Almost five years ago to the evening, I sat in the same seat in my living room, turned on the same radio set and listened to Wolves crash out of the same Carling Cup that we are now marching along in.
A much, much different Wolves this time though.
Once upon a time, a fixture like this would conjure up all manner of hellish scenarios, not to mention accompanying headlines the following morning.
In 2006 it was a Saltergate horror show, starring cast members Denes Rosa, Tomasz Frankowski and Jamie Clapham.
Roll the clock forward and these heady days as a Wolves fan have never felt so far removed.
No grimacing, flinching or biting of the fingernails. No commentator cursing and certainly no need for the many unexplainable OCDs in an attempt to stave off the inevitable.
Where once we’d moither we now meditate, basking in a blissful feeling of serenity that a dose of Tramadol couldn’t touch.
Far from removing the huge momentum gained over the first two league games, Mick’s 11 changes added to it in the League Cup, with young Jamie Reckord and Matt Doherty boasting star turns in the full back positions.
Beautiful strikes from Sylvan and Milijas in the first half were supplemented with similarly clinical efforts in the second, with another from SEB and Vokes, who completed the scoring.
If it sounded processional then it most probably was, with the commentary suggesting that Hammill shaded Kightly, even if the latter created Sylvan’s second perfectly.
Without being inside the Sixfields to see the action and no anxiety to keep me honest, a picture was painted of Flushing Meadow in a rather tenuous tennis analogy.
In round one of the US Open, we are the Roger Federer to Nothampton’s Tommy Robredo, cranking up the quality when it mattered to win in straight sets. (6-4, 6-2, 6-4)
Supporters acknowledge the ‘Premier League’ gulf, Tommy shrugs his shoulders and Andrew Castle tells him where he went wrong.
Meanwhile, Roddick (Norwich), Ferrer (QPR) and Tsonga (Swansea) crash out on the outside courts to suggest their seasons might be more problematic.
‘Tougher tests ahead,’ the flippant Castle will say, not appreciating the five years of hard work that went into this one.
Well done lads!
Not often I reply, but regularly read the blog. Have to say we now have depth as well as strength. Having followed since 1980 and been a mascot in the dark days, it is with great pleasure I now announce I am a Wolves fan.
Glad you commented Andy! Hope this is the first of many. What game were you mascot in BTW? I was mascot in 1991, at the Hawthorns!!
Keep on posting!
November 5th 85, Blackpool 3rd div going down if I remember correctly. Danny Cranie scored while I was getting changed.
You poor, poor soul. I bet you were cursing your Dad / family / whoever for inflicting the Wolves on you back then? Wouldn’t change it for the world though!
That’ll be the uncle i stayed with while the parents went on honeymoon in 1980. We lived in Haydock so Liverpool was the obvious choice, 3 weeks in Bridgnorth & my blood was old gold
Recent meetings with teams from lower divisions have certainly included some horrors …. but the story goes back much further. I was at Molineux in January 1957 when Bournemouth & Boscombe Athlectic not only knocked us out of the cup, they knocked the goalposts at the South Bank end down. I was also at Sincil Bank a year later when the all star Wolves team made very heavy weather of beating Lincoln – courtesy of a Jimmy Mullen goal.
On the other hand I was at Molineux in September 1959 when Wolves beat Fulham 9-0 with goals from Deeley(4), Broadbent, Clamp, Flowers, Mason and Murray – a potential tenth goal was disallowed for offside.
I suppose the moral is to enjoy the good times when they happen and to console yourself in that bad times with the thought that things WILL get better.
How times change Ben. I was sat in the directors box while my two lads got soaked at Saltergate in the open terraces behing the goal that very wet and disappointing night in 2006. Mind you MM had only just got his teeth into the job.
This match was a potential banana skin, as games in this round have proved for other premiership teams. To win so emphatically with a second choice team is futher evidence of the squad strength and depth. I wonder how many more pleasant surprises are in store for us wolves fans this season.
So we played a left back with a name that doesn’t begin with Ward?
Interesting.
Is MM feeling he might be good enuff for Prem work, and telling Mr. Morgan to keep his money in his pocket???
As I said before, success breeds oodles of confidence and that’s what we are showing in abundance.
On a really happy note, after reading the blogs about the Fulham game, I noted someone had said they are showing the Villa game on ESPN, so I checked, and bingo, 6.00am Saturday, I’l have the first Boddingtons of the day…..or maybe I’ll just stay up drinking all Friday night!!!
Well done the stiffs tonight,
COME ON ME BABBIES!!!
