I’m still having flashbacks to the atrocities of Tuesday night, which I had the misfortune of witnessing first hand, so you’ll forgive me if I sound slightly more downtrodden than usual.
It’s sad to contemplate but despite there being four games to go and all very much still to play for mathematically, the meek surrender under the Britannia floodlights just felt like the end of the road for Wolves in the Premier League.
As horrific as the negative team selection and lack of tactics were, the most disappointing aspect of the performance, for me at least, was the absence of any fight or pride in the shirt. Stoke wanted it from the get-go, Wolves didn’t and given our plight, that’s entirely unacceptable.
So we now kick-off back-to-back derbies on the verge of total collapse, with both Blues and Albion licking their lips at the prospect of administering the knockout blow. It’s the stuff nightmares are made of.
To talk about form, statistics and tactical insights seems trivial. I have little to no idea what side Mick McCarthy will field at St. Andrew’s, but whoever starts, we need to find a massive performance from somewhere.
Here is the team I would pick.
Hennessy
Foley
Stearman
Craddock
Mancienne
Hammill
Henry
O’Hara
Milijas
Jarvis
Fletcher
If Fletch isn’t fit enough to start, hopefully SEB will return, as I’m not overly enamoured by the thought of Ward or Vokes leading the line.
Hunt and Guedioura might also come into the reckoning as they at least showed some pluck in their short cameos at Stoke.
Prediction League
Myself, Jed, Bagsy, Rob in Dubai and Stourbridge Wolf all correctly predicted defeat at Stoke but only Bazza got the correct score too. We all pick up a single point and he collects the full three. Well done Bazza.
I’m saying a draw for this one. Tuesday was so bad that I’ve got to believe we’ll see an improvement.
Blues home form is respectable and they’ll be tough to breakdown but I think we’re due some luck on their ground.
1-1.
If you’re making the short trip down the M6 on Sunday have a great time and get behind the lads. The support at Stoke, despite the catastrophe on the pitch, was exceptional.
Up The Wolves.
Good afternoon Thomas.
The optimism with which I bought tickets for the Stoke and Blues matches has evaporated, and i feel as despondent as the tone in your blog Thomas.
I agree with your team selection, although I doubt Foley would have made any difference against the Stoke six footers, but MM has to drop Ward and Berra. Simply not good enough at this level.
The question is has the balls to admit that these players aren`t good enough, well he simply hasn`t all season, or the two prior, so I just can`
I disagree with the easy conclusion of a lack of fight or pride in shirt that is labelled at very poor football teams. I watched the game on Tuesday and I am sure they were up for it. Maybe we just have to look at the players ability and accept this team is not good enough, hence why we have been bottom of the league all season. Christophe Berra, Stearman, Craddock Stephen Ward, Kightly, Henry and Mancienne are not good enough for this division and it is a reflection on the managers investments that these players have not been replaced.
Ward got destroyed on Tuesday, that is not to do with fight. We have seen it for 3 seasons now, he is not a good defender. How McCarthy can be considered a top manager but persist with players of this standard is beyond me.
As soon as Mancienne was confirmed in the team, any fan with half a brain would have been disappointed. The guy offers nothing in midfield.
His tactics, team selections and new signings have been appalling the last season so can someone tell me what McCarthy is good at? Yeah he got wolves promoted at the third attempt with a weight of money from Morgan – not that brilliant an achievement.
My typing skills are on a par with the wolves defence – inadequate, so please allow me to finish below.
` see him doing it. This would be an admission has made error of judgement in players ability and he appears far too arrogant to admit that.
I also think that SEB can only play with a big target man, so if Fletcher is not fit, we have no option to play Vokes as the big man up front, and hopen it works.
