Just when Wolves fans were daring to make comparisons to Jones and McCarthy’s great promoted sides, they might be thinking of Colin Lee right now, when seventh placed finishes were mandatory.
Back in the late 1990s, engineering palpable disappointment was an artform, with Keith Curle penalty misses (against Blues and WBA) still vivid in the memory when a play-off berth was virtually unavoidable.
At 1-2 against high flying Middlesbrough, Rajif van la Parra did his familiar open-goal-miss routine to assume that same seminal air.
To blame the Dutchman for what we should expect from experience would be unfair, as the entire team appears to have completely frozen when the ultimate prize came into focus.
Just like 1999 – and so many other seasons in between – it’s the hope that does for you.
Any team harbouring serious hopes of promotion simply does not commit the maddening levels of harry-carry that we’ve managed over the past three games, including our Leeds late show.
· Pathetic marking away at St Andrew’s and failure to win the second ball to concede.
· Golbourne suicide thereafter.
· Stearman muddle at Middlesbrough.
· More slack play for the second.
· And that van la Parra miss when it was easier to score at 1-2.
Individually and collectively over 180 minutes, this team has confirmed my worst fear that has lingered all season…
…That we’re too mentally weak to ever seriously contend for promotion.
Leeds aside, we have an unerring losing record when conceding first and we start games way too slowly when they really matter, as if startled rabbits in the headlights (Ipswich and Bournemouth away both spring to mind)
All this isn’t to say that the team hasn’t done fantastically well this season, or exceeded all expectations for that matter.
They’ve surpassed my wildest dreams and Kenny Jackett deserves a medal – and a warchest for next season – for all of his hard work.
It’s just a crying shame that this virtuous team’s ultimate fate will, in all probability, be so similar to those late 90s Wolves losers who I really couldn’t care less about.
All this isn’t to say we can’t still make the play-offs with three games left.
We can! But being as this is Wolves we’re talking about and Mick McCarthy is swaggering into town next, you just know what the outcome will be.
Isn’t it sad that we’re programmed as Wolves fans that we are bound to fuck it up.
If we beat Ipswich Saturday I reckon we’ll do it, but would be typical for us to lose to Mick.
Can we dare to dream we could have a non-predictable Wolves end to the season?
I’m at the point where I want to remain positive but I’m in agreement with your thoughts Ben.
The bottom line is we’re not good enough collectively. I mentioned fine margins in the preview .. well they were here in abundance … a defence shifting a couple of early goals and then van la Parra hurting the bar when, with a bit more composure it was easier to score.
I truly believe we have missed a golden opportunity to reach the play offs by Morgan and Moxey unwillingly to invest in the team. Some will agree others will disagree but the facts are that the teams above us, especially the top 5 have got chairman willing to invest in their clubs …. alas not Morgan …
All isn’t lost but the next 3 games need to yield 9 points ( ie 3 wins) …. somehow I think we’ll come up short…
Twixfix spot on.
Sorry but I’m just saddened and angry right now so I’d better leave it at that.
Many of us feel the same. gut wrenching when we have such a talented, likeable manager, who, given the right backing would have had us up via automatic spot whilst playing attractive, attacking football as well … Look at his signings, Afobe and Mcdonald in particular have been as spectacular and more consistent than Sako … I really like what Kenny has done for us, I just wish we didnt have those two clowns above him pulling the strings.
Just like to add that even if we make the play offs we won’t win them.
The team is not confident enough.
It might be down to management or inexperience, I don’t know?
I note Guedioura plays for Watford.
He’d have been a good player in this team.
Maybe lack of board investment?
The summer will show us whether we have a chance next season.
Will we hold onto our stars?
Especially the front three…
Why did Dicko start on the bench?
I have it (on good authority … allegedly …) that Morgan will NOT spend any of his own money.
Which means that we won’t sign anyone decent to replace Sako (Coz he’s going for nothing) and the policy of buying players where the club will not pay any more than their own valuation EQUATES to mid table MEDIOCRITY next year and many years to come.
I’m beginning to be up for some of what the Newcastle fans are preparing for … BOYCOTTING GAMES !! ….. Sorry just my opinion of our peers.
Chin up lads. Big chance to put ourselves back in the mix on Saturday. Ben, remember how you felt and what you wrote after Norwich and what the team did from then to set you up for these latest setbacks! We can go again (but then if we do, you’ll know what to expect in the play offs!)
Wow, that was a speedy write-up!
I think you’re being a bit harsh – no need to throw in the towel until mathematics dictate. But I agree: if you’d asked me at the start of the season if this team could get promoted, I’d have said no. A top 8 finish is a great achievement for this bunch of lads.
Can’t see the promoted sides coming from outside the current top 4 on playoff final day now.
Your piece takes me back, and I remember that even the great collapse (that saw Sandwell leapfrog us when we only needed one point from the last 6 games or something) somehow didn’t feel as gutting as the days we sent Steve Froggatt and Robbie Keane to Coventry. Because the latter was self-inflicted.
Let’s hope we stear clear of any such “Good Bits of Business” this summer. That’s the real challenge.
If we don’t go up.
Which we still might.
UTW
Wow superfast and from the heart (Ben not Wolves). Mentally weak sums us up. Kenny has been great at pragmatic selections that have injected pace, strength and technical ability. But in the final analysis we have come up short on character. In mitigation if we were serious about back to back promotions there should have been more financial backing.
Us need to win all 3 games..Brentford to drop points at Reading (will beat Wigan) Ipswich to drop points against Forest and Blackburn..then we become 6th.
Totally agree Ben when we are on stage we get stage fright ..
It’s not that we haven’t the players to do the biz..on form they are fantastic sometimes with great individual efforts..K-Mac?…so inconsistent ..
