Playing with no confidence yet we’ve moved into seventh?!
Befitting of opponents known as the Tractor Boys, we trundled into town with all the glamour of a Massey Ferguson.
Ploughing a miserable furrow across the Portman Road field with no particular pattern, we still managed to record a 2-0 away win – and a clean sheet – with all the panache of Farmer Giles.
Up until sub Tongo Doumbia smashed in a glorious second goal, it sounded like we stunk Suffolk out like a big ugly muck spreader.
But frankly, it matters little as we managed to chalk up back-to-back victories, setting up our encounter with rock-bottom Peterborough quite nicely.
If we can pick up results when we’re not at our best then by definition, we are a good team.
It didn’t sound like it for long periods against a team who could bale a field of hay quicker than they could find the back of the net.
The first half was reported as being so bad that our 723-strong away following should have been demanding compensation.
The same old soundbites were rearing their ugly heads like cow pats on a muddy pasture.
Berra lucky to escape for fouling, Johnson getting turned, Edwards giving the ball away and Doyle looking anonymous up front.
One Boukari shot was all we had to show in the opening 45 minutes, compared to a couple of Martin home side efforts.
Doyle appeared to be doing more than anyone to grab the initiative in the second half by going close with a left footed shot and then even closer when hitting the post from an Edwards pass.
With Ipswich looking impotent – as seen when Murphy and Martin missed sitters – Sako bent in a free kick for home defender Tommy Smith to put into his own net.
Smith then missed a chance to atone for his error and within minutes, Tongo Doumbia smacked in a long range daisy cutter to seal a rewarding away win.
It still sounds like people can’t work out what style Solbakken is trying to impose right now.
But if it remains on a par with a rusty John Deere and we keep on winning, then none of us will care.
In fifty years time, when our grandchildren open the record books, they will see that we won 2 – 0.
There will not be any “we played badly” or “we were boring” comments, just the scoreline. And three more points.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll probably say it again. There is no such thing as a bad goal, and I dont care how boring or fuckin’ ugly we win, as long as we win. Our only aim this season is to get promoted. nothing else matters. Nothing.
Last time out in this division, these games were bannana skins. If we can play like this, have lady luck on our side all season long, then thats fine by me.
Well done the lads tonight, priceless points at this time of the year.
FOWB
I heartily agree with most of your sentiments here but not “Our only aim this season is to get promoted. nothing else matters. Nothing.” What matters just as much is to build a team who will survive and prosper in the top tier. If not, in two years time, we will all be on this blog moaning into our cornflakes about how awful it is to be back in the Chump.
Ståle, Moxey and Morgan have to prove that they are prepared to do what is necessary in order to make this happen or, to my way of thinking, there is simply no point in going up and getting hammered every week.
I haven’t seen much so far to suggest this may happen.
Having said all that, very pleased with the win!
Concur completely.
Disagree – I can see exactly where you’re coming from. But given the change to parachute payments in two years time, it is crucial we are in the top flight by then, or risk being left in the wilderness for a very long time
I don’t see your point there. Parachute payments only apply to teams who have been relegated last four seasons. If we are in the Premiership it won’t affect us – if we get relegated again we get lumbered with whatever is agreed anyway. That’s why we need to build to stay in the Premiership long term.
Bloody hell Clive. 10 likes for one of your posts?! You’re doing a Roger Johnson on us. (on marginally less alocohol)
Learn to read, Benny Boy, its up to 12 now!
Now 16.
Must have done something wrong for this many peeple to like me!!
Ha Ha
Soon change that.
If we’re placed between 1st and 9th in january, I’ll be very satisfied. If we lag behind direct promotion I’m certain reinforcements are brought in.
Great tractor metaphor Ben, and sounds like a fair summary of the match from what I can glimmer.
We won two in a row and we actually didn’t concede a goal!
Wow, who cares how we won, we won!
As for Ståle, credit where credit is due.
He seems to have a haphazard system, but with the help of Lady Luck, is turning around a losing mentality…..
