You never know what to expect from a midweek trip to Molineux.
Last season the memory of a similarly disappointing 3-1 defeat to Huddersfield was later exorcised by rousing 3-0 victories over Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday.
QPR were always likely to be an unknown quantity. Despite being in the midst of a post-relegation transitional period, their side still contained Premier League caliber talent.
But you couldn’t ask for a better start and it was particularly pleasing to see Benik Afobe bag a goal in front of the South Bank after the fevered speculation surrounding Norwich City’s apparent interest.
QPR didn’t look capable of handling us, with their midfield struggling in much the same vein as Hull’s did in the early throes of Sunday’s game.
They soon benefited, however, from the lackadaisical approach Wolves are prone to taking after going ahead early.
First Dominic Iorfa failed to get tight to Phillips and his cross landed plum on the bonce of Charlie Austin – 2-1.
Golbourne was similarly lax after the break, allowing Phillips to cut in and take a speculative shot at Martinez who bizarrely palmed the ball into the net to level things up.
More weak defending allowed the visitors to take the lead, this time Hause allowing his pocket to be picked by Austin for Phillips to once again benefit from Martinez’s comedy keeping.
Kenny has made few mistakes since taking the reins at Molineux but I fear he’s created a rod for his own back by dropping the tried and tested Ikeme so early in the season.
Mistakes are to be expected from a team as young but it’s hard to see us breaking into the top six if they become a theme, especially given the level of investment that has been made by some of our nearest competitors.
If you’re going to lose games in this fashion, lose them in the early stages of the season, learn the lessons and go again.
An away fixture at Cardiff is a real test of our mettle and the response may tell us more than this hugely disappointing night ever could.
In the film Memento, Leonard has anterograde amnesia, a condition in which the sufferer cannot recall the recent past. This results in Leonard not knowing why he is where he is and what he is supposed to be doing. He spends the whole film trying to work this out and we the viewers watch on equally confused. After 38 minutes of pleasing to the eye and effective pass and move football Charlie Austin’s goal induced anterograde amnesia in a whole team and manager. I had to watch Memento at least three times before I started to understand the plot. I hope Kenny’s not losing the plot and can learn something from watching the second half of last night’s game. Me, I’m just hoping to forget. Now where was I?
With Ikeme in that team we would at least have had the draw, what did Ikeme do so wrong to be dropped ?. With regard to putting an extra midfielder on at 2-0 who would you have taken off because in the second half when the fullbacks had the ball with henry and dicko gone they had no one in front of them to pass to. They seemed to totally loose it in the second half was it just seeing the poor goalkeeping behind them or were we showing signs of tiredness ?. Will have to freshen it up as Bhatt said in the WV1 bar he is still a while away from being back (think we have definatly missed him). Thought ALF was only passable in the game, perhaps a few lbs to heavy. LOL at Mark Davies wallet comment, bad night but at the end of the day c’mon you wolves, get Ikeme and Bhatt back and lets start to accumulate the points.
I can’t fathom why you would drop your number one keeper of two years after one clanger. Ikeme offers stability and reassurance whereas with Martinez you’re not sure whether he’s going to make a worldy save or let one through his hands. His kicking was also woeful. Despite the horror show that was the second half at times in the first we were breathtaking (remember the South Bank were in ole mood) and I think we will be ok. QPR are decent, they punished some lax defending while Charile Austin’s header was a beaut, even if he was unmarked. Good blog by the way.
It wasn’t even a clanger Rich. I think it is the most fickle managerial selection decision ever made by a Wolves manager in 30 odd years of me going. Yep, I feel that strongly about it. And yes, even more so than the FA Cup semi under McGhee.
And now Kenny has created a rod for his own back / set a precedent. There is no way Martinez should be in goal in the next game if he applies the same rules to Ikeme (which weren’t even rules when you think of it)
More worrying than the result is this complete brainfart by Jackett. He has always dealt 100% in common sense and I have rarely questioned a decision he’s made, save for his meddling in November which he soon put right.
