MATCH POSTPONED
Well, here we go. The time has come. The first ever Black Country derby in Wolves Blog history.
A truly momentous occasion I’m sure you’ll agree.
And in truth, a game that doesn’t require a preview.
But regardless of local pride, bragging rights and everything else that comes with sweet, sweet victory, the significance of this match in terms of our season should not be overlooked.
A win would almost certainly catapult Wolves out of the bottom three, closing the gap on Albion to four points in the process and giving everyone in old gold a massive lift. Defeat could see us slump to the bottom of the table, ten points behind our opponents and in desperate need of a victory over Wigan on Boxing Day.
Quite a contrast.
Unquestionably, Albion are strong at home and like Wolves have four wins and two draws to their name already. Their only defeats at the Hawthorns came at the hands of Man City and their bogey side, Stoke.
And I feel if Mick and the boys are to pull of a famous result, we need to do all the things that Stoke do so well; keep things incredibly tight and compact, press the ball and don’t allow Albion’s best players time in possession. If we can spoil what they do and enforce our own game, I feel we’ve got a great chance of doing some damage.
The team selection should be very interesting indeed, particularly if the likes of Mancienne, Doyle and Jarvis are fit enough to make a return. At the very least they should provide us with good options from the bench, should Mick choose to keep faith with the eleven that saw off Blues so convincingly last time out, which I think he will.
That would mean a team of:
Hennessy
Zubar
Berra
Stearman
Elokobi
Edwards
Foley
Milijas
Hunt
Ward
SEB
Many will feel Doyle and Jarvis should make an immediate return to the eleven, but not me. Going to the Hawthorns, I feel confident, based on last week, that the above lineup can execute an effective game plan. They’ll get around the pitch and hopefully keep the door shut at the back.
However, Albion of course offer a very different type of challenge to Blues and are far more offensively-minded, so perhaps Mick will contemplate one or two changes. Whatever he does though, if the result doesn’t go our way, he’ll receive bucket loads of criticism. If he mixes it up, many will ask ‘why change a winning side?’ and if he makes no changes it’ll be ‘why not bring back our best players?’.
I suppose we’ll just have to win then.
Prediction League
Almost unbelievably, five people got the result spot on last weekend against Blues. Take a bow Kowloon Wolf, Super Kev Doyle, Philly Pete, Jon Sidwell and Yoda for all correctly predicting we’d win 1-0. Three precious Prediction League points are all yours.
I simply can’t forecast anything other than a win for Wolves this weekend. I just can’t.
And besides I have a theory that because we went so long without a clean sheet, we’re now going to get two back-to-back.
The score? 1-0 Wolves.
The scorer? Number 9 of course. Who else?
If you’re going to the Hawthorns on Sunday, stay safe, get right behind the lads and roar us on to victory.
Up The Wolves.
Oh, just in case you’re interested in reading more of my ramblings I did a guest blog for the Express and Star this week, which you can read by clicking here. I also answered a few questions for Goal.com. You can read that by clicking here.
I’ll go A***** 1:0 Wolves. Seems like a life time since we won at their place, and I dont think we will have it as easy as we did against Blues!
Sorry all for betting against us, but I’m chasing Thomas’ top spot in the predictions league too – so I need the points!
Hope I’m wrong and we see a SEB hat trick!
I thought Ward did well against Blues but I would still bring in our best player last season Kevin Doyle to play up front with Ebanks. I would also bring in Jarvis for Hunt but can’t see that happening as he scored. I really don’t see why Michael Mancienne poses a selection headache, don’t feel he offers anywhere near enough and the Blues game showed what can be achieved when we have players in the midfield getting on the ball and contributing. I am convinced if he wasn’t from Chelsea he would not be so highly rated. I think we will lose but we will beat Wigan which I would settle for. Before that Blues game I thought we were relegated, the players were great last week and anything from Sunday would be a massive bonus. Up the Wolves.
