Kevin Doyle limped off in the Rep of Ireland’s 2-1 win over Macedonia last night and reports surfacing this morning are that his season could well be over. Medial knee ligament damage is the prognosis and an early estimate of two months on the sidelines is being thrown around.
If that is true, it’s a hammer blow to Wolves, particularly as Doyler and team with him in it has been hitting top form in the last month or so. And anyone who suggests his absence from the eight remaining games doesn’t have the potential to decimate our chances of survival is fooling themselves.
But unlike last season, Wolves are (hopefully) equipped to deal with the loss, with two strikers who have proved in recent weeks that they’re capable of producing the goods.
So, step forward Steven Fletcher and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.
Oh, but before I continue, let me address the issue of Ward. Surely even Mick wouldn’t stake our survival on his favourite squad-player when he’s got his resurgent number 9 and a bloke he paid £7 million for in the summer waiting in the wings?
Yes, Wardy came in and did a great job alongside SEB for the games against Blues and Liverpool in December, but deploying him as a lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation is unthinkable, particularly with two fit and highly-capable alternatives on standby.
I could very well be proved wrong, but I don’t think on this particular occasion our manager will turn to the prodigal son.
With that put to one side, I’m putting my full-support behind SEB to start up front at Newcastle next weekend.
I think his game is better suited to the lone-striker role than Fletcher’s and he’s shown a real appetite this season to up his game and scrap for every ball. We need that kind of desire with eight cup finals still left to play.
But more than that, SEB is evidently stronger and quicker this time around. When the ball is played into him, it’s sticking and when he gets a chance, you feel like he’s going to take it. This marriage of improved confidence and ability has transformed a player that many wrote off last season.
More than anyone, he deserves his chance.
Steven Fletcher brings a very different set of skills to the table and his close control and ability to emerge from tight spaces with the ball could come in very handy. There’s definitely an argument to say he should be deployed as our lone striker at St. James Park, but I just feel long balls up to him won’t stick.
I’m also not entirely convinced he’ll give as much for the cause as SEB and we need maximum effort from everyone between now and the end of May.
But that of course is just my opinion.
What’s yours?
We should go 4-4-2 now, playing SEB *and* Fletch, to go gung-ho to attack these straggler sides who we are playing from hereon in. We should only put five in midfield and sacrifice a striker when we’ve gone two up 😀
PS. Bloody internationals. They should be banned.
I dont think we can afford to play 4-4-2 at home, as games against Liverpool and Wigan showed, let alone away on Saturday.
Besides, we’ve got so much quality in midfield now, having brought in O’Hara and Hammill, alongside Milijas and Jarvis who are having great seasons, and with Guedioura and Kightly on the mend, that I’d want to see as few of these on the bench as possible
Agree Super Kev, our midfield has been quality since the arrivals of Hammill and O’Hara and think it should be left as a five. If Hunt comes back in, maybe for Milijas, he and O’Hara will provide support to the lone striker.
The loss of Doyle is a big blow, but SEB and Fletcher have both scored goals when called upon.
Both SEB and Fletcher deserve their chance, and think they will both score goals up front on their own now we have a much more attacking midfield.
No more injuries please to the like of O’Hara or Jarvis or i really will be panicking. There had been too much good news lately…
i think your right about our mid field it’s dfinitely the bees knees at the moment, but playing 4.5.1 with S.E.B or Fletch won’t work they just don’t put in a shift enough for my likin’ yeah they get goals and they’re really excellent at what they do…but as lone striker..hhmmm i’m not convinced..
an leigh griffiths..well! i have not seen anything from him yet…so can’t comment…
i was thinking that playing 4.4.1.1 would be the closest with out upsetting our mid-feild espec if you play milijas behind the centre forward..just a little step from his attacking mid field role..honest.
i still think we can survive but this next game is crucial now to continue momentum and keep confidence alive..
Lets hope MM gets this one right. In my opinion the loss of Kevin Doyle could be a major handicap in our efforts to avoid relegation. Fletcher must be given this role over SEB whos first touch is woeful. Great to come off the bench and score two goals against 10 man Blackpool but far more difficult to come on against Spurs and get crucial equaliser. Fletcher over SEB everytime.
I would prefer SEB in the Doyle role. He has shown earlier on in the season that he can fill the Doyle role. SEB is strong and holds on to the ball better than Fletcher, while Fletcher’s aerial capabilities beats SEB’s.
If I was the manager I would call back Maierhofer.
Agreed mate that it could be a huge handicap.
Also agree that Fletcher’s touch is superior to SEB’s.
However, I think you’re being a bit simplistic to support your opinion comparing Blake’s two goals against 10 man Blackpool to Fletcher’s equaliser against Spurs.
What about Blake’s superb goal at home to Newcastle? What about the equaliser at Old Trafford? What about the winner against Sunderland? All instinctive goal scorers finishes.
Also, what about the performances against Blues and Liverpool in Doyle’s absence? Right out of the top draw.
