So, 11 days after cancelling each other out at St. Andrew’s (you’ll yawn just thinking about it), Wolves and Birmingham lock horns once again – and on prime time television no less.
Perhaps ITV’s logic is that the first game was so painfully awful, the replay is destined to be a cracker.
Probably a shade optimistic but I certainly don’t think it could be any worse.
Blues have collected back-to-back wins since the first encounter, including a 6-0 bashing of Millwall to temporarily elevate them into the play-off places.
I think you’ve got to tip your hat to Chris Hughton – he’s done an excellent job there.
Even if his side don’t make it back to the Premiership this season, surely one of the top flight clubs will eventually take a punt on a manager who obviously knows what he’s doing?
The Team
Both managers will probably ring the changes once again, but as it’s a night game, on a decent pitch it should really be a better spectacle regardless.
This is the team I would field:
So that’s wholesale changes to the team that started at Spurs, but the same shape.
I see Villa as a massive opportunity to get 3 points on Saturday, so don’t want to risk many of the definite starters for that one.
451 because I’d like to see us pass it around a bit more and with a 442, we tend to hoof. Milijas will give us the necessary craft and giving Guedioura (remember him?) a more advanced role behind the striker should suit his game.
In reality though, I think Mick will likely play 442 with both Doyle and SEB up front, as he did in the first game.
Prediction
Remember, no points on offer here for the league. Just for a larf.
I think we’ll just about scrape through this one, but I’m not expecting it to be easy, especially with the incentive of an away trip to Sheffiled United in the next round up for grabs (sarcasm).
Another tight game, but with a few goals shared – 2-1 Wolves.
If you’re making the trip to Molineux, have a great time and get behind the lads.
Up The Wolves.
3-0 Wolves, Blake ,Doyle,Hunt
I think MM has pretty much confirmed he wants doyle and SEB playing together. Although i don’t think its the right shape for us atm i can see the logic in trying to get our two other strikers some time on the field and the hope they can grab a goal to improve confidence.
I would love us to do well in the cup. Survival is of course the aim of the game but I like the cup and the guys on the fringes should use it as a place to showcase their worth for the team and an opportunity to fight for a prem starting spot!
I hope beyond words it goes better than teh last match. The only way it could be worse is if we lose. I think if milijas and guedioura play they may be able to pull some strings and create something for us. Mainly though I don’t want us to panic. At home, chance to beat our local rivals, so get it on the deck, create nice little triangles and pass the ball!!! No more hoofing it, don’t force it just try and dictate the game and create chances and have a shot on goal if space opens up.
If swansea can do it i belive we can but jsut need to trust your first touch and want to play that way!
oh yeah in my ramblings i forgot to say. 2-1 to wolves. Doyle and milijas!
It’s painful enough to even bring myself to think about this game, let alone predict the outcome.
I’m going to go with everyone in the stadium having a collective snooze whilst both teams sneak off for a kit-kat and a cup of tea. We’ll let the ref decide the outcome – he usually does.
Could be a good game with a few trying to make a mark. 3-1 to to the Wanderers!
I would dearly love this to be an absolute exhibition of footballing brilliance by the Wolves to stick it up the ‘arris of whichever numbskull Daily Mail journalist wrote that piece slagging off ITV for even daring to put this game on live. However, I’d take a 2-1 win, so that’s what I’ll go for.
Quick question – why are Swanseas able to to play attractive passing football, while we play a mish mash of direct, counter attack and defensive styles? They have spent less, their wage bill is probably less and yet they are embarrassing us
I wouldn’t say Swansea are embarrassing us. They’ve had some very good home performances and recently they have turned the tempo up a bit. Their away form isn’t very good but they are tight at home. Brendan Rodgers learned his managerial trade under Jose Mourinho (The “Special” One), he also inherited a club who had been playing passing football since the Martinez days. I think their chairman made a great decision in getting rid of Sousa and bringing Rodgers in.
Mick is going to make wolves play the way he and they are most comfortable. I went to the Spurs game and we carved them open a couple of times, we also benefited from the long ball to Fletcher.
Swansea are a very good team and I think the difference between them and the likes of Wigan or West Brom (a few years ago) is that they have found players who can score the goals after all the nice build up play. It’s still only their first season in the league so I’d be wary of them getting carried away a slipping up.
Do you not feel their style of play and standing put’s Wolves failings into sharp relief ? Here is a club who we cannot say have out spent us, we cannot say they have a bigger attraction and we cannot say have a higher wage bill. Yet everything about the club appears to be better than Wolves. You say Mick will play the way he and the players are most comfortable, he signs the players who fit his particular style. Which on current standing is neither attractive or effective.
Yes they play more attractive football and haven’t spent as much money as us but judge them at the end of the season. They have got great results against better teams than Wolves already this season and they may continue to get good results for the rest of the season, but then again, historically, promoted teams who start well don’t finish well.
