Hey everyone its that time. Here is my predictions that I have posted on my blog at http://eplwolvesfc.blogspot.com/ Well Wolves fans, the time is upon us. Were back in the Premiership for the first time since 2004. Like most of you I will find it awfully hard to fall asleep tonight. At 8:45am my time I will be rolling out of the driveway on a 35 mile journey to a pub called Gus O'Connors to watch the match live via satellite. Accompanied by only my friend Dave, we will live and die with each minute that ticks by. The Wolves start their assault on the Premiership by facing West Ham at the Molineux. The Hammers finished 9th last season but were within 6 points of finishing twelfth and just 10 points clear of 15th. There away form was near as good as their home form but in my opinion with their current squad, the were the consonant overachievers. Their away record against lower table opponents was 4-4-2 with key losses to West Brom(2-3) and Hull City(0-1). The Wolves and Hammers have never faced each other in the Premiership but have squared off on the pitch 55 times in their history with the London side edging out the boys from Wolverhampton 25 wins to 17. Last season of the three promoted sides only one team managed to lose in their first home game. Hull took Fulham down 2-1, Stoke beat the Villains 3-2, while it was the Albion whom got bitch slapped by Everton 2-1. West Ham did very little to improve the squad from last season while the Wolves seemed to spend wisley on players like Kevin Doyle, Ninad Milijas, and an on loan Mancienne. Players to watch: Sam Vokes- this super sub scored 9 goals in all competitions not including a goal for the Welsh national team in their 2-1 loss midweek. Ebanks Blake- his golden foot netted 25 in the Championship League and if on good for and injury free I see at least 14 goals for this rising star. Nenad Milijas- the Serbian international scored 22 goals in all competitions last season and has been labled a creative midfielder. Players to hate: Dean Ashton- that guy is an ugly bastard and mediocer at best. Robert Green- the 6ft2 keeper stopped 133 shots last season but let in timely goals for the opposition. Wolves win this home opener with a score 2-1. I see Ebanks Blake and Nenad Milijas opening their premiership goal scoring account in this one. You can see my daughter and I discuss the Wolves on youtube. Our user name is wolvesfcdetroitfan .
Sometimes playing up in the next level can be a bummer for the fans.....in the sense that you are used to them winning. But it`s only one game. Fingers crossed.
Here is my post game commentary from my blog at www.eplwolvesfc.blogspot.com I made the 40minute drive down I-75(freeway) and across I-696 to a pub in Novi to witness the Wolves play in the Premiership for the first time since I became a fan. The bar which does not open until 11am(est) opened an hour early for me and my mate Dave(a brit from Wolverhampton), whom he invited two other American Wolves fans Mike and his daughter Christina. So here we are, us four, sitting in a two story pub with waitstaff getting the place in order for when the bar officially opens their doors. As I sit in my chair at the bar I take in the beauty that is the old gold and black milling about on the greenest of pitches. Even the worlds forth most atheist must agree on this day that there is indeed a God. The game unfolded as it were, Keough missed a sure goal in the opening miniutes, They had us on our heels and we had them on theirs. Craddock and Foley made great saves off the line but the defense failed to close in on Noble just outside of the box conceeding a worthy goal in the upper left hand side of the goal. After a few more failed attempts by the Wolves including a heartbreaking tip of the foot save by Green from an Ebanks Blake shot, and 47 minutes after Nobels goal, Upton put a header in the back of the net to seal a 2-0 victory vs Micks men. The Wolves did show some tennacity and I believe they tipped their cards a bit showing that they will not be a pushover or favorite for relegation come May. Thoughts: Andy Keough- why does he get so much flack on the message boards? Though he missed on an early attempt at goal and made a couple questionable passes, he played hard the entire match, he showed great skill with the ball, and a willingness to take on defenders. I like him, maybe not as a full time starter but surly not a player I would derogitorely write about on message boards. Ebanks Blake- we didnt get him enough of the ball. To be effective he needs the ball at his feet and we failed to do so for most of the day. He now appears to be out for a couple of weeks with a hamstring so get ready for some more of Andy Keough if Doyle remains unfit. Milijas- though he looked a bit rust and weak footed the first half, he came out and showed us some creativity and what kind of thunder he has packed into his left boot. Our post game video can be seen [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q68patek1o8"]YouTube - Wolves FC vs West Ham Post Game Analysis ( Wolverhampton Wanderers )[/ame] Our next preview will be for Wigan vs Wolves and should be posted by Monday evening.