If those boffins at Opta Statistics measured stress levels at this time of year, then surely they’d be twiddling their thumbs.
A couple of Irish cakewalks, followed by some marginally more meaningful fare back in England should render a heart monitor pretty dormant for a Wolves fan right now.
No pre-season defeats thus far and the Championship cut and thrust still some distance away.
So why do I sense one or two twitchy bums as the Big Kick Off draws closer?
Maybe it’s in our nature. Maybe it’s the heat. Or maybe it’s the realisation that the Norwich game will arrive with only one new face in the squad (with Rowe out injured).
With Harry McGuire eluding, a reputable new striker frustrating and Jamie O’Hara active only in shagging, there still appear to be jigsaw pieces missing.
That damned Express & Star ‘Bomb Squad’ catchphrase (regrettably used on the 7/7 anniversary, incidentally) must be causing Kenny Jackett headaches, not least Jez Moxey and Steve Morgan, who receive daily reminders of the profligacy they’d prefer to forget.
Surely the drain on resources is having some sort of effect on our transfers, however much the club protests.
Having read Sir Alex Ferguson’s book while kicking back on a week’s holiday of my own, I’m staying relaxed ahead of the new campaign, irrespective.
Injuries permitting – which is always the biggest reason for concern as a Wolves fan – I think we’ll finish in the top six.
Any expectation of anything more, irrespective of who else might or might not sign for us, must be considered unreasonable, considering the competition we’re up against.
Even the great Sir Alex had a fair few problems with signings as he observed in his book, with the development of youth the one aspect of the club he could control with certainty.
He missed out on Petr Cech and Di Canio (who he thought would have been a superstar), not to mention the more famous examples of Gasgoigne and Shearer.
In taking punts on Bellion and Kleberson for example, he failed, while a more typically successful signing of Javier Hernandez owed everything to a month’s worth of due diligence out in Mexico, after all manner of scouting reports were filed beforehand.
Sebastien Veron, while acknowledged as one of the most gifted he’d ever come across, simply failed to work.
Interestingly, the likes of Welbeck, Nick Powell and even Tom Cleverley excited him more, as dressing room harmony complemented his obsession of the bigger picture.
The chances are that Jackett has missed out on a few players and will miss out on one or two more.
But with the squad at the perfect age and Ikeme, Batth, McDonald and Dicko comprising our spine, I’m as relaxed today as I was with my Kindle in Spain last week.
Maybe Im being overly cautious but right now Im expecting/would be happy with a top half finish, the Championship is just too bloody unpredictable right now…though I think I have a good should for predicting Blackpool to be relegated next year!
AS for signings I would be astounded if we don’t see someone else come in; latest rumour is Kieran Agard from Rotherham…
Agard is an interesting one Hamster! He strikes me as a player you’d have to get if he was available as you wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity, rather than a player we are crying out for, if that makes sense? Looks like a number 10 kind of striker, but owing to our formation, we aren’t lacking in that kind of area with Jacobs (and dare I say Edwards?) so effective there (IMO). It seems that a bigger Chris Wood type is more on Kenny’s agenda? Going back to my Fergie book again, movement and mobility matter more, so I’d love to see him sign. Glad to be back on the blog BTW!
It is really tough to work out the real rumours from the made up ones but the Chris Wood rumour feels like it could be real, not sure why… some weird sort of intuition maybe, I dunno! 😛
Hi Ben,
I can still taste the beer from when we gathered on that magical day in May. I fully understand why theDOOGooder frequents the place when he pops up to the Mol. Must be one the better pints I have had for a long time.
That said, thanks for your post. Well reasoned and I must admit to agreeing with what you say. All fans of our beloved club become impatient at times, and you are quite right in suggesting that if Clark does not hit the ground running, someone, somewhere will be baying for his blood.
I believe that a certain Mr Houston from Clive (or someone like that) may disagree with your view about our final placement though. Whilst I, once again, agree with you, he (Cliveo), may feel that we should be expecting to win every game, therefore we should be promoted at first time of asking. I wait for his response – eagerly!!
I am more of a realist though, and I want to see our team play their socks off in every game and try to win every game, but that aint gonna happen, but if they try, then that is all I ask. To finish in the top six for me will be an achievement.
I am looking forward to some very good football, and to coming down to Wolverhampton as often as I can. Hopefully we will play so well, that we will all gather once again in the wonderfully sunny beer garden to celebrate our promotion on Saturday 7th May prior to the Millwall game. I can taste the beer already.
theDOOGooder – please note I have not mentioned where that beer garden is!!!
