Football (Soccer to those across the pond)

[chopper]

nice to see 'Lumes scoring again. masochist that i am, i'm eagerly awaiting the Football League Show (11.35pm - - why????). the European bits in the week were a nice little taster, but here comes the meaty stuff....

[The Ace]

OK, I'll admit it, we got hammered.

[Lenny]

Ipswich 1 - 1 Burnley

Thank goodness for the point! Down to 10 men at the 77th minute, 1-0 down with five minutes left and then what happens? Goal from a corner! We scored. From a corner! A corner!! First goal from a corner for Burnley in nearly two years (we've even got a chant to that effect, you know. Just to throw the opposition off - "We're going to score from a corner" )! Carlisle's first goal for Burnley since we last conceded at this level, too (which was a 2-2 draw against Southampton).

Ipswich sounded good. Very good. They caused us so many problems, and could have easily scored another two or three. If they carry on like this, they're going to have a great season.

We sounded better than last week, but still not brilliant. So lucky to get the point. Elliot is finally performing again and Wallace and Marney have improved since last week (though in Wallace's case, I think it's because he was given his freedom, rather than having to stick in midfield and stifle the opposition players). Can't argue with Edgar's sending off. He didn't have a brilliant match, and it was a definite second yellow.

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In other news, it's nice to see Fletcher get his debut goal for Wolves (even if it was a header) and, perhaps the biggest news of the day, Blackpool are top of the Premier League! Amazingly, they beat a decent Wigan side 4-0.

[chopper]

cheers for returning the "nice to see..." plaudits - how did Iwelumo get on this weekend? can't wait to see Dave Jones's free kick on MOTD - and at least we won't be last game up!
in other news - Zamaretto Premier league - Leamington 2-1 Bashley, so both my teams won!
yay! happy dance!

[Ursa major]

Wolves with three points after their opening game: an excellent start to the season.


On the other hand, chopper, you must be really heartbroken about the Chelsea result.

[Lenny]

I'm sorry to say that Iwelumo was a waste of space this week. I can't work out whether it was because he wasn't getting any service, or if the Ipswich defenders just defended too well, but he won one, maybe two headers all match, did nothing else and was subbed in the 74th minute.

What was he like for Wolves? We could do with Fletcher back, or someone like Fletcher - runs around, harries their back line and creates chances rather than just taking them. Will Iwelumo start doing that when he settles down, or is he really just the tall man up front that people aim for?

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Just seen that Blackwell has left the Blades by mutual consent. I wonder what Rodders thinks.

[chopper]

when i saw him at Bramall Lane he was the tall man, but he also had S-EB dodging about in his shadows - result, 2 from S-EB, 1 from 'Lumes. i think he's well suited to shoving defenders aside, and that's a Championship requisite, but he can get marked out of the game if the defence is heftier than him.

Blackwell: the writing was on the wall, from what i hear. not entirely his fault though - you can't construct a promotion-chasing side from loans and frees (especially if most of them are then recalled or injured two weeks later), can you?

*hmmm... Blackpool...*

can you?

[chopper]

Originally Posted by Ursa major

Wolves with three points after their opening game: an excellent start to the season.


On the other hand, chopper, you must be really heartbroken about the Chelsea result.

*now awake enough to reply wittily*

only because i went for rooney over drogba in the fantasy league...

[Lenny]

Burnley 3 - 0 Leicester City

Cracking match! Very nearly didn't get on as the woman in the ticket office had printed off tickets for the game against Preston, but the guy on the turnstile was nice.

Leicester started very strong, and could have gone ahead quite early, but as we settled and pushed the attack they faded away.

We had a goal disallowed after five minutes for an apparent foul, which was a shame, as it was from a corner, but we made a lot of chances, so in the end it didn't matter. First goal came in injury time - Wallace hit it, it took a deflection from one of their defenders and bobbled, slowly into the net.

Second half started much the same as the first, except Leicester died down a lot quicker. Iwelumo had a couple of chances before nodding in a pin-point cross, and Alexander fired home a penalty to make it three.

Brilliant match, and I'm glad I went - I've been wanting to see Eagles play for a long time, and seeing an Alexander penalty just topped it off for me.

We're starting to look a lot stronger, with better performances from most players - Bikey is a tank in central defence, Marney does some nice work in midfield, Wallace is one hell of a long-range passer and Iwelumo is starting to settle in and do more than just act as the tall chap up front, though he does still play the tall chap up front. He seems to enjoy heading it on or chesting the ball down to someone running in. It was also nice to see Jack Cork, who had a decent game when he came on.

It's been a long time since we last gained automatic promotion, and even longer since we last won a League; this might be the year!

[The Ace]

Two defeats in three starts, who'd be a jag.

[Ursa major]

Originally Posted by The Ace

Two defeats in three starts, who'd be a jag.

U ar (so you would be)....


And Wolves get a valuable away point at Everton.

[chopper]

boom boom boom, let me hear you sing hosepipe ban!

...or something like that. that's 3 draws on the trot with the toffees. must stick in their mouths somewhat.

[Tillane]

6-0! Six! Is this really the Toon I see before me? More to the point, is it really Villa?

Who cares! Six-nil!

[nixie]

After the Tony Mowbary fiasco I feared for my beloved Celts. Installing Neil Lennon as a manager,a man with no experience, a novice. I thought it will be years before we have anything to celebrate. I'm pleased to say I'm eating my words. OK only two games into the season and the wins have been agains't Inverness Caley Thistle and St Mirren, we are out of the champions league and still have another game to play to reach the Europa league, it is still a litle early to say we have turned the corner but the signs are there. Plus if James Forest keeps playing the way he is at the moment even the English will notice him.

[chopper]

wolves play it edgy in the carling cup, needing extra time and two disallowed goals to take care of Southend. historically we've not been good in this competitiion in recent years*, so any win is unexpected....






*both times i saw them in the second round of the carling cup in the last few years, wolves lost on penalties to lower league outfits - rotherham and chesterfield - and fielded carl ikeme in goal and let jody craddock take the crucial last penalty. not a good idea.