HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Whilst we’ve finally managed to stop the rot of four games without a point, the shared spoils from this game leave Mick McCarthy and the rest of us with plenty more questions than answers going in to a torrid series of fixtures.

Two games against United, with a sprinkling of Arsenal, Chelsea and City to boot are enough to put you off your pint of Mild at the best of times, let alone after the abject second 45 minutes at Molineux today.

Wolves bossed the first half and were deservedly ahead

I don’t use that word lightly.

In the first half, at times, it was a thrill to see Fletcher, Doyle, Jarvis and Jones combine at pace, with movement and guile. It was reassuring to see Richard Stearman offer some pace at the back when he was called upon to replace the injured Jody Craddock at centre back early on. And it was satisfying to see almost any attempt from West Ham to get going after the first ten minutes fizzle out in to thin air, as we neatly kept shape and composure.

We worked our way in to some fantastic positions, turning the Hammers on their heels continually; and when the play did break down, we hassled and harried as a unit to get the ball back and start again.

So having gone one-nil up, with Jarvis volleying accurately in to goal when the ball dropped to him in the area, and having demonstrated such purpose, it was simply disappointing to see us surrender after the break.

Until TV cameras get allowed in to changing rooms, we’ll never have a true picture of what goes on in them at half time. But going on today’s evidence, there were a couple of pots of camomile tea awaiting the home team, with a 70’s Open University maths lecture on a TV in the corner and Mick giving a small talk about his favourite Barnsley brass bands.

In the second, we frustratingly lined up more conservatively – Fletcher looked deeper and adrift from Doyle – and, sensing blood, Parker, Boa Morte, Noble, Piquionne and Obinna exerted themselves as we looked utterly tired, rudderless and lethargic.

The calls around Molineux were, somewhat ironically given recent times, for a tackle – but there was little response offered. Foley was hard done by for the penalty when it came, but our heads dropped further after Noble buried it and the faithful saw little to encourage them to get behind the team.

The truth is that we lost the second half in midfield – Jones and Mancienne in particular didn’t seem capable of recouping things. McCarthy disappointingly withdrew Fletcher for Van Damme, supposedly to get a grip on things but his presence simply removed any remaining balance we had and underlined a lack of authority that was needed from the bench at that point.

Thrown on with barely five minutes to go, you had to feel for SEB when his boss caved in to the pressure from the South Bank for the number 9′s presence. What on earth was he meant to do, with the rest of his team looking so void of energy?

Ending on a positive note though – Jarvis was again the pick of the Wolves players. Crafty and gutsy throughout, we can only hope he inspires some more belief in his team mates. They are, on the first half’s form, undoubtedly capable of weathering the oncoming storm – but on the second half’s, only in fits and starts.

After what seems a lifetime (but was actually just two very long weeks) Wolves welcome West Ham to Molineux for an early season six-pointer. The two sides currently occupy 19th and 20th place in the Premier League table respectively so both will be keen to give themselves a much needed boost.

David Jones - set for a recall?

Despite being bottom, the Hammers are undefeated in their last four games (including a League Cup win over Sunderland) and having endured a tricky run of fixtures to date, they’ll be determined to push-on with a positive result on Saturday.

Summer signings Frédéric Piquionne and Victor Obinha seem to be coming good for Avram Grant’s side and their pace is sure to cause the Wolves defence problems. A more familiar threat comes in the shape of Scott Parker, who seems to only get better with age. Whoever is given the job of anchoring our midfield must ensure Parker’s influence is minimal or it could be a long afternoon for everyone in old gold.

Wolves can certainly take heart from West Ham’s woeful away record, the Hammers having not won away in the Premiership since that opening day victory at Molineux over a year ago. They’ll be looking to arrest that torrid run and will see this fixture as an excellent opportunity to do just that.

Mick McCarthy’s team selection will once again come under fierce scrutiny and with a number of key players out, his options are heavily restricted. Karl Henry serves the first of his three match ban, so David Jones and Nenad Milijas are both in contention for a recall to the starting eleven. Kevin Doyle limped out of Ireland’s defeat to Russia and if he fails to prove his fitness, SEB is waiting in the wings to take his place.

It’s a difficult task predicting the starting lineup this weekend, but my best guess is:

Hahnemann

Foley
Craddock
Berra
Ward

Jarvis
Mancienne
Jones
van Damme

Fletcher
SEB

The logic is that Mick will revert to the side that overcame Stoke on the opening day of the season, with Mancienne for Henry the only change from that eleven. I have a sneaky suspicion Doyle won’t make it (nothing has been said as I write this) so SEB will hopefully be granted the opportunity he deserves to get back amongst the goals. Stephen Hunt should also be in contention but I expect he’ll be named amongst the substitutes as he continues his return from injury.

