Unless you’ve had you head buried under a rather large rock (or alternatively don’t get chance to procrastinate from work every 30 seconds to scan BBC Sport) you’ll have heard the news that Michael Kightly has been omitted from the Wolves squad.
Michael Kightly - left out
That means he will not play a game for us until January at the very earliest, when Mick McCarthy can revise the 25-man roster.
Gutted. Well, I am anyway.
Here’s a little secret – I love Michael Kightly.
Some might have gathered this already. The flying winger has after all adorned the banner of this very blog from it’s inception, and there, despite constant struggles with injury, he has remained.
That iconic image from Wolves 5-1 demolition of Nottingham Forest two years back was perhaps Kightly’s finest hour in a gold shirt. He tormented them that day, scoring two of the finest goals I’ve ever witnessed at Molineux and spanking another sizzling effort off the bar.
Of course he’d already found a way to my heart long before that glorious sunny afternoon.
His arrival from Grays Athletic in 2006 coincided perfectly with an immediate upturn in our fortunes and a string of tireless performances almost single-handedly dragged us into the play-offs.
The following season was filled with frustration as he was besieged by injury and with Wolves only missing out on a top six finish on goal difference, I couldn’t help but think at the time that things would have been different had Kites remained fit.
Even in our Championship winning campaign he spent lengthy spells on the sidelines and despite contributing significantly to our success, he never hit full stride after limping off at home to Reading.
Last year he played a handful of Premier League games but was a shadow of the player I’d come to love. An impostor. A lack of match practice was probably the underlying factor given that he’d missed the entire pre-season.
Glimpses of the real Michael Kightly emerged in that horrendous 1-0 home defeat to Blues, but that turned sour when he rocked his ankle and subsequently sat out the rest of the season.
We were then promised he’d bit fit and ready for the start of this campaign. Then we were told he was a few weeks behind. Then we were told he wouldn’t be ready for the Stoke game. And now, finally, we’ve been given confirmation that he’s not really anywhere close to full-fitness and definitely won’t be pulling on a Wolves shirt until at least January.
The rational side of me recognises that when a player has been out for as long as Kites has, it’s always going to take a while to get him back fully fit and perhaps it is best that he takes another month or two to get into his stride.
But it’s massively frustrating.
Last week’s news that Matt Murray was hanging up his boots came completely out of left field, even if retrospectively it didn’t seem like a massive shock. It hit home that some players just never return from long-term injuries and it resonated when the big man said ‘I just didn’t feel I could get up to the standard I’d want to be at’.
You see, that’s just it, we don’t want the shabby 2009 Michael Kightly back. We want the 2006 vintage. The marauding wide man, capable of winning games on his own with a moment of sheer brilliance.
A return of that Michael Kightly, is long overdue.
I was worried at first, but as I thought about it it seems quite a sensible decision.
He doesn’t have to start setting targets, he can take his time and when he’s back be fully fit and be the Kightly we know.
If fit, he will be in the squad after january. If he isn’t that’s when I’ll start getting really worried.
Can anyone explain what the injury is? The club never really seems to give a clear picture of whats hampering him…
Well, this is a question I wouldn’t mind knowing the answer to either.
It was my understanding that he had an ankle injury.
However, on the club site it states that:
“Michael Kightly has not been included in Wolves’ 25 after a minor setback to his recovery from patella tendon problems.”
Now the Patella tendon has nothing to do with your ankle. It runs between your shin and your knee.
I found this post about it:
http://www.arthroscopy.com/patendrep.htm
Be warned, there are some gruesome pictures on that page. It seems like a pretty serious injury to me, which would explain his extended absence.
Matt Murray’s biggest injury was his patella tendon.
RIP Kites.
Love the pictures on Thomas’ post!
Kight’s original injury was his ankle. This patella tendon problem flared up after the original injury.
My guess is that it is in part the result of playing when he wasn’t fully fit. From experience I can tell you that there is a tendency to change your gait and stance when you have a pain to try and favour the affected part. This ends up with abnormal wear and loading on the rest of the body. I reckon much of the damage will have come from his playing on during the Championship winning season when, as already mentioned above, he wasn’t quite the player we had seen prior to the first injury. I suspect during that time he was playing with an ankle that wasn’t quite right which eventually broke down again but left him with the tendon problem as a legacy.