Wolves have proven to have the steal to last all season and we have improved over the second half of the season for the last two years. I went to the Spurs game and we could have won, we played some great counter attacking football, we defended well and the side looked balanced. We’ve been picking up points recently, in games we would probably have lost at the beginning of the season.
My main point is disagreeing with your initial question, I don’t think Swansea are embarrassing us.
I’m looking forward to watch the game to see how Eggert and Milijas will perform in a 4-4-2. Ebanks and Doyle fight for their places now that a new striker probably comes in before the january window closes.
3 players have been mentioned: K. Jones (Stoke), K. Davies ( Bolton) and Vardy (Fleetwood). Vardy is a fascinating player which is worth taking a look at. Maybe a loan deal with players in exchange? Kevin Davies would have been a terrific signing. Kevin Jones have a lot of pace and strength and would add depth and power to our attack.
I’m really looking forward to watch us send Birmingham out of the FA-Cup. I think we’ll score a couple of goals this time, the main reason for this is that MM will pick a balanced team this time. Birmingham could also field a stronger team than last time, and they have a strong team that actually won 4-0 away last saturday, so they are not to be underestimated. A true derby.
I want to win every game, but this one in particular as 1) I upgraded my sky package to include ESPN so I could watch the first game, not one of my more inspired moments, and 2) working in Chesterfield, I can have a leisurely 20 minute drive to see the next round at Bramall Lane. Can`t wait to sing ” its just like Cardiff again”. Anybody recall our 3-1 win there in our promotion year, with our lads heroically defending against an aeriel bombardment from the Blades. Oh happy days.
So 2-0 to Wolves as now Brum are in the playoffs places, for them thats critical, can`t see them being bothered about this game. I wonder what the crowd will be on Wed, any points for guessing correctly, lucky to get around 8000 or so. i`m on my Nottingham settee, if i`d driven over to watch the first game, doesn`t bear thinking about.
surely the pub was cheaper than upgrading to ESPN. i hoped you watched the UFC Rio fight to make up for spending the money!
A meaningless game just like the first one.Both teams have more important league games to look forward to and even though i’ll be at the game supporting the blues i won’t shed a tear if our reserves lose.
I hope Mick does choose a team like yours Thomas and give some of the squad a good chance to get some minutes under their belts!
I’ll go for a 1 – 0 to Wolves
Team for me would be similar, I’d definately like a look at the Stearman, Johnson combo. For all his failings as a full back Stearman is still our fastest centre half and a combination of him and Johnson could be a long term answer. Johnson for his leadership and positional awareness (he’s started showing it again lately) and Stearman with the pace to keep up with fast nippy strikers who’d usually leave Johnson standing. I know it would be harsh on Cristophe at the moment but looking the long term we still are desperately short on pace at the back and Stearman has it in abundance.
The only other changes I’d be tempted to make are:
play Doyle in Guedierra’s role for a while with Ebanks up front
bring in a couple of the youngsters like Forde. Surely even a youth left back would have more joy than Elokobi at the moment!
As for predictions I’d hope that we can win and take the form that we had at spurs straight into the Villa game, but every time I predict a win we struggle so I’m going to say 1-3 to Brum.
A comfortable 3-0 with both sides putting out mainly second string players. Hope most of first team will be focusing on Saturday and we can do without any unnecessary injuries.
I’m crazy enough to predict 6-0 here! 😉
yes you are!!
Winning gets to be habit forming, like being a monk, so we need to start winning, don’t matter whom we are playing of, just win every game.
Kevin Davies would be an unmitigated disaster. He can’t even get in Notlob’s first team, so why the fuck would we want him…..probably puts in a shift.
Jones would be useful, worth a punt.
Still say we could get Torres though…………..
FOMM
I’d rather have Kevin Davies than Piquionne any day. Davies has a very good goal-scoring record.
We know he has the abilities. Dzeko was in a similar situation, so was Rooney. It is very common that such periods occur. Why is a difficult question to answer. It could be the players he play with or other circumstances, or simply “bad luck”. Changing team could get him on the goal wagon again :=)
yes siree… six goals in the second half! Our display in the first shows that we can get it! XD 😛
Im fancying a Birmingham win! They competed well in Europe whilst rotating their squad and it will be tough for Wolves with the added pressure of being at home.
What ever team he puts out it must be a win.a wins a win and only builds confidence me thinks
and thats what we need in abundance to transfer it into beating the villa on saturday.
UTW.
I’d go for 4-5-1 with SEB no where near the team. He was slow and uncreative in the first leg. I’d agree with your team selection. Hammill is a great creative attacking outlet who needs more playing time to cut out the inconsistency in his game. Personally I think him on the right with Jarvis on the left is one of our best attacking set ups.
2-0 wolves. My blue nose flatmate will never let me hear the end of it otherwise…
I’m of a different opinion. He was close a few time, created chances, but were too inaccurate.