Prediction League

Only Stourbridge Wolf picked up the maximum last time out correctly predicting a 2-0 defeat at Wigan, but Jed, Dazza in Brisbane, Mark Davies and Lawro all said we’d lose so it’s a point a piece for all of those clever chaps.

You’ll all be glad to know that I remain on top of the overall table (it never gets old saying that).

This weekend, I’m going for a 1-1 draw but hoping the footballing gods smile down and bless us with a victory to lift the dark cloud hanging overhead. It’s been a miserable month.

As always, if you want to join in with the Prediction League, simply leave your prediction for each game in the comment section of the official preview (such as this one).

If you’re going to Molineux this weekend, have a great time and get right behind the lads.

Up The Wolves.

Ahead of this weekend’s crunch encounter with West Ham, I left a set of questions on a popular fans forum and was lucky enough to receive four responses from Hammers supporters. So thanks to Jake, Dean, Michael and Simon (from West Ham Blog) for taking the time to share their thoughts.

What did you make of the matches between the two sides last season?

West Ham spoiled the party last year

Jake: The first match, from a West Ham fan’s perspective, was pretty tough. It was the first game of the season, away to a newly promoted side. No team wants that. We were pretty lucky to win that game actually. Wolves game close, hit the crossbar, and tested Green quite a lot throughout the game. Milijas in particular, stood out and looked the real deal that match. Overall it was a pretty decent game of football which neither of the two teams really deserved to lose. It should have been a draw, but the Hammers took their chances.

Simon: A tale of two matches! The first game of the season when we beat you gave us some hope for the season, by the time we played you again we had a slightly different perspective. You mullered us but I hope we get some revenge this Saturday.

Dean: Good battles, opening game of the season there is no form but thought we edged it and took our chances. The game at Upton Park I thought you deserved the win, Doyle was fantastic.

Michael: I’m assuming you mean the 2-0 victory at Molineux and not the drubbing at Upton Park. To win away at newly promoted Wolves last season was a great result. You never know what to expect from a newly promoted side during the first few games of the season as they play without the fear factor. However Noble produced one of our goals of the season and to keep a clean sheet was also another bonus. It was also, would you believe, the last time West Ham have won away in the league so a victory at Molineux again is exactly what we need.

How would you sum up West Ham’s start to the season?

Jake: Poor. Very poor in fact. To be quite honest, this is just typical West Ham all over. We’re the sort of team that would beat Man United one week, and then lose to Wigan the next. However, I fancied us strongly against Aston Villa on our first game of the season, until I saw our starting line-up! In our first 3 league games we’ve shipped in three goals. However, as it stands we’re on a four unbeaten run. Which will hopefully be extended after the Wolves game!

Simon: Not as bad as some would have you believe. We lost to the Champions and the runners up and were still finding our feet in the games against Villa and Bolton but we’ve got some good rhythm now and are un-beaten in four.

Dean: Expected, we are a confidence side with lots of players who do not perform without high confidence i.e Carlton Cole & Upson. I believe we have now turned the corner.

Michael: This season has not started off great, however the fixtures we faced in the opening 6 games where probably the hardest run of fixtures any team had this season. West Ham have turned things around with draws away at Stoke and a win against arch rivals Tottenham, and we are finally believing we can take points off the next coming fixtures.

Is Avram Grant the right man for the job?

Jake: Time will tell. I’ve always thought of Avram as a cup manager. What he done at Portsmouth last season was pretty special. Although they faced relegation, he got them to an FA Cup final. Who knows what would have happened if they’d hadn’t of received that points deduction. He doesn’t really show much emotion, truth be told, but hopefully we’ll give him a good amount of time to function. Hopefully he’ll add some decent players to the squad in January, and not eye-brow raising garbage like Tal Ben-Haim, and Piquionne who looks to be coming good. We are still in the League Cup though, so who knows what this season could bring?

Simon: I was happy with his appointment and he has done well so far

Dean: Yes he has made some good signings to key areas and is now making strong decisions i.e dropping Carlton, giving Da Costa a regular start at CB and leaving out the woeful Spector for Gabbidon at LB. I believe we have now turned the corner.

Michael: I was not sure about Avran Grants appointment or some of the signings he had made over the summer. However he has worked with pretty much an non existent budget this summer and has brought pace and width to the team which we so desperately needed. Summer signings such as Piquionne, Obinna and Jacobsen have settled well.