Quite what Jackett was thinking dropping Ikeme is anyone’s guess, but if he isn’t reinstated on Saturday then he runs the risk of losing so much favour he has warranted over two exceptional years as head coach.
It’s a god awful, illogical decision that transfer requests are made of.
Sort it out Kenny!
Spot on. Why on earth a football club (in this case our beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers) would allow another football club (fuckin Arsenal) to dictate who plays in goal is beyond a die hard fans like myself and others on this blog. But obviously makes perfect sense to KJ and fat tuck Moxey and builder Bob. While I’m at it they also see sense in Ojo on the bench at the expense of our own youngsters! Ridiculous!
Firstly, a big thank you to new blogger Ben, who to avoid confusion, is going to be published using his surname. Great effort mate and I agree with your summation.
There are just too many mistakes in that back five (including goalkeeper) to be successful. On last night’s evidence, Martinez is just another Kuszczak – capable of great saves (which he made after the game was already lost) but constantly juggling the ball instead of gathering and getting beaten with soft efforts. Ikeme must be immediately restored.
I’m afraid to say Hause too is averaging a mistake a game. Robbed for Newport’s goal, gave the penalty away at Hull and again last night, lost the ball in the lead up to QPR’s winner (albeit after disastrous goalkeeping). I’m not convinced by Ebanks-Landell but he should probably be given a go until Batth regains fitness.
As a team, we were never compact enough defensively and QPR had a ridiculous amount of space through the middle all night. Even at 2-0 you never got the sense the game was dead and buried. They always looked like they were going to threaten. I think when we do get ahead in future, Kenny should consider adding another body in the midfield to batten down the hatches. We’re far too open.
The plus is we’ve definitely got goals in the team and much like Hull, if we’d taken even half of our chances, we’d have won easily. But we can’t keep saying that.
Thomas,
Agreed.
On the Ikeme issue, there could be 3 scenarios:-
1. he’s not fully fit
2. he’s fallen out with Kenny
3. we’ve had a bid from someone (possibly Everton?)
Take your pick.
On last night, as I feared after Sunday’s exertions, this was a game too far for Edwards, Coady and Dicko (although Kenny has to keep him fresh for Cardiff as ALF can’t play against his parent club).
I don’t think we have the technically gifted players to play this diamond formation (if that’s what it is). Playing Edwards out of position doesn’t help. Macca plays far too deep, as does Afobe, yet we still get overrun in midfield.
Very disappointing wake up call!
UTW!
I believe Wenger insisted he got first team game time. This was probably agreed without consultation with the Club Coach. Kenny has been ordered to play him I would imagine.
A goalkeeper on the cheap.
I wouldn’t exactly brand their first goal defensive error; Austin was simply too strong. The second and especially the third goal are conceded due to a dubious goalkeeping. Ikeme would have saved the third goal and possibly the second goal.
Well said Rasmin.
Is this a new handle, a first time contribution or have I been on another planet for the last couple of years?
Don’t answer that question.
Really disappointed about last night’s result.
We do seem to have developed a preponderance for sitting back when things appear too easy, and then we don’t always seem to have the character to rescue situations when they start getting out of hand.
When everything is said and done, the result yesterday boiled down to a story of two goalkeepers.
One who made a couple of crucial saves at crucial moments and one who, on last night’s performance wouldn’t have kept me out of the first team when I was in my prime.
It happens – Robert Green has been known to drop a few bollocks in his time.
I still worry about Hause in the middle, for such a lanky chap he doesn’t seem to be able to get off the ground very well and his spacial awareness leaves a lot to be desired.
But you can say what you like about formations, substitutions etc., Ikeme, even though he’s not been at his best this season, would have gobbled up those two shots and whatever the qualities of their two star players we would have come away with three points.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing isn’t it.
Hi guys,
Cheers for the nice feedback, much appreciated. Glad to be contributing to such a great site.
Agree that Ikeme needs to be restored on Saturday. Would like to see Doherty get a run out at RB too.
Totally agree with Thom that KJ could do with putting an extra man in the middle when trying to defend a lead. Seems a waste to keep a MF as tactically disciplined as Price on the bench when you’re under the cosh.
