“It is the younger players who will play an essential part of the team going forward” .
The words of Steve Morgan in his public statement post-Brighton.
Inevitably, fans’ thoughts immediately turned to the likes of Danny Batth, Zeli Ismail and Liam McLinden in the hope of them tearing League One apart in a new look Wolves team.
But I doubt anyone expected the pick of the bunch to be Jack Price.
Played out on the right in pre-season, it took Price until December to cement his place in the side.
Since then, only a freak injury sustained against Leyton Orient has hampered his rapid progress towards becoming a permanent fixture in a record breaking Wolves team.
Now rewarded with a new two and half year contract , the future looks bright for the ‘Shrewsbury Pirlo’.
His composure on the ball displays maturity beyond years as does his decision making under pressure. For years Wolves have lacked a classy midfield player in this mould, so it’s pleasing they’ve managed to produce one from their own academy.
With Price and the superb Kevin McDonald striking an excellent understanding in the middle for Wolves, it’s provided the attacking quartet in front of them the platform to flourish.
We no longer have to hold our breath when a defender slides the ball into a midfield player, fearing the inevitable surrender of possession. Quite refreshing.
Credit must go to the manager for crafting the partnership but perhaps even more so Kevin Thelwell who has played a significant role.
Indeed, Price might not even be here had Thelwell not fought for him to be given more time to develop. McDonald too came in off of our much improved scouting system, masterminded by Thelwell.
Whenever I see Price play he reminds of Swansea’s own midfield general Leon Britton. Funnily enough, he too started out on the right for Kenny Jackett and was moved inside (by Roberto Martinez) and became a central figured for a team that rose up the leagues.
If Price can continue to develop at the rate he has this season, I don’t see why he can’t have a similar impact at Wolves.
Thanks for the contribution Louie. Always appreciated mate.
I’ll hold my hand up and admit I wasn’t instantly taken with Price. In fact, I questioned his very involvement through the earlier part of the season.
The best midfielders I’ve seen at Wolves over the years have been all-action. Ince, Cameron and my personal favourite Alex Rae to name a few. Price isn’t that sort of combative presence. Nor is he a goalscorer.
So my conclusion was very simplistic – what does he do?
But since Kenny got him into what we’d now call our first XI in the 4-2-3-1 shape, his contribution has become obvious.
He’s so often the player connecting the play from back to front, just taking those short passes from the full-backs and centre-halves and moving the ball along. It’s vital because it allows the ball to be transported to areas of the pitch where our attacking talents can do damage.
It also means we can hurt teams through the middle of the pitch rather than always having to go wide and just lump a cross in. Arsene Wenger is forever going on about players having a variety of passes in their game and Price can certainly mix it up, going side to side or forward.
Long term, it will be interesting to see if he can keep his place if the system changes or new players are brought in. I’m not sure he’d be as effective in a 442, as we saw painfully against Crawley.
But in the modern game, where the best teams all, almost without exception, boss possession, it’s vital to have players of his ilk in the team.
Thanks mate.
It’s a position that can often go unnoticed , it took years for people to sit up and notice quite how good Michael Carrick is and I’ve been banging on about him for years now! I do think you have to watch these type of players closely to really understand and appreciate them.
He certainly has a long way to go and plenty of ups and downs to come but it’s going to be very interesting to see how he develops and if he can remain an important player for us
Put my name down on the doubting Thomas list, when we first saw Jack Price we worried for the team. Now, he is picking himself each week with his partnership and understanding with my mate big Kev. Look back over the last few seasons, our weakest point was having no midfield to speak of, now it couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes, Tuesday was a blip, but hey, I heard somewhere the other day that Real Madrid once lost a Match, and even more outstanding news that Messi didn’t score one day.
JP & KM have been a master stroke from our Kenny, Crawley is done and dusted bring on the Blades.
Yeah, if that fat greasy prick moxey doesn’t sell him in the summer!!!
On the subject of the genius that is (kevin McDonald):-
For all the unfortunate fans not able to get tickets for Crawley, during all the doom and gloom and in between us Wolves fans getting our ropes tied to the rafters, there was a moment of pure genius from the best fans in the league.
