One day you’re the cock of the walk, the next a feather duster.
As well as being Piers Morgan’s reported family motto, that line neatly sums up Wolves’ precarious situation heading into this daunting away fixture.
Prior to the weekend it looked like we might strut confidently into the play-offs (at the very least), chest puffed out and ready for the scrap.
Suddenly we’re down in eighth again and have to figure out a way to overcome a side with the best home record in the league.
Middlesbrough
I’ll be honest. Of the four teams still with a realistic chance of automatic promotion, Boro are the side I’d least like to see in the Premier League.
It’s nothing personal. I just think they’ve been more consistent than spectacular when compared to the other three.
That probably has a lot to do with Aitor Karanka’s graduation from the Jose Mourinho school of management.
They boast easily the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just 32 goals all season and a ridiculously low 11 at the Riverside.
14 wins from 21 matches also means Boro have the best home record. They’ve won five in a row coming into this one.
Wolves
It’s stick or twist time for Kenny Jackett. By all accounts we were outmaneuvered in midfield by Birmingham. Does he want to risk a repeat?
I suspect Dave Edwards and Rajiv van La Parra might find themselves thrown in with Wolves reverting to a more conventional 451.
But that would mean dropping either Afobe or Dicko, which seems almost unthinkable given their respective form and goals. I’m not sure what I’d do.
After two shaky performances, now would be a good time for a cleansheet. We can’t go around handing out more presents tomorrow, particularly as Boro concede so few.
The gaffer
Predictions
You’d have to back Derby and Ipswich to win tomorrow given their respective fixtures (Blackpool and Cardiff at home). Brentford have it slightly harder away at Sheffield Wednesday.
Four points from the next two would be a decent enough return, heading into two highly winnable final fixtures after that.
I think we’re a better bet at home to Ipswich, so I’ll put this one down as a draw at a ground we notoriously struggle at.
1-1.
Up The Wolves
C’mon Thomas – got to be positive!!!
There’s nothing for it: we’ll just have to double their ‘goals conceded’ tally in the home table.
It’s part of being a Wolves fan that you ride the roller coaster of emotion and expectation with a few dips of disappointment. So whatever tactics and team selections occur in the next few weeks I will back Kenny all the way and hold on for the ride. Saturday was tough to take, tomorrow will be tricky too, but there’s enough steel in this squad to muster a good response in the north east. I expect a huge challenge considering that Boro are up for automatic promotion, a draw will represent a good effort though and at this stage I think will keep our prospects positive.
This is the toughest game we have in the closing games of the season. A strong, consistent M’boro side, with one of the best defensive records … only one possible outcome. 🙂
We are Wolves!!!
GW
I like the word you used about Boro Thomas – “consistent”
We are not so I have to go for:
Defence error once again
Afobe plays the first half and scores, Dicko plays the second half and scores, Wolves fans play 12th man all match and everyone leaves the ground looking forward to scoring all over McCarthy.
I thought it might go to the last game and I fear that when Brentford play Wigan we might have to win and put in 4 or so just to get above them due to goal difference..
I reckon it’s between us and them…
That’s of course if we get at least 4 points out of Boro and Ipshit..
Boro’s home form and defence I’d run against the magic team any day our three being extremely capable ..this depends also on how we defend and if we don’t give goals away..
I’d go for 1 point Boro plus 3 against mad mick and go for loads of goals against Wigan and Millwall for the last 6 points..
It’s as close as that for me..and I might add in hindsight in veiw of the points we’ve thrown away, it was so
unnecessary to have to do this..
I will not accept the championship next season yet though ….
COYW
lets park the bus and hang on for the point
Even though the defeat against blues was ridiculous and in my opinion the worst performance wolves have given all season, I still believe we can win this. Its the matter of which players are in the starting 11, Van La Parra should start up instead of Henry just like the home game against Leeds. Kenny needs to have Edwards on at some point in the game, same with Jacobs (Sako was terrible against Blues), that said Dicko was decent on Saturday. Going away from Saturdays defeat should hopefully changed the attitude of the player and to push even harder. (Also i believe Tomasz Kuszczak, is better then Ikeme, the second goal on Saturday was partially ikeme’s fault, he should have stayed on his line).
