Wolves Blog

It's a blog. About the Wolves.

Ben Rasmin

Burton Albion 2 Wolves 1

Blog, Burton Albion

I never thought I’d begin any piece of writing by paraphrasing the mildly annoying American rock band Paramore but the lyric ‘that’s what you get when you let your heart win’ seems appropriate for this particular report.

After the jubilation that followed last week’s heroics at Anfield and the impressive midweek victory over Barnsley, anyone would be forgiven for thinking that the good times would continue to roll at the Pirelli Stadium.

But, in true Wolves fashion, that was not to be and we all should have known better.

This club has a famed habit for kicking you in the nether regions when you’re feeling most hopeful and, true to form, the away contingent were made to endure our poorest showing under Paul Lambert.

It’s hard to recall a more unimaginative performance than the one that was churned in yesterday, our only tactic being to hit long balls to a striker that was at least half a foot shorter than the two centre backs marking him.

Burton’s torrid pitch no doubt played a part in this, with the players looking uncomfortable on it from the onset, but that excuse can only take you so far when Bristol City, Preston and Wigan have all claimed victory on it at various stages of the season.

The narrowness of the field stymied the counter attacking play that has become synonymous with Lambert’s Wolves and subsequently Weimann, Dicko and Helder Costa – the latest subject of a variation on the Dave Clark Five’s ‘Glad All Over’ – were left isolated for much of the game.

The home side on the other hand looked empowered by the conditions and dictated most of the play in a largely uneventful first half, with their recent influx of loan signings appearing to have added quality to the side that claimed a point at Molineux last September.

Keeper Jon McLaughlin conceded the initiative when he bundled Dave Edwards over just before the break and allowed Costa to claim his tenth goal of the season from the penalty spot.

It was a lead that flattered us and none of those crammed into the glamorous Russell Roof Tiles Stand were under the illusion that a major improvement was not required in the second half.

That was not forthcoming and the Brewers claimed a deserved equaliser on the hour mark through loanee Michael Kightly, becoming the latest beneficiaries of our notorious ex-players curse whilst doing so.

Wolves never looked capable of responding and Lambert was frustratingly rigid in his tactics, preferring to send Bright on ahead of Bodvarsson and deadline day recruit Ben Marshall.

By the time the latter pair had come on, the game was drawing to a close and we were hanging on for a point.

Torrid defending, otherwise known as the theme of our afternoon, prevented us from doing that and Cauley Woodrow tucked in a late winner that well and truly erases the feel good factor of last week and leaves us just seven points clear of the trapdoor.

Four successive league fixtures at home offer ample opportunity to rectify this but there can surely be seldom repeats of today’s showing if we’re to end the season comfortably.

Wolves 3 Bristol City 2

Blog, Bristol City

As far as Christmas presents go, a scrappy home win against a team ranked only marginally higher in the lower echelons of the Championship table is hardly the most grandiose of gestures.

But considering this was our first win at Molineux since September 24, it really did feel like Santa had come to town.

Prior to Tammy Abraham’s equaliser, you’d be forgiven for scoffing at the suggestion that the Robins were capable of causing a swashbuckling home side too many problems.

Another goal from Dave Edwards, his fifth in eight games, gave us a deserved early lead and a second seemed inevitable given the gusto with which we attacked a seemingly overwhelmed opposition.

However, profligacy in front of goal proved our undoing and, in scenes eerily reminiscent of our first half showing against Fulham, we headed in to the break trailing.

The aforementioned Abraham was irrepressible for most of the afternoon so our defence can perhaps be excused for being outdone by City’s first goal but nothing can justify the paucity of their efforts for the second strike; you simply cannot defend set pieces in that way and expect to go unpunished.

One has grown to suspect that Paul Lambert’s remedy for our fragile back four is to simply outscore the opposition and our second half showing enforced that theory resoundingly.

Despite a stuttering start, the players were reinvigorated in their attempts to level things up and, after a series of near misses and questionable oversights by referee and pantomime villain for the day James Adcock, were deservedly rewarded for their efforts.