Still, four points out of nine isn’t disastrous and maybe this will prompt Steve Morgan into some last minute panick buying on a top class winger…well, we can all dream can’t we?
UTW.
Good blog Ben and is pretty much the result of most of our discussions whilst watching the game last night.
Defensively we were atrocious last night and any side that is successful simply do not ship goals of that nature. I agree with the others that at 2-0 we should kill the game off. Ok we all want to watch entertaining football and have a thirst for goals but against a team just relegated from the premier league, we should have known there was going to be a reaction.
Don’t know whether it’s true but I’m hearing that we have to play the keeper in so many games or risk paying a fee for him. To be honest, if that is true then frankly, it’s barmy. We have an excellent goalkeeper who has waited patiently for years and years to become our first choice and for him to be dropped so frivolously is not good treatment of probably our most consistent performer for 3 or 4 seasons.
Great site, this is my first time on it and I will be following from now on!
It also contradicts the so called club strategy to breed our own talent (like Ikeme) who go on to become first team players and save us a load of dosh (make us a load of dosh if we have to sell).! Ludicrous.
I hope Morgan was at the Molineux last night, to see with his own eyes that if ever there was proof that playing the kids (to save spending in the transfer market) against streetwise old professionals, is not the way to do it in the championship. Oh for that experienced centre half we`ve needed for two seasons.
I visited the club shop before the game to buy a replacement wallet as the popper on my current one had broken. The wallet options were on display but all under lock and key (no great surprise there) and I had to visit the till to select my preference. I asked the young sales girl which one of those available does the owner use, as I wanted my new wallet to rarely be opened, just like the one in Morgan`s back pocket.
I thought QPR were streets ahead of last Sundays opponents, and maybe we were unlucky to play them before they sell their two prize assets, Phillips in particular was too good for us I`m afraid.
Signs for optimism, going forward we look good, but defensively oh dear!! but its still early days!!
Mark .. the popper broke because it’s carrying too many tenners ….
We need experience at the back someone who been there done it got the t-shirt a Erwin, Ally Robinson and most recently Ricketts in fact why we got rid of Ricketts I don’t know.
And before all you bloggers have ago yes , I critical of the whole defence in fact the midfield and attract we didn’t defend as a team which is unlike a Jackett team.
Hause is to inexperienced Stearman carnt baby sit the whole of the back line we need a wise cool head in there to calm the rest down when the opersition have there purple patch which all opersition teams will have.
The defence as been over looked and over relayed on in the last 12 to 18 months, playing the kids is ok but when they are struggling its time to take them out the fireing line. We brought a ruck load of midfielders and bolstered the front line now is to to bolster the defence with a experienced head.
Isn’t Stearman supposed to be that experienced head? He’s 29 now, isn’t he?
Obviously not experimented enough if the goals against colum is anything to go by. I have made my feeling clear regarding Stearman perhaps if he did have an experienced pro next to him he might change my mind about him…..!
Absolutley right with regard to Ricketts : let go far too soon – a cool experienced head who would have marhalled our defense when they wilted. Youth only prospers when old heads are around.
Spot on Cotswold wolf…!
D ropped points, it’s not a dream, I wish we had played Ikeme
O nly 3 games played, so not too bad, but it still drives you raging mad
N ot just our keeper’s fault though, we just did not really have a go
O ther players must take the blame, it is not just one man’s shame
T o get together and review how poor we were when it went 2-2
P erhaps our Kenny will look at our style and reconsider the formation a while
A nd look at how we are a better side when we play the ball out wide
N ot playing our usual winger game is something that is really a shame
I t is upsetting when we are hosting and lose a game when we were coasting
C ome on Kenny, you know what to do – Do Not Panic, just see this through.
If we could play with Van La Parra and Ojo central in a diamond formation in defensive play, and make them run out wide in attacking play we should harvest the best of both systems.
