It was appropriate that such erratic weather surrouned Molineux yesterday, as we were instantly reminded of how quickly things can change in a Premier League game of football.
A downpour of biblical proportions engulfed Wolverhampton as we all went about our respective pre-match rituals and the news filtered through that Kevin Doyle wasn’t playing.
Yet the clouds soon parted, the sun shone and Wolves went about taking Stoke to the cleaners.
Kenwyne Jones threatened to spoil the party with a fierce strike that rebounded off the bar, but when he hobbled off just a few moments later, the boys in gold took full control.
David Jones strolled around the park, twisted and turned their midfield into submission and sprayed the ball around like a man who’d been bossing the Premiership for years. Anyone who thinks selling this guy to bring in Mancienne would be a good move, needs to take a look at yesterday’s game. It was the complete performance from a central midfielder as he tackled, headed and competed for everything, always using the ball intelligently and capping it all off with a stunning goal to set Wolves on their way.
He was ably supported by the superb Karl Henry who did, well, what Karl Henry does. Tony Pulis must wonder why he ever let this guy go as he swept up everything and kept Wolves ticking over with simple passes that retained possession and strangled the life out of the visitors. Stoke could have done with a player like Karl Henry yesterday and dare I even suggest it, England could do with a player like Karl Henry. There, I’ve said it.
Matt Jarvis switched to the right-wing and effortlessly went about his business. Although I’d still prefer to see him operating down the left flank, it’s impossible to deny that his link up play with Kevin Foley was anything other than a complete joy to behold. As usual, he also weaved his way into dangerous positions and was a thorn in Stoke’s side for the entire 90 minutes.
van Damme was handed the job of taking over the attacking duties down the left and his combination play with Stephen Ward was really quite brilliant. But when he didn’t have the ball, boy did this guy impress me. He might not be blessed with too many natural gifts, but he’s a scrapper in the Mick McCarthy mould and to use one of his manager’s favourite phrases ‘I’m pleased with him. He put a real shift in.’ Enough said.
However, it was another new signing who stole the show in the first half. Steven Fletcher bobbed and weaved his way into our hearts with more than a few touches of the very highest quality. His ability to emerge with the ball from the tightest of spaces and pick out intelligent passes will be a real asset. He also brought out the best in SEB, as well as showing his own goalscoring instincts by getting on the end of Christophe Berra’s looping cross to head home the second crucial goal. We’ll all hope and pray his injury doesn’t turn out to be serious. Mick McCarthy seems to think both he and Doyle will be ok for the trip to Everton next week. What a prospect that is.
But to simply cast aside SEB after his exertions yesterday would be disrespectful and foolish. As previously mentioned, he linked up cleverly with Fletcher and seemed to share a good understanding with the Scotsman. That can only bode well for the season ahead.
We’re short a striker though, of that there can be no doubt. I’ve always been one of Andy Keogh’s biggest supporters but he isn’t the required standard and is surely destined for the exit door in the not too distant future. Despite one or two neat touches after coming on, he was all too often guilty of picking the wrong option or being a yard off the pace. The fact that he, the substitute, was eventually substituted himself says everything about his role within the squad and his contribution to yesterday’s result.
And as much as the first half was about our attacking players basking in the sunshine, the second 45 was more a testament to our defence who stood firm during the thunderstorms to see off an aerial bombardment.
Sure, there was a momentary lapse as Faye headed Stoke back into the contest, but other than that the back four held strong with Craddock and Berra once again showing what they’re all about. You know what you’ll get from those two and it was brilliant to see them continue where they left off from last season. It was clear to see though that they struggled a bit more to cope with the pace and intelligence of Tuncay when he eventually entered the fray, so it will be intriguing to see how Mouyokolo is used this season and who will be sacrificed when he’s eventually given a chance.
Marcus Hahnemann was again brilliant. In fact, I’m quite sure if you look up the dictionary definition of ‘a safe pair of hands’ you’ll see his grinning, bald, Amercian head staring back at you. How nice was it see him hurtling out to smother the ball with his body as Tuncay went in hard with his studs? A lesser man would have rolled around in agony to make more of the incident, but as usual, he simply dusted himself off and gave the back four a dressing down for their lapse in concentration. I cannot for the life of me, injuries aside, see anyone usurping him from between the sticks.
This was Wolves’ day though, summed up perfectly by Rory Delap winding up for a long throw in the dying seconds only for the ball to cruelly slip through his fingers and roll about 30cm from his feet. Not so big without your towel are ya?
Far greater challenges will of course lie ahead but I think yesterday demonstrated that we have nothing to fear.
