So the first derby of the season is upon us and opposition doesn’t come much trickier than our claret and blue neighbours from down the M6.
Indeed, if we needed reminding of the quality Villa have at their disposal, we got it last weekend with their much-deserved victory over Chelsea. I only hope that Mick has looked at a tape of that match and masterminded a way to neutralise their most obvious weapons.
Wide players could hold the key to this derby
First and foremost, we’re going to have to defend well from set pieces. Both of their goals against Chelsea were headers from corners, as was their opener against Man City the week previous. We should have the height necessary to cope, but strict organisation is needed for the entire 90 minutes. With Craddock in the side, this shouldn’t be a problem, but I worry that Hennessy’s frailties in dealing with crosses might be exposed.
Of course delivery from wide areas will be difficult to prevent, given the quality they have on both flanks from Milner and Young. These two are also capable of cutting in and doing damage on their own, so our full-backs need to have big games if we’re to get anything. I suspect this might be where the game is won and lost.
On the flip side, I do feel Wolves have enough going forward to cause their defence problems and if we can keep the back door shut, a victory isn’t out of the question.
Funnily enough, Wolves have already come up against both Richard Dunne and James Collins this season; the two lining up in our matches against Man City and West Ham respectively. We failed to score in both of those games, which is encouraging for Villa, but I must say neither player convinced me greatly. I believe Doyle and SEB can ask enough questions to cause them serious problems and if we can provide them any kind of service, I’m confident Wolves will score.
I just wonder whether Mick will be bold enough to play both our wingers. Matt Jarvis was perhaps unlucky to be dropped against Everton, but the decision to play Halford to make the midfield more compact was certainly justified. I suspect the midfield will remain unchanged, which means the emphasis is on Michael Kightly to provide the creative spark. He’s certainly capable of winning us matches and we need a big performance from our star man.
Thinking about it, I’m fairly certain that the entire starting XI will be the same as last time out. That doesn’t upset me too much, but given the choice, I’d like to see Castillo restored to the team ahead of Edwards. I just feel his defensive guile will be a greater asset than the Welshman’s running power. Anyway, here’s the predicted lineup:
Hennessy
Zubar
Craddock
Berra
Elokobi
Kightly
Henry
Edwards
Halford
Doyle
Ebanks-Blake
I’m hoping Chris Iwelumo will be named amongst the substitutes to give us a much-needed option, should we be struggling to make the ball stick up-front. With The Hoff banned, it might just be the giant Scot’s big opportunity to make an impression.
Now down to business, can we get a result?
I’ve been pretty negative in recent weeks, but I think we’ve got a great chance to cause a mini-upset here and claim all three points. Perhaps this will be the game where our leading lights from last season come to the fore and show us what we know they’re capable of.
With that in mind, I’m going for 2-1 to Wolves and SEB to score twice.
If you’re going to the match, have a great time and roar the lads on. You probably won’t need much encouragement given the opposition.
Up The Wolves.
* As a side note, this is actually the 100th post on Wolves Blog. 99 posts ago, I could never have imagined how well this would take-off, so thanks again to everyone who has visited, contributed and supported the blog. For the ‘statto’s’ amongst you, there’s also been a total of 1,333 comments so far, which is pretty incredible and I can safely say I’ve read every single one of them. Here’s to the next 100.
I’m going to be bold and predict that Jarvis to start. I think we will need to match their attacking wing and play, and being at home we need to take the game to Villa. If this is the case i’d like to see Castillo in the team to break things up as we’re bound to be caught on the counter. Craddock and Berra are a must.
While a draw looks the more likely outcome, i’m also going to predict a 2-1 victory, Kightly and man of the moment Doyle to grab the goals
I wonder if Elokobi will be replaced by Mancienne this week. Elokobi could be really exposed with the threat of Villas wingers and I feel we need the pace and footballing brain of Mancienne to nulify their wing play. Halford will certainly play, therefore either Jarvis or Kightly will start on the bench. Jarvis certainly looks more dangerous than Kightly, yet Kightly just has that ability to get something out of nothing. I’d like to see both play, but to do that Halford has to make way and I just can’t see that happening. Again if we keep this game tight we can nick a goal and the 3 points. To do this it’s important that the crowd stays patient and avoids the usual groans at every misplaced pass.
1-0 Wolves SEB to score after delecting a Doyle shot with his huge rear end!
The game is on live here at 5.45am, the video is set cuz I’m too old to get up that early on a Saturday morning!
Oh and I would love to see Big Chris feature at some time – great guy and deserves his time in the PL after his heroics last season.
We have no chance. Later in the season and I reckon it’d be a lot more even playing field due to the shallowness of Villa’s squad. But their team is fresh and with no European commitments really could take us to the sword. That being said, our players will be brimming with confidence from Everton and this could perhaps give us a chance.
I’m going for 3-1 to Villa
Hallam – you say we have no chance before going on to say we may have a chance. Bit contradictory don’t you think?
I wonder if Hallam is using the reverse psychology tactic – ie if he says that we’ll lose then maybe we’ll win. I’ve always been worried about predicting a win because I don’t like tempting fate, same reason as I never used to sing that we’re by far the greatest team or “**insert name** whats the score” as it usually comes back to bite you in the ass. And the same reason I click both the win and lose poll at the top of this page!