Didn’t see this one, but one question keeps coming to mind. KJ has spent the last 2 years developing a 4-2-3-1 style that worked extremely well. The feedback was that that system should be played at all levels through the club. Then during the summer, (having analysed Bournemouth and Watford’s success), it was decided that we should play more ‘through the middle’ and the 4-4-1-1 ‘diamond’ midfield was adopted.
Not only do the 2 clubs cited have very different personnel from ours, but we have recruited players who suited our system. So why such a radical change ?
I can accept that we have to have a Plan B and away from home we might prefer to protect the back 4 a little more, so maybe use the diamond then, (or preferably 4-3-1-2) but at home we should be playing to our strengths. Despite losing Sako, we still have wide-men with pace (Ojo, RvLP, Henry). Against Hull we were crying out for width and only Iorfa in the 2nd half was able to deliver it. Can we not go back to playing a system suited to the strengths of our squad ?
oh dear oh dear.
5 points
My pre-match post was comments on why had Ikeme been dropped, and why did we play someone else’s youngster instead. I hope that the comments about numbers of games is wrong. He looks like a one man wrecking ball for our chances if he carries on like this. Ikeme the team had confidence in, Martinez needs to learn out of the first team.
My old man was listening to the radio commentary on 5Live last night, and apparently Steve Claridge basically said the formation we have is half wingers half diamond and is a complete shambles and plainly doesn’t work. The opposition know which flank we attack down and they overload there.
We seem to be lost when we need the final ball, and we play tippy tappy football around the opposition box whilst all the opposition players return to fill in the gaps we needed. Last season we attacked with speed and direction, and as others have said thats our strength, we should go back to what we know, and keep this formation as a work in progress on the training ground until we know how to play it properly.
We need to play much much better off the ball. We haven’t learned our lessons about closing down players around the box quickly that nearly cost us against Hull, it’s come back to haunt us against QPR. learn it now, don’t let it become endemic. Iorfa and Hause are going to be great assets they’re young and will make mistakes, play them as full backs and bring Ebanks-Landell in until Baath is fit again.
Make the tweeks and go again, its early in the season we can score goals against the best defences, we just need to learn to keep clean sheets.
Big disappointment in the end, which was unthinkable when we went 2-0 up.
I’m not a big fan of Steve Claridge but I have to agree that we lacked width, especially down the left flank. Playing Edwards there is of no purpose as Dave floats around all over the pitch leaving Golbourne exposed. Oji should be given a run out from the start. I don’t think our Henry is doing much either.
KJ has a lot to sort out, especially at the back. Danny Batth is close to a return from injury. Last night should how much we miss him and his partnership with Stearman.
Cardiff on Saturday. Will be interesting to see how we react to this defeat.
Onwards & Upwards
I got a delivery of cutting implements from Sheffield yesterday, and I will spend ( thats an expression not heard from bob the builder) the next week sharpening them.
Every single Wolves fan in the world knows we need strengthening.
The only two people who can do anything about it do not appear to be Wolves fans.
I said a few weeks ago that they should be given until the end of the transfer window to come up with new signings, otherwise the knives would be out.
Mine are being sharpened…….
We have seen this ruthless streak before Ben, such as the exclusion Jacobs. In a way it is good to have a manager that doesn’t have his favourites such as McCarthy and everyone is kept on their toes. But I also hope he recognises he’s got this one wrong. As you say, he’s not got much wrong in his time here. I also worry about Hause and Iorfa. Can they handle a challenging Championship season? They are young so of course will make mistakes. I would feel much more comfortable with a experienced centre back alongside Stearman. Even Batth looks dodgy at times.
Hasn’t got his favourites. How do you explain Edwards?
The problem as I see it is we have to many kids in the back 5. 3 out of 5 with very little experience. Of course people clamour to play the kids all the while and that is exactly what we are doing. The mistakes being made are ones you would expect from kids. I’m of the opinion that martinez must have to play a certain amount of games as I’ve seen little to suggest he is better than Ikeme. I think we are screaming out for a experienced centre half and iofra would then be coached better into his role whilst on the pitch. I see more potential with this lad than anyone else at the back. I’d sort the defence by getting an experienced centre half and put Ikeme back in goal. I think we are certainly struggling for width and I’d like to see us playing attacking 442. I have faith kenny will sort it out and last night was a reality check for all involved with our club.
