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Football
A fave quote is
from comedian Linda Smith, "Football and Cricket are the only sports,
the rest are just games". |
Where
there is life, there is hope, below is my weblog of the highs and lows of the season's progres. By the way, I get to go to about 3 or4 games a years at best, the rest I have to watch/ listen to on the Internet/ radio so Glenn I if you are reading this looking for hints and tips - sorry I cant give you a detailed critique of your tactics! Some Wolves related books and DVD's |
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newest posts at the top |
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Some Good Footie sites: Wolves
on the net Molineux
Mix Wolvesfc.co.uk Wolves
mad Craddock
Art Wolves
in Wikipedia
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Well
its all over, again I guess there is always next season! News from the Mol' is that Hoddle is to stay for next seson, and with prem parachute payments gone then we will have to build a new team from the youth up. Lots of a biggr name players are out of contract and it is going to be a new wolves competing next season, younger and on a much lower budget. That means, reading between the lines, that we are not really going to be in contention next season, or our Glenn is going to have to weave the old magic he did at Swindon or where ever. But Incey is staying says he still has one, maybe two seasons in him, sees himelf as a bit of a Sheringham. A d says he wants to manage Wolves in the future. So it could be interesting times, lets hope. George Ndah, the lightening fast striker has retired. Poor George was just too injury prone and spent most of his wolves career in teh treatment room. He had some great moments when fit though and he was loved by many of us. So cheers George, better luck in your next job!
Late winner at Hull Having given the lead away twice to the home side it looked like a another depressing draw was on the cards, til Carl Cort registered his first goal since his break for an injury right at the death. It shows to me just how fickle we fans are, had that winner not gone it then a period of totally despondnacy with the whole team would have followed. However, suddenly we are only 5 points away from a play off place, and suddenly there is at least the light of possibility at the end of the long tunnel. Ah well thats football.. Febraury Gloom Glenn Hoddle has turned the wolves into the world's most boring team, i read on a chat board the other day. Oh its ghastly, even Cardiff with good old DJ at the helm are above us. Moxey was on the radio recently saying how only the play offs is good enough, and winning them and winning promotion. There was a murmur of excitment before the drubbing at teh hands of United in the cup then they lose away at Leicester, oh god its too awful for words. I thik GH's stats are now played 60 drawn 30, wonder how long it is til they start sharpening the knives again. If we dont make it into the cut then of courese I guess GH is off as will be Lescott and one or two others of our classier players. What is also bugging me is that players lke Ade Akenbiyi are suddenly red hot property, and Henri Camara popping up all over the place. We either cant keep good players or we dont get them to perform, and once they leave suddenly start performing.
Franktastic greetings to Frankowski Its a media scoop we could have only dream of, as new signing Frankowski as added to the subs list for today's FA 4th round clash with Man Utd. Lets hope he is due to become the next Mol' superstar, he's got the right name as far as we are concerned here at the Franktastic sports desk.
