Monday night saw the January transfer window come to a close in dramatic fashion. Chelsea outlined their ambitions for the rest of the season with the shock signing of Fernando Torres from Liverpool for a Premier League record fee of £50 million and Liverpool, determined to find a high profile replacement for the Spaniard, got their wish in the form of former Newcastle striker Andy Carroll who completed his move to the Merseyside club in a deal worth £35 million. The events of Monday evening add even more spice to…
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Football League Daily – Keogh set for Bristol City Loan while Brighton try to keep hold of Bennett
Bristol City prepared to announce the loan signing of Wolves’ Andrew Keogh, who has reportedly cut short his loan deal at Cardiff in favour of the greater first team opportunities at Ashton Gate. The former Scunthorpe man scored just twice for the Bluebirds as he found his search for first-team football thwarted by the form of Jay Bothroyd, Michael Chopra and Craig Bellamy. Keogh will become the second Wolves player to turn out for Bristol City this season following Sam Vokes’ ill-fated loan spell, one which was cut short after…
Read MoreClub Focus – Stoke – Midlands rivals Stoke and Wolves plan FA Cup changes
That the old Staffordshire derby between Stoke and Wolverhampton Wanderers will likely be far from fiercely contested this Sunday is perhaps yet another indication of the FA Cup’s decline. Both Tony Pulis and Mick McCarthy are expected to make significant changes to their teams for this fourth round clash. Pulis has publicly bemoaned the decision to reschedule the tie for Sunday, leaving his team facing three games in a week with Premier League games against Liverpool and Sunderland approaching. McCarthy meanwhile, has made it clear that Wolves’ relegation scrap is…
Read MoreWolves 0 – 3 Liverpool – Mighty Meireles and schoolboy defending silence Wolves at the door
As Raul Meireles’ stunning volley dipped and swerved into the top corner of Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey’s net in the 49th minute, Liverpool fans could be forgiven for hoping that maybe the good times will start to roll again for their beloved club. The 27-year-old Portuguese gave a consummate performance from midfield. As well as scoring the second of the game with the 25-yard contender for goal-of-the-season, Meireles’ key contribution arguably came in the 35th minute, making a clever run and selflessly setting up Fernando Torres for the opener.…
Read MorePremier League Preview – Bragging rights at stake as Merseyside derby takes centre stage
There was a short break in the Premier League calendar last weekend as all 20 Premier League sides began their quest for FA Cup glory. It was a short lived challenge for five clubs as Liverpool, Sunderland, Newcastle, West Brom and Blackpool all went crashing out at the first hurdle. Current holders Chelsea managed to put some horrid league form behind them to record a 7-0 crushing of Ipswich Town and progress to the fourth round along with ten other Premier League sides. The Premier League is the bread and…
Read MoreWolves interest in Sidwell confirmed
Sky Sports News report that Mick McCarthy has confirmed Wolves have agreed a fee with Aston Villa to sign former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Steven Sidwell, but says that the club haven’t spoken to the player himself yet, who is also in talks with West Ham. McCarthy said: “I haven’t spoken to him, so there’s nothing much I can say. A fee had been agreed with the clubs beforehand. His family were closer to West Ham and I had no gripe with that at all. But if he’s available and…
Read MorePremier League Preview – 18th/19th December– Title race hots up as Manchester United hit the front
Manchester United stretched their longest unbeaten start to a Premier League season to 16 games with a hard fought 1-0 win over Arsenal to leapfrog their title rivals and take over at the top. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are two points clear of the chasing pack but, with a game in hand over Blackpool to come, have taken a significant step to reclaiming the title in recent weeks. However, their form away from the fortress that is Old Trafford can only be described as suspect. Although they are yet to…
Read MoreBlog: Wolves team spirit the key in triumph over City
Wolves’ 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Saturday, their first in nine league games, was as unexpected as it was deserved. Greg Simkins looks at the reasons behind the home side’s long overdue victory. When the Molineux crowd erupted in the second minute of injury time, a (curiously well-versed) passer-by may well have assumed that the home side had extended their lead. Indeed, the scenes on the pitch suggested no other possibility; Michael Mancienne was mobbed by his joyous team-mates. Mancienne had not scored however. Neither had he drawn defiant…
