Well Arsenal have scored 18 goals in 5 home games in the last few weeks and are being talked about as potential champions. Wenger has been lauding the goal scoring capabilities of his team. And their expectation will be that they will get three more points towards their cause on Saturday. But in their last two away matches they have only managed draws against West Ham and AZ Alkmaar and those teams are no higher rated than the three teams Wolves have secured draws against in the last three games.  Clearly Wolves will need to work hard to stop Arsenal settling into their passing game but if we can find a performance to match those against Everton and Villa then an away win is no good thing.

Wolves defence was much maligned in the early part of the season but the form of Henessey in goal and Zubar, Craddock and particularly Berra in defence has given us a much more solid look. They will doubtless retain their places and once more the only question mark remains over the left back position. Elokobi was withdrawn in the second half at Stoke and replaced by Stearman and either he or the fit again Mancienne might be given a chance to start.

The protection that Henry and Castillo give to the defence from the centre of midfield is also a factor in us looking a more difficult team to break down. But while the inclusion of those two plus the hard working Edwards makes us a hard team to play against, it becomes a midfield light on creativity. Kightly is still finding his feet at this level and his fitness, but it wasn’t until Milijas was introduced at Stoke last week that Wolves started making chances. Many Wolves fans are now calling for Milijas (photo above) to start but the gamble is whether that makes Wolves more open a team to play against than we are by having three hard workers in the midfield.

Up front Doyle has been excellent so far and is an automatic choice. Iwelumo was a surprise choice to partner him at Stoke but a recurrence of his metatarsal injury means Big Chris is out of the equation again for a while. This will open the door for Ebanks Blake to return to the fold. McCarthy has in fact revealed that SEB would have returned even if Iwelumo was fit. The 4-4-2 approach is encouraging, in that we are looking to take the game to Arsenal and not just sitting back and waiting for them to take us apart.

This is clearly a game when we hope for a result rather than expect one. Fact is Wolves will be in the bottom 3 going in to the game, Blackburn play Portsmouth earlier so whatever the result there Wolves will drop a place. A result is therefore needed to keep the heads above water, especially with Chelsea away as the next game. But Wolves have not looked like a relegaton team in recent weeks so we can give it a real go on Saturday. Can’t wait.

Wolves gained their third successive score draw to add another few ounces of confidence to the belief that they are in this division to stay. The fact they did so after trooping off at half time 2-0 down and looking a beaten side will have done even more for the spirits. By the end of the game Wolves looked the more likely winners in what was very much a game of two halves.

We made only one change from the team that drew with Villa last week and surprisingly that was to replace Ebanks Blake with Iwelumo. SEB was relegated to the bench in what was probably a change to counteract the height advantage that Stoke would hold, but in the first half that hardly seemed to have helped as Big Chris made little impact in attack and was not able to stop Stoke getting a few free headers at the other end that they weren’t able to take advantage of.

Ironically after knowing that there would be a physical battle in store and a test in the air, it was Stoke winger Matthew Etherington that proved the difference between the teams in the first half. He made the first goal after 17 minutes with a pacy break from inside his own half. He left Zubar for dead on the wing before putting in an excellent cross that Beattie was able to turn in on the far post despite the presence of Elokobi. The Wolves full back may even have got the final touch to make it an own goal. The second goal just before half time resulted from a Delap long throw. Although headed clear the ball fell to Etherington who smashed the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.

Wolves had had plenty of the ball in the first half with Henry and Castillo holding their own in midfield and Berra being a rock in defence. But they only once looked like scoring when Berra just failed to get on the end of a Castillo ball into the box. But Stoke had some missed chances and Hennessey made some good catches from crosses and made one superb save from a Beattie header.

McCarthy decided to bring Milijas on at half time to bring some much needed creativity to the midfield and the only surprise was that it was Castillo that made way. With his first touch after a couple of minutes of the 2nd half Milijas curled in a superb inswinging free kick from the right and Craddock turned the ball in on the far post (photo above). Another free kick from a similar position saw Milijas curl one towards the roof of the net but Sorensen saved at the second attempt.  It was the Milijas/Craddock combination again for the equaliser after 64 minutes with the Serbian’s corner headed in at the near post.