The main thing to note is nowhere does it suggest he has had a rupture or tear of the tendons- that is really nasty and could prove to be a career ending injury for an athlete at this level. His problem is with soreness and swelling if the past Wolves reports are accurate.
Given time and treatment this will settle but it has the tendency to keep flaring up as you train to strengthen it, which fits perfectly with the up and down stories of Kightly’s fitness.
The decision to leave him out is the right one. He needs to take time to recover fully so we can have the old Kightly back. We’ve seen in the past he has a tendency to return too soon and this is the consequence.
Look at Mark Davies, he had very similar issues on his road back after knee injury. The number of setbacks he endured was very reminiscent of Kightly’s predicament. Davies made it back and I’m sure Kightly will too.
Nice one Doc Ian!
Rich – are you out there? Imagine how hard it is for me to hold back given this headline!!!!
I’d rather have Kightly in the squad then not have him there, but IMO I doubt he would have the impact some fans predict. I think Kites looked average for the second half of our promotion season, and personally I dont see him having the pace or tricks to take on premier league defenders.
I’d love to be wrong about it, and have Kites return to the squad in December to help us secure another season in the promised land – so wish him the best of luck with his recovery. Life Kwolf states though, patella injuries can end careers.
Wingers in the Prem need real pace – look at Jarvis, he frightens even the most seasoned defenders for this exact reason.
Great to see Hunt back in training today – maybe its good PR to perk us all up after the p*ss poor signing on deadline day! Interesting to see him comment on the Newcastle game – I bet the nasty litttle b@stard would have loved to play in that one!
I must say I find it interesting Stourbridge that in the same comment you say a winger needs ‘real pace’ to make it in the Prem, but then welcome back Stephen Hunt.
Unless I’m mistaken, he’s not what you’d call a pacey wideman by any stretch of the imagination.
Don’t get me wrong, I think Hunt will be a real asset to our cause but I refute the claim that a fully fit and firing Michael Kightly would be any less of a weapon.
He’s not just about pace and tricks, he has the ability to pick out a pass in the final third that nobody else spots. He’s not a knock and run winger like Jarvis and agreed, he doesn’t have that kind of pace, but his final ball was consistently better than Matty’s, which is why he always boasted a far, far superior number of assists.
A winger can beat his man all day long but if he can’t pick out a pass at the end of it, what’s the point? Take Lennon at the World Cup. He pissed on everyone but couldn’t cross for toffee.
What’s also brilliant about Kightly is you know how hard he will work for the team.
In the championship, even though he was injured for so much of the last season he made twenty five goals and scored around ten and clearly last year we missed that. We don’t know how he would have done, or how he will do when he’s fit (not if) but from what we know he was and is important to us otherwise we would have sold him.
I’m not so sure pace is problem for him, I’ve always thought he was quite quick.
From what I have seen I think Hunt is quicker then Kightly?
He has at least shown he can beat players in this league and put in a decent ball. Knowing our luck with signings though he’ll probably be a shadow of his former self when he returns from injury!!!
Maybe Kightly was injured for most of the promotion winning season (who knows) – but he was pedestrian in too many of the games that year, and we haven’t seen him since.
I think too many people see him as a great player for Wolves when in reality he had a decent season and a bit (and at a bargain price to be fair). I always put my tin hat on when I post anything negative about Kites as everyone on here seems to worship the ground he walks (well hobbles) on! Maybe you can all light an extra candle in the rooms you have converted into Kightly shrines to balance out my negative energy for your hero? ha,ha,ha!
Like the bloke a few rows in front of me chanted at him “Are you Proudlock in disguise?” – a bit harsh, but at least I know I am not on my own in feeling he is a tad overrated by some fans!
Agree with Stourbridge on this one. Jury is out on whether Kites can retain full fitness and whether a fully fit Kites can hack it in the Prem.
Only time will tell and he may need a season after this one get comfortable with PL football similarly to SEB
Anyhow the decision to ommit him from the 25 was the right one imo
Good luck Mr K on your comeback!
Cheers Matt – nice to know I am not on my own!
What’s worrying about this is unlike Murray, Kightly has to run around for 90 minutes. I’m not sure we’ll see him play for us again. If we continue to progress as we have we’ll move on and he’ll get left behind.
