When you’re threatening to limp along in the world’s toughest league, it never helps when you keep shooting yourself in the foot.
It doesn’t help on a blustery Sunday morning over the park, let alone in the cut-throat world of the Premiership.
Wolves conceded crucial early goals in both halves against Sunderland
And to use a well known catchphrase from the muck and nettles world of pub footie, I just hope we ‘get out of bed’ against Pompey, for the sake of us all.
For the past 18 months or so, one common feature that has threatened to derail our progress has always been our propensity to give stupid goals away at the beginning of matches, simply by not ‘waking up’.
Despite our glorious Championship winning exploits last season, we would regularly be fighting back from a goal down, as we failed to switch on (okay, some good play as well, which sometimes can’t be legislated for).
Off the top of my head, Plymouth away, Plymouth home, Sheffield Wednesday home, Reading home and away, Swansea away and Charlton away all featured an early goal conceded. Of those games, the home losses to Reading and Plymouth ended up being 0-1, while Swansea went on to spank us.
I haven’t had time to look at how we start the second halves of games, but I recall a few occasions when we again fail to show up for the first five to 10 minutes of the second half.
We managed to get ourselves out of the mess last season, but in the Premier League, that first goal always feels more fatal.
We have been at it again this season, conceding a stupid early penalty to Sunderland, (okay, referee error) and again in the second half. Man City and Blackburn have also struck within 15 – 20 minutes of the referee’s whistle blowing.
Of course we are going to concede, doubtless more times than most. But if we are 35 minutes into a dour game against Pompey and the score is 0-0, you won’t hear me complaining.
Up the Wolves
Good post Ben.
We certainly concede our fair share of early goals, which is something we must significantly improve if we’re to pick up points in the Prem. The most annoying one was Hull this season. We just weren’t at the races in the opening minutes and by the time we got our act together and started to dominate, we could of been 2 or 3 behind.
I didn’t see it as much of an issue last year to be honest. Of course it was frustrating to concede early on in those games you mention, but we setup to attack and scored as many early goals as we conceded. Off the top of my head:
Palace at home.
Cardiff away.
Watford away.
Sheffield United away.
Derby home.
Sheffield Wednesday away.
I think Watford away is definitely the best example of switching off. Each time we scored Watford replied and I remember me and my mate bricking it for the last ten or fifteen minutes, which hadn’t really been the case throughout the earliest parts of the season.
Still was a class game, Michael Gray’s finest for the club. Anyone else miss him?
One of the most disappointing things about this season was conceding that early opener against Hull. For the rest of the first half they were happy to defend their lead. Then after we equised, we couldn’t get that winner. I hope that doesn’t come back to haunt us.
We face very much the same kind of game on saturday, where if we lose the first goal early on molineux will become nervy and maybe get on the lads’ backs.
The first goal may be decisive on saturday
Hull took time wasting to the next level. Their keeper was asking the bench how much time was left after 25 minutes. But teams will do that in the Premiership which is why we need to be on top from the off.
I think we should realise that our defence is always going to ship goals when it is so weak on the left ! This was cruelly exposed at Man City, and Sunderland …and Blackburn. Players then drift across to cover Elokobi, and open us up to wide gaps through centrall midfield. This is simply because we have sqaure pegs in round holes. Elokobi is inadequate at left back, and God knows how many times we said LB was a problem before the season started. Milijas has been a real disappointment, and Jarvis seems out of his depth at this level. You cannot play in the PL with a weak flank, and that’s exactly what we have. Our left hand side is the worst in the League…Agree?? As for Zubar, I think we really need to be told why we pay 2.5mill for aplayer that not only doesn’t play in the PL, but doesn’t figure for the reserves either. If he needs match practice …play him. I saw him in Perth, he looked OK to me!!
Dazza- I like Elokobi as a bloke but seems to be found wanting. But who else can play there; Stearman? Halford? Matt Hill did ok against Blackburn but is he a premier league player?
I think your critisism of Jarvis is a bit harsh, i’ve been impressed with him at home, but maybe we need to think about playing differently away?
Totally agree about Zubar, he’s just getting further and further away from fitness if anything
I would play Mancienne at left back, and Craddock in CD with Berra. Sorry, but Jarvis just hasn’t got it at this level, But, as I have said before , he may make a good overlapping left back in the old Sturat Pearce/Keith Newton sort of role. We can’t afford to have passengers at this level.Milijas was one, and I consider Jarvis and Elokobi to be others.Just my opinion of course.
Dazza, I have advocated Mancienne at left back now for a little while.
He came on and snuffed out the threat of Sheffield Utd’s Nathan Dyer last season when he was ripping the backside off Stephen Ward. He looked assured there.
I’d go along with your back four, with Foley right back.
hallam – i do miss michael gray and glad he has taken up the blog on the bbc sport page. great player imo. obviously dont think he could cut it at this level anymore but he was a no nonsense footballer who often got the job done. cant ask for much more. he also scored the winner at watford no!? that won me £280. good man!
have to think you are being a bit overly critical dazza. i really dont think elokobi has been that bad. jarvis as well will defintiely become a premiership player, he just needs a little time to adjust.
i do agree within ben though, we are often very slow to start and in the prem being one nil down will always make it tough especially as we work so ahrd by 90minutes we are flagging. im expecteing a good performace from the boys tomorrow, and i really dont want to be the team portsmouth get their season started at
Dazza – You may be onto something there with Mancienne at left back (and also you Ben if you’ve been saying it). We could then slot Stearman into the centre alongside Craddock or Berra, i’m a bit torn between the two.
Still disagree about Jarvis though. He has that bit of pace that can change the game in a split second. It has often been the fault of the front two that nothing has come of his deliveries.
On the subject of Michael Gray, i was gutted and a bit surprised we let him go in the middle of last season. Great player for us who did what was asked when he was needed. He was only here for a short time but will be fondly remembered by me
For all you Jarvis knockers out there, a quote from Alan Hansen’s article posted today
“Mick McCarthy’s side have shown they can score at this level with 6 goals in their last four games alone. They have a fair bit of creative talent in the side and winger Matt Jarvis has come to the fore. In fact, only two players have created more goal scoring chances than the Wolves man and they are Premier League stars Ryan Giggs and Frank Lampard.”
Looks like he’s doing a lot better than some of the “experts” on this blog believe!
@Jed
Well done.
I rate Jarvis very highly.
He’s been a fantastic signing for us and his ball carrying ability has been a big part of our success over the last couple of years.
Good find Jed. That’s an amazing stat. He certainly puts a lot of crosses into the box. The only thing I’d say is that although he puts a lot of balls into the area, the quality isn’t always brilliant. He himself has recognised that and hopefully, if he improves this aspect in his game, he’ll be a first class Premiership player.
Hoping to see him and Kightly starting tomorrow and terrorising a weak Pompey defence.
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