A roller coaster of fun and despair. It’s what being a Wolves fan is all about.
Tried telling my 5 year old son that at St Andrews, but he was having non of it and cried all the way home!!!
So, Middlebrough have not lost a midweek home game for over six years,eh?
Time for that to change then.
Boro’s home form looks too strong…
Come on me babbies
I’ve liked your post, but not because I like it. I just think it’s true.
A blogger called Robin wrote, that Einstein said,
“God cast the die”
“Not the dice”
Deep and profound but the words are so true for us.
Kenny has cast the Die, (he moulded this team)
They have to roll the dice and make it happen.
It’s in or (their) hands, they are more than capable, we need them to roll a double six. Twelve points.
Come on you Gold & Black.
🙂
Nicely put StuWolf –
Couldn’t have put it better myself…..
We need confidence, self belief, that cup final mentality…..
An optimistic prediction….
Robin.
Great book, opened my eyes to someone close to us who’s demons broke my wife’s and my heart.
Would you e-mail me on :- teamsasha@blueyonder.co.uk.
I need to express some things from the other side of the story.
If it’s something you would rather not do, that’s fine and I would be fully satisfied with your decision.
But thank you anyway.
StuWolf
Funny animals those professional footballers.
Didn’t get to go to St Andrews, but with our amazing away support, how can you not turn up on the day, as some reports were suggesting?
Time to turn it around lads.
Against all the evidence, I’m going for a Wolves win.
COYW!!
I really can’t see our defensive weaknesses surviving this one.I would love to see us promoted but the prospect of world class strikers against our current defence gives nightmares.We live in hope.
i would love to predict a win here but a clean sheet and a bore draw is the best that I can hope for.
If we get a double six… Do we get another throw of the dice? :-p
That’s only fair me thinks, everyone deserves a second chance.
I still live in hope but my head says we’ll get nowt from this ‘un.
We are the team to dent that home record. There isn’t a defence in this division that would fancy facing the magic 7. Time for a Macca special ‘en all.
I would settle for a point, not sure we will get it though.
UTW
The defeat on Saturday was not totally unexpected in this household and trying to be realistic rather than downbeat I honestly believe our number is up for this season. Wolves have done loads better than any of us could have expected and I for one,hope KJ stays with us for a long time.He’s put some pride back in the name of Wolverhampton Wanderers.We’ve possibly been unlucky being among so many consistent sides this season. That said,who among those teams will do anything in the Prem ? Bournemouth,I predict will get slaughtered if they try playing 5 and 6 forwards against the likes of Arsenal,MU,Chelsea,etc. Watford ? No chance. Norwich possibly may just stay up. Here’s to next season when I think we could just about walk this league.
This will be a game to remember UTW! 🙂
Trenchmanmick..if we can beat Forest Derby Boro Norwich and have the best scoring forward in Afobe…why on earth couldn’t we have expectations to beat Blues then?
How was that unexpected as we were supposed to be playing for our lives to get promoted?
Because Steve,I saw the Leeds game which came after all those other games and when I take off the Old Gold and Black tinted spectacles, there was large parts of that game where we were systematically outplayed by a team with nowt to play for.That got me thinking.Take away all the local rivalry and think what GR has done at BCFC.He’s got a bunch of players who,to a man,would not get in the current Wolves side ,performing bleeding miracles.Add to that it’s a local derby.That’s why although I forecast a Wolves win(through those Old Gold and Black tinted specs )I did also add in my forecast that I expected Blues to win.I’m not running down my own team (I’ve followed them since my first game in 1960),I’m just being ,as I said in my previous post, realistic.I also hope I am proved totally wrong in my prediction that we will not make it this time.
UPTW
FairPlay Trenchman ..we were cruising incidently 3-1 against Leeds ..the point I was making was that we had the players to totally bury Blues at this time of proceedings and that was (my) expectantcy..and I agree the other bloke has got a hodge podge of players doing ok…
I blame KJ in these circumstances as its for him to drive the team… tactically change ..and make sure the points..