Hi Brompton! I can indeed taste the beer from that wonderful day. I even buy myself a pint in there due to withdrawal symptoms, and stand in the desolate beer garden on my own, sipping the flat lager as the raindrops plop onto my balding head.
Ok, so I haven’t been there since, but I can’t wait to go back when the season starts again!
In the past – and as you know – I will kill the club for being too passive but on this occasion, I’m not sure it’s necessary. If Jackett wasn’t so astute and meticulous, you could almost criticise a perceived lack of activity, but I feel he is looking for a certain player who is probably part of a big merry-go-round. I’d prefer this than Halford, Surman, Maerhoffer and Mouyokolo all landing at the training ground at once! Above all, I think we have a damn good team as it is.
Injuries do concern me. Last season was a freak in more ways than one. We ALWAYS have injuries – and bad ones at that. 2013/14 was the first time I can recall us having a clean bill of health. (Price migraines apart!)
We certainly shouldn’t presume another season of such good health. It is a bit precarious…We lose McDonald to injury and I immediately worry!
Well done B’Wolf.
Blogs have ears you know.
Having said that, I was chatting to the (rather lovely) owner of said establishment – while booking a room for the weekend of the Cardiff match – and she said that she was so pleased with the way things had gone that she was thinking of advertising pre-match drinks there.
Not sure that’s such a great idea; not all Wolves fans are perfick gentlemen like what we are.
Maybe I just want to keep it our secret.
Your relationship with the honourable lady must be maintained. You may wish to consider advising her (if you have not already done so) that, whilst it is her call, it may be prudent for her not to open her doors to everyone. I believe that you have found a brilliant place and in my opinion I feel you would probably be a tad miffed if it became just another pre match drinking place for all. To retain the atmosphere that we had on that wonderful day, it would (again in my opinion) be nice to know that us “Bloggers” can go there and meet up prior to a match and keep the “riff raff” out – just saying like!
Sat 23 Aug v Cardiff? I have not yet booked a ticket, but it would be good if you are going to meet up and discuss this further if you want. We can even plan the end of season promotion party at the same time lol.
Take care my friend.
I ve got a strange feeling that this is Leon clarkes year
Well here’s my 2 pence on our transfer activity, or lack thereof: in Jackett we trust.
If he thinks we’re good enough as we are then I am not going to start disagreeing with him. From the highlight reels I’ve seen on YouTube, RVLP and Rowe look like decent acquisitions, and our defence was pretty solid last time out.
I take Ben’s point on injuries, but am mindful of KJ’s policy of making the players responsible for maintaining their own fitness. Boukari apart it seems to be working.
Anyway, say what you like about Moxey but one constant in his time with us has been surprise signings that no-one saw coming, often despite previously insisting we weren’t in for the player. I wouldn’t fall off me chair if there is another face or 2 by the time we kick off against the Canaries.
Speaking of which, that game falls on my 33rd birthday, so I reckon 3 points has to be on the cards. Hopefully for us!
Only a couple of weeks to wait now, hang in there guys it’ll be here before you know it.
UTW
PS I often get halfway down an article on here before wondering who penned it, but as soon as I saw the word ‘shagging’ I was in no doubt. Good to have you back mate
Cheers Sleacho. Been missing you (I really should be kissing you) Honey to the bee – that’s you and me.
Not sure where that came from! A Billie Piper classic came into my head as I typed ‘been missing you’ so I thought I’d follow it on with the full lyric.
I hope you’re right with Moxey and he comes good with a sly addition on the eve of the season. Irrespective, I really can’t see Norwich fancying us at all come next Sunday.
Oh Ben I love it when you serenade me!
At least you didn’t quote Ferguson at me.
33 years old Eh?
Congratulations mate.
It makes me feel ancient though.
Difficult to believe I know but I’m old enough to be your…..
…very slightly older brother.
16+33=49
16+16+33=65
Just calculating if you had a kid when you were 16 and that kid became 33, how old you would be
Then calculating if you had a kid when you were 16 and that kid had a kid when he was 16 and that kid became 33 how old you would be.
Older brother, Dad and Granddad all fit well!!!!
I know, huge achievement, thanks for the recognition. At Christmas I’ll be a third of a century old!