In my post match rant last night I bemoaned the lack of investment by M&M. Having slept on it I am even more incensed at the lack of ambition in the boardroom. We can score goals but have to get some quality into the back 4 quickly. You have got 2 weeks Mr Morgan!
First chance to get to Molineux for ages due to fixture/work clashes. Reminded me of QPR v Wolves at Loftus Road in the days of Mark McGhee (Sitting in the QPR main stand with my agent) – QPR all over us for first twenty minutes and only 2.0 to the good when it could have (should have) been 5. McGhee made a tactical change and shortly afterwards Don Goodman got a penalty when an Oscar was more appropriate. (Two Wolves fans also in the main stand ejected in the ensuing outbursts of rage.) Think game ended 2.2.
We needed the bury the header from the corner to make it 3.0 and then knuckle down hard in expectation of a reaction from QPR. Think the team and many in the stands thought QPR were there for the taking but they are full of seasoned pros so a reaction was clearly going to happen at some point. Whiff of the Johnson about the Martinez situation. Hope KJ makes the correct call for Wolves!
2nd knife sharpener here..
It cannot be right for our star scoring players to work their arse’s off glorifying themselves (with us) that they have scored and then to wring their hands in disbelief seeing us give it away at the back….
How many times have I to say this indirectly to KJ and the board..
If we have a modicum of sense particularly in view of Batth not being fit then it does not take an Einstein to see that we still must insure the back.
I repeat myself.
The Ikeme situation is perplexing too
..I wonder what he was feeling regards our conceding goals..(!)
I personally think one of the reasons (beside dish) that Sako decided to leave us was because our defence negated our (sometimes his) scoring goals by conceding… and the perilous situation of Afobe thinking the same is staring us in the face.
It’s for all to see and to think that EBL could be the answer sends me straight away to the funny farm..
We simply have to address this.
DB (could ) make the difference although most of you will know I’ve harped on about buying a new no5 and holding his hand for a bit..
Steers will be out jumped by forwards in future games particularly set plays..
We had a problem with team spirit.. but who could blame some of the players after going virtually 3 up in the first half and then asked to play shell shocked after their equaliser.
The 3rd was inevitable.. QPR played us like a fish tactically knowing our weaknesses in goal and defending.
KJ and the board do something…I just know you know.
I’m proper pissed..and 3 points gone.
Spot on Showcase!
“It cannot be right for our star scoring players to work their arse’s off glorifying themselves (with us) that they have scored and then to wring their hands in disbelief seeing us give it away at the back”
Absolutely bloody right mate. You and Stu (but more you) have been banging on about this for a while now, and I have been saying it is not a priority. Well it is a feking priority now and we MUST get some experienced CB in. Not Now, Feking RIGHT NOW.
Well said mate.
Sako …Beside DOSH
I suspect we are cheap.
We lost our prize asset Mr Sako.
We should have paid what he wanted.
McDonald is running down his contract.
We should pay him as well.
This summer we have shown little investment.
So far we look mid table material.
Brilliant assessments as usual. Should’ve been a win, McDonalds goal was superb. He did’nt celebrate but was quickly mobbed by his teammates! Thought Coady faded 2 ms halfway.
The defensive errors cost us 3 puts.
Ready with hindsight to question the keeper change, but now he’s messed up it highlights what I thought at the time, what had Ikeme done wrong? He should not have been dropped! Martinez messed up v Newport & Jack Price saved him. Next thing he’s in the side. Crazy!
More closing down & more solidity in the back line needed for Saturday. Can’t wait to see the line up.
Desperate for a win to get promotion push on track.
Onwards & Upwards.
One thing is for sure Kenny will not need 10 games to assess this squad.the good judges on here have highlighted the problems l would just like to add,we lack the ability to control games,and there is no steel in our play,too often robbed in position.Can someone explain to me what shape/formation we were playing,coz sitting in the BillyQuiet,l couldn’t ?Also twice Edwards was in the six yard box and chose to lay the ball back instead of going for goal.l noticed also the only player jackett was lambasting was Dicho.We were 2-0 up.