He has slipped up several times this season as a manager..
If we’d played 6 players across the Middle and gone for a draw we’d of been better off with a point as 1 point less could keep us in this division.
I’ll be there tomorrow but not confident. Prove me wrong boys.
You me and Brompton. Prove us all wrong
Will be leaving about 6.30 pm. Will call you when I park up and get to the ground Stu.
Look, it’s basically WTFK right about whether we pull this run in off. I was (over)confident now I’m just anxious … Too good to stay down? We’ll see but this is a crux of a match.
A nail biter me thinks,Tough place to go on a Tuesday night.
Lets make amends for the no show against the blouses.
KEEP IT TIGHT AND DON’T DROP ANY BOLL##KS.UTW
Tough, tough, tough. I think we all agree on that. What is important is that we are more than capable of beating anyone in this league. We have already beaten them 2-0 once this season. Now I expect us to bounce back from the weekends hiccup and do the double over them and not only beat them but do it in style.
Keeping the faith !
Onwards & Upwards
🙂
We have been figured out tactically,so we need an option.Its what l want to see as well,and that’s Mcdonald play the no10 role off Afobe,with extra man in midfield.Iorfa is quite capable to play there.simple.Also lm getting fed up with the lack of investment comments.There was only 1 player Wilson,who could have made any difference to this side.l for one am extremely proud of this team,wherever we finish,and in my opinion this squad with their style of play,is better than McCarthys promotion side,which had no premier league quality players in it.His current Ipswich side is the same.
too much for our lot I’m afraid. These last 4games could go either way, can even see us slipping up against milwall and Wigan, I predict a slow demise of our promotional aspirations. Oh god, time for a glass of JD.
I’m well up for a performance from the lads.
Remember the Xmas clash with Watford at Vicarage Rd. .. few gave us much hope of a result yet we played them off the Park with a creditable 1-0 win.
Tomorrow night we’ll need to match those standards of biblical proportions.. Anything less and we’re screwed… BUT I BELIEVE
I was thinking myself of that Watford game. If we could do that, we can do this.
Best defense in this division?
Bollocks to that.
Haven’t lost a mid week match in six years?
They cant have played many then.
When we go on a good run, there is always some bloody spoiler who “hasn’t won in a gazzillion years” goes and beats us, against all the odds.
Now it’s our turn to be the spoiler.
KJ will have bollocked them up hill and down dale, and they will be up for the match tomorrow, no doubt at all.
Middlesboro?
They are Tyneside wannabes.
What have they ever done?
Shit, they are not even sure how to spell their name!
Easiest three points of the season, with the tractor girlies and bentford to get stuffed, bring on the dancing horseface with his trusty companion clipbored!!!!
12 points from the remaining matches.
You heard it first on Radio Houston
FOwb
Clive,
Thank you.
Your enthusiasm and optimism are perfect for today
I think Saturday’s result may have been the beginning of the end for our play-off push
very tight game need to keep a clean sheet and then try and nick one
I ve got a feeling that we could win this . One nil I think .
Battling draw which will set us up nicely for the return of Mad Mick.
Tough to see us winning this one after the weekend.
Middlesbrough are very consistent, especially at home; I think we’ll do well to come away with a point from our trip up North.
In all honesty, I think we will just miss out on the play-offs, but considering the lowest we are bound to finish is 8th I am more than happy with that.
If someone had offered me that at the start of the season I would have bitten their hand off!
Provided we can keep Afobe, Dicko and Sako over the summer and build defensively I don’t see why we can’t be challenging next season.
But hey-ho, I hope I am proven wrong and that we can push into the top 6 by 2nd May. Will have to wait and see how it all turns out.
I can see us having to cling on by the skin of our teeth for a point here. That said and looking at the other teams’ run in, I’m not sure it’ll be enough. I don’t see other teams slipping up enough to let us in.
This is just the kind of game we win, and I believe we will, but it’s scary to find that we have only 4 more games this season.It may be too late. Our rivals have kept up their challenge, often scoring in the last minute, damn them !It may still depend on them slipping up. Come on Blackpool !
