It’s toffee time

Wolves go to Everton on Saturday 17th October 3:00 pm with the threat of dropping into the bottom three for the first time this season hanging over them. After a relatively easy fixture list to open the season this has to be a disappointment and we have the double whammy of a more difficult run of fixtures ahead plus the psychological scars that being in the relegation position would bring. Thats the negative side of the story. On the positive side Wolves have played well in the majority of matches and have done so with line ups that are short of their best team due to injuries.

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.

Category: Team News

Tags: Doyle, Ebanks-Blake, Team News, Wolves

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