Digest the following: if it weren’t for Michael Kightly, this very blog wouldn’t exist.
Summer 2009, in the halcyon aftermath of our triumphant promotion to the Premier League I happened upon this picture:
A picture that's worth 275,000 words (approx) and counting
So taken was I with this photograph centering on our flying winger that I immediately set about searching for an online Wolves publication, so that I could contact them to suggest they use the image in some capacity.
Upon finding that no such website existed, I decided to build one myself, more to test my burgeoning web design skills than create any sort of old gold magnum opus.
Still, pleased with my efforts, I posted a handful of articles, convinced a young scallywag by the name of Ben to join the force (he had his own site at the time) and the rest, as they say, is Wolves Blog history.
540 posts, 20,000 comments and 3 years later, I think it’s fair to say things have gone rather well.
How intolerably cruel then that the very man who set the blog wheels in motion has spent the duration of it’s lifetime clambering for escape from injury hell.
Indeed there were times when it appeared that the real Michael Kightly would never truly re-emerge.
End product, how we've missed you
Sure, he sporadically pulled on the shirt in between lengthy stints on the treatment table but never once did you get the impression he was operating anywhere near his best.
It was painful to watch.
Understandably then, despite returning from a successful stint at Watford this month, many around Molineux still questioned whether he could do it at the top table.
However, the dour 0-0 at St. Andrew’s a few weeks back was notable in my eyes for a singular reason – Michael Kightly.
By no means did he light up that abhorrently dull contest, but there was most definitely a spark, a spring in his step that hadn’t truly been seen since late 2008.
Buoyed by this I immediately called for his inclusion at Spurs in my preview, which Mick duly obliged with.
Another encouraging, if not spectacular performance at White Hart Lane had me believing there was more to come last Saturday against Villa.
I was not disappointed.
For 25 glorious minutes leading up to half-time, things were as they always should have been.
Gone (hopefully never to be seen again) was the flinching imposter who’d tarnished the reputation of one of our finest players in recent history.
It was all there.
Darting into space, running his defender on the diagonal, sliding incisive passes between the lines and deservedly capping it all with a beautifully finished goal.
It was a powerful and immediate reminder of just how good a player he has the capacity to be and the one quality he brings to our side that we desperately lack – end product.
Of course on this occasion it all proved to be in vain as the ruthless nature of the Premier League bit back in the second half and Wolves collapsed in every way imaginable.
Yet on the day that we finally dropped into the bottom three for the first time this season, the one chink of light I cling onto is that we may have rediscovered a player who can ultimately dig us out again.
Welcome back Kites.
Nicely put and congrats on a great blog.
For me the jury is still out on Kites. Yes he played well against Villa but for 30 mins and against a makeshift full back. As soon as Warnock (a recognised full back) came on he faded. Glad to see him back and hope he can perform at Premier League level week in week out.
Thanks matt.
I agree the jury is still out regarding Kightly as it is very much early days.
I would however make one point and ask one question.
Question is:
Would Hunt or Hammill have made the same impact against Villa against a makeshift full back? (My answer would be definitely not and probably not.)
My point is:
In tightening up down the right, bringing Warnock on and shifting Albrighton over, they freed Jarvis up who then came to prominence in the second half. Wasn’t that lovely for a change rather than teams just attempting to cancel Jarvis out knowing he was our only route to goal?
Personally I don’t think the main issue with Kightly after half time was Warnock coming on – I don’t think he’s any great shakes as a left back. I think the main issue was us not getting the ball to him enough (mainly because Frimpong had gone off).
Good points made.
I think its a positive start and one we all hope he will build on.
Nice piece. Given that Wolves rely heavily on width for their creativity, you’d hope that having Kightly and Jarvis operating on both wings will stretch the opposition sufficiently to prevent them being able to double up on either player. Combine that with Foley and Ward at full back, offering overlapping threat as well as solid defensive cover – we may yet get out of the pit we’ve dug ourselves. I just hope that MM can see this too and leaves these partnerships on our wings intact. I particularly never want to see George Elokobi put on a Wolves shirt again.
The blog is a must read daily. Enjoy it,refreshing and honest. We’re all Wolves through and through and want the team to do well. Believe!
Don’t forget he is fairly new to the Premiership and still finding his way but the performance against Villa was encouraging to say the least.
What i like is that he as come back looking fitter than in ages and looks a little physically intimidating a bit like a middleweight boxer. He also seems to have developed a snarling, in your face attitude which is something that our players have lacked in my opinion. Keep on with the progress Michael please.