Can’t predict a loss, even though I feel I have had the proverbial stuffing kicked out of our playoff hopes.
On the back of the Leeds game and before Blouse, there was talk and slight hope of even an automatic promotion spot. Yet in the space of a single, on paper anyway, winnable game, we find ourselves with a fight to make the top six, and reliant on others misfortunes to achieve that.
It’s not all doom and gloom. Our season is not yet over, unlike another 16 teams in this crazy league.
3 points tomorrow will keep our hopes strongly alive, and we have it in us to go and grab them.
Question is….Will we?
Come on Me Babbies!!!
It’s not magic, you know, we have to do this on our own.
Can’t afford to lose this one or the play off dream is over !!!
This season has gone better than most us thought. I’m hoping there’s still more to come.
It may well be we have to win the last three but that is do able, despite saturdays off day it aint over yet. Yes Blues worked hard but relly we beat ourseves, and what was that madness outside, Birmingham club and police really are stuck back in the 70s.
Anything at boro would be good I’m getting predictions wrong lately so hopefully I’m wrong again.
We are Wolves… will do a good job here and then inexplicably drop points in the last 2 games!
Sako to step up and score a banger. Should be a good one
Games running out now, what a game to get wrong, against Brum, read David Davis comments on E&S site, just goes to show what the local teams really think of Wolves fc and there fans.
Don’t the Wolves players and management realize this ?
Just hope the team can bounce back against Middlesborough, so hoping for a win.
oh to be as positive as Clive! Would love to see a win – or even a draw but my instinct is that we are stuffed!
It’s easy to be positive!
Every morning I wake up, think, and realize I’m not a shit fan.
Life is always good then!
on paper we’d lose this game but this is the championship so anything is possible. Keep the dream alive boys come on!
I’d certainly take the point which I’ve predicted.
Park the bus n take the point, hoping a chance arises for Afobe n co to nick all 3pts with a stroke of luck.
We haven’t won there in 64 years and they’ve won 10 of their last 11 home games according to the bbc match preview but records are there to be broken 🙂
We need to win this one and I won’t tip against our boys.
Completely agree with Mosman, we have to win this one, but I have my doubts and I refuse to predict a loss at this time of the season.
Park two bloody buses if necessary but don’t give anything away.
COYW
They say that good things go in threes.
Well, on Saturday, the PMDG’er asked me to put a tenner each way on Monbeg Dude in the National at 50-1.
So the drinks are on her this Saturday at Park View.
On Sunday, I became the proud owner of a gleaming 1999 Triumph Thunderbird.
Let’s hope I can still get my leg over (OOOHH! Matron!).
On Tuesday night, Wolves upset all the odds and beat Muddlesborough on their own turf.
Mmmm, Thunderbird eh? Tasty. And all this lovely sunshine to enjoy her in. Keep your knees in the breeze.
I thought that might wake you up!
It’s a 900, not the sodding great one, but I hope to have some fun on it.
Whilst I am not suggesting you are not capable, just be careful on that now mate. My first ever ride was on a BSA B40 (I could put my feet on the ground) and then an Armstrong where I had to lean when I stopped with only one foot on the ground. That’s what happens when you are only 5′ 6″. God, those old balmy army days. I have not ridden a bike since 1986 as I realised I was quite crap and did not want to tempt fate.
Nice. Lovely nick too.
KJ ..perhaps the most important two matches to play since you’ve been here….
It’s Churchill time in the dressing room…give them belief and particularly tell Ikeme how good he is..he could take us into the playoffs with two blinders..
Let’s start with this one..
COYW
On paper, this is a tough, tough game. But football is played on grass not paper and on grass, anything can happen. 😉 I think a more defensive approach is needed so 5across midfield with Afobe and Dicko playing around a half each. We can always change it during the game if needed but we need a point at least as a defeat would mean the end of our play-off dreams.
Don’t forget though that Middlesboro are in their own scrap at the top for automatic, so as the home team, if anything they’ll be feeling more pressure than us.
Keep the faith.
