While so much talk has focused on Wolves’ attacking capabilities of late – and rightly so – there remains one glaring fallibility within this team with a much deadlier consequence…
…Our lack of mental strength.
Sure, the inevitable post-game platitudes will reference half-time coming too soon at Dean Court or the referee making an error, but the stark fact remains that in yet another game where we conceded the opening goal, we’ve lost.
Couple that with Kenny Jackett making the exasperating claim that we were ‘timid’ (despite winning four of our last five games) and you can only draw the conclusion that this team lacks the requisite inner resolve to be serious play-off candidates, no matter what protestations might be given.
Of the 12 games where we’ve conceded first, we’ve taken a meagre six points. That’s six points from a possible 36, featuring one win (Leeds) three draws (Charlton, Brighton and Reading) and eight defeats (AFC Bournemouth, Rotherham, Ipswich, Norwich, Derby, Notts Forest, Brentford, Reading).
To say this is simply not good enough would be as unfair as it would be misleading when we’ve won 16 games and progressed so much, but to suggest we are serious play-off challengers on the back of these stats could never add up to making sense.
Not least when our manager suggests we were somehow fearful against our no-win-in-five-opponents when we should have been positively bullheaded! There was history between the sides too, after referee Mike Jones inflicted such misery on us all at Molineux.
What we were bashful about I have absolutely no idea, but it smacks of mental fragility.
When we secured promotion in 2003, Messrs Butler, Rae, Blake, Ince, Kennedy would saunter out of the tunnel as if success was their absolute right – despite finishing fifth and being largely responsible for the most painful heartbreak of all in 2002.
Even under the more headmasterly dictatorship of McCarthy, we still had just enough swagger in the likes of Karl Henry, Iwelumo and Ebanks-Blake to believe we were serious about what we were doing.
Yet amongst this lovably grounded 2014/15 group, there is a sense of the deferential with only Stearman’s booming voice audible amongst a pretty deprecating bunch.
After the double-dip relegation and the imposters that blackened the gold shirt, this is in many ways to be applauded. Kenny Jackett’s youth of today could never be as vociferous as Dave Jones’ raucous lot, after all.
But if we could only puff our chests out a little bit and actually believe in our own considerable ability, then we wouldn’t ‘sneak’ into the play-offs apologetically like unsuspecting Lotto winners, but we’d kick the bloody doors down like we mean business…
…Starting on Saturday against Watford at 3pm.
Its particularly galling to lose against these piddling little clubs. I can’t believe that they’ve done the double against us this season.
We really should have brushed aside most teams in this league this season, with just a very few clubs worthy of promotion (and I mean Derby; on a good day.)
Once again I fear that lack of commitment and investment from the top will condemn us to at least one more season in the Championship.
And so it seems to go.
We did not lose against the piddling little team at all. We lost to two awful referee’s, I’m sure I don’t need to remind anyone of what happened at the Mol under Mike Jones and what happened last night. The refs are conspiring to get Bournemouth in the prem, why I do not know. It is hard enough to play 11 V 11 but to play 14 V 11 is not on. With the play off’s now out of reach, we need to consolidate, get a good midfielder to play along side big mac and have another go next season.
How have you worked out that the play-offs are out of reach?
It’s quite simple really, every time we take a step forward, we then take two steps back, We just can’t get a settled team, with KJ forever tinkering. We the fans could field a much stronger team. KJ rotates just for the sake of it. If you find a winning formula, then you should stick with it.
This game was always going to be a tough one. Regardless of Bournemouth’s poor run they’re a very good team! Why else would they be in the top 6!? You win some you lose some…. And personally if we finish in the top half this season I’ll be happy, as realistically I was expecting a mid table finish.
Obviously if we get into the play-offs then great! But if not we’ve got the chance to really go for it next season with fresh confidence.
Don’t get too down-beat guys!
We had all the confidence you need this season on the back of promotion I carnt see confidence being any higher next season espeailly if we miss out on the play offs I think it will be the opersite the thought of another long hard slog of a season in the championship hardly fills me with excitement.
We had build up momentum we had a great start there was no lack of confidence, just lack of investment and foresight I mean if the lad from Arsenal had been recruited in the summer and. A decent center half a nd nast bastard of a midfielder then who knows where we be now.