Thanks Robin! Me and Thomas are off to Peterborough on Sat, so I’m already thinking about the ‘Posh’ theme. Would take another scruffy performance and another 2-0 win!!
Port Out Starboard Home……Posh for short as they say…
And would also be grateful for a 2-0 victory!
You just wanna poke Beckham’s missus, dontcha???
Great to win two in a row! Bully’s comments before the game about us being a team in transition, who he hopes do not go up this season because we’d come straight back down again, kind of deflate you.
Surely Wolves have to go for it this season and give it their best shot, look at the crowds at Blues & Blackburn for the games in midweek 14,000. The 20,000+ at Wolves deserve better than transition. If they settle for a holding season, it shows a lack of ambition, fans will vote with their feet. We’ve already lost 3 stars, will a player like Doumbia stay if all Wolves can offer is Championship level?
Chuffed with the win, but from the commentary on WM it was far from a great performance against a very poor side. But there is hope, hang in there, decide on the best 11 & I’d love to think we can genuinely challenge for the top two, or a Wembley play off appearance, that has to be the aim & the ambition. Anything less than that is a poor reflection on the direction of the club.
Just seen goals. First was very funny own goal, 2nd was great strength by doumbia to win the ball and then great goal. I agree. Dont care if we play shit at the moment as we desperately need confidence in the team/squad and you only get this through wins, not by playing well and then losing. Old saying – its better to be a lucky manager than a good manager. Maybe stale has bought a touch of good luck. Well done wolves.
Good enough for me at this stage of the season. When was the last time we won two on the trot?
This is a sign of things beginning to turning our way, great performances will come later in the season. Win ugly games still mean 3 points. Feel good factor returning, Great job. UTW.
Our lack of confidence is filling me with confidence!im confident we can lack the confidence to be poor enough to beat the posh…….:)))) you wha??
Goals is goals, wins is wins and points is points.
Look on the bright side, we aint pretty or stylish but come the January/February winter slog, our brand of football will not be affected one bit. We will trudge on better than most.
I was a bit surpised with Bullys comments but know what he means , but he is younger than me, I cant wait for ever and ever.
The way I see it its never to soon to go up. As Jez has shown this year he is more than ready to dismantle our failed Prem team and build one for the Champ, so it follows, we get promoted and he will go buy a prem team for us.
Back to back wins makes me a very happy chappie, please guys no cock ups with Boro
Hi NY, nice post although I can’t share your faith in Jezzer. IMHO one of the reasons we got relegated was because we didn’t invest in players capable of keeping us up.
Now, we seem to be struggling although we are picking up points. I’m not certain why this is the case, whether it’s down to a change of tactics or personnel. If we are fortunate to get promoted will these players be good enough to survive in the prem?
While nobody wants us to end up in the financial mire like Portsmouth or Plymouth I do think we could be in a similar position to that of Stoke, Swansea, Sunderland, Fulham etc. Surely there must be a happy medium. I don’t think I am being unrealistic in comparing us with these clubs. We may never be able to compete with the Manchester clubs or some of the London clubs but I see nothing wrong with expecting us to become an established premiership club, hoping for a top ten finish and a decent cup run. That doesn’t seem to be too high a target for a club with our potential.
While I don’t know exactly what’s going on at the club I do know that we’ve got between £25M and £30M from transfers. We have parachute payments, which I think amount to £16M.
http://footyfinance.wordpress.com/2010/04/22/what-is-a-parachute-payment/
Player’s salaries have been halved and I can remember, in the spring, SM promising that the new manager would have a “treasure chest” with which to buy new players.
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2012/05/10/steve-morgan-in-pledge-over-transfer-treasure-chest/
I’m not certain what this totals up to but it could be as much as £50M, perhaps more. We have spent around £8 – 10M on new players. My own feelings are, if we were really ambitious we would have freed up another £10M – £20M on new players and/or wages and we would still be in a position where we would have improved our already stable financial position.
