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Another might-have-been: Arsenal 1-0 Wolves

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

No one will argue, despite Wolves heroic defending, that Arsenal didn’t deserve this result.  However that they only got it in the 94th minute of extra time was sickening.

Mick McCarthy with characteristically commendable honesty summed it up in his post match interview: “Arsenal have had all the chances; they’ve had all the play.  They’re better than us.  I’ve no problem with that, but losing like we did in the last minute is bitterly disappointing”.

At least Wenger, for once, didn’t have anything to complain about at the end of the match after Wolves skipper Karl Henry was harshly dismissed where a booking would have done, for a sliding tackle on Rossisky that did seem to get the ball.  Arsenal squandered several more chances and Wolves still hung on heroically and looked set to take a fine point from the Emirates when Zubar let Bentner get in front of him in the 94th minute to find the incisive finish Arsenal had been looking in vain for the previous 93 minutes.

Congratulations for Mancienne on a very strong game in midfield and to Hahnemann - although Arsenal missed the target more than they hit it, he still had plently of saves to make, and did it well.  Finally, a must-do-better to Keogh, a 70th-minute substitute, who didn’t look ready for this game and needs to sharpen up a bit again – perhaps not against Arsenal when we could take a point againt the odds, Mick?

Losses for the other of the bottom 7 teams in action softens the blow, and while this outcome is easier to take with Wolves remaining in 14th than if we’d been in 18th, this will rank among the many ‘might-have-beens’ of this season.

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Circus of Horrors: Wolves 0-2 Wigan

Saturday, January 16th, 2010

As the posters advertising ‘Circus of Horrors’ (Civic Hall, 30 Jan) mocked us on the way out of Wolverhampton, it wasn’t hard to see where the inspiration for this particular show might have come from.

The game started scrappily, with Wigan ultimately having the best of the first half. Hahnemann pulled off a couple of impressive saves, and a bit of luck with a rebound off the inside of the crossbar kept Wolves in the game and in with a chance at 0-0 as half time was about to be blown.

Then Stearman inexplicably pulled his man over, chasing a nothing ball towards the corner flag. Penalty Wigan, and a second yellow for Stearman. Wolves have conceeded some stupid penalties this season (the flailing handed Zubar winning my previous award for idiot of the week), but this outstripped all of them, and by some distance.

That Wolves went in all square at half time was entirely due to the continued excellence of Hahnemann, who saved at least a few of Stearman’s blushes with his penalty save.

Wolves actually started the second half on top and created their best chances in the first 15 minutes, seemingly not missing their erstwhile right back at all, although Ebanks-Blake continued to frustrate. However, as soon as James McCarthy slotted home Wigan’s opener the game was up.

Suddenly it was all Wigan, and the crowd gave up on the game at the same time as the team. Thomas’s sending off for Wigan provided a moment of hope, but Wigan’s second goal hardly came as a surprise. Molineux was all but empty, barring the 23 Wigan supporters who had bothered to make the journey, at the final whistle.

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One of them days: Wolves 1-4 Arsenal

Saturday, November 7th, 2009

Disappointingly, I have been proven right in my audacious prediction of an Arsenal victory.

Wolves started so promisingly and really took the game to Arsenal in the first 20 minutes, but in truth didn’t threaten the Arsenal goal seriously despite looking the better team. However after an unlucky own goal from Zubar, there was only one team in it.

The second was arguably another unfortunate own goal – this time from Craddock. Mick did say before the game that he wouldn’t mind if Craddock happened to get another two goals after the heroics at Stoke last week. With a consolation goal in the 86th minute, it seems that he did, if not in the desired manner.

I have made much in recent weeks of the impact Kightly and Ebanks-Blake will have once they’re back in the team.  We have seen very little evidence of this so far, although perhaps against Arsenal is not the best time to make these judgements.  In truth, no one impressed.  Milijas looked a threat on set plays, but too casual the rest of the time.  Doyle and Edwards perhaps stood out most, if only because they were the last to give up the fight.  Craddock put in another praiseworthy performance, but was always likely to be outclassed by arguably the best in the country at the moment.  Berra was fine except for the enormous lapse of leaving Craddock completely alone at the back for Arsenal’s second.  Wolves can take a few lessons from this game, not least that the tiniest lapse is likely to lead to a goal.

Chelsea at Stanford Bridge next.  Ho hum.

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Boo (joke, just about): Wolves 0-1 Portsmouth

Saturday, October 3rd, 2009

It’s hard to know what to say. I certainly can’t keep commending Wolves on their endeavour and rail at the fates who denied them their victory. Granted, having conceded three penalties in the previous two games, Wolves were denied a couple of very good shouts of their own- first for a clear handball from a Kightly cross and second for a blatant shove on Doyle. However, the stats that count are that Wolves allowed their opponents a free header in the box and failed to find the back of the net themselves.

The optimist in me still says that these performances will bring their reward, but Portsmouth came to Molineux without a point in seven games and for them to go away with three is bitterly disappointing.

