Post by PureOldGold on Aug 14, 2009 10:04:34 GMT -1
Saturday, August 15, Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Molineux, Wolverhampton
The Man Who Cried Wolves
Mick McCarthy's aim is simple: to keep Wolves in the Premier League. It won't be easy – the gaffer had a dreadful time when last in the top-flight as Sunderland manager – and he's working with a squad almost completely bereft of Premier League experience.
Still, we saw Stoke City compete well last season without major investment, showing that there's a place for the gritty Championship style in the elite league. One of the main concerns is that Wolves blow hot and cold: they come up as unconvincing champions, if such a thing can exist, due to negative patches of form en route to the second tier crown.
McCarthy certainly isn't making any grand predictions as he prepares to start the season with an injury-hit squad. "We're trying to stay up," he told the Sunday Mercury. "Sometimes that sounds a bit negative - aim for the stars and you could end up hitting the moon - but let's just go in and try to be a success. Take out the top six or eight, and the rest of them just want to stay there."
Swimming Upsteam
Gianfranco Zola hasn't been through the managerial ringer has much as Mick, and is naturally feeling more positive ahead of the big kick-off. "We want to improve on what we did last season," he said. "We came close to qualifying for Europe but lost important players to injury at the crucial moments."
West Ham United finished ninth, which has to be viewed as a good performance considering that Zola was negotiating his rookie season in top-flight management, and taking into account the club's financial peril. Europe should indeed be the aim, but it remains to be seen whether or not he's swimming upstream against too strong a flow of adversity.
He'll certainly want the transfer window to slam shut, trapping the likes of highly-rated Matthew Upson at the club. This is a talented, fairly young side, regardless, and with Zola's somewhat surprising tactical astuteness the Londoners can aim for the top-half again.
These sides last met in 2005, when West Ham were beaten 4-2 at Molineux.
FORM GUIDE
Wolves
08 Aug Wolves 0-2 Real Valladolid
05 Aug Wrexham 1-3 Wolves
04 Aug Scunthorpe United 2-4 Wolves
01 Aug Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Wolves
29 Jul Crewe 0-1 Wolves
West Ham
08 Aug West Ham 0-1 Napoli
31 Jul West Ham 2-0 Beijing Guoan
29 Jul West Ham 0-1 Tottenham
24 Jul Thurrock 2-3 West Ham
23 Jul West Ham 0-0 ND Mura
TEAM NEWS
Wolves
Wolves will be without metatarsal injury victim Michael Kightly, whose crossing and assists were crucial last season, for a few more matches. Record signing Kevin Doyle, defender Christophe Berra and Dave Edwards have all returned from international duty the worse for wear and will be subject to fitness tests. Chris Iwelumo is a longer-term crock.
New signings Michael Mancienne - back on loan from Chelsea - and Andrew Surman could feature, while new 'keeper Marcus Hahnemann will fight to displace the current No.1.
Possible Starting XI (4-4-2): Hennessey; Foley, Mancienne, Craddock, Ward; Edwards, Henry, Milijas, Jarvis; Keogh, Ebanks-Blake
West Ham
Luis Boa Morte is out and Lucas Neill is likely to move on: the skipper is a free agent and, although the Hammers have offered him a contract, he's been tipped to sign for Sunderland.
Zola has said that he's "convinced we have enough quality to do well this season," although he's desperate to sign at least one more striker. Injury-plagued Dean Ashton is said to be on his way out.
Luis Jimenez and Fabio Daprela will hope for their debuts, while youngster Junior Stanislas will also hope to become a first-team regular this season, especially once Zola is able to adopt a 4-3-3 formation.
Possible Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Green; Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga; Noble, Kovac, Collison, Jimenez; Dyer; Cole
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wolves
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was impressive last season in the Championship and has been widely regarded as one of the best players outside the Premier League in recent times. The forward will be hoping to show right from the start that he belongs at this level.
West Ham
It's all about forward Carlton Cole at the moment. Zola was raving about him after the Napoli test, and he went on to make an impact as a substitute as England came back to draw with the Netherlands.
PREDICTION
It's dangerous to write off newly-promoted teams, especially when playing at home can help them get off to a strong – often false – start. However, Wolves are depleted and haven't won on the first day of the season for some time, so they'd likely be happy to hold the Hammers.