With regards to our position i believe that you have to reach a low point before you move up and people inside the club have deluded themselves that we were better than we actually were especially when we kept out of the bottom three.
Actually being in the bottom 3 must surely be our low point and the people in charge must now realise the seriousness of things? How these people react to the situation is vital to our predicament.
I am forever hopeful that we start moving upwards now and the continued improvement in Michael Kightly’s form can only help us achieve this. After all this continuous depression week after week is bad for my health.
Funny pictures. They’ve grown a lot since then. Ebanks and Kightly looks like kids compared to the men they now are :=)
To all the supporters on the Aston Villa game – NICE JOB: http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2588014,00.html
:=)
There was a piece in the Telegraph about Liverpool’s underachievers this season, Carroll, Downing, Adam etc, and also mentioning their successes from this season. The two who have, according to the article, been at their best are Bellamy, right wing, and Enrique, left back.
It will be interesting to see how a) Kightley fares against a good left back, and b) how Ward, (assuming he’s picked !) fares against a pacy out and out winger.
My prediction is that, under the Moineux floodlights and full house, passionate atmosphere, Pingpong will play, Kightley will have a really good game, and Ward will be his usual slow, out of position self.
Also, rumors ( U.S. spelling) abound that Mourihno is on his way out of Real Madrid, possibly to be replaced by Wenger. The rumors also say he’s on his way back to the Prem.
Is there something your not telling us, Mr. Morgan???
FOMM
I know we’ve discussed this before, but I really don’t know why you have such a downer on Ward. Yes, he’s out of position sometimes but that’s because he has a good left winger in front of him who will track back and support him and can therefore get forward to support the attacks, and personally I think you want your full backs to do that (just out of interest, does anyone remember Mo Camara?! Now there was an attacking left back!).
I also think if you watch most left backs (Cole, Assou-Ekotto and – particularly – Evra spring to mind) they are often caught out of position…Evra is constantly dashing back to try to catch some right winger that he has let wander off into 10 yards of space!!
I do, however, agree with 2 out of your 3 predictions…I would put in a different prediction in respect of Ward…that he will be his usual, consistent, hard working self and continue the outstanding season he has so far been having .
Yes, we have discussed this before.
Look back at some old blogs and check out who else was criticising Ward. I’m sure I was not alone.
Granted he has improved from previous years, but that doesn’t say much.
He scored 26 goals in 93 appearances for Bohemians in 3 years, which prompted his purchase. ( that and the cheap price tag, obviously)
So, one presumes he was bought as a striker.
He then proceeded to score a fantastic 3 goals in his first season, and in the following seasons has more than doubled that tally to a whopping 7 goals.
He was first played at left back because Elokobi was unavailable. He then proceeded to keep Elokobi out of the team….no great feat………….and “made” the spot his own.
If he is so good, why was McIdiot looking for a new left back at the start of LAST season?
If he is so good, how come every winger, forward and defender can beat him for pace, and put the ball anywhere down our left side, knowing Ward will not be in position to cut it out.
He has improved from last year, but that’ like saying dog shit that has been around for a while doesnt smell as bad as fresh dog shit…..it’s still shit, just like his performances.
He might look “good” to some, but that is compared to most of our current squad.
Put Ward in a decent Prem side, and he would look even worse than he does now.
Once and for all, he was not, is not and never will be premiership quality.
Well, agree to disagree
We can’t have Wolves fans arguing between themselves now, can we?!! Leave that to the Cardiff fans (I sit front row of the Steve Bull and watching them argue amongst themselves in the Hoddle era was awesome!!lol). Wardy is the best left back since Andy Thomson, in my opinion. My vote for player of the season (so far) will be for Steven Ward…even those people in fluorescent yellow agree…they all have STEWARD on their back 
P.S. US spelling doesn’t exist…it’s just English. Massive joke,please take this the right way…I am just a HUGE stickler (at just 23!) for English grammar 
UP THE WOLVES!!
Ward has been our most consistent player, but the re-emergence of Jarvis, Fletcher and (by the look of things) Kightly as well as the addition of Frimpong has seen him take a back seat in terms of the limelight.
Hamsterlet, there is only ONE candidate for player of the season, the one who’s had the most to do all year,………………..Wayne Hennessey.
If we get relegated, he will be the first one off to pastures new and better, and deservedly so.
FOMM
of course – How could I have forgotten Hennessey?
Because you are a hamster!!!
Well, at least hamsters have the sense to avoid double-posting!
We hamsters pride ourselves on our organisation and attention to detail, you know!
because you are a hamster!!
Eye two amma stikkla fer grammur, an spellin two also as wot eye rite is gud.
