When the club slipped from the Championship in the Solbakken/Saunders era, the panic started to set in around this time of the year.
Stuffed by Ipswich and Peterbrough who were both in and around the bottom three yet seemingly streets ahead of our sorry lot, it was a precursor of what was to come.
Any such fears of repeat misery have hopefully been banished by four points against two of this season’s strugglers.
It was a bit of a snore against MK Dons but anyone at that game could patently see we were by far and away the better side and simply didn’t put the ball in the net.
For that reason, I wasn’t surprised to see Benik Afobe banished to the sidelines for this one given that he’s squandered most of our best chances lately.
One thing I’ve always admired about Kenny Jackett is he isn’t afraid of the big decisions and more often than not, he’s vindicated for the changes.
So it proved again on Saturday as Wolves tasted victory for the first time in over a month to distance themselves from the bottom three.
OK, Le Fondre didn’t pull up any trees but the point is we won and in the current adderalloral.com climate, that’s all anyone really cares about.
Jordan Graham was again the star performer, as he has been in each of the matches he’s featured so far.
It’s fruitless to dwell on why the former Villa man wasn’t in and around the team sooner, so lets just be thankful he’s taking his chance now.
We’ve lacked adventure and creativity in the final third all season, both of which Graham is now supplying in spades.
Two more assists on Saturday, with James Henry and Danny Batth both profiting from teasing deliveries into good areas.
Henry has had his share of critics lately, but two crucial goals against Ipswich and now Rotherham have surely increased his stock?
And that’s two goals in three visits to the New York Stadium for Danny Batth, a defender, like Jody Craddock, with a pleasing knack for getting on the end of crosses.
I still don’t think we’ll be anything other than midtable for the duration, but with two winnable home games to come and the gap to sixth narrowing, maybe we can at least dream of better?
And the dream is what makes a boring, midtable season bearable.
Have to agree with this write up. As well as the games coming up being winnable we have players waiting for their chance in first team (Nial Ennis, Bright Enobakhare etc). My head says mid table finish but dare I dream of a good December and 2016 and finishing 6th?!
A welcome three points indeed and, even from the paltry highlights I’ve seen, it’s great to see a winger full of confidence who runs at people, goes past them and can deliver a killing cross.
…And seems to link with Golbourne in a manner pleasingly reminiscent of a certain Mr Sako, recently of this parish.
And he can use both feet to boot!
I was pleased to hear that Ebanks-Landell had a decent game. He might not be everybody’s cup of Earl Grey but he’s the only tea bag in the caddy at the moment so we have to hope that he brews up well.
An encouraging display from the lads and well done Kenny for picking the team to do the job in hand.
A few more gritty performances like that and we all might enjoy our Festive Season rather more than we thought.
UTW!!
I enjoyed the report, thanks Thomas, a few truisms in there; also your resonse, thanks Doog.
3 points worse off than last season at the same time.We have a winnable fixture list until jan2nd…I dream on..
My conclusion don’t concede.. up front players will do the business..Jordan Graham is starting to fill that daunting position left by BS..He’s playing really great..(and so is Henry).
Fair play to EBL in this match although now unfortunately DB is a different player again without Williamson by his side..is getting the jitters..
A really important result and 3 points..
Coming up N Forest daunts me after last season at molineux…
COYW
But up front we are not doing the business, until this match. I was chuffed Afobe was sidelined. He is there to score goals and he hasn’t been. Hopefully his exclusion may wake him up. I am still concerned about our defence too mind you. A good 3 points though. We just need to score more, and tighten up at the back now that Williamson has gone back. Did he play in Newcastle’s win over ‘Pool’?
Nah, he didn’t Brompto’. Got off the bus at Newcastle bus station and pulled his hamstring.
Yeah well done lads let’s keep the momentum going!!
Dropping afobe might be a kick up the backside he needs.
