Wolves at the door… Can they be kept at bay?
Posted on April 1st, 2011 | 30 Comments |
We need to bloody their metaphorical nose on the pitch with a decent win, preferably with a few goals, to claw back the goal differencial that we recently relinquished at Stoke.
Then there’s an actual bloody nose that they deserve, along with the ridiculously one-sided referee of our last meeting down in the Midlands, for the crime against football that they were allowed to perpetrate, particularly on Joey Barton.
Of course Barton brought it all on himself by being an ex-offender and maybe should’ve been jailed for not fighting back, or worse? Protection from that kind of open thuggery is the least we can expect at SJP, isn’t it?
Obviously that can’t happen again, can it?
Aside from the fact that Wolves have languished below Newcastle in the Premier League all season and for them to travel this far north could induce the proverbial nasal ailment. This is going to be a full blooded affair. They are on a bit of a surge at the moment, well they were before the season was so rudely interrupted yet again, by pointless sponsorship commitments disguised as football.
So it will be a case of ‘have they lost their impetus? Or can they maintain their push for Premiership survival at our expense?
Conversely, which Newcastle team will show up? The one that can make stirring comebacks v teams established in the upper echelons of the league? The one that can put in top class away performances, against all expectations, odds and form books?
Or the one that can’t seem to keep it simple and ‘put a game to bed’ at home, trying too hard to please and shooting it’s self in the foot on so many occasions this term? Something that is particularly galling after last seasons excellent unbeaten at home record, albeit in the Championship.
The last couple of weeks rest should have focused a few minds down at Gallowgate. Mostly concentrating on making amends for the Stoke City capitulation. Whilst allowing for some of the first team to regain fitness and swell the ranks of the squad, creating better formational options. Most notably, players like Leon Best, who’s become our ‘go to’ guy up front. We’ll be needing Jose Enrique fit too, as our left side was consistently exposed and exploited last time out.
The big question will be the midfield. With the prospect of Jonas coming back in to out-fox wolves, to the ‘will he or won’t he’ of Stephen Ireland’s long awaited debut.
Then there’s the ‘who will play in the DM role’ now that Tiote’s suspended? Will Guthrie get a game if Ireland doesn’t make the starting line-up?
Questions, questions!
The main thing however, will be how the team reacts to the last dismal loss and the pressure of this massive game.
No doubt it’ll be exactly the same for Wolves, although they’ll have less to lose and more to gain by coming to SJP for an away game, seemingly as bookie’s underdogs.
They could come looking for a draw, with an eye on stealing a win and upsetting the applecart, dragging us down to their struggle at the bottom end of the league, with only 7 to play. The fans will play their part too and will be required to help suck the ball into the net and leave worries and fear outside the ground.
Wolves will smell blood, a mauling doesn’t bear thinking about, rounding them up will be a giant stride towards Premier League safety.
Howay the Lads!
NUFCBlog Author: CLiNT FLiCK
Cut me in half & it'll say Newcastle United F.C. just like a stick of Black 'n' White rock!
CLiNT FLiCK has written 42 articles on this blog.
Off topic: But why can’t I do my Predictions? (and I could of swore I did week2 Predictions :s)