Wolves 1-1 West Ham
Greg Ptolomey, Goal.com
Molineux, Wolverhampton
The Man Who Cried Wolves
Mick McCarthy's aim is simple: to keep Wolves in the Premier League. It won't be easy – the gaffer had a dreadful time when last in the top-flight as Sunderland manager – and he's working with a squad almost completely bereft of Premier League experience.
Still, we saw Stoke City compete well last season without major investment, showing that there's a place for the gritty Championship style in the elite league. One of the main concerns is that Wolves blow hot and cold: they come up as unconvincing champions, if such a thing can exist, due to negative patches of form en route to the second tier crown.
McCarthy certainly isn't making any grand predictions as he prepares to start the season with an injury-hit squad. "We're trying to stay up," he told the Sunday Mercury. "Sometimes that sounds a bit negative - aim for the stars and you could end up hitting the moon - but let's just go in and try to be a success. Take out the top six or eight, and the rest of them just want to stay there."
Swimming Upsteam
Gianfranco Zola hasn't been through the managerial ringer has much as Mick, and is naturally feeling more positive ahead of the big kick-off. "We want to improve on what we did last season," he said. "We came close to qualifying for Europe but lost important players to injury at the crucial moments."
West Ham United finished ninth, which has to be viewed as a good performance considering that Zola was negotiating his rookie season in top-flight management, and taking into account the club's financial peril. Europe should indeed be the aim, but it remains to be seen whether or not he's swimming upstream against too strong a flow of adversity.
He'll certainly want the transfer window to slam shut, trapping the likes of highly-rated Matthew Upson at the club. This is a talented, fairly young side, regardless, and with Zola's somewhat surprising tactical astuteness the Londoners can aim for the top-half again.
These sides last met in 2005, when West Ham were beaten 4-2 at Molineux.
FORM GUIDE
Wolves
08 Aug Wolves 0-2 Real Valladolid
05 Aug Wrexham 1-3 Wolves
04 Aug Scunthorpe United 2-4 Wolves
01 Aug Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Wolves
29 Jul Crewe 0-1 Wolves
West Ham
08 Aug West Ham 0-1 Napoli
31 Jul West Ham 2-0 Beijing Guoan
29 Jul West Ham 0-1 Tottenham
24 Jul Thurrock 2-3 West Ham
23 Jul West Ham 0-0 ND Mura
TEAM NEWS
Wolves
Wolves will be without metatarsal injury victim Michael Kightly, whose crossing and assists were crucial last season, for a few more matches. Record signing Kevin Doyle, defender Christophe Berra and Dave Edwards have all returned from international duty the worse for wear and will be subject to fitness tests. Chris Iwelumo is a longer-term crock.
New signings Michael Mancienne - back on loan from Chelsea - and Andrew Surman could feature, while new 'keeper Marcus Hahnemann will fight to displace the current No.1.
Possible Starting XI (4-4-2): Hennessey; Foley, Mancienne, Craddock, Ward; Edwards, Henry, Milijas, Jarvis; Keogh, Ebanks-Blake
West Ham
Luis Boa Morte is out and Lucas Neill is likely to move on: the skipper is a free agent and, although the Hammers have offered him a contract, he's been tipped to sign for Sunderland.
Zola has said that he's "convinced we have enough quality to do well this season," although he's desperate to sign at least one more striker. Injury-plagued Dean Ashton is said to be on his way out.
Luis Jimenez and Fabio Daprela will hope for their debuts, while youngster Junior Stanislas will also hope to become a first-team regular this season, especially once Zola is able to adopt a 4-3-3 formation.
Possible Starting XI (4-4-1-1): Green; Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga; Noble, Kovac, Collison, Jimenez; Dyer; Cole
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Wolves
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was impressive last season in the Championship and has been widely regarded as one of the best players outside the Premier League in recent times. The forward will be hoping to show right from the start that he belongs at this level.
West Ham
It's all about forward Carlton Cole at the moment. Zola was raving about him after the Napoli test, and he went on to make an impact as a substitute as England came back to draw with the Netherlands.
PREDICTION
It's dangerous to write off newly-promoted teams, especially when playing at home can help them get off to a strong – often false – start. However, Wolves are depleted and haven't won on the first day of the season for some time, so they'd likely be happy to hold the Hammers.
Wolves 1-1 West Ham
Greg Ptolomey, Goal.com