Read MoreA Different Week – The history of football songs, starring Wolves and Sir Edward Elgar
Football songs are a mixed bunch. They can be adulatory or derogatory, comedic or crass, sometimes unforgettable, often unprintable. Some are one-offs that spontaneously spring up courtesy of an on-pitch catalyst. Others are old favourites that have been sung for generations. But where do the roots of the football song lie? Surprisingly enough, the humble terrace chant can be traced back over 100 years to one of England’s greatest ever classical composers. Even if you are not familiar with the name Sir Edward Elgar, you’ll almost certainly be familiar with…
Read MoreClub Focus – Wolves – Costly McCarthy call in Cottage setback
Substitutions can often change a game for the better but in Wolves case on Saturday, Mick McCarthy’s decision to take off Jelle van Damme and replace him with Steven Fletcher may well have cost his side at least a point at Fulham. Admittedly, it’s still not known exactly why Mick chose to end van Damme’s game after only 45 minutes. The Belgian has yet to finish a Premier League game for Wolves, suggesting that fitness or an underlying injury may be a problem. The team, however, went into the break…
Read MoreClub Focus – Wolves – Doyle buzzing ahead of Fulham clash
After the international break, in which Kevin Doyle and Algerian Adlene Guedioura hit the headlines with stunning long-range goals, Wolves restart their Premier League campaign with a trip to Fulham whose impressive home record is well publicised. Last season the Whites won 11 games at Craven Cottage, only three less than Champions League qualifiers Spurs, and this included victories against Manchester United and Liverpool. This is likely to be Mick McCarthy’s side’s biggest challenge so far but the task might not be quite as daunting as it seems on paper.…
Read MoreClub Focus – Wolves – Good start continues but McCarthy’s side far from the finished article
Five points from three games may represent Wolves best start to a Premier League season, but after the draw with Newcastle on Saturday, the main talking point lay in the team’s approach to the game. Criticisms about the Black Country side’s physicality were issued and there were also questions about whether Mick McCarthy’s brief flirtation with 4-4-2 has run it’s course. The game, which has been described as harking back to the 1970’s, saw 12 yellow cards waved, four of which were for fouls on Joey Barton. Newcastle may not…
Read MoreClub Focus – Wolves – Young starlets promising showing bodes well for future
The League Cup may not have been kind to Wolves in recent years but Richard Stearman, captaining his hometown club for the first time, bundled in a 122nd minute winner to ensure another potential upset was avoided right at the death. The tournament is often ridiculed for being nothing more than an annoyance to teams with bigger things on their mind, but on Tuesday night it served a good purpose for the Black Country side. True, their performance was disappointing and Mick McCarthy even admitted it was cruel on Southend…
Read MoreClub Focus – Wolves – McCarthy puts faith in youth
With the fixtures between Wolves and Everton finishing 1-1 and 0-0 last season, another draw at Goodison Park was perhaps a rather predictable outcome. What was interesting about the 1-1 scoreline, however, was how much the game was one of two halves. Draws often reflect an evenly-matched tie with neither side being able to outmanoeuvre the other. Yet at half time on Saturday, Everton were in control and the 1-0 scoreline failed to reflect their dominance or the amount of chances they had. Fast forward 45 minutes and it was…
Read MoreClub Focus – Wolves – Mixed fortunes for McCarthy’s strikers
Ahead of Saturday’s opener against Stoke, A Different League asked the opinions of BBC 5 Live’s Perry Groves, Pat Nevin and Jimmy Armfield about Wolves summer spending and their chances for the season. Groves was rather cautious about the side’s prospects for 2010/2011, stating: “Wolves will be one of those teams in the bottom six or seven who will be battling against relegation.” Much of this prediction was based on the club’s poor home form from last season and he declared it crucial that the side find someone to increase…
Read MoreClub Focus – Wolves – Has McCarthy made the right call on Mancienne?
There cannot be many things worse for a Premier League manager than international friendlies just three nights before the start of the new season. For Mick McCarthy, however, the Ireland vs. Argentina game almost proved a blessing in disguise. Had Kevin Doyle managed to turn out for his country, he would have had a great opportunity to gain some much needed match fitness. His failure to recover from a muscle tear in time means that he is all but certain to miss out on Saturday’s opener against Stoke. Admittedly, the…
Read MoreClub Focus – Wolves – Can big-spending Wolves survive second season syndrome?