I see MM shook hands with his players in front of the Wolves fans on Tuesday night. Well i`d long gone and halfway back to Nottingham by the full time whistle. Contemplating that if MM really believes Ward and Berra are premiership quality players it brings into question everything he has done in the last 2 years, its that much of a pending disaster. Frankly on the evidence of Tuesday, confidence must be shot, we have no chance of winning or scoring more than once, so I`m going for a 1-1 draw, although I fear we will suffer a much worse scoreline in reality
Maybe I should go shopping with my missus in the Bull Ring, mmmmm but thats even worse than watching wolves – just. FOMM.
This weekend I will be in Anna Marie Island, on the West coast of Florida, soaking up the sun on the pristine beaches, watching the pelicans dive for fish, the scantily clad beauties posing up and down, eating the freshest seafood, and imbibing of copious amounts of margaritas……………..and not a tv or computer in sight!!!
I won’t be biting my nails and screaming in frustration as Ward fucks up yet again, and as Berra wraps his arms around yet another mediocre opponent, nor will I be the slightest bit interested in McIdiots post match excuses.
I will be enjoying myself, McDickhead will be scouring the classifieds job sections.
Who’s the fuckin’ numptie now, McCarthy?????
Prediction for Blues?
Another heavy defeat, for the same team, except Ward starting up front, since we have our recognized strikers out, and after all, he was bought as a forward, and has proved himself over and over, with his fabulous tally of one goal in four years. Bully’s all time record could be in danger now.
FOMM
As I sadly got last week’s prediction correct, I’ll have another go. Before Stoke I said one point out of these two wouldn’t be the end of the world so I’ll agree with Thomas and go 1-1.
I agree with Thomas on the recalls of Milijas, Hammill and Foley. I also agree Mancienne at left back, although I’d go back to Stearman and Berra at centre half.
Since Villa I’ve predicted a win in every game. For some daft reason I’m going to continue. I’m hoping this Wolves side will stay true to form and follow new lows with unexpected highs.
Agree on need to recall Hammill and Foley. Wouldn’t be averse to dropping Jarvis and making room for Guedioura too. As blatantly capable as Jarvo is he has been very poor since we beat Villa.
2-1 to Wolves.
Please.
Mujangi Bia for Jarvis, IMO, otherwise Thomas’s team looks good. If we had any confidence, that is.
As it is, B’ham 2-0 Wolves.
Thomas your team is what any half decent manager would pick with the players available. Unfortunately we don’t have a half decent manager so expect a team that looks nothing like that.
We’re shit and we no we are so Blouse 2-0 Wolves as a minimum!
3-1 loss
Mccarthy, you thick clot out.
Blues 2:0 Wolves – with Phillips (and Ward) playing some part in our downfall.
Muppet Mick will say we are “still in with a chance” as all real hope disintegrates even further. He will praise Ward for playing badly in at least three positions throughout the game and keep Milijas and Hammil on the bench while Kightly limps around for the full 90 mins.
My mate saw O’Hara p*ssed up around midnight in Brum last night eating junk food! Drowning his sorrows no doubt – and who can blame him!
Agree with the team Thomas but I fear their heads have dropped and so am pessimistic about any draws, never mind wins. Someone described MM as like a rabbit in the headlights in the post match interviews. He looked resigned to relegation so I cannot see him instilling any confidence or belief in the boys before Sunday. Sorry to be so negative but the results in April have knocked the stuffing out of me.
It must be so frustrating for Doyle having to sit it out watching the team self-destruct – mind you he’s probably on to his agent to get him the F**k out.
On a separate note, what services (internet or TV) are best/cheapest/free for watching Wolves games live – Can any of the non-UK posters let me know what service they use?
Cheers
Fox Soccer Channel in Houston, and I believe all over the States, or try one of the ESPN channels, they actually showed Wolves v Everton live the other week…………and I wished they hadn’t!!!
Which part of the world are you in?
FOMM
Setanta Canada screen every Premiership game
I watch the wolves games on http://www.myp2p.eu
Thanks guys.