As well as KJ has done surely Ben
he is the man that drives the team,plans tactics and instills confidence Into the players that we see who constantly have good then bad games..
He needs to put his hands up instead of saying what we should of done blah blah..
We have been caught out (3?) times early and surely he must see the risks
as in tonight in 4 mins..
If the team dismantles it rests partly on his shoulders…doesn’t it?
Should of been 2-2 incidently..
This team were largely assembled initially to fight the fight in League 1. They showed plenty of ability there but, if indeed they have a weakness when the chips are down, this was never really tested at that lower level. You can’t see that in training either.
I disagree with your final sentence – It should have been 2-2. If you take into consideration the opportunities we gave Boro in the first half, I was surprised we went in at half time only 2 goals down. They also missed a sitter in the second half and hit the bar. So, “it should have been 2-2” is a correct statement at the time RVLP missed a sitter, but overall we were fortunate not to have been slapped.
Stu and I, and no doubt all the other fans there could not believe what we were seeing in the first 15-20 mins. 2 goals down after 10 mins and showing no signs of urgency. Balls bouncing over our heads, Boro first to every balll, it was a nightmare. Boro never capitalised further though and the second half was much better and we actually got a foot into the game. When it got to 2-1 we (us fans) actually started to believe, but it was too little too late.
OK so we lost. Even though it is still possible, I do not believe we will get into a play off position now. Having said that, I have been chuffed to bits in what has been achieved by Kenny this season and respect him for all he has done for us – after all, having to re-organise after being promoted and achieveing a top eight spot is no easy feat.
See you at the Ipswich game bloggers.
The defence has been a problem all season I’d have thought Jackett himself being a defender would of sorted it by now the against column speaks for its self.
And why does Jackett persist with RVP as proven tonight he couldn’t hit a cow with a big stick shocking miss absolutely shocking.
I’ve got a ticket for Saturday and Wigan away ill still be there with thousands of other Wolves fans thinking if only we had a chairman who really means bussiness, if only we had Afobe at the start of t.he season……..if only.
Derby I’m assuming will stay into the frame and they also play Millwall..unless they still have a brain storm……
we ay done bad for a league one side that made fook all reinforcements until Afobe midway through the season … Kenny, and the bulk of the lads have (as you have already said) have been greater than the sum of their parts …
… If only we had a chairman with the ambition and balls of say Bournemouth, daring to stump the cash for quality players when it was needed …. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON!
It’s not over of course, but it’s not looking pretty, and i’ll take my customary swipe at whos to blame: take a bow morgan one more year of blatant profiteering at the expense of club progress under yer belt … bravo ya fat cunt !
Van para is an absolute joke of a player another crappie freebe .. beggars belief jacket plays him..All season he has shown how useless he is !! Let’s face it were in this shit because we haven’t the strength in depth and it has been said all along we required decent loan players in all the available windows but those two tossers wouldn’t pay the going rate..Ince , Bent , Drinkwater , to name just three !!
Same old same old we turn up in our fucking thousands as usual and our owners couldn’t give a damn. .you will hear the shit when it goes tits up that we did try to sign players but it just didn’t happen for some strange reason..I have the reason Morgan your a tight fisted money grabbing fuck. .end off !!
Oh man…I’ve got a terrible Monday morning feeling and it’s Wednesday..
We all know how that feels like..I keep seeing RVLP hitting the bar..
I’m hoping Ipshit loose all there remaining games starting with this Saterday……and Derby ….and Brentford).
COYW
Yup, its out of our hands now, even a win against the muppet on Satdee wont elevate us above em … ho hum… always next year … says morgan greedily rubbing his hands
Spot on Ben.
We have seen it so many times that the tee shirt has been well and truly trashed
I’ve cancelled the Park View hotel reservation this weekend and my two tickets to the Ipswich match are available to anyone who wants them.
Well, maybe not, but the ‘must win’ six ponter is not really that any more.
It is more a case of Ipswich ‘must lose’ some more matches.
I shall be there to give the boys my usual wholehearted, yet politely reserved, support but I damn well hope that ‘Van Not The Man’ is sat on the bench and not running round to his usual no good effect on the pitch.
One for the future? Possibly.
One for the present? Not in a million years!
Still, it was good to see Jacobs back.
I still think he can do a job for us.
Dream over for this season I think, but plaudits for Kenny Jackett for getting us this close.
A year ago most people thought that a season of consolidation would represent success for the team.
Kenny has produced more than that.
Three games to go and it’s still – just – possible that we can make the play offs.
We’ve all said it a thousand times before but this time it’s more true than ever…
…’Next season will be the acid test of M&M’s ambition’.
Stick or twist, brake on or throttle wide open, (see how I brought the motorbike metaphor in there), shit or bust.
Don’t let our good players go – with the possible exception of Sako who is free to walk – and invest in better ones.
We can all dream.
Well, we all DO dream. It’s great…
…It’s the wake up call that hurts.
We have been dreaming for years. One day it will come.
See you Saturday.
one simply cannot attend these games with any level of expectation, on the one hand, we’ve superceded all expectations when you consider we DIDNT SPEND ONE PENNY season start … not one penny, and yet, just one signing later and here we are within sniffing distance of the playoffs … but i digress, the squad we have just shouldnt be in this tantalising position, and yet becuase we are, we build ourselves up for bigger things … if we go into the ipswich match seeing ourselves as anything but underdogs we do ourselves a disservice … So, we go, we sing, we see what happens … it’s out of our hands anyways UTW
We beat Ipshit 4-0 and Brentford lose/draw then we are back in the mix – yahoo. Positive thinking mate.
dont you worry i’ll sing and swear my heart out – it just grates that such loyal enthusiastic fans get sucked dry by greedy corporates
The Championship is a tough league to get out of and simply throwing money at it is no guarantee (though it can help, I’m sure). It’s been a great roller-coaster season and KJ and the team deserve loads of credit for keeping us enthralled until the very end. Sure we have our weaknesses and I’m confident they will be addressed in the summer. But this season ain’t over yet. If we can thump Micks merry men then it’s still all there for the taking. We were confident a couple of short weeks ago and we ain’t become rubbish overnight. 2-1 away at Middlesboro. They ain’t at the top for no reason. Fight on.