I bet if Dicko hadn’t been in the Africa nations cup Morgan would not of given Jacckett the green light to by a striker.
Everything from the top at Wolves is done on a do we really need it or can we get buy attitude thats why we will alternately fall short this year and probably next year and so on.
Morgan and Moxey from now on I will refer to them as ” Make and Mend “
Or Thrifty and Shifty…..
Or that drunk looking scouser and his fat, bastard, greasy fuckin’ weasel sidekick.
Dicko didnt go to the Africa Nations cup ? Only sako..
Well said Ben.
I have thought quite a lot of late (a pretty impressive feat considering age, intake etc) and quite a lot of that thinking has involved a certain Karl Henry.
I know he left under a cloud and there’s an awful lot of water gone under a huge amount of bridges since then but the one thing he was not was deferential!
We do need a leader on the pitch.
A Henry V “Once more into the breach” sort of character.
Karl Henry V?
Do we want him?
Would he come?
Just a thought.
On another tack completely, I was saddened to hear of the death of Dave MacKay.
A man in the mould of our own Mike Bailey.
The PMDG’er said she couldn’t picture him so I said he was stocky, barrel chested black haired and Scottish.
And very hard!
He could kick you up in the air but had skill as well.
She thought for a moment and then said:-
“You mean he could kick you up in the air with both feet?”
Exactly right DG. I too on hearing of his passing, immediately thought of his likeness to our own Mike Bailey, one of my own Wolves heroes.
Great write up Ben. Now is the time to show the bottle and belief required to get results against our equals. With 3 out of 4 coming up at home we still have the opportunity to really get some momentum going.
There was a comment posted last night reference it aint over until the fat controller sings.
Problem is: The fat greasy controller has been singing for fuckin’ years, and the only song he knows is “Hi Ho, Hi Ho, its off to my bank I go”
WE all know our problem areas, KJ obviously knows them as well, and once again, they were exposed for yet another opponent to exploit.
Yes, I’m taking the opportunity, yet again, to slag off the owner and his henchman, but who else is to blame?
Lack of foresight and investment always comes home to roost, and this is what is happening.
With the brazillions of pounds up for grabs in the Prem, how blind must those two be to NOT want promotion?
Unbelievable, just fuckin’ unbelievable.
One wonderful happy note last night came from Vile Park, where our beloved friends from the crem down the road lost to a very last minute penalty, which was dubious!!
And Vile’s first goal came courtesy of Lescott’s lack of pace.
Very funny!
FOwb and tp
And Albions’s goal came from a great bit of resilience and lovely cushioned header from our old graduate too! Not wishing to spoil the overall fun of the result, mind!
Ben.
Your’e bang on the money there, there was a contant void in midfield which Bournemouth constantly punished us with by dominating it and spreading balls to their players all night. Don’t get me wrong as MacDonald was magnificent last night again a brilliant through ball for Afobe to run onto, but that meant he was very busy and Edwards was off his game last night along with quite a few others.
Two points I learnt last night through my silent reflection before ko, I noticed all the team going through their warm up process, all giving 100% and really concentrating. Doherty was pratting about with Banks Lendall during the whole session and he was not even giving 20% effort, half hearted to say the least. Come the match he was just the same, very poor performance and why Kenny didn’t swap him for Iorfa within 15 minutes of kick off will baffle me for ever and a day.
Secondly, RVLP is certainly below Parra, as far as I can see he is a winger who can’t take his opponents on, who runs in ever decreasing circles instead of straight lines and feels he has to beat defenders twice often three times every time he has the ball. He is nowhere near as good as Henry at this present moment in time. I don’t know how many free kicks and penalties they give in Holland but the kid falls at the slightest brush from an opponent, today there is more chance of him getting sent off than the opponent, he plays a strange game.
Of all the games this season this was the quietest away support we have had all season, there were 9800 fans in the ground and the Cherries sang from start to final whistle, they were brilliant and the effect was there for all to see, Bournemouth ran their legs off at 90 MPH. Wolves just didn’t give us much to cheer about.