George Elokobi was warming up alongside the Wolves hoards and receiving a warm reception from them, (secretly praying that KJ wasn’t going to bring him on). The Wolves fans started singing the Hokey Cokey to the strain of “do the Elokobi”, it was an outstanding moment just the right button to press to cheer us up, and to a man every single one of the 2000 Wolves fans were joining in. Pure Genius, excellent banter made our night. If he’s at MK Dons can we do it again with 8800 fans it was pure Carlsberg.
Nice blog Louie. Really enjoyed the read. Thanks.
THERE’S ONLY ONE JEZ MOXEY, ONE JEZ MOXEY, THERE’S ONLY ONE JEZ MOXEY.
Nice blog about Price pity about the sicko from Houston.
Thank god for jez because if we were ruled by the prick from Houston there would be no WWFC to talk about.
by the way clive don’t bother replying I don’t reply to w******.
I think the vast majority of Wolves fans are extremely grateful there is only one greasel.
Nice comments about me, at least you are not picking on someone who gives a shit what you think.
And as you don’t reply to w******* I expect a response, as I aint one, whatever a w******* may be!!
I do not do the insult/foul language retorts, I find being nice to uncouth loutish people, and if the hat fits wear it with pride, pisses them off more.
You have a wonderful day.
Aside from ‘John’s’ comment, always had a feeling Price would become a key player.
With him and McDonald we have won 9 drawn 1 and lost 1.
Reminds me a bit of Mike Bailey….
I have been one of the fans surprised by the quality of passing football we have played under Kenny. The contribution of Jack and Macca have been a key factor. In recent years (decades !) we have not been blessed with great midfield players. In my early days as a Wolves fan we had Kenny Hibbit, Willie Carr and young players like Steve Daley, Alan Sunderland (who started in midfield) and Barry Powell. We all remember the Doog and Richards but there was also quality in midfield. Then of course there was Billy Wright.
Perhaps as fans we sometimes just want to see the ball played forward as quickly as possible and would rather not even see a midfield but all good teams have good midfield players.
I agree entirely.
I’m John and i’ll sing on my own (?)
I am certainly not a fan of Moxey but when l look at the owners of other football clubs have to admit we could do worse than Steve Morgan (and probably would if he walked away).
I agree with this as well.
THERE’S ONLY ONE STEVIE MORGAN ONE STEVIE MORGAN THERE’S ONLY ONE STEVIE MORGAN. Hello anybody out there or you all watching p*** AGAIN !
Yes I’m out here and no, I’m not pissed.
(Although I was when you posted this).
Looks like i got the playground to myself doing aeroplanes. Thinking about John’s comments its surely unnecessary to be so abusive and If he thinks football fans shouldn’t air there views i totally disagree. But fans like john obviously read the blog regularly why have they got to be so fired up before they dare to join our dabate ? Has the blog been too manipulated by a singular view ?
I’m with you on that one as well.
Just before i turn in and dont look at this thread again lets not forget this blog has been heralded as the vehicle for a successful one man campaign that preceeded a double relegation.Lets hope he can now follow it up with a double promotion.
Amen to that mate!
I agree with Thomas, Price seems to play the part of ball carrier between defence and attack, and a lot of attacking moves I saw started with him. Big Kev seemed to play a bit deeper, although he was going to box to box also.
I am perhaps alone in not being that convinced about him so far though. In the matches I saw recently I thought he was by far the weakest player on the pitch, his decision making being suspect, and being the only player guilty of losing the ball in dangerous positions. But I know that he is still young, and bound to develop further playing in a partnership with the excellent McDonald.
The fact that he keeps more experienced players like Davis and Edwards (and O’Hara) out of the side is a testament to him.
I’m not saying he’s a bad player, and it’s great to see youth academy players coming through, but if we do go up, I feel that he needs to be a little less lightweight and make better decisions (which comes with experience).
Do I presume froom the low numbers of contributers on this particular blog that Wolves fans are stunned into silence, StuWolf ( me )3 blogs Colin 5 and clive having to endure some harsh treatment, (it’s only a game of football John, as the great and mighty KJ said ” there’s kids out there dying of cancer for god sake”) if you want to do something positive, go work in a Hospice then perhaps you will learn some humanity.
Let’s all learn the positives from Tuesday and meet at the bar in the Sheffield game and get merry, life’s far to short, (unless your the Worlds oldest man,114 that is) 🙂 🙂 🙂