[Archived] Preview of Wolves vs. Rovers; 22 May 2011.

[cruz]

That's right---if all 3 win and we draw, both us and Wolves go down.

If ony 2 win and we draw the Wolves go down and we stay up.

Imagine the last 10 minutes in that scenario. Wolves would play 1-0-10!

I'd even back Kalinic to stay on his feet for more than 2 minutes against that formation

[BRFC95]

Will they allow you to take Radio's into the stadium?

The one I've bought is medium sized with an aerial.

Why didn't you buy a pocket one, you can pick them up for under a fiver

[den]

Sorry I didnt read the full arguement on here...I was just pointing out that under Kean (away) we havent been much different, we seem to have tightened up abit & of late performances have picked up, but my point was that we are not performing much worse than we did for Sam away from home.

Truth is we are naff away from home because we don't have the midfield creativity and we don't have a goalscorer.

No matter what the anti Sams used to argue

[cruz]

Will they allow you to take Radio's into the stadium?

The one I've bought is medium sized with an aerial.

[Mattyblue]

'You never know what you are going to get from Wigan'

Lawro has said it pretty much every week for two seasons!

[CAPT KAYOS]

You can say that now knowing Wigan pulled off a last minute winner on Sunday, if that game had have stayed at 2-2 Wigan would have been down from a Rovers point of view and that would have been one less team to concern ourselves with. At 4.45 pm last Saturday taking the point on offer was the correct thing to do. It's easy to put a different slant on the game now. We didn't know what Sunday would bring then. What if we'd have chased the game and got beat 2-1 ? Would you be on here praising our fighting spirit ? Somehow I doubt it !

Not exactly TS - I think it all depends on an individual viewpoint.

The point last week will only appear vital dependent upon Sunday's results.

I was actually very very disappointed with both teams last week and find it disgusting personally(also find it very alarming that 'match fixing' has not risen its head) - for 5 mins or so I can understand - but 20mins+

Nobody mentioned about going gung ho - UTD had not exactly looked like scoring a hatful on Saturday before the penalty despite their attacking players - there was opportunity to be taken - we had attacking options on the bench also, maybe not the same level but still attacking options and we where at home and our last home game of the season. Two games out maybe but with only 'last chance saloon' a possibility at the time anyway, I would have preferred a more confident attitude to have been shown.

Not a guarantee we would have scored - but I would still have reckoned on us getting a draw still if we had (as I was confident before the match of getting something) and a win would have seen us safe - as it is, we still have to make sure of our own result before others - the same as what it would have been if we had got beat.

The way the none entity is going on - to him a point is all we will need which suggests that is what we will be playing for - still dangerous in my book and as I say although the odds are unlikely is not something I feel we should be adopting.

In am relatively calm also for Sunday as relegation doesn't bother me but nobody wants to be relegated at the end of the day regardless , and although I still think we will get beat as I have posted before, cannot see everything going against us.

My only worry is should we be losing and the results are against us I don't feel we have it in us to actually do something about it as has been seen when going behind in games all season.

[deftangel]

Remember with Wigan, Stoke will be trying to do Pullis' mate Holloway at Blackpool a favour. I don't think it's a given they will win at all. They can't defend, Stoke are formidable at home and will be able to pick them off. Wigan's best chance in that game is if they turn it end to end but that relies on them scoring first which I don't think is a given. Stoke are much better placed to defend a lead than West Ham are.

Birmingham's last performance was a relegation-esque one. If I was a Brum supporter I would be mortified. Spurs may not turn up still but it does not bode well.

Blackpool are the great unknown as it depends on what team Man Utd put out.

I genuinely can't see all three winning and I think we'll be good for a draw if we play sensibly and hold firm the first 20 minutes. If two of those teams start winning, Wolves might panic and they aren't great shakes at the back themselves. In fact, two ouf of the three winning and the other (say Brum) getting smashed two or three nil might play into our hands and allow us to sneak a win.

[Manchester Blue]

Not exactly TS - I think it all depends on an individual viewpoint.

The point last week will only appear vital dependent upon Sunday's results.

I was actually very very disappointed with both teams last week and find it disgusting personally(also find it very alarming that 'match fixing' has not risen its head) - for 5 mins or so I can understand - but 20mins+

Nobody mentioned about going gung ho - UTD had not exactly looked like scoring a hatful on Saturday before the penalty despite their attacking players - there was opportunity to be taken - we had attacking options on the bench also, maybe not the same level but still attacking options and we where at home and our last home game of the season. Two games out maybe but with only 'last chance saloon' a possibility at the time anyway, I would have preferred a more confident attitude to have been shown.

Not a guarantee we would have scored - but I would still have reckoned on us getting a draw still if we had (as I was confident before the match of getting something) and a win would have seen us safe - as it is, we still have to make sure of our own result before others - the same as what it would have been if we had got beat.

The way the none entity is going on - to him a point is all we will need which suggests that is what we will be playing for - still dangerous in my book and as I say although the odds are unlikely is not something I feel we should be adopting.