Helder Costa’s strike was beautiful to behold and offered a glimpse as to how potent an attacking force we could grow to be under Lambert’s stewardship, given a clean bill of health and some wily recruitment in the next transfer window.

Adcock was presumably keen to atone for his prior sins when he awarded a not so blatant penalty in the final ten, one which was dispatched with aplomb by the ever improving Ivan Cavaleiro.

Ours was naturally a lead that was far from easy to defend but retain it we did, though the chagrin of the opposing manager and traveling support suggested that video technology would have deprived us of the three points.

However, given the gratingly bullish demeanour of Lee Johnson, this detail only served to sweeten the taste of victory.

Before signing off, a word on some of the individual performances seen yesterday.

Connor Coady is not so convincing as to suggest he is the long term solution to our right back conundrum but he certainly looks a better immediate fit that Dominic Iorfa.

Danny Batth is in greater need of a fully fit Mike Williamson than anyone else; whether as a defensive partner or much needed competition for a starting berth, our captain is sure to benefit from his presence in the squad.

Jack Price is more crucial to us than any other player barring Costa, such is his ability to calm proceedings around him and more crucially quicken the transition between defence and attack.

Finally and most obviously, Costa and Cavaleiro offer the key to a surge up the league table. When on form, these pair are arguably better than any other winger in the division. Keeping them fit has to be a priority moving forward.

Reasons to be cheerful have been in short supply this season but yesterday offered more signs of life than have been seen at any point since the early throes of the campaign.

Let’s hope they’re not just for Christmas.

Wolves 4 Fulham 4

Blog, Fulham

If E.T. asked me to explain to him the experience of being a Wolves fan, I’d show him the highlights of this Christmas cracker.

The stuff of neutral’s dreams and an exhausting experience for those on the terraces, so determined were the efforts of both teams to throw the three points away.

It was Wolves who first conceded their lead, with Stefan Johansen given ample space to lash into the top corner of debutant Harry Burgoyne’s goal.

That strike cancelled out Kortney Hauses’ scruffy opener and was arguably against the run of play as Wolves had up until that point set the tempo of the fixture, with Helder Costa and the improving Ivan Cavaleiro once again serving as the focal point of our attacks.

What ensued between the time of that equaliser and the half time whistle was symptomatic of the majority of our performances this season. The defence wiltered at the first sight of sustained pressure, our midfield trio went missing and, before you know it, Fulham are 3-1 up and seemingly cruising to a routine victory.

Burgoyne, who to me recalled memories of a young Wayne Hennessey, must be ruing his luck as his performance did not warrant the concession of four goals.

The youngster would have been forgiven for thinking that the gods were conspiring against him when Tom Cairney lashed Fulham’s third into the goal, it being the sort of strike that he’ll probably try to score a dozen more times this season without reward.

Those who have been watching Wolves over the last two seasons will know that our teenage goalkeeper was always on a hiding to nothing with our current quadrant of defenders playing in front of him.

It was another bad day at the office for all involved, regardless of the fact that Hause and Matt Doherty both bagged themselves a goal.

January’s transfer window cannot come soon enough for Paul Lambert, so desperate is the need for him to add experience to our defensive ranks. It’s a shame that injury has deprived us of the services of Mike Williamson, who would have surely curtailed some of the more basic errors we’ve been making, but we simply cannot afford to wait for the former Newcastle man to regain fitness.

Kevin Thelwell and our new head coach must deliver a commanding centre back in his mould if we’re to start seriously climbing the table and there is an argument also to be had about the need for at least one new full back, given Dominic Iorfa’s frightening regression as of late.

Thankfully, the noise coming out of the club indicates that Lambert will at least be co-leading our mid-season recruitment drive and he’s already spoken of a desire to cut the wheat from the chaff and add some division standard players to our ranks.