Reckord, apparently one of the best players on the pitch.
Followed by loan move to un-named League One side and then sold for six figure sum.
It sounds like we have a depth unknown in recent times. I realize this was a lower division side but it still counts for a victory towards the Carling Cup. Good job Wolves!
Reminds me of the old joke.
Hodgson calls MM
” How do your players get so confident? They are always full of themselves and play really well together”
MM….” We practise against 11 dustbins. When we get a lot of goals, the confidence level is sky high”
Hodgson…”I’ll try that”
half an hour later, Hodgson calls back.
“What do I do now, the dustbins are winning 3 – 0?”
Finally, an Electronic Telegraph article/report which doesn’t mention either Manchester club or Arsenal’s problems.
I thought it was an excellent piece, and will other clubs sit up and take note? Doubtful, but bollocks to them, it made me feel good.
It reads as follows………..
“With their big-time swagger and easy confidence in possession, Wolves are completely unrecognisable from the team of a year or two ago.
In fact, they were completely unrecognisable from the team of four days ago, having made 11 changes from the side that beat Fulham on Saturday.
Disrespect to the competition? It is not a complaint you hear so much these days, and having been played off the park, Northampton could scarcely dispute that the second-string Mick McCarthy put out was more than good enough for them.
Instead, it was the most public demonstration yet of Wolves’s impressive reserves of skill. “
I read that. The writer, Jonathan Liew, was saying on Twitter how he was annoyed to be there – his bosses had sent him up to Northampton because they expected an upset but he’d told them there was no chance and he should just have gone to QPR!
Great to prove him right and them wrong.
Great result. One question, zubar not in first 11, not in the 11 last night or subs bench. Is he injured or had a falling out with mm over not playing?
Injured
PS Is Thai Wolf Andrew?
Thai wolf is Darren who has lived in the land of smiles for 7 years runnig an Irish Bar where every Wolves premier league match is shown live.
I was directly behind the goal on the South Bank when the Bournemouth winger ran into the post and brought down the net. That was funny but the result of the match was a shocker, given the standing of the club at the time.
Great report Ben.
I’ll openly admit I expected a tough contest knowing that Mick was going to field a reserve side.
But with hindsight that now seems foolish given the likes of Milijas, Kightly, Hammill and SEB were all on the pitch, players I’d happily see in the first team.
Am I the only one who hopes the draw is kind to us so we can progress beyond the first few rounds?
We’re capable of winning this competition so why not give it a real go?
I agree Thomas. I was genuinely gutted when we drew Man Utd last year cos looking at the teams left we had a chance (as Blues ended up winning it). But in my time we’ve never been past the 4th round. We should definitely try to win it, but i think be wary of what happened to Blues.
Great result last night by the fringe players. It seems strange not to start the season being beaten by a League Two side, or at least taken to extra time!
I only ever remember us getting to the 4th round once, Villa away, when Dean Richards put in ‘that’ performance against Dwight Yorke and co. Lost 1-0, but they cleared about 3 off the line.
I think Arsenal’s invincibles in our first Prem season and last year (?) if memory serves.
it wasn’t arsenals invincibles, it was their development team, fabregas’ competitive debut, they dicked us 5-1, didn’t start singing till they were 3-0 up, were spitting on us from the tier above, and the whole evening cost me about £120.
I usually mention this, and the FA Cup semi final, within about 5 mins of meeting a gooner. Helps to figure out what kind of fan they are (most don’t even know they played us in an FA Cup semi final…)
I’ve just found a site that plays the goals from the league cup games – not the best quality but watchable.
http://www.1goals.com/
The main thing I’m pleased about with this win is Swansea, Norwich and QPR all lost. We were in their boat a couple of years ago, no strength in depth. Now we have a second string which has lots of premiership experience.
We are looking like an established premier league club and it feels weird – good, but weird!
Went last night and sat amongst the Cobblers fans. We took about 1300 fans spread behind the goal and a section on the side stand. Atmosphere was like a pre season ‘couldnt give a monkeys’ friendly.
Entertaining enough game where the score line probably flattered us.
Keeper was solid enough, made a few saves but flapped a bit at crosses until he decided to punch.
Two youngesters Reckford and Doherty played fullbacks and were solid if unspectacular – tried to retain possession which I liked.
Ewok and Craddock dealt with everything against “the Whale” (Wolves fans nickname given to their centre fwd Akinfenwa – probably the biggest footballer I have ever seen!) The chant (akin to Spurs chant for Bale) was funny and the player took it in good jest.
Foley and Millijas were tidy and Ebanks Blake sharp unfront – v quick over 10-15 yeards and took his goals well.