In am relatively calm also for Sunday as relegation doesn't bother me but nobody wants to be relegated at the end of the day regardless , and although I still think we will get beat as I have posted before, cannot see everything going against us.

My only worry is should we be losing and the results are against us I don't feel we have it in us to actually do something about it as has been seen when going behind in games all season.

Can't agree with that Capt. The situation was they equalised on 73 mins, by that time Junior had gone off injured, Jones was injured and went off in the aftermath so we had one sub left. United did still go for it and had a very good chance to score when they carved us open on about 78 mins so it wasn't really 20 mins. Then Samba went off injured and obviously you're not going to stick a striker on for him when United have 4 up front. Was only the last 10 mins United passed it around the back 4 and the players just didn't know whether to stick or twist. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and maybe the caution they, and Kean, showed will bite them but you can understand why it happened.

I'm not sticking up for Kean cos I think he has been more or less awful. However the circumstances made it understandable and it's not as black and white as some have made out.

[Hasta]

Apologies if already mentioned but it has just dawned on me that a draw is as much use to Wolves as a 1 goal defeat.

If scores are level with 5 minutes left then Wolves may as well go for broke not caring if they get hit on the break.

[47er]

Apologies if already mentioned but it has just dawned on me that a draw is as much use to Wolves as a 1 goal defeat.

If scores are level with 5 minutes left then Wolves may as well go for broke not caring if they get hit on the break.

Hence my 1-0-10 formation suggested above!

[Hasta]

Hence my 1-0-10 formation suggested above!

True but regardless of whether the other three teams below Wolves are winning or not, in the last 5 minutes they might as well still go 1-0-10

If Blackpool, Birmingham and Stoke all draw or only one of them wins, Wolves stay up with a draw.

If Blackpool, Birmingham and Stoke all draw or only one of them wins, Wolves stay up with a 1 goal defeat.

They might as well go gung-ho if the scores are level regardless of what happens elsewhere, even if the other 3 are all getting beat heavily.

[den]

Wolves will set up for the win. Anything other than that will put them in jeopardy.

This is where Kean needs to get his approach right. If he goes for the draw, every chance we'll lose. If he goes for the win [which he must do, in my view] then he has to keep the door shut at the back. It's not an easy ask by any means.

[Majiball]

So as the big day approaches I've spent some time pondering how Rovers should approach the game against Wolves.

This game has everything riding on it, this year the league has been full of surprises results wise and who's to say that won't continue into the final day? So for me the Rovers approach must be to avoid defeat. The last few games have shown that we can defend against heavy bombardment and look to hit teams on the break. Against United we created a few really good chances and realistically should have scored more than one, but for me it shows one thing and that's when we play Hoillet and Olsson we are a serious threat on the counter. Hoillet playing in the hole in a 4-4-1-1 formation has seen us recently not only create more but we've scored as well. But for me putting the little devil in there has seen another old stalwart come back to life in the last couple of games, Brett. For me he put in one hell of a shift against United and now because Junior roams he has a partner in crime who knows what a winger wants, football wise. It could just be the save rovers from relegation adrenaline inspiring Brett, but he's definitely stepped up to the plate and that needs to continue against Wolves.

For me I suspect one thing from Wolves in the opening salvo and that's pressure, if I were Mick and in his position knowing that one of the teams below me is likely to pick up a win (it always happens) and leapfrog me, I need to score and the earlier the better. I suspect they'll start brightly and pressure us all over the pitch as an early goal for them changes everything, the atmosphere especially. So really we've got two choices either try and outplay them or we do what we've done the last few games, successfully. People shouldn't under estimate continuity of play of the football field and with Wolves we can do exactly that, stay as we are.

United at Home, we sat in our own half protected the box at all costs and waited patiently for the steam to run out and frustrations to set in. Provided everyones fit we should put out exactly the same team, same tactics, well for the most part against Wolves. It's worked well and we are poor on the road, so lets just stay as we are. Wolves are not United, provided we can get the same level of performance from the lads we should be able to keep Wolves out in the initial stages. But we do need to make better use of some of the weapons we have at our disposal, for me these days the best way to create goal scoring chances comes from beating the oppositions full backs. In the modern game the full backs has to work in both attack and defence and with a very quick winger/striker/holeboy we can really expose these areas.

One thing I'd like to see more off if Junior is to play a Dunnesc role, is him not forgetting his roots and still playing wide often. Hoillet drifting out wide from a central and forward position has the potential to drag the centre half out of position nicely creating space for a runner like N'zonzi to exploit. Doubling up out wide again will create new problems especially with the full backs already having a man to mark so support must come from somewhere. Where ever a player comes from to support the defence, this will mean that somewhere in the oppositions shape we will have dragged someone out of position. That will mean space to exploit for us on the attack, but disrupting their shape and making their players make decisions they are unsure off is paramount. An old boss once told me 'drag them out of position and they have to make choices, choices mean decisions, decisions lead to mistakes and opportunities for us to exploit'. For me the key for us lies in the likes of Olsson and Junior and that's there pace, which is another reason I'd like to see them double up out wide. Imagine having Junior and Olsson running at you in tandem, Wolves team is slow at the back as well something we need to exploit and this will. We are also getting better at hitting that ball across field in behind the full back. If we can create opportunities to hit that type of ball quickly to an awaiting Hoillet and Olsson combo, well I think it could be very effective on the counter.