I’m not throwing the towel in yet. KJ and this team have performed beyoned my expectations this season. There may be more to come yet in this crazy league.
Onwards & Upwards
🙂
It’s simple now. Ipswich win 2 of 3 and derby take 5 points it is all over – barring massive swings in goal difference. But not going to compare this side to the over paid over rated 90’s losers. That is unfair. Done well to get where we have. Any way, it’s not over yet.
Guys we’re all used this as Wolves fans. Even me in my 17years following Wolves know the usual routine.
I do however think the position this season should be blamed on Moxey and Morgan. Yes they could of invested more last summer, but we got beaten to players that since haven’t shone. Delort at Wigan comes to mind. Ok Bournemouth signed Wilson, but they had just received £3m for Grabban to Norwich, and £6m+ for Lallana moving to Liverpool.
They backed Kenny the right way in January signing a prolific striker from Arsenal for just £2m. That’s where Moxey is at his best. We’ve largely been unlucky in the market, but the signings we have made have mostly come off.
Onto Van La Parra. My god the man is frustrating. Bristling pace to beat the man only to slow it down, let that man catch up, beat him again then put the weakest cross possible into the goalkeepers arms. I think he is best off the bench to stretch a tired defence after Henry has run them ragged. For all his open goal misses, his assist column is great.
We’ve done better than nearly all expectations this year. Let’s hope if it’s not our season, we keep the main group of players together for a push next season.
Hopefully Wolves can make a deal with Sako. Give him a 2year contract and say that if we don’t go up after the first year, he can leave at start of the 2nd year. Similar to the Lescott deal. He’s the most gifted player I’ve watched since Mark Kennedy.
Come on you Wolves!!!
Nice write up Ben – echoes some of my thoughts.
I think this squad has overachieved. There are a number who are patently not good championship players. Some are other clubs cast offs and lack the quality to fire us into the prem. I was totally underwhelmed when KJ was appointed but he has done a remarkable job. It is such a shame he hasn’t been backed financially. Another 6 points now and we would all be singing. We all knew we needed a striker in the summer. Afobe is a hell of a buy but why didn’t we try for him earlier, he had been on loan prior to joining us. Why do transfer windows and loan windows appear to constantly pass us by? Why do we never seem to capture our proposed targets when other clubs do? It happens so often it is becoming predictable. We are always looking for someone but never seem to get him. I no longer even expect us to. I think we all knew we could do with a bit of experience in midfield and at the back. I am certain KJ was aware of this.
The sides above us have invested bringing in permanent buys and loans to boost their promotion hopes. Bent, Ince, Bamford spring to mind. They look like being rewarded for being prepared to speculate. Meanwhile we are almost certain to spend another season in the Championship. I think we will be without parachute payments and up against the 3 relegatees who will be loaded down with TV money. We will probably lose Sako and I wonder how long we will hang on to Afobe. I simply don’t subscribe to the theory that we need to consolidate in the championship – we won’t, we will simply lose our better players. I would rather risk getting stuffed in the EPL where we would have TV money to bolster the squad. Without it promotion will become increasingly difficult.
I’m dreading the start of next season. We won’t bring in anyone of Sako’s class to replace him. I can see us hovering around the mid table and flirting with the promotion places but not quite making it. I’m getting old and want to see us back in the top flight. Sorry to be so negative. If I’m honest I didn’t expect much this season but having got so close a little investment might have got us over the line. It wasn’t forthcoming. Same old, same old. Even though we went through two or three windows on the cusp of the promotion places we still didn’t invest. I felt that with a couple of quality players promotion was there for the taking. We just had to reach out.
Need a miracle now.
Says it all really!
Spot on, your absolutely right especially re: consolidating in championship what could is that. Translated it means happy with mediocrity.
Just had a positive thought – On Saturday when Brentford lose/draw and we beat Ipshit 4-0 we will be placed 6th on goal difference. Will phone Kenny up and tell him.
Or …………. if Clive get’s his prediction right that amounts to the same.
So Clive, it is in your hand’s now mate!!!!
Thanks, Brompto, ….no pressure then!!
Sorry mate, couldn’t resist. Stu showed me the photo he had taken yesterday at the match that he sent to you. Had to laugh.
See you soon Clive.
Brompton we need to beat Ipswich 8-0 to go above them..(us 11 them 18)
Come on Stevie, work it out. If we put 4 past them then you have to take their goal difference down by 4 (reducing them to 14) and ours up by 4 raising ours to 15) = 8. Am I right or am I being silly?
I stand corrected…I have lost 1 million brain cells since the last result due to mental exhaustion..
I’m impressed Brimpto it’s not true what they say..lol
Kenny did over tinker yesterday! Fully understand why he dropped Golbourne but DICKO!!!!! WTF was KJ’s rationale behind dropping the player who all season, nay since he joined us from Wigan last season, has been absolutely first class in goals, attitude, work rate, desire, etc etc. It was his absence in November which in my opinion was a major factor in our poor run. Everyone associated with Boro, fans and played alike, must have breather a massive sigh of relief on hearing KJ’s team selection yesterday. That in decision to drop Dicko in itself would have given the Boro team a boost. Shocking decision. Keep it simple from now on in and play our STRONGEST side, which in my opinion is Ikeme, Iorfa, Golbourne, Batth, Stearman, Henry or Jacobs, Price, SuperMac, Dicko, Afobe, Sako.