I’m in the Republic of Ireland, not a million miles away I know but I only ever get to see “highlights” on MOTD etc. For a near live update I resort to the Yahoo live update service which gives a text update streamed to your PC every minute or so – not a bad service as a backup.
I’ve tried listening to the live commentary from Beacon Radio via the Interweb but just as the match starts they revert to a pre-recorded message saying they can’t bring the commentary to due to rights issues – or similar. I think this must be because my IP address is recognised as being outside of the UK. We can’t get BBC iPlayer here either!
Anyway, thanks for the heads-up on the other services.
2 nil to Blues for me too.
If that mossive bloke (Zigic?) plays he’ll be all over us like Matty Etheringtons mother.
Seriously not looking forward to it.
I did a list before the Stoke game(which i put down as nul point) of all the points i thought the bottom teams would get until the end of the season. It suggested we would need to beat Blackburn in the last game of the season to stay up. My predictions for the next two derby games were draws so i’m going for 0-0. That would give us a chance to stay up and yippee!, another season like this one.
I’m going for a 1-0 blues just think he will pick the same team again
don’t forget he clapped them off the pitch at stoke.Iv’e picked us to win
all our games,wishful thinking on my part,but this time i’m going for a loss.
maybe we will win hope so.PLEASE MR MORGAN SACK HIM.AND THE REST
OF THE RABBLE.
I just can’t see anything other than defeat, KP will do for us again in a 2-0 win for blues. Not looking forward to standing taking abuse from hoards of gloating fans as Blues secure safety and another nail goes in our coffin. Between Tues and what I expect Sunday will prob be enough for suicide before the **** game!!!!!!
We will be able to see lots of Wolves next season on the ‘Championship.’ I think we will lose 3-0 Sunday, hope I’m wrong. McCarthy has lost the plot and Morgan should sack him. Why, Foley, Milijas and Hammill have suddenly become periphery players is beyond comprehension.
Blues 2-0 Wolves
1-0 win for Wolves. It’s gotta happen sooner rather than later.
Not sure how but Wolves do keep surprising. I just wish Wolves Bloggers could pick the team instead of that McIdiot!
There was a very good interview with the West Ham chairman in this morning’s Electronic Telegraph, ( don’t know if it made it to the papers over there) and he was extremely honest about their slim chances of survival, and the prospect of Championship football next season, and, more damningly, the attitude of certain of his players, and whether or not they are up for a fight, or just want to pick up their paychecks and bugger off at the end of the season.
More damningly, however, in my mind, is our chairman/owner’s complete silence……for months.
Where are you, Morgan, what is your take on the whole debacle of a season, and what, if anything, are you going to do about it???????
FOMM
what do we expect from a chairman who is still a red who only see’s
wolves as a buisness venture.Moxey ‘s been quiet because he knows the
fans are pissed off and will be calling for his head as well as that muppet
we have as a manager Mc IDIOT.and the back room staff who are crap
as well.
Our only hope is the brummies are worse than us on sunday and we beat
them somehow…As for the players its down to them to turn it around and
show the long suffering fans they really want to wear the old Gold,n Black
shirt in the prem instead of the championshit.As you say clive.FOMM.
I agree with you. Morgan has been conspicuous by his silence. Maybe he’s waiting for the end of the season before sacking MM Premier league or Championship he has to go.
0-0, and thats with my eyes shut and fingers crossed.
Really is time for MM to depart or the club to back him with a proper scouting infrastructure.
The signings down the road have proved that – scharner, thomas, jara, reid, molumbo, dorrans, cox, olsson, meite, morrison, shorey, tchoyi, odemwingie to name a few all for about £8m.
For some reason they are finding gems for nout while we buy has beens from relegated clubs. Do we have a scouting system or is MM just told to look at relegated clubs squads and pick the phone up.
I think we can at least get a point out of this one. Assuming at least one of our preferred strikers is fit, and we don’t start with Vokes.