We were solidly beaten last night, they gave the Cherries too much space and were done by a team that actually didn’t play that great, they just wanted to win more than Wolves.
Watford on Saturday will be interesting, one, to see what team Kenny picks and two, to see who turns up to play, a few of them didn’t perform last night.
Not a night to remember believe me, the quicker we move on from that performance the better.
Rumour has us in for Danny Drinkwater the 24 year old ex Man U midfield player who is with Leicester, also Man U’s U21’s forward Wilson who they want to go out on loan, he has stated he prefers Wolves if he is to go, must be the medication he’s taking.
We desperately need a quality Midfield signing to complement MacDonald.
Onwards & Sidewards again, an all too familiar pattern this season.
🙂
Well said stuwolf,my mate said much of the same.
Players didn’t turn up again and again,I’m afraid it happens to many times for me.
W e need a real captain in midfield with a bit of snot in him.
very deflating for sure, but this is the championship … everyone beats everyone … if we somehow make the playoffs with fuck all investment, Kenny will need a statue
not looking forward to Stearman and co facing Deeney tho…
I was at game last night and Stuwolf has perfectly summed up the whole match. When I saw the team sheet it looked all out attack and knowing how Bournemouth play I immediately feared for the midfield and so it proved our goal came from our first shot at goal. Macdonald needed help in there ! We are so close to a good team it is frustrating but maybe we should be patient .
Not a good day at the office yesterday
particularly as the M3 was shut on the way home and as I cursed my sat nav towards Sunningdale (Sarah Ferguson country) I wondered if it worth the trip…
MacDonald made it so…he is back on form and for the need of a more defensive midfield partner we still have the makings of a PL side..
We smashed and grabbed the first half and gave away the second with no more than a 35% possessional game.
We took our goal well,Afobe is still rock on, and give or take giving away a penalty, Steers is still a contender for player of the season..
We hope too much at the moment.. KJ still perplexes me particularly regards Iorfa not playing and this obsession of rotation,but more so
his inabity to get the max out of players when we need it..
Watford is an even bigger major fixture now but I do believe that the other top six will still drop points….just look at Derby..
Middlesborough seem to have the consistency with Bournmouth..
That bloody November Prob cost us everything…
COYW
Agreed, Steve.
Same applies to Kenny’s ridiculous obsession with RVLP who can’t pass, cross, head or shoot and who pulse out of every 50/50 tackle. The lad has absolutely no footballing ability and constantly ignores colleagues in a better position. Why he didn’t get the hook in favour of Henry at half time baffles me (what has happened to Jacobs?).
Sorry Steve Showcase, but I thought Edwards had a hard working game in midfield and often did the work of 2 men in trying to close down their slick passing and moving midfield.
It is a cliché, but half time came too soon and the pen killed our momentum. In the end we were beaten by a better team, but we should have taken at least a point if envy had got his selection and tactics right.
Eddie Howe has done a great job, but for such a talented bunch, they really are a bunch of tossers – 3 and 4 players haranging the ref every time one of their guys goes to ground.
Onwards and upwards against Watford on Saturday.
COYW!
Sorry Steve, my comments on Edwards should have been directed at Stu Wolf not you!!
Also apologies to all for some typos – spell check is not it’s all cracked up to be in my incapable 67 year old hands!
Wokingham Welsh.
Thanks buddy, let’s Be clear here, I’m 100% an Edwards fan, in the warm up he was giving 200% compared to Doherty and yes he did chase down lots of players. But, IMO only I felt he was off HIS game, not his usual dynamo self, he look somewhat jaded amd tired. He is still a player who I would play above RVLP any day of the week.
As I say, from my view last night it was IMO he looked a little off.
🙂
Fair enough mate – half the team could have done with my half time chicken & mushroom pie!
UTW!
I don’t think Edwards is at his best forced to play in a midfield two. He needs the freedom to break forward and of course chip in with those valuable extra goals ( which are to rare from our non strikers ).
Give me Jacobs any day over the Dutchman.
Rumour has it that Jacobs is off to Coventry on loan – I can’t get my head around it – must have upset Kenny somewhere along the line.