Wolves introduced Maierhofer for Iwelumo and Stearman for Elokobi as they went looking for the win. Faye missed a good headed chance for Stoke while Berra and Milijas went close for Wolves.

It was a stirring fightback from Wolves who were as worthy of winning the 2nd half 2-0 as Stoke had been the first. Hennessey, Zubar, Craddock, Berra and Henry were all excellent for Wolves, but in the second half the whole team rose to the fight. And it would be a great boost if this proved to be a breakthroiugh performance from the undoubtedly talented Milijas.

This run of four games between international breaks looked a challenging phase for Wolves but they have drawn the first three and moved up to 16th place to keep up the record of not slipping into the relegation zone. Arsenal next week presents the biggest challenge so far at Molineux. The gunners have been playing like potential champions in recent games but Wolves are earning their corn now and an away win is no formality.

Stoke won 10 and drew 5 of their 19  games at the Britannia Stadium last season and have won 3 of the 5 played so far this term. They are particularly effective from dead ball situations and Wolves will not be wanting to give away unnecessary free kicks and corners. And we know that that the long throws of Delap have become something of a legend in North Staffordshire. And the signings of Beattie and Etherington have made them a decent attacking unit to add to an already strong defence. But they are not as good as Everton and Villa who Wolves have matched in recent games.

The style of Stoke’s play will be a test for Hennessey who was weak last season coming off his line to deal with crosses. But he has clearly worked on this part of his game and he is developing into the top class keeper we hoped he would be. The back four that have played the last couple of games have done well and will surely be unchanged. Foley remains unavailable and it is unlikley Mancienne will be recalled given how well we have played in his absence.

The partnership of former Stoke midfielder Henry and Castillo (photo above) in central midfield has all the makings of being key to Wolves season. They offer protection to the defence, close down the opposition midfield, and give the security for us to get forward wide to support the strikers. Kightly will be getting closer to full match fitness now and will hopefully start making his impact. But it is the other midfield position that offers the most debate for team selection. David Edwards work rate is unquestionable and he may be asked to continue in this away game despite not playing well last week. Halford is an alternative to give more defensive security. Conversely Milijas or Jarvis offer much more of a creative and attacking threat. And although the recent draws have been encouraging, maybe we need that extra creativity to turn draws to wins. Personally I would like Milijas to be recalled.

Up front Doyle and SEB give Wolves a real threat to any defence and their ability on the ground might give them some joy against a Stoke team more renowned for aerial ability. Plan B could be to call on the likes of Halford, Maierhofer and Iwelumo  and take Stoke on at their own game.  It might prove to be useful to have that change available from the bench.

With Arsenal and Chelsea on the horizon for the next two games, Wolves will probably need to get something from this game to avoid falling into the bottom 3 in November. It might be daft to feel confident about visiting a team that has such a good home record, but I don’t think we will be losing this one.

THE HALF EMPTY STORY

Wolves started the season with a run of relatively easy games against teams that are struggling in the bottom half of the table. We are currently sitting with only 3 teams below us in the league and we have played those three teams at home already so there are more difficult fixtures to come. Stoke away followed by games against Arsenal and Chelsea. And away games against Spurs, Man Utd, and Liverpool to come before the end of 2009. Looks like xmas in the bottom 3 beckons. Ebanks Blake and Kightly who were thought to be two of our best bets for this season have not started the season well. And what have the summer signings done for us? Halford has got a long throw and not much else. Mancienne has been a major disappointment. Zubar has taken 2 months to get into the team. Milijas looks out of his depth. Hahnemann is cover only and Surman hasn’t played yet. So we are still falling back on the likes of Craddock, Berra, Elokobi, Edwards and Keogh. We just do not have enough quality and by the time the January transfer window comes around we will be half doomed.