Maybe the players SS wanted to sign in the transfer window were unavailable and perhaps he will bring in more players in January. However, we have missed out on a couple of centre backs he was keen on! Now I’m reading there are financial constraints relating to the appointment of a first team coach.
I am sure that the money must be there but am unsure whether we have the ambition to match it.
Very difficult to attract good players to a club that has just been relegated. I think Stalle has done well, particularly with Doumbia. The time to invest heavily in players would be next summer if and when we are promoted.
I take your point about attracting players but feel you need good players to get promoted in the first place.
I also think players need time to gel, as is being shown at the present time, and the time to do that is not when you’ve just reached the premier and every point is vital to survival.
I agree that Stale seems to have made some good buys. I am just pointing out that a lot of money should be available to him.
I suppose it is always going to be a balancing act. Do we buy players in January because we are looking like a promotion side and need to prepare a team for the Premier league or do we buy players in January to push us higher up the league to try and gain promotion. Sounds the same thing but the first option sounds better to the premier league talent. Whichever way, I agree 100% with your comment that the money should be available.
Good point WW I think as well it is pretty well known that Jez is not the best liked of guys in Football and no one is rushing to do him favors. Players and Agents also wary of our fiscal style. Which is important but as Steppen rightly says I think there needs to be some middle goround on this.
Steppen, Be assured I have little to no faith in Jez. I was being overly sarcastic. I hope as things settle down we really do start bedding in Prem players. I am hoping the money is all being saved to be sensibly spent in Jan if we are looking likely to go up. I dont want to be harsh but no point at all arriving back in the prem with the sames guys who proved over 3 years they were not up to it. A new Manager and coach can only do so much. Just wish we didnt live up to our motto so much. We seem to regulalry be in darkness to find the light.
My apologies – taken at face value. Being overly serious today and lost my sense of humour :).
There’s a lot of money come into the club and the wage bill has also been slashed which further saves us money, (Fair play to Jezzer). I just hope we can spend some of this money on players who can get us into, and keep us in the Premiership. If we have to pay a little in the way of compensation In order to get the right man as coach to help get us to the premiership then so be it. The money should be there. A successful team will generate more income through larger gates.
As the guy who invented the vibrator said, “Build it and they will come”.
No apologies needed, we are on the same page on this.
Frugality is real easy, anyone can just balance the books. The point in Soccer is to find that middle ground, which is not so easy and get the right balance. We must have a successful product on the field, to win and generate earnings consistent with controlled and managed finances and fiscal risk. Its not easy but thats why he gets the big bucks. Having the most money in the Bank is not the answer.
My hope and prayer is that they are monitering progress with SS, making sure things are moving forward and come Jan they will open the check book more to secure promotion and start bedding in some prem potental players. You can not depend on buying em all in the Summer, they might not be available, but no worries Jez wont do that anyway.
I meant to ask guys, not hearing much about Ikeme, other than the odd good comment. Seems to me he might be slowly staking a strong claim to retain the green jersey (oops thats an old farts expression). Any comments? Cant recall one negative about him so far. As an ex keeper (local amateur) I always found it best to try to stay low key and under the radar. Folks soon forget the good saves if you let one howler in. Was just best to go un noticed if you could.
Played very well. Think the shirt is Hennesseys when he gets fully fit but no need to rush him at all with Ikemes form. It definitely allows us to sell de Vries come January with no regret to put a little more money in the pocket that allow SS have a litte more wiggle room to bring in some players.
To be fair, he wasn’t tested nearly as much as he should have been last night. Ipswich had a number of decent chances but banjos and barn doors spring to mind. Having said that, he stood up well to deny their striker who was through 1-on-1 in the first half and made an excellent clearing punch from a dangerously whipped in free kick. Certainly didn’t do a lot wrong.
I’m state side and can’t watch anymore, but I do bet a lot on the Championship. I was worried on this one because the Ipswich line went +140 to +110 in less than a day. Rarely moves that much on a US sportsbook and when it does there is usually a reason. I fully expected a loss and this was a pleasant surprise.
