Football Manager Blog | Football Manager Guru | Title Race Heats Up For Wolves

In soccer, anything could happen. One moment you can find yourself being frozen out of the squad, starting on the bench all the time, another moment you find yourself on top of the world, in an unstoppable form. That is the story of Ebanks-Blake for me this month. Yes, he originally wanted to switch to a bigger clubs, but soccer is unpredictable, he eventually realizes that he belongs to the Molineux, and I am starting to appreciate him more. He is turning out to be the best striker, aside from Milveskyi! Let’s get on with it.

The first game was a tricky away game to the Emirates stadium. Arsenal started the match being the stronger side. Enyeama was tested quite a few times by Arsenal at the initial stages of the game.

We got unlucky when Inler was denied a goal when he smashed a low shot past the Arsenal keeper after being through on goal. However, his goal was ruled out for offside, which was a real pity. As the first half wore on, we slowly found our feet, and we gradually had more and more possession of the ball. Milevskyi was looking really lively for us, and he eventually ended the stalemate when his brilliantly weighted through pass found Krivets. And Krivets who had been brilliant in his finishing all season, made no mistake from just inside the penalty box. We lead 0-1.

Arsenal pulled one back just before half time, when Senderos’ header from a free-kick sailed past Enyeama. I was a little disappointed with the soft goal we conceded.

Ebanks-Blake had the last say for the half though. Ebanks-Blake who had been in such inspiring form for me, especially when he crushed Tottenham in the League Cup final with his hat trick, found himself through on goal with his electrifying pace, latching onto Hasebe’s through pass and smashing the ball past the keeper. His form continues!

After half time our source of inspiration to extend our lead once again came from Ebanks-Blake. Ebanks-Blake pace brought him past 2 defenders closing him down on the left flank in the 47th minute, and he sent a cross into the  box, for Milveskyi to head it in. We are leading 1-3 now.

Arsenal came out all guns blazing, and in the 58th minute, Sagna pulled one back for them. An Arsenal corner was cleared and Sagna picked out the loose ball before firing a long shot past Enyeama. Our slow reaction to close him down had cost us dearly. Arsenal was back in it with a shout!

Their comeback was completed in the 68th minute when Bendtner was found totally unmarked after Cesc Fabregas played a magical pass to him. He put the ball past Enyeama and suddenly Arsenal found themselves drawing level. I was a little disappointed, wondering if the fatigue of recent games had caused the lapse in concentration for my defenders.

Arsenal had a 87th minute red card, and I brought on Fonseca to try to snatch the winner, but it was to no avail. It was too late to change anything. We leave Emirates with a point, when we really should have protected our 2 goals lead a little better. Still, going into this match as underdogs, I could not complain.

I was struck by a media storm shortly after the match.

Portsmouth sacked their manager and I was involved in many rumours of me heading over to manage Portsmouth. I was secretly happy as it was a validation of my abilities. However, the only way I am going to manage another club, is when I eventually win the Champions League AND the League Title with Wolves.

Vegard Forren my young developing utility man, who can play in the DMC, LB and DC role, was also involved in rumours of him moving away from Wolves. To be honest, Vegard Forren has not really made a huge impact this season, as someone who I bought to take over Shevchuk at the LB role. Couple of injuries set his progress back a little, but I still have a lot of faith in his abilities to play at LB role. It will be hard to let him go. I really hope I can keep him for next season. He seems real class when he is fully fit.

Speculations aside, the next game saw us host Tottenham at the Molineux stadium. Tottenham put up a great fight in the League Cup semi final against us and I was wary it might be a tough game for us. Furthermore we wanted to return to winning ways are our disappointing draw away to Arsenal.

In the 5th minute, Spurs took the lead via Crouch’s header, and that came as a shocker to us as we were favourites to beat them. Definitely not the start we were looking for here. Milveskyi and Ebanks-Blake was surprisingly quiet after Crouch scored. Krivets stepped up and rescued us when he struck a long range low shot from just outside the penalty box. As the first half dragged on I was getting reports from my assistant manager that Ebanks-Blake was playing poorly and I had half a mind to sub him off after half time. This might be another one of his, “brilliant performance one week, terrible striker next week” which he displayed last year.

I guess I was made to eat my own words, when he scored in the 42nd minute, for the 3rd game in a row. Milevskyi played a pass into his path and he burst past his marker to hit the shot first-time. We lead 2-1 as we went into the dressing room. Milveskyi was once again in the thick of the action, when he eventually made us lead 3-1. Ebanks-Blake who had been a hindrance with his pace and acceleration, got behind the Spurs’ defence and his shot was parried by the Spurs keeper into the path of Milveskyi. Milevskyi who is leading the EPL goalscorer charts at the moment, made no mistake in putting the ball past the keeper.

Since we were leading 3-1 at home, I rested players like Inler and Kacar, letting youngster Marco Verratti get some first team experience. Playing defensive and keeping possession ensured we emerge winners and with all 3 points.

Ebanks-Blake in great form. He also picked up the man of the match award. He has really stepped it up big time during this period of the season.

Milveskyi also turned up the heat in this game, grabbing a goal himself. His accuracy is really consistent I noticed. It’s not the first time I see him miss only 1 shot in the whole game.