Given the state of affairs at halftime, we should take comfort from the spirit shown by the players when clawing their way back into the game. Enthusiasm waned very quickly under Walter Zenga’s stewardship and was never present during Rob Edwards’ brief stint at the helm but the first team once again seem to be playing for their manager, though the visiting side were most generous in their defending for large periods of the second half.

Doherty was given the freedom of Molineux when tapping in Nouha Dicko’s nod on and Cavaleiro had acres in which to sprint before scoring our third, though the fashion in which he did was worthy of praise.

When Dave Edwards buried our fourth it seemed as if we’d completed the most unlikely of comebacks but in true Wolves fashion room was left for a final twist in the tale, that being a second goal for Floyd Ayitè and another equaliser for the Cottagers.

Of all the goals conceded, it was the fourth that was the cause of the most porous defending. You can’t excuse leaving the front and back post exposed at any level of professional football, let alone the division below the top flight.

It was a frustrating end to an otherwise encouraging performance and it’s fair to say that nobody associated with the club has any doubts about the size of the job Lambert has on his hands.

Fosun will need to deliver players of a far superior standing to the likes of Gladon, Oniangue and Silvio if they’re to realise their oft stated Premier League dream.

Wolves 2 Derby County 3

Blog, Derby County

During his time on caretaker duty, Rob Edwards has often spoke of a desire to see Wolves play with a clear identity.

This is perplexing to me as to my knowledge the team has been doing just that from this season’s beginning.

Early leads have been handed to the opposition with unfathomable regularity and bountiful character has been shown just as games have grown irretrievable.

That is more or less the story of our season so far and today was no different, though the first half showing did manage to set a new barometer for sheer awfulness.

Incoming manager Paul Lambert (a good choice in my opinion) knows a thing or two about haphazard defences from his arduous time in the Villa Park hotseat but today’s defensive quadrant, not to mention those behind them in reserve, promise to provide his toughest challenge yet.

Danny Batth was disgracefully signalled out as the chief offender but the reality was that, despite him being at fault for Derby’s second goal, he was far from alone in the mistakes making department.

Dominic Iorfa, Matt Doherty and the laughably overrated Cameron Borthwick-Jackson (who has looked more like a FC United loanee than Manchester United since his arrival) were all guilty of error throughout the 90 and it’s hard to imagine that the opposition will have an easier first half than the one they enjoyed today.

However, our problems are certainly not restricted to defence. Though our attacking players are certainly not short of quality, one or two were exposed today as being devoid of the sort of character and commitment that is expected at the Molineux.

Joao Teixeira is a player I’ve struggled to warm to since his arrival and his rotten attitude was there for all to see today, with the deputy gaffer deciding after a mere half hour that he wasn’t up for it.

Meanwhile, Ivan Cavaleiro continued to make his pitch for the moniker of worst record signing of all time with another fitful display that does little to dispel the suspicion that he’s actually no better than the chap we farmed out to Bolton this summer.

Perhaps more patience needs to be afforded to our contingent of summer signings but with almost half the season gone we ought to think about when’s fair to label Jorge Mendes’ stable of foreign imports as flops.

Credit where it’s due though – we had a go at Derby in the second half and may have taken a point had the referee been a bit more consistent in his decision making.

It’s hard to bemoan bad luck when you consistently make life difficult for yourself though and until Wolves can cut the amateur mistakes out of their game it’s hard to see us getting anywhere close to realising Fosun’s ambitions for the club.

Over to you Paul.

Wolves 1 Burton Albion 1

Blog, Burton Albion

I’m not sure how many of the players involved yesterday were planning to watch the fight between Kell Brook and GGG but but this encounter had the air of a 12 round slugfest.

A bruising affair ended with the spoils shared, which despite Walter Zenga’s protestations was a more than fair outcome.

I was surprised by the ferocity with which Burton attacked the game and it was refreshing to see an un-fancied away side play for more than a point.