I don’t understand the current Jacobs ‘love-in’. He’s played a part in 11 of our 35 matches so far and hasn’t exactly set the world on fire in any of them. No goals and, to my knowledge, no ‘assists’. I guess people are assuming that he might have the same impact in this division as the one below, but there is no evidence for that. RvLP, on the other hand, for all his frustrating inconsistency is delivering loads of assists.
Sorry Wolfman, I’m not with you on this one – for me RVLP flatters to deceive – all tricks and no end product – can’t pass, cross, head or shoot and pulls out of 50/50 challenges. For me he does not have a footballing brain and usually picks the wrong option. All he has is speed and a couple of step overs . Tuesday night had numerous examples of all of the above.
Granted he’s young and relatively inexperienced at Champ level, so hopefully Kenny and Joe Garner can get him to improve and prove me wrong.
COYW!
My son took me last night for a treat. Bournemouth gave us a good football education in every department but for a developing Wolves in our first season up from Div 1 where we might reasonably expect to be. After all we hardly capitulated and with most of our young players the experience will make them stronger. Good to visit a smaller club and see them doing the right things so well. Another lesson for us and our management. Keep the faith
Come on Chester, You’ve every right to be frustrated by the result last night but why on earth should we be brushing most teams in this league aside. We’ve no right to anything we don’t earn.
In respect to Bournemouth, they are a club with little history of achievement, a small fanbase and no great tradition but the team is a very good one. In Eddie Howe they’ve a man who appears to have massive potential to become a sucessful manager. He’s groomed AFCB – on two separate stints at the club – firstly to stability and currently, to what most would see to be over-acheivement. They’ve had some money to fling around recently but Howe has bought players in and managed to get them all to play in the same way; as a very attractive, competitive, talented proposition. Let’s not forget he’s also had to sell some too.
So let’s not get carried away with arrogant attitudes because we won a cup or two (30, 40, 50 years ago) and have a decent stadium. What matters is the here and now! And right here, right now, I agree with Ben; we need 3 or 4 big characters in the team to swagger and bully when the chips are down.
As for the POs…….At the start of the season I was confident that we would be competitive and we’ve definitely proved to be that. POs were always a bit of wish, however it’s looking more unlikely today then it did yesterday afternoon but Saturday is another day and this division will always be an unfathomable basket case. So who knows….
I cannot understand why Price did not play.
It is in the confidence stakes that we lose out.
Is KJ my idea of an ideal manager? – No….
I agree with the Price comment.
I think that when Price starts we rarely lose.
Does anyone know the statistic?
In November when we had a bad run, he was out on loan.
He didn’t start against Norwich or Bournemouth.
He must bring something stabilising to the dynamic of the team.
I just feel he’s more accomplished defensively than many of our midfielders and offers more cover to our back four. This was always likely to be required away at Bournemouth.
Nice summary.
What would we give for a Bailey/Ince/Downing type player alongside KMac now ? Could be the difference between squillions next year or more trips to Rotherham/Swindon/Preston etc.
Disappointing end to our mini-run but Bournemouth are no pushovers and it was never going to be easy. Didn’t see or even hear the game so I can’t comment on individual performances but the result to me indicates that despite our occasional pretentions of greatness, we are in the league more or less where we deserve to be.
Surprised that Iorfa and moreso Price didn’t make the 11 but Kenny knows best and I’m sure we’ll see an improved performance at the Mol on Saturday.
I think it’s a symptom of our position just below the play-off line that one win and we’ll walk into the Prem and one defeat and we are completely without hope. Keep the faith ’cause without it we may as well all give up and go home.
Just watched the highlights and I have to say that I am a bit disappointed in Kenny’s response to the penalty.
Given that the bloke went over like a particularly bad Tom Daley effort, it looked like it was on the line.
Kenny sounded more Mark Hughes than KJ.
Didn’t see our cert penalty that was turned down, so I can’t comment on that.
I think we were beaten by the better team on the night.
Enough said.
That’s Jack Price who was introduced to the first team from nowhere by.. that’s right Kenny Jackett.
Think it’s gonna need 6 wins from the next 10 and see how that leaves us going in to the final game v millwall. Still on but margins for error shrink with every game gone at this stage of the season.
I do think some of us have a tendency to get too down with every defeat. We are going to lose games like every other side in the league but hopefully we can respond like we did to the last one because we were immense in the previous three games.
