As a paltry attendance of 18,000 was announced to the hard suffering souls who’d roused themselves to be there, it can only be assumed that Strictly was more appealing.
As soon as the Wolves teamsheet was read out minus Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, you could understand why.
The scrumptious Natalie Lowe and co were far easier on the eye than this latest Molineux horror show, which begs more questions than Craig Revel Horwood on a John Sergeant tango.
Despite the huge influx in players and Fosun’s millions associated with them, Wolves have regressed to a one-man team, seemingly incapable of performing in the first half of any given game.
But for a 10 minute flicker of entertainment on the hour mark – culminating in a glorious chance for returning hero Nouha Dicko – this was more underwhelming fare from a side which doesn’t show any outward sign of progression.
Not so much a 10 from Len, but an artificial grimace from Darcey Bussell who doesn’t quite know what to make of it.
As an autumn chill begins to nip and those heady summer memories fade, it’s time to start getting serious before we’re drifting in the same position we were under the maligned Kenny Jackett.
Questions need to be asked.
Namely, how can only Bodvarsson, Costa and possibly, at a push, Saiss, be the only successes from 13 summer signings – and who will be taken to task for this shocking conversion rate?
Sure, the signings need more time to acclimatise, but on early evidence the vast majority seem on a par with anything we’ve seen over the past couple of seasons at best. At worst, they’re not even as good. David Edwards a case in point, who should be nowhere near a side aspiring for ‘The Project’ but is seemingly immovable. And in personal opinion, Cameron Borthwick Jackson isn’t fit to lace Scott Golbourne’s boots.
At a time when we’re shorn of striking options how, for example, can Paul Gladon be nowhere near the first team? Moreover, who signed him when Kevin Thelwell thinks he’s awful, allegedly, and even Jorge Mendez’ pawprints weren’t on his paperwork?
It’s doubtful Walter Zenga has had much to do with any of them, who should just concern himself with finding a system for this disparate group to perform in.
4-3-3 simply doesn’t work, certainly not for this lot, as another team assumes a stranglehold in midfield, this time through the excellent Hoolahan (who McCarthy once wanted to sign, ironically enough).
The worryingly one paced, one trick Caveleiro was anonymous up front and only marginally better when placed wide, presumably scratching his head at more opponents who ‘run too much.’
I would suggest a 4-2-3-1 would work better, allowing Texeira to float about behind a striker (on the presumption he’s up for it which can’t be guaranteed) with Costa and someone else out wide.
Behind them, Saiss and Oniangue could offer protection to our error prone defence, on the presumption that they actually turn up.
Until they do (or Bodvarsson returns) then expect more sub 20k gates and swathes of empty seats.
It takes two to tango.
Spot on Ben.
Some of these signings are terrible.
Like I’ve said before Zenga ain’t the answer nor are the majority of these new signings.
Zenga will be gone by Xmas and whoever is signing these players also.
We need a proven manager (English) who knows the league and a manager who signs the players himself not some pen pusher.
Big Sam or Bruce for me, but I doubt either would come because they wouldn’t have 100% control on who they sign.
A big mess is unfolding before out eyes.
Jeff take note, act now….
Big Sam certainly knows a thing or two about this football business.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/read-full-transcript-sam-allardyces-8921565
There’s talk he may be banned from football for life. You can bet there’s a waff of something rather unpleasant wafting round the corridors of some unscrupulous clubs at the moment.
Just to put the other side.
Ben, I think you are being horribly pessimistic.
You are judging players who hardly know each other, championship football, or Wolverhampton.
And they all speak different languages.
Saiss has hardly played but you are writing him off.
Everything takes time.
Certainly the defence needs tightening.
Nevertheless the Morgan/Moxey era is over and we have a better team now than we did last year and certainly a better set up.
Our expectations are high and we’re all disappointed by a loss.
But we’ve also shown, (say against Newcastle), the potential we have, when a form of cohesiveness is established.
Giving a sort of ‘rest’ to Bodvarsson till after the International break might, in the long term, be a good thing.
Seems we have Dicko to help with his work load now.
Its early days and not so bad as you make out from where I sit, Ben….
Still, its only an opinion.
2 portuguese internationals man! LOL! Norwich is a strong side, don’t forget that. We’ve got an exciting team which will come back strongly. Up the Wolves
It was always going to be a struggle when you concede after 2mins,and we came up against a good side.Unfortunately we have to wait till Jan to address our defence.The shape and tactics are of greater concern.
One word to describe yesterdays performance – unacceptable.
Norwich were sharper than us, quicker to the second ball than us, better organised than us, more composed on the ball than us – I could go on. Clearly the Portuguese guys are shocked by the physicality of the British game – unsurprising if you’ve ever seen any Portuguese League games. Having said that, Cavaleiro and Costa’s pace looked useful in wide positions, but neither can lead the line. Teixeira had ‘one of those days’ – dreadful. Saiss’ 4 bookings in 4 games tells its own story whilst Prince disappeared for long spells in the game
But the problems lie deeper than just the imports. DB’s game has regressed to the point where he is now a liability. How long before we get an experienced ‘rock’ to build a defence around ? Doherty only came alive in the 2nd half when allowed to get forward. Tactically we had nothing to offer. Where was the possession game so studiously built by Jackett during his first 2 seasons ? Instead we moved Batth up front and launched long balls in his general direction as we desperately chased the game. On this evidence there is a long, long way to go and personally, if WZ honestly thought we deserved a point as he suggested, then I am not sure he is the man to take us there.
Jackett possession game you’re having a laugh aren’t you – Jackett’s tactics was hoof the ball up into nowhere in the hope that someone would get on the end of it (they usually didn’t).
Thats why the comment refers to his ‘first two seasons’. Or didn’t you follow us then ?
