Wolves vs Newcastle United match preview

Posted on September 30th, 2011 | 30 Comments |

The Magpies will be fed to the Wolves at 3pm tomorrow.
The Magpies will be fed to the Wolves at 3pm tomorrow.
Venue: Molineux, Wolverhampton
Date: Saturday, October 1st, 2011
Kick-off: 3:00pm
Referee: Mark Halsey

Unless you’re heading to the wonderful West Midlands on Saturday, it’s time once again to scour the net for streams of Newcastle United’s visit to Molineux, as the Magpies take on Mick McMackem’s Wolves.

Newcastle United are still undefeated this term, including our two fixtures in the League Cup. Our unbeaten run now stretches to eleven competitive games. Under Alan Pardew, Newcastle have started picking up points, against the teams in which under Chris Hughton, we failed to do. Credit must be given to Pardew, as United have started the season in great fashion and currently occupy 4th place in the table. Whether or not we have been lucky in some of our results this season, Newcastle have looked better as each game progresses, and were outstanding in the recent games against Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers. I’m sure 99.9% of the Toon Army, didn’t expect us to be undefeated at this stage of the season, and tomorrows encounter versus an indifferent Wolves side, gives us a really good opportunity to extend our undefeated start to the season as we approach the early October international two week break. Who’d have thought that would be a possibility at the start of the season?

Wolves, like Newcastle, had a flying start to the season, with two back-to-back victories over Blackburn (away), and Fulham (home). Their next Premier League match was a goal less draw at Villa Park, followed by two home defeats versus Tottenham and QPR. Their last outing was at Anfield, where £40.5 million worth (haha) of Andy Carroll and Jose Enrique helped defeat Wolves 2-1. In their three home matches this term, Wolves have scored two, and conceded five. It must be noted however, that in the last round of the League Cup, Wolves despatched of Millwall 5-0 at Molineux. Newcastle have scored only 2 goals away from home in the Premier League this season, though again it must be noted, that we scored four at Nottingham Forest in our last league cup match. So with Wolves not scoring freely at home, and the Magpies less than prolific in front of goal away from St James’ Park, don’t expect a high scoring encounter.

Wolves will undoubtedly be joyful over Kevin Doyle recently signing a new contract, as are most Magpies fans, over Jonas Guiterrez extending his stay on Tyneside this week. The mention of Doyle, brings me to his strike partner Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who scored both Wolves goals against us last term, in the 1-1 draw at their place, and the 4-1 win at ours. Sylvan will be missing this time however, as he is suffering from a knee injury. On to the squads…

Team news

Wolves (From): Wayne Hennessey (G), Doris de Vries (G), Richard Stearman, Roger Johnson, Christophe Berra, Stephen Ward, George Elokobi, David Edwards, Michael Kightly, Kelvin Henry, Jamie O’Hara, Matt Jarvis, Steven Fletcher, Kevin Doyle, Sam Vokes.

Newcastle United (From): Tim Krul (G), Rob Elliot (G), Ryan Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini (C), Steven Taylor, Danny Simpson, Davide Santon, Shane Ferguson, Jonas Gutierrez, Yohan Cabaye, Cheick Tiote, Gabriel Obertan, Mehdi Abeid, Dan Gosling, Danny Guthrie, Hatem Ben Arfa, Leon Meilleur, Demba Ba, Peter Lovenkrands, Sammy Ameobi.

Mike Williamson and Haris Vučkić are still out injured. The latter of the two has a hand injury; Yes, that’s right, a hand injury. Mike Williamson seems pretty banged up, as the majority of newspapers STILL think he has a broken arm. Couple his supposed ‘broken’ arm, with his actual ankle injury and you have to wonder what he’s been up too. Davide Santon managed 90 minutes in our mid-week reserve team outing, so he’s in the squad, but I’m doubtful as to whether he will make an appearance. Hatem Ben Arfa is back of course, but he’ll likely start the match on the bench, as the deadly duo of Demba Ba and Leon Best look likely to continue their impressive partnership up top tomorrow afternoon.

Wolves have Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Kevin Foley, Cambridge United legend, Jody Craddock, and Ronald Zubar all unavailable. Richard Stearman is rated as doubtful. Mick McMackem will likely employ a 4-4-2 formation with Steven Fletcher partnering Kevin Doyle in attack. With Matt Jarvis and Stephen Hunt operating the wings. Expect Danny Simpson and Ryan Taylor to have to be alert if Newcastle are to take anything from the match. This will be an interesting encounter, especially since United will almost certainly mirror Wolves tactical game plan of utilising the wings and crossing early. It will be the centre of the midfield where the game will be dictated most evidently, with the superior Tiote and Cabaye facing off against Kelvin Henry, though I do like Kelvin’s midfield partner Jamie O’Hara.