THE HALF FULL STORY

Draws against Everton and Villa surely show we are good enough for this division and we deserved those draws and probably deserved to win at Everton, and if we had got the first minute penalty and sending off against Villa then who knows. The much maligned defence has played well in these games despite the continued absence of Foley. Berra has stepped up to the plate excellently, Zubar has come in and done well and Craddock never lets us down. Hennessey looks a top class keeper now. The Henry and Castillo partnership in midfield looks a winner as does the striking partnership of SEB and Doyle. With Foley to come in and Kightly getting more games under his belt and Milijas making an impact on Saturday it augurs well. If we could play that opening run of fixtures again now with this team we would be 4 0r 5 points better off at least.

HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY?

There are truths in both sides of this story. We are precariously placed above the relegation line and have difficult fixtures to come. But we are now looking as good as anyone in the bottom half of the league and as long as the chins stay up if we lose to the top teams we have a chance. We are certainly making a better attempt to stay in the division than we did last time when we never rose above the bottom.

Wolves got a deserved point from a keenly contested local derby between two teams that were closely matched on the day. Two successive draws against teams that will be expected to finish in the top half of the table has to be a boost for a Wolves team that are making a much better fist of re-establishing themselves in the top flight than they did on the previous attempt.

There was one change made to the starting line up from last week at Everton with Halford dropped to the bench, Foley and Mancienne still being unfit and Maierhofer suspended. We started with;

Hennessey

Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Elokobi

Edwards, Henry, Castillo, Kightly

Ebanks Blake, Doyle.

Milijas replaced Edwards midway through the 2nd half and Halford and Iwelumo were brought on late to replace Kightly and Ebanks Blake.

The game got off to a lively start with Agbonlohor missing an early chance and within a couple of minutes came a critical incident at the other end. Doyle was put clean through on goal and was clearly pulled back as he entered the area. Should definitely have been a penalty. Possibly a sending off as it was the last defender. The referee waved play on. Doyle possibly too honest as he tried to get his shot away rather than falling over.

Wovles were the better team in the first half and had one effort cleared off the line and Ebanks Blake going close. Villa looked dangerous on the break but had less possession than Wolves. Villa were better 2nd half without creating many chances but they finally split the Wolves defence with 11 minutes to play to give Agbonlohor as easy chance that he took. It was disappointing to see Wolves fall behind and another home defeat looked on the cards but within 4 minutes the equaliser arrived.

A backheel by Milijas in the area wrong footed the Villa defence. Kightly was tripped by Sidwell as he tried to turn and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Ebanks Blake smashed the spot kick in to the roof of the net (photo above). Villa tried to quicken the game to look for the winner but it was Wolves that pressed at the end with a series of Halford long throws needing defending by Villa.

Wolves defence coped well with the Villa offensive threat and all the back line played well. Henry was Wolves best player on the day with Castillo also impressing alongside him. Kightly still looks a bit rusty and although Edwards works hard his distribution is poor. Ebanks Blake and Doyle, who was excellent first half, posed plenty of problems for Villa.

Confidence is growing amongst Wolves fans that we will be good enough to remain in the division as we have matched Everton and Villa in these last two games and now have the best strikers in the team to see off the weaker teams. Another derby at Stoke next week and every chance for Wolves there despite the Potters good home record. Bring it on.

Villa come on the back of an impressive success over Chelsea but Wolves will themselves have been boosted by outplaying Everton at Goodison Park last week and coming so close to gaining 3 points. It wouldn’t be a great surprise if it was the same team that were asked to take on the Villa this week. But in midfield there is the possibility of change. Kightly and Henry will doubtless start but Edwards and Halford will be competing with Castillo and Jarvis for a starting place. Castillo would probably have started last week had he not been returning from World Cup duty with Ecuador. And maybe Jarvis will be given the nod if McCarthy looks for a more positive team to represent us at home.