Rich you’re probably right, but I think the negative comments are valid if they come from bloggers who were there on Tuesday night, as it was the poor performance all round from the team and management that was so hard t take.
COYW!
Perhaps we will meet Bournemouth in play offs and get played off the park but sneak through thanks to 3 or 4 horrendous refereeing errors. In OUR favour.
Although I think it’s a tough ask to make the playoffs offs we are certainly not out of it yet, we lost away from home by a dodgy decision to a decent team. We are only a couple of wins away for 3rd and all we really need is 6th. Lots of points to be to be dropped by everyone I think. There are still many points for us to play for.
1) Kenny Jackett nominated for Manager of the month.
Bearing in mind ‘The Curse’ let’s all hope he doesn’t win!
2) Bakary Sako wins PFA Player of the month.
Well done mate. Well deserved!
3) KJ says Michael Jacobs can go out on loan.
Why the f**k?!
Rich,
Every comment on this blog is valid as it’s always a personal thing, hence I often put IMO only. But Wolves have only promised so much in the last few games, we have not been immence, far from it. Against Huddersfield who we beat quite convincingly on paper on the pitch it was not that simple. Now we did beat Rotherham 5-0 but again we did allow them too much time on the ball and they had lot’s of chances.
3-0 against Fulham had their manaer Kit Carson (well IMO he’s a feckin cowboy) we did not have an easy ride by no stretch of the imagination, Cardiff was a hard fought game where we come out on top and were made to work bloody hard all game it certainly was no walk over.
My comments are based on the belief and knowledge hat we have a team capable of so much more but for some reason tney ARE underachieving without a doubt. The quality teams in the PL and Chumpionship are consistant, we’re not, they are buying quality players we’ve bought Afobe only, they are scoring goals for fun, we’re certainly not, we’ve had a little flourish and back to old ways.
Take a look at the link below it’s a fans view from lot’s of votes and I think it fairly reflects Tuesdays performance , even Doyle who only did about 10-20 minutes got more than RVLP and others.
Keep posting, this is a great blogsite and everyone is entitled to their opinion, good or bad, it’s their opinion.
🙂
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bournemouth-2-1-wolves-you-rate-8767033?#du_top
As ever Stu, I agree with you. What other site would countenance my ravings?
For all you bloggers of a certain age, here’s a great piece of footage that shows how, on his day, Steve Kindon was virtually unplayable.
He could be a clumsy bugger but, Boy! He could run and he could shoot!
Oh! My lost youth. Where did he go?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ8DYOcyLL8
Wasn’t he like Forrest Gump Doog?!
If you mean what I think you mean:- “Like a box of chocolates”…
Yes he was.
But he wasn’t renowned for his soft centre.
12 unexpected minutes of pleasure! If only highlights programmes were like that now, giving a real feel for the game without reducing everything to 10 feckin replays of every incident from every angle, all crammed into 5 minutes. And an almost invisible ref and real old gold shirts. Magic!
Doog.
Shed a little tear at the thought of all those great blokes on tne pitch who entertained us down tne years. Today there would be a revolt if they had to play on a pitch like that, and the absolute quality of Bobby Moore’s cross for Brookings goal was quite Wagstaffe like. I bump into phil Parkes quite a lot on my travels and he stands out like a icon of the bygone era. Waggy’s runs, Hibbit’s unbelievable crossing precision, John McAlle solid and reliable week in week out, Bailey a little Billy Bremmner and Frankie Munro hard as nails. Upfront Richards, McAlliog and Crusher Kindon. Oh yes, and they all had shirt numbers that corresponded to the position they play, not feckin squad numbers, Christ how old am I ,getting just like me Dad.
Happy Days, thank you for posting it, a real game of footy.
🙂
Mate,
Steve Kindon, what a nostagia trip! He was a bit like Sako in so far as his shots were erratic, but if the ball arrived in Noth Bank row Z, the net might have come with it too. He loved to chase an over the top balls.
Doog I remember him well and when I went to elland rd in the wrong end I kept hearing ‘I hope he doesn’t come on as sub’ as he puts the fear of God into the defence'(Inc norman hunter at the time)
He was a kick and rush winger and kicked piledrivers..