Wolf man jack – I’ve followed the Wolves woman & girl since March 1973 and have also been a STH for most of that time my comment still stands KJ’s tactics were exactly the same for the 3 seasons he was at the Wolves. He wouldn’t have recognised possession football if it had bit him on the backside.
Well I must be wrong then – along with many others.
Here’s a link to a write up from Jackett’s first season.
https://www.wolvesblog.com/date/2014/02
Note the reference (one of many in that and the next season, by many contributors) to ‘possession football’…
Great write up mate. I’m still hopelessly optimistic that a good team will take shape before Christmas but have reservations on some of the new recruits and, more importantly, the chap picking the team. Zenga is great entertainment value but my fear is he doesn’t have the tactical nous to halt a dip in form, should our last two results become a precursor to one. Still too early to tell though. UTW.
This is the first time Zenga is starting to look a bit desperate with his post match comments. We were outplayed for all but about10 minutes by a well organised unit who thoroughly deserved their win. The heady days of St.James seem more like a flash in the pan rather than a new dawn.
You can look at the defence, particularly Batth who quite rightly will take criticism for a couple of poor performances, but there are problems all over the pitch.
The lessons.
1. We still need an experienced centre half to organise our shambolic defence. Batth, Stearman and Iorfa would be fine playing alongside someone who can take some responsibility at the back.
2. Cavaleiro is not a centre forward, not sure he is much of a winger to be honest. £7Million? Really?
3. Saiss is perhaps not the missing link we initially thought he was. He is as inconsistent as the rest of them!
4. How long will Zenga get. Jeff Shi’s analysis of him so far seems to be ‘quite good’. Hardly a glowing endorsement and that was before the game! Big Sam anyone!!!
5. It is looking like the play offs are looking increasingly like a long shot, let alone automatic promotion. I am sure things will improve, but how long until we start seeing the consistency that is necessary to climb the table?
I am not recommending Walter gets the push, far from it, but he needs to start learning some lessons quickly! We have been poor in the last 2 games and even the Brentford score flattered us somewhat.
Agree on the formation. Surely Zenga can see we’re overrun in midfield. Yet to be convinced by Prince or Saiss. Why can nobody see Jack Price for the great midfielder he is? It baffles me.
Great to see Dicko back, and the goals will come from him. In defence of Edwards, he had a good game in the second half, quick in the tackle and genuinely being a nuisance. And of course, he was at the heart of our two best moments.
I’m willing to be patient with Cavaleiro and Texeira. There’s definitely talent there, but it does seem to be a case of whether they are up for it, as Ben says.
If Ed Balls gets voted off Strictly he could be the missing piece either at the back or up front: Big bustling uncompromising maybe lacking in pace and always wanting to occupy the middle of the pitch. We seem set up to play without the ball and struggled through the first half when we had the ball to do much with it, Costa and Teixeira have pace and skill but often seemed to be left dancing on their own. Caveleiro is more of a slow dancer than a quick step artist. Prince seems not to be hearing the music. Dave Edwards dances like St Vitus which brings unpredictable results, some good some bad. Danny and Dominic danced like they’d been stood up by their dates. And Walter he just seems to be dancing in the dark.
Hilarious Danny!
Even Bruce Springsteen would be impressed…
Ok ..
I closed my eyes potentially re our half back line but I really didn’t expect to be banging my head against the wall after 3 minutes…and how to f.u. In style..
We court trouble at Wolves we bring back Steers who had the worst defensive record at Fulham and we give DB a four year contract ..
I hope I hear Jeff Shi in the future say ‘we made a lot of mistakes the first half of my first season’..
I look at this situation as overall odds that we will get promoted…It obviously is still possible with Dicko and Bod a mouthwatering duo and Jordan Graham say in January but it really is time to take stock of the team and WZ as its obviously from now on in the season which will dictate where we will eventually be ..
We need to catch up points.
There needs to be a realisation where are failings are compared to the ‘other’ favorites to go up.
Inconsistantcy could take us out of the running as we consistantly concede so even if we can’t score we can’t loose if we clean sheet.
We really are a 1 bloke team in Bod at the moment and a 1 bloke failure at the the back and Captain.
January unless it’s too late should be the subject of the No5 spot IMO we need a marauding winger or 2 wingers ..we need a strong midfielder who Texiera can play alongside with Cavalierio and we just might need an expensive striker that Bid and Dicko can play with ..
Ie we need to spend to insure the 2nd half of the season run in.
We are 2/3rds a side and I’ll say this the Chinese are really good at U turns particularly if pride is at stake ..if Big Sam is around in January after the shit settles and WZ is still struggling then I firmly believe it really would be on to switch.
Not yet but it’s all about circumstantial timing.
I thought we played some lovely football in the second half after DB threw the goal way and dangerous ‘S goal was brilliant ..
We were worth 2 yesterday Norwich were worth 1..
It’s on a knife edge to keep in touch with the pack now..if we can do this by January then we still have a chance but it will be down to Fosun to buy those key players ..
The nxt 2 games could (almost) break us or we put a run together ..
With DB in the middle its a very very big ask..IMO
I’m afraid It’s that bloody Sunday feeling yet again..more so because of Moxey going home with a wry smile on his kisser..
Zing is quoted as saying that he thinks the Championship is more tactical than physical!!!
Well, Walter, you have either been misinformed or are blind, deaf and dumb! Why is is that our defence is ALWAYS OUT MUSCLED and when Jon Dadi is out we carry no threat?
We have Thewell and Rob Edwards who were kept on, presumably to give some knowledge of the remaining players and about the division and what it takes to succeed. Clearly they are either just symbols of our poor post and therefore serve no use to the club OR they are not having the ear of the board or team Manager. I’ve said it before, to get out of this division you need –
A blend of skill, youth, experience and DETERMINATION in equal amounts and MOST IMPORTANTLY PLAYERS THAT ARE PREPARED TO GIVE EVERYTHING FOR THE CAUSE.