Defensively there will surely be a starting place for Hennessey, Zubar, Craddock and Berra. Zubar made a good impression on his debut and the Molineux faithful  will be keen to get their first look at him, apart from the Carling Cup game against Swindon. The only question mark in the defense is whether Elokobi will continue at left back. McCarthy has been supportive of him in the local press and his general game was good at Goodison although he did lose his man for the late equaliser. Mancienne was left out last week after coming back from England U21 duty with flu and may now return but at full back.

The optimism that Wolves can get something from the game will be largely borne from this being the first Molineux game that the Ebanks Blake and Doyle strike force will be seen together. There was plenty of promise at Everton last week that they can be the exciting pairing that fans were anticipating after Doyle’s signing and if Wolves can get a decent supply to them the goals will surely come. It has been the case since the end of August that Maierhofer has been brought off the bench to offer something different in the closing stages. His sending off last week means that option is ruled out by suspension, but that absence will be offset by a return to the fold of Chris Iwelumo. His timely return from injury will be a boost to the squad especially if he can show the form of the first half of last season.

There will be those that will go to the game thinking a draw will be fine, especially those that remember the 4 goal thumping Wolves received the last time Villa paid a visit. But most Wolves fans have a distinct lack of an inferiority complex for any team coming to Molineux, especially local rivals, and they will be looking for 3 points this weekend and a return of Wolves to their rightful place as the Midlands top club in the not too distant future.

With Foley deemed still not ready to return and Mancienne returning ill from England Under 21 duty, Wolves recalled Jody Craddock and gave a debut to Ronald Zubar in defence and started with a line up of;

Hennessey

Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Elokobi

Kightly, Edwards, Henry, Halford

Ebanks Blake, Doyle

During the second half Maierhofer, Castillo and Jarvis replaced Kightly, Ebanks Blake and Halford.

The first half was dominated by Wolves territorially although Everton twice went close to scoring in a five minute spell. Hennessey, Zubar, Craddock and Berra were all excellent in Wolves best defensive performance of the season and the hard working midfield stopped Everton getting any fluency into their game and kept the crowd very quiet. At the other end of the field SEB went closest to scoring with a characteristic shot on the turn.

The expected improvement from Everton in the second half didn’t really happen despite them bringing another striker, Yakubu, on to replace right back Hibbert. Saha looked Everton’s best player but the Wolves defense looked solid. The Wolves midfield were stopping Everton playing but were lacking the creativity to open up the home defense. But Ebanks Blake went even closer with another shot on the turn, and then Wolves went ahead in the 74^th minute. A long ball through the middle saw SEB challenge for a ball in the air with the central defender. Both missed the ball and Doyle ran in behind them to slot the ball into the net.

Everton stepped up the urgency but Wolves looked up to retaining their lead until a low cross from the left saw the Russian winger of Everton lose Elokobi on the far post and he slotted in the equaliser. Plenty of action in the 4 minutes of injury time as the home crowd finally came alive. Maierhofer had made a good impact for Wolves as a sub but he had been booked for a late tackle and then after he was harshly judged to have blocked Everton keeper Howards attempt to clear the ball, the big Austrian was sent off. Howard, despite retaliating by felling Maierhofer with a punch to the back of the head was allowed to remain on the field. Despite this setback it was Wolves who came closest to a third goal with Doyle’s shot blocked by Howard.

So a lot to be encouraged about as Wolves deserved at least 1 point. Good defensive performance with a fine debut from Zubar, Craddock again showing he is invaluable, and Hennessey developing into a top keeper. When SEB is fully match fit the partnership of him and Doyle will be a good one.

Next Saturday sees Villa come to Molineux. They will be buoyed by beating Chelsea at the weekend but they will meet a Wolves team that will be ready for the occasion and a raucous West Midlands derby is in prospect.

McCarthy has alread indicated that Wolves will be looking to play to their strengths in the coming games and that does mean playing with a positive formation and trying to attack and score goals. Although this could lead to some heavy defeats against better opposition it has to be recognised that Wolves have looked vulnerable defensively recently, and were one of the league’s top scorers last year so attack may well be the best form of defense.