Good old James Henry! Haven’t I been singing his praises on here for the past few weeks and saying how great he is? Haven’t I? No? Ok then I haven’t. Any port in a storm I guess. At least though we have one winger who looks the real deal – good old Jordan Graham. Just a shame it took us till 21 November before giving him a chance.
Your concluding sentence Thomas sums it all up for me although this time I’m scared. With our painfully thin squad and limited ambition, I dread to think what tortures would lay ahead if the dream was to become reality. Humiliation for one.
Hertford humbug!!!!!!
I agree with that too Neil but please reassure me otherwise. Then I’ll be ok with it all..
Point of note.
The youth team came home to their lodgings and told their landlord the guy off my coach, Afobe and Jackett had been involved in a mega bust up and he was being side linded, sure enough Kenny is a man to bear a grudge, tactics and talk of ALF being played because he was a returning player, Botox.
But in the end it worked out fine, Kenny’s pride in tact, Afobe duly rifted.
Second point of note.
Danny Fraham did have another excellent game, but Henry was epic, he was amazing with his running, crosses (for once) and his header was placed not a have-a-go header.
EBL.
Pulled us out of the shit once, but the problem is he put his passes all over the place, on the previous blog someone wrote, stop, take a breath, look up and then pass, but the lad put a shift in and did deserve his praise this week. Please keep it up, if only to stop me becoming a moaning old plank.
Better performance in really terrible conditions.
COMB’s
🙂
Any clue what the bust up was about?
It would be interesting to know whether it’s that he wants another striker alongside him or he’s just fed up with the half time cuppa.
I’m off ponds now, I seem to be developing a tea theme.
That should stir things up.
Can’t see you on the fancam Stu – where were you mate?
Should know more tonight my mates got a box at Molineux for the U18’s FA cup game at 7pm tonight. Should get a load more info.
Not on the Fan cam, Jen thinks I only popped out for a paper. Shhhhh
Stick with the tea buddy, slinking around in ponds is for low lifes ( WBA fans)
My very best to you squire, keep you chin, well perhaps not, keep it still then.
A big hug from Jen de Wolf
and I thought you were turning over a new leaf…………………
its important that we dont get carried away by one result against a poor team.
Our problems this year have mainly come from the lack of experience in defense. The temporary tenure of Williamson conclusively proved this. So what has changed now ? The fact is that EEL is not a Championship quality defender, and his known major shortcomings will I fear will again become very evident as we play better sides than Rotherham.
Why do so many of you delight in having a go at Ebanks-Landell? The whole team has been lacklustre for weeks, Saturday excepted, and I can’t see why Ethan should be a scapegoat. He’s never been first choice, he only comes in when someone else is injured, and in the past that has been at right-back rather than centre-back. The manager hasn’t placed his confidence in him the way he has with Iorfa and Hause. I’m confident that if he had a decent run in the team he would improve. How often has he played alongside Danny Batth?
The lad is one of ours, an academy graduate, so let’s get behind him and not moan every time he misplaces a pass.
Bilstonian.
I don’t delight in having a go at EBL. If he’s got a Wolves shirt on then he’s in the team and we support him. But the lad does make major howlers, not just once or twice, it’s every game he plays. He does have this ability to pass the ball to attacking players in dangerous positions.
He is all we’ve got at the moment as Kenny refuses to play Deslandes, so when he’s on the pitch we support him. But, I’m a STH home and away and I would prefer it if he wasn’t on the teamsheet at this moment in his learning curve.
Sorry, I say it as I see it.
🙁
You miss the point. We are desperate for experience at the back. EEL is simply not the answer. He may well be ‘one of ours’ but if he`s not good enough that matters zilch. The fact is that with him in the middle of the defense, when we play any half decent team we will begin to leak goals again.
You’re spot on the money as usual,Thomas.
There is A LOT of mediocrity in this league, I don’t think there’ll be that much between 6th and 22 come the end of the season. We’re quite shite, but any team’s fan from Cardiff downwards would say the same.