Marc Muniesa, one of my transfer signings for this season, was told to be being poached by Manchester United. Apparently the red devils is keen on signing Muniesa to replace Ferdinand. Muniesa is someone who I will fight tooth and nail to keep because I remember there was once when my squad was injury ravaged and I had no choice but to play him in the LB role which is not his most natural position. He did not make a single mistake that night, and was outstanding with a number of tackles. No way I am letting him go if possible.

I was also nominated as top manager for the month. This is the first time this season!

Marc Muniesa then released a statement saying he would consider a move to Man Utd. What a bummer! I guess if he really wants to leave, I would want to make a hefty profit off him.

Speculations aside, we host Blackburn in our next game. I fielded a weakened squad, seeing that Blackburn is not a very strong squad. Inler and Kacar were rested, Gomis and Verratti started in their place. I was particularly interested in how well Gomis could perform. Afterall Gomis is someone who I bought for 1 million pre-season, and he had not had much opportunities to impress me yet, largely due to his injury that lasted for a month and a half.

I guess Gomis was really eager to perform because he was the one who played a clever reverse pass for Verratti who found himself to be onside in the heavy pouring rain. Verratti took the ball calmly and slotted it past the keeper. That’s the mark of a wonderkid. Right off the bat, the two 2nd-string players have already made an impact. We lead 1-0.

However, my joy was short-lived because Givet equalised for them in the 14th minute from a corner. The rain was really heavy and good chances were hard to come by as we head to half time. Fearing that Blackburn might pull an upset, I decided to bring on more quality to kill the game off. On came Milveskyi off the bench to replace Kone and Inler on for Jones. Their presence resulted in more chances and that paid off in the 68th minute, when who else but Ebanks-Blake who is unstoppable in recent games, scored for us. This is the 4th game in a row he has scored in now. Brillaint stuff!

Seeing that we have a goal lead and Blackburn is hardly threatening, we played possession football, slowed the tempo down and killed of the game. Yet another 3 points!

The next game was arguably one of the hardest game we played this season.  We played Man City away, who are previous year champions. I fielded a full team squad. One interesting fact for you readers out there, guess who was in their midfield that night? Surprise surprise it was Argentina veteran Riquelme! I really wonder what’s a big squad like Man City using Riquelme for. I know Riquelme can be bought cheaply at the start of the game, but with their big banks and truckloads of cash, can’t Man City buy a better midfielder?

Anyway, both sides had a very cagey start to the game. The only real chance fell to us first in the 25th minute, when Ebanks-Blake was set through on goal but their keeper pulled off a great save from his shot. As we pressed on for the first goal, we were hit on the counter when tenacious striker Carlos Tevez got behind our defence line after Robinho played a cross-field pass. Enyeama had no chance. We were trailing 0-1.

In the 2nd half, I brought on Verratti, Fonseca but whatever we throw at the City keeper, seemed to be saved. As the clock wore down, I had already resigned to losing. It is clear that while my squad is doing brilliantly in the league, we still needed a little reinforcement upfront. Someone who can create something out of nothing. Right now the only player capable of that, is Marco Verratti, but he is still of a young age.

The final score ends 0-1, and we lose for the first time in a long while.

Some of the blues from the loss of the Man City game was gone when we received news that Ebanks-Blake has decided to sign a new contract with us. This comes after his recent inspiring form, including that incredible hat trick over Spurs in the semi-final. Ebanks-Blake has always been someone that I was unconvinced of, but the magic he has displayed in the past 3 games had shown me that he can be a real threat to other teams.

In our next game, we played Villa away, and I fielded a relatively strong squad. Inler was the first to draw first blood in the 5th minute with a sublime finish from outside the box, when we launched a swift counter attack. Credit to Enyeama for his long throw after plucking the ball out of the air from a corner.

Ebanks-Blake continues his flashes of his brilliance as I saw a couple of time him side-stepping challenges and leaving his marker to eat dust. Actually, the game was all over in the 8th minute, when Villa had a red card awarded to them for a two-footed tackle on Milveskyi after he was through on goal.

Krivets capitalised on the man advantage in the 15th minute with a brilliant shot from long range. Simply inspiring. James Milner gave Villa something to hope for in the 18th minute with an almost identical shot to that of Krivets. What’s with the long shots today?

Ebanks-Blake restored our 2 goals cushion after the break, after finishing a team move that saw several one-two passes. With our two goal lead back, I decided it was finally time to rest players again. Gomis and Verratti both came on for Kacar and Inler, and they proved that it was a great substitution when, Gomis played Verratti through on goal to score. Great goal. These two have really stepped it up at a crucial time of the season. Villa hardly threatened towards the end of the game with a man less than us, and it was game over for them in the 88th minute when they had their 2nd red card. We leave Villa Park satisfied with yet another 3 points!

Ebanks-Blake’s pace led to many successful runs this game.

As we come to the final run in to the season, my side sits pretty at the top of the league, with Man United playing 2 less games and being 4  points behind us. We have another huge game coming up next: The League Cup Final showdown with Chelsea! I can’t wait for that game, and I am sure you cannot wait as well. Till next time, thanks for reading!