Walking home in the sunshine surrounded by glowing smiles in gold shirts, that seemed to be a shared opinion.
What a great way to start the season. Nervy first 10 minutes but then played stoke off the pitch. Fletcher looks incredible. Shame about the second half, lost our momentum going forward – keogh just isn’t in the same league.
Did well to shut out a stubborn stoke team but when they only know one way to attack it cuts down the options. USA did us proud again. In general – very fucking happy with that!
Also predicted the score and the shit were . .. . well, shit. hurrah!
Joint top of the prediction league with me then Sam.
Fully agree about Fletcher. What a class act. Hope his injury isn’t serious.
Still Doyle to come back too.
Hope you’re enjoying your world tour matey.
Having a great time thanks tom – always have to check the blog when i get on the net though so keep up the good work.
Get to Nz in sept and Oz in Oct so if anyone on here knows of good places to meet, drink and watch the wolves – let me know.
Great start for the lads, Europe here we come….if we write that song of course
Play like we did in the first half and we won’t need the song mate.
Impressions.
1. How come Chelsea could only manage six?
2. An excellent first half, some lovely football played, but a pathetic forward line against us, and we struggled at times at the back.
We MUST bring in Zubar and Stearman and that other new bloke quickly, coz Berra and Craddock will be exposed by a fast running attack, and of course Ward will be all at sea as usual.
3. Wonderful debut for Fletcher, and SEB played the best I’ve seen for ages.
4. MUst get Jones signed up quick.
All in all, great day out at the Golden Palace.
5. What a result from Stamford Bridge!!!
FOWB
Clive, for once I agree with everything you say. We all know that stoke’s game suits our defenders, they’ll deal with balls in the air all day. Look what happened early on when jones ran at our defence, unlucky not to score. They struggle against teams who play football and run at them but there aren’t many defences in our league that don’t struggle with that.
Fletcher-class, SEB can’t drop him after that display, jones-best player on the pitch. Going to be interesting to see what mick does when he’s got fletcher, doyle and SEB to choose from.
Fletcher and Doyle for me full stop. SEB did some good things, but not enough to keep Doyle out
I’m with you Rich. I left the ground thinking “I can’t wait to see Doyle and Fletcher together”.
Only 37 more points and we are safe!
6. When is a penalty not a penalty????
7. Credit to the boys for survivng a Keogh inspired Stoke revival.
8. The team who ended the game were our champ side of two years ago?
9. Great to be back!!!!
What is the point of this blog? Do you think we cannot find the score elsewhere?
Um, well he does say “report to follow”, and – who knows? – his first-hand report might be as lucid and well-written as always.
PS well done the lads. The first 45 was as good as any 45 from last season.
I guess he does give us an opportunity to comment on the game ourselves right away.
The answer is quite simple Tim.
In the immediate aftermath of a game, people tend to leave comments in the preview.
So when we do the report, those comments then get ignored by people discussing the game.
But if I put the post live immediately after a game, all the comments are in one place.
Just common sense really.
tim – nice but . . . dim!?
If Carlsberg made opening days to the new season….
I’d have written a blog last nite but drank too much in the clarendon after the game, went home late and fell asleep-dreaming of David Jones! Best moment of yesterdays game (apart from the goals) – delap winding up for another long throw in the dying seconds, our nerves frayed, and he spannered it 2yards in front of his nose, cue relief and hilarity. A poetic moment to savour!
I was in the Clarendon after the game! Didn’t spot you though.
great win, great goal by Jones and Stoke play some terrible football!
think we were lucky that kenwynne jones went off injured though
I agree that it helped that Jones went off, but I still think Wolves would have won anyway.
Regardless of whether he was on the pitch or not, the game hinged on whether Wolves could get the ball down and play. When they did, Stoke didn’t get a sniff.
When they stopped doing it, Stoke came back into it, won more throws and set pieces and enforced their game on us.
Towards the end, Wolves got their act together again and Stoke became ineffective once more.
Keeping possession is key in any match, but even more so against Stoke.
Not a comment, except from Scooped, about the Keogh fiasco.
Surely he has pulled on his last Wolves shirt ever, except for any he can nick, on his way out of the door?
I watched the first half of Blackburn v Everton live yesterday, (Our game was saved for Prime Time viewing) and was not impressed at all with Everton.
We have nothing to fear at Goodison, and dare I say it, why not play the same starting 11, except bring in Doyler for Ward?
Moyes won’t expect an all out attacking formation, Ward is like giving the opposition another player anyway, and the way Jones and Henry especially played yesterday, what is there to lose?
