While it’s probably advisable to ignore the league table for the first six games of the season, we can bask in trumping two recent Premier League names in the meantime.
Beating Fulham, in addition to the opening day Norwich City scalp, is probably the most succinct commentary on where our team is currently at on the pitch, amid much gnashing and wailing of teeth off it.
This 1-0 win was as straightforward as any could dare hope for from a notoriously difficult Craven Cottage ground, where we last got pumped 5-0 (after a miserable 2-1 loss the year before).
Resolute at the back and dangerous on the counter, Kenny Jackett’s recipe looks as tasty as ever – but for that missing ingredient that so many are crying out for.
Danny Batth’s missed header in the first half – followed by Matt Doherty’s even easier opportunity in the second – sounded as ominous as those squandered at Rotherham.
Thankfully they weren’t, with Sako’s injury time penalty miss proving mildly irritating at the very worst.
So from New York to London and back to Wolverhampton with three points, which represents a better return than the two draws I’d have personally taken beforehand.
Raj van La Parra sounded sublime once again, and might have hogged the back pages but for an iffy final ball or two.
Equally encouragingly, Lee Evans enjoyed his best game of the season in a deeper lying role, allowing McDonald to influence the game to our advantage.
Then there’s our mercurial matchwinner Sako, opening his account with a well worked corner routine (when have we said that before?!), only to miss the chance to grab a second from the penalty spot to add an appropriate coating of gloss.
If those ‘big decisions’ Kenny referred to after Rotherham can be made off the pitch, then the smiles engendered tonight will last a little longer.
Add some better judgement in front of goal and they’ll still be etched to our faces when we’re finally allowed to look at that table!
Great result – predicted 2-0 – looked a banker.
That’s three games were WWFC have played wonderful football, onwards and upwards
We were well deserving of this win, but we’ll face many better teams than Fulham this season on this showing.
It was definitely good to see Lee Evans grown into the game after a fairly annonymous opening 30-35mins.
Van La Parra too still offers plenty of potential still to be unlocked, if only he can nail that final ball. He can certainly put the burners on though when he fancies and looked sharp everytime he set off on a run from our own half.
We really looked like a team pulling in the same direction though, unlike Fulham, and it really showed.
If only Sako would have put his laces through that bloody penalty!
A cracking evening next to the Thames all round.
I was at the match and we were a different division, in terms of a team.
In fact we should have scored more.
Very impressed by everyone, but it was the sense that the ‘team’ overrode any ‘individual’ that was the precursor for victory.
Dicko ran his socks off and created so much space for the midfield. He may not have scored so far, but he will. Evans was very incisive with his passing and La Perra a real find. I could eulogise on every individual but, as I have said, it was the ‘team’ that was most impressive.
We could go far….
Great. 3 points to the team and two points to me (wld have been 3 if the fecking penalty had gone in). Happy days …. And most significantly only one goal conceded in three matches. Looking good.
PS. Also apprehensive about on target shots ratio. Both sides 13 shots: Fulham = 1 on target. Wolves = 2 on target. That’s not a great ratio.
Still a win is a win.
Elated yeeeee haaaaaa COYW !!!!!!!!!
I wouldn’t worry about the stats too much just yet Iceni Wolf…
Some stats just don’t tell the full story… If they produced stats for close shots, point blank shots and compared those to the opposition of half chance shots, then added stats for defence splitting passes and the amount of crosses that we were beaten to by a good defence, then that would show the difference in the two teams.
Stats to also take into account if really concerned…
We’re out of the play-offs on goal difference, 1 point and goal difference from 2nd place and 2 points off winning the Championship.
On the other hand, we’re only 2 games from being relegated… Maybe it is time to concered.
The 1st 15 minutes we were on 75% possession stats, but by half time had dropped to a lowly 60%, during that time, we had control and although only 1 goal came from it… That is the stat that matters.
I remember when Colin Lee took the team against Fulham and pulled off a smash and grab… Put everyone behind the ball and endured swarm after swarm of attack and came away with a 0-0 I think. It was claimed that Colin Lee was a genius tactician as he was the 1st manager to suss out the opposition and take points off them. Now there will be a few stats to make you wince… I prefer 2 shots on target to their 1 as that means we ‘re twice as good as them!
Superb atmosphere in the Putney end last night, the wingers had the beating of their full backs all night long and my only gripe is we could have scored more, at some point we’ll
need more than one goal – having said that the defense were quality.