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Gasp: Sunderland 5-2 Wolves

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

I’m going to stop, after today, harking back to the bad only days of 2003-04, but this five goals conceeded statistic appears, at first glance, to be frighteningly familiar. Pleasingly and frustratingly, however, scratch the surface and this seems to be another of those hard luck stories for Wolves. Much endeavour and desire , a fair smattering of skill, and a little bad luck were the hallmarks of the day.

Wolves may have dominated much of the posession, but conceeded a soft penatly when Castillo felled a man in the box, and the referee didn’t see the contact made with the ball, and then were denied a clear penalty shout of their own when Doyle was barged to the ground by Turner. Going in at half-time 1-0 down, Wolves should still have have confidence in their chance of a comeback, despite a distinct scarcity of goals this season, so to concede again within a few minutes of the restart was a blow. There were few arguments, however, with the second penalty of the match after a rash challenge in the box by an otherwise excellent Christophe Berra. Wolves, however, fought back with two goals in a few minutes. There was a element of luck in both (an own goal and an indirect free kick in the six yard box following a disasterous backpass by Wes Brown) but few would have argued that the scoreline didn’t at least reflect Wolves contribution to the game. To concede three more goals seemed unlikely, but Wolves did it. However good the performance. It’s idiotic to just put this down to luck, even though only one of the goals (when Michael Turner was allowed a free header at goal) was a clear case of bad defending. Wolves need better luck next time, no doubt, but also need to maintain their tight defending for 90 minutes and create a few more quality shots on goal of their own. At this stage there’s no reason to think this can’t happen.

So, a thrilling game, positive signs and, crucially, zero points.

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Manchester City 1-0 Wolves

Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

Wolves more than rode their luck at times, but can leave Manchester, despite the defeat, with their heads held high.

City went one up after 15 minutes and dominated the first half. Wolves should have been happy to go in only one goal down at the break, despite only being denied a goal by a stunning save by Given from Matthew Jarvis. City monopolized possession but froze in front of goal on several key occassions and Wolves really came into the game in the second half. Doyle and Elokobi came on at half time and both did well. Keogh saw a shot rebound off the crossbar for the second game in a row and City certainly finished the more nervous. Well done Wolves – keep this up and we should get the results against teams costing less than £x hundred million.

Man City certainly had a line up that had the commentators salivating so hard that I had to wring myself out at half time. Favourite moment: listening to them congratulating Shaun Wright-Phillips for falling over in front of Stearman in the 93rd minute, thus preventing him from getting his header on target. It’s not all about height apparently – lying on the floor is also a sign of talent if you cost £10 million.

And finally, I’m thrilled to announce that the ever-delightful Craig Bellamy played like crap.

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Wolves 0 – 2 West Ham

Saturday, August 15th, 2009

Feeling quite positive at 0-0

Feeling quite positive at 0-0

Wolves came out the starting gate with a bang but ended on a whimper. When the starting line up was announced I will admit to letting a small tear fall from my eye. Stephen Ward starting? Neither should Jody Craddock, much as I love him, should not be a premier league starter. Against a better team these weaknesses will be even better exploited. But to be fair Wolves played a good game for the most. A second goal did kill the game off and Ebanks Blake going off with an injury after all the substitutions had been made put an end to Wolves attacking threat. Although Keogh was probably the more effective going forward, and I didn’t ever expect to find myself saying that.

Still, plenty of positives as well as worries to take from the game. Mancienne, Milijas and Halford all looked good additions and Henry better than I expected. Wolves played a good attacking game but need to learn to be a great deal more clinical. And most of all, the season’s back on and there’s another game on Tuesday :)

Right, now I’m off to teach my new friend ‘the unamed wolfie’ (more on this later) how to talk proper…

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Coventry vs. Wolves (2:1)

Saturday, February 7th, 2009

A very bad day all round, topped off by Ebanks-Blake’s uncharacteristic penalty miss (saved) in the dying seconds of injury time.  My wish for the transfer window was an experienced, solid defender, so I was very pleased by the signing of Christophe Berra.  The fact that his debut was characterised by an all round embarrassing defensive display is, I’ll admit, a bit of a setback.  I’m sure things will begin to gel again in the next couple of games.  Still, not good enough, and we can’t keep relying on Reading and Birmingham to draw at home.

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Reading vs. Wolves (1:0)

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009

Wolves bad run continues although at least the performance, with a few notable exceptions, deserved some praise.  Wolves have had good luck to thank for a number of victories this season, and perhaps it’s only fair that we should now accept the roundabouts as well as the swings.

Neill Collins will be making the headlines for all the wrong reasons with an own goal less than 2 minutes in and a sending off for abusive language 2 minutes from the end.  To be fair to Collins, it’s not his fault he’s in the team, and he’ll always do his best, but call me a fool for wanting players who are both willing and reliable.  Enough said.  Let’s move on from here (with a confidence-inspiring central midfielder please, Mick).

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Norwich vs. Wolves (5-2)

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Watching Norwich at Molineux last season, I remember thinking I wouldn’t see many worse teams in the Championship.  Today, Wolves at least matched that woeful performance.  Defensively a shambles, and not really much better anywhere else on the field, this is one best assigned to history, and fast.  I was there, but got a little camera-shy.

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