If you want a looney signing by Bill McCarry how about chopper Jefferson who sythed down David Webb at chest height because he lost his contact lenses..1971…
We digress…
Really good and different analysis, Ben and some great follow-up, especially from StuWolf and Ian (IMO!!). But also striking is the different tone of the bloggers from that in the match preview – then it was all triumphal after three good wins, now there’s a large dose of attack against the M&Ms and KJ’s selections and unwarranted dismissal of AFCB as a worthy club. From boom to bust in one tricky move!
In my post for the preview my head gave a few reasons why disappointment was likely, then my heart took over and I said we had moved to another level and would carry on the winning streak! Umm! But I reckon Ben has nailed an important feature and compared things astutely with 2003 and 2009. And that’s perhaps unsurprising, given the part that youth has played in our success. A couple of gnarled old pros (or even young ones with attitude! But probably not Karl Henry!) could make the difference.
What i saw on Tuesday night was one team play football the other hoof it up field or pass it to no one in particular. We lack composure and quality and stems primarily from our back four.Watching them play reminded me of trying to do my O-level exams.Trying to write a essay in a panic.No one apart from mcdonald wanted to keep the ball.Play-offs is still a possibility but continuing to play like this and then its a forlorn dream.
Disappointing result but it’s a tumble rather than falling on our face. We all knew this was going to be a tough season. Most of us, myself included, were looking at a mid-table finish. Where we are now is somewhat of a bonus and the fact that we are still in with a chance is more than impressive.
How we react to this defeat is going to be key. Heads up, sleeves rolled up, chests out and a determination to succeed. Their destiny is in their own hands.
As Ben asked about our mental attitude/state – the answer to that should be available around 16:50 on Saturday.
Onwards & Upwards
🙂
Sevlow. Agree entirely. Surely any reasonable fan would have taken where we are now. Safe with 11 games to go. Perhaps a play off spot in our grasp. If it is not to be this season then let’s dust ourselves down, enjoy the summer and go again in August. With our 5 new signings raring to go (you can dream).
Would like to throw a name in the hat for a loan signing. Leon Britton has been managed by Kenny before and is just the type of experienced player who can allow McDonald to have a more free role.
Answers on a post card!!!!
With regards to Jacobs… We don’t see what KJ sees in training on a daily basis… added to that we have so many wingers and midfield players that it sort of makes sense to ship him out and get some much needed match fitness.
Then there’s the “possibility” of some other midfield players coming in on loan (I bet one will be a winger), making it even more difficult for Jacobs to win a place.
It’s a shame we can’t play every player at a game, as they all bring their own attributes (and 25 v 11 May allow us to win a few more games).it is what it is… Jacobs did well for us last season, not set the world alight this season and may just need some games for another club to sharpen his game (for next season if we’re still in the Championship) as this just may be Jacobs maximum level.
Not over the moon that we lost to Bournemouth but I’ll take that based on the last few weeks results and hopefully a few more wins over the next few games to paint yet another version of this ever changing picture.
I beg to differ folks..most of us did not expect a mid table finish..some did….
I certainly didn’t..
After seeing players like MacDonald Dicko Batth Ikeme Steers last season
It was obvious to me we were worth a top six place this season…we beat Norwich Middlesborough Watford away and the thought to most was confirmed..
We needed to strengthen and if Afobe was purchased earlier then we would be up there now …it was November that’s probably screwed us..
Wolves are a PL club..period.
The board as it stands hold the key..and if we scrape up then Sky will hold the key to a further rebuild..
We must get back to where we belong.. it’s our destiny.. KJ or no KJ…there, I’ve said it..
That was to cheeseburger and seviow..
I always enjoy your punchy pieces, Ben. This one was no exception. We lost to the cherries, bad performance maybe, but I don’t think that means that we lack toughness. Sure, if we do’n’t keep winning, the top 6 is over. We need others to falter so who knows.
I would keep Jacobs and have Henry i the team, with VLP on the bench. Personally, I wouldn’t pick Doyle ahead of the young, hungry U21 lads that Stuwolf likes. A new midfield loan is now key alongside K-Mac or Price.