Agree totally Kennys selection at times this season have been baffling at times Jacobs out and Van in, shocking and your right dropping Dicko what’s that all about.
Kenny hasn’t helped by tinkering.
I am one of the ‘Kenny knows best’ brigade but I do see your point on this. I can understand Kenny feeling a little more strength in midfield was required to support the defence, but I think Nouha is such a threat that he prevents the opposition from pushing up and squeezing KMac and co’s space. Attack is the best form of defence, and all that.
I don’t think we’ll see him dropped for the remaining games. Hopefully it’s not too late.
Absolutely agree.
I watched 3 games on the trot on TV.
In every game, in the first 20 minutes, the opposition defence was run ragged by one man, Dicko….
Baffling that he was dropped….
When competing in the Olympics, there are three medals up for grabs.
Gold is for winners, and everyone remembers you.
Bronze is for those overachievers, just over the moon to be on the podium.
Silver is for losers.
Not quite good enough, whom no one remembers.
I fear we are going to be silver medalists this year……not quite good enough.
For the first time this season I listened to the Radio 5 commentary, and I couldn’t believe my eyes, second to every ball in the first half, marginally better in the second, and a sitter missed when easier to score.
Never again.
That’s the last time I will listen to a match, my eyes hurt too much from the tears!!
However, we still have a mathematical chance of the playoffs, and while there’s hope, ….there’s hope!
The last time McDickwadhead was in charge of a losing team at Molineux the score was 5 – 1 against the team he was in charge of.
Cue scary music.
This is one of them season defining moments, coz guess what score I predict the team he currently runs will lose by????
He will be full of his usual arrogance and patronizing bullshit, and it will be great to take him and his tractors down a peg or five.
I don’t care for “all the memories” about this dinosaur, my everlasting one will be losing to the shit, and him and clipbored wringing their hands in “it wasn’t our fault” apology.
And Numpties. Remember that comment.
Fuckin’ dickhead, we really need to stuff his big head up his arse.
Followed swiftly by morgan’s and greasel’s.
FO wb, tp, jm, mm, sm, cb
I think it would be more sensible stuffing all those heads you mentioned up Moxey’s bottom.
There’s much more room.
See you in LESS THAN THREE WEEKS!
……. listened to the Radio 5 commentary ………. couldn’t believe my eyes…..
Absolute class. We play badly and lose a game and I come on here and read what you write and it makes me laugh again. Brilliant.
Two away matches lost 2-1, these are the fine margins that bring utter despair or great joy. The two defensive lapses at Brum still haunt me, how the hell can`t we defend a near post inswinging corner.
Unless we beat mad Mick`s tractor boys the game is up this season, and yes we may have over achieved, but to get so tantalisingly close just makes it seem worse. I recall Moxey saying he would be disappointed if we didn`t finish in the top six, given how little KJ has been supported to bring in quality players to replace those who won division three last year, yes Moxey you prick, its was the old division three, its a bloody miracle we were on the cusp of the playoffs at all.
Everyone knows if teams press us hard we struggle, and we haven`t found a way with the players to overcome that, it will be a problem next year for sure. Hats off to KJ for working miracles, not optimistic for the playoffs today though.
Hello chaps, a great day to all. Ben, thank you for everything you do on here. Very grateful for your hard work and most of all, your valuable time keeping the blog in check.
It’s very hard to watch any of the Wolves games in the States. Only certain pubs may show the game but it always seems to be the norm. Chelsea, United, Liverpool.. you get the message..
Though our team has passion at times, we simply do not have all of the pieces in place just yet. My hope and only hope will Morgan back the gaffer for potential promotion next season? One hopes…
I thought around January if we were not leading the pack, we wouldn’t make it this year. I look at Leicester and how they stormed no, blew away everyone in the Championship and yet now, it looks as though we will be playing them next season in the Championship.
We are simply not good enough yet. My fear of course if we do make the playoffs and somehow grab that third spot, will we hold another record for coming straight back down? Does Dave Jones ring a bell!
Yeah but if we did go up and if we did come back down we will have loads of dosh to invest.
When I say invest, Moxey, I mean players not fekin pies!!!
Yes, sensible investment. We supposedly have the backroom staff scouting out players for us but we never seem to sign anyone, apart from Afobe, unless they are on a free transfer. Look at how the other teams, apart from Ipswich, have put their money wehere their mouths are. A couple of signings, even loan signings, could have garnered the extra points we need for promotion. Why is it that we constantly fail to aquire our targets? Promotion, or at least the play-offs, was there for the Fc*k*ng taking but we failed to strengthen. I’m not sure when we will get another opportunity like the one we appear to have just passed up.
As Ben states ‘…this virtuous team’s ultimate fate will, in all probability, be so similar to those late 90s Wolves losers who I really couldn’t care less about’. For me there is a small difference. This team is packed with young, hungry and mostly talented players unlike those of the 90’s which were full of expensively-signed old lags coming for one last big pay-day before dropping off the radar – I’m thinking of you Mark Atkins. I care a lot more for this team and this manager’s approach than those of the continually disappointing 90’s. Everything is in place but for a little experience to guide us through the tough encounters. When playing the top 7 away from home, the only one we turned up for was Watford. That in itself should have told us that this team is simply not yet ready for top-level football. But the experience gained this season could go a long way next. Question is, can we keep this group together ?
I doubt if we will keep everyone. Both the shit and the villains are looking at Sako already, and rumour has it are offering him a contract for when he becomes a free agent! As for Dicko and Afobe, call me naive if you want, but I believe they will stay for at least one more season if we don’t go up. It is a real crying shame that both Morgan and Moxey appear to be so risk averse. I would certainly consider spending say 10m on buying in a quality player(s) that could significantly raise our liklihood of promotion. If we then came straight back down, the money we got from that relegation would see that initial 10m spend being considered as a drop in the ocean. It has always appeared to be a no brainer to me – just need to take that risk, especially if you truly madly deeply (name that song) want the club to progress and deliver in the top flight. I believe they have bottled it.