1 – 1
As god made little green apples McIdiot will pick a side what will
dumbfound us all ,and probably win the game i hope or is it wishful
thinking on my part.
I just don’t fancy us to pick up a result against anyone at the moment. The fact it is Blues makes me even more worried. I’m going for 2-1 to the Blues (although quite where we are going to get a goal from, I’m not sure).
Depressing 1-0 loss for the Wolves.
I’ve got a feeling these next 2 games are going to be torture. Losing to blues and albion is highly likely if we don’t sort our game out. Hopefully the players realise how important these 2 games are for the fans, not just for points but for local pride as well. I’ve had to listen to my albion supporting mates tell me how they’ve got a better squad than us so it would be nice to prove them wrong.
4 points from the next 2 games would be lovely but I can see us getting fuck all. Hopefully Mick’s worked his magic and got the players raging, this is his final test. Loose the next 2 games and he’s a dead man. We’re better than blues and albion, we just need to proove it.
He’s got to put Hammill back in, all the fans know it, surely he does now.
Jesus, this is tough. I hope i’m wrong but I think we’ll lose 2-1.
Based on recent performances, I’m going for a 2-0 home win. So far, today’s results are going against us and I expect the pressure will be too much tomorrow for McNugget’s boys tomorrow.
I feel that it will be 1-0 to the wolves because I reckon we will park the bus and use Jarvis on the wing to get a goal on the counter.
Team Lineup
Hennessey
Foley
Craddock
Berra
Ward
Hammill
Henry
Guerdiora
O’Hara
Jarvis
Fletcher (Vokes if he isn’t fit)
We’re gonna lose 2-1, beat the a****n at mol, draw at Sunderland and beat Blackburn to stay up on the last day. You heard it here first
On the day that Neil Warnock got QPR promoted in one season spending circa £3m on new players, I like to highlight McCarthy took 3 seasons and spent circa £14million. I am sick of McCarthy being considered this messiah who deserves total loyalty. He has done a shocking job since promotion and the support he has received this season is ridiculous.
Hear Hear !!! Completely agreee… what riles me is we are stuck with the idiot for ATLEAST another year
Blues 1 Wolves 2 (Fletcher, Craddock)
Another shambolic performance against 10 men for the most part. Can anyone remember Foster making a meaningful save? I can only hope Morgan has the balls to sack McNugget once our relegation is confirmed.
Had enough of it all now just don’t care what happens!
Hopefully I won’t get to see them next season they don’t come to see me when I am bad.
Another point on the board,but we threw away the chance again to get
ourselves out of the relegation battle for at least a week. I did’nt watch
or listen just could’nt bare it,but reading the report we did’nt offer very
much after we scored the goal but as we always do make a mistake and
got punished and that is what our season has been all about.
I think McIdiot went for the draw by the team he put out by playing big
nose ward up front his only son.Negative.He changed it late on but it was
to late as usual…I think deep down he knows we ain’t good enough you
can tell by the look on his face at the interview after the match.
Baggies next week wonder what his game plan is ,don’t think he knows.
God help us if picks that side.
Keep the faith
Well, what a bag of shite!!! It was like watching two very poor League 1 teams. Endless long balls, hardly any skill or craft. I’m still trying to work out what Mancienne was up to, with the header, I can only think he lost the flight, blaming the sun.
I couldn’t see a great deal of difference between the teams and that was when it was Blouse with 11 and 10 men.
I’m totally resigned to us being relegated now, at least with not living in the Midlands, now, I don’t gave to put with, countless ribbing from Blouse or A****n work colleagues.
Gift of a penalty early on, Blues down to 10 men and we still couldn’t win. F**king clueless. Regarding Mancienne, being the cynic that I am, makes me wonder if he had a bet on the blues winning. Well, the game was further proof that we don’t have the class of players to be in this league. Being hardworking, gritty journeymen was never gonna be enough.
Rumour is Hammil has fallen out of favour, oh dear, thickmick at it again
Championship here we come.