We still don’t have a replacement for him until Hunt is ready. I think Jarvis has become more an asset than Kighlty and has done well to stay fit after similar problems early on (how many games have they actually played together??) The thought of losing Jarvis terrifies me
Me too Rich, Jarvis is our most dangerous player by a mile, losing him would be unthinkable until Hunt is fully fit. Jarvis is my current Wolves hero too (as the most improved player out of all of our promotion side)
We got a full season out of him last year and hope we can get the same again!
(Nice to see I’ve brain washed you on Kightly too – ha,ha,ha!)
Haha, don’t get me wrong Stourbridge, i’d love to see him return to PL standard, i’m just realistic
Stourbridge-as you know I’m I kites lover and pray for the 06 vintage like Thomas. You point out he wasn’t effectiv3 for the 2nd half of our promotion season which i can’t disagree with, but…(always a but!) He still had 18 direct assists and 8 goals-a record in the history of the championship that only mcsheffrey has ever come close to. Here you go, ill stick my neck out too…I rate him higher than I rated keane in a wolves shirt when fit. This is why patience is a virtue with kites in particular. He was literally unplayable at times, ask Steve Bruce. He’s still young enough to have a huge future so I’m sitting tight!
That is sticking your neck out Ben! Sorry but IMO Robbie Keane is a much better player than Kites. In seven years time I cant see Kightly having Inter Milan, Liverpool or Tottenham on his CV (Coventry or Leeds maybe!)
I too would like him fit as a squad player, but like you say vintage 06, rather than living on previous glory 08-09!
Morning stourbridge! I said I rate him higher in a wolves shirt, so a slight difference. I should have made that clearer. I.e. he has done more than Robbie did while playing for us,and affected more games, more goals etc which is all I cate about. I’d be daft to say he’s a better player! Remember man utd tried to sign him. Didn’t fergie say he’d barely offer 500k for keane and stick him in their reserves?! Your right though mate, no point longing for an 06 vintage when he’s so far from returning.
Yes, I remember that – wasn’t it around the time Fergie signed Veron for stupid millions? I think Man Utd’s very own Rab C Nesbitt had been on the scotch that day!
Wont have a bad word said about Robbie – I still have his life size poster (and Bully’s!) from the Sunday Mercury!!! Must put them up in my garage and light a candle!
Didnt Kites’ injury woes start with a broken metatarsal in the infamous behind closed doors friendly?
Was Dr Death (Barry Holmes) still our physio at that time?
How did complete rest and rehab from a broken toe lead to ankle to patella injuries?
Agree with Thomas and Ben about a fit Kites (not necessarily at his best, just fit). He showed the sort of ability that fast tracked him to England U21 honours and that prompted Turin to offer us £3m for him.
Hope with all my heart to see him back and hope that Ians optimistic note proves spot on.
As I understand it he does not have a ruptured tendon as described in the link above. He probably has patella tendonitis. The same thing as Owen Hargreaves has been out injured for a long, long time – as many other great players .
They usually go for treatment to a Dr Steadman in USA and Kights has been there aswell as in Barcelona. I found an interesting article explaining it here: http://www.physioroom.com/injuries/supplements/curing_patella_tendonitis.php
This is starting to sound like that science bit in Holby City or Casualty Town or whatever it’s called when they speak in hospital talk, you hear the words but they don’t make a sentence. I like Kites but it doesn’t sound good long term from what I can gather. These issues change players and haunt them mentally. Get fit(ish). Get rid.
He should be in the 25 instead of Ward.
A broke Kightly is infinitely better than any part of Ward.
Kightly in a wheelchair is better than Ward.
Kightly in hospital and not on the pitch is better than Ward.
A cardboard cutout of Ward is better than Ward.
A used fart is better than Ward.
It’s a slow, slow day in the office, and as y’all can see, I’ve got nowt to do except slag off Ward!!!!
FOWB
I take it you haven’t seen any matches this season, eh Clive?
Oh Louie, for the love of god why?
Can I have permission, O policeman of the blog?
You know what’s coming. don’t you???
FOWB
No, I haven’t been to any matches, yet, as commuting from Texas is a tad on the expensive side, but I’ve seen all three Premier matches, in their entirety.
Where do I start?
All at sea?
Arse from elbow?
Third division quality at best.