More importantly, we’ll hopefully be halfway to the Prem!
I still think it’s sad that while we’re looking to strengthen the squad, players like Boukari, Margreitter and Doumbia are not being considered, even though they’re here and on the wage bill already. Maybe their attitude in training isn’t positive enough, and of course I appreciate that in the case of Boukari there’s the fitness issue. But not playing them and lumping them in with Johnson, Ward and O’Hara is going to give a very negative impression and not encourage other clubs to queue up to buy them.
However, I fully trust KJ to get it right, as he proved last season with some very shrewd acquisitions.
I must admit Bilstonian, I have always been seduced by the thought of us playing Margrietter. Maybe it’s because I have literally never seen him play (not even for 2mins off the bench) and having read about him being a ball carrying ‘sweeper’, the myth of him kept growing as the first team blackened.
God knows what that signing was all about.
I also recall a visit to London Road when we beat Peterborough 2-0 in the season we went down. The midfield 4 were Sako, Henry, Doumbia and Pezsko (who was eventually replaced by Boukari)
Such big strong players who all performed about 8/10. (Doumbia a 9 that game). I was absolutely drooling. I thought I’d seen the future.
I see your point but I’d have to disagree. Strong management is about being decisive, (you can tell I’ve read that book!) and I think that once his mind was made up on the players, there could be no turning back. The fact they’re still here is testament to their complete lack of value / quality. We are practically begging clubs to take them, but ridiculous wage demands and clear shortfall in ability means we are lumped with them.
The bigger point above all this is the wonders KJ has done in creating a harmonious environment, It can’t be underplayed. Bringing back one or two of them could completely undermine the last 12 months of careful progress. It would cost us more bringing them back than keeping them away on their own.
We are begging teams to take the players but at the same time saying they are not fit.
What kind of fool would tell everyone the player he wants to loan out is not fit?
I’m feeling good about the new season! I’d like to see a little more cover, but you know there’s no way Jez will sign players for the sake of it at the mo.
I dread to think how much the ‘reserve team’ is costing on their Premiership wage packets…once we’ve got rid of some of them perhaps the wallet could be opened a little more for a marquee signing or two ( if needed), but that’ll probably be next season at the earliest in my opinion.
Speaking of the reserves…
Nice to see Mr. O’Hara making as good a fist of his private life as he has of his ‘playing career.’ That guy’s bad attitude, if the media are to be believed, shines through in all he does.
I’m just sad that it’s Wolves fans who fund his razzle dazzle lifestyle and get nothing in return. Wish we could give notice to players, paying them fairly in compensation, just as would happen to us paupers in ‘real life.’
But Kenny said those wages were not an issue. I guess maybe he was misleading us. Apparently he thinks we don’t know the basics of accounting.
O’Hara is not doing anything a lot of other guys do. He is just famous enough to get identified.
Great to see the blog back! Hope you are all having a good summer.
I am looking forward to the season, but nervous. Still not convinced about our front line, and expected to see more activity in that regard over the summer. Maybe it will still happen. Maybe Clarke will deliver and I’ll take it all back, … but somehow I get a feeling this will be a topic for debate as the season progresses.
We’ll see. Fingers crossed for another good season.
Go Wolves!
I’m happy with the squad we have, if KJ is happy. I expect he’s biding his time though for that special signing, or two. Let’s face it, his track record thus far is fantastic. Even the one caveat, Leon Clarke, is looking tasty in pre-season. If anyone has anything to prove, it’s Clarke. One thing for sure, he will bust a gut with effort for us this season, and I expect a respectable tally of goals from him just to show the knockers. Whether he’s PL quality (we have to be ambitious!) is another matter. I suspect and hope that he could be another SEB, great in the Championship, but that’s it… (That’s good enough for me). Top 6 for us? I haven’t changed my opinion. I have good money on at 7/1 that we will be promoted, but I wouldn’t have taken higher odds for automatic promotion.
Clarke is scoring but not against Championship teams. Let’s not get carried away about whether or not he is good enough for the Premier League just yet.
That being said, he seems to have his confidence back and if he gets the opportunities, hopefully he can capitalize on them.
The following was not penned under duress, alcohol or mind altering drugs.
I think, from now on, we should draw a line under the “have a go at greasel, morgan and the bomb squad” topic.
Y’all know my views on that, but enough is enough.
They obviously know what was done wrongly, how the huge salaries have backfired, how the manager sees the sidelined players, and most importantly, how we fans see everything.