He isn’t as clinical longer as he was when he played in the championship. His career, so far, has been ruined by injuries and very little playing time. I think he has greater potential than Doyle – as a goalscorer.
Even if we lost this game it couldn’t b worse than the last. At least something will happen! Hoping home advantage will give us more than an edge, 3-1 to the Wolves
Maths GCSE tomorrow morning… I’m still going 😉
Wolves 4-1 Brum
FWAW
Can’t win the league, let’s go for the Cup!
2-0 The Wanderers!
…Do us a favour and keep Hunt away from first team, will you Mick?
We’re long overdue for a win – good omen for Villa surely? Dunno… :/
Great result against Spurs followed by a terrible performance and defeat at home to Blues. Which team will turn up against Villa?
Arsenal – Great
Bolton – Crap (first half, at least)
Chelsea – Great + unlucky
B’ham 1st game – Crap
Tottenham – Great
B’han 2nd game – Crap
Villa game – ?
Here’s hoping – our first team can do it but this has shown what an appalling lack of depth we have in the squad!
LOL spotter’s badge, Hamlet. Anyone who accuses Wolves of having no pattern to their play should be immediately referred to your post 🙂
Well to be fair the first team didn’t play (most of) the games vs B’ham, so if you count that way it’s 3 great games and 1 crappy half 🙂
The lack of depth is scary though, i would love to see Hammill, Guedioura, Milijas, Doyle and SEB really shine in these “practice” matches. Really shows you though that Kightly actually performing in his loan spell in the championship actually means something, i doubt Hammill in his current state would have done the same.
It wouldnt matter if it was the Barca first X1, we still wouldnt score with these horrible anti football tactics! Sick of watching such utter crap.
Gotto agree just thought the same thing we CAN’T PLAY FOOTBALL.something is terribly
wrong down here,he looks a man bereft of any ideas ,i know it was a second string team but we still should have beat them,we’er a laughing stock AGAIN.When will Morgan realize
he ain’t got a clue.FOMM.Morgan get it sorted.
MM’s 4-4-2 is dire (scrappy,niave,predictable, huff and puff)
Absolute tosh!
Is McCarthy an alcoholic?
He sounded like it on the pre match interview…
As for his team?
Elokobi rubbish.
Hunt useless.
They both played for the other side…..Need I go on?
1st time I’ve said it (I think?) FOMM!!!
He’s holding us back! I’ve got no idea of who we could replace him with? But what a load of shite that was tonight. The players need a kick up the arse! They can raise their game against the big boys but fail miserably against the so called lesser ones. At the end of the day the buck stops with the manager, as in any other walk in life. Although that was supposed to be pretty much our 2nd string out there tonight, there were a couple of players who we’ve been begging Mick to start in the Prem & and they were shite!
Nuff said….. FOMM
P.S. l like Mick, and I appreciate what he’s done & how far he’s brought this club. But it’s time to move on.
Can’t beat Brum. We are officially shit. How many f***in years are we going to have to put up with this? I’m tired.
I didn’t get to see this one “sadly”. I think its poor to lose this game, even if it is our reserve team. But we could at least lose while playing attacking football. If we’re not gonna start Hammill and Guedioura in a game like this why are they still in our squad?(might be some injury situation with Hammill, i don’t know, but start Guedioura.)
How was Jonson and Adlene?
Wow I see now that Hammill started, he just didn’t do anything to get a mention in the live coverage i read. woops
Hamill did start – Mccarthy did play an ‘attacking’ formation with the old fashioned forward line of 2 wingers and 2 central strikers – just heard him say there wasnt much in it except a mistake at the back if he thinks that was all that was wrong he is doomed.
Absolute S**t..
The most entertaining thing that happened all night was when the Zulu Warriors From blues kicked off on Wolves Turf outside the Wanderer.. …
Bet ITV 1 didnt get that…
What a complete load of tosh.
An insult to the few thousand who thought it might be a good idea to pay the money and go along and support the team.
Never again……
Rubbish McCarthy, how can you possibly say you take the competition seriously and put out a team like that !!!
How Stupid do we look on national TV.
“Mick’s going for it, he’s playing 4-4-2.”
I never want to hear this non-sequitur again. Dross.
I’m not going to a game again if we ever start Hunt in a premier league match. The most inept winger I’ve ever seen in a Wolves shirt.
Elokobi and Hunt should never play for Wolves again.
Why did the midfield not attack?
How many passes can you make across your back line?
It was abysmal.
Doherty was our best player.
Wolves did try and attack but in the modern game you sometimes have to move the ball around to create the spaces – which we didnt do.Birmingham had a better shape and more control.
Elokobi is quite possibly the worst footballer I have ever seen!
Too all the happy clappers, get used to watching games like that week in week out because we will be playing championshit football next season!
This performance says it all about where we are as a club. We are absolutely useless and the buck has to stop with McCarthy. Please get out of our club before you destroy everything you achieved!
FOMM
Absolute disgrace. FROMM-NOW.