Bilstonian..EBL is our opponants dream or at least he used to be Wolves Player commentary ‘ now what’s he doing’ etc…
The ‘made it’ players play on their own merits (Iorfa) not KJs ..EBL
needs coaching and without doubt that’s severely lacking..so he is prone to giving it back to them hence remarks here like ‘Ivan lendal’…. We are a critical lot but Williamson has proven that a better guy next to DB does everyone a favour..inc DB
Bottom line : he is not good enough.
Maybe a better guy next to EEL and he’d be much better. Maybe it’s all Danny’s fault. Shame we didn’t see EEL and Williamson together.
A good result as i have kept saying this is not a bad squad. The top 5 are pulling away but the teams between us and 6th place are bang average and there are only 5 points in it.
Our biggest problem this season is KJ has made a pigs ear of having a big squad to chose from. Graham is just one example of many. Hopefully now he is near discovering his best team and sticking with it.
Good report Thomas .. by all accounts a draw might have been what Neil Redfearn wanted BUT alas the records will show it was 3 points to us and 0 points to Rotherham … so who gives a damn.
I did listen to it and as Jacket says ‘ no shots in the 2nd half by either team’ means that because we were 2-1 up that’s their problem… let’s put Forest to the sword on Friday and I can enjoy my holidays afterwards ……
Sorry for late reply hertford,
‘limited ambition’
Before a ball was even kicked this season Morgan knew he was selling up! Thus the shitty amount he gave the gaffer to spend on a team that just missed out on play offs, I no we have heard it all before this season but it is bloody obvious! We need a new buyer now!!!!
“…For that reason, I wasn’t surprised to see Benik Afobe banished to the sidelines for this one given that he’s squandered most of our best chances lately….”
He was pulled so Le Fondre could play. That was the only reason, according to Kenny.
Great result and now we can go on our annual catch up run.
🙂
Last year 78 points wasn’t enough for 6th spot. The current points/games ratio around 6th place suggests 71/72 points could be enough come May. In that regard I will suggest a haul of 48 points from 27 games may suffice. This is less than 2 points per game so given a good run of form could be achieved. There is little room for manouvre and any further poor spell will limit our chances.
EBL and others.
Got to say this youth bashing is pretty sad to see. Some players may not be perfect immediately e.g. Bale, Vardy, to name but a few who at one point were deemed “not good enough”… While inexperience can lead to nerves and mistakes it is surely better to pick up on some of the positives.
As said above the lad is not first choice but has been thrust in due to circumstances. If you want to vent anger do it at the experienced players or management / awol owner.
OR maybe consider balancing a negative with a positive (just incase he reads this as he may play better with some support).
I’m with you there Mike.
Seems like a pretty good performance against a team who, although struggling down the bottom, were on a bit of a roll and would have kicked off with confidence coursing through their veins.
We were worried about EEL but he did the necessary. New fans favorite JG further enhanced his burgeoning reputation. Dom Iorfa left the opposition commenters purring in admiration.
In general, a very satisfying day after the frustrations of recent weeks.
More to come I’m sure, well, I think anyway.
Flurry of TV games to come, which is great for we exiles down ‘ere in Devon. Maybe we can win all four.
COYW
It wont be a popular thing to say but i think some of the rubbishing of the players and the squad this season has been done to try and lower expectations to protect KJ. Or at least to deflect criticism. Nothing particularly wrong in that but its not something i am interested in doing.
Difficult to see the squad being improved now anyway while the two twits are still here. They are probably just working on how they can get rid of players and teach us all a lesson for not giving them more credit for lack of commitment and failure.
I hear some of you re criticism of players and youth..but the strong survives in these cases more so with KJs regime..eg. Dom Iorfa, Graham..
I said to Stu..Peter Withe was laughed at in my time .,Brian Clough and Taylor made him into a European cup finalist and even scored the winning goal..