That said, I believe I am a tad upset due to the fact that we are finding it difficult to get in the box, but in reality I did not expect us to be where we are now at the start of the season, so I am also quite happy in what has been achieved.
I agree its going to be almost impossible to keep Sako. My real fear tho’ is that Prem clubs are going to look at the likes of Afobe, Iorfa, Dicko, Doherty and even RvLP and take them as bench-warmers until they’ve matured a bit, thus detroying what is a very promising squad and nulllifying this season’s achievement. I can’t help but feel that had we bought someone with a bit of experience of top level pressure -and he needn’t have cost 10 million – like Sam Ricketts last season, we could have made it this season.
Polo Shirts will be available for collection, for those who have ordered one, from A Parkview around 1000 hrs on Saturday prior to the Ipswich game.
They will also be with me at the Wigan match and at our gathering on 2nd May.
Ben (or was it Thomas?), I am sure you suggested a while back that you were considering identifying some local public houses for us to frequent during our gathering in the afternoon/evening of Sat 2 May, should we have had enough of A Parkview by then. Is that still a possibility? I for one fancy “hanging one on” that day either in celebration or consolation.
Wolves will win the last three games and secure a play off place.
Apart from Norwich we haven’t been embarrassed by any team
Wolves are 16/1 with a high street bookmaker to be promoted, thus Wolves are 16/1 to perform in three matches, seems a reasonable gamble to me.
5-0 against Derby was pretty embarrassing. And is it not 6 games to get promotion. Derby and Middlesboro could be the opposition too. Even an optimist like me finds it a big ask.
Prior to January 2015 doesn’t count.
What part of 3 season games, 2 leg play off first leg and 1 play off final doesn’t add up to 6 games!!!!!
I am sure he said “is it not” not “it is not”.
I am afraid I don’t share the optimism of those fans who think that, if we don’t go up this year, we will certainly make it next time.
My feeling is that we won’t be as good next year. I think that the enthusiasm carried over from last year’s League One campaign and which I suspect helped us to perhaps over achieve this time (as many seem to agree with) will have evaporated next year. Also, Sako will have gone and while I believe that M&M will replace him and maybe sign another one or two players I can’t see the signings being as good as we will need to go for promotion. We just won’t pay the right money.
I hope I am wrong but I see us as a Championship side for some time to come.
It’s taken a while for the gloom to disperse (partially!). I was on the way home from beautiful downtown Derby (no, not moonlighting, or even mooning for that matter, at their game) at the appointed time and delighted to hear that the game was on R5. That delight lasted 3 mins and completely drained away after 11. And the commentary was crap – they kept disappearing to other games and then we had to endure Past Nevin’s summaries. Gave up at half time and relied on the text. Hope of course intervened in the second half only to crush us again in the end. And that’s the spot on correcto point, Ben – it’s the hope that does for you. Hope after the run culminating in the Leeds game led to euphoria and the draining away of that hope led to the disappointment and anger quickly evident on the blog.
And it’s unlikely to get better on Saturday. The venom towards MM will be strengthened by the fact that he’s coming to Molineux doing what he does best, and better than most – getting teams out of the championship. His two attempts at the PL have suffered from lack of investment at both clubs (OK – I know, crap buys in Johnson and O’Hara), even if there are grave doubts about his ability at that level. And at this point I’m sure I’m firmly in Clive’s numpty camp – looking forward to meeting you on the 2nd, Clive!!
But the team still deserve all the support in the remaining games – as several have noted above, we’ve had a good season and have a team to be proud of overall. It’s just that they raised our hopes even further and we know what that does……….
I was there with a few hundred others who made the difficult long midweek trip. Would things have been different with Golbourne and Dicko on at the start? Who knows but Hause struggled and we missed Dicko’s speed and strength. ‘if ifs and ands were pots and pans……’
Although Borough started like a whirlwind we did eventually stem the tide and were much better in the second half. Van la Parra’s miss was unacceptable for a highly paid professional who so often looks like a rabbit in headlights.
But what I saw yet again was a team who couldn’t cope when the going got tough. There is no leader on the pitch to cajole, galvanise or bully the team when needed, in short there is no Paul Ince figure.
let’s hope for better against Super Mick on Saturday.
Absolutely gutted. A real body blow to our playoff aspirations.
Aspirations that perhaps to some were only a distant hope as the season kicked off, but ones which became so much more achievable and expected prior to the last two fixtures.
There can not be one Wolves fan who did not begin to see the light of playoff hope, expectation even. And sat here now, my glass is still half full.
After all my years of following our team I should have probably learned for it to be at least two thirds empty by now, but there is still an outside chance.
I will be there on Saturday, and have my Millwall tickets too.
Regardless of how the season ultimately ends, these lads deserve nothing but the best support until the final kick.
They have surpassed the expectations many had at the outset, and will not be criticized by me anyway if ultimately our more recently raised hopes are dashed on the final day.
it’s a funny old game, and this season, one I don’t think will De decisively over until around ten past two on May 2nd.
Come On Me Babbies!!!
I was there last night and the way we started I thought it was Derby away again but again we improved in the second half but it it was to late now we have to rely on on the teams above to slip up which I can’t see,we have to spend for next season on experienced players at the back so not to put to much pressure on the younger players,but no matter what iam WOLVES till I die COYW
Disappointing result again, to many mistakes in us at the mo,don’t know why perhaps its down to nerves or lack of experience players we so desperately needed for the push to the prem.i don’t want to sound to pessimistic,but the last time we lost 2 on the trot it turned into 5.
So not looking forward to the next 3 games.