Hammill and Kightly (especially the latter) were awful. Kightly needs a season on loan to find a touch as he is nowhere near being Premier League footballer (question remains whether he ever was). Credit should be given for his cross for the goal but that was it.
Vokes was my major disappointment of the night and unfortunately needs to move on to cement a career. He won three headers all night and couldnt do the bread and butter of holding the ball up. Again credit for his goal which was a good move and finish but this should gloss over an overall poor display.
Overall a great result (makes a change in this competition) some well taken goals but there wasn’t one player who stood out as a genuine challenger for a first XI spot (possibly Craddock and Ebanks at a push).
What it did prove is that overall our squad is getting stronger, but injuries in key positions could hurt this year unless Mick further strengthens.
Enter Stourbridge Wolf and the ‘Kightly Out’ brigade. zzzzzz 🙂
I think you make a good point here though Matt. The reason we look so fluent and beautiful to watch is because we have the cream of the crop fighting fit: O’Hara, Hunt, Jarvo, Doyle, Fletch. A couple of injuries and we could be in trouble. Mick’s built a great team, but what about the rest of the squad?
Rich, asking questions about the strength of the squad seems a bit odd given that we changed every single player from the Fulham match and still won 4-0. What more proof do you need?!
I know mate, it does sound strange and taking nothing away from the lads last night, but we did only make one signing different from last season, excusing the sub keeper. It was only Northampton too remember. I for one am hoping none of the fab five pick up any injuries.
Flippin’ heck Matt, talk about a downer. Ha!
Good to get the perspective of someone who was there though.
Vokes has been skating on thin ice for a long time in my opinion. Hasn’t played much in the first team, but equally, hasn’t made an impact on loan or in any of his cup appearances.
This leads to an important point, which is – we’re a striker short, particularly with the Hoff and Keogh departing.
We need another one in before the end of the month. Emnes from Boro was suggested. He could be an interesting addition.
Is there time for one more blog on who do we all want to sign…?
Go for it Sleachmeister! I can pull one together later, but on the condition that it gets 100 comments!
would that I could spare the time mate!
shouldn’t even be typing this right now (at work – end of month deadlines looming) got a double date this evening (watching the inbetweeners – should be decent), and my laptop’s bust so I only get the net on my phone when not in the office.
other than that I’d love to….
Ward can be striker #4?
t’OM, have you heard from Dazza? We want him back on here.
He must be too busy kissing the Pope. But I agree: come back Dazza!
Sign a left back and stick Ward up front.
Two wins and McCarthy is being asked about the Europa league – what a joke the British press are.
I hope we have a great season but lets get real here.
It is a bit stupid but interestingly (if I’ve added up correctly) we didn’t get 6 points until the 16th October last season. Then after the win at City to make it 9 points we didn’t get any more points until 27th November, when we beat Sunderland. So if we get a win on Saturday we’ll be 3 months ahead of our selves from last season. Which would be tasty.
Yeh, its a fantastic start and I am chuffed! But as we were a couple of goals away from relegation last season I think this is an unrealistic jump in expectations – MM should manage this accordingly and not even comment.
34 points from safety!
Yeah I agree, I just like looking at stats and that!
34 points from safety!
52 points from Europe!
The best statistic of all is we have 6 more points than the shit!!!
If you look at it in terms of equivalent fixtures then we have also improved hugely on last season, as we only took one point from Fulham at home and Blackburn away then.
I am enjoying how Wigan and the promoted clubs keep drawing with one another. Bit of a cliche about the ‘mini league’ at the bottom but I imagine they’ll all be in it come May
SEB out for a month.
I repeat: We need a striker.
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2011/08/25/sylvan-ebanks-blake-out-for-a-month/
Enter, stage left………………….Super Ward.
He’s beefed up, is equal top scorer in the league this season, and y’all know he’ll play somewhere, so he needs to be up front, where he can do the least damage.
You never know, he may even score two more goals, thus doubling his tally for the last four years!
Super Striker indeed, wonder why Wenger is not beating down the door to MM’s office to sign him.
I allude back to yesterday’s comment. What if Doyle or Fletcher get injured, which is not at all unlikely. Then we’re in trouble.
We’ve always got 4-5-1!
The loss of Blake, even tho just a sub, highlights the frailty of our squad.
We need another striker or if say, Doyle gets injured against Villa, would Ward go up front and Elokobi come on at left back? –
Hopefully it won’t happen…
Let’s hope for at least a draw, even a win Saturday, to keep the ‘run’ going…