Our
Kenny is off Well after two whole seasons of being unsettled the petulant one is off to Celtic. We bought him in from Rangers so he is to be one of very few who has crossed the floor between the two sides of the old firm. Wolves ae definitely going to miss his strike power, I think Glenn is hoping to keep him til the end of the season, but we have been short of goals and Kenny was a main supplier. Also Colin Cameron is off as well, so the wolves are going to be significantly less scottish when it comes to next season. We
got Man U in the cup Clipping from Wolves 24/7 Glenn Hoddle has tonight spoken out, finally putting an end to the speculation that his immediate future intentions lies elsewhere, outside of Wolverhampton Speaking to Skysports News he said "It's pure speculation whatever has been written in the papers, I'm very happy here at Wolves." And then came the statement that must surely quash any rumours currently circulating amongst many watchers "Wolves are a massive club. I'm enjoying the massive challenge we've all got here. I won't be going to Southampton I can assure you," Glenn Hoddle's commitment has never been doubted within the club, but outside it many have cited his past moves as reason for Wolves fans to have serious concerns. Hopefully, this can all now be consigned to the tabloid trashcan and both Hoddle and the Wolves fans can rise to the challenge of inspiring their team to get back into The Premiership
: "I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered." Goodnight George may you find the peace that seemed to allude you in life Wolves 3 Derby 0 So we have won two in a row and are suddenly looking like a strong team. With a significant part of our strike force off injured Wolves put together a strong performance away at Derby tonight. On loan Tom Hudlestone has had is loan spell extended to January and he celebrated with a great goal this evening at his old ground; Pride park. Tom was Sky man of the match tonight having been Franktastic MOTM last week before the international break. Also George, 'that man has got pace' Ndah put away his first of the season and justified the long wait to fitness that he and we have had to endure. Good on you George, you have struggled against adversity like few have had to reckon with, its so great to see you finally doing what we all knew you were capeable of. Long may you continue, lets hope its not 30 months until your next goal!. Credit also to Sparky, who is becoming an effecitve captain in Ince's absence. So Cheers!" Glenn, the side is shaping up and playing some great footie, bring on the Blades! I do believe they are up next.... I do believe the Championship is up for a good bit of a drama. Vio Ganea also back from a long spell off injured is finding the mark again and looking sharp, so when Corty and Kenny are fit again they might just be fighting to get their places back in the side! Come on you Wolves! Back on course before the international break There is 10 minutes of play to go and I am already to vote that Tom Huddlestone is my man of the match for Wolves v Norwich at the Mol today, with Lescott and Naylor also putting in sterling performances. Suddenly with Huddlesone successfully filling Ince's boots Wolves look a convincing side, with some fantastic one touch passing moves, often driven by excellent distribution from my man of the match. Seoul had a good first half but has dropped off in the second, but he and Ganea put the Wolves 2 up, Leon Clarke missed a couple of chances again, before being taken off in the second half. An almost perfect first half followed by a strong second half, we can breath again after last weeks debacle at Watford and a weak performance at Brighton midweek. This was a convincing performance. And it all came crashing down Aargh! That's football they say, but just when you thought things were starting to shape up as intended then it all goes wrong. Wolves suffered their worst defeat in a while at the hands of Watford, who were little more than average all match. Wolves did what is becoming their specialty, they dominated for the whole of the first half, creating at least 6 chances, missing them all, Leon Clarke should have had a hat trick. The one player who looked really dangerous was the in form Kenny Miller, who was stretchered off just after number three went in with a badly torn hamstring. It was like the whole season came unravelled before our eyes and ears yesterday, when oh when can we find our form and killer instinct again? Its off to Watford. Well Wolves have been struggling in front of the home crowd recently and the away form has been good this season so far. So with two away matches coming up this week Glenn is looking for maximium points, to give the Gold and Black army a chance to catch up on the leaders Sheffield and Reading, who are pulling away. Its certainly still early days, but we are looking for a shift up in form if there is to be any threat from us on the top two places, defiantely our goal at the season's start.
With capatin and team inspiration Paul Ince off for a while witha torn thigh muscle Hoddle has brought in Tom Huddlestone in on loan fro Spurs, an man who sights Incey as one of his heroes. So good luck to the boys this week and lets see if Tom gets a start against Watford this afternoon October - international duty again Week off for internationals, so that means Scotland again turn to MIller, McNamara is injured and I think Cameron is out of the Scots squad. Our other inrernationals are Seoul and Olifinjana, so here's hoping we dont pick up any inurues as the next match is Sheffiend Utd. the currrent inform team and definately the one to beat right now. Wolves are currently 4th, even after a sloppy home defeat to Burnley last week and in a lot of ways the squad are playing some of the best football we have seen in a gold shirt for a long time, although it has to be said they still haven't really gelled like they could do. For all the slagging off of the premiership I have to say it is looking exciting, ok so it may be a one horse race in terms of who might win it, but all the other places are wide open so Ii sense a level of competition not seen for many a year. Arsenal are slipping but still looking good, Man U are strong, and then with a few dark horses like Charlton, Bolton, who even knows what Man C might achieve this year?