Saying that if there’s one game I want us to win that’s gotta be against that big nosed bastard’s tractor boys.
And not forgetting his side kick TC.another one who knew f/all.
Anyway alls not lost,mathematically we can still do it.AS EVER UTW.
Well that is it – all tickets now confirmed.
Ipswich – check
Wigan – check
Millwall – check
I wonder if I am going to need to buy anymore? I hope so.
Come on me babbies, make me put my hands in my pocket to buy play-off match tickets!!
Well I have to say this is amongst the best posts I have seen on our Blog site for quite some time, lots of fair unbiased assessment of our progress in the division that two years ago we were just going out of toward League one. Here we are still waiting for Kerry Katona to sing and all still staying positive, fair and in good spirits.
But, we’re, Wolves Ay We, that’s what we’re about.
I’ve just been reading the report from the Boro site about how the twelfth man carried their team through. Absolute “Cods wallop”, (that’s how posh folk say Bollox in Wolverhampton).
Wolves fans all 800 of us sang our little lungs and hearts out despite the shite we witnessed in the first half and showed the Boro fans how it’s done.
Sutton Wolf, WoodyWolf, Brompton Wolf can all back me up, the place was like a Morgue until they got within keeping the ball in the corner and the Goalie suddenly dropping to the ground when the ball was 60 metres from him for the Physio to spend 5 more minutes rubbing the back of his thigh, just to drag it out.
Well Wigan away, Wolves have just under 200 tickets left at time of going to print and they only went on General sale today, so that’s going to be 4500 Wolves fans.
Isphite at home will be big for all the right reasons and we hope with the just result.
Millwall well there will be more bloggers, Bloggers Wags, Bloggers Dads and Mums, children and Grandchildren there than ordinary punters. Get yourselves down to the Parkview you’re a great bunch and Brompto and I were saying at the game last night how many friends we’ve made from this site at the games.
Poor old Brompton Wolf has been trying his best to get you all there but some seem to think it’s an elite group of a certain click. You couldn’t be further from the truth. We want to see the more the merrier and we get to put a face to the handle, and remember the PMDG has £500 off the National for the beer, (According to Doog).
Sod the seasons outcome, I love the Wolves passionately, I want to go up, and want to stay up, but what will be will be, you can’t make a silk purse out of a Sow’s ear, But King Kenny has come pretty close. So let’s go out of this season with a bang. £500 will get us all pissed even at the Parkview prices. Come on Down.
Wolves Ay We.
Oh Yes,
Lord Moxey of Tipton will be there, he told me he will come last night. so it’s worth coming just to see Clive giving him a tongue lashing.
Sorry Clive it has to be shown again for those who missed it.
What a great bunch you are.
COMB’s
🙂
That fat twat will never dare show his face anywhere near A Park View, for loads of reasons, most of them in the form of my boots up his arse.
If he is remotely in danger of having to buy anything, i.e. a pint for us, he will waddle away quicker than you can say meat pies.
No, I wont give him a tongue lashing, I’ll put his fuckin’ lights out.
If I lose some weight can I come Clive? I am fatter than Moxey!!
The PMDG’er has asked me to put you right on a point of detail.
Her horse came THIRD at 50-1, so she only won £125, not £500.
The rest will have to come out of her piggy bank savings that were going towards a holiday for her poor sweet old mum.
Come off it, you live in Wiltshire, you must vote Tory.
That lovely Mr Cameron put the Retirement age up to 106 so we could get the Country back on it’s feet.
I bet the PMDGer’s sweet old Mum is still doing her paper round.
Nice try kiddo, like your style.
Now if you’de said Grandmother…… Maybe, but too late.
Ooops Politics and football bad combination, sorry all. Straight red for me.
Let the lovely Mrs PMDGr speak for herself about who she buys a drink for.
After all said and done 125 is a quarter of 500 so I’ll scale my requirement to a small glass of wine …..
I know what you’re all saying.
“Who’s that fat greasy Ugly Twat”
Well it’s me StuWolf.
Feck knows who the other twat is’
🙂
By the way in case you’re interested, that’s how far my other thumb is up his chuff.
got to agree with sty wolf we sang boro fans where shite and if refs had balls they would book cheats like their goalkeeper he knew that he was pulling a fast one cos he looked in our direction
I don’t understand why people keep going on about M&M not investing in the team.
KJ has all ready stated that he prefers to drip feed players into the team, and that he will only bring in a new player if that player will improve the team.
All so he prefers to ” work with a squad of around 20 players “, there is all so the small matter of FFP, how does that affect the budget ?
I could go on about the other teams who are spending more on players but i won’t, suffice it to say that i don’t want to see Wolves fc facing financial or any other kind of penalty.
Please try to be fair and don’t let your disappointment with results affect your thinking, Wolves fc are at least financially sound, and at the end of the day that is the most important thing.
Because of this clubs past great achievements people expect so much, but i think we all need to lower our sights a little, me included, if we all did that it would take some of the pressure off this very young team.
The past two games have been very disappointing for sure, perhaps its the Jack Hayward family run club principle that’s doing the damage, i don’t know, just a thought.
The next game against MM outfit, well if ever there was a must win game then this is it, but there is one thing for sure the man who still loves the Wolves and there fans ? Will use every trick in the book to come out on top.
Strongly disagree.
The most important thing, to the fans, is a successful football team.
Personally, I don’t give a rats arse for corporate boxes, fancy restaurants, pretty seats and all the other bollox. I have always said I would stand in six feet of shit to see my team win the League ( and that means the Prem, not the third division )
Nothing gets the old adrenaline going like the ball hitting the back of the net from a Sako screamer, or a Bully belter, or a Dougan dynamo.
And if the club dices a bit with financial hiccups, so what?
That fat bastard greasel wont get his pie bonus is all!