FOWB
You’re right Clive. I’ve added a paragraph about it.
And I agree, Keogh should be heading for the exit door. We need a fourth striker who can give us something different. Personally, I’d like to see a more physical player brought in, to bully a few defences when we aren’t allowed to play our football.
There’s no chance of Ward being left out at Everton though. Mick rates him highly and to be fair, even you would have to admit he had a good game yesterday, both at left back and then left midfield.
I will never admit Ward has a good game!!
He might rise slightly above the mire of his own depths of uselessness occassionally, but will never climb to the dizzy heights of even non league or Sunday morning football standards. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!!!! He is a useless waste of skin and should be holding the door open for Keogh as they both exit, never to return.
FOSW
He had nothing to do!!
Stoke are crap, and once Jones went off, they had no one running at us with the ball.
Once we come up against a free flowing attack, we will struggle for pace, unless we change the back line.
Isn’t that why we have a squad??
FOWB and FOSW and FOAK
I agree with all of you, after that game I hope MM has seen what we have all been saying over the past 18 months and we might have seen the end of Keogh in a Wolves shirt.
At least Halford won a couple of headers when he came on, Keogh contributed nothing. Can’t believe we had the cheek to put a £2.5million price tag on him a few weeks ago – what a joke!
I also think we need a better option as our forth striker. An injury to Doyle or Fletcher and we will look light of options on the bench.
” Credit to the boys for survivng a Keogh inspired Stoke revival”
Keoghs cameo yesterday must be a strong contender for the most useless performance by a Wolves player ever!
Just watching Forest/Leeds and Neill Collins has hoofed the ball out for a throw in about 10 times in the first 60 minutes of play.
Times like these that you realise just how far we’ve come.
You must really have nothing to do today if you have to watch that drivel!!!!!!
FOWB
Im watching arsenal vs liverpool atm. Everyone is talking about how arsenal need a new keeper, someone like given or schwatzer – im glad we have hanhnemann. Safe hands, brave and good shot stopper. may not be a big name but a big player for us. free from reading!? fucking bargain!
Too true Sam. I watched L v A too and neither keeper seems worthy of a so-called “top four” club … Almunia looks flaky all-round and Reina’s gaffe at the end was laughable (although to be fair he had made some good saves earlier). I’d take USA any day over those two.
I said that to a few people i know and they laughed at me, but i seriously would keep USA over anyone other than maybe joe hart
Too right – and how much more confident in USA are you when he comes for crosses? If Hennessey was in goal the 2nd half would have been even worse on Saturday with all those long throws!
Man of the match for me was Karl Henry, an awsome display of doing the dirty work and letting and getting the others to play. No doubt 442 with Fletcher will make for much more entertainment this year, but that back four conceeded how many goals getting promoted?
Two years on the players may be more experieced and maybe better players, but the lack of pace in our back four will hurt us against teams with very quick forwards who don`t play the Stoke way.
But for now well played everybody, smiled all ther way home.
Henry and Jones were superb all game. Long may it continue!
Good point about the defence, very slow to turn and devoid of pace, we will get some right tonkings in teh season, but, lets enjoy it while we can
After van Damme took some stick on here, i thought he did well. But it was not for his ability at left back i was impressed. He was tough, got stuck in, won plenty of headers including ‘Crouch-like’ ones in the box.
But as i say, as soon as anyone with any real pace comes (even Kenwyne Jones got in down our left), we’re in trouble, cuz there’s a gaping hole. Is he in the wrong position?
Loved David Jones’ interview on MOTD when talking about how Mick likes his flick free kicks. Pictures of him yelling on the training ground “David! Get over there an’ try some o them bloody flicky free kicks!”.
Great goal though: doing it from that distance makes sense to get it up and over in time, but it must be difficult to do it so quickly! Great stuff DJ!
Nice to hear that Ryan “Leg breaker” Shawcross is unhappy with JC’s tackle. What a fuckin disgrace. Obviously, I’m being guided by the press here but “it was a bad tackle” was quoted….. Surely this guy is having a laugh….??
If he said that, he must be taking the piss.
How anyone can criticise Craddock is beyond me. He came in and got the ball cleanly. It was the ensuing tangle of legs that cause the damage. That can happen to anyone anywhere on the pitch.
…unlike Mr. Shawcross’ tackle on Aaron Ramsey.
I thought it was a fair tackle – and correct me if I am wrong – but the Ref didn’t even blow for a free kick?