If we have really taken a GK with the requirement we play him it beggars belief. Would KJ really accept that? He played against Newport having scarcely got off the train, which may be understandable, but to stick with him for Hull suggests that is indeed the arrangement or something is happening with Ikeme – which, of course, we’ll never hear officially about. If that is the agreement, then it won’t be long before Ikeme is off. I recall someone saying Saville only warmed the bench on loan and the coach should ALWAYs have the say (and another thing – what’s happened to Saville? Not that he pulled up any trees here – just like to know!). And if that’s the case, I suspect KJ will stick stubbornly with Martinez at Cardiff, bring in Ikeme for the Milk Cup and then stick with him (unless something’s up).
And another thing……I’ve banged on a few times over the summer about the need for experience to balance the youthful zeal of the team, sometimes misinterpreted as a desire for expensive has-beens. Last night was the classic case of someone needing to get a grip and raise dropping heads. I’m not one of the anti-Stearman brigade, but he doesn’t’ seem to have that in his armoury.
After a pretty ordinary day I was made up to go 2-0 up, to which Mrs PW’s somewhat disbelieving response was that we’d lose 3-2. A real downer.
In fact, the more I think about it, the more the suggestion that Ikeme’s a transfer target with a bid that would be accepted seems the plausible answer. Conspiracy theories abound where information is scarce……maybe he’s just been on the naughty step in training.
I have just two Words to correct the defensive problem.
CURTIS DAVIES
Get him here then the team will function like Kenny and the players are trying to make it.
He was the single handed reason we did not win by a hatful against Hull and would have sorted that shower last night when the heads went down.
Iv’e not seen such a performance at Molineux for quite some time, he impressed the hell out of me and would fix one hell of a problem.
🙂
If he’s that good, how are we gonna get Brucie Boy to part with him?
An offer so paltry he will bost his sides loffin’, have a heart attack, and sign the bill of sale on his way to the hospital?
There is no way greasel and blob will even think about a bid for anyone now, I can see them, locked in a tiny room, counting their sheckels by abacus, having organisms over how once again they’ve hoodwinked the fans into thinking they might actually prise open their welded shut wallets.
Razor sharp now, my knives, razor fuckin’ sharp…………..
We dare to dream eh!
Shall I make it three words then.
A CURTIS DAVIES
🙂
I’m getting my knives out now you ot… !!
That performance was nearly totally abject.
I commend the team for the first 20 mins or so when QPR were chasing shadows.
After that the team perfor formed like prima donnas thinking they would score another 6.
Well they’ve all had their arses burnt … Hause was …shown to be just a kid in a man’s world… Martinez gets his name on the teamsheet without any football justice or logic … at best our subs were no better than the one’s they replaced .. Dangerous Dave (Bless him) ran his bollox off but frankly is wasted in the position he find himself in .. the diamond formation just doesn’t work … we are overloaded with talented young prospects WHO AREN’T ALL READY FOR THIS CHALLENGE.
We have a manager who truly looked bewildered after 72 minutes.
I for one ..am not happy at all with what I’ve seen so far. It’s muddled, un-coordinated and frankly worse than last year. We have no drive, thrust or cutting edge coupled with some very serious defensive shortfalls and I feel that Morgan, Moxey and Threadbare are going to have some Tribal fan issues after the transfer window closes if nothing is done……
Got to see my first live game in more than a year last night and these were my thoughts.
Agree with most on here about rereplacing Ikeme with Matinez. You can’t say ‘dropped’. Form’s got nothing to do with jettisoning one of our consistently excellent players over the last 2 years, not to mention a Wolves man through and through. Disgusting in my opinion.
Hause had a mare and is just not ready yet.
I like Iorfa but he pulled out of a tackle on more than one occasion.
Coady looks a really good signing but even he lost it when the crowd started turning.Not the South Bank though, they were magnificent.
McDonald doesn’t look as effective in a 442 formation.