Most important thing – a successful football team. True. To be financially sound – true, but it’s the servant of the team, not the major aim in itself. There is a middle way…….no one wants to risk it all with Leeds Utd style success and financial madness. Anyone for the current situation at Leeds?? No, didn’t think so. All the ‘corporate and restaurant bollox’ is inevitable and brings in money. What constantly frustrates us all is that we feel (comparatively) significant funds are there but they’re stashed away rather than being used to take us over the line of success. What we want is ‘speculate to accumulate’. That’s presumably what Mr Morgan has done to accumulate his personal wealth……try it with WWFC. COYW!
I’m with you jmwolv. Half the league can throw money they ain’t got at trying to go up, but only three are gonna make it. And if you don’t get there…..possible oblivion. Look at Portsmouth. Even in the prem they overcooked their spending and a few years after winning the cup they’re struggling in league 2. And there are so many others.
JM wolf
I can’t believe as a Wolves fan you are prepared to accept the position we are in quite plainly because we failed to invest and have become a fringe team this season..
The board gambled on virtually no investment failed to buy 4 players to stegnthen the squad (November was the result with Dicko injured)
and now we are facing the consequences.
If ever there was a need to morally balance the books to the fans for the virtual oblivion of the double drop this was the season to do it.
Instead we have a casual board ..a reputation not to pay the right wages hence our lost targets..and the worst of all barR ing a miricle we loose Sako too..
I find your post bordering on the nauseous as the coming three games is indicative of the position we are in purely because of the attitude of the board.
We are about to loose £100m just for the record and our best player….
We are a premier league club we should be doing all that it takes to get us back there…
Three of us furiously tapping away at the keyboard at the same time on this one!
I copy part of my earlier post as to me this says it all:
It is a real crying shame that both Morgan and Moxey appear to be so risk averse. I would certainly consider spending say 10m on buying in a quality player(s) that could significantly raise our liklihood of promotion. If we then came straight back down, the money we got from that relegation would see that initial 10m spend being considered as a drop in the ocean. It has always appeared to be a no brainer to me – just need to take that risk, especially if you truly madly deeply (name that song) want the club to progress and deliver in the top flight. I believe they have bottled it.
We have the cash, but we continuously refuse to spend it. I honestly believe we would be in the top 2 now if we had spent on what was needed to make promotion happen.
Wolvstroker/Jimwolv:
I ask you this, do you in your heart of hearts genuinely think Kenny will be given any appreciable amount of money to strengthen next season ? Sako goes on free, and QPR, HULL and LESS_STARS will all have bags of parachute money to spend, and we will need one of their spots to go up !
Of course no one wants us to do a pompey, but we are spending NOTHING … Whats the point in supporting what is effectively Morgans investment company … with 11 gold cheerleaders as marketing … I might as well go out and buy myself an HSBC top, they’re a successful business making their owners very wealthy too…
I know the question was not asked of me admant, but my direct answer is NO I do not. However, I hope that I am wrong as without that financial support we are not going to achieve what we should – promotion to the Prem and stay there.
As I said, it needs Morgan to take a small risk and direct Moxey to release funds to Kenny. I just cannot understand for the life of me why we are being so reluctant to strengthen financially. It will pay dividends in the long term. I am not saying spend, spend, spend, I am saying spend in line with what we need to move forward.
I get so frustrated at times, and this is not rocket science and is certainly within our financial ability.
we are on exactly the same page then, comrade.
Three teams came down last season loaded with parachute money, but only one is making a decent fist of getting back up there. QPR the previous season threw an absolute fortune at it and were lucky as hell in the play-off final to get back.
It could be that when Sir Jack gave Morgan the keys to Molineux, he did it on the understanding that he would never allow the club to sink back into the financial quagmire it was in when he himself took over.And I can’t argue with that.
I want us to succeed, yes of course. But not risk the future of the club. We have everything in place for future success. Quality manager, top class academy with some really promising youngsters coming through, premier league ground. I’m prepared to give it another season or two without putting our financial necks on the line.
Anyway, I’ve enjoyed this season.
I totally agree that we should not risk the future of the club mate, but I never alluded to that. I was stating that, financially, we are capable of purchasing players that would (could) help us to achieve promotion but all that is being seen is a reluctance to release those funds. A good discussion point for 2nd May no doubt. See you there buddy.
You will indeed Brompton. Can’t wait. 🙂
‘… perhaps its the Jack Hayward family run club principle that’s doing the damage, …’
Sorry, I don’t get what you are suggesting here. Can you expand it a bit ?
Greta post Ben! You nailed it!
I posted a similar thoug over on the E&S match report:
Winners find a way to win .. losers spend their lives avoiding failure.
Fortune favours the brave .. it is as simple as that ..”
Apologies for the typos .. Somehow managed to hit ‘send’ as I was about to proof ..
It’s called passion, it fogs up the eyes and the brain, trying to get a point across you miss the simplest of mistakes until you re-read the post, but it’ too late once it’s up there.
🙂 🙂
I’m very guilty, not only that I should wear my Specs.
That is why I asked Ben/Thomas to consider incorporating an edit button!!! So that the originator can edit their mistooks after they sent it.
LOL .. That’s exactly it!
Unfair to suggest we don’t have the bottle for a fight. The fact we are still in with a good shout of a top 6 shows we have bottle to put together such a good run of results. Middlesbrough don’t have such a good home record because they keep beating teams with no bottle!! We have showed plenty of spirit and desire all season but if after getting 16 points out of 18 then lose 2 away games in 3 days it doesn’t suggest lack of fight. Let’s hope they can prove me right on Saturday. I for one think that if we beat Ipswich we will make it. If we have level points and are a couple of goals behind them on the last day then what an exciting final game it will be. Is fancy us to overturn a goal difference of around -2 or -3 at home to a probably relegated milwall.