When recently we have had to out play teams for periods just to chalk up a narrow defeat this is a nice change.In the same way teams playing well and losing are soon not playing well think it may work the other way with us.Other reports say Doyle was quite good again certainly better than Sigardarson (i will look the spelling up after).
Note:Just re-read Ben’s report and picked up positive comments on Doyle’s second half performance.
Better watch this replying to myself Thomas will be on my case (only joking Thomas).
You’ll be telling yourself jokes you have’nt heard next.
Not sure we’ll get away with poor performances against better teams. However, its still 3 points to go towards our end of season tally. I’d rather have 3 points playing poorly than 0 playing well.
To not be at your best and still win, is certainly the mark of a good team.
You have to grind out these results sometimes.
Look at the positives..
Clean sheet, 3 points, players rested with others given a go.
This could be our turning point…
Not lost since we said goodbye to TC..
Well done Wolves, now lets make it 9 out 9 at Boro on Sat..
As happy as everyone else with the points but both wins came as a result of appalling finishing by the opposition. We could have easily lost both and both teams were allowed plenty of chances.
Having said that, it’s a new team and new management so things should improve. We have a couple of gems in Doumbia and Sako. It wasn’t just Doumbia’s shot but the clever way he won the ball in the first place; it showed a lot of skill. He did exactly the same against Shrewsbury so he’s much more than just a holding player.
Interesting that he replaced Henry. Was Henry injured or was it purely tactical?
I’m not sure that he’s fully fit, but he’s such a talisman for the boys and the supporters. There seems to be a few promising signs of players settling in and accepting responsibility for certain passages of play within the game which is encouraging. I hope this continues otherwise we’re back down to earth with a bump again. UTW !!!
It’s still early days but the smell of relegation is slowly disappearing. Personally I’d like WW to play with an exciting passion and win with a smile rather than sneak it and finish with a smirk, but at this stage of our re-habilitation I don’t care, 3 points were up for grabs and we grabbed them. How often could we have said that over the past 3 years. I want to see an improvement again next game, give PU the respect they deserve and then smash and grab another 3 points. Players have been rested, confidence is slowly returning but 90 min concentration and communication still needs to addressed. Ståle and the boys should be well pleased with their evenings work.
As ever keep the faith and UTW !!!!
A good 3 points, the more we can pick up at this stage of the season the better we will be placed to make an assault on the top two once the team has clicked. Bring on Peterborough!
I went last night and thought that Boukhari was a notable positive from a fairly unremarkable team performance. Showed that he can cut inside and shoot as well as getting past the full back and pulling it back from the touchline.
Also, Margreitter’s substitution late on was pleasing. He came on for Doyle and sat in front of the back 4. Comfortable on the ball and on first impressions a far batter distributor from the back than Berra.
That’s interesting about Margreitter. If he could fill one of the holding positions in midfield, it could release Doumbia to play behind a lone striker in a 5 man midfield as an alternative to 4-4-2. He’s dangerous going forward and i would like to see us take full advantage of his abilities.
Good thinking, with our defence over the past years I always thought we did better when MM put an extra man in midfield, quantity over quality! Mind you when it just left Doyle running himself stupid up front it meant goals were few and far between. With that little extra quality and Championship defences it should really pay of.
For me long term success really only comes from teams who can control things from a strong midfield. It just gives so many options.
Was out for dinner last night, and out of politeness left my mobile in the car. On the way home my wonderful wife said i`ll check the score and told me Wolves has lost 2-1. Her sense of humour sometimes goes too far, agony to ecstacy in seconds when she stopped laughing and said ” Don`t worry darling they won 2-0.
It seems that missing chances is endemic in this division, lets hope all our opponents have the same problem all season. There is a lack of quality of course in the Championship (old division 2 for the old farts like me and Clive) so that does give the team and SS time to gel and get sorted as we move along.
It follows of course that we get a hiding on Saturday – or am I being too pessimistic?