I just wished KJ and co could make players and coach them..we are going to have a lot of good players slip through our fingers particularly the youth ones..
No need to apologise Neil. We’re all busy…
I must confess that I was naive and didn’t see the that the selling process had kicked in during the summer recess.
But I was struggling to see any signs of ambition once the transfer deadline had been and gone and now it all makes sense. So to qualify “limited ambition” now, I do mean while the club is in limbo. My concern being that if we got promoted via the play-offs while the current mentality at board level prevails, it would be a blood bath up there.
Admittedly, that must be on a par though with worrying about being hit in the back of the neck by a meteorite.
Some random thoughts, not in any particular order, from Texas, after a couple of Alaskan Brewing Company Icy Bay IPA, which go down sssmmmoooootttthhhlllyyyy!
Before we go into euphoric tizzies about actually winning a game, this was one we were expected to win.
I don’t care how we play, as long as we win. Record books, etc. etc., as previously harped on about.
For many years under McDickwadhead and his children, I screamed for him to play the kids, the theory being they couldn’t do any worse than the useless tossers he stuck with.
KJ is giving some of the kids a go, a few of whom will make the grade, and some who won’t.
Until they are given a chance, we won’t know, so benefit of the doubt and all that.
As that fat greasy prick put it much more eloquently than wot I can, he aint a footballing person.
If he had any modicum of nous re football, he would have seen that imports were needed in the summer, to compliment and assist the youngsters who will improve. Classic case, Williamson from Geordieland.
However, football and team improvement, and promotion and all the spoils thereof (duh!) are an anathema to greasel’s and rudolph’s thinking and philosophies.
That scouse git must have known he was in trouble with his “partner” a long time before the season started, so the need for readies was apparent ages ago.
If he didn’t know that his “partnership” was in peril, then he is even stupider than we thought.
He had no intention of pushing for the Prem this season, coz that would have meant more to ‘er indoors when she was finally outdoors.
I will take a 2-1 win every week, coz that would mean we win the league and the cup.
‘Ammers away seems a nice day out in the freezing cold, and a fourth round berth as a result of stuffing them.
Last random thought, and there IS a correct answer,
“What’s the difference between a duck?”
Sincere apologies, how remiss of me to forget my manners last post.
FUCK OFF wb
My dad, who was a bit of a philosopher, asked me this question when I was knee high to a very small person.
His answer was:- One leg is both the same.
Do I win a prize?
When sucking eggs for my Nan she also asked me this riddle.
The answer was,
The head’s always at the opposite end to the tail.
Chocolate brownie for me then!
Yes, young Doogle, you are correct!
Have a gold star, go to the top of the class and sit on the radiator!
Just had me daily dose of all things Wolves up at the Mol.
Went to see the U18’s play MK Dons in the FA Youth cup. it was made all the nicer by my mate inviting me into one of the Boxes, 3rd one from the South bank end right on the by-line.
First half was quite tight with lots of fouls and wasted chances as both sides tested each other out, Niall Ennis was very mobile and involved, Conor Ronan was a bloody handful and as a result was getting roughed up, Bright Enohkabare was a step up from the other players and played really well. Half time suddenly arrived, so in for a spot of tiffin and a bit of banter.
Second half, right from the kick off we scored, so quick, one of the guys was putting his coat back on as we came out onto the balcony and missed the goal a nice little header from the Romanian Nicu Carnat after a sweet cross from the Scottish lad Daniel Armstrong that we bought a couple of Months ago hailed as a sensation.
What only seemed like a few minutes later, Niall Ennis picks up the ball on the right fires it in across the goal and Conor Ronan fires it straight back to Nicu Carnat to side foot in. sweet set of passes and a well worked goal.
89 minutes and Niall Ennis picked up the ball in the goal area, jinks past a couple of players, sets himself up for an absolute peach right into the roof of the net, the lad is a little bit special.