As I constantly tell the Americans, when corrected for pronunciation or different word usage, “What is the official language of America? English.
I am English, therefore I am correct.”
There are English People……………..and there are foreigners.
As to Ward being the best left back since Andy Thompson, well, there hasn’t been much competition has there?
The best left back we’ve ever had was Derek Parkin.
80,000 we used to call him, that’s what he cost from Huddersfield ( I think)
FOMM
Think there’s one or two players at Molineaux who will never show his courage and determination. Welcome home Michael-that goal is now a cherished memory.
If not mistaken isn’t that picture of Kites celebrating taken from the 5-1 drubbing we gave Forest at the start of the season? If so, I’ll get my anorak.
Made up for the lad hopefully he can stay fit for the remainder of his career.
Yes, it was indeed the 5-1.
Probably the best display of attacking football I’ve ever witnessed at the Molineux.
What was so exciting about the first half Saturday is that we were able to replicate it against a decent Premier League outfit, making the eventual defeat all the more galling.
My girlfriend was in New York when we played this game…she called me once when she was out there and it was at 6pm on this day…all I did was talk about Wolves and indeed Michael Kightly, and she was keen to point that out (in a somewhat unimpressed tone) as we ended the phone call. I told her she didn’t understand what I was feeling!
i keep flitting between pro / anti mick camps, but saw enough in the 1st half v vile to suggest that all is not lost yet, and kites is a MASSIVE factor in that potential to avoid disgrace.
completely unrelated but my mate came up with a cracking chant the other day…
oo ee oo aa aa
ting tang
walla walla
frimpong
think your mate needs to get out more.
I like it…but I would never sing it.
I’d change “Ting tang” to “Ting tong” if I was you mate. As it’s a made up word I don’t reckon anyone will mind and then it will rhyme with Frimpong
I reckon we could make a good chant using the ‘that’s logistics’ tune – replace “That’s Logistics” with “You’ve Been Frimponged” and with some good lyrics to go with it then we have a classic!
Could be our saviour!
Was so pleased for him Saturday that it doubled the disappointment of the loss.
Because Milijas seems so left footed, after Frimpong/Ping-Pong left, he hardly received the ball.
It doesn’t rhyme either!
It does if you stick fuck off W.. B… at the end…………………………that makes anything rhyme!!!
FOMM
I don’t know whether it’s just me, but after a few days of moping I’m starting to see the positives out of saturday.
1. KIghts back to his old marauding self. If he can keep match fit he is only going to get better
2. For the first time in ages we found a midfield that looked balanced, controlled and able to pass. Admittadley, it fell to pieces once Frimpong went off but if we can keep him fit and Henry to keep his head we might be on to something.
3. We had someone else score other than Fletch. We have been lacking since O’hara got injured a player other than Fletch who can score goals. Kights looks up to the job if his beautifully weighted finish is anything to go by.
4. We dropped into the relegation zone. This is a bit of a push I know, but for too long we’ve been relying on other teams form to keep us out of the red zone, If us dropping into the relegation zone spurs on Morgan to reach into his pocket before the 1st February it can only be a good thing!
I agree that, oddly enough, there were some positives to take from Saturday’s game. The main one being the best 25mins of football I think I’ve seen us play in this league. But this is precisely why it was such a devastating defeat – some real plus points, yet we still failed to pick up a solitary point, let alone the three we need so badly.
It was similar to Stoke at home and Newcastle at home; some impressive periods of play (at the start of the game in the former and late on in the latter) but we still lost.
Having Frimpong back (if that’s the case) will be a boost but if the players felt like me on Saturday night they’re going to take some picking up to get a good result against Liverpool. All credit to Mick if he can motivate the players and get us out of this position. I’m worried it may be a season too far for him, but I hope to high heaven he proves me wrong.
Like Ron Atkinson said in E&S, a team that loses games when it has played well is a team that is in big trouble.
Op paper, with what looks like an on-form Kights returning to us (finally!) and Frimpong it seems that we should have a much better second half of the season, and if Kighty could get a few goals on the way then that’d be brilliant!
He was exceptional against Villa – long may it continue!
Kightly looked good at Spurs and seemed to excel at Villa. I’ve got high hopes for Liverpool, yes they got done over at Bolton but they got most of the frustration out at City last night. And then they’ll hopefully get worn down by United on Saturday. Leaving them ripe for picking on Tuesday!
Yeah, and when we stuff them, Dalgleish will be moaning about playing 3 games in less than a week, and that’s why they lost!!