Sadly we are lacking in all departments in the afore mentioned traits. We are also sadly lacking leadership on the field as well. We have a Captain who is, in my opinion, probably one of the most average players ever to pull on the famous gold shirt. When we look back at players that have had the honour to captain our team –
WRIGHT, SLATER,FLOWERS,BAILEY, HUGHES, INCE for example, with our current squad you would have your work cut out to find a suitable candidate.
Altogether a sad situation, as a team we are devoid of ideas, inspiration and are far too lightweight throughout. Roll on January when those that have currently got it so wrong can try to get those in that MAY Help to put it right!!
…..just might need an expensive striker ……?
Pmsl. You CAN’T get promoted on 0-0 results. Therefore you MUST win games, which means you MUST score goals.
I agree that we need to stop conceding but I am interested in how Dicko performs now that he is back.
A game between a newly relegated ex-Premier League club who kept virtually their entire squad together and with the same manager against a club with a new manager, a raft of new signings, injuries to the main striker and who didn’t get a 3 month pre-season unlike Norwich.
To lose 1-2 at this early stage of the season therefore ain’t that bad. In fact with the chances we had we could have easily got a point or even more.
I find some of the comments on here ridiculous to be honest. Rubbishing every new signing and the new manager is just silly. When we have Bodvarsson and Dicko both fully fit they, along with Cavaleiro, Costa, Teixeira, Saiss, Oniangue, Ola John etc, will mean we have a squad capable of promotion. The defence is still a problem and we need a centre back in January for sure. Another striker of the level of Dicko and Bodvarsson is also required.
However compared to the dross and tedious fare served up last season under Jackett and the previous abysmal regime we are far, far better. At least now we have forwards who get you off your seat.
Danny Batth – from Brierly Hill, local lad made good, Wolves through and through, loyal, committed, gives 100% etc. However he has cost us 4 goals and 6 points in the space of five days and sadly is not good enough. Mr Shi and Mr Zenga will know this I am sure.
We will be fine. Don’t panic. Carry on believing. The ride might be bumpy at the moment but at least we are going somewhere rather than being stuck in the going nowhere station that Morgan and Moxey were happy with.
Well said Bedford, I agree with you entirely. I was as disappointed as anyone last night walking back in the rain but we’ve got to be patient, it’s early days. Such a massive ask in a short time and without a pre-season. Let’s back the team and see where we are at Christmas. And BTW, Fosun are no fools and, unlike Morgan, this isn’t a hobby!
Well said Bedford and absolutely true.
Well said that man ! Totally agree.
Bedders,
Couldn’t agree more, the football is definitely better under this lot than the last two years. I came away on Saturday feeling better than after any loss from last year, at least the guys are trying to play football. Patience, patience,patience is the order of the day.
Work in Progress.
Totally Agree.
I would go as far to say I was expecting defeat in this one…
People moaning we haven’t brought established Championship players… Look up the road at Villa..
They have spent nearly 60 million on Proven Championship players and look where they are…
I am convinced Fosun will get this right in time.
A 2-1 defeat against a very good side is not too big a deal. I was more disappointed losing to Wigan… and instead of blaming all the new signings both defeats were probably due to the mistakes of our Captain…
Well put fellow Bedford fan!!!!
My turn to drive for the Leeds fixture – pick you up about 10.30.
BOG
Agree with Bedford. I never thought we would be promoted this season. There has been too much upheaval and it won’t happen overnight. But at least there are signs now good times should be ahead.
You and me too Rich. Always said this season would be to establish ourselves.
Patience is required, yes our play doesn’t seem to have purpose. Why is our offensive player with the ball never supported?
Our full backs need to get further forward to support when we’re attacking.
Batth& Iorfa no no no. Danny Batth is on the wrong side & it shows. I’d bring Hause back, Iorfa to right back & Doc on the left.
Ikeme’s distribution is a joke. But yesterday WZ may have found his best side. Coady has to replace Prince. Saiss I like. Costa looking good, Cavaleiro also looks a good player. Teixeira has’nt got consistency so bench for him. Hopefully the Dadi is returning for Villa. Edwards further forward looked good yesterday.
Great to see Dicko back & the truly great reception he got from fans. Still rather see this than Craig Revell Hall!
Disappointment.
That sums up the game for me.
After reading all the reports, and seeing highlights of previous matches, I was really looking forward to watching a live game for the first time this season. All the new signings, with their slick skills, our new manager jumping up and down in the technical area, a full house roaring us on to a 5-1 victory, and greasel’s tail well and truly between his legs.
What did I see?
Utter shit.
Woeful defending, worse than schoolboy marking, headless chicken scampering around midfield and fuck all attacking ideas.
And a half empty stadium.
It may have been a bad day at the office from you guy’s perspective, that’s two in a row now by the way, but I can only comment on what I see, and what I saw was abject and abysmal.
Thirteen new faces in, and I reckon we are going to need another thirteen.
If that is the best we can offer, and it was the first not good weather day, what will it be like on a freezing, slushy February evening away from home?
Yes, I want us to win every game, and will never forecast a loss, but, Jeeeez, with this squad????
The best part of yesterday was meeting up via facetime with Sue and Mark Doogle, Lillian Twixfix and some old bald bugger who gatecrashed their party!
Great chatting with you guys again, keep Charlie Cockroach happy!!
FOwb
I’m having none of that ….I was invited …!
For whom the bell tolls !
The experiment hasn’t worked with the players and Walt but to be fair to him if there not his players then he cannot be blamed.
But the English Championship is no place for novices manager or players from sunny shores add to that the fact that the British players are not up to it and you get exactly what we have a the moment a team with no leader a team disjointed with no idea what there doing.
Who to blame, well who ever thought up this mess take your pick I suspect Jeff has taken to much advice from a certain quarter.
