Wolverhampton Wanderers versus Manchester City, Molineux.
League Cup 4th round, 26th October 2011, 19:45pm kick-off.
Old Gold versus El Dorado.
Could not start without mentioning a certain 6-1 victory against THEM from Landaan Tawn, can anyone believe we only scored six? They’ll be more reminiscing during the next Premiership installation but tonight is all about the League Cup.
Last time out:
Wolves had a home tie against a ragged Millwall side that were overcome in a 5-0 cruise to victory, with only 7,749 through the door as witnesses. Ex-Blue Manager Mick McCarthy will be pleased that the goals were spread around helping boost confidence during a tough league campaign. Scorers included David Edwards, Adam Hammill, George Elokobi, Sam Vokes and Adlene Guedioura. Goals have been an easy thing to come by so far in the competition after dispatching Northampton 4-0 at Sixfields in the first round.
Wolves’ 5-0 mauling of the Lions sends them scampering back to the New Den!
Last time out saw the Blues face a deliberately weakened Birmingham City side obviously saving their strength for Europe and the fight to regain Premiership status. A routine 2-0 victory was ensured with an unusual line-up and a goal from City new boy Owen Hargreaves. Whilst City will make use of their depth to ensure progression on all fronts Mick McCarthy may sacrifice a cup run for a strong team to challenge for Premiership survival.
Back in the day:
They’re not named Old Gold for nothing Wolves will want to flex their cup winning pedigree in the hope of putting a solid run together and finding their way back into Europe. They’re FA Cup winners four times (1893, 1908, 1949, 1960) as well as runners up four times, League Cup winners twice (1974, 1980), and have six European trophies in the cabinet.
Wolverhampton’s 1974 League Cup win was against City so a bit of payback would be nice. The King netted in between goals from Kenny Hibbitt’s and John Richards. Since that final there has only been one tie in the League Cup featuring both sides in 1987. A two legged affair saw the Blues scrape through 3-2 after losing 2-1 at Maine Road in the first leg, thank you Andy Hinchcliffe.
In the goals:
Bad performances aren’t an issue in the early rounds of cup competitions what really matters is getting through and being in the position to win it all. Take City’s F.A. Cup run from last season the toughest games were early ties against Notts County and Leicester City, last two were a walk in the park! The easiest way to ensure progression is to rack up the score and for that you need goal machines.
Am I the only one who thinks a good fist pump is a great celebration?
If you ask the question around Molineux what makes a great striker, the response will be ‘you can’t beat a bit o’ Bully!’
Steve ‘Bully’ Bull MBE. Bought by Graham Turner from local rivals West Bromwich Albion (bad move!) on the 20th of November 1986 Bull was to change the clubs fortunes and become the greatest goal scorer to ever wear gold and black. During his second full season he helped Wolves win the fourth division title, the Sherpa Van Trophy and amass 52 goals in all competitions. The third division title was Wolves’ the following year with a new English scoring record as Bully grabbed 50 goals, the first time any player had breached the 50 mark in consecutive seasons. His loyalty for Wolves new no bounds and he consistently turned down offers to move to Premiership clubs. At the age of 35 he was finally forced to retire after a recurring knee injury refused to heal. A Bully hat-trick or four goal haul wouldn’t go amiss tonight.
Wolverhampton Wanderers stats 1986-1999:
League Appearances-461(13), goals 250.
F.A. Cup Appearances-18(2), goals 7.
League Cup Appearances-32(1), goals 18.
Other Appearances-34, goals 31.
Total Appearancse-545(16), goals 306.
Neil Young beats Peter Shilton and immortalises the red & black stripes, Milan who?
Bully was more than capable but he was no Nellie! Mancunian blue Neil Young gave City that weapon cup winners crave, a lethal finisher who can thrive on pressure scoring at the right time to make history. Some of his most famous strikes in a blue shirt were a brace at Newcastle United to help clinch the Division One Championship, the winner against Leicester City in the 1969 FA Cup Final and scoring as well as gaining a converted penalty which won the European Cup Winners’ Cup against Gornik Zabrze.
Appearances-412
Goals-107
One’s to watch:
A familiar name and a familiar face to all concerned is the one to watch and just the type of player for a cup tie, Nenad Milijas. Scoring five goals in last year’s campaign he managed to find the net twice against the Blues at the Etihad and Molineux, fingers crossed no replays then. Only one goal so far this campaign and guess what it was against the Cobblers in the first round of the League Cup. Whether creating the chances or finishing them Hargreaves and company will need to deny time and space on the ball.
Played all League Cup games so far, expect him to be the fulcrum of the Wolves attack.
In Bobby Manc’s pre-derby interview he stated the need for Hargreaves to progress and complete a full 90 minutes. With an impactful first game in the League Cup expect a full game with Owen dictating the pace, pulling the strings and more goals? With an older head like Owen in the mix I’m looking forward to seeing appearances from Rekik and Abdul Razak.
England hero and Manyoo malingerer, apparently, comes good with a goal against the Brummies.
Prediction:
Just like the Villarreal game in recent weeks the performance doesn’t mean anything in the grander scheme of things, the result is everything! Personally I’d like the League Cup in the cabinet so there can be nothing but a City win with the talent available to Bobby:
Predicted Line ups:
WWFC: Hennessey, Foley, Berra, Elokobi, Stearman, Guedioura, Edwards, Milijas, Hunt, Hammill, Ebanks-Blake.
MCFC: Hart, Kolarov, Kolo Toure, Savic, Zabaleta, Bridge, Hargreaves, Razak, Adam Johnson, Nasri, Dzeko.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-4 Manchester City.
A big thanks to Steveo_88 from www.mancityfans.net for this fantastic league cup match Preview