When it comes to the League Cup, I’ll hold my hand up and admit I’ve been a fair-weather fan.
I didn’t go to our extra-time wins against Southend and Notts County, nor did I even bother doing a match report for either.
But now Wolves are heading to Old Trafford competing for a place in the quarter-finals, things have got that little bit more interesting.
So yes, I’m crawling out of the woodwork.
In fact, we all should be, considering Wolves haven’t made it to the quarters since Coca-Cola sponsored the competition 15 years ago.
Come, join me.
Realistically though, what are our chances against the only side in England yet to have been defeated in any competition thus far?
Well, United will be fielding a second-string, so if Mick picks a decent eleven, there’s every chance we could, at the very least, give them a run for their money. He’s been quoted as saying:
“It’s a full strength team that’s going out. There are a few changes from Saturday but it’s a first-team that’s playing – nothing in any shape or manner of a reserve team by any stretch of the imagination.”
I won’t hold my breath, considering he said the same buy diflucan online thing last season after he’d changed all 10 outfield players for the league game.
This is something like the team I’d expect to see:
Hennessy
Elokobi
Mouyokolo
Stearman
Foley
Mujangi-Bia
Mancienne
Edwards
Hunt
Fletcher
SEB
Mick is bound to give Hennessy, Elokobi, Mouyokolo and SEB a run-out. Mancienne will be fresh after his weekend off, so he’ll almost certainly play and the remainder are those who either need a game to regain fitness or simply have to play as there’s nobody else.
I wouldn’t expect to see the likes of young Danny Batth starting at Old Trafford, but he and other youngsters could be named amongst the substitutes.
Perhaps Mick will surprise me by picking a stronger eleven, but I imagine he’ll consider Saturday’s home game against City the priority and rest the likes of Doyle, Jarvis and Milijas.
As for a prediction, I feel we’ll probably come up short, as United always seem to find a way of winning these games. Last season, even with a man advantage for nearly the whole game, they still beat us comfortably, which was highly depressing.
I’ll go for 3-2 to United. (This doesn’t count towards the Prediction League by the way. That’s only for Premier League games.)
If you’re making the trip to Old Trafford, have a great time and get behind the lads.
Up The Wolves.
You forgot Ward.
“How we played on Saturday is the level of performance we need every week” is a direct MM quote off the crappy official web site.
I thought we lost on Saturday???
Tonight’s game, once again, is on live over here, at 2.00 pm, so I can get the result before it kicks off over there and if you call, I’ll tell you whether it’s worth going to Old Trafford or not!!!!!!!
Thomas, there is bound to be one clockwork mouse reply…………
FOMM & WB
But Clive… time zones, I’m seeing at 2:30am so I can see it first.
Now you’re being very silly!!!
I’d love to see one of the youngsters given a go. We haven’t seen one get (and stay) in the team sicne the likes of Lescott, Naylor and Murray.
I heard that in Malone’s debut for Burton he was the best player on the pitch by a mile, good to hear. I wouldn’t be too surprised if Batth or Davis get a game because we need to give some players a break.
2-1 Wolves. SEB and Hunt.
David Davis – I’d like to see him play.
The one I want to see is batth, the Colchester fans thought he was going to the top and he had a good pre-season. Be great if he makes it.
Davis was only at walsall a short time and they liked him, I can see him playing simply because we are short of holding midfielders right now
Exactly, especially if Mancienne appears the answer at left back. Although Batth also might be nice to see. We need Paddy the Flea…
Saw Malone at Newport pre season and he was the stand out player in the development team which also included Batth. Maierhoffer stood out a bit too but not for quite the same reasons!
It’s our only realistic chance of winning a trophy so we should give it a go. I don’t expect to see Doyle, Fletcher or Jarvis and to be honest they’re the only players worth resting. Obviously Hunt too but he needs his fitness.
Of our next four games this is the one i’d want to lose but i do want to really want us to win
Fletcher may play… up top with SEB in a 442?
Yeah apparently, i’d rather see that than Marcus Bent
I want to see some of the kids out there.
On another subject……
Kites won’t be playing anywhere for a long long time, terming his recovery time as “out for the foreseeable future”
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11699_6469690,00.html
More great news for our beloved few.
Again, why do I feel like a mushroom (kept in the dark, fed with shit) when it comes to our injured players? We never get the whole story….he had a queue of teams wanting him on loan not long ago!
Whilst out running this afternoon, I pretty much predicted the same starting 11 as you Thomas. However, I couldn’t quite decide between Mujangi-Bia or Van Damme on the left. And then 1 of either Jones, Edwards or Milijas in the middle along with Mancienne? Although it would leave us a bit light weight in the centre of the park, I would like to see Milijas get another chance (light weight-presuming that Mancienne starts in a holding role that is).
However, I do hope that Mick picks a strong team to give us our best possible chance of progressing.
The one we would all like to see actually play football is Ward, but that will never happen!!!
FOMM
I`m with Clive and everyone else who knows Ward is not fit for the purpose as a championship – oh sorry a premiership player. However he does not pick the team, MM does. Not Wards fault, its MMs alone.
As survival in the premiership is critical, nay crucial, couldn`t give a **** about a result tonight, I`d love a win but Saturday is far more important. I can just see Adam Johnson (who we bid £6m for) running at our inept left back. That alone is nearly enough for me not to go on Saturday.
I will though as I can get a huge discount on my new wolves shirt, and John has promised me a pork bap.
Why didn`t Malone play left back in some earlier cup rounds, if he is as tasty as some correspondents are suggesting, will he ever get a game at left back…….not while MM is in charge i`ll wager.
So let’s just forget the cup and have a great season in 17th. I know survival is vital to us, but let’s face it we aint gonna win the league or Champions League any time soon so why not go for it?