For me Sunday is simple same team, same approach with a few tweaks and us putting heavy pressure on their full backs. But one things for sure regardless of tactics and technical aspects, Molineux will be a battleground come Sunday afternoon and we need to be ready for that both mentally and physically.

[Uddersfelt Blue]

Agreed. Both teams have to approach this game as if survival depends on them winning.

Of course that could change as the scores come in towards the end of the afternoon.

[J*B]

If anybody needs a ticket... I know somebody getting rid of one, maybe two.

[Uddersfelt Blue]

If anybody needs a ticket... I know somebody getting rid of one, maybe two.

Yes please PM me

[philipl]

I still think we are so obsessed with our own worries that we are forgetting the mindset of Wolves.

Suppose these are the scores after 80 minutes:

Wolves 0 Rovers 0

Stoke 0 Wigan 1

MU 0 Blackpool 0

Spuds 0 Brum 0

And Brum and Blackpool are both giving it a really good go to get the winner

As Mick Macarthy, are you going to be playing for a draw???

[broadsword]

Playing Blackburn at home, I'd be playing for a win, never mind what the other scores are.

[J*B]

Wont know about these tickets until tea time tonight - not being sold by me, and being told he wants highest bidder for it. Thought i'd post on here because as i understand a few people have had trouble getting tickets.

[savage8]

Same tactics as last Saturday, United found it difficult to break us down most of the time - Wolves don't have the quality of United so why change things? Defend like we did on Saturday and we'll be ok - I just hope Chrissy Samba is fit and gives it his all, in what could be the last game in a Rovers shirt.

I agree with using Junior in the hole behind J-Rob, who I expect to have another game against a nervous Wolves defence. Olsson and Junior have shown in the 2nd half of the season that they have the quality to destroy any team in the league so utilise them fully.

The press has completely written us off - noone is giving Rovers a chance, much like before the West Ham and United games. All the stories are about Wolves (their Chairman spouting off, Steve Bull etc), which will play into our hands I feel. Frustrate the hell out of them and give em some - if only we can avoid any early yellows and keep a clean sheet up until the 1/2 hour mark, we'll be fine.

Our support will be fantastic. Let's see some confidence (see performance against Villa away last game of last season) -our destiny is in our own hands - let's go out and shock a few people and put this horrible season behind us.

[Sysagent]

J*B keep me posted as well mate, looking for two ideally (three at a push).

Ta

[Hasta]

I still think we are so obsessed with our own worries that we are forgetting the mindset of Wolves.

Suppose these are the scores after 80 minutes:

Wolves 0 Rovers 0

Stoke 0 Wigan 1

MU 0 Blackpool 0

Spuds 0 Brum 0

And Brum and Blackpool are both giving it a really good go to get the winner

As Mick Macarthy, are you going to be playing for a draw???

That's my point a couple of posts above. Mick McCarthy shouldn't be playing for a draw after 80 minutes because a draw is as good for them as a 1-0 defeat no matter what the results elsewhere.

[old darwen blue]

Wont know about these tickets until tea time tonight - not being sold by me, and being told he wants highest bidder for it. Thought i'd post on here because as i understand a few people have had trouble getting tickets.

That's touting and illegal. Tell him or her not to be so tight and to let them go at face value to a supporter that wants to go

[joey_big_nose]

Team for me:-

----------------------Roberts

----------------Dunn/Rochina?

Hoilett-----Nzonzi----Jones------Emerton

Olsson-----Samba----Jones----Salgado

--------------------Robinson

Big issue is the back line - I can't see Givet playing after his comments so if Samba is out then we are in a very poor position at the back as Jones, Olsson and Hanley all lack experience, and Hanley and Olsson are suspect defensively.

Kean will probably go for Dunn in the hole if he is fit. If he is not available then Kean can either go for Rochina in the hole, or Hoilett there with Pedersen on the left, or even play with two strikers. Not really sure what Kean's plan will be.

The most important thing is we keep the high standard of our shape and counter attacking play which we managed against United.

[Toodling]

Team for me:-

----------------------Roberts

----------------Dunn/Rochina?

Hoilett-----Nzonzi----Jones------Emerton

Olsson-----Samba----Jones----Salgado

--------------------Robinson

Big issue is the back line - I can't see Givet playing after his comments so if Samba is out then we are in a very poor position at the back as Jones, Olsson and Hanley all lack experience, and Hanley and Olsson are suspect defensively.

Kean will probably go for Dunn in the hole if he is fit. If he is not available then Kean can either go for Rochina in the hole, or Hoilett there with Pedersen on the left, or even play with two strikers. Not really sure what Kean's plan will be.

The most important thing is we keep the high standard of our shape and counter attacking play which we managed against United.

Rochinas injured.