Source: FOOTYMAD
Wolves Prove They're the TEAM to Beat
My beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers are now over half way through the worst fixtures EVER known to a footballing man (or woman, we're PC here don't you know) - Chelsea, Man Utd, Man City, Man Utd (again!), and Arsenal. Saturday’s triumph against Manchester City marked the culmination of everything McCarthy's men have been labouring towards this season; another valuable three points, with the added bonus for us fans of being second on Match of the Day's billing for beating self advocated Premier League challengers City. The gospel words of Hansen and Dixon have trickled down to the ever fickle footballing public as Wolves are no longer branded 'dirty', suddenly they’re the perfect model for team spirit and hard work (evidently lacking from their opposing disinterested and bickering Manchester millionaires). This weekend, we’ll see another near top billing on MOTD as this time we return to the red side of Manchester, to Old Trafford to face the shirt selling powerhouse that is Manchester United. Wolves go into this game with a new confidence that bubbled against Chelsea and United, and came to the boil against City last weekend. Last Saturday was a day to be proud of Wolves, but not just for their now publicly recognised work ethic and determination but because they showed they can actually play a bit of this stuff called football. Finally it's acknowledged that in Matt Jarvis and Kevin Doyle, Wolves have two players of the highest Premier League quality. Ok, Doyle doesn’t hit the back of the net as often as he should, but his energy and hold up play is barely bettered by anyone else around - the type of player Emile Heskey has disguised himself as for ten years, the difference being Doyle can control a ball and doesn’t spend most of his time on the floor. Matt Jarvis is rightly banging heavily on Capello's Anglo-Italian door, if this apparently wise old man theorises Wright-Phillips and Downing warrant call ups, then ‘Jarvo’ has to be a certainty against France later this month. Jarvis has always been quick and had the ability to beat a man, but now his pace and skill is complimented by an assurance that he is an established Premier League player, a good one at that resulting in crosses expected of an international. But Jarvis won’t let talk of national service affect him, instead we’ll see the same ever trying and ever grounded winger working the channels this weekend, with his gut busting efforts matched by ten fellow proud professionals. With the exception of Gareth Bale there is no better winger in the league right now. Talking of wingers, the return of Stephen Hunt has come as a timely boost. He’s never going to be the next Messi (or Matt Jarvis), but he adds width with his touchline hugging and has a Premier League arrogance about him which undoubtedly brings calm to a youthful Wolves side. With Wolves-born Karl Henry once again fairly sticking his boot in, Wolves have the right blend of fight, skill and confidence to mix it with the big boys and in the gospel words of Lee Dixon “zoom up the table”. Come this Saturday against the biggest of the big boys what can we expect when facing the long established might of Manchester? Wolves might lose, there’s a small chance of a draw and if the United players embark on a Friday night of Blue WKD alongside some Rooney-inspired antics we might even scrape a surprise win. But whatever the outcome, it's certain that Wolves will play as a team, they’ll fight as a team and will win, lose or draw as a team. Despite lying 19th in the table, it’s probable that this is the proudest I've been as a Wolves fan in a long time (even Millennium Stadium, and Championship winning moments). This side have shown in the last three daunting fixtures what football should be about, a team.