I know and most Wolves fans know we needed solid championship performers yes with the od bit of flare thrown in but there are too many signing that just haven’t come off as I say add to that British players who have been here and should have progressed by now and haven’t and this is the mess you end up with.
I blogged earlier about Gouldbourne I said at the time it was madness to let him and Ricketts go now look at Gouldbourne in form and flying high with Bristol City.
The recruitment is in a even bigger mess than when it was just Thurwelll. As for attendances why would you want to watch that crap, if you go to a restaurant and the food bad do you go again, you might try it again if there’s a change of management but if the food is still bad well then you don’t go again……..simple Jeff the management/owners changed the product is still crap so how to you expect attendances to be up…….?
Get the product right ie the team/football and they will come lip service is no good we have heard it all before to quote a phrase from a Hollywood film ” build it and they will come “
who’s Goldbourne ?
Hollywood actor……
Yes I bet Man U would love to get their hands on Goldbourne rather than get BJ back next season. You’ve made me laugh… so cheers.
In the opening 2 minutes we contrived to give the ball back to them a dozen times failing to execute a single pass It was there passing game that gave them ultimate control. A part of the game some fans seem to think you can do without the lack of meaningful possession left the midfield to deep and the strikers looking isolated anywhere over the halfway line. Difficult to say how bad or how good potentially the individual players are any one of them would have had a much easier time playing in there side.
Can someone explain to our starting 11 that when the whistle blows at 3.00 pm 5.30pm, 7.45pm it means the game of football has commenced, it lasts for at least 90 mins and the rules are you stop the opposition from scoring whilst you try to score yourself, you pass a round object called a ball to one of your own players and advance up the pitch (this is the thing the game is played on) and try to get the round thing inbetween two posts called a goal. When the opposition advance with the ball towards your sticks (goal) you organise your players to take up positions on the pitch to restrict the advancement and attempt to get the round thing back, you can use your head, chest or normally feet to get the round thing back in possession (often referred to as tackling) The starting 11 each have a position to play in which best suits there skills and abilities. An example would be a centre back, he plays in the teams defence, usually of tall stature and big build (needed to be a good defender) able to read and anticipate the oppositions moves (play) and break down said moves, protecting his sticks and stopping the round thing from passing in between his sticks (goal) The centre back position is very important and requires a lot of skill, knowledge of the rules, requires bravery, leadership and anticipation, this position is so important that the player in this position is normally named the captain of that team because of the qualities that he possess. Also important is that each player of that team is able to communicate with other players of the same team, this is done in various ways and is called communication, verbally via speaking a common language (if playing in England, then English will be used) by gestures such as pointing, waving. This useful when communicating where the round thing is to be kicked (passed ) too. Another method of communication is one of anticipation, this is only used when the players of the same team have played together for long length of time and can predict to some degree of certainty without the need of verbal communication where the other team player will be or want the round thing to be played (passed) too, executing this method will give that team an advantage over the opposing team and can result in the round thing going past the oppositions sticks more often during the 90 minutes and resulting in the team being awarded 3 points at the end of the game.
This is lesson number 1 of 10 in my INTRODUCTION TO THE GAME OF FOOTBALL . Next week I will try to explain the various team formations that add up to 11 and the importance of passing the round thing to another player wearing the same coloured shirt preferably going forward.
UTW ?
Tell me more, Oh Master!
As I have said here (or elsewhere) recently, you cannot expect players who play a ball control game elsewhere to go to England and play that same style, but twice as fast. It’s like asking Clapton to play faster.
As I have also said, it doesn’t matter what style of play is played in the Championship, you are only playing one team at a time and the rules are not modified to favour any team playing the predominant style.
So Walter has to take these new players from the continent and figure out a style that fits their skills and, maybe, keep the back 4 plus goalie plus maybe one midfielder from last years squad and take the forwards and 3 midfielders and play a more controlled style similar to what they play in their home leagues, where their style developed.
Just trying to take all of these players and shoehorn them into a completely different style negates the benefit of signing them in the first place.
They have to be more defensive, and quick on the backtracking but going forward, they should play more like they do in their former leagues. Remember, if the Championship style was that good, England would be rated higher on the FIFA world rankings than they are.
Why do you think South American and Southern European teams are so successful in world competitions?
Barcelona or Real Madrid would not change their style to play a Championship team and we, likewise, should develop our own style which takes advantage of the skills these new players brought with them.
That is Walter’s big task. To try to figure out how to best use the new talent and form a hybrid system that will beat most of the teams in this division.
Off topic. Eric Clapton calls Albert Lee God. That’s some compliment. I was a spotty youth at Dudley Tech when I bought Fresh Cream. Still got it.
Can someone please tell me why Wolves seem to have such a low percentage of possession, according to the BBC stats? Are they intentionally playing a counter offensive type of game or are they just that bad at keeping possession.
I have noticed this many times this season.
This is a serious question. I cannot see the games over here and am just trying to follow things through social media until we get back up to the big times.
I think we must be looking to play a counter attack style and that’s why we keep giving the ball back to the opposition.
I didn’t think that I could be more disappointed than when we conceded a goal after a couple of minutes that my old gran would have stopped if she had been either a centre half or a goalkeeper.
…But I was.
I didn’t think I could be more disappointed than when I watched sixty odd minutes of chaps in gold and black doing passable impressions of a scratch pub side that had indulged in a few pints of ‘Old Peculiar’ before being thrust together for the first time having never met before.
…But I was.
I didn’t think I could be more disappointed than when I saw a team actually wake up and play with passion and no little skill but much, much too late to affect the result of the game that had long been lost.
But I was.
Do you want to know what, for me, was the biggest disappointment of the afternoon?
Probably not but I’m going to tell you anyway.
It was Walter, in his post match interview, saying:-
“I think that we played a very good game for all of the game.
There are some problems that we have but we played a good game.”
Pardon?
What did you say?