Kenny
Miller (after coaching from Ally McCoist) So, we lost our 21 unbeaten run at Leeds, and only managed a draw at Cardiff (Under new managemetn coutesy of Dave Jones) but other than that the season is going pretty well sofar, midfield purchase of Darren Anderton, with experience of working with Hoddle, and Ndah, Ganea concributing from the subs bench for the sirst time in over a year. Everyone is saying Miller should be good for 20 goals this season, problem is he's still on the transfer list, so i really hope he stays, the transfer window is closed for now anyway, so we can concentrate on using who we have. We had a good win in the league cup, against Chester, now managed by former Wolves captain Keith Curle, and we wish them well for the season. The new season premiership prediciton below is already looking wrong, as Charlton charge up the league after a good early start, and I think Man U will do better than Arsenal. (sorry Belinda). Also i think with their new signings Newcastle should be a stronger threat than mid table. my prediction is Chelsea, Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle, Charlton, Villa, Spurs, Brum, Bolton, Everton, Blackburn... Portsmouth, Wigan and West Brom to descend. Wolves, Sheffield and Leeds to rise Premiership prediction, so says Paul Wilson in the Guardian anyway... "So, without further ado, here's next May's Premiership table. Please don't bother cutting it out and keeping it so as to write sneery letters next year. I might very well be wrong, but at least I'm not sad. "
personally i'd swap newcastle for spurs and i am not so sure of liverpool - but its not a bad guess. no to more important matter, the wolves, First up, Southampton. Well drifted in to the gaurdian footie section earlier, and read the match review, it mentioned wolves only once, saying they dominated for th first hour and on the strength of that southampton would have problems seeking automatic prmotion. the rest of the pice examined those problems. so a pretty one sided internvies summing up a pretty one sided match, albeit in the other direction. The wolves press was keen to emphasise the positives, and quell those all to familiar feelings when wolves cant convert domination into a victory, oh no not the draw syndrome again. Still we preserve our unbeaten run..... next please! Its kick off on Saturday The new season begins with a strong sense of optimism at the Mol'. Its been a good pre season session, no injuries, infact Vio Ganea is coming on well after a year out injured and so is George Ndah, after two seasons out injured. He still has his blistering pace, lets hope he gets a chance to put it into goof effect this year, and no ore torn muscles. Miller and Cort have had a good pre season so we are looking forward to seeing some goals. All around the team have picked up some credibility. Under Hoddle they are playing a more determined never say die game, passing the ball well around the filed and generally playing some of the best football, most attractive football we have seen in a gold shirt for some long time. With Seoul and Olifinjana really settling in last season and Lescott looking better and better in defence we have strengths all over the team as we face the new season. And of course we cant wait to get stuck into Southampton, as they taunted the Wolves on their way out of the premiership two season back, singing we're never playing you again all through the second half we went down to them at St Mary's. Well they are playing us again and now its our chance to make them eat those words.
The Art work of Wolves defender Jody Craddock
Nice one Jody! Had no idea until he was on Five Live this morning of the talents of Bromsgrove born defender Craddock. Especially in his portraits he has chosen some iconic images, either through choice of subject; Hendrix, Morrison, Monro, Van Nistleroy, Henry etc. or Mother and child (is that Mrs Craddock?) type images. Its all good stuff and we look forward to the launch of the next version of his website.
