WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE

#wolvesaywe

 

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.

It will surprise nobody to hear I’m disappointed Kenny Jackett has been relieved of his duties.

Not only because I believe in his abilities as a coach, but more so because I thought we needed him in the immediate.

With such sweeping revolution elsewhere his steady hand would have been an asset in at least guiding us through a turbulent interim period.

As it is we dive into the unknown, possibly with a coach with little to no Championship experience. And we all know how that ended last time.

But I don’t want to be the voice of doom in what are strange and exciting times, so perhaps this represents another big step towards something bigger and better?

Either way, the first managerial appointment of the Fosun era will have to work fast and without the benefit of a pre season to communicate his ideas.

It’s a tough ask.

Naturally the immediate favourites consist of domestic coaches currently out of work and names within Jorge Mendes’ phone book.

Dreamers would probably prefer an Andres Villas Boas to cement our position as Championship big hitters, whereas realists probably lean more towards Steve Bruce, a proven winner at this level.

Personally, I’m at a loss to even venture an opinion on where we go from here so will happily just come along for the ride.

More to follow on Kenny’s tenure in due course.

The signing of Jed Wallace has been greeted with an understated air of optimism, I think it’s fair to say.

The timing of the acquisition, and the obligatory YouTube compilation video, seems to augur well for the future.

But at Wolves Blog, we weren’t satisfied with a three minute montage and a stock quote from the official website, so we contacted our good twitter friend Susan Maskell, a lifelong Portsmouth fan, for the lowdown on Jed.

Susan has been a regular blogger about the goings-on at Fratton Park and is well worth a follow on twitter @sjmaskell.

We wish her, and Portsmouth, all the very best next season and beyond. A club I have long admired, despite their recent turmoil.

Thank you Susan!

Jed Wallace

Jed Wallace is not the finished article. But you wouldn’t expect that for £275k. but he could be a potential match winner in the right hands.

An attack minded player, nominally a midfielder, there are many who think Jed has still not quite found his natural position. He seems prepared to play wide, through the centre or take on a roving brief on demand. He has some speed, is prepared to run at the opposition, although perhaps prone to holding the ball too long on a number of occasions.

He has been accused of trying to win matches on his own. But he will try, try and try again. He does not shirk in tackling back either. He still lacks the experience to see and decide between options when on the ball, but with Pompey over the last three years there haven’t often been many options available.

Pompey’s player of the season, a product of the Academy, Jed has been blooded over three seasons of excruciatingly poor on-the-pitch performances, and off-pitch dramas, culminating in Pompey’s lowest ever finishing position of 16th in L2. He has been a shining light in the darkness throughout.

It could be said that it was his goals, 24 from 88 appearances, that have kept us in League 2 over the last two seasons. Some feat from midfield. Only a terminal numbskull like Richie Barker, who dropped him during his brief tenure as manager, can fail to see the potential of the player.

‘Super Jed’ has been Fratton approved, unlike many over the last three seasons. So much so that most Pompey fans wish him well in the future and think he has chosen the right club in Wolves. The fact that he shone at Pompey through our darkest days may be down to the lack of quality around him during those three seasons. A squad that was constantly being demolished and rebuilt is not a good place to learn the finer skills required higher up the leagues.

So most fans here understand that to develop, Jed has to go and learn among players who are experienced at a higher level. He may not shine for a while, but proper coaching and Wolves could have a valuable asset there. We hope so, anyway, if the rumoured sell-on clauses are to be realised.

To cap it all, Jed is a thoroughly nice person and has been a popular club ambassador at social and charity events. We are sorry to see him go and wish him well. Wolves have acquired a proper professional in Jed Wallace.

The goals

May 2nd promises to be a good day, especially if we know we have been successful in our attempt in achieving promotion to the Premiership at the first time of asking.

But, even if we do not manage to achieve that, it would be good to ape what we did on the final day of last season, that is gather as many Bloggers as we can in A Parkview Hotel (PVH) prior to and after the match. I believe that those that attended last season will remember that day for quite a while.

I have been banging on about Polo Shirts for some time now, and have really taken up too much space on individual threads, confusing the issue and becoming a bit of a pain.

I am able to obtain embroidered Polo Shirts for no more than £18.00 each, as per the image above, with Wolves Blog branding and your chosen name above in white.

All I ask is for those who would like to order one to let me know the name they want placed above the logo and what size you require (S/M/L/XL/XXL).

It is my intent to order these early next month, so if you can let me know your wishes before the end of this month that would help.

I will do the rest and bring them with me to the following games that I am going to:

Fri 3 Apr – Nottingham Forest

Mon 6 Apr – PVH prior to the Leeds United game

Tue 14 Apr – Middlesbrough

Sat 25 Apr – Wigan Athletic

Sat 2 May – PVH

I said the cost of each Polo Shirt will not exceed £18.00, and will ensure you are all advised of the actual cost prior to the order being placed. I only require payment when I deliver them to you at either of the aforementioned away games or at the PVH.

Let us Bloggers Unite on the 2nd May and let us also Dress for the Occasion.

After criss-crossing the globe from the USA(twice) to Canada, to Chile and then down under to Aussie, the Wolves postcard arrived safely in a somewhat less exotic location………. Abergavenny, South Wales, my home for the last 8 years.

The only problem was, the postcard was there……..but I wasn’t. I was 2000 miles away in Pissouri, Cyprus escaping the awful British weather and the interminable Welsh rain.

Cue a helpful Welsh sister-in-law, and a few weeks later the postcard arrived for its own little sojourn in the sun.

Being born in the south of England, I never lived anywhere near Wolverhampton but my dad was born and bred there and I caught the Wolves bug from him as a young child.

I’ve remained completely besotted all my life, an infatuation I have already shared with fellow bloggers in ‘Old Gold Love Affair‘.

Living, variously, in Berkshire, Surrey, Bournemouth and now South Wales, I’ve probably watched Wolves as many times at away grounds as at the Golden Palace. And watching my team has not become any easier now I’m spending large parts of the footy season in Cyprus. All this has never stopped me thinking, reading and talking(my poor wife) about the club I love, far more than is sensible for a man of my age. Obsessed is definitely the word.

We’ve had some decent players in recent times and , of course, the legend that is Steve Bull. But for me, nothing can compare with the team of my youth…. Munro, Bailey, Hibbitt, Richards, Dougan and the rest. Those were the days!

I do feel very positive about what’s happening at the club at the moment, though, and am hopeful that good times are ahead.

Of course lapping up the sun is all very well, but I still have to get my Molineux fix from time to time. So, on the pretence of visiting the mother-in-law, me, the wife and, of course, the postcard, flew back to the freezing cold and rain of Abergavenny in January.

The postcard went for a mercifully brief visit to the mother-in-law’s and then accompanied me and my wife, Kay, up to Wolverhampton for the Bristol City game.

Kay has no interest in football but she loves the weekends spent with the DOOGooders at our favourite Wolverhampton resort, A Parkview Hotel.

As usual, it was great fun, particularly as we were able to celebrate another win, an excellent performance and the present Mrs DOOGooder’s birthday. Perfect.

My wife took that photo, so here’s one with her in it. The love of my life. . .

. . . STEVE BULL!

So now it’s back to Cyprus and this had better be the last live game I see this season.

Because we’re not back until May and that’s when the play-offs start!