I’m not suggesting for one second that you’re wrong to say Fletcher deserves the starting role, but I think you need to give more credit to SEB.
Hello Thomas, I fully agree about the goals SEB has scored this season and his work rate to a certain extent but i remember him having a ‘mare at home to Bolton. What concerns me more about him are the chances that he doesn’t put away which is happening too often.
He has scored as much as Doyle in much fewer minutes.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating and he has shown that he can put the ball in the net this year as well as in the CCC.
The one thing that can be said for sure is that this is an opportunity to see what the team has other than Doyle. What other styles can they play with other strikers.
It will be hard to tell because the recent additions of O’Hara and Hammill have turned the team into a different team than what they were the first half of the season so comparisons are unfair.
henerssey
foley berra stearman big elk
miljas henry o’hara
hammil fletcher jarvis
this is my starting lineup starting as a 433 that could be changed into 451 .i don t think we should worrie about fletchers work rate as ther is bags of energy around him,i personly would like to see flecher because of the amount of crosses we put in lets face it the boy can finish . i think this set up would work because it boxes teams in and the teams we have left to play are in bad form bar everton who heve 13 from last 6 games, so lets attack these worried teams and i think 4 out of the 8 will fold underneath the pressure.leaving us very safe cccoooommmeee oooonnnnn uuuuuuu wwwwwoooooollllvvvveeeeessss.
If Fletcher get the support he need it could be a blessing in disguise. Our two excellent wingers would thrive having a striker with aerial capability in the box.
Losing Doyle last season would have been a far worse problem, as it is we have a ready made understudy in Fletcher. SEB may be stronger and fitter, but he lacks height, and there is no point in playing 2 wingers to bang in crosses if your centreforward is a foot smaller than the opposition central defenders.
The issue with Ward keeps coming back to haunt us, I must admit when I heard the news about Doyle I thought here is an opportunity for MM to play his love child, I just hope common sense prevails. If Hunt is fit and Hammil goes to the bench, where Kightly, Macienne, Guidiera, SEB and Craddock provide more than enough ability to keep Ward out of the picture completely.
The problem is we all know that MM is a stubborn b*****d, and he will find a way to involve Ward, just hope it doesn`t cost us points as we fight for our place in the premiership.
I `ll let Clive from Houston widen the debate here.
Sure Fletcher is better in the air, but it was no coincidence that SEB banged in 25 goals in the Championship with Kightly and Jarvis tearing down the wings. SEB’s a fox in the box, he needs balls into him as much as Fletcher.
Our season has come down to this.
Why is everyone so worried about whether McCowardly will play Ward or not?
It is a given that Ward will start, because:
a) All season long our beloved manager has defied logic and played him whenever he wants, in whatever position is open. (Thankfully we have always had a fit keeper.)
b) Even when not in the starting line up, Ward has come off the bench innumerable times, see Blackpool and Villa as recent examples of uselessness, for no apparent reason other than to fuck up the team formation, and give us collective heart flutters.
c) There is no reason to suspect McIdiot has seen the light, and will change his blinkered stubborn thinking, especially with his bunch of yes men clipboard cronies around him.
We must all face East and pray to the great football in the sky that a brain fart occurs, and dear Michael McCarthy, bless his sweet soul, has an epiphany, or an enema, and sees the same light we see, otherwise we will effectively start with 9 men,( one covering Ward’s cock ups)
Having said that, we are on a 4 match unbeaten run, and hope springs eternal, SEB is more committed to the Wolves cause, but Fletcher will play for his future, so either is good as a replacement for Doyle.
MMWGBTS
You still got it, have you?????
Mick McMuppet Will Go Before The Summer?
OK, you nearly got it, so you get the cigar.
It was very simple and not really interesting……
Mick McCarthy won’t go before the summer.
Boring, really.
So, here’s another.
BBATSWBR
Bloody Brummies Alternate Their Saturdays Wearing Borrowed Rags.
Bully’s Birthday Anniversary Today So Wolves Brothers Rejoice
By Being Awful This Season We’ll Be Relegated. That’s gotta be close.
I think that the manager will go with Fletcher in a 4-5-1.
Fletcher is and remains the best header of the ball within the group of forwards that we have. Given this, I see that he will be the obvious choice to replace Doyle.
If there is a question with his appetite and work rate, then he knows that SEB is waiting in the wings.
Let’s look at Doyle’s injury as a blessing in disguise, as for all of his great work Doyle hasn’t scored enough goals this season.
I think it will be Fletcher, with a run of games he may start to justify the big fee we paid for him.
I have a very horrible feeling that Milijas will be sitting on the bench watching Ward play up front with SEB. Luckily Ward never gets injured in internationals as Ireland’s celebrated manager won’t have him anywhere near the squad even though their first choice left back is a geriatric Div 1 player. What direction Mick decides to take on Saturday is absolutely crucial to our survival prospects. Personally, i worry he is going to make the usual, very strange choice.
4-5-1 with fletch up front ! He will do a gd job for us and ok ! Doyle is a big loss ! But Fletcher was brought to the club as back up for Doyle. He’s better in the air and with jarvo and hammil crossing the ball inti him , I’m sure he will get us the goals !!!