Jones going off was a massive boost for Wolves – add in the final Delap throw in, Albion getting tonked by chelsea and you probably have the best opening weekend ever!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1303458/Ryan-Shawcross-slams-Wolves-Jody-Craddock-tackle-Stokes-Kenwyne-Jones.html
“….slams wolves JC..” is harsh, but for anyone – especially this nob – to say it was a bad tackle is probably called Jeff Winter. Or Arsene Wenger….who again didn’t see what his player did to get sent off…. He’s a beaut.
What an utter twat. He more than anyone should know not to judge someone for causing an injury. Won the ball fairly. It’s not his fault Jones has got knees like Matt Murray. Unbelievable
And he’s not that injured – back in a few days.
Maybe he will retract his comments or say sorry to JC
In other news, West Brom are to reform as a jazz band: http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport/sport-headlines/west-brom-to-reform-as-jazz-band-201008163004/
Has anyone else noticed what a mess the official Wolves site is at the moment. It’s never been great but come on, we can do better than this:
http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/Home/0,,10307,00.html
Eugh!
Sort it out boys.
Their digital marketing strategy seems more interested in sending 15 emails a week trying to flog me sh*t I dont need!
I unsubscribed today as it was becoming silly!
Not sure how much of it is done in house – whilst the content is created internally, isn’t the home page put together by Premium TV or Player Network or whatever it’s called this month? They do loads of clubs.
Our efforts when we did do something in-house weren’t too bad – like the site they did for the new kit.
But yeah – must do better. They need to take a peak at Man City’s efforts.
I actually thought Jody’s tackle wasn’t too bad, and seeing as I am always right, you have it right from the horse’s mouth.
I’m glad Jody manned up and didn’t cry like a little girl like Shawcross did when he did make a sickening challenge.
There is one rule and that is:
Part One. If a Wolves player goes in hard, it is fair. If the ref see and blows for a foul, he’s myopic and biased.
If the opponent has his leg broken or smashed to bits, tough shit, he should’nt be on the pitch in the first place if he can’t take a little nudge.
Part Two.
If an opponent touches one of our players, and he falls over, foul and the opponent should be sent off and banned for life.
This is not my rule, it appears to emanate from places such as The Emirates, Old Trafford, Anfield etc
FOWB
I know you can’t tell much from 3 or 4 minutes on Foxtel highlights but some of the passing movements were excellent, and the two goals taken well. I didn’t see anything wrong with Craddock’s tackle, Jones fell awkwardly after Jody won the ball. Be so good to win at Everton, but I’ll be stoked with a point
Could this be the end of Keogh after his efforts on Saturday. This sounds like a 4th striker signing to me…
Premier League Wolves are interested in Hull City’s Caleb Folan, skysports.com understands.
The 27-year-old is out of favour at the KC Stadium and has not been involved under Nigel Pearson this season.
Swansea City were strongly linked with a move for the Irish international but now it seems he could be set for a move back to the Premier League.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is seemingly wanting to bolster his attacking options and he is now looking into signing Folan.
It is widely expected that Folan will depart East Yorkshire before the end of the transfer window this month.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we went out and signed another striker, with vokes getting injured while on loan and the fact that keoghs ability has totally deserted him.
I know a lot of people were never keogh fans because of his ability in front of goal but to see the rest of his game totally disappear is a sad day, to the point where he is an absolute disaster on the pitch.
Not often both sides substitute a substitute during a match, but it happened Saturday. Sadly Keogh`s demise from the giddy heights of his winner at Derby a couple of two years ago is a shame. But a football team moves on, improves and players come and go, its clearly time for Keogh to kick start his career elsewhere.
As for Folan, he was a trainee at Leeds and released and spent a couple of years at Chesterfield where I saw him play several times. He is very quick tall and direct, scored loads of goals at Saltergate, then went on for £.5m to Hull I think. Decent pedigree and always someone I thought we should be having a look at. If its a free transfer then worth a punt.
One wik dahn n Top o the (fantasy) league, n avin a loff.
Great news for all parties concerned…
Skysports.com understands that Bristol City and Cardiff City want to sign Wolves forward Andrew Keogh on loan.
The Robins have scored just one Championship goal so far in the new campaign and are keen to bolster their attacking options.
Cardiff have already been busy in the transfer market on Tuesday after landing Craig Bellamy on loan from Manchester City.
Ex-Scunthorpe striker Keogh featured off the bench in Wolves’ season-opening Premier League success over Stoke City.
The 24-year-old striker has scored 19 league goals in 116 appearances for the Molineux outfit following his move in 2007.
He’s no better in my opinion
That’s Caleb Folan, bloomin internet sent it down here