With every new player that arrives at Manchester City, complete with a hefty transfer fee, comes a further slashing of the club’s odds for the title. So it appears rather ironic that Wolves, the Premier League’s second biggest spenders, are strong favourites for the drop. It is not just the media and bookies who are making these predictions either. Fans seem to be sharply divided in their forecasts for this season, optimists suggesting a top ten finish and the pessimists, or realists as they prefer to be known, believing that…
Read MorePremier League week 38 preview – Final day title drama beckons
When the Premier League season began back in August, fans of all 20 clubs had dreams and aspirations for the year ahead. For some, these were quickly demolished, others remained hopeful of a revival until their failure was confirmed. Two clubs will have to wait until the final day until their fate is decided and for one Sunday night will bring about huge celebrations. It is of course the Premier League title race. Chelsea enter the weekend in the driving seat with a two point cushion over Manchester United and…
Read MoreClub Focus – Wolverhampton Wanderers – McCarthy already planning transfer market moves
Mick McCarthy will not have been happy about uncharacteristic defensive mistakes from his players against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday, despite Wolves already achieving Premier League survival the weekend before. The pressure was off the Black Country club and arguably this affected their concentration as Pompey striker Aruna Dindane was allowed a free header following a Michael Brown free kick, which opened the scoring and gave the lead to the South Coast side. At the other end of the pitch Wolves grabbed a deserved equaliser via Kevin Doyle. Wolverhampton…
Read MoreClub Focus – Wolverhampton Wanderers – Henry back with much to play for at Molineux
With their Premier League status safely assured Wolverhampton Wanderers can relax as they play out their two remaining fixtures this season, but they are unlikely to be resting on their laurels. Relegated F.A Cup finalists Portsmouth await the Black Country club’s arrival for their Premier League game on Saturday at Fratton Park. Wolves still have positions and pride to play for and if they were to pick up enough points to finish in 14th place it will be seen as a good achievement for Mick McCarthy’s team, who have scrapped…
Read MorePremier League Week 37 preview – Races for fourth spot and title in crucial weekend
With the three sides that drop out of the Premier League finally confirmed as Portsmouth, Burnley and Hull City, attentions are now fully focused on the top of the table with both the title race and fourth spot set to go all the way to the final day of the season. Manchester United showed exactly what champions are made of last Saturday, securing a hard fought 3-1 victory over in form Tottenham Hotspur and putting the pressure firmly on their title rivals. Chelsea answered in emphatic fashion, demolishing Stoke City…
Read MoreClub Focus – Wolverhampton Wanderers – Safety secured thanks to McCarthy and Ebanks-Blake
It has been a long gruelling road to survival for Wolverhampton Wanderers, but Mick McCarthy and the men in gold have finally clinched their right to compete in the Premier League next season. The Molineux faithful celebrated survival after Burnley and Hull City’s defeats against Liverpool and Sunderland respectively assured top flight survival following Wolves’ 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers. Now the fans can enjoy their remaining two fixtures safe in the knowledge that they get another chance to compete with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool…
Read MoreClub Focus – Wolverhampton Wanderers – Almost there
Before last night’s game between relegation-threatened Hull City and Aston Villa, Wolves chief Mick McCarthy said he could be nothing other than a Villa fan for the evening and would have been delighted to see them win. Martin O’Neill’s men defeated the Tigers 2-0 at the KC Stadium and it looks as though they are a sure thing for the drop into the Championship, which means Wolves are more or less safe and can mathematically confirm so at this weekend. If Wolves maintain their current six-point gap over Hull and…
Read MorePremier League Preview – 24th/ 25th April 2010
Last weekend saw a number of significant changes to the Premier League table. Manchester United are firmly back in the title picture after a last gasp Paul Scholes winner in the Manchester derby. Tottenham added to their triumph over Arsenal in midweek with another 2-1 victory, this time over league leaders Chelsea helping them maintain their challenge for fourth spot. While Wigan’s extraordinary comeback to claim all three points against Arsenal dashed the Gunners hopes of a title challenge. Manchester United are now just a point adrift of Chelsea and…
Read MoreClub Focus – Wolves – Defence key in bid for survival
After the game at Craven Cottage it is four games in a row without a goal for Mick McCarthy’s side, but fortunately Wolves’ brave defence has kept three clean sheets over the same period and has earned them some valuable points. The men in gold know that they have a lot of work ahead of them, but should they survive, McCarthy and the Molineux faithful will no doubt show their gratitude to their defence, who have helped carry a side that has only scored 28 league goals so far. The…
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