Thanks Sako. I predicted 0-1, so you secured my 3 points. On a more serious note. 3 Points to the Wolves moving us up from 17th to 9th and only a point behind the leaders. I can’t wait for Saturday, where my drink(s) with theDOOGooder in the “beer garden” and a pre-match chat is being looked forward to. As I am staying overnight at my bro’s in Low Hill, I may even see me returning for a few post match slurps too. You around Ben, Thomas, Sleachy, Scooped et al? I will be there around 12.30.
UTW/FOWB
I may be tempted for a jar Brompton! I will let you know in the next blog before Cardiff!
Another super report, Ben! I’m jealous of you lot ! This Saturday I am on the way to La Belle France so cannot partake of a glass or two in the company of the band of brothers. There’s always next time though.
Kenny has built a team , no , a squad , playing proper football and showing a ” togetherness” which will take them at least to the play offs this season.
I shall sup my pint and think of you mate.
Hopefully in a year or two I will be able to afford regular trips to Wolvo, but for now I’m afraid this is beyond my means. As it happens this Saturday I’m working a split shift in a pub to make ends meet, I can’t think of anything I’d rather do less with my weekend (other than maybe shopping).
Luckily the split is 3-5, so I will be glued to my phone and hoping we beat the taffs.
Hope you all have a great afternoon.
So let me get this straight.
We had played two league games, against an ex Prem and a cracking team from last season, only let in one goal, beat the Prem team, pissed all over but narrowly lost to the other, and some people already calling for our manager’s head?
Not only that, but some calling for changes to the starting line up.
Well, guess Mr. Jackett read this blog and said Bollocks, I aint going to change a damned thing about MY starting line up, what I think is MY best eleven.
Proved all the whinging doubters wrong, once again.
Good on yer, Kenny me boy.
Three relatively easy points in the bag, and another ex Prem team stuffed, and on their own muck heap.
Don’t get much better than that, do it??
It doesn’t matter what you do or who you are, there will always be some miserable sod having a moan.
Balls to em, they’re usually the sort of people who don’t amount to much in their own lives, and vent their frustrations on everything around em.
Best to just shrug em off and carry on enjoying life. Once you’re gone you stay dead for a long old time, life’s too short to engage with that sort.
Still failing in my predictions with a start about as good as Fulham’s, and since I’d predicted a reverse for us I am actually happy about that!
I can’t see Magath lasting if he keeps playing the kinds of team he’splaying. Rodallega on the bench, McCormack on the left…the mind boggles.
Great win for the Wolves!
Nice post Shrews Wolf. You are absolutely right. Only stat that matters is the 1-0 goals for/ goal against ratio!
I said 2-1 ..would of got the 2 right but sounded like a fair penalty on to the post from Slick..if we can beat Cardiff then we are up there which in all respects is where we should be…
I thought KJ was a bit smug at the post match interview..good stuff..
Even though it’s early days with just one extra striker.. injuries aside, we can do this…
For my top six…Forest look good..and particularly Watford ..Norwich Ipshit Millwall Cardiff..Wolves are with them…
Could be a nail biter season…
Love to see Eusabio on the bench for a 20 min try out ..
Wolves 3 pts and Twixfix 2pts. .. Great result for us .. Great report Ben .. just proves what a first class Blog You and Thomas and the fellow Pundits make it.
I’m already thinking that Magath will be getting the taxi soon.
For sure we’re playing with a lot of confidence and the defence is as mean as ever .. which bodes well for a good season. Just need the 1 or 2 quality additions we all agree are required. … over to you Jez and Steve… don’t let us and Kenny down …
So I got the result correct but the score wrong. Who cares we are on the way up.
Thanks Twixfix, very kind of you! I bet Sleachy is happy today, after his tale about his ex – girlfriend and nauseating Fulham supporting father?!
Great result and performance. Very encouraging and nice to hear Evans play so well. It sounded like he won a crunching, crucial tackle in the second half and it just lifted him.
More good news is Rowe’s imminent return.
It’s way to early to get too excited but a 6pt return and 3 consecutive performances of quality is more than I could have hoped for, personally.
Well done lads!
Nice write up again Ben.
You mentioned, and it was in a couple of other reports I’ve read, about Danny Batth missing a header on goal.
I’ve noticed that he does that a lot. He gets into great positions and then doesn’t finish them off.
The best centre halves put those away. John Terry being an outstanding example – and we can all name several others.
It is an important part of a top team’s armoury.
I think Kenny ought to keep him in after school to practice a bit on that part of his game.
But knowing Mr Jackett, he’s on to it already.
I disagree Doog. Christoph Berra, in between rugby tackles, came whiskers away from scoring innumerate times, yet to my recollection he never troubled the onion bag once.
