August 7: Wolves vs Athletic Bilbao

Wolves have announced that Athletic Bilbao will be the final opposition in their pre-season schedule on August 7 at Molineux.

Joaquin Caparros’ Bilbao will visit Wolves a week before the season starts after finishing eigth in La Liga last season.

Wolves played Real Valladolid in a similar game last year and ticket prices for the game will be announced in due course.

REVEALED: Molineux redevelopment plans

Steve Morgan has wanted a better stadium atmosphere since his takeover of Wolves

Wolves have today announced plans to upgrade Molineux stadium including a capacity increase to around 36,000. This includes demolishing three of the four existing stands.

Architects AFL have designed the re-build so that the Stan Cullis and Steve Bull stands will all be demolished and replaced by a two-tier stand that will stretch around the ground. The Jack Harris will have the roof removed with an extra tier added.

The first stand to go is set to be the northbank next summer and it will take around a year to rebuild. Steve Bull will have his stand rebuilt the following summer and will take and estimated two years to complete. The southbankers will be the last to relocate the following year and the Jack Harris stand will take one year to re-build.

I predict that if all plans were approved and began next summer (as hoped), then a new-look Molineux could be in place for the start of the 2015/16 season.

Other key points are of the plan are:

• The current club shop will become the club’s new ticket office
• The new Stan Cullis stand will house a sports bar and a new museum
• The away fans will now be housed in a corner stand between the Stan Cullis and the Steve Bull stands 
• The corners either side of the Billy Wright stand will remain empty
• Big video screens will be at either end of the ground (similar to Tottenham)

Wolves officials showed the plans to members of the fans’ parliament on Wednesday evening before inviting the local residents in last night to demonstrate how the plans would affect them.

THE ARCHITECTS IMAGES LOOK STUNNING AND WE WILL ONCE AGAIN HAVE A STADIUM TO BE PROUD OF!

Hopefully I’ll have the official pictures to show you later today. In the meentime, click here to see WOW’s official picture gallery.

Wolves travel to Ireland for pre-season tour

 

Wolves played Bohemians in Ireland three years ago.

Wolves will play Bohemians in Ireland as part of a four-day tour in July. 

Mick McCarthy and his squad will be over there from July 14-17 and are set to play Bohs on Saturday July 17 (3pm). 

Another friendly has been been confirmed with Wolves travelling into Europe to play Charleroi on Saturday July 24. 

Here are Wolves’ pre-season fixtures: 

• July 17 – Bohemians (Dalymount Park – 3pm)
• July 20 – Walsall (Banks’ Stadium – 7.45pm)
• July 24 – Charleroi (Stade du Pays de Charleroi – Kick-off  TBA) 
• July 27 – Reading (Madjeski Stadium – 8pm)
• July 31 – Leeds (Elland Road – 3pm)
• August 3 – Hearts (Tynecastle – 7pm)
• August 7 – Unknown foreign opposition (Molineux – 3pm)

*Wolves’ development squad are going on a short tour of Northern Ireland. A benefit match for Daniel Wright against Glenavon (July 17) has been arranged. 

Wolves send out letters with redevelopment details to local residents

Wolves may completely re-build the Steve Bull stand.

Wolves were today sending out letters to residents in the area surrounding Molineux to inform them of how plans to upgrade the stadium may affect them.

Chief executive Jez Moxey told the Express and Star: “We are mindful of the procedural processes and this is just the first step in a period of consultations and briefings.

“We will be talking to the leader of the council, the relevant council bodies and our own fans’ parliament but the invitation to the first consultation will be to the local residents only.”

Peal House (on the junction of Waterloo Road and the ring road) was purchased by Steve Morgan earlier this season to give the club more options when expanding the stadium.

Parmajit Bhatti, of accountants Bhatti and Co (opposite Molineux’s entrance), said: “I would hope any development would include office space for which we would be given first refusal.”

Jelle van Damme supposedly on the verge of joining Wolves

Van Damme had a previous spell in England with Southampton between 2004 and 2006. He only made six appearances.

Wolves appear set to sign Belgium international Jelle Van Damme after comments from his manager point all fingers at a move to Molineux.

The 6ft 4ins utility man, currently with Anderlecht, is rated at £2.5m and was at the final game of the season against Sunderland. His manager claims terms have almost been finalised for him to join Wanderers.

Anderlecht boss Herman Van Holsbeeck is quoted in the Express & Star as saying: “Apparently, Jelle has an agreement with that club (Wolves).

“That’s very good, but at this moment there is nothing finalised.”

Here’s Van Damme in action.

Exclusive: Molineux pitch set to be moved in close season

Wolves hope to increase the capacity of Molineux to 40,000 after redevelopments.

WolvesFFS understands that the Molineux pitch is set to be moved closer to the Billy Wright and Jack Harris stands once the current season has finished.

I also understand that the first stage of stadium redevelopment is scheduled to commence at the end of next season.

In plans yet to be confirmed by the club, the pitch will be moved much closer to the two stands in an attempt to create a better atmosphere; something Chairman Steve Morgan has wanted ever since he bought the club.

Wolves’ long term objective is to completely rebuild the Steve Bull stand so that it corners both the Jack Harris and Stan Cullis stands.

Wolves are also set to invest in pitch lamps to provide artificial sunlight to give the pitch more sustainability during the winter months of the season. These are common at most Premier League clubs but cost a lot to bring in.

Further news on this development may come from the next meeting of the Fans’ Parliament scheduled for the end of May.

Stay tuned to Wolvesffs for all the latest!

Best and worst Wolves moments this season

I’ve looked back over the last nine months to pick out my best and worst five moments of the season.