When Kevin Doyle became Wolves major signing of the summer there was great anticipation that a pairing of him and Ebanks Blake would offer a greater threat to opposition defences at this level than is normally the case from a newly promoted team. Well at Everton that partnership will be unveiled for the first time. All the signs are that they should be very well suited. Doyle has been excellent so far in gold and black and his control and ability to find space down the channels should be the ideal foil for the goal poacher that is Ebanks Blake. With Kightly also ready to start making his mark this is finally the attacking option that gave such optimism that Wolves could establish themselves back in the top flight.

The other ineresting team change due for Saturday is a Premier League debut for Ronald Zubar. The man with Champions League experience with Marseille is set to make a belated appearance after finding the adjustment to Premier League pace of game, and the language barrier, meaning he wasn’t considered ready until this point. But he is set to start  and the hope is that his pace, height and experence will help Wolves defensively. He is also a good passer of the ball and so the play out of defence should be improved. Question mark is will he start in central defence or as left back? He and Mancienne are capable of playing anywhere across the back four and they may both get a game at the expense of Elokobi.

So defensively Wolves will include Hennessey in goal and Berra at centre back. Then it’s any two from three from Zubar, Mancienne and Elokobi. At right back Foley made his come back last game against Portsmouth and was poor. But the player of the season from last year surely neeeds to be given the chance to establish himself in the Premier League if fit. Halford will otherwise play there.

In midfield Kightly will start on the right and Jarvis will presumably start on the left although his form has not been great so far this season. Having said that the stats say he has made more crosses than any player in the Premier League so he is doing something right even if the final delivery has often lacked accuracy. Henry will play in central midfield and it will either be Castillo or Edwards alongside him. Castillo played for Everton last year so would doubtless jump at the opportunity and he will get the nod unless it is felt his trip back to South America for World Cup action with Ecuador has taken too much out of him.

In attack we wait to see if the SEB/Doyle combo can fire the goals to keep Wolves in this divison. Not the easiest game for them to start but this was also the ground where the Andy Gray and John Richards partnership played together for the first time in the eighties and Wolves won 3-2 that day. A celebratory toffee will be the least we will be looking for if that can be repeated.

Phase 3 for Wolves comprises of games against Everton away, Villa at home, Stoke away and Arsenal at home. All the games are on Saturdays.  Villa game is on Sky so is 12:45 kick off and Arsenal is on ESPN so that means 5:30. The away games are at the old fashioned time of 3:00.

Everton comes first which will doubtless mean getting a request from a young scouser to give them a couple of quid to watch the car while the game is on. I have never given them the money, and my car has always been intact after the game, and the kids who have been paid by some to be on guard  are nowhere to be seen after the game. Bet I regret saying that next Saturday! My main Everton v Wolves memory was 8/9/79 when Andy Gray made his debut for Wolves and scored in a 3-2 win. That was a very positive time to be a Wolves fan as it looked like we were building a team that could beat anyone. It did take us to League Cup success and into Europe. But as we know now that was to be the last Wolves team to be competitive in the top half of the top division.

The following week sees Villa come to Molineux. These two teams used to be great rivals back in the sixties but nowadays it doesn’t  carry the intense rivalry that we see in the Black Country derby or even against Blues. That’s not to say that beating the team from Spaghetti Junction wouldn’t go down well. The last time the teams met saw Villa win 4-0 at Molineux so we could do without a repeat of that. The Wolves v Villa game that  probably most depicted the rivalry back in the sixties was when the two teams met in the FA Cup in the 64/65 season. The teams drew 1-1 at Villa Park then 0-0 in the Molineux replay. In those days it then went to a third game on a neutral pitch. So the decider was in front of a packed Hawthorns and a Hughie McIlmoyle hat trick saw Wolves through.

