After a two week break, Wolves make a rovers return this weekend (I had to get that terrible pun in there somewhere) against a Blackburn side that are yet to register a win this season.
And although I’m confident we’ve got more than enough to stand toe-to-toe against the former Premiership champions, I think we’re in for a tough ride.
Jason Roberts - Tricky customer
I have it on good authority from a Blackburn-supporting friend, that they’ve been desperately unlucky not to have more points on the board. Despite his obvious bias, looking at the highlights from some of their matches, particularly against Man City and Sunderland, I’m inclined to agree.
So the fact they’re currently in 18th with only 1 point certainly won’t sit well with them. I expect they won’t need much motivation come 3pm on Saturday for a match they’ll have targeted as a ‘must-win’ right from the start.
Their physicality worries me greatly, particularly from set-pieces. If crosses are raining in from all angles, I fear Hennessy’s inability to command his area could be badly exposed. And given the fact that Craddock probably isn’t going to be available to marshal the defence, I get an uneasy feeling about how we’ll cope.
If I had to identify one player as a danger, it would be Jason Roberts. He’s been a pretty constant thorn in our side over the years and his power and pace could really unsettle us, particularly in the system that Allardyce is likely to play.
This direct approach that Blackburn will almost certainly take also makes me wonder how Mick will send his team out. I do believe he’ll go 4-4-2 but I think there might be some surprises with his selection. Here’s my predicted lineup:
Hennessy
Stearman
Mancienne
Berra
Elokobi
Halford
Henry
Edwards
Jarvis
Keogh
Doyle
It’s a tough one this week with lots of options available to combat a very specific kind of threat. In fact, outside of the back 5, it’s almost a complete guessing game apart from Henry. But I think Milijas will be spared from the midfield scrap in favour of the more all-action Dave Edwards. Berra for Craddock is an obvious change and one that might well become permanent as the season progresses.
I expect the more physically capable players like Vokes, Castillo and ‘The Hoff’ will be deployed at some point depending on how the game is panning out. It’s a shame that the likes of Kightly and Blake aren’t yet fit, but hopefully they’ll be in contention for some kind of involvement against Fulham.
In terms of a prediction, I’m going to play devil’s advocate and forecast defeat. That probably won’t go down particularly well, but it’s a heart versus head decision and this week I’m going with my noggin. Because they haven’t yet won a match and because I know they’ll cause us problems with their style of play, I’m going for a 3-1 defeat.
That being said, I do believe we’re capable of getting a win, but only if we can replicate our away performances from Wigan and Man City. We need to nullify their threat and enforce our game onto them. If we can do that, there’s a great opportunity to secure 3 precious away points.
But who cares what I think anyway? Predictions please gentlemen (and women of course; are there any Wolves Blog female followers?)
If you’re going to the game, have a great time and roar the lads on.
Up the Wolves.
Well in the Rovers Return, we need to look sharp(les) up front, hopefully it won;t be a barlow performance, and that we will score, meaning we won’t register a duck worth nothing . Forest’s manager had a good few things to day about us.. I thought that was fair Clough
Groan…..
Why would you rest Milijas in favour of D Edwards. I don’t necessarily disagree, just interested in the justification
I’m still maintaining the positive thought = positive outcome approach. Yes it will be a tough game but Big Sam is playing a defensive style at the moment and to be honest I just don’t think Blackburn will score. the crowd are already tetchy and I think if we can get them to turn against their team then we will sneak a win. I’ll stick my neck out and say 2-0 Wolves (which is a little different from my earlier prediction but I’ve had some time to think today) Doyle is due to get his name on the sheet and a late debut goal from The Hoff via his noggin!
Thomas, nice to see you predicting with your head this week and not your heart. I know I am the one who usalyy pours water over peoples winning predictions but I really fancy us to get somthing this weekend.
Doyle looked a threat in both of the Ireland games and I have to say, he has proved me wrong so far, he does look every bit a £6M player.
I am predicting at least a score draw, possiblay nick the 3pts with a second half goal.
Up the Wolves
Jed I think your right mate, their fans will be turning up tomorrow expecting a win and the tighter we keep the game the more frustrated they will get (teams have done it for years to us down the Mol, its our turn to start doing it now we aren’t favourites to win 80/90% of our games). They have found goals hard to come by as well this season which will just add to the pressure if we can play it right. The longer we do that the more chance we have of winning the game.
Dazza…They’ll be Red Wrecked at the final whistle. Hope there’s a bit of Fizz in our performance. Mind you, with Audrey Roberts up front for Blackburn, it’ll be tough.
At least Carlos Dev-ez isn’t playing for them.
Meanwhile, has anyone read that god awful blog on the E & S this morning? I feel I may have to dig out my old ‘Wolves fans aren’t fickle’ blog again. Why do some people feel compelled to peddle an age old stigma about our fans. It’s grossly inaccurate and distorted, and it pisses me right off.
Welcome back Thomas!
Yes welcome back Thomas.
Keeping it tight and frustrating teams is deffo the right approach. Blackburn fans are not the best and will boo that team off at half time if the are not putting us to the sword.