Hmmm!
After the game, the disappointments stopped and myself and the PMDG’er enjoyed a convivial evening at Twixfix Mansions, indulging in stuffed mushrooms, a rather fine fish pie, some decent plonk and some facetime with a decent plonker over in the good old US of A.
I could go into the game in more detail but most people already have.
Random thoughts:-
Most of our new signings look like a load of Fancy Dans whose hearts just aren’t in it… Our defence is a liability, CBJ is not quick enough or good enough, Iorfa and Batth just do not work together… I don’t care which is his strongest foot, Doherty is a left back not a right back…. Edwards started looking good when he was pushed higher up the pitch… Ikeme’s distribution is getting worse and worse…
…And finally, based on his comments yesterday, Big Walter Zenga is turning into little Walter Mitty.
It’s all on big Sam then in January ..
Would you REALLY trust Big Sam’s judgement after he landed the job he has wanted all his life and blew it after one match?
I’m not sure The Money Shop would approve of Sam’s business ethics
🙂 🙂 🙂
Funniest blog post so far in 2016
Pmsl. Brilliant!!!!!!!
Do they have full pitch scrimmages in practice or mainly work on skills and drills?
They say they have enough for two full teams so they should scrimmage with the new players (plus some fullbacks from last year) against the players from last year and let the new players figure out how to break down the Championship style defense. How to control the pace of the game etc.
It will take time to figure out how to do that if you come from another country and league. Also, Walter would learn a lot from watching that.
Is this being done now?
It’s weird trying to work out Wolves at the moment. I’ve seen some quite devastating periods of play (Rotherham,Blues, bits of Brentford, 2nd half Huddersfield, bits of Reading, 10-15 mins yesterday when we could have scored 3). So the problem seems to be sustaining the good play. CONSISTENCY. In this league you have to be 100% for 95 minutes every game. If not you will be found out. These players are gonna have to learn and quick . Worryingly it’s Villa next and we seem to end everybody else’s misery when we turn up. So fed up and anxious but there are glimpses of something there. May be it will come. May be not. The rollercoaster seems like a clapped out old vauxhall viva today. Will it crank back on to the rails ?
Utterly disappointed with the result and the manner in which we played,we always look half a yard short of pace especially in our defending.
As said DB is a liability at the moment its about time he learnt how to defend , a chap his size shouldn’t be muscled out the way he has in the last two game’s. I’d drop him and give him a run in the reserves to see if that could he’ll his game.(IMO he ain’t cutting it get rid)having said that the whole of he defence didn’t play any good at all.
I’m with what Bedford said for the rest of it,but we need another top striker and a proper experienced central defender (Captain) come Christmas then perhaps we won’t be far away from the play offs at least.UTW
Interesting write up Ben. I love a good analogy so top marks for the Strictly themed report! I assume from your two match reports this season that you have some concerns over the direction Fosun have taken with Mendes, Zenga, foreign recruitment etc and I must admit I have shared a lot of those concerns since the start. I also agree up to a point with your comments about tactics and recruitment.
Perhaps some fans got a bit carried away with dreams of instant success when the takeover happened but I always thought this would be a mid-table season of transition so I’m not too concerned at the moment. It goes without saying though that results do need to pick up to avoid a nervous slide down the table like our last foreign manager.
I don’t mind if the first half of the season is erratic so long as in the second half we can see signs of a improvement and the template of a successful team for future years. It took Karanka two and a half seasons to get Middlesbrough promoted. I wonder if Fosun and the fans have that amount of patience?
As for the game itself I was most disappointed with the fact that with only quarter of the season gone we look absolutely knackered! JDB is a big miss but it was good to see Dicko back. Best players for me were Edwards, Coady and Costa. For once I think the international break has come at a good time.
Dean Saunders was our last foreign manager!!!
I must have mellowed over the last couple of years. Despite a defeat my 3 grandsons were not treated to a torrent of abusive and foul language ! 🙂
I can only say I saw a team of strangers who have no idea who or what is supposed to do what and when.
It will improve.
Fair play to Norwich – they look a very decent side.
Danny needs to man-up and be show more aggression, he is too easy to bully off the ball.
I agree with a lot of what Bedford Wolf says.
adding to what he says… let’s look at the bigger picture….
What would we rather have …Same old, same old Jackett …and even more of Moxey / Morgan bullshit and empty promises and academy kids (under 8’s being snatched from their prams and offered first team football)….OR…..OR
The promise of Premier League football and a decent side to go with it.
FOSUN aren’t here to f””k about ….we’ll get to the promised land in the course of time …it will happen ….
UNDER MORGAN …. it was just a dream ..one which, with succinct Moxey spin, would never be realised…..the only Suckers were you and me…FANS.
Give our Owners, Coaches and Players a chance.
Agreed, yesterday we got a bit of a mauling BUT with a couple of our second half chances going in …we would be talking a different story.
It wasn’t pretty yesterday but it was prettier than in the previous regime days.
We’re are weak with some of the new recruits but I believe that the direction of the club has moved forward significantly…what’s needed is more trust and patience.
Forgot to add …what a fantastic time it was to meet MOSMAN WOLF and his family.
This guy has come over from SYDNEY to see his beloved Wolves with his wife and son and how he became a Wolves fan ( …and now Blogger) …well is unbelievable….what a story……
Have a safe journey home to OZ and welcome to the BLOG family …..
Great also to meet up with (and in no particular order)…. Stuwolf, Jen, Bedford, the world famous BOG, the DOOGooders and of course MOSMAN WOLF and his family….
It was great to meet you all yesterday and put some faces to the blogs. Disappointing that we didn’t win the first game that I have attended but what a great experience.
I didn’t think we were that bad. Norwich are a good side with recent Premier League experience and pretty much the same squad as last season.
I did get pretty nervous every time they got near our defence in our own half. I can see that all the comments being made about the quality of the defence are accurate.
