Tag Archives: sunderland

Man Utd v Wolves preview

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So they got knocked out of the Champions League.

They have had a massive injury blow with Vidic being ruled out to the season, adding to a list that includes Hernandez, Cleverley, Anderson and Michael Owen, meaning we will get a week off from Sunday Supplement talking about him getting called up for England.

We had a massive win against Sunderland. Team confidence must have improved as a result, which we can only hope will turn around the form of certain players.

So we all know what’s going to happen.

We’re going to suffer from last minute heartache again. It’s just the way it goes.

So, what shall we do in the meantime, waiting for that inevitable, sinking feeling at 4.45pm this afternoon?

Well is there a strong argument for us to start with the 11 that finished against Sunderland?

Of course, the situation we were in, as well as the way SEB and Hammill play meant we changed our approach and it benefited us and helped us turn the game around.

But whether we should is another matter.

We have seen time and time again that Hammill can be a very effective impact player. Putting him on an hour or so into a game against a tiring full-back has helped in previous games, especially against Sunderland. And yes, it may be more negative to start Hunt instead of him, but with a full-back like Evra, you need a more defensive minded winger. Hunt isn’t the best player at the club by a long stretch, but he’s a little shit. A little shit that you want to make things difficult. And we all can see that Evra isn’t the player he has been of recent times, so surely a fresh legged, quick, direct winger against him for the final 30 minutes would be far more effective.

And we talk about Doyle’s recent dip in form, and talk of him dropping him, with SEB’s performance against Sunderland helping with that opinion.

But is there not an argument that Doyle’s intelligent play would cause problems against a vulnerable Jonny Evans?

Doyle dropping deep, looking for the ball, trying to pull Evans out of position to allow space for Fletcher to run in behind. And if Fletcher is up against Rio today, there is no contest when it comes to pace.

And again, an hour into a game, bringing SEB on would change the way we play. Not just dropping deep, but happy playing off Evans’s shoulder, something we’ve seen Evans struggle against in previous matches.

But will any of this matter come that moment at 4.45 when we cover our faces with our hands, or look at the floor with an empty, vacant stare?

Probably not, but at least we’ll get to be the first to sing ‘Thursday night, Channel 5′

Wolves vs Sunderland review (Thank you Lady Luck, you sexy woman)

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It wasn’t Eva Green or Liv Tyler, but sometimes, all you want and need is Kat Slater.

I’m sure a number of us had the same, worrying feeling in the back of our heads. Even with O’Neil not being in charge of the match, it would give Sunderland that boost that they needed. That they would nick something at the end of the day. That they would see us, down on the floor, give us a helping hand then stab us in the heart with the knife they are holding in their other hand.

Apart from the other obvious reasons, this is why this win meant alot. Aside from the excellent performances from Berra, Edwards, Jarvis and Fletcher, the win meant alot because, for once, lady luck was smiling on us.

It didn’t look that way at first. The penalty decision gave us all horrible flashbacks of that Newcastle game. Our own Vietnam flashback. Then I saw the replay, and it hurt. It really hurt. I saw us staring straight at defeat once again. I thought it was going to be another week of heartbreak. Even a reassuring shoulder pat from my friend couldn’t help.

Then that wonderful minute happened.

It was like the world’s best surprise party where all your favourite people came along with the presents you wanted, and gave you that reassuring hug you’ve wanted for weeks. ’It’ll all be fine Matt, I told you it would be’.

And then, lady luck decided to come round to our house, wearing a secretary’s outfit and gave us a right smooch, right on the lips.

And it all came via Jamie O Hara’s shoulder.

I saw it straight away, I’m pretty sure more of us did. Steven Fletcher certainly did, looking about, almost waiting for the inevitable whistle…that never came.

When I realised the shriek wasn’t coming, I laughed, really loudly. And then started celebrating.

Granted, it meant that we all had to endure 10 minutes of tapping our feet, trying not to bite our nails just so people don’t mention is as ‘nail-biting’ and instead just repeatedly shouting ‘shit…shit…shit…fuck off sunderland…fuck off…thank god;

But at the end of the day, its wins like these that could be a turning point. Wins that puts smiles on our faces, the players’ faces, and Mick’s face.

And at the end of the day, that is the only thing we’ve all been looking for.

Chelsea vs Wolves review (Or something is starting to creep up on me…)

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I missed the first 30 minutes.

By the sounds of things, I’m bloody glad I did.

Now, I didn’t think we’d get a result at Stamford Bridge today, but being totally outplayed with no shape and worst of all, no apparent plan. It all made for depressing catching up.

And as a pro-Mick Wolves fan, this is when my first real doubts are starting to come into my head. The majority of this stems from his tactical choices today.

Why play a negative 4-5-1 when we are playing a Chelsea team are low on confidence and have struggled at the back this season?

Why not play with a more attacking minded centre midfielder playing just off Fletcher? Chelsea play with a deep midfielder. Our centre midfielders play far too deep. Massive gap in the middle of the pitch between our central midfielders and Fletcher. So what’s going to happen? Play a long ball upto him, which will get cut out easily, played to Romeu who will have the time and space to play a simply pass for Chelsea to start up again.

And again, why play Ward, our most consistent performer this season, out of his favoured position? What happened last time we did that? Elokobi was ripped to shreds by QPR, and Shaun Wright Phillips in particular. So who should we play to try and keep Daniel Sturridge out of the game?…

Although to be fair to Stephen Ward, he was a most effective attacking player today…which is pretty worrying…

So, what can we take from today, aside from repeating the above?

We looked at our best when Jarvis and Ward drifted in, especially in the final third as Ward’s chance shown. And this is something that I picked up on a while ago that we should be doing, but still aren’t.

Off the ball diagional runs right at the CBs are going to be difficult to defend against. Both full backs and centre backs need to quickly make decisions about their positioning and exactly who to track. Naturally CBs would mark the strikers, but with wingers running at them too? And do the FBs track or hold the line? These are things we should be exploiting, and having players with pace like Jarvis doing this would make it far more effective as well as leaving space for the full backs to exploit.

Secondly, and quite simply, Jarvis is much better on the left. He is much better than Stephen Hunt on the left. He has also looked like producing something when he has come on as a sub recently. So let’s start him next game, hey?

Look Mick, let’s just have a quick, private chat. This is a bit of a heart-to-heart with you. A one-to-one. Just me…and you.

I think you’re great, you’ve done so much for us. But there comes a time where doubt starting creeping into even the most loyal fans’ minds, and that time is now.

Prove me wrong on Sunday Mick. Prove to me we are where we belong. Show me that soon I can stop dreading watching us play.

I know you can do it Mick, please, please, don’t let me down.