Danny may miss by a country mile or 2, but at least he does get em in from time to time.
And he’s from Brierley Hill….
I think that Danny has the potential to be a much better centre back than Berra.
It’s a minor quibble but he gets into position so well, if he improved his accuracy he could score a shedload.
By the way, I apologise for not acknowledging your birthday the other week.
I hope you had a great one!
Of course I did! In fact, I had 2 (what can I say? I like fun!)
I’d suggest Big DB is already a better center half than Bezza…
I remain a little gutted that my chant for him never took off though.
“Nobody does it Berra, nobody does it half as good as you, Berra you’re the best.”
Not strictly true of course, but it amused me.
Indeed I am! I’ve resisted the urge to send my condolences to her father.
I’m sure he’s spared me a thought though, and I hope it made him even more disconsolate!
great 3 points does anyone else think if we get our shooting boots on we,re gonna thump some team .great to see a team playing together as a team .WOLVES AY WE
I’M SORRY, BUT I HAVE TO SAY IT…
I DON’T CARE WHAT ANYBODY THINKS – I RECKON THIS MATCH WAS FIXED.
I believe it is the second, or maybe even third, time that a last minute miss has cost me maximum points in the prediction league.
I am attempting, even as we speak, to contact Sepp Blatter and put my case to him.
The trouble is I keep getting a message saying “Nobody at home”.
No change there then.
On a more serious note….
“EEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYHHHHAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”
Another performance of skill and confidence from Kuddly Ken’s boys.
I am as chuffed as a bowl of badger fat.
It really makes me smile that some bloggers can still make a “My glass is only half full” argument for the way we have started.
My glass is brimming over – and it’s a bloody big one!
Is there a Kenny Jackett fan club?
If there is – put me down for badge and a weekly newsletter.
This man is a legend in the making!
…. chuffed as a bowl of badger fat!!! Love it.
Not that I was there, but reading all the reports, the way we played makes me shiver and get goosebumps lol. This must be an awesome sign of things to come. Once we start scoring on a more regular basis I feel that we are really going to stuff some team pretty soon. Bring on Cardiff.
The pessimists say the glass is half empty.
The optimists say the glass is half full.
And while they are arguing the toss, the opportunist nicks the friggin’ glass!!
FOwb
Yahoo. I have points in the Prediction League now. Get In!!!
Thx Iceni Wolf… You should tell my ex-wives I was right for once.
Here’s another stat that made me smile this morning… BBC website has our stats as our 2nd win in 3 games pushing us up the table. (It omits the details that we lost the other and glorifies the wins.)
If Fulhams £11 striker can be put in our defenders pocket in such a way that he ends playing on the wing then I have 2 questions.
1) How much are our defenders worth? £12 plus? (The £12 plus question is not one of the questions even though it is a questionable question)
2) Are their any better strikers that will fit dynamics of the way we play ?
Wood would have been a good buy at just over a million, but would he have fit in? I don’t think he has the same pace of Dicko or Clarke… But he is a different striker.
Akinbiyi worked in our style of play but did not fit in with Leicester and many more players were like him.
It is a fine line between if not broken don’t fix it and tinkering to improve. I remember posts last season where KJ was the tinkerman, the last 3 games he has started with the same 11 as he must feel these are his best players at the moment and all that had come from his tinkering to find that balance.
Rowe may find it difficult to get a game and when does, I expect him to be even better than he was with the Posh as he knows a bad game or two will put him on the bench.
I don’t know the answers to any of my questions as I’m not a scout or in KJ’s head but I’m sure if a player is right for Wolves, KJ will land him. In the mean time I don’t care if we land another striker… but it would be nice if some clubs came in for some of the outcasts.
Then there’s Henry and Jacobs, both fantastic last season but not really getting any / much game time at the moment. I feel bids could be coming in for one or even both as other teams have seen them showcase what they can do. A decent bid would be hard to resist for bench warmers (that have done nothing wrong), the team has just evolved… and this might offset some of our losses for the unmentionables.
I really hope we don’t sell Jacobs, as I feel he will go far, and hope he does so with us. If offers come in, I think KJ will have to start him more often and tempt him into staying, no matter how well Edwards is doing. Of the two, I’d far rather lose Edwards, even simply because of the age difference.
If a decent offer comes in for Henry, then I agree it would probably be tempting to let him go if he wants. I’d hope he’d opt to stay, but couldn’t blame him for jumping at a promise of regularly getting 90 minutes.
Chris,
We brought two wingers in last year adding Jacobs and Henry. Jacobs has shone like a burning light, Henry faded very quickly and quickly became a 45 minute man, perhaps why his team were happy to let him go!