I am optimistic that given some more time to settle as a squad we will do OK – play offs for me.
Thanks for the hospitality and till the next time I get to a game I will continue to follow with interest from afar.
Welcome to the madhouse, Mosman!
The change under the new manager is that the players are not having a day off. They used to arrive on match day at 1pm . Under the new manager they have to be at Molineux at 10am. They are then bused to Compton and undergo a vigorous training run out before returning to Molineux at 1pm. They are knackered No wonder they let a goal in the first minute. It was noticeable also that the players can’t comunicate with each other because of different nationalities . I thought out keeper should have made an effort to get the goal, and think the problem at the back has a lot to do with Iorfa.
Despite the general unhappiness with our defence and our general play, a couple of things must be remembered.
We were playing one of the strongest teams in the division.
OK. What Danny was doing for their first goal only he can know. He had his back to the ball when the striker headed it and Danny seemed more interested in playing the man than the ball. Complete rubbish. After that however, Norwich scored one with a strike I would challenge any team to defend against and we got one with a magnificent header from Dangerous Dave. Hardly a desperately leaky defence.
Norwich had more cohesion and looked like a team. We had some very talented individuals who in the main don’t seem to have come to grips with the rough and tumble of the Championship and get precious little help from a succession of refs. However, apart from Danny’s early faux pas, it was a one all match and their second was almost unpreventable.
Special well dones to Dangerous Dave and Helder Costa, who scares ’em to death.
Be good to see Jack Price back to replace the soon to be suspended Saiss. Also look forward to seeing Nouha and Bod on the pitch together. Mouthwatering!!!
Hello! I hope you guys don’t mind I’m going to get off topic. I’m a new supporter and I just want to share my story. I’m from South East Asia with no real ties to the UK. I’ve been following English football the last handful of years. Followed clubs like Arsenal, Newcastle, Palace, Forest and a few others. Yes, I even tried West Brom (Which, sadly because of impulse, I ended up buying a brick in their stadium, something I thoroughly regret, but have to confess!). After following those teams for months at a time none would stick, none of those clubs felt right. Funny enough what lead me to Wolves was actually West Brom and having the same nickname as the Minnesota Timberwolves, which I’m a fan of, made me want to learn more about the club. The more I found out about the history and ambitions of the club, the more I knew I wanted to support Wolves. After years of searching, a club finally felt right. I know all this might sound sacrilegious to football fans but this is my fandom story. I wish it could’ve been more clear cut, but I guess I just had to go through darkness first before seeing the light.
*led me to, not lead. Sorry.
Great story Jay.
I think you’ll find that many of us have strange stories about how we came to support the Wolves.
Mine involved a free meal and paid entrance to Molineux which I chose over a (pretty good) chance of a shag when I was at Art College at Wolverhampton.
God! How I regret that!
Thanks for replying! It sure sounds like an interesting story!
I’d like to buy the film rights to that story.
I too support Wolves through West Brom. Not that I ever was a Tesco. Just that all my family did and I was a ‘rebel without a team’.
Welcome to the ‘pack’ Jay. Where are you in South East Asia?
Thanks Wolfstroker! Glad to be here! I’m from Manila. Pretty darn far from Wolverhampton:)
Manila. Lovely. Where they make the famous envelopes. 🙂
Haha, yes our envelopes are pretty famous:)
Welcome to the blog mate. Just one word of advice…… don’t always tell the full story. I mean, it might have been better if you left out the bit about the baggies, especially the brick bit!,
Glad you saw the error of your ways.
Start looking at the cost of a flight to the UK for the end of season Blogger Bash. Would be good to meet you.
Brompton Wolf,
Good point there. I guess I just wanted to be honest, but you’re right maybe I was a little to honest. About the bash, I’d love to go, I’ll sure look at some flights!
I couldn’t be bothered to post yesterday as there was so much negativity on here , so I decided to watch the game again and I still think we did OK against one of the better and settled teams , I think we will only get stronger moving forward and we have played just about everybody in the top half to date so it’s not all that bad !
A couple of my mates (neutral ) watched the game and also commented that they believe we will be up there at the end of the season! Maybe it’s that we all see the game differently , or do I just have my gold glasses on ! Anyway for me the future is bright ( and old gold X black of course)
A lot of negativity on the blog as might be expected after a loss.
However, things must be put into perspective and for me Bedfordwolf has summed things up nicely.
Norwich are a good side, full of established Premiership players who will be one of the favourites for automatic promotion. Wolves a team still in transition and missing our talismanic striker. We were outplayed for much of the first half, though far stronger with the introduction of Nouha. Now the key question – how much weaker are we in reality from Norwich???
Danny B needs a rocket for watching the player with his back to the ball – unforgivable defending, and there was a wonder strike for the second.
Of course there is still much work to be done, but I still believe there is much cause for optimism and would put us as a top 6 side rather then mid-table by the end of the year.
Seem to be a few wonder strikes for goals against Wolves this season.
What odds for big mick taking the villa job just before we play them !!
Can’t really understand how the game was a cause for optimism for some. It really was a shambles of a performance, the team poorly set up, uncoordinated and seemingly incapable of stringing a few passes together. Reminded me of Solbaken days after early confidence had gone.
I thought W2 Steward’s comment above very telling. WZ seems to want to compensate for a lack of nous by over-extending the players physically and this was precisely the complaint made by Danny Batth in advance of the Newcastle league game. No wonder this very player couldn’t challenge for a header in the second minute of this game…he was already shagged out!! Now, of course I’m not arguing that players don’t need to train hard….remember Cullis and “there’s no substitute for hard work.” BUT, overtraining is a familiar concept in sports science and it looks possible that this is one of Zenga’s errors.