COYW 🙂
Could do with the win but I’ll take the draw away from home COYW
Hopefully we’ll have enough firepower to overcome the smoggies
A Forest-like away performance and we can come away from this with something. Winning runs must end sometime, as we found out on Saturday, and its time their’s did. They will be looking for revenge, so it may be time to stand up and be counted and not be bullied out of the game. Don’t write off Cardiff’s chances of doing us a favour – they are in form and Ipswich are looking a bit nervy.
We lost to Blues because I didn’t get on here to predict the worst. Bamford at the double.
Trying to stay positive in this topsy turvey league.
I don’t think many would have thought we’d lose at St Andrew’s, and it seems without putting in a performance. I don’t think many will feel we could break our Middlesbrough duck tonight, so we probably will. And I’m sure the team will be well up for the challenge.
Everything suggests a disappointing night. But I agree with CfH on this one……so often our great runs are screwed up by unexpected results, often inflicted by old boys. So it’s about time that the tables were turned and Boro’s impeccable record was hit, though possibly not for six (or even five!). Maybe even show that Bamford went in the wrong direction and we did better with Afobe, with a goal for him and then some omnibus parking exercises for a 1-0 win. Blimey, I’m really tempting the fates now! But to balance that and give an even greater chance of success, I’m entering a defeat as my prediction – it’s worked often in the past!! Something please for the wonderful travelling army – Tuesday in Middlesbrough must be up there with Carlisle!
Just 35 mins away for me mate – just up the road. It makes a change from travelling 3 + hours to Molineux. Been quite happy with my loyalty though this season as I have been to 14 games so far with another 4 to go (10 home and 8 away). Not a patch on loyal Stu and the rest of the STHs though.
I think KJ will play this one tight, five in midfield and Dicko to play a sole upfront role.
Dicko will get one chance and will bury it for a 1-0 tactical win, bring on Mad Mick.
Dare I say it, a dreaded six pointer………so I’m happy with a point ????
The line up needs a bit of a change compared to the last few game, the other teams know our tactics. I believe we need to have more in midfield so by having Jacobs on along side Sako should hopefully help. As a result of that either Afobe or Dicko wouldn’t be in the starting 11.
We all know our defence is weak and thats a fact, but thats something we have to sort out after the season in the transfer window. So to help defence we need more in midfield. Even though Sako was shit against blues having him and Jacobs with each other should be strong they are both class players.
But knowing Kenny he probably wont do a change like that, if he wants to stick to the same formation I’m sorry Sako needs to be on the bench.
I predict the frist goal will go to middlesbrough from Tomlin, shortly followed by a goal from Dicko in the first half. And of course second half a sharp goal from dangerous Dave Edwards.
COME ON YOU WOLVES!!!!
Dicko and Edwards to the rescue
Might as well predict a five goal thriller, and hope we get the last and winning goal.
I`m still sulking after St Andrews where the Blues strung 5 men across midfield and just stopped us playing, with Sako as frustrated as I`ve ever seen him. Can`t believe we will have the same issues tonight as Boro will be surely be going for the win as they want automatic promotion. Well lets put a spike in their wheel, and boost our playoff chances. Brown underwear tonight me thinks chaps.
My completely unbiased prediction sees a classic counter-attacking performance from Wolves that comfortably sees off Middlesborough.
My completely unbiased prediction sees a classic counter-attacking performance from Wolves that comfortably sees off Middlesborough.
Are you predicting 4-2 then?
Well we played them off the park earlier in the season and we’re certainly a far better side today so going to be optimistic and hope we narrowly shade it.
Going for gold here!
I believe Leon Clarke is coming back from Wigan who are “exploring other options”. No surprise there then – just chuffed he is not eligible to play for the remainder of the season, not that KJ would pick him anyway.
From the molineux mole on the bus.
Kenny took the first team in Sunday, barred any of the other squads from coming anywhere near them, stopped the whole day training and bollicking them and the same Monday before getting on the coach and heading for Boro.
So…….
If they ain’t up for it tonigt I will be amazed, 750 tickets sold for a Tuesday in Boro land, but shit loads of Rugeley boys up there watching the cricket coming to pay on the gate.