I like Jacobs also, but as long as Dangerous Dave comes up with the goods I can’t see Kenny changing.
But, knowing King Kenny, we’ve both put a Hex on Dangerous and he will be on the bench tomorrow.
As long as they keep playing great football and winning by whatever score they care to attain, personally, I’m delighted and they can play Moxey for all I care, after all he did have a great pre-season at Jody Craddock’s testimonial and pulled off some flubber blubber type saves.
Who knows if he loses five stone of ugly fat he may feature.
🙂
More than happy with last nights result, A good win on the road at Fulham was a very nice gift. Unfortunate that Sako missed or I’d have also pulled in maximum points in the prediction league. I’d like too see another few faces bought in between now and the close on the transfer window and hopefully we’ll see some movement over the course of the next week or so.
Thought the penalty was going to ruin my prediction but for once it didn’t.
Fantastic result now let’s keep moving forward.
UTW
Just over a year after picking up the shattered pieces of a once great club sadly cofined to the 3rd tier of English football, King Kenny has returned us to just one point off the top of the Championship.
And what is even more meaningful to me,…….. 2 POINTS ABOVE MICK McCARTHY’S IPSWICH!
Can’t wait for those two games.
To all you King Kenny doubters out there….In the words of the great Lancashire poet( Ecky Thump) Feck You all,
Jackett can’t Hackett?
Can’t pick the team?
Well as the Playwright Robert Bolt state’s ” He’s a man for All Seasons”
On the subject of Stats, I was in Glasgow yesterday teaching, and one of the slides came on with a Graph with stats on, as the audience then turned off completely, it proved to me they are not to be taken seriously and can certainly ruin things in full flight.
Not much Wolves play and RVLP didn’t look on form with his shooting, well the British army used to say, “whilst your’e marching, your’e not fighting” so as long as RVLP has the ball at his clever, speedy feet, then the opposition don’t have it at theirs and making runs at our defence.
To all you Wolves fans in Exile.
You need never miss another Wolves match home or away.
Go to Wiziwig.tv or Google Wiziwig and hey presto you can access all the Wolves games on your PC, no subscription, totally free, a little grainy at times, buffering can be a problem, but Hey, it’s free and you get to see the boys in Gold & Black.
It also gives every game in the premiership and Championship, so you can also keep up to speed with the Albion. If the kids or the Grandkids (Clive) are playing up, tie the feckers to a chair and make them endure 90 minutes of that sh 1 t and that will teach the little beggars.
🙂
Sir, you are a true gentleman for imparting that knowledge. Watching the Wolves also will be an added advantage !
I used myp2p.eu, but have not been able to get a stream of late. So thanks, I shall certainly try wiziwig
Great result considering its been a bogey grounds for us, 1999 was the last time we came away with anything.
Sets up Saturday pity I’ll be in Whitby my other halts mad I told we should be going south not north should see some Lambrettas and Vespas though so I’m of the pack my winter clothing.
Keep up the good work KJ, see you and the boys at Blackpool…up THE Wolves…
Paul.
Do they have electric in Whitby yet, if so seek out a Computer and follow said instructions 3 above. Don’t go without. Lambrettas are fun Vespa used to be matches, take 2 hours out to follow the boys.
🙂
Summer? World Cup? PAH!
Feels like we’ve never been away.
I didn’t want last season to end for fear of what this one may hold, seems those fears were ungrounded.
Vincent Tan’s Red Bluebirds have tallied 7 points from their first 3 games, so they will present the sternest test we’ve faced yet. However with a baying Molineux packed out on the first home Saturday of the season, I fancy our chances.
Long Live King Kenny!
Oh and spare a thought for poor Felix Magath. I don’t really care if he’s any good at his job, but I do want him to keep it, or at least find somewhere else in England he can work.
Every time I see his face I am reminded of Penfold from Danger Mouse, it would be a great pity if he was to take his comical features to a different league.
Just brilliant.
Its been a long time since I sat in the car listening to 5 live desperately waiting for the final whistle. Never mind about the penalty my lovely wife Rona had a cup of tea waiting for me in our hotel apartment, and even let me watch the sky highlights before her Sex in the City started. Out for dinner last night so had no idea of the score, but wasn`t actually worried at all, until the penalty miss that is. Obvious already we are very comfortable where we are and playing delightful football, looks like the team and the fans are enjoying already, thanks again Kenny J.
The statistic that encourages me is Games 3 Goals Against 1. When the Goals For start to flow as they surely must we should really take off.