Finally, it always worries me when a manager tries to distort the reality of how his team has just played. Saunders was a genius at this and dear old Kenny had his moments too of course. But it is a bad, bad sign, if not frankly of delusion, then of being rattled to the point of not being able to own responsibility for your actions as manager.
We have some good players, Bod, Costa, Tex, Borthwick-Jackson, not to mention Nouha, Doherty, Iorfa, Hause but is Zenga capable of building a team on these foundations? A quarter of the season gone and there’s not much evidence so far.
Keep us posted W2 Steward!
With due doff capping to Ian Drury and the Blockheads
Reasons to be cheerful part I
No fixture this weekend…….
Norwich are the best outfit in this division by a country mile and will go up. We only have to play them at Carrow Road. With a quarter of the season passed by already we are comfortably in mid table in a division where anybody can beat anybody. This is a season of transition, I don’t really expect Wolves to gain promotion this term and I said as much prior to the opening Rotherham fixture. Trying to turn this previously dormant and backward thinking club into a hell for leather promotion chasing outfit after 11 games is akin to trying to turn round the Esso Atlantic in 5 yards in mid ocean. It simply ain’t going to happen quickly. Patience – and Lord knows I agree we have needed to have plenty of that over the years supporting the club – is a virtue and we are going to need a little more folks. However I am a firm believer it will happen and we will attain the Holy Grail and then push on and on.
Reasons to be cheerful part 2 and not so cheerful part 1
Prior to the game I had the pleasure to meet Twix, Doog along with their respective ladies and Mike from Sydney (Mosman) and his family. Departing Molineux and walking/waddling back to West Park and getting soaked I remarked to Bedford Wolf how damm sorry I felt for the Sydney crew. Their first ever visit to the Shrine after 45 years and we bloody well lose. I was gutted for them.
Reasons to be cheerful part 3
On the way back to Bedford we simply avoided discussing the match. Instead any number of topics were aired – including Bedford Wolf’s 60th birthday which is on the horizon in November. I just thought it may be a good idea to meet up again at the Park View Hotel, possibly before the Sheffield Wednesday game, and have a drink together and toast the old git. (Mind you I am 64 soon so I am an even older git).
Just throwing it around to see if there are any takers.
Reason to be cheerful part 4
As my beloved lady is from Caserta near Naples I am in Italy for the Villa fixture at a 50th wedding anniversary party. I am made up to learn that one of the neighbours has access to Sky Italia which means I should be able to catch the game live.
As I will not be able to give my prediction as we will all be pissed as farts on the local vino to whoever monitors the prediction forecast please note the following
Aston Villa 1
Wolves 3
Bodvarsson will be back and forming a formidable partnership with Dicko.
Reason to be cheerful part 5
Managed to get another copy of “Out on the Floor” by Dobie Gray without too many scratches. Surely the ultimate Northern Soul dance track of all time.
Have a great week bloggers. Those of you going to Villa Park please give the lads a yell from me.
BOG
It was good to meet you on Saturday BOG.
You looked like a much younger man!
As far as Bedford’s birthday is concerned, would love to do the Sheffield thing but we already have tickets to see The Bonzo Dog Doo Da Band in Bristol that night.
It’s their 50th Anniversary tour so I don’t think they’ll be around much longer.
BOG, I think it is most inconsiderate ofwhoever to arrange a anniversary party during the season.
You should rent a jet and zoom back for the match, and zoom back again, and if everyone is as pissed as you think they will be, you will not have been missed!
A real Wolves fan would, anyway.
Totally depressing start to Saturday’s game with DB being flummoxed by another of our serial nemeses. The Canaries threatened to take the game away from us after that, including when Ikeme saved an easy second with his legs. But, that apart, I thought we stuck at it and might have scored more than just Dave Edwards’ consolation goal.
I’m squarely in the mildly optimistic camp and hoping we have a decent run after the international break.
One plus point is that the new players should be well and truly bedded into the team by then. Hopefully the likes of Ola John and Gladon (who does seem to have a bit of the physicality necessary for the Championship) will get more of a chance to establish themselves. And, Saturday’s run out should (fingers crossed) help Dicko to come back with renewed confidence.
Another plus point is that the new recruits will not be familiar with our November failings over recent years.
Hold tight folks, the next couple of months could be interesting. Hopefully I can keep my rose tinted glasses on until then.
BOG. It always makes me laugh when someone is in distant shores at an important family do or summat and the overwhelming pre occupation is with our beloved WWFC. Is there a telly? Is the Wolves match on? As i told everyone on this blog I was in South Africa over xmas and the Wolves v Reading game was on sky. We knew there may be a chance if it being on somewhere in Durban after the cricket finished. Lo and behold we found a hotel. In the main bar a premier league game was on. In a small room round the back was Wolves v Reading. Guess what. About 8 or 9 wolves and reading fans in there clustered round the telly whilst all the locals watched the premier league. Reasons to be cheerful part 6. At least we ay shit fans!! Cheers BOG. Enjoy Italy.
Great to see the likes of Jay and Mosman on this blog. Welcome to all. You will get use to it. We all bleed when we lose and to most of us it actually ruins our weekends. But we love it when we win. We also gave a shared passion to see our beloved Wolves returned to former glories. Enjoy the blog chaps and keep the comments coming. Always interesting to hear from afar. Jay we will put that unfortunate WBA flirtation down to a poor communication between UK and Manilla. All the best. WOLVES AY WE!
My worst fear was realised as Norwich did indeed manage to secure their second ever win on our patch, had to happen one day. Obviously they are a better team than us and our defence is wobbly at best, but on another day, I’m sure we would have won. In fact, if we hadn’t conceded that early goal, we might have won this game as well.
The second half display is, I believe, a truer reflection of our capabilities. And with Dicko back, we will improve even further.
I don’t expect us to get promoted this season but we will end up near the top 6. I can live with that and hope for a much stronger campaign the following season.