Two wins in three days, nice to see the wanderers win home and away.
Remember these names:-
Niall Ennis
Daniel Armstrong
Conor Ronan
Nicu Carnat
Bright Enohkabare
If we get a mediocre run in until the end of the season, I think we may see some of these being given a few minutes with the big lads.
Would love to see Danny Fraham feeding the ball in to Niall Ennis or Conor Ronan.
One for Clive from Hastings.
Tony Pulis is going to be the next England Coach.
They’re taking his teeth out and fitting seats. (Well it’s better than “the Duck”)
Thanks for the update of the U18’s in the Youth Cup. Heartening and very encouraging to read and hopefully this will bode well for the future.
My dad used to remind me of the 1957/58 Youth cup final (I was only 5 years old – so not quite old enough to play although I was on the bench…….!) – Wolves v Chelsea.
After losing the first leg 5-1 at Stamford Bridge Wolves youngsters turned the tie on its head to win the second leg 6-1 at Molineux for a remarkable 7-6 aggregate victory. Jimmy Greaves still has nightmares….
Wolves team (copied from a web-site)
1 Republic of Ireland GK John Cullen
2 Republic of Ireland DF Phil Kelly
3 England DF Yates
4 England MF John Kirkham
5 England MF Granville Palin (c)
6 England MF Les Cocker
7 South Africa FW Des Horne
8 England FW Ian Hall
9 England FW Ted Farmer
10 South Africa FW Cliff Durandt
11 England FW Brian Perry
Manager England Stan Cullis
Not sure of the attendance at Molineux but I seem to recall being told in was in excess of 15,000. Must have been quite an evening..
Enjoy the game on Friday Stu, I will be attending my granddaughters 6th birthday celebrations so I have no chance of making the 7.45 kick off from Bedford.
However I will be at the Leeds fixture on 17th December.
North Bank bar for a Christmas snifter it is then?, if you can can get Fanny Draham’s mate Bedford Wolf away from his Chablis and Duck del Orange, it would be nice to wish you all a Merry Christmas.
Just stating the bleeding obvious, you do know Leeds is a night game?
Aye – Thursday evening for the Leeds fixture – just what the doctor ordered – NOT.
We should be departing Bedford about 3.00/3.30 with a bit of luck, although this depends on a hospital appointment going according to plan. If we arrive about 6ish then a Thai or Italian pre- match meal in Darlington Street will be the order of the day. Any later and we will head for the North Bank bar for a strictly none alcoholic beverage as its my bleeding turn at the wheel.
This weeks look back….
December 10th 1994: Endsleigh Div 1 – Wolves 1 (Bull (who else!) Notts County 0 – 25,786
December 10th 1960: League Div 1 – Man City 2 Wolves 4 – (Durandt, Farmer, Flowers, Mason) – 30,078. Imagine that right now – no me neither
December 3rd 1949: League Div 1 – Arsenal 1 Wolves 1 (Mullen) – 59,766. Aah Jimmy Mullen – a great favourite of my beloved dad.
December 12th 1987: League Div 4 – Hartlepool 0 Wolves 0 – 2,760. (Worst ever game of football in my living memory – yes worse than MK Dons. Not helped by a freezing cold wind blasting of the North Sea and the fact Bully was suspended and we stood on an open terrace. No Bull, no goals, no aeroplanes, no fun, no nothing).
December 11th 1976: League Div 2 – Chelsea 3 Wolves 3 – (Richards 2, Gould) – 33,137. Wonderful entertainment between the top 2 teams. Wolves 3-1 to the good with about 10 minutes to go – defensive howlers by Munro and McCall if I remember correctly on a “pig of a pitch” partly frozen, partly rutted mud and Chelsea drew level.
December 9th 1978: League Div 1 – Wolves 1 (Berry) Notlob Wanderers 3 – 21,006. We can never seem to beat Notlob. This season they have won just 1 game vs- yes you bloody well guessed it. Just detest Notlob…..and John McGinley.
