After a torrid six months out with injury, Big Chris Iwelumo is ready to make his first-team comeback and I for one am delighted to see the giant Scot returning to action.
Having already carved his name into Molineux folklore with a huge contribution to Wolves Championship winning success, our number one target man will finally get the chance to show what he can do at the highest level.
Big Chris - Deserves his chance
Of course, there are plenty of people that believe he doesn’t have what it takes to play in the Premiership. These are the same people that wrote him off before even seeing him play, when McCarthy first brought him to the club from Charlton a year ago. They were wrong then and I’m confident they’ll also be wrong this time around.
Looking at our strikers, it’s clear to see that Big Chris gives us an option we don’t already have i.e. a physical presence that can unsettle defences. Doyle, Keogh and SEB all possess great qualities, but none of them are able to impose themselves in the way the former Colchester forward can. The jury’s still out on The Hoff of course, but early indications suggest he isn’t the aerial threat we’d all hoped.
We already know Big Chris brings out the best in SEB, which could prove crucial if we’re to get enough goals to keep us afloat in the Premiership. I’m also licking my lips at the thought of seeing him make a nuisance of himself from the Halford long-throws. Come on, aren’t you?
Now I’m not suggesting for a second that Iwelumo should waltz back into the starting XI. He faces stern competition to even earn a place on the bench. But I’d be surprised if Mick doesn’t give him a fair crack of the whip, after seeing him rip defences apart last season with powerful performances and clinical finishing.
If he does manage to make an impact on Wolves’ season, it would surely mark the pinnacle of the giant forward’s career, having spent much of his time plying his trade in the lower leagues. And to be honest, I can’t think of a player that deserves it more.
now this is a blog i like thomas! i’m licking my lips like gregg walace on masterchef. a revalation last season, and ive no doubt we wdnt have gone up automatically without him. mick’s public criticism of him for going 6games without a goal, then dropping, bordered on shameful IMO and directly led to a dip in form when he eventually came back. he deserved just a 10th of the loyalty he always shows the impotent keogh, who i am presuming is still a proven premier striker? for 400k, we got: 16 goals; a wonderful partnership with SEB who he brought the best out of; a physical presence that we havent seen since dougan; a talisman / leader; a great defensive foil at set plays.
seems he doesnt run around enough though, and is already consigned as little more than a ‘quality championship striker’ in many fans’ eyes. shame.
i say, get him off the bench ASAP. just watch kabouls face when he does!
Good to see the big man back, though i don’t see him making the bench for saturday. He would add something different to the team though.
I can’t let the comment on the hof pass. Four games (all as a sub) and you say not the physical threat we hoped. I disagree and think he also has a good touch. Don’t forget he’s come from abroad too.
Great blog
We need to take all three on sat though, and at win one of the next two, 13pts from the first 10 game would be a productive return because I am pretty sure there are very lean times ahead as the fixture fairy gave us the best start to a season of any of the relegation candidates. We can not afford to be in the bottom 3 after our first ten games because these ten games will represent the easit run of fixture we will have all season.
A win this week would deal a massive blow to Pompey (the players have not been paid for last moth yet???).
i didnt think chris was fit enough yet!? ok his injury has cleared up but i thought even he admitted he was lacking match sharpness? anyway i have agree with your analysis of him. quality player that defintiely made an impact for us.
i feel with all our strikers they will ahve a role to play over the season. there will be mroe injuries, more periods of poor form so i have no doubt he’ll get a good run out. lets just hope he can recreate his form on the bigger stage!
I like Iwelumo, however the amount of free-kicks he gives away is infuriating. I see this only worsening in the Premiership.
It happens all the time though with the big guys. Look how many bookings crouch and kevin davies get. They’re harshly harshly penalised by refs in my opinion.
To all at wolves blog
I read the ‘about’ bit and thought i’d introduce myself. My name is Richard Guttridge and am 18 years old and am from Oxley.
I have always attended matches regularly and this season i am lucky enough to have a ‘season ticket’ as i work for sporting bet. Paid to watch the wolves. Not bad ay?
I am also hoping to be a journalist so it’ll be handy experience. I hope the fact i’m only 18 won’t be taken into account when airing my views, i like to think i know my stuff
Great blog by the way. I’m hooked already!
Hiya Rich.
When I was 18 (few years ago now!) my Dad was still getting me in the family enclosure on a father and son deal, until the ticket office called him direct and told him that 18 year old men were too old for the deal.
Dad replied: “Is he really that old? I honestly didn’t realise.”
If Moxey had have been around, he’d have sued for lost revenue!
Not sure why I told you that…
Good to have you on board mate. Top effort to get paid to watch us!
Keep on posting, and tell your mates about us. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for Saturday. Come on you Wolves!
I love Iwelumo. One of my favourite players from last season. He is infinitely better than one of our irish strikers (no prizes for guessing which one).
I fail to get my head around Mick’s persistence not to pick him after Christmas. Just around the time of our performance dip – coincidence?
On the subject of returning players, anyone think Stearman should play on Saturday given our simply diabolical defending on Sunday?
Hallam – yeah, but where do you play Stearman, right back? He’d been doing well but surely we need to have Foley back there.
As for centre defence, it’s difficult. There’s not been enough time to form a partnership. I was impressed with Craddock before he got injured and while at the start of the season i didn’t think he’d be up to another Premier League challenge i’d quite like to see him back in the side
The defensive situation is a hard one. The only player who will consistently get picked is Foley, but my god had he earned it.
Welcome by the way Rich, have you checked out the forum yet?
I hope you’re right but i fear he’ll be on the bench come saturday.
Thanks, i’m happy to have stumbled upon such a great wolves blog.
I haven’t checked the forums yet, i’ll get onto it
Rich, just echoing what Ben and all the others have said mate, welcome.
I look forward to hearing your views.
You won’t get any stick for your age here my friend. They’re all good lads and respect other people’s opinions.
So please contribute whenever you like. I’m sure it won’t be long until you’re appearing on the Comment League Table with some of the other heavyweights.
i dunno i’ve been posting almost every day and i still not getting anywhere near EmeraldPete. he’s a posting machine!
@Sam, don’t know about a posting machine mate, but I do enjoy the thrust a parry of the comments of this blog site, I think people have probably had enough of hearing what I think though so may not be posing as regular as I have been.
Pete, NOOO!!!
BTW, I have just spent about 30 mins eulogising over Matty Jarvis, only for the message to fail. Doh!
To back up Jed, all I will say is that after watching years of the likes of Kennedy, Gilkes, Tim Steele, Mark Williams, Robbie Slater et al, I’ll take Jarvis every day and twice on Sunday.
I’ll take Jarvis roasting his full back for pace and creating the odd goal or two, and hitting the odd row Z or two.
Anyone remember THAT goal v Forest when he left his marker for dead, and sped half the length of the pitch before laying on Iwelumo? I still get goose bumps thinking about it! Some fans need to be careful for what they wish for.
John Lalley’s point on him in the E & S was a great one. He needs to forget the fear, or safety first football, and just give it a damn good go.
Up the Wolves!