Best moments of the season

1. Kevin Doyle’s winning goal at Spurs – Doyle headed in Nenad Milijas’ wide free-kick after only three minutes at White Hart Lane. Wolves held on for a further 91 minutes and recorded a famous victory in the capital. Jubilent!
2. Adlene Guedioura’s goal at Burnley – after already being a goal to the good thanks to Matt Jarvis, Guedioura struck a second just after half-time to seal a crucial win for Wolves in what was a huge six-pointer. Overjoyed! 
3. Andy Keogh’s header at Wigan – Keogh’s goal after six minutes handed Wolves their first win of the season and their first ever Premier League away victory. Buzzing!
4. Nenad Milijas’ screamer against Bolton – Miljas sealed the win against Bolton at Molineux with a rocket from 35 yards after Jody Craddock had put Wolves ahead. Astounded! 
5. Beating Spurs 1-0 at Molineux – Wolves completed the double over Tottenham thanks to a goal from midfielder Dave Jones. An 18-pass move resulted in Jones volleying home from 18 yards to send the Molineux faithful into raptures. Delighted!
6. Matt Jarvis‘ goal at West Ham – Another great night for Wolves in London was confirmed by Matt Jarvis’ sweet strike from the edge of the area. Glorious!

Worst moments of the season

1. Nicklas Bendtner’s stoppage-time header at the Emirates – After holding out for 93 minutes, Wolves’ resolve was finally broken at Bendtner headed home to give Arsenal a 1-0 victory. Gutted. 
2. Losing to Birmingham City thanks to one man: KEVIN PHILLIPS – Wolves led 1-0 thanks to Kevin Doyle. Then came on Wolves’ arch-enemy, Phillips. The former West Brom striker scored the winner ten minutes from time to give Blues the win. Wounder!
3. Losing to Portsmouth – Portsmouth had lost eight straight games before coming to Molineux in September. A single goal from Hassan Yebda seeled the points for the now relegated side. Devastated!
4. Wolves 0-0 Stoke – possibly the most boring game in the history of the Premier League. Enough said! Zzzzzz!
5. Getting thumped at Chelsea – Mick McCarthy opted for a 3-5-2 formation against the country’s best side at the time. Messrs Surman and Halford started and boy did they wish they didn’t. Chelsea 4-0 Wolves. Embarrassment!

Do you agree or disagree? What were your best and worst moments. Post your comments below.

Wolves’ goal drought making my season ticket the worst value of the decade

Doyle is Wolves' top scorer this season with seven league goals

After yesterday’s bore-draw with Stoke, Wolves have now scored just one goal in the last 760 minutes of football at Molineux. Wolves have scored once at Molineux this year, a David Jones goal against Tottenham in February. Overall, we have only hit the back of the net ten times in 17 games so far – an average of 0.59 a game and the worst in the Premier League.

Back in 2003/2004 (our only other Premier League campaign) we scored 23 goals in 19 games; winning seven.

This season’s efforts have hit a resounding low for a club that normally scores goals with ease. Maybe I’m still on a goal scoring high after last season’s tally of 44?

Anyway, here’s our record since I got a season ticket nearly a decade ago:

Year/Games played/Goals

2001/2002: 23/33

2002/2003: 23/40

2003/2004: 19/23

2004/2005: 23/40

2005/2006: 23/24

2006/2007: 23/33

2007/2008: 23/31

2008/2009: 23/44

2009/2010: 17/10

You could look at it in a number of ways:

1. We have missed good chances – Sam Vokes against Manchester United and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake on numerous occasions have denied Wolves from getting on the score sheet.
2. Change of formation – The mid-season change to 4-5-1 (or 4-3-3 as MM prefers to refer to it) from 4-4-2 significantly reduced Wolves’ chances of scoring by playing only one striker against two centre halves.
3. Better quality defences – Obviously the calibre of defences that Wolves will play against rises each year and this season there has been a big jump due to us playing in a higher division.

It was after missing a glut of chances that Ebanks-Blake lost his and Wolves’ second striker place to a midfielder and McCarthy has refused to change back since.

When going forward we only have Kevin Doyle who looks like scoring and even he has only scored seven times. In Kevin Foley we have a man who is filling a gap. His shooting technique is not great because he is a defender at heart. He has been unlucky with efforts that have come back off the woodwork but you would not bet on him scoring given the chance.

On the other side you have Matt Jarvis. For someone with pace such as his you would expect a better goal return but the little man has not delivered. Shooting is not his best attribute although he has improved significantly since his arrival at Molineux nearly three years ago.

In the centre Wolves have recently played two defensive midfielders in Karl Henry and Michael Mancienne who are not expected to get goals but the man in front of them e.g. Dave Jones or formerly Adlene Guedioura, Nenad Milijas and Dave Edwards should be chipping in. Sadly not, the four have mustered just four goals between them this campaign.

On the flip side, away from home Wolves have scored 18 goals. That is more than Liverpool have scored (14) in 6th place. If we could keep goals out at the other end we could have finished top half.

It looks as though we are going to get through this season by scoring a minimal amount of goals. However, if we are going to put up a better challenge next season we need to get some players in who have a good shooting ability from midfield. Then if we do still opt to play 4-5-1 at least we know we have people who can shoot from range given the chance.

Why do you think we’ve scored so few goals? Leave your comments below.

Wolves vs. Stoke match highlights

I didn’t think there would be any highlights but Match of the Day put something together so here it is.

Who was your man of the match against Stoke City?

Who was your man of the match against Stoke City? Click below to cast your vote.