More to follow in a week or so….
Chablis and duck a l’orange? You got me all wrong. I am as rough and as common as old getout. Born In New Cross – the place in Sarf London mate not the bleedin’ hospital in Wolverhampton – just spitting distance from Millwall’s ground The Den (as it was back then in the 1920’s). Pie and mash? Jellied eels? Gawd blimey guv’nor we gonna be in for a right treat.
P.S. Its Bedfordshire Old Gold who is the toff – always drags us to fancy la-di-dah places on matchdays when all we really want is a pint of mild and a pie. He’s the one who insists on a dress code for matchdays though where he gets all them cravats from goodness only knows. Mind you his spats look pretty good.
Just seen a report that Martinez is out until the New Year, has Xmas come early for once
Tipton.
Whilst I agree with you, I’m getting a little bit miffed,
“Christmas has come early”
That bloody Sky TV, messing about with the dates again.
Fortunately the completely cocked up FA Cup draw last night – Watford, West Brom, West Ham and Wolves (numbers 40, 41, 42 and 44) all amongst the first 6 balls pulled out of the bag and then cue lots of subsequent “make sure you shake up that bag lads” for the remainder of the draw – has given me a treat! Two visits to my home town in the space of a fortnight. Charlton on 28 December – tickets all booked for myself and my Wolves supporting son plus one of my Arsenal supporting sons (boo!) and my Spurs supporting son-in-law (boo, boo!) – and now West Ham on 09 January! Magic. Almost feel like bursting into a couple of verses of something suitable from Oliver – or maybe an old Chas ‘n’ Dave favourite like ‘Give Me A London Girl Everytime’.
Yes Bedford – I too thought john Hartson made an initial feeble effort of mixing up the balls before they were drawn hence the unlikely number of “W” clubs drawn out at the start. I’m sure that come the draw for the next round those selected to make the draw will be specifically instructed to make a proper job of it.
Highlights from last nights U 18’s FA youth cup game at Molineux.
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2015/12/08/comment-is-this-wolves-golden-generation/?
Cor Blimey Guv’nor!
This is the best 3 minutes and eight seconds I’ve spent since the PMDG’er first donned her Ann Summers nurses outfit and whipped out the stiff loofah and a bottle of baby oil!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=216IqybS0Dg
The future looks Bright… and Conor… and Connor….. and Nial… and Daniel… and all the other under 18s.
Bloody great performance lads!
And it should have been four. That disallowed goal was NEVER offside!
I know it now … that there must be the full truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth …. this referral to Ann Summers gear must be true ….
how plead you DOOGooder ?? Guilty or NOT Guilty ……
I’m pleading the 5th amendment here mate.
Otherwise she might put on the dominatrix gear and I’d be in for a sound thrashing.
I’ll take the thrashing on your behalf if you want mate ……………… please!!
Red Card!!!!
Sorry Brompto there’s a queue for this …do you mind taking your turn !!!
Why don’t some of those lads get a chance to show their stuff in the first team ? other clubs play 16 and 17 year olds, certainly Bright, as he’s apparently big and strong, but going on the report in the E&S there are 5 or 6 very talented lads waiting to step up.
Imagine thee’s no Heaven!
It’s easy if you try
He’d have been 75 now.
How bizarre is that?
The greatest singer/songwriter of our times, IMO the greatest ever.
I remember his death as if it were yesterday and it’s 35 years ago, OMG!
Here’s another random thought.
What are the odds of Afobe being on the bench for the next few league matches, then not being in the F A Cup squad at all due to ” illness” or ” injury” so he conveniently does not get cup tied?
That sort of scheming is right up greasel’s slimy alley.
FO wb
Looking forward to the Xmas TV Fest then its the window lol. Feel like judge Grinder Morgan Moxy come on down.