Edwards and Henry may lack pace but both work tirelessly for the team and were instumental in helping to create a 2 goal lead.
And what has happened to Dicko. No movement, no enthusiasm. Pining for his mate at Palace I reckon and now realising how much more dosh he could get elsewhere. He’s adding very little as an additional striker, back to 451 for me.
Not sure where we are going with Kenny at the moment.
or you could say that when he took dicko off the tide turned and qpr took over – which I think was the case – why did KJ take him off ? was he to overconfident htat we would win and tried to rest him and get alf some time on the pitch (which he looks like he needed I;s overweight) ?
Think the tide turned when Austin scored with his first touch in the first half. We still had plenty of chances after Dicko was replaced. Just seen the goals on highlights; didn’t realise the goalkeeping was that bad at the time.
What I’d like to see is Kenny admitting he made a big mistake dropping Ikeme. Not sure I’ve ever heard him take responsibility for a bad result though.
If you fancy an Indian take out, there’s an experienced defender over there……………!!!!!!
Note, I didn’t say good.
This has been a hot blog folks ..
I’m wondering what’s our position going to be with the last 5 games to go ..it could turn to shite but we’ve all said on more than one occasion that the powers that be read this.
I really hope they sincerely do.
We have real problems and as early as this is quite often the same teams are up there at the end..
That would mean Hull and QPQ Boro Ipshit Brighton( !) even Brum ….are we good enough?
At the moment I don’t think so unless we buy a defender..I really mean it.. Ikeme will settle back I reckon ..and we can carry Sakos spot with swap a rounds..
We can score that’s obvious but conceding yet again is on the table
which means a play off spot is our only reward perhaps?
Afobe wouldn’t like that he’s playing PL football next season as he sleeps..lol
Early days but these early days have predictability written all over them..
Talk about expectations being clipped…
True?
Great suggestion Davies Stu but we would have to pay loads to get him and Bruce being an ex defender knows his value.
Back in July, I respectfully disagreed with the position put forward in a blog entitled “The Audit” by saying that IMHO Wolves needed strengthening in every dept, not just in attack. Sadly, yesterday I was proven right. (And believe me, I so wish it weren’t so!)
Think of it this way when considering our defence: if (arguably) our best defender (and I’ll leave him nameless so not to trigger “hater” reactions – no hate here, just logic :-)) has already been proven lacking at the EPL level (from his time there a few seasons ago), then logically it follows that our entire back line is below EPL quality. If our goal is to run away with this league and thrive in the EPL next year, then I would argue our back line needs strengthening!
Having said that, I still maintain that this Wolves squad is overall (perhaps with the exception of wingers) much stronger than last year’s, and I expect that with some better preparation, better team selection (I too have no clue about the whole Ikeme thing), more focus and determination to win, this team will do us good this year. Give them some time. Remember Norwich’s poor start last year and where they ended up.
There is still time to strengthen, and a key experienced defender on loan or otherwise, would go a long way right now to ensure our prospects for next season. Can you imagine if our best defender got injured right now, where we’d be, with Baath already injured too? 😉
My first reaction to the loss yesterday involved repetitive utterings of four letter words. I’ve had time to ponder since (as I am sure Jackett and the whole crew have too) and perhaps there is a silver lining to yesterday’s cloud. Specifically that perhaps M&M have pondered too, and given Kenny the green light to strengthen in defence too.
Still feeling positive overall about the potential for this year. M&M, please don’t fek this one up!
Go Wolves!!!
Peakwolf the rumour I heard was that Saville was bought because he is Bamford’s best mate and we wanted him on loan. The carrot backfired and Bamford went to Boro while Saville was farmed out to Bristol and hardly got a kick!
Statement in the E and S today re speculation surrounding Afobe is as follows:-
“In response to some media speculation this morning, Benik Afobe was bought from Arsenal in January 2015 and other players arrived in the summer, to strengthen the team for the strongest possible challenge on promotion this season.”
Is it just me or can you smell something?