Ince signs for another season with Wolves Hoddle has signed a new rolling 12 month contract and now skipper Paul Ince, 37 signs for another last season. With eyes firmly fixed on the 2 automatic promotion spots, hopes are high already at Molineux. Excitement is building already, the fixture list will be out soon! Apparently newly promoted Sunderland are offering big bucks for striker Kenny Miller - who put 20 goals into the net last season, skipper Ince hopes desparetly he can persuade him to give Wolves another season, and play a leading role in our 2005/6 assault on those promotion places. 2004-2005 Season Meanwhile back in England: this piece below from the guardian has got me all excited, and i am inclined to agree; england does have all the makings of a really great team at last. A lot of mileage has been made about the foreignisation of the premiership and lack of opportunity for british players to get to play at the highest level, but the best, most in-form two players from Chelsea, Liverpool and Man utd are english, and possibly real madrid as well come to that, and Arsenal of course have two of the very best defenders who also play in in an england shirt. Bring
on the World Cup,
In the end, Sven-Goran Eriksson did not have to avoid eye contact and put on his most wooden smile when he declared England's post-season tour of the United States a success. As the players belatedly began their summer holidays, the manager could take enough from their week away to dispute the version of events, as put forward by the New York Times, that the sole motive was to "make this a better world for David Beckham to sell sneakers and himself". Eriksson has grown wearily accustomed to seeing the word "meaningless" attached to their stay in Chicago and New York but even the most vehement critic would have to acknowledge there is plenty for the Swede to digest. The players he has fast-tracked into the team have all emerged with varying degrees of credit and even if there can be no guarantees they will be in his next squad, never mind the World Cup, it is useful for any manager to know of his back-up options. "Michael Carrick is one of the players I've not seen for a long time and he did extremely well," said Eriksson. "He has proved that he's an option for the sort of role that Nicky Butt plays. He's a sitting midfielder, good on the ball, and now I feel he is a realistic alternative in midfield. "Then there's Kieran Richardson, of course. His first game was fantastic. And Peter Crouch; I liked what I saw very much. I don't need to say anything more about Michael Owen. Luke Young came on twice and did OK. Zat Knight, phew, fantastic." Eriksson is not a man prone to making daring statements but he was emboldened here by two victories in four days and a bewitching display of the centre-forward's skills from Owen against Colombia on Tuesday. "We are one year and one week away from the start of the World Cup and things are looking very good," he said. "For starters, I know 18 or 19 of my players already. If we don't have any injuries it's going to be difficult to beat us. I have never had a squad this strong and I have never been so confident in terms of the way they are coming together. "That's why this tour was important. In a sense it creates more problems for me, but they are good problems. I now know that we have players who are waiting who can be relied upon to do a good job. The situation, for me, is much better than even two years ago when we were heading towards the European Championship ." The real story, of course, was Owen's hat-trick taking him above Alan Shearer, Nat Lofthouse and Sir Tom Finney to fourth in the all-time list of England scorers with 32 goals, behind Jimmy Greaves (44), Gary Lineker (48) and Sir Bobby Charlton (49). When he checked his mobile phone he found the first text congratulating him was from Shearer. Owen had been embarrassed by his previous England game, when he missed more chances against Azerbaijan than he will care to remember, but this was a reminder of his true capabilities. Uppermost in Eriksson's mind will be the thought of the damage that the Real Madrid striker might wreak alongside Wayne Rooney. "Just guarantee me no injuries," the Swede implored. "If you can guarantee me that, I know we will have a great chance next summer."
Hoddle heading for long stay with Wolves "There's no reason, at this moment, that I can see why we cannot get a positive conclusion (on managers contract). Any suggestion that I am hanging on for other options is ludicrous."
Hoddle's future has been the subject of raging debate ever since he arrived. But with fans being won over by a style which saw the team produce an outstanding display in beating Reading 2-1 on Saturday, the final week of a disappointing campaign has arrived with club and manager optimistic. The latter then offered his most positive comments to date on his future. Well? need I say more, so the morning after Liverpool's Anfield triumph over the Blues and we get the even better news of - positive noises coming out of the Mol for a change. A great unbeaten run at the end of a fruitless season could leave us in poll position for next season. .... well lets see how many injuries we pick up in the warm up friendlies this year before we start feeling optimisitic - it cost us half of our strikeforce last year as i remember! Clip from Wolves bulletin board. Someone reported that an upset between Glenn Hoddle and Mark Kennedy was overheard at the training ground the other day, Kennedy was reported to have said "****** you & ****** the club!" to Hoddle - inspired by news of this incident and for our benefit Bill Mcai constructed this short drama for us to enjoy.. Scene
– Compton Park Training Ground 20 League Games under Hoddle Unbeaten in our last 15 league games, and only one defeat in 20 and with the most convinving performance of the season against Ipswich last night - the wolves are rampant and playing very well: lets look at some positives, Ipswich simply didn't know what to do with Seol. flying in on the right wing, displaying surpeme confidence and mastery on the ball and causing problems throughout most of the match.