Who said we don’t have the bottle for a fight? I said that Morgan and Moxey have bottled it when talking about releasing funds to purchase players, but I do not at all believe our players or Kenny do not have the bottle for a fight. I too am looking forward to Saturday’s macth and can’t wait for 2nd May mate.
Don’t get it myself. They did invest in the team and in January they found a player who would actually improve improve our team and bought him. I would much prefer that method. Who exactly do you think we missed out on who would have helped us? Bear in mind we are talking about 10 points over 46 games off winning this league. Everyone seems to wish that we had done what Derby did and loaned our way to the top with big names on big wages that mess up the balance of the club. Darren bent, lingaard, ince all good players yes and Derby are probably going to finish above us by a couple of points!!! What more could people possibly want?
Easy to say should have invested more in the team but harder to suggest players that would have strengthened our team. We signed a player in January who fitted in perfectly. Who else would have been dropped to accommodate a new signing?
Callum Wilson he’s scored all season with him when Dicko was out we might not have lost five on the trot also Bamford, Ince the list goes on.
According to these fellas, looking at the stats we’re on to finish 6th…http://talksport.com/football/201415-football-league-championship-table-it-stands-and-predicted-final-positions
Relies on us winning all 3 and everyone else dropping points, doesn’t seem too likely to me but if we beat Ipswich and hammer Milwall final game we’ve still got a chance
Just hope they are right. Not too sure of a couple of their predictions though. But my predictions haven’t been too clever this season so who am I to argue.
Besides, I like what I see. Hopefully I will like what I see on Saturday too.
Unlike me, who nails it spot on every week….except the team don’t read the script!!
I’m feeling more confident by the minute.
2-0 ipswich 2-0 Wigan 3-0 millwall (watch the riot) ..play offs…Wembly..
PL…
Steve come on what the feck you on???
4-0 Ipshite
5-0 Wigan
5-1 for Clive Millwall
16 to 1 at a nationwide bookmaker
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm 16-1? Have I got a k to spare?
From Sky Bet
Wolves have won 68% of matches that Bakary Sako and Nouha Dicko have started together this season but only 21% when one or both have been missing.
2014/15 season
Come on Kenny play our best 11 for three more matches.
Ikeme
Golbourne stearman Bhatth Iorfa
MacDonald Price
Henry dicko Afobe Sako
Subs Edwards for Price half time
Jacobs for Henry at 70 minutes
Doyle for Dicko at 80 minutes
Disagree. Keep Dicko on for the full 90. How many goals can be scored in 10 minutes.
How do you expect him to finish 90 minutes in all three games when he’s running his buns off as he consistantly does ( your word see what I did there, consistant).
He will score Three against Ipshite, Afobe the other
He will get Two against Wigan Afobe hat trick
Then two against Millwwall, Afobe Two Edwards one, MacDonald Own goal for Clives 5-1
Taking him off for 10 minutes in the two before Millwall is like a Mega-break to these guys.
Then he’ll be up for the playoffs.
Anyway I achieve miracles in One minute and thirty seconds then need a seven day break.
🙂
That must be a VERY lightly boiled egg!
I achieve miracles in 10 minutes (or is it two minutes?) and the wife gives me over a months break!!!
Iv’e a question to Doog & Brompton?
jmwolv gives a lot of precise information.
Jez
Moxey
Wolv
Just a thought. And it could start a whole new blog
🙂
You watch ShrewsWolf come on now (Conspiracy theory)
Bet you Clive says something too!
Who moi?
Stu achieves miracles in 1 1/2 minutes.
And that includes foreplay and begging.
Enough of this banter, I want an answer to the biggest question of the day……
Where is the frigging Wolves Blog Postcard?
Answers, on a post card, to………..
So Callum Wilson has had a good season and its a little arrogant to suggest we had a right to him. He chose Bournemouth and it appears to have paid dividends. But I wouldn’t swap afobe for Wilson? As for Ince, bent etc they are expensive loans. I would much prefer to blood a youth player than to borrow one with no degree of permanency and for a quick fix. I also would add that we did good business in keeping our best players and I would prefer Sako happy and playing well then tom Ince. I actually feel the club is being run very well at the moment and can feel excited about what’s to come over the next few years instead of waiting till may and then watching the heroes all season leave back to where they came from
Stu..if I was them I would of infiltrated this site a long time ago.. Fair play if they do and for the future…it means they care what we say…
In my reply to JM I was going to use the word suspicious…
I hope my theory is true…seriously
Cont…It’s a compliment to us all if they defend on this site incidently..
Having watched the highlights a few times, I’d dispute the suggestion that RvLP missed a ‘sitter’. I guess those of you who consider it ‘easier to score’ or ‘an open goal’ have never had to try to volley a fast-moving, dipping ball (which travelled across a number of bodies) into a small area from an angle when confronted by a keeper making himself as big as possible. Those of you who have played football to a reasonable level will know that its not easy.
Not easy at all mate, I totally agree with you, but a professional footballer being paid a decent wage is expected to do just that – It is his job!
It seems that there are innumerable professional footballers out there who are not able to do their jobs then. I’ve seen many chances a lot easier than that go begging over the years !
Again, I agree. That will continue too. Sack them all lol. I think on this occasion it is a case of ………….. OOOOOOOOOOOOOhh if he had just scored that we would have had a point.
Personally I think we have had a great season. Being where we are now is not where I had expected us to be. So I am a happy chappy really. Looking forward to getting down the Mol tomorrow.
Yeah, we should keep this whole season in perspective. We are light years away from where we were when we went into Div 3 (1). Squad, team spirit, playing system and club/fans relationship all massively improved.
Or the old one….
If it had gone in the net it would have been a goal!!!
Test… having issues off phone as blocked from using this site.