Because we are playing at Old Trafford against Man Ure, the referee and 2 linesmen!
1 – 0 Man Ure following a clear handball by Nani who was 5 yards offside in the 9th minute of 3 minutes added time!
No – Jed. Incorrect, that’s what’ll happen in the league.
Quite a strong line up. Fair play, looks like Mick is going for the win.
Think we might just do it! I hope!
Seems we were somewhat unlucky (again). Elokobi and Foley on the scoresheet though … who’d have thought it?
So close to extra time. Great goal from Chimichanga or whatever his name is though!
Positives….
I thought Jarvis was superb throughout.
Mouyokolo looked good and won lots in the air.
Hennessey also looked good and confident at collecting crosses.
Elokobi must start on Saturday instead of Ward.
Seb looked sharp and improved as the game went on. So close to scoring as well.
As a team we looked well organised and disciplined. Lets hope we can start to turn these performances into some points in the league.
Thomas, you got the score spot on!
Is anyone surprised? Look at the prediction league.
Good call Thomas with the 3-2 ! Played well, forever the gallant loser, and not good enough to beat Manurer second string. Not only do we now sit 9 points behind West Brom, but they advance in this cup too. How embarrassing. Is it only me that thinks this, but why do we persevere with Fletcher, he is pants!!! SEB is much sharper, and should start against City.
Embarrassed Dazza…you’re in Brisbane….I work in West Br*m…..with plenty of people who let me know the situation minute by minute via word of mouth, text, email and the odd post-it note.
This morning is a bad one and I can only imagine what the next few weekends are going to be like….
There must be some kind of helpline for this sh!t.
BTW I’ve got “mates” in Wellington point. West Br*m fans they are – maybe you could meet up for a glass of some of that fine Ozzie vino?
Hi bud, if there is some way to get them my email address, feel free, I am 1/2 drive from Welly point
That should , of course, be 1/2 hour…my brother in law lives out that way too
All I need is that ferrel breed cher (from X-factor) singing ‘its a hard knock life for us’ and my misery would be complete. Another good performance, another defeat, blues and wba progress, mick to play ward and Edwards saturday where we’ll gallantly lose and be told to be positive and cherish our 3 shots at goal and 8 corners. I’m getting sick and tired of this abortion of a football season. I fucking hate football.
Can we delete the above post? I’ve never read such appalling stuff.Should be ashamed of yourself for wishing such a horrible thing to happen. My family is in turmoil at present due to this awful disease. It’s very upsetting and peturbing to read this….
It’s been deleted Dazza.
Thomas
Can you please divulge my email contact address to “These were the days”.. would like to meet up in Brissie with his Albion mates.Thanks in advance
Thomas
Can you please divulge my email contact address to “These were the days”.. would like to meet up in Brissie with his Albion mates.Thanks in advance
So once again, we huff and we puff and we can’t blow the house down.
Man Utd second eleven, and a poor second eleven at that, and even without Ward we can’t draw, let alone win.
Yes we had a lot of chances, but no we can’t take them.
Not at all impressed with Hunt, so one footed it’s embarassing.
Jury still out on Big George, and not impressed with SEB or Fletcher.
No, we are still crap, and the sooner McCowardly goes the better.
“Not at all impressed with Hunt, so one footed it’s embarrassing.”
So was Diego Maradona. It only takes one foot to score a goal, as Brian Clough famously never said.
BTW how did Myokoulo do? Did he look like he could fill the ample boots of Craddock or Berra?
He was at fault for the last goal sliding thru like a 9yr old playing park footy – but other than that he looked very good, assured on the ball, calm and passed it well.
Hunt started awfully but improved in the second half dramatically. MoM Jarvis without doubt!
MoM Park Ji Sung???? Jarvis was excellent. I’m unsure of what MM was playing at, as if he had have kept Jarvis on we’d have had a good chance of eeking out a winner, if he was taking him off to rest him for the weekend, why did he not play Mujangi-Bia?
My thoughts on the game. Jarvis was superb. He goes past fullbacks so easily now with his amazing accelleration. England call not far off surely. Team generally played ok but i thought Elokobi was strangely slow to close down threat leading to the first goal although he did make amends. Jones doesn’t do it for me, too ponderous to be incisive. Hunt looked rusty and what is going on with Mujangi-Bia? Why doesn’t he ever play? Something odd going on there.
Worrying conclusion though is that we look like a team that just does not know how to win. That Man U side was there for the taking but we still just play well enough to lose narrowly again.
Finally team selection. Why don’t we play our BEST team for the cup matches and try to give us suffering fans a day off. 38 league matches and about 3 cup games is all they can cope with in a season? Bollocks!.Finally, finally substitutions. Jarvis skinning ’em at will, SEB looking like he’ll score any minute, scores level with 5 mins to go, looks like we can win this one. Off Jarvis and SEB, on Doyle and bleeding Bent! Man U score winner and i’m off to bed leaving a very bemused wife listening to a very unhappy, angry, foul mouthed husband storm up the stairs. I’m with you Ben this season is doing my head in. I can feel a rant, i mean a blog, coming on.
SEB was clearly fooked which is why he came off, but to take off Jarvis WTF was that about? He put on Bent who’s good in the air and took off the only person in the team capable of getting a cross in – again I have to question whether MM has taken us as far as he can!
Gents
Hands up – it’s a fair cop….I was way out of line, way out of order and I wholeheartedly apologise for any offence I caused. Rest assured I’ve felt embarrassed and an arsehole all day.
I was pissed but there are no excuses for such ill-thought out, cretinous posts.
In the spirit of goodwill and by way of apology I’ve made a £10 donation to Macmillan Cancer Trust.
Fair play…as we say over here …”good on ya”