Dalglish is a prick, if they get half the decisions they got last night against Citeh we’ll get spanked
I see Onuoha has gone to QPR for 2.5M, a figure we surely could afford for a good CB. Why?
They show drive, determination and are owned by (admittedly a very rich man) a person who wants to spend on getting a successful team.
I don’t know whether he was even approached by us, probably not, but why wouldn’t he choose QPR? It’s sad that we look DOA already by Jan.
Apparently he wanted around £80 000 a week which QPR were willing talk about. Whether he got that I don’t know, but when that is around 4 times more than we would even consider I bet we just cut off negotiations rather than even offering anything!
Also he knows and likes Hughes. tbh I would have liked him for wolves, but after all his chat about needing the club to be always looking and pushing forward I doubt he would have even considered us!
I like Onuoha, I can see him turning into a Micah Richards style player in the long run. That said 80 grand a week is a lot to pay for potential. We could at least two decent experienced signings for that I just hope the club is prepared to put the money up in the next few days.
A centre half with pace, left back, creative midfielder and a striker ,any two of them would see me a lot happier. I’d even just settle for a left back right now, just so Elokobi doesn’t get put there again.
I agree, 80,000 per week is a lot of money and clearly out of our reach – you’re right, we could have two also very good players on 40k each, but the thing which irks me is that we won’t do that. I think we’ll sign this bloke for free who’s on trial and that’ll be it for this transfer window.
Hardly inspiring is it? Where is the statement of intent from the management?
It would be nice to see a good player signing for us. That, to me, would show that quality players still want to join us. But the manager, owner or both don’t seem to want it to happen.
The team is effectively the same as the one that limped over the line last season, therefore I think the very best we can expect is 15th, whereas I personally think relegation is more likely.
When Mick is talking about the fitness of Dave Edwards being ‘critical’ for our run-in it says it all really doesn’t it?
They have a better manager than us???????
Onouha mentioned that he went to QPR because of Hughes – but just ‘cos he knew him and worked under him before!
According to the commentator on the Liverpool/City match last night, Suarez will finish his 8 match ban on saturday, thus being eligible for selection against us.
Do y’all think he will play, and if so, how well??
He will be fresh and raring to go probably wont have to be at his best to get a hatrick – i am worried about Milijas being in for these next 3 matches – i am in the Karl Henry fan club ( there is me and 2 others ).
That makes four of us then!
I like Karl Henry as well………………..just not the way he tries to play footie!!!
Tactical genius you would line up 1-0-10. You also despised a certain Jim Macalliog didnt you? Says it all really! P.S. Surprised u can see the top of my head from down there!
No, wrong, I liked McCalliog, when he was sober, it was Burnside I didn’t like, he kept Knocker Knowles out of the side on occasions.
FOMM
Do I make 6 now?? HE COMES FROM ASHMORE PARK!!
Great to see kites back hope he can keep up the good work on his fitness and scoring goals.
because thats what we need to get the 7 or so wins to keep us up because according to the
E&S we ain’t getting any of the player’s we’ve been linked with,surprise surprise,always the
same old story ” we tried but just missed out “load of bollocks me thinks.
Henry said sorry for the sending off again big deal he cost us the match again hope we really
play well without him and keep him out of the side to teach him a lesson.
Liverpool up next what can we hope for now Suarez is back, hope a win but can’t see it.UTW.FOMM.
Jury’s still out for me on Kites but I do think he’s mostly a ‘confidence’ player. Many footballers at all levels are. The skills are basically there but they play so much better when they feel good about their own ability. It’s a fine line – a good night’s sleep, a positive training session, a few good touches on the ball and, yes, best of all, a goal when it matters most – all make for a better footballer. He seems to have turned the corner, hope he keeps it up.
Anyway, real reason for this post is congratulations on a great blog site (I love it – it’s the best on the Wolves, by far) and hope it goes from strength to strength! Cheers.
Really pleased to see Kites back, his goal was like a flashback to the old Kightly we knew a few years ago. Also wanted to say a huge thanks to the guys who run WolvesBlog, I agree with most if not all of what is said on here, always spot on.
Kightly remains one of MM`s few signings that worked. He reminds me of an old fashioned inside forward who comes looking for work and moves off his wing for a pass, then turns and runs at defenders. Its a pity more of our managers` signings don`t have Kightly`s mobility and pace, otherwise we may have been around midtable.
With him, Jarvis and Hammill we have three decent players who I won`t insult by adding Hunt to the list of wingers able to play. He seems to have lost 2 yards of pace and any interest in what he does on the pitch. Young and hungry he isn`t.