The last thing we want to do is overreact and become too negative and put unnecessary pressure on the new regime and cause them to become disillusioned.
Fosun are new to this and will learn quickly and improve.
I am more excited than I have ever been with our club and I am not going to let a few bad results dampen the hope and potential we now have.
Come on, you Wolves!
All most spot on here Steve, if we do some business in the January window we might still be in with a shout come the end of the season. Still very early days. Bring it on !!!!!
The management of change is a slow process and as someone noted in an earlier post it takes about 5 miles to slow down an oil tanker and turn it round. The club has taken last year’s defence (plus CBJ), and then bolted on an entire new front end comprising midfield and strikers (plus Dave Edwards and Conor Coady). It’s a bit like putting a racing car engine into a Ford Focus and expecting it go at full throttle.
Firstly, by Jeff Shi’s own admission, all the foreign imports lack match fitness. Secondly, perceived wisdom is it usually takes half a season for foreign imports to adapt to the championship, and we’ve currently gone all of ten weeks.
At Wigan and again against Norwich there were two examples of players not knowing how their teammates play/want the ball. On both occasions Dave Edwards got the ball in right midfield, looked up and saw Costa on the touchline. Costa started to run inside wanting the ball played in front of him so he could take it in his stride, lose his marker and run at the back four at speed. On both occasions Edwards played the ball to where Costa had been standing and the ball went out for a throw-in. If this is still happening in six weeks time I’d be seriously worried – right now it’s slightly comical.
Wolves fans are known to be very demanding and we all want to see a successful side, but a little more patience is needed right now.
Wolffondler,
Manila is an ice cream flavour.
Welcome to the blog of blogs, Jay Enrile.
We may appear weird, ( especially the tent dwelling Chalkie ) but our love of the Wufflers knows no bounds.
FOwb
Latest thing the Express & Slur are printing,
“Wolves fans baying for Zenga to be sacked” in their defence they are saying it’s ludicrous, but they are still in an attempt to sell papers, printing this dross. FFS, the knuckle dragging types that battered shit out of the guy from Bristol City will pick up on this amd start it moving. Irresponsible gutter press. Give the bloke a feckin chance, it’s mindless to pamper to idiots just to sell the papers.
IMO only Zenga made a massive Mistake in going public stating we were worried about Norwich and Wigan,adding that they were a great team with good players. They aren’t that great and came down because of that fact, it is crazy to pay that much respect to a team when our foreign imports don”t know too much about them. A simple “they are a decent team which we shall respect” would have let the lads know they had a game on, but they would have not been so terrified of them as we were in the first half. We could easily have beaten Norwich and Wigan for that matter. Scaring the Shit out of our players so they expect Armageddon in my opinion was silly and put our players on the back foot from the off.
Give all the new players a guided tour of the museum, and let our proud history and heritage sink in, then see how they come out roaring!!
Stu, I assume Zenga was naively trying reverse psychology to encourage even greater effort but it backfired totally. We can actually beat any team in this division, unless he scares the shit out of our players beforehand. Call for his head are ludicrous. Fosun will have patience, but don’t try their patience too much Walter.
Well said stevo and stu
Respect all , fear none
Get back in the pack , we can do this
I see the ‘official Wolves’ have sent s survey headed ‘Your opnions (sic) matter’! Something between an opinion and onion?? I guess some bloggers could give some opinions to bring tears to their eyes! But, recent defeats notwithstanding, I reckon the ones recognising that change ain’t instant, especially with such turnover and players unfamiliar to this wonderful league, are right. Just a pity that the incomers didn’t include some wily old Champ experience. The WV1 Wall of China wasn’t built in a day.
I’ve given them my ‘opnion’ for what it’s worth.
I’ve also offered my services as a prof ruder.
Sorry, that should have read ‘proof reader’.
Oh! Deary me!
You can’t beat the old ones can you.
Sometimes the old ones should be beaten, with a wet lettuce, but that’s another story!!
Interesting. I like wet lettuces …. tell me more!
Talking of Kenny Jacket !!!!!!
I was going to offer my services as proof reader but then realised I’d missed out the ‘r’ in proof . I do hope they don’t call me. I won’t be able to say “I’m free” with a straight face. Actually a straight face is probably not the best turn of phrase in such circumstances.
Let’s hope the football team can follow in the footsteps of the Wolverhampton speedway team.
Elite league champions for 2016 after beating Belle Vue Aces on aggregate. Just watched second leg from Manchester – gripping stuff and I certainly ain’t no petrol head.
Congratulations to Wolves speedway and all supporters.
Over to you Wolves F C…….
BOG
Wolves speedway win the elite league (dam beaten by BOG).
The last time Wolves won the elite league was in 2009 another Wolves team also won promotion to the premier league in 2009.
Omens are looking good.
Sorry BARD – just happened to have the blog open on my phone when Wolves clinched the title with one heat to spare.
As you point out – lets hope its a repeat of 2009.
BOG
I was there BOG …..what a night to remember …and I don’t mean the Titanic sinking (film)……
Nice scrap between Cook and Lindgren…..
Hi Twix
It must have been quite a night in Manchester -fair play for making the trip.
Frankly I would not know one end of a bike from another (same with cars where my knowledge is virtually zilch) such is my disinterest in all things with an engine. Probably something to do with driving whilst making a sparse living in the Black Country steel tube industry as a sales guy for around 40 years I suppose.
However I really enjoyed both legs of the final and last night even made by heart skip a beat with Belle Vue controlling the early heats. All well that ends well and as BARDwolf points out Wolves speedway last won in 2009 which was the same year as McCarthy moulded a promotion winning team………..! Lighting and striking twice I wonder?
BOG
I went with Ben …one of the Blog Originators…. I’ve never been a passenger to have jumped so many red lights and cameras, not to mention the queue jumping and lane hopping ….great night Ben mate …I’ll think I’ll drive next time….