Wolves Vs Preston North End

By: Toby | January 7th, 2009

Core, it’ll have been nearly two weeks since Wolves kicked a ball by the time Preston North End roll into town, two weeks is a long time in football, or at least it can be. Will such a long period without a game effect the team in anyway? So the Football Manager 2009 press pack would probably say. I’d say no, if anything it’s a good thing, some of our players have looked on their last legs recently, the breather couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m looking at you Big Chris. The last two weeks haven’t been all that interesting at all if I’m being that honest. Far from it, in between cementing a 7 point lead in the Championship Wolves have had an FA Cup game called off due to “cold”, Mancienne’s mother club said it was time to go home, and we’ve been dancing round in circles with Alan Gow like some sort of Austenesque Pride and Prejudice ball room flirtation. Alan Gow a player who will instantly leap ahead of the entire squad based on looks alone (I’ve been informed by at least woman that he’s a bit “phoar”). So aside from that we’ve had various links with players here there and everywhere. A little bit of Ambrose, a little bit of Elliott, a dash of foreign nonsense and a few missed boats. I’d have liked to see either Routledge or Sinclair join us for the rest of the season, but they’ve gone to QPR and Birmingham respectively.

Birmingham are an interesting one this transfer window so far, having seemingly not so much much pressed, but smashed the big red button marked “PANIC!” with a sweaty fist… followed by the smaller blue button marked “RANGERS ARE HAVING A SALE”, which we also pressed ourselves earlier this week. Birmingham have tried and failed in an attempt to buy the biggest ego in Scottish football, Kris Boyd. Having had a hissy fit with George Burnley because he couldn’t get a game back in October, throwing all his toys out of the pram and stating that he wouldn’t play again for Scotland while he was still in charge. I’m sure he sat back in his leather reclining chair at that point, cocked an eyebrow and took a swig of fine imported brandy, confident at his masterstroke of bargaining. Only Burnley is still the Scottish manager, and he’s now missing out on Qualification games. His scoring rate is un-questionable…but it’s the SPL. Not content with that they’ve managed to get two more journey men in on the fun, firstly Bouazza, not good enough for Fulham on loan and more worringly (For Blues) everyone’s favourite scamp who’ll play for the team if he can find time away from punching them in the middle of the pitch and getting arrested Lee Bowyer. Birmingham’s transfer dealings can be described at desperate at best this week, we’ll see if they can add any actual quality in the rest of the window, rather than just increasing the (already substantial) average age of the squad.

So to the actual game in hand, having only lost one home game all season, scoring 28 goals in the process, Wolves are looking in good form going into this game in that respect, and our last five games have harvested two draws and three wins, it’s sometimes easy to think that those kind of results aren’t up to scratch, but in relation to all around us, no team had a truly brilliant Christmas Period, and while perhaps a few of those draws could have been wins (especially Blackpool) Wolves will be pleased with their overall form, with a definite eye on improving. Preston North End come to Molineux resting just below the play offs with a draw, three wins and a loss in their last five. On their travels they’ve not won since 16th of November against Blackpool. Wolves will have to be watchful of Neil Mellor, former Liverpool youngster, responsible for this BEAST of a goal way back when, which made literally everyone (Andy Gray) declare him the new Gerrard (for the next twenty minutes). Now a bit fatter and a bit slower, he’s still got it in him to cause problems in our back line, which is sadly now sans Mancienne.

As for a result, I’m going to go for a home win, with the return of Kightly and Jarvis to the same team meaning there will be crosses left right and centre (though how you cross from the centre I don’t know, I think they’re just called passes) So indeed, Big Chris will get on the end of one of those at least hoping to add to the three he got against them last time we played, and this time trying not to get sent off for a head-tap, Wolves will hopefully get a good result under their belts here, 2-0 will do nicely.

Rather than a result poll, I thought I’d ask you if think the signing of Alan Gow is a good move? Because I’m a maverick like that. (Edit, this poll is now closed, for obvious reasons. It also means you can’t all be smart arses and vote for waste of time with the beauty of hindsight.)

Is signing Alan Gow... ( polls)

Right then, best of luck for the weekend!

Tarra-a-bit!