I haven’t seen goalkeeping like that since Dean Richards (RIP) went in goal v Stoke. Ikeme’s treatment is disgraceful, he couldn’t be blamed for the Blackburn goal. When this guy goes back to Arsenal, Ikeme will be back in goal knowing that KJ doesn’t think he’s good enough which is shoddy treatment of one of our own.
If we’ve agreed to play him in a certain % of games then we are in trouble
You know I’m just a black Country Lad and like simple things, If he is that bad a keeper and we HAVE to play him!!!!!!!! Why can’t we just send him back with a note “Not good enough for WWFC?”
Anyone around as long as me a Dooogooder will know it as having the sack, not rocket science.
If we don’t sort out the defence the goals against column like last season will scupper any chance of promotion, automatic or playoffs. I am surprised that Jackett being a defender himself has not sorted this out.
Is it down to priorities did he think the striker and midfield dept was more important certainly the midfield is top heavy. Has he been told he must now sell before he can buy….? Who know one thing I know is we not going to get promoted if we have to win most of our games 4.3.
I’ve just seen the highlights video and goalie goalie goalie…I didn’t know how categoric our man was at fault..
The defence originally but even so Ikeme would of had 2 of them..
Over to you KJ.
Have said this since Sunday, possibly before, but for me we have 4 fundamental problems.
1. The winger-less system it is crap, doesn’t bleedin’ work, makes us easy to defend against, easy to attack against, unbalanced, shambolic etc. Afobe has to play deep, too deep, the full backs have to be defenders and wingers rolled into one – which they can’t do – and we look devoid of pace in key places. Please change it Kenny!
2. Edwards and Henry are tireless, 100% types but sadly both lack the quality, the pace and the speed of thought to play alongside the clikes of Afobe. They need to be ‘rested’ and replaced by others like VLP, Ojo etc.
3. Substitutions – doesn’t KJ like making any? Even at 2-3 and chasing the game he doesn’t throw on someone who could rescue things. Why? Why also do we only have one striker on the bench? As our defence is leaky we should be doing what teams like Watford and Bournemouth did with great success last season and attack teams. Afobe, Dicko, VLP, Ojo, Enobakhare to name just four, Wallace too f he ever gets fit, all have power and pace which we all know terrifies defences at this level.
4. Goalkeeper – ridiculous to dump Ikeme like we seem to have done and this will cause problems.
I said 4 but in reality I could go on all night. I won’t though. All I will say in conclusion is Kenny, please change things on Saturday! Ikeme in goal, Doherty at right back, play 4231 with VLP and Ojo in for Henry and Edwards and stick Enobakhare on the bench – and use all 3 subs!
Ikeme
Doherty. Stearman. Hause. Golbourne
Coady. McDonald
Van La Parra. Ojo
Afobe
Dicko
Subs; Martinez, Iorfa, Ebanks-Landell, Edwards, Henry, Le Fondre, Enobakhare
Rant over. For now.
Bedford your not saying Iorfa is not better than Doherty are you ?he’s been fantastic and he can attack too.
We now need a bloody good goalie..
Ikeme is out of favour prob because he was considering an offer and Martinez has backfired as a cover because he ain’t good enough… couple that with our MASSIVE instability in the half back line and that’s the problem……………..KJ.
We concede………………….KJ.
Anyway,
Cardiff 0
Wolves 3
Another clean sheet. What? Oh, we haven’t had one yet!!!
Come on me babbies.
I will be watching the Cardiff game in the pub. A nice little pub, out in the sticks, where no-one knows me …………….. just in case.
Just notice in the E & Shit that KJ is backing Martinez to become a very good keeper for Wolves.
Juding by his performance on Wednesday we will probably be in the National League by the time that happens.
Bring back Ikeme KJ before you do anymore damage, or are you as stubborn as Mad Mick
Some comments on here about all the problems we have.
There are only two, and they are nothing to do with the playing or coaching staff.
Just seen the goals, soft soft soft. Two rookies in the defence isn’t good. Ikeme back in please, but I doubt this is in the agreement with Arsenal. Has KJ bought in another Roger Johnson?