Carl Cort scored his 16th of the season and is really starting to be a favourite of the fans. Big Jo Lescott, probably our best player, certainly the best home grown talent, is looking more confident in central defence each week, and is growing in stature each week - we simply must retain him for next season, he is gong to the one top of the scouts list from the premiership. Ince, well he goes on and on, Hoddle commented only last week that playing like he is he is a definate for the team next season, lets put age aside and just let his driving performances be the judge. I am more and happy in Oakes' goal keeping and we have the master card of Mat Murray in reserve (if he's fit - and by all accounts Charles Ikeme is showing promise in the reserves). Lee Naylor, another home grown talent was playing very well last night as well, moving from left back to an attacking winger with ease, and causing problems again for ipswich all night. Colin cameron was back in the side and in form, scoring the opener. Even the petulent one was playing unselfishly creating chances and generally looking good, And lets not forget the talent we have been missing out on all season, will George Ndah ever return, we really liked him, his blistering pace and attacking runs, and lets not forgt Vio Ganea, out all this season but a real shining light towarrds the end of last season. So the 50,000 dollar question is this: is this enough to entice Hoddle to stay at Molneux, I know the players like him, like his coaching and feel they have progessed under his technical ability and if last night is anything to go by then they are dead right. We have left it too late to pull of some late season miracle, all those draws have cost us dearly - but I cant help feeling that something is stirring at Molineux - we have the beginnings of a great team here - WARCH THIS SPACE!
Bally MacGarry RIP Pearce, Palmer, Parkin, Bailey, Munro, McAlle, Hibbitt, Sunderland, Dougan, Richards, Wagstaffe That was his team and the first one saw and grew up watching - they were the Wolves - by all accounts Bill MacGArry was a formiddable man, cheers Bill and thanks for all the fish. Meanwhile at the Mol' Well its not exactly going to plan. We have to get into the top six to get into the playoffs, and that goal might let us retain our new manager and give hime a chance to build on what he has started here. The team is hard to beat, yes, but still concedes soft goals, making every game a huge mountain to climb. Heroic performances, last minute equalisers (cheers Carl, but did you have to leave it so late? some of us were feeling a little nervous). So another heroic draw - but that's not going to do it for us in the end is it? the petulent one (as they like to call him) now has 16 goals and mr Cort has thumped a good few in of late. Still no sign of Vio - the roumanian wonder, and I couldn't help notice old Deano Sturridge has been sent of to the bone yard. I am still waitng for the heroic comeback of George Ndah will it ever happen? I guess not now, but I always liked george. Well we do of course have our own Seyi George now, who ha been getter better and of late, It took all last season to warm up Okoronkwo (and for me to be able to say Okoronkwo) - but now the words Seyi George Olifanjana flow from lips with ease. Southampton must go down! For the simple fact that they sang ' we're never playing you again' when Wolves went to st mary's last season, on our way out of the premiership - they deserve it, and of couse we dream that we will pass on them on our way up - not so likely after failing to beat Sunderland at the weekend. I am getting used to having Hoddle in charge and the team is definately responding to his coaching. I give credit to Dave Jones that he assembled a good squad, but it might take a different man to build a team. And actually I am now very relieved we have Hod and not Redknapp - the red faced miserable sod that he is. And now we hear that he is planning to walk out of Southampton if and when they do go down. Oh yeah, and now they have got our errant striker; Henri 'I'm too good for the championship' Camara. He and 'Arry might find they have a lot in common!