I reckon Merlin will go with SEB, as he has been known to prefer the Championship winning players to newer recruits before. Aside from that, SEB has learned from Doyle added the hustle and bustle to his game which perhaps was lacking last season. Fletcher may score more, but he certainly works less, and unless we start going 442 and chasing games / go for big scores when in a commanding position I don’t know if MM would trust him to lead the line.
Sad to say i think that the Doyle injury is bad for us, because he roughs
up the defences,holds the ball up, good in the air so i think he will be
sadly missed. Anyway just got to get on with it,i would play 2 up front
seb + fletch, but don’t forget big nose mick’s son he could well play him,
hope not because it would a waste of a player to play him…MUPPET MICK
said he thinks he’s won over most of the fans who’s he kidding even if
he keeps us up still don’t think he can take us that extra little bit higher
to mid table safety…up the wolves…
Don’t you mean “mick’s big nosed son”?
we need to keep with the 4-5-1 when we defend, and 4-3-3 when we attack.
i think we should alternate between SEB and Fletch because Seb seems to have a lot more pace and control that will trouble defenders, however fletch possesses that much needed Height, he may only be 6 foot but its better than 5 9 isn’t it?
Hennasey
Foley Stearman Berra Elokobi
Milijas Karlo O’hara
Hammill/kites SEB/fletch Jarvis
I think now is the time to give mick a break. I never used to like him either but so far he has done what he was bought in to do. I no he seems to play ward when there is no need i dnt think hes ne gd btw, but before we got hamill people were questionin why he was lookin to barnsley for players. Now it seems to be paying off again. We are playin well again and wat more can u ask for, we arent a big team cant expect to just waltz up the league.
Gutted about doyle holds the ball so well hopefully the otger guys have got sone tips in trainig over the season. Whoever plays have got big shoes to fill
KEEP THE FAITH… COME ON WOLVES
Anyone suggesting Hunt plays for us again this season/ever either needs his head checked or hasn’t seen him play.
Whatever he might have had has gone. He’s slow and not skilful – a dangerously shite combo for a winger. He might get the odd goal, that’s his only saving grace, but Hammill has offered so much more and has put in some excellent balls into the box.
This leads me onto the choice as striker. The balls in the box we put in aren’t generally lofted crosses the like of which would suit someone like Iwelumo but generally driven in. This doesn’t make height such an issue, you want someone who knows what he’s doing in the box. Think of the amount of headed goals Little Pea has scored this year. He can’t be bigger than 5’9″.
For me there’s only one choice- Wolverhampton Wanderers No.9- Sylvan Agustus Ebanks-Blake.
Forget smashing a header in, he’ll just bring it down and smash it in a la Newcastle at Home.
Forgive me for being a fan of the 2nd best goalscorer I’ve ever seen play for the Wolves but I think we’re better off with SEB up front instead of Doyle.
For all Doyle’s great work he’s dreadful in front of goal, with an accomplished midfield of O’Hara, Milijas and Henry with Hammill and Jarvis out wide we don’t need a runner up front we need a saviour.
STEP FORWARD SYLVAN.
Who is your No1? The Hof? Frankowski?
100% agree with you on hunt
Hooray!! I too am in love with our double golden boot winning centre forward. He’s my choice and I bloody love the bloke!! Loving that post. Having the choice of Fletcher is a great position to be in, but Sylvan is my choice. Viva la Syvan
Nice to see matty jarvis get a game for England,Done well.
Great to see a wolves player again in a England shirt.well done.
MATTY JARVIS
Am I the only person sad enough to stand up and clap the TV when Jarvis came onto the field last night?
Not a peep over here about either England game, all the sports media can talk about in Houston is Final Four weekend.
This is how pathetic the US sports set up is.
They make a huge deal out of college basketball teams, in effect, reaching the semi finals of the annual “March Madness” tournament.
Who the fuck cares?
The three games are at the Reliant Stadium, over this coming weekend, and the press is gaga about all the fans flocking in from all over the country………and yet according to official sources, most of the tickets have been bought in Texas, which does not have a team in the tournament.
As I said, pathetic.
And at last, the moment you have all been waiting for………drum roll………..
a whole blog from Houston without a mention of my fave player!!!!!!!!
FOMM
Quote from Mad Mick re playing one striker up front –
The Wolves boss said: “Of course, we can play the same way. It would be a sad indictment if we lost one player and had to change the way we played. The last Doyle was out, we didn’t have Jamie. It’s changed.
“Doyle proved the best at that lone striker role but both Steven Fletcher and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake have played it and Stephen Ward is a handful when he does, so I’ve still got three strikers.”
Stephen Ward is a handful, I’ve heard it all now! Stephen Ward is a handful only for his own team as it is like playing with 10 men when he plays!
I strongly disagree!!!
When Ward “plays” it is like having only 9 on the pitch, as someone else has to cover for his fuck ups!!!!!!!