This is probably the most important season in The Wolves’s history for a generation.
Us old farts have seen success at the highest level, but for you lot under age 40, you have never seen anything like it, except for a few scrappy seasons in the Prem, wondering how many we are going to concede each week, praying for miracles.
No, we must leave all negative memories in the past, and let bygones be gone. We cannot change what has happened, so let’s stop moaning about it, and once more, get behind our team with a passion.
The one good, enduring ( I hope ) thing that management has done is employ Mr. Jackett.
This bloke exudes a quiet, calm confidence, and gives the impression he will move forward, with HIS players, at his own steady pace, without, or despite, any outside assistance from those who have not his knowledge or abilities.
We didn’t hit top form until after Chrissy last season, and there is no reason to think this coming year will be different.
We need time for the rust to rub off, time for the newbies to gel,……………..and time for the rest of the league to become afraid, very afraid.
I predict, here and now, before a kick has been balled in anger:
Wolverhampton Wanderers will gain automatic promotion at the end of this season.
A happy rest of the summer to one and all, great to be back writing my usual drivel!
And of course, a blog would not be complete without a resounding Fuck Off w. b.
It took till Christmas last year because of all of the new players and the new style of play Jackett brought in. Why should it take that long this season?
Do you really think it will take longer for the rust to rub off at Wolves than the rest of the league?
Very silly post.
Your post is the silly one. I can’t wait for Clive’s response lol
He is entitled to his opinion, and if he wants to ridicule my posts, so be it.
And no, Stuwolf, I aint got religion, apart from WolverhamptonWanderersism.
I have just had a year of dealing with a drug addled 19 year old step grandson, which caused untold amounts of stress on family life, as Scooped can attest to, but has made me a calmer person.
Calmer, yes, but no less rabid in my passion for Me Babbeez!!!
I think back to the beginning of the season, two years ago, when we had just been relegated, and a lot of us thought we would bounce straight back up, Prem experienced players and all that. Well, that didn’t quite come off as planned, did it?
There are a lot of teams, including those just down from upstairs, who think they will waltz this division, for the same reasons we did.
Well, all I gotta ask is: What color are banana skins?
Old gold and black, and a lot of our forthcoming opponents are going to skid and slip up when they face the banana skins from Wolverhampton!
Everyone will suffer form dips, lose players to injury or international calls, and have other problems, but the one thing they will all be wary of is how we took the third division by the scruff of the neck, and squeezed the shit out of the opposition. If it were easy, how come no other team did it?
No, we made an awful lot of teams sit up and take notice with our record breaking season, and there is no reason in my mind why we cannot continue.
I am really looking forward to the coming season, when real football returns, not that comedy called the W.C.
(W.C…………kind of appropriate letters, dontcha think!)
Must admit, I did love the Germans pissing all over Brazil!
Have a great day, y’all, I’m off to cut the grass while it’s still a cool 90 degrees!!
Clive.
More power to your elbow mate, (ref:- Drug Addled Step Grandson), been there and done the time with one of mine. Stick with them, pal, it’s like watching Wolves, good days and bad but the end result is worth the hair loss.
Proud of you Son,
🙂
Thanks Stu, all encouragement is gratefully received!!
Mail me on teamsasha@blueyonder.co.uk any time you want to off load.
Been to “helen bach” over 4 years. But we don’t abandon our kids, step kids or not.
This blog seemed more like an assessment of Man Utd under Sir Alex than Wolves under Jackett.
I for one am worried. From what I have seen of Pre season
(Attended both Crewe and Cheltenham )
I think we will struggle..
Not enough signings and a young team who did great last year and made us proud, but face a totally different challenge this season..
Look at how Norwich are flying.. 10 -1 in Pre season… and we struggle to beat crewe in a dire game…
This Bomb Squad business is also a weight around our neck…. either start integrating them into the squad or pay them off and get rid… are they really that bad that they cannot play in the championship…. I’m Getting Bored of hearing about them.. and they are seriously hampering our chances of signing better players cos they are taking all the money..
Morgan again I’m afraid has to stand up and be counted….
Lets get the downside sorted first. THE GRANDKIDS are here for the next ten days! Only after then can I consider a reasoned critique for the coming season.
Like Clive I lived through the glory days and then suffered with you all the lean times.