Luck
in London with our
Apparently in his last minute winner jubilation scorer Ki Hyeon Seol embraced the fourth official by mistake as he has dressed similarly to the wolves crew on the bench. A very happy South Korean won the day for Wolves in the last minute after a serious amount of second half pressure from the Millwall home side. making a Wolves run into 3 wins in a row, a little bit of optimism has burst out at molineux, Arsenal next!
A
glorious west Ham day! By all accounts it was the presence ond drive of Paul Ince that kept wolves in this game, one that on other days we would have happily thrown away on another day. A crucial third goal from Ince put this game Wolves's way after a sustained period of West Ham pressure at 2-2. Cort finishing it off, late on. we are still waiting for the Glenn effect to kick in, and drawing five on the trot is not going to put pressure on any one other than ourlves, but HEY? with ur cup win over Millwall we have now won two in a row..... There
is a lot of talk about the obvious impact of Ince on the field instead
of Andrews, such a difference, so it has to be in that midfield area,
and leadership and drive that I hope GH will be looking to strengthen,
but another great performance from Seol our Korean man of mystery, and
good news in the goalie department with Mat Murray finally fit and competing
for a place with Oakesy in the first team. Dennis Irwin, who spent his last two seasons before retirement with Wolves is on the panel for the FA draw and he called a few of his ex colleagues at Wolves to apologise for thefact that he pulled our name out of the hat at the point that it means we have to travel to Highbury to face the Gooners. So much for our hoped for cup run....but just when I was feeling despondant I spotted this on a wolves bulletin board which cheered me up no end. SO thanks to whoever wrote this: Arsenal:
there for the taking So no problem..........unless they play their reserves......... Alfie and Jasmine Dean attend first football match! A jubilent holiday crowd greeted the Dean children to Molineux for their first outing to the great stadium. Their proud Mother Mandy has apparently turned down Glenn Hoddle's kind offer to rename the Steve Bull stand in their honour.
Hoddle
the Doddle
 SO there you have it, big Glenn is the new wolves manager our second ex england manager of recent years - i hope he has a happier time at molineux than old mr Turnip head Taylor. HE was a great player and by all accounts is a great coach, lets hope we dont have any major media gaffes, I think he should get on with Gray, who may not be up to the post of manager but has the respect of the players and has been getting us the right results. Of course the Southampton connection goes on, as Gray and Hoddle took the Saints to 8th in the premier a few seasons back - so the sacking of DJ doesn't end the Wolves Saints connection. There is loads of bickering an debate on the molineux mix boards, but the decsion is taken and we should get behind him and the board. Its only a 6 month contract (what does that mean?). But all the talk is about getting back into the PRem, and if that happens Glen will definately get a big contract offer. GLENN HODDLE FACTFILE Wolves 4 -1 Reading A pretty flattering scoreline for the Wolves but an important vistory none the less. The Wolves world commentary broke down for the second week running, but maybe it couldn't handle the sheer excitement. Sounds like Oakes had a fantastic game in goal, as did Lescott, pictured, who many thought was MOTM. OF course Big Jo didn't get a single runout in our premiership season, but he is looking like the one player with premiership class, as he gets back into his stride this season. More petulant remarks have been heard from errant on loan striker Camara, who by now I would say none wants to come back to Molinuex next season, can we have a fit Ndah please instead.
Rumours and More roumours NOt 'Arry and NOt Sir Bob According to the Mirror today, more waiting.....
Will it be Harry?
the old express and star gossip pages are full of it if you want more..... Molineux
Mix
A very bad week in Football So, DJ is no more, Dave Jones was sacked by the Moxey and Rick Hayward last week, after the dismal Gillingham game where Wolves lost to an inferior side, not in form, playing with only 10 men. So it had to be the chop, a lot of people are dead sad to be losing Dave 'great bloke' Jones, but thats footie I guess, chop their heads off when you cant think of anything else to do. So we now have a caretaker manager - the current trainer Stuart Gray and are in the market for a new one. NAmes floated about include Gary Megson - recetnly departed manager of WBA - not a popular chouse on the terraces that we can be sure of, but I guess ne knows all about getting his team out of the league and into the premier, just that he knows nothing about staying in the premier. SIr Bobby as director of football, with Paul Ince as manager in waiting, least we can be sire we are not getting Bryan Robson anyway, seeing as he has just signed up for the al***n. So BYE BYE Emlyn, you will not be forgotten.