I’m feeling optomistic.
I wasn’t throughout the whole blouse game on Saturday.
Time to end the Hex on the Boro away results.
If not Kenny will rip them a new Arsenal.
Who’s with Me?
Win or Lose we’re Wolves Ay We.
🙂
I’m with Wolfstroker on this… Midds have to win to try and get a top 2 finish. A draw will not work for them.
With that in mind, it will not matter whether we play 4 or 5 in midfield. They will want an open attacking game, where we can hit them on the break.
Off an different subject… Here’s the spot the wolf competition…. (Took a photo of the little uns head). It’s like finding Jesus in the shroud of Turin or in a digestive! You can even see the wolf eyes as small tufts!
Fancy making your nipper wear blue!
I think changes are required to freshen things up. Go to 433 with Jacobs coming in for Henry, which means we have another potential playmaker in case SuperMac gets snifled. Also, move Sako further forward and Hause in for Golbourne. Come on the old gold n black. After events on and off the field on Saturday I’d love to be singing bye bye brimsh!t, brumsh!t bye bye at Wembley on our way to play off success.
I think Kenny needs to freshen things up bring in Jacobs, Doherty even may be Hause as well certainly the defence has been the weakest link lately. I’d keep faith with Golbourne though he offers us a attacking option he made a mistake which to be fair to him is rare.
We need more energy and focus and above all patience and don’t panic.
No need to drop both fullbacks and Iorfa is doing just fine.
Got be to be all wins from now.
This won’t be an easy match but I think we’re overdue a win up there.
Come on you Wolves!!
Now would be a good time for things to go our way and for a surprise (to non Wolves fans) result.
On paper it shouldn’t be a win and a clean sheet, but hey, what’s wrong with dreaming now and again.
Clive,
One for the fireplace me old mate.
Told him your’e his biggest fan, he can’t wait to meet you May 2nd.
Your Ex Mate.
StuWolf 🙂
What were you doing with your left hand?
Does he keep his wallet in his back pocket?
That’s saved me buying you a pint then, you friggin’ traitor.
The same prediction that I mad earlier
Sitting in our Wiltshire village pub enjoying a few pints of Guinness and all the positive predictions.
Sorry I said we would lose now but having supported Wolves for 56 years all the hopes and disappointments tend to lead to a less than optimistic outlook………Wolves still mean the world to me though.Good luck to the lads and all the bloggers going tonight.
Which particular Wiltshire village pub is that then ?
Are we neighbours?
come on Wolverhampton, bring back the magic.
anyone know of a stream showing it?
We have a habit of drawing or losing games we were expected to win, and winning the ones we weren’t expected to win. On that basis I think we could edge ‘Boro tonight. What a morale boosting result that would be ahead of Ipswich! Over the two games we have to be thinking in terms of four points, otherwise what’s the point…
Whatever happens, Kenny is walking on water. If he falls in, we’ve still had a fantastic two seasons. Season three will be special.
Live commentary on BBC 5 Live
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05ssc0j
Can’t see us winning this one so hopefully a point
There will be a dramatic ending with the score at 0-0 the boro goalie will chop down benik in the 94th minute. The ref will be that incensed by the challenge that he will deduct a goal from boro thus making it Boro -1 wolves 0. There’s a first time for everything you know…
What is the new system with the live blog – cannot seem to get the text.
Just got in from work, putting on the radio – I know this might be rash but I think we’re gonna whomp ’em. Come on me babbies!!
Fuck me, not a great start!
Hey Wolves, I said ‘bring back the magic’ not ‘bring back the defensive nightmare’…
Terrible start… the hoodoo continues
OH, no, not Derby all over again…….or maybe it’s part of Kenny’s strategy, lull ’em into a false sense of security then hit them hard. Just maybe.
Fuck me Kenny have you been working on defending because judgeing by the last 3 games you wouldn’t know it get rid of Rob Edwards if this is the effect he’s having.
How do you expect to win matches when you give the opersition gifts like that.
I’m fucking gutted, angry and most of all NOT surprised.