He may be the nicest bloke in the world, makes McCarthy his cocoa, and is in bed, alone, at 9 every night, but he cannot, nor ever will, be capable of playing football at any level required by The Woves.
He just has not got a footballing brain, is totally out of his depth, and with no malice what so ever, should be shipped back to The Emerald Isle never to darken our dressing rooms again.
He is friggin’ useless a walking waste of breath, and a complete and utter liability to the team, unless he’s off the pitch and away from The Mol, preferably 20 miles away, and going further all the time.
I don’t know how old you are, young man, but I bet I’ve seen more Wolves players, regularly, and football in general over the last 50 plus years, so I have a modicum of experience behind me.
No, Ward is not the worst player to have graced our corridors, but he is up there in the top two.
See Thomas, not a swear word in sight………………yet!!!
FOWB
Haha, don’t see anything wrong with what you said. You think Ward is second worst (may I ask who was first?) player you’ve seen at Wolves while I think he is an ok player who will serve us well until his time is up (when we start progressing further up the table). I don’t think I am the only one in saying that Ward has been one of our better players so far, even if it is only three games.
I didn’t know an unfit Kightly could even play left back?
I agree that he isn’t great, but as it stands I’m not sure our summer signings have addressed the p*ss poor left back situation at our club. The only hope is Van Damme slots in there after we get Hunt fit.
I could come on here and say that Doyle is useless, without actually backing it up with any examples of him being useless it’s a pretty poor arguement. The fact is Ward’s had a really good start to the season, the tackle when he was last man against Everton, and various brave and well timed tackles against Newcastle. He works as hard as anyone and I don’t think he looks out of place now in the premiership. I thought he was one of our best players against Newcastle, didn’t put a foot wrong.
Your blind hatred towards Ward is getting a bit boring to be honest.
To be fair, I did rather enjoy the, “A cardboard cutout of Ward is better than Ward” comment.
That one was actually good. The ‘used fart’ one wasn’t bad either!
So is Ward the new scapegoat now Keogh’s gone?
He’s always been one hasn’t he. I’ve seen a lot of abuse go his way, sometimes worse than Keogh.
I’m a veteran Wolves fan too, Clive, and I disagree with you on Ward. I can’t say I think he’s of the level to be a big factor in lifting us into the top half of the PL, but he’s the least bad LB Wolves have got.
For LBs, Wolves’ friendlies this year were horrific! Elokobi was given the run-around by Kebe at Reading and Van Damme was run ragged by Max Gradel at Leeds–even worse than Big George at the Majeski Stadium. And neither Kebe nor Gradel is a PL player!
At least Ward holds off a bit and doesn’t dive in and get turned inside out immediately. Also, I think Ward is one of our most improved players and his brainwork is not too bad.
I’ve been a severe critic of McCarthy in the past, but this season I’m completely with his team selection so far. I agree with Mick that our best starting XI is Hahnemann; Foley or Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Ward; Van Damme, Henry, Jones, Jarvis; two of Doyle, Fletcher, and Ebanks-Blake.
Van Damme and Jarvo keep switching wings, which is good. Van Damme is a very good MF and definitely improves our midfield, but he is a clumsy wide-back.
Maybe in January or next summer we will need to replace Ward to progress further but, unless Foley or Zubar can make the transition to the left, right now Ward is much improved and the best we’ve got at LB.
I think Van Damme will start to look better at LB once he gets used to the pace. I think it’s a smart move by Mick. His ability in the air iis amazing for someone who often looks quite clumsy I thought. Just as good as Carroll in the air.
I agree, Louie, Van Damme’s ability in the air is an enormous plus for our midfield. In general, I really rate Van Damme as an MF–in fact, I think he could easily be the answer to last season’s midfield problem. So, quite apart from any faults he may or may not have at LB, I would be distraught to see Mick move him to LB. In my opinion, we can’t afford to lose Van Damme from the midfield!
On Kightly, like others of you, I’ve got terrific memories of his goals and assists three or four years ago. And I agree, if and when he recovers full fitness, it will be like having an exciting new signing.
We need to remember though that some exciting new signings disappoint–think of Surman and The Hoff. We’ve never seen Kightly properly in the PL yet, so, whether Kightly will be a success in the PL or not, the jury is still out in my mind.