Oct 11th So its international duties this week, and a very convincing performance from England against Wales I thought , the Beckham goal was a classsic and reminded us all of better more optimistic times. it was abalanced side with strength all over, great to see Campbell and Ferdinand together at the back, which added real strength to the side. Wales, well a great perfomance from Paul JOnes, who got dropped last game at wolves...and i suspect I back line is really more at fault than PJ. Oakes was good against west ham, tho', but losing agian really puts up the pressure at Molineux now - Moxey made some statement last week about our 'poor start' --but nothing now is going to make any diffrenece than getting some results. I am always one for sticking with what we have already committed too, i.e manager and key players but I will be joing the line baying for our David's blood very soon - after the excitement and expectation of last season to be langusihing at 21 st or something 11 points from 11 games is inexcusable - I dont care how many injuries we have had - this has been a very weak and dissapointing showing. September 19th and its 7 points from 9 in 8 days They were baying for some blood to be shed at molineux, but luckily for DJ and the guys on the board wolves have put in three better performances, all away and picked up 7 from a possible 9 points. Few less injuries although Ndah and Ganea are yet to play we have had Jolean back in defence and even Mat Murray our feted englands possible future number one keeper is back playing for the reserves. PErsonally I have to say its way too early to even consider axing big Dave our glorious leader, and I cannot imagine anyone else getting us out of the champsionship league as its now called, and back into the premier. BEsides who else would even want the job? Ok so we have had a crap start to the season, but lets not forget that dropping out of the premeirship is a near fatal event for most clubs, to avoid getting saddled with permiership wages and contracts once back down the management let all most of the squad go out of contract and as a result we haemorragedd most of our best players, well Rae anyway, but Butler too, Oko just as he was starting to settle. My point is that its way too early to write off the season and with a turn of form and an emptying treatment room things are a least looking up. BUT we are screaming out for a big defender to couple up with Jo Lescott, the defence is generally pretty shapeless and wolves give the ball away all the time and leave the attackers little or no chance to create opportunities, there is a long long way to go in terms of getting a cridible team together that migh possibly challenge to stay up in the Premiership next season. We were giving Arsenal and lIverpool a run for their money at Molineux last season, this year we are delighted if we can beat Brighton or Plymouth.
2004/5 Season its allready feeling like an nightmare, the euphoria of the last year or two has ebbed away so quickly. we have got half a team more injuries than you woulkd exp[ect at the end of a long season, let alone the beginning. all the players we put so much hope seem to have permanet injuries, Mat Murry Jo Lescot, George Ndah, and now Carl Cort as well. it is beyond a joke, our best players didnt play at all last season and it leaves you wondering if they really are our best players. Hey guess what? Camara is already scoring for Celtic, that really cheers me up, not. I have however been enjoying the Test series enourmously and it is a bit weird to be thinking footie when the cricket season is still in full swing. but there you go. And Owen going? inevitable i hear you say, i am not even a liverpool fan in the slightest and i feel gutted but i guess he'll be happier and richer in football heaven with Becks.
Holding our collective breaths for the new season ..............well maybe not exactly, i am feeling really worried already. DJ and his incredible shrinking team we call it...out goes Rae, prbably our most competitive player tlast season, Butler the hard working central defender, but as was so delicately put on a website somewhere, the heart of the premierships wealest defence, out too goes Okoronkwo, shame as it it took me all season to be able to say it, Silas the portuguese master who hardly played last season is off on loan, of course Irwin has retired and the star stiker Henri Camara refuses to play outsde the premiership, so is being farmed out on a loan, rumoured at1.2 mil for the season at Celtic. We have cancelled warm up matches because we didn't have enough fit players to field a full first team..........so you might see why I might be a little nervous....Pauil Ince is back as Captain at least and we do have a new Nigerian and are testing out another Rumanian to keep Vio happy maybe..so its full steam ahead at Molineux..!