Would really like to get our first look at Casillio and of course the Hoff. I Castillio doen’t start then I don’t think he will be used, but the Hoff has surely got at least 20mins written in for him. Please Mick, please we really want to see him!!!!
I’ve stopped reading the E & S.
With that blog, Tim er Nash’s er video er reports and the ongoing use of the phrase ‘gatecrash’ to refer to a player coming back from injury, the rag is going to pot.
Pete, The Hoff is 8 to 1 first or last goalscorer tomorrow with Billy Hills. Fancy him to pop up off the bench to bag the winner. Could be worth a cheeky tenner!!!
8-1!!!!
Holy shit, think I might have to get on that.
What are his odds with our very own sporting bet though Edward???
8/1 aswell mate
Another possible one is Keith Andrews to score anytime at 7/1. Not wanting to tempt fate or anything but how often do our old players come back to haunt us.
Could go Wolves to win 2-1 (14/1), Andrews to score, and The Hoff to get the winner
Would bank you just over a grand for a quid on IF it came off!!!!!!
@t’OM – I personally wouldn’t rest Milijas. I just reckon it’s an option that McCarthy will consider. The reason being that in tight games where space is at a premium, he’s not going to have the time on the ball to work his magic. The running power and physical presence of Dave Edwards might be better suited to these particular types of matches.
I rate Milijas very highly and hope he can really kick on and become a star this season. The West Ham match was his best so far but he hasn’t reached those heights in the other games. Particularly against City and Hull, he wasn’t as influential and the game passed him by at times.
Edward. Is that for a £10 stake?? Because I will take that bet from you if you like. Pete’s bookies is coming back!!!
If you win though I will have to pay out over 12 monthly instalments!!!!
No it was just from a £1 mate. Worked out the payout pretty crudely though so not sure how correct it was:
£1 on 2-1 @ 14/1 pays out £14 plus £1 stake = £15
£15 on Andrews @ 7/1 pays out £105 plus £15 stake = £120
£120 on The Hoff @ 8/1 pays out £960 plus £120 stake = £1080
Know it’d be different cus it’d be worked out as a combination rather than stand alone bets but would have to go to the bookies to find that out.
What odds would you offer then at Pete’s Bookies?
ps. I’ll send you my bank details later to set up your 12 monthly payments once it comes off
Pete’s Bookies will always offer a minimum of 2 points better than the high street upto 25-1, then a minimum of 5 points better than the high street after 25-1.
Example: 5-1 @ Billy Hills will get you 7-1 @ Pete’s.
25-1 @ Billy Hills will get you 30-1 @ Pete’s
In terms of your bet, the points will be added to the indvidual lines of the bet and not the overall odds.
So Edward, for your £1 bet you could get (based on your calculations) £1531 from Pete’s Bookies.
Done and done. Will also take 1-0 Doyle goalscorer
This could get out of hand very quickly!!!!! LOL
Yes Thomas, there are Wolves Blog female followers! – Surely I’m not the only one? I predict 1 nil wolves, with Doyle scoring a late winner!
t’om….Wolves game at Blackburn is NOT on Fox Sports tonight
It is on Setanta Canada on Saturday night though! So don’t anybody tell me the result!
Thanks Dazza,
This is a disgrace. What’s the point in subscribing if I don’t get to watch Wolves. Absolute dross. Way to ruin a weekend. t’OM.
i think i may have found a link to some streams for the game however that’s highly illegal
In other news, my Girlfriend had to format her computer, which then led to us using the rest of our DL quota, so couldn’t perform that illegal activity even if i wanted to.
Hill in starting line up is interesting, otherwise will be interesting to see where MM deploys Keogh with 2 wingers picked. My guess is as a striker in the hole in a 4-4-1-1.
i’ll try keep you updated t’om. if this link works.
never been this hard to find streams before
To make things worse I’m doing my Constitutional Law II reading, stuck with BBC Videprinter and hope and expectation of Hallam. I might wear out my refresh button over the next couple of hours. Come on you Wolves.
can’t seem to get anything working sorry !
you tried the beacon radio stream online?
http://www.beaconradiowestmids.co.uk/
“It looks like you’re trying to listen to our radio station from outside the UK. Unfortunately, due to music-licensing laws, we aren’t permitted to allow non-UK users to listen to our stations online.”
It’s ok, I’ve got the BBC world service’s sportsworld, ESPN Gamecase. I’ll make do with that for now.
Thanks Hallam, you’ve been a champ.
To think, when we were in the CCC, I’d watch us 4 or 5 times a year, how spoilt I’ve become.
we’re in the big time now. we need to call it the fizzy pop league.
The Hoff is now on. His first touch was a 30 yard shot. Just what we needed
The Hoff scores but Wolves are WANK!
My thoughts – The Hoff needs to play from the start in place of Keogh who was GASH. Matt Hill needs to bugger off back to Preston. Craddock needs to get fit soon. Mancienne needs to WAKE THE F**K UP. Jarvis needs to believe in himself because he is good enough. And finally Blackburn need to stop gloating because they were sh*t and the only reason they won was because we were really sh*t! Okay I’ve had too many beers and its about time I went to bed but I have seem to have this bitter taste in my mouth………………..