There is no reason why Doyle can’t be effective as that link man. He’s got all of Ward’s attributes. Except maybe McCarthy
Apparently Doyle is injured –
http://www.sportingpreview.com/matches/10111426.php
Thanks Jed, apparently there are 2 reasons.
Any one got a spare ticket for the hawthorns on sunday?
£100 waiting if you have, let me know on 07525 426 981, cheers lads!
I’ll go for Wolves 2-1. I’ve got $5AUD on Milijas to score. I also got an email on F365 mailbox today at –
http://football365.com/mailbox/story/0,17033,8744_6588979,00.html
For once I gotta say we should start with the team from last weekend, and keep our sub options wide open, and if we are getting roasted, use them quickly, not wait until the 80th minute.
Credit where and when it’s due, we played extremely well last week and need to keep up the momentum.
Anyway, it doesn’t matter how we win, just as long as we do.
I am getting some crazy looks at work as I am getting worked up and wandering around muttering “Fuck Off West Brom” all the time.
Bunch of pussies over here, can’t understand the passion of a local derby.
Nearest thing they have here is Texans v Cowboys,…..250 miles apart!!!
FOWB
What’s this.. Is Ward the first name on your team sheet?
Ice the ice melting?
He always has been.
I then screw the team sheet up in disgust and chuck it in the trash can!!!
He had a good game, for him, last week, and any mistakes he did make obviously didn’t lead to any goals, unlike when he tries to play left back.
If we have to have him in the team, lets keep him up front where he can do less damage.
FOWB
The West Brom fan on goal.com had nothing good to say about our team, while you came out of it much better Thomas!
To say we only have a couple of decent players is a joke, a lot of our players would get in their side.
I think we are a better team than them. Obviously they are higher than us and doing very well but I think on our day we can beat them.
They have a good home record, and we haven’t one away. 2-2. Ward late double.
Oh yeah, ans where are my bonus points! 😀
The West Brom fan on goal.com comes across as a complete nob head.
I expect they asked him as they (wrongly) thought he might give some sensible answers rather than just the usual cr@p you could get from a random thick head bloke in a pub.
Tool.
I actually know the Shit fan on goal.com and he not only comes across as a twat, he is one. More worried about winding up the Wolves fans than actually contributing to an educated build up to one of the most exciting derbys in the history of both clubs.
And yes, he is just your typical bloke down the pub that everyone wishes would shut up. He also proclaims to be a sports journalist!
1-2 to the Wolves, Hunt and Doyle off the bench.
A lot of our players would get in their side? I can think of two, maybe 3 at a push
Hennessey
Zubar
Foley
Jarvis
Milijas
Doyle
Would all get in their side IMO.
But why the fuck would they want to???????????????
That’s the best bit, they don’t!!
Off topic. Aung San Suu Kyi supports us http://bit.ly/gx0VAH
A 1-2 win to Wolves I foresee. SEB scores twice.
The force is strong in this one.
Just read the goal.com build up you did Thomas, I think it summed up the derby quite well. On the one side considered and educated answers, on the other a total twat getting a little excited!! Well done for the great job representing the opinions of the majority of Wolves fans unlike your opposite number who was frankly a little embarrassing!! I’m going to stick with predicting against Wolves in the hope of getting it terribly wrong once again. A***** 3-1 Wolves. SEB with ours.
0-2, seb and ward, hennesey saves pen which stearman gives away, foley motm at def mid
I hate this as much as I love it. I work iin West Brom. Most of my family support West Brom. No hiding for me.
Albi*n 1 wolves 2
I really don’t like the look of the Tchoyi chappy for them. He cuts inside and has got a good shot on him from just inside the box. His finishing reminds me of Kev Phillips for some reason. Let’s hope we keep him quiet an that Peter bloke isnt playing.
I was interested to see how poor they are defensively/goals against which surprised me considering their start to the season.
Please win. Or not lose. Nah fuck it win for the love of Ewan Roberts.
I’m going for 1-1, and not a bad point at all. Cant see them being as bad as Blues last weekend
1-1, Ebanks-Blake to score early on in the game. Going into this game slightly more confident than I was before last weeks match.