Firstly a century…a rarority fro any Englishman (tin hat time again)…. we will beat Villa 1-0 , our luck just has to turn, and we just have to get a decision go our way…we do don;t we? I would not start with Blake, I would start with Keoghh, I think he would cause them more problems. Elokobi must be dropped, and, I’ll say it again…Jarvis at left back
Here is one for you Jed, Elokobi will definatley struggle agaist Milner and I would have to opt for Mancienne. But I don’t think MM will change his side if he has proved anything in his time at Wolves is that he is Loyal to a fault. Same team as Everton but not the same result. Martin O’Neil and Villa are too good another point would be a great result.
Villa win (I hate Villa) 2-0
I’d like to shamelessly advertise a new game i’ve come up with to test the memories of Wolves fans. Head over to the forums to check it out. Feel free to tell me if you like it or equally if you think it’s a load of crap
If we are to get anything out of the game tomorrow Mick has to do something about the left back position and drop Elokobi. Milner will tear him a new one otherwise!!! He just won’t have the mobility to live with him. But as its been pointed out, Mick may well be stuborn enough to start him anyway!!!
Also think he may start with Jarv and Castillo. We saw him do this on a number of occasions last year where he played one formation away from home (normally Jarv giving way to another holding midfielder), and then reverting back to 2 wingers for home games
One thing I can guarantee won’t happen – us keeping a clean sheet! That said, I fancy us to do them tomorrow. Why not?! I’m going for a 3-1 win, a bit like the Wigan Chelski game. The ref will do us a favour, Martin O’Neill will get banished to the stands, and Mick will have a play with his spuds in front of the South Bank. Terry O’Connor will slip him some cock rub and the rest will be history. Come on You Wolves!!!!
Did I say Terry O’Connor? I meant clipboard! I’ve made him Irish!
Unfortunately, Villa do look very strong and I think we might struggle. We were impressive at Everton against a great team and against City we were good. We need a win at home against someone good to show we can be solid at home!
unfortunately this is wolves all over. that slight unnerving feeling because we can beat anyone but also lose to anyone. no one can deny its a rollercoaster ride being a wolves supporter! tbh i just dont know what to predict, there are too many possibilities and our form has no decernable pattern. im just gunna sit back, have a few beers and hopefully enjoy it.
p.s. thanks to everyone who runs this blog and contributes. i check it every day and there are always great articles and comments. Big help considering i know like 1 other wolves fan in london so its good to chat with other people who have a good knowledge of the team
Anyone know anything more about Ikeme’s incident in the hell hole that is Bambu?
p.s. prediction for tomorrow: Wolves win. Craddock header to take us to 1-0, Sylvain to get off the mark for 2-0.
Turns out I am going now. Can’t wait.
Rich- I was thinking aloud, i.e on my keyboard. I do it a lot.
I never dream about football, I have never dreamt about a Wolves game. Last night I have a vivid recollection of Kightly free kick being defelcted into the top corner from the a head in the Villa wall. The score changed to 2-0 in the left hand corner of my TV. I can only hope for that cold shiver of a “flash forward” if this should come true
Dazza in Brisbane…
It must be too much Sun Son!…Enjoy the wild fantasy while it lasts..Perhaps a win next week !!!…Today..3-0 to villa !
Emerald pete
I see you have your brain in gear!!…Of course Villa will win today,but I wish Wolves a successfull season with a top 10 finish
Thought Wolves did well today, Villa are a difficult team to break down as is shown by their goals conceeded record this season. Again I tought we were denied a stonwall penalty in the first few minutes when Dunne grabbed Doyle, at least the ref got it right late when Kightly was fouled! Villa’s goal was a poor one for us to conceed and perhaps the first time Henry and Castillo didn’t cover the second ball. Villa were definitely the better team in the second half, but we outplayed them (without creating too many chances) in the first. Even game, fair result and I’m not too worried about drawing against a quality side especially after we conceeded late on!
Now then onto Stoke Shitty – we need to do them next week, and I think we will!
Chinavillan- You were lucky to escape with a point in the end after we bombarded your area in injury time! Fair result overall though
Think Jed has got it spot on, We did dominate to an extent for long periods but never carved out what you would call a good chance. But Villa didn’t either.
Henry was our best player for me and once again that back four looked very good, better even than at Everton.
ChinaVillan………….aaaggghhhh, so glad I got that one wrong.
Why is it, that, nearly every week, we get refused a certain penalty ? The fould on Doyle was unbelievable, and I’m still flummaxed as to how that idiot ref couldn’t see it. I’m sure he thought twice on giving the one he did award against Kightly even though Kightly was almost snapped in half. It’s getting past a joke. Anyway, fair result ? NO !! We should have won, and I thought Villa were dire. But, we look short of firepower up front. Craddock was immense, Berra had a good game, and Zubar is going to be a star. Midfield battle dhard, but we have no real quality. On to Stoke, and a real tough game, a point there would be good to.However, we need to start putting some wins on the board!!
is no one else thinking after that match that our defence and midfield were brilliant. when we stop teams playing their normal game we make them look really average but christ all mighty someone please take a shot. Castillo, henry, kightly, SEB all had chances just outside the box. They passed and villa then hussled us out the way. Our pressure in the first half was great but we seem to be trying to pass the ball into the net like arsenal. Maybe im being too critical but i just wanted someone to get their laces through the ball and test brad friedel. the surface was slippy, we had plenty of men in the area for rebounds just have a pop occasionally.
other than that a great a game and a good point. i just really thought after the first 45min we could have been 2-0 up if we just tried to punish teams more!