There’s no doubt Kights has great energy and vision and, on those counts, I’m sure he’ll be up to PL standard, but I’ve also got a few bad memories of some poor first touches and some awful corners. Whether Kights’s first touch will be good enough for the Prem is not yet known. In the past there have also been surprising and unexplained lapses in his precision, which he needs to avoid in the PL.
But I live in hope. Come on, Kights! Let’s see this exciting “new” signing!
First, the worst player I’ve seen in a Wolves kit, at the Mol, was Elton John.
Second, welcome back Nick, it would appear you have the desire for another on blog slagging contest, but I aint biting this time.
I don’t hate Ward, hate is for Muslims, I just don’t like him as a Wolves player.
If he was playing for anyone else, against us, I would welcome him back with open arms, as an extra player for us!!
Still, he won’t cause us any heart flutters this weekend.
With regard to all the other comments above, basically about our defence, I say again, unless we increase the pace of our back four, when we come up against the fast flowing, footballing attacks, we are gonna get stuffed.
Our defence is good in the air, when facing the ball, hard working, and pull together brilliantly as a team, but on so many occasions we nearly get caught out, and soon the cracks will be too wide to paper over.
FOWB
And now to stir the blog a bit more.
Without revealing my thoughts I would like honest opinions of our midfield players performances thus far this season, namely Mr. Henry and Mr. Jones.
FOWB
Jones went missing against Newcastle, not really his sort of game though. He played well against Stoke but I didn’t see enough of the Everton game to comment. I think Henry’s been our best player so far.
Agree about our defence, they love a good physical battle but if anyone comes at them who can actually play football they’re stuffed. What’s happened to that guy from Hull, I think he got injured pre season but I expected him back by now.
Henry’s done well so far, Jones has been ok. Was really good for half an hour against Stoke but went missing in the Everton game a bit and then the Newcastle game a lot. The two have a good understanding, but they need to get used to playing in a 442 again.
Clive, I think Mouyokolo is the answer to the pace problems. He seems to have everything and the Hull fans didn’t have abad word to say about him. I would quite like to see Zubar at centre back, he’s quick, the only thing he needs to get rid of is the occasional mad moment which he stopped having after a while at right back. Neither Craddock or Berra deserve to be replaced right now.
I’m not really a fan of Henry (he’s average in my eyes), but after the Newcastle game I love the way he went after Joey Barton.
I’ve had Villa, Liverpool and Stoke season ticket holding friends all congratulate him on his performance.
Jones looked good against Stoke (and scored a great goal), but hasn’t done much in the other two games from what I have seen.
Jarvis for England!
C’mon though Stourbridge, Henry is surely one of our greatest value for money signings. Who’d have thought he’d survive this long after Mick McCarthy’s first match (am i right in thinking he’s the only survivor from that game?) He’s been an absolute revelation thus far and has improved as the task’s got harder.
I wasn’t a fan for his first two seasons but he’s won me over. One of the first name’s on the team sheet, with Doyle and Jarvis. I bet most Stoke fans can’t believe he’s the same player. I don my hat to him
So Clive, please enlighten us, what do you think of Mr Henry and Mr Jones. I can pretty much guess what you’re going to say and I don’t think I’m going to like it.
Henry 9/10 (massive), Jones 5/10 (quiet) – but then I’ve only had working Cable TV for the last 2 games …
Henry might get himself into the England squad if he carries on at the rate he’s started the season.
I’d like to think that, as he’s been one of the best English defensive midfielders over the last season but I get the feeling he’s being labelled (very unfairly) as a dirty player. Teams like Villa and Everton havetaken an interest in him, but for Wolves I can’t see him getting in the squad purely because of who he plays for.
If he did get called up, it would be fully deserved.
But atleast Don Fabio has taken notice of Jarvis!
Hi Kowloon,
Totally agree about Henry. He’s an immense player for us and, for me, has been for the last three seasons.
His ability to win the ball, keep it and get his team mates to play is second to none in my opinion.
Perhaps the arrival of cable tv is helping to keep you out of that mid-day sun!!
Hi Scooped,
Hehe! Nope, getting the Cable repaired is only making me lose it even faster. Now I’ve been able to view Spector’s (West Ham) challenge on Giggs which led to the Man U penalty last weekend. Blinkin’ ‘eck, there was not one iota of contact! At least three inches of fresh air between the two players at all times! Four camera angles conclusively proved that Giggsy just fell forwards with all the style, grace and (possibly) sexuality of Greg Louganis! I screamed at the telly: “Send that lanky Welsh beanpole off, FFS!!”