Come on you Wolves! Just don’t lose!
I’m too scared of tempting fate so 2-0 to the shit.
Great reviews for this one. A win would be pricelss, but I suspect we will draw, probably 0-0, and a second clean sheet. i`d prefer a stuffy win, so long as we don`t lose. Does anyone have a link they can post on the blog which will let me watch the game on the interent.
Yes,
“Buyaticketyoutightfistedbastard.com” !!!!
Or come over here, we get to watch it at 1 in the afternoon, our time.
Talk atcha Sunday.
FOMM
http://channelsurfing.net/
or
http://www.atdhe.net/
Mark, if you’re prepared to pay for the privilege of watching online I highly recommend liveonlinefooty.com
It’s £2 for a day or £6 for two months but the quality of the feeds are much better than your normally get.
FOWB
3-1 win for Wolves
FOWB
I can’t bring myself to predict anything else than a Wolves win. Albion 0 – 1 Wolves. SEB
A 1-1 draw for me. The fightback continues.
2-1 Wolves (SEB and Zubar)
Haven’t got one right for about 2 months so just going for Wolves wins now. Can’t see us not conceding so let’s try 1-2.
2-1 wolves!!! this is my first ever black country derby so im excited as all hell! come on you babbies, SEB and Milijas to get on the score sheet!!
UTW
WBA 2 Wolves 2. I’ve given in to my knee surgery so I ain’t going. I’ll be hoping my enforced absence keeps the wins coming!
You wussie!
A real fan would be there, even on his deathbed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even if it’s called off!
Boremingham game off, if our match had been today it would have definitely been off!
West Brom 2 Wolves 1
Assuming the game doesn’t get postponed, I predict 1-0 to Wolves.
Why is it that when it snows a little in England everything shuts down? Here in Canada we have real snow, and there is hardly ever any disruption!
I bet the teachers over there are pi$$ed that its snowed on Saturday and not on a school day!!!!
CALLED OFF!!!
AAAAARRRRGGGHHHHHH!
Not sure if it’s a good thing or not this game being postponed? We could have gone there with plenty of confidence after last weekends win against the Blues.
Lets hope we get a another home win against Wigan and go on a little run until the game is rearranged. Which could take place towards the end of January? Be nice to see Albion down a bit closer to us by then. A win could well allow us to leap frog them. That would be nice!
Typical Shit.
Scared of a bit of snow.
Just think how scared they are of a bit of Old Gold and Black bearing down on them.
I reckon they did a snow dance and sacrificed a pigeon just so they could postpone the game, coz they knew we were gonna stomp ’em!!!
Now I’ve got nothing to watch tomorrow, means no excuse to not do Xmas shopping with ‘er indoors!!!
FOWB
That gets me out of a very awkward situation tonight. In terms of personal life – winner.
I`ve just bought tickets for my lads for the Boxing Day game, I hope thats on.
I predicted a 0-0 draw, thats the closest score to a cancelled game, so in the festive spirit, do I get a prediction point here. No harm in asking!
If Man City buy all these players the press are on about, Lescott must be available, what a fantastic Xmas present that would be!!
Enjoy your shopping Clive, I`ll call you Monday night.
Good thing about the match being off is that when they finally pluck up the courage to get a date for the rescheduled fixture, some or all of our walking wounded will be fit, which means Ward will be on the bench!!!!!!!!!
Yipeeeeeeeeee, who say’s there is no Santa???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Before I forget, as I put down my margerita and sunglasses to rub on the suntan oil, and while I’m looking at pix of all the lovely weather you lot have got over there,
Have a Wonderful Christmas.
Clive From Houston.
SKY TV – any chance of putting the game on live now (being as it is the first black country derby in the top flight for 27 years)???????
I’m sure Bolton v Sunderland and Blackpool’s home game are a much better option!
Bunch of c___s!
Thomas – any chance of a Predictions league bonus point for me (for the pools panel result???).
Didn’t think so (but worth a try).