I can only view life with optimism, there’s not much point dwelling on past mistakes, you can’t correct them now. I believe we have a manager who has a plan, a very good plan and I predict promotion will be achieved this season ( even if it’s through the play offs).
There I feel much better now ! Bless the restorative powers of the Wolves Blog and I might manage a smile tomorrow!
Ha Ha .. Ten days still the start of the season..
I am no spring chicken myself Lynx..
I really hope you are right and I am proved wrong.. but from what I have seen and heard so far this pre season I cant see it.
I will still smile tomorrow too… Hope the sun stays out…
Hi all
Don’t think you can be a wolves fan and not be waiting for the bubble to burst, it’s almost part of the charm! But i think this manager and the way the club is building in the background does fill me with some optimism for the future. Would have liked another defender and forward but he’s called up youth again so hopefully they are willing to grasp it with both hands. Clive is right we didn’t start playing till after Christmas and in this league you can do that and still make the playoffs. So nervous, anxious and excited its good to be a fan of this great club!
COYW!!!
Don’t give up…
This season’s target is 6th position in the Premiere leagues to get europe Zone,
it’s could certainly be if struggling harder
Go Go Wolves
bikin baju bola
Nige.. your (slightly) negative ..stay cool..I know we are Wolves and crapping ourselves regularly particularly in the last 5 mins is all part of the experience lol ,plus we groan well as we are experts at this too…
But with KJ last season we didn’t mostly.. except when typically I at gillingham witnessed that bloody last minute winner ..
KJ no doubt is naturally nervous to see us start… I used to live in Norwich and Delia’s mob are a yo yo team between the premier and championship and they know the start of the season is paramount to get things rolling and create a top 3 place
early…they will throw themselves at us at Mol..
We must win this game and if we do – I’ll see it as an Omen.
I feel Dicko is a latent time bomb in this league…as for Clarke (groan) the standard that we have played against pre season gives his goals a false representation but hey ..let’s see..
The bottom line for me is that KJ is the best bloke we’ve had and I think he’ll work it all out ..I have this feeling..
COYW
define ‘time-bomb’ – not sure if you mean he’s gonna explode in goals or blow up the Mol!
Glad you had a good break Ben and impressed that you took a book with you.
My book of choice, during my two weeks in Martinland, was an audiobook – ‘My bass and other animals’ – written and read by that four string plank spanking legend Guy Pratt.
I didn’t learn much about football management but I did nearly wet myself on a number of occasions. It’s a hilarious account of his time as an itinerant bassist and, if you have any interest in the rock music scene and all that that entails, you’ll love it.
Back to the more serious business of football.
You make some very salient points in your initial blog and replying to other comments.
The one that stands out for me more than all the rest is:-
If McDonald gets a long term injury, we are in trouble!
More than anything I think it’s imperative that we recruit a competent stand in to cover that eventuality.
And there aren’t many around.
Glass half full or half empty? Irrational exuberance or downright negativity? Beware of both! We need balance as fans and as a club. With the sacking of McCarthy we went straight into a downward spiral of negativity. Solbakken was a false dawn, leading to Dean Scatterbrain and even lower depths. KJ, as the large majority of fans agree, is our best hope of recovery, and has already proved himself. A win against Norwich would be fantastic, a draw would be good. The first few games will not define our season. Three years ago in August 2011 we were briefly top of the PL after three games. What in hell’s name did that tell us? KJ is the man to keep us balanced and focused on the job at hand. The season is not a short sprint, it’s a marathon. There will be dark days of course. Unlike a year ago we have a settled team, but also unlike a year ago the opposition is stronger. With the one/two additions KJ has in mind we are capable of top six. Naturally KJ is not going around saying he is looking for new players, he prefers to stay under the radar to keep the price down. The sooner he can defuse the bomb squad the sooner he can bring new blood in. With FFP rules looming, we have to balance the books too.
There’s an old adage:-
‘Beware, all heroes have feet of clay’.
He was never a particular hero of mine, but I’ve just read about the latest Jamie O’Hara incident and seen the film on The Mail Online of him drunkenly pushing his wife about.
The one time when buckling down to it and keeping a low profile would seem to be the order of the day.
Does he not realise that he is pissing his career down the drain?
The gravy train is leaving the station and he’s lost his ticket.
What a brainless SH 1 T that bloke is!
(It has been alleged by some).
Me the missus and the Grandkids all went to Cheltenham, Peterborough, Crewe and Oxford last night. What did we learn?
Nothings changed