Obviously too pessimistic, but I too fear the danger. For me it will be a real test of how far SS has bought us and his motivational skills. It was typical of our motivation of recent years, good results against better clubs and then total foldo against teams we should put away. To me you could just see the guys taking their foot of the pedal relaxing and thinking they were suddenly winners. I am betting SS puts a stop to that nonsense.
Count me in the old farts club to, I was going on about the green jersey earlier on, and it will always be the second, third and fourth to me. How the hell did the Third become league one. Madness
As a fellow old fart I agree totally. Like you, I’m an ex ‘keeper in local football – Bristol Downs League since you ask – and my team played in division one. That is, until the Downs League Committee decided it would sound better if we became the Downs Premier League. Certainly sounded better but it didn’t improve our football one iota. Complete madness!
I started off as a striker, moved into mid field, and as I got older and slower, ended up at left back ( how fuckin’ ironic is that!)
I played for about 500 years for the Sporting Star in the ‘hampton Sunday league, and my only claim to any sort of fame was scoring the winning penalty in the divisional cup semi final. We went on to play Red Dragons, who were a nursery club for Cardiff City, and got stuffed 1 – 7 in the final.
All was not lost, however, as they fielded an illegible player, and the competition was declared void, so technically I was a cup winner.
Clive, what, couldn’t they read his name then………….
OOps, spelchekin aint wot it used ta bee!!!
Illegible – ‘difficult to make out or understand’
I think illegible is a very good description of a certain left back – it’s difficult to make out or understand why he’s there!
PS. Not you Clive.
A Left back hey, I know where theres an immediate vacancy.
I finished playing over here, around here there was a lot of National Teams with German, Italian and East European heritage. Way to serious and out of hand, us Brits had all seen better days but we had 6 of us plus some locals. Never forget last game against a team that was mostly super fit college kids around 19. Talk about ending on a low note, we lost 13-1. I let in 5 in the first half, after some bright spark offered some “constructive advise” at half time , I said right here you go its all yours see what you can do. Played up front. My critic let in another 8 and I scored our goal, well it actually bounced in of my nose but a goal is a goal. After that reality set in.
I got to say that getting absolutley peppered with shots in that game, I could empathise with Wayne last year poor buggar. You never knew where the next one was coming from, no sooner had you saved one than the next one coming at ya.
Mind you Wayne saved a hell of a lot more than I did.
Mind you, Wayne got paid a lot more than you did.
Problem is that with the investment in the team that didn’t happen last season and hasn’t this season
I find it hard to get excited about beating sides like Ipswich.
We are just about treading water no more no less.
SS has got a huge task on his hands especially with Greaseball who I think undermines him.
The spin from Greaseball and the players has started and when we play the top 5 expect some more.
Are we capable of going up? Hope not with these players. Bully is right as he is closer to what is actually happening than any of us are.
FOJM
Haven’t yet seen the goals – anyone know where I can see them online? By all accounts awful first half, better second though – you just know that against a Peterborough side with six straight defeats, we’re gonna get rolled over. But hey, I haven’t got a prediction right yet this season! So, in that vein of thought… Wolves to lose to posh (here’s to another win!) Anyone see the stats by the way? First back to back wins in 48. First away league win in 10. First clean sheet in 9. Bloody Hell!
Generally football clubs have invested a lot in players over the last 20 years.The guardian newspaper recently reported that over this period the wages of the top players has increased by 1500% compared to a 186% increase in average UK wages.Some of this cost has been passed onto the fans with the cheapest tickets increasing in cost by a 1000%.
Are fans any happier ? Not Alf obviously.
This is not a defence of Jez Moxey i find stories that Stale has had to put his search for a new coach on hold due to ‘financial reasons’ worrying.Also find his boasts on the recent sale of players unprofessional and embarrasing.
Colin,
Dead nuts right especially the last sentence.
I knew as soon as SS said they could cover it for a few months that would be it.
Seriously hope we are not being cheap over the Coach
WINS GETS POINTS AND POINTS GET US OUT OF THIS CHAMPIONSHITE DIVISION,THAT’AL DO FOR ME.UTW….