfielders were Halford and Edwards, neither of whom will ever get past a fullback. Halford was there to win the headers from deep, but lacks the pace and anything else really to play in the premiership. His long throws created diddly squatt last night.
That apart the defence was ok, Zubar took a while to get going but his pace won the match, and he looked a quality player. I though Batth looked a real prospect, and the game showed what strength we have in depth. I have always liked Stearman, and George was ….well George. Mijas and our Algerian showed some quality touches. Last year we would probably lost this match. I was home in Nottingham just before midnight, thanking everybody and everything there were no penalties.
On a completely unrelated note, have we all seen this on the BBC site:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/danwalker/2010/08/perfecting_the_flick_and_whack.html
Very entertaining and nice to see that Jones and Henry seem like top blokes.
Maybe we should sign Dan Walker? 10% ratio, but he can only improve with practice
Good stuff.
I did raise an eyebrow at his line that “There are some footballers who would rival Mariah Carey in the diva stakes but these two could not have been nicer…”
A cynic – not me, of course – might say that Jones and Henry have very little to be diva-ish about.
They put a shift in, which is all that matters.
During the summer when the other prem players were in the Carribean Karl Henry was in Wolvo’s Yates on a Thursday night.
I couldn’t think of anything less Diva-like.
Anyone else slightly concerned that Mick sees Ward as our 4th striker?
Tom/Ben can you delete Larry David’s post before Clive sees it?
hahahaha. good work Larry!
Too late, ya buggers, I seen it!!!!
Larry, are you getting together unbeknownst to me with the others and sending me clockwork mouse isms??
The only way Ward can be classed as a striker is if he joins a union and then refuses to play…………..kind of like he does now, come to think of it!!!
Cowardly Lion has a brainfart where Ward is concerned.
All of us old codgers, older than MM as well, know footballers when we see them, and conversely we know when we dont see them, and Ward is definitely one of the dont lot.
I am not alone in my opinion, and if you lot are honest you will admit that Ward is crap as well.
Changing the subject, are we liable to get a big fine coz we played our reserve team last night, or does that only apply to Prem matches, or were the powers that be not even watching??
FOWB
Mancienne signs on another season long loan – great news.
Now lets get a decent 4th choice striker in before the window closes!