It was a tactic that would have earned the Brewers an early lead had Carl Ikeme not turned away Lucas Atkins’ tame spot kick, which was dubiously awarded by referee James Adcock.

The improvement in Ikeme this season has been notable. To think his position was under threat this time last year is frankly bonkers.

Wolves slowly began to exert themselves as the game went on and showed plenty of fluidity in attack, if little execution.

Ivan Cavaleiro looks a player with the potential to reach talismanic status but shy of full fitness. It was no surprise to see him hooked in the second half.

Despite a needless booking, Helder Costa excited on the flank with purposeful dribbling and interlinked well with Cameron Borthwick-Jackson on a pleasingly frequent basis.

The latter’s debut was welcome and offered Dominic Iorfa some much needed respite after an error laden start to the campaign.

Much has been made about our new found strength in depth as of late and I’m of the opinion it will be of particular benefit in defence, an area where we were worryingly thin on numbers last season.

Of course a consequence of having plentiful options is that settling on a balance eleven can become difficult and we may have to stomach a few more frustrating outcomes over the coming weeks as our new look side find their rhythm.

The positives are there for all to see though. Wolves look like a side with attacking verve and boundless energy, two attributes which spell a recipe for success in a division as frenetic as the Championship.

It’s never ideal to drop points at the death but at this early stage of the season I think it’s wise to dwell on the good work being done by Zenga and the players, as opposed to the inadequacies (defending of set pieces and decision making in front of goal being two of them) that will hopefully be ironed out in the weeks to come.

Tuesday night sees another promoted side with wagging tails paying a visit and it’ll be interesting to see how the players respond from today’s late setback.

If early signs are anything to go by, I’m expecting something positive.

Huddersfield Town 1 Wolves 0

Blog, Huddersfield Town

It’s difficult to know if the reverse of this fixture will also be a top of the table clash but today’s contest certainly lived up to its billing.

With the home side irrepressible in the first 45 and anything but in the second, it was the cliched game of two halves.

The main takeaway for Walter Zenga though was another slow start, with the opening and ultimately decisive goal nothing short of shambolic. Despite our clean sheets against Reading and Ipswich, our defensive deficiencies are all too apparent.

Much has been made of Danny Batth’s improvement under Zenga’s tutelage but the skipper was caught out badly in the build up to the goal, with pantomime villain Rajiv Van La Parra also afforded far too much space to tuck home on the rebound.

Huddersfield fans clearly haven’t gotten to know their new number 17 all that well, given the adulation they bestowed upon him throughout proceedings, but nobody can deny the quality of his performance today. What a shame that he only bothers to muster up this level of effort so infrequently.

Coady was arguably our best player again, though his knack for breaking up opposition attacks was largely wasted at right back. On the opposite side, Doherty turned in another typically swashbuckling performance. I can’t recall a more drastically improved player from time supporting the club.

Less impressive were Edwards and Saville, both of whom were deservedly hooked. Their limitations were pretty glaring and the fact all of the substitutes improved us drastically is unlikely to do them many favours.

Both centre backs were also poor and I’d suggest recruitment in that area needs to be considered a priority in the remaining days of the window.

As I type up this report on the coach back to Molineux, a fellow traveler has already hit the nail on the head with a succinct summary that we can’t afford to be a ’45 minute team’ if we want to achieve success this year.

Sluggish starts have been an alarming trend of Zenga’s tenure to date and although almost every other aspect of the Italian’s management has been peachy it’s a habit that needs addressing.

Still, it’s important that we remain level headed given the turbulent nature of the club’s summer activities.

I doubt there’s a Wolves fan among us that expect today’s lineup to be anything like the one that finishes the season and one suspects that patience will be required for a good while yet.

With a host of new signings to bed in and some sorely missed first team players due back from injury, it’ll take time for Zenga to identify his key players and the correct system for them to play in.

Our second half display at least suggests in time we’ll have a very good side on our hands.

Today was a frustrating blemish on an otherwise solid start and it’ll be interesting to see how we pick up again in a fortnight.

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