Then we take the short trip up to Junction 15 of the M6 to play Stoke for the long throw Olympics. Delap or Halford, who you betting on? Strange that this game is at 3 on Saturday given that the return fixture next April is already scheduled for a Sunday at 12 on police advice. No particular game at Stoke sticks in my mind but I do remember a night game there when John Richards, during his time as one of the hottest strikers in England missed with a free header from two yards out – it can happen to anyone. The worst miss I can ever remember seeing live.

Phase 3 ends with the Arsenal coming to try to outplay us. The last time they came to Molineux was in my mind one of the highlights of our last season in the top flight. In the first half Wolves were superb and lead through a Vio Ganea goal. Arsenal and Thierry Henry in particular stepped up a gear in the 2^nd half and won the game but the first 45 minutes was the best Wolves played all season. Plenty of memories of Arsenal games of the past. But all those that were there on 20^th November 1971 will never forget that game. Arsenal came with the team that had won the League and FA cup double the previous season and had a half time lead through a Ray Kennedy goal that finished second in the Match of the Day goal of the month. But in the second half with snow coming down Dave Wagstaffe (photo above) equalised with the winner of goal of the month and Wolves went on to record an unforgettable 5-1 win with Hibbitt’s goal getting third in goal of the month.

Here’s hoping for a successful phase 3. The points won’t be easy to come by and we could be in the bottom 3 at the end of this phase. But then nobody expected to see Wolves score 5 against Arsenal in 1971 so you never know….

 If a point a game is the benchmark that Wolves need to be measured by then they fell below that on Saturday by being the first team that couldn’t beat Portsmouth this season. Maybe over the 90 minutes Wolves deserved a draw and for sure they should have been awarded a 2^nd half penalty that should have lead them to get at least a point, but that will not take away the disappointment of losing the game and of playing below par in many respects.

Wolves started with a line up of;

Hennessey

Foley, Mancienne, Berra, Elokobi

Halford, Edwards, Henry, Jarvis

Keogh, Doyle

Kightly and Ebanks Blake replaced Foley and Keogh at half time. Maierhofer replaced Elokobi as Wolves went for it late on.

In the opening exchanges it looked like Wolves who were entering the game on the back of seven defeats rather than their opponents.  There seemed a lack of confidence in many parts of the team and maybe that 5-2 defeat last week had hurt more than expected. Also maybe going in to the game as favourites weighed heavy. But possibly it was just that a number of players were not playing well. It was no real surprise when Pompey went ahead after 19 minutes with a simple cross and header and Wolves just couldn’t get any serious threat on the Portsmouth goal. Jarvis had one run that ended with a weak shot and Doyle made a similar run down the left of the penalty area but there was no one far enough forward to get on to his cross. Berra had a half chance from a corner but David James did not have a difficult half.

In that first half Foley played as poorly as I have seen him play and maybe he was not ready after his injury. Mancienne looked down on confidence, Elokobi looked vulnerable defensively and his passing was dire, and the likes of Halford, Edwards, Jarvis and Keogh were totally ineffective. In fact Doyle looked at a different level from his team mates and was the only one that looked like making anything happen.

Wolves were better after the break and had Pompey pinned back for large periods but were still not strongly testing James. Closest they came to a goal was a free kick from Halford well saved by James but he couldn’t hold the shot and Ebanks Blake should have done better with the rebound. But the big talking point of the second half was a penalty that wasn’t given. Kightly’s cross was blatantly blocked by the arm of a diving defender and it was an incident seen by everyone in Molineux except the officials. TV confirmed it was a definite and deliberate handball.

With an international break next week Wolves will have two weeks to dwell on this performance before the trip to Everton on October 17^th. And McCarthy will have that time to ponder on who should get a game. Kightly, Ebanks Blake and , despite his poor showing today, Foley should surely be given the chance to show the Premier League why they built such a reputation in the Championship. But there is a long list of players whose places will be under threat including Mancienne, Edwards, Elokobi, Halford, Jarvis and Keogh. But in reality only Hennessey, Berra, Henry and Doyle can be sure of a place.