Which of your players should we be worried about on Saturday?

Jake: Robert Green. I was at the Villa, West Ham season opener, and the bitter crowd kept booing him when he got the ball for obvious reasons. He’s rock-bottom on confidence. However, people just suddenly dismiss him as if he’s a really poor keeper which he isn’t. He’s played something like 120 consecutive league games with us. But I can see the Wolves faithful giving him a bit of a hard time. Carlton Cole also. He’s being kept out of the team by Victor Obinna and Frederic Piquionne, and he certainly hasn’t lived up to this media England hype. He’s been really frustrating to watch, and if he does play, I can see him being kept out by Craddock.

Simon: Scott Parker is one of the best midfielders in the country for me at the moment. Watch out for Victor Obinna as well, the guy is tough and will give you some problems

Dean: Obinna is a real threat and has more consistency than Diamanti. Parker will rarely lose the ball and win it back many times.

Michael: On Saturday Wolves should worry about Piquionne. He has scored 3 in the last 3 games and is really hitting form. His partnership with Obinna is keeping Charlton Cole out of the team at present and is really making West Ham a real attacking force which we have not been for some time.

Which player or players do you see as being the main threat from Wolves?

Jake: If I’m being totally honest, Wolves haven’t got a Premiership quality squad. I mean, there’s only one or two players I’d probably welcome into the West Ham 11. They’re more of a hard working resiliant unit, than a fast flowing footballing side. Steven Fletcher and Kevin Doyle are both decent strikers. And if they do play, I can see them causing us problems. However, apart from decent strikers, they don’t seem to have a midfield player that could consistantly cause us problems. Hold on a minute – I forgot about Jarvis! Great player. He should be floating around the England squad in my opinion. Our RB could have a job on his hands against him!

Simon: Doyle is a decent player and anyone with Van-Damme in their name has to be watched carefully!

Dean: Not sure on current fitness but I really rate Jones and Doyle. Seems crazy that Jones is gonna be out of contract this summer.

Michael: West Ham will see Steven Fletcher as Wolves main threat. He has netted 3 times already this season and has an eye for goal. Hopefully Robert Green can continue his form from the Tottenham game and frustrate Steven Fletcher whenever he gets an opportunity.

What’s your opinion on Wolves being labeled ‘a dirty side’?

Jake: Wolves aren’t a dirty side. It’s just knee-jerk media trash. Nobody would even talk about this if it was in the summer. However, Karl Henry’s antics in the past few weeks or so have been pretty shameful. It’s a shame because he’s actually a pretty decent player, but all of a sudden, he’s been singled out as the ring leader of a dirty team. It’s pretty un-called for. Stoke and Blackburn are a lot worse.

Simon: Hmmm, how do I answer this without having the wrath of the Wolves fans on my site?! I just hope you are not as bad as Stoke! I think the sending off of Karl Henry might have given you a bit of a wake up call, eyes seem to be on you at the moment so I think it would be silly if you went OTT on Saturday. But our lads are not shy and will give as good as they get.

Dean: Disagree completely. I run a team and if we were playing someone in a similar vein to Arsenal I would absolutely send my players out to get in their faces and tackle hard from the start. It is the referees job to enforce the rules and the players job to get away with what they can without going too far and getting sent off, split second individuals decisions. Its a mans game and a contact sport. If Wolves or West Ham played Arsenal in a non contact game we would both lose heavily due to their superior passing game but they are not a big or strong side and can be out muscled, dominated physically and got at mentally. You have to play to your strengths.

Michael: I think its unfair to call Wolves ‘a dirty side’. Its put of the game of football where tackles are flying in to win the ball in such a competitive league. What I deem to be ‘dirty’ is when players dive to win free kicks or to get other plays sent off.

What’s your prediction for Saturday?

Jake: Heart says 2-1 West Ham. Head says draw. We’re due an away win sometime soon. Either way, I get personal compensation anyway due to betting on West Ham to lose every week, just in case. As if we do lose, I get money, whereas if we win it’s happy days. I’ll go for a 2-1 West Ham win though. Noble and Piquionne for us – Fletcher for them.

Simon: Tough game, but I think we can do it, so I will say 2-1 to the Hammers. But I hope you have a good season, I can certainly think of 3 teams I’d like to see get relegated more than Wolves!

Dean: 2-3 to West Ham

Michael: 2-1 to West Ham. Wolves to go 1-0 up in the first half and West Ham to come out a new team second half and take 3 points.

So there you have it. Some excellent points and four contrasting views tied together by the same prediction, that West Ham will beat Wolves on Saturday.