Probable Formation

Newcastle United formation v Wolves.
My formation prediction.
Alan Pardew will keep faith with the 4-4-2, and the same side which has performed well in our last two Premier League encounters. Usually I dislike this formation as its too static, and usually easily overran as most teams these days have a five or three in the centre. Against Wolves however I think this is the right way to go, as they will also employ this formation, and as I have said above, the two tactical plans from both teams will almost be the same. Since Wolves have had a bad run of results recently, they will be really up for this one from the off, if Newcastle can nullify their early (likely) bombardment of balls into the box, the crowd will grow frustrated, and McMackem may have to alter his game plan. Pardew has the luxury of ‘game changing’ players such as Ben Arfa and Marveaux to call upon, if we find ourselves in the brown stuff at any point. If Ben Arfa is called upon, it likely means a formation change, as well as a freshen up of legs.
Waffle

Wolves don’t score many at home. Newcastle don’t score many away from home. You would be hard pressed to see many goals being scored tomorrow afternoon then, and a low scoring draw looks likely. If Wolves were to lose it would be their fourth straight premier league defeat, and in fairness, they are not a bad side. They were unlucky at Anfield last week, and I’d imagine they will perform well tomorrow. This however is a great chance for Newcastle to enter the international break in 3rd place, and with the confidence of the manager, right through to the team and the Toon Army, I expect United to have picked something up come Saturday evening.
Howay The Lads.

NUFCBlog Author: Jimbob Backpacker extraordinaire and current resident of sunny Sheffield. Loves Marmite, hates peanut butter. Sleeps twice a day, wrestles Polar Bears because he can and regards himself as cool as a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce. Jimbob has written 40 articles on this blog.

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30 Responses

  1. Old Gold says:
    September 30, 2011 at 8:37 pm

    “East Midlands?”

    I’ve corrected it. The author will be taken out and shot immediately, then I’ll shoot myself for not correcting it earlier.

  2. Jordie In Wales says:
    September 30, 2011 at 8:41 pm

    “Any Links Peeps…………..”

    They won’t start putting any out until around half an hour before the game Jordi, but no doubt there’ll be a few in our “match banter” post tomorrow.

  3. This will be a good test for us tomorrow against one of the more physical prem teams. If we are to finish in the top 6 we need to pick points up from these type of teams. I would be happy with a draw but am concerned Wolves fortunes may change tomorrow. Fingers crossed though. HTL

  4. worky big dave asked me too ask you if he can come back on on probation ,and yes i know its cheaky too ask but ya kna me haha

  5. battys ghost says:
    September 30, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    “worky big dave asked me too ask you if he can come back on on probation ,and yes i know its cheaky too ask but ya kna me haha”

    Toonsy must’ve banned yez then :lol:

    Aye, gan on then. You’re both on probation mind and nee shite about ladyboys or anything else!

  6. batty you’re still posting, good !. Worky must have gone to the netty and missed your post@12 :lol::lol::lol:

  7. Munich, cheers mate I appreciate it.

    Looks as though I got the location of Wolverhampton incorrect. Hope the team bus driver has better geographical sense than I…

    In fairness, it makes no difference… East, west, south of fckin north… It still be the same. :-)

  8. 4-4-2 – a couple of weeks ago I’d hang my head despair, but I must admit it’s done well, so I can’t argue for a change.
    I hope that after Ba’s hat-trick Bestie is fired up to contest our top scorer spot – if not I hope HBA replaces him in a 4-1-3-1-1 formation.
    But just look at the squad strength we have in the four lines of players in the Squad From list!

    I’ll stick with 0-0 or 1-1

    HWTL

  9. East midlands/west midlands, it’s the south midlands isn’t it?
    With manchester/liverpoo/leeds being the north midlands.

    :lol:

  10. workyticket says:
    September 30, 2011 at 9:05 pm

    “Aye, gan on then. You’re both on probation”

    Batty, I was joking by the way. You are still banned.

    I just thought I’d give you a taste of your own medicine. :lol:

  11. workyticket says: at 10:11 pm – It’s all gone quiet over there.
    It’s gone quite everywhere mate, I everyone having a day off?
    HWTL

  12. de di de di de di de di welcome to the twilight zone
    imagine a world where overnight all football fans are taken over by stepford replicas, go off with the mrs doing shopping, paper the lounge & mind the bairns…
    perhaps this is it!
    no one can hear me cry HELP