I’m 0/3 on predictions, and Wolves are 2/3 (and should have been 3/3) … AWESOME!!! 🙂
Big picture observations:
1. Wolves have played extremely well in all 3 league games.
2. They only let in 1 goal in 3 games (and that was a fluke).
3. They are playing as a team, working for each other, with no prima-donna egos (that I can see).
4. If they could sharpen their shooting, they would be winning more and with bigger margins.
This is not a case of half-full or half-empty. This is *all* good. It is cup full. The team will continue to improve. Another striker definitely needed, and hopefully the right one will be added, but a little patience and continued application and hard work by the players will come together in a very good season this year.
You’ll see. 🙂
Go Wolves!
Super result and Kenny proved me wrong again i am sure he will take us back to the Premier league. Reading the blog now is so different from those dark days.
the most frustrating thing about this result was I was busy congratulating myself on picking a 2-0 win I was convinced a penalty taken by sako who had already scored was a cert yet my luck in the prediction league is zero. still on the upside another 3 points in the bag. cardiff will be as big a test as we face all season. should we win that then things are looking good.
Gold wolf Sven ..I agree with Cardiff (and Forest) and don’t forget Ipshit and Norwich all beatable by us…
When is an attempt on goal not an attempt on goal?
There I was, minding my own business, as usual, when I gets a text from my old pal Houston Lobo, with a link to a Fulham site showing extended highlights from last night.
So, having nothing better to do other than continue drinking Boddingtons, I took a gander at said highlights.
Well, commentary and edited match did not!!
The two understandably biased commentators were going on how Fulham were basically being murdered by Wolves, and yet the video was all Fulham.
Towards the end of the first half, they made the point that Ikeme neednt have bothered coming out for the first 45 minutes, he didn’t touch the ball!
Then, they read the shots stats.
Fulham had 8 attempts on goal, but not one was saved, or missed.
They were all blocked either outside or just inside the box.
So, to my question.
When is an attempt not one?
I think unless a shot goes wide or is saved, it don’t count. Otherwise, you could include every forward pass, and even goalies clearances.
Anyway, that was the first time I’ve seen any play at all this season, and I have to be 100% honest, I was mightily impressed.
It was amazing how quickly our defense closed down any threat, the passing was precise, and mostly on the ground, and the running off the ball, and willingness to accept passes just friggin wonderful.
I have no fear of any opposition and am really looking forward to stuffing the Taffy sheepshaggers on Saturday.
Don’t anyone accuse me of being racist towards Wales either.
I have welsh blood in me.
It was lunch yesterday, that well known character from Lord of the Wings,….Legolamb.
FOwb
Clive.
The bad boy returneth, and with passion in his heart, venom in his veins and lungs full of verse.
What a difference a good manager makes to a bunch of mediocre players all languishing in the depths of League 1 and not wanted by their respective teams.
King Kenny has turned these guys around, moulded them into a TEAM, the likes none of have seen for Yonks (now there’s a word from our past. And he’s got them playing as a unit and playing well or he leaves them out, Price, Ricketts, Clarke. Jacobs or Henry can’t get a snifter. And, be sure he will do it with any of the current players gracing us with his style of play if they drop form.
Now there’s a sight to see me babbies, long have we been ridiculed by stripy Coconuts (too many letters, you work it out) but no more, the future is bright the future is a dark shade of Orange.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but my expectations and dreams are being realised ten fold by these boys in Gold & Black, in my time at the Molineux since September 1960 I have not seen a manager or such good football as this. The long high ball is dead, the playing out of the area is the norm and we have guys that can play football. I bet Stan Cullis is looking down and has a wry smile on his face, he may at long last have someone here who is even dare I say “better than he was”
Clive, this is for you, FOWB
🙂
Stu Wolf…. Class
… and Clive you have point with regards to shots on goal!
….and you have prob inadvertently stumbled upon the answer to our striker issue.
As the observation is that Ikeme may as well have not turned up, we should sub him for a striker.
Play a 4322 with no keeper, now that will keep the ones happy that want 2 upfront and the ones that like the possession by flooding and controlling midfield!
Genious!
I have just been texted by an American, who has come up with a wonderful statistic, if it’s true.
Apparently, Wolves are the only team in all the leagues that haven’t let in a goal in the first 10 minutes of play in any match, for over a year.
No doubt someone is going to go back and have a look.
Personally, I cant be arsed, its just another statistic!!
Aye, we didn’t let in a goal in the first 10 mins all of last season. Only team in the England to do so. To be fair we haven’t let many in at all over the last season let alone just in the first 10 mins….