European Championships 2004 Lisbon
Are you crying? I am crying, i feel sick in the pit of my stomach just to think of it. I am not given to fits of unrealistic optimism but I really thought we were going to come through this. Really I did. Even when it came to the dreaded penalty shoot out, even when Becks punted the first one over the bar, I still thought we were going to do. Then when it was level, and we finally went ahead, that was the moment, the moment of Heroism that everyone waits maybe several life times for it to come along, David James this was your moment You were supposed to save it, you idiot....but no. I I cry again. He could have been such a hero, his name would have been spoken with reverance for ever more...if only if only...... Shall we dwell on the disallowed goal, Big Sol came through for us, the forwards were knackered, actually Owen still had some legs, but Vassell looked done in, where was Leadly King when we needed him to strengthen our flagging mid field? So yes Sol Campbell, pretty much the first time he had ventured into the other half of the pitch, wins the ball cleanly in the air, nods it into the net.....no goal given. I was bouncing around the room screaming with joy, i didn't realise it had not been given 'til the Porgies were back on the attack and nearly scoring themselves.
So I have to comment on King, so the guy is young, he's only really there cos Rio got banned, this really was an amazing chance for him to prove himslef, he was masterful in defence against france and good coming on in mid field to cover for a tired Scholes, so where was he hast night when we needed him, gone home to be with his missus who was having a baby, OK so I salute the guy for being a such a new man, being there for the wife and kid, but come on we have to draw a line somewhere the guy has responsibilities to US, the nation. What if Nelson's missus had been in labour, would there have been no Trafalger? sorry guys I was just about to save the nation but the wife is feeling a bit peaky, catch you later maybe? My nextdoor neighbours boyfriend is Swiss, (as is the ref, with the silly dyed goatee) what you say we kick his head in? at least it might aleviate the pain and sickenss I am currently feeling As for Becks, well I am not going to knock him, ok he has missed three penalties in a row, the big kicker has lost is touch maybe? well I would still rather he was onour side than the other, nuff said I reckon. ANd anyone who wanted to knock Owen, well least he proved them wrong, he was the best man on the pitch for me, and what a fabulous goal. But I reckon the old going one up early on is a bit of a curse really. Brazil, France and now Portugal, its been the same pattern every time we have lost, we go one up, defend deeply for just about the whole game, and we let it slip in the end.
Sorry gotta go and cry some more now...................
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| The
2004 Season
Been a thrilling
year to be a Wolves fan, even if we are looking like we will be relegated,
we have had enough thrills and spills at Molineux this year to rival
anyone. The 2 horse race of the premiership became a three horse race
and from hating Chelsea we all started to like them as they work their
way towards the Champions league final. Thrilled for Newcastle and Sir
Bobby, lets hope they can beat Marseilles and make it to the UEFA final.
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.Henri Camara came good this season, and has scored 5 goals in 5 matches at present and we even got see Gazza in gold and black, even if he was never fit enough to make the first team. Anyway they are still hanging in there after beating Middlesborough today, but staying up would be more than a miracle i am afraid to say.
So to quote Womack and Womack, its all over now, Wolves go down with Leicester and Leeds, to bounce back up? well only time will tell, but with Cort, Ganea and Camara we actually might have an effective strike partnership for the first time in years.next big issue is can we keep off the vultures from buying our best players, and can we afford to keep them. Alex Rae, the hardest working member of the team is off to Rangers, they reckon and Incey, the other workhorse, is considering his career, and whether his wife thinks he has another season left in him. Dennis Irwin played his last match, a dismal 2-0 defeat at the hands of Spurs, always a bogie team for Wolves - an ignomious end to a brilliant career for Irwin. I remain full of hope - but then that is the beauty of football, there is always next season. |
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Becks, Roo and Vassell
in some classic England moments, lets hope for more moments like these
in Portugal this summer. Come on England! |
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Cricket
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