Now Twitter is famed for being full of ego stroking fakes, but never has an update been more real. Wolves must win.
Forget the bonus victories against Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United and Man City, forget the enormity of the Black Country derby, because of our situation this is the biggest game of the season so far, three points are the only option.
Failure against Blackpool on Saturday could be the beginning of the end of our two year Premier League tenure but a win could be the catalyst to a season-changing run which could cement our stature amongst the elite for another year. Three points, a couple of goals and defeats elsewhere could see a sudden jump up the league – sitting 17th or even 18th rather than bottom would do wonders for Wolves’ confidence as we enter the most crucial stage of the season.
Blackpool are riding high after beating Spurs 3-1 midweek. Despite their unfashionable squad, Blackpool have shown what can be achieved from a unified team synchronised by self belief, which is what is lacking from Wolves this season. In the games Wolves are expected to win, they buckle under the expectation, whereas in the supposed thrashings from the big boys with the pressure off, Wolves have shocked us all with famous wins.
Going into this game, Blackpool will be expecting to win – that is their mentality. Wolves on the other hand, although they won’t publicly admit it could be expecting the worst because of their nervy past failings. So how do Wolves get around such mental blocks? Perhaps the defensive 4-5-1 should be replaced by 4-4-2 as they go for the win, attack early and pin Blackpool back utilising the width of Jarvis and Hammill to provide Doyle and one other with the ammunition they seek. Fletcher seems disheartened by his lack of goals and minutes, so could Ebanks-Blake be thrown into the mix to rediscover his proven predatory instinct against what is on paper a Championship defence – exactly where Ebanks-Blake thrives. With a more attacking formation, the panicky final minutes need not happen should the game be already well won.
Failure against Blackpool is not an option, we must win. So come Sunday morning when I check Twitter once more I want to see another simple update from The Express and Star, this time displaying “what a win says Mick McCarthy”…