Yep, I’d bet my mortgage that it was no foul. But for the commentary team (including Pat Nevin, I think), this was a nailed-on penalty kick! What the heck are they smoking? Worse still, Spector himself didn’t even argue the toss, and none of the West Ham players even whispered to the ref! (Hello, any player’s agents in the crowd hailing from Pakistan?) And Avram Grant just looked completely gormless!! (Oops, sorry, that’s normal).
Brainwashed! Everybody!! It’s me (and maybe Stan Collymore) against the whole world, I tell you!! The standards have slipped, nobody has noticed, and nobody gives a flying fig.
Anyhow – back outside to the sun I go – I needs me vitamin D … well, obviously
On another other note, you will overwhelmed and overjoyed to hear that, following a bit of correspondence between myself and Molineux, their emails to fans will now come from ‘fans@wolves.co.uk’ rather than the rather disparaging ‘data@wolves.co.uk’
Yes. Too much time, etc.
I wish they would just leave me alone!
If I see one more picture of Adlene Guedioura on an email – I think I will scream!
Isn’t there an unsibscribe button on there somewhere?
I’ve tried that and it made no difference!
Hey, I’ll tell you what, After watching the first half of the Ireland match I’d definitely have Ward ahead of Kilbane. He’s useless! Surely they’ve got better left backs?
We were linked with him too! Maybe Mick is about as good at spoting a left back as Trevor Francis was at signing decent strikers!
Just hope Doyle makes it through the game ok (without scoring or doing anything else to draw attention to him!!!).
Doyle immense tonight apparently, had a wonderful game. Can’t we play Doyle up top with sylvan and fletcher on the right? Jarvis on left? It’s criminal to leave one of them out when they’re all so good.
I like the sound of that!
This may cause a little bit of a stir but here’s a possible idea to accomodate those 3?
playing 4-2-3-1
Hahnneman
Zubar – Berra – Craddock – (best LB available, ill leave that for clive and louie to battle it out)
Fletcher – Guedioura – Henry – Jarvis
SEB
Doyle
Guedioura and Henry have the defensive capabilities to track back and cover the defense, and Adlene in particular doesnt mind having a crack at goal from a long way out if he gets close enough
This would mean fletcher and jarvis would be freed up somewhat
Doyle in front of SEB as lone striker cause he occupies the defense better and is better in the air than SEB, while SEB operates better when hes not so heavily marked.
Just a thought.
Like it but i’d swop SEB with Doyle. I think Guediora should start, he can play defensive, putting in savage tackles and he gets forward well. I like Jones but think Guediora would do better. Still………….Mick knows best.
Correct me if I’m wrong but I think Fletcher played on the right for Hull a few times.
Thought we got him from Burnley?
Did he play for Hull before?
I agree with both line ups above, of course Louie and Nick will agree that our best left back is…………drum roll, please,……………. Damn Van!!!!
FOWB
Oops, you’re right, I did say correct me if I’m wrong. I really don’t want to respond to the other comment but going to anyway.
I think we all know who the best left back is at wolves and it ain’t van damme. I don’t think Ward’s amazing but he is the best we’ve got at the moment, hopefully van damme will be good enough to do a better job as he gets used to the league but the jury’s still out on him as far as I’m concerned.
By the way I was chatting to a mate tonight who went to Henry’s sisters wedding and he was saying that he had a few beers with Henry and he was sound. I love that there’s no big ego’s at our club. Might not be the greatest footballers but I reckon they’re a good set of lads who genuinely care about the club rather than how much they’re getting paid.
Yes you are correct, Ward, is the best left back we have………..just goes to show how crap the others are at that position!!!
That does not make him a footballer tho’, he’s still crap and always will be.
Shit, even you, Nick, could be better at that position!!!!
Anyway, the sun is shining in Texas, and over 80,000 idiots turned up yesterday to watch college throwball, the equivalent of second division football.
Can you imagine that many turning up at Hull, or Watford????
HAve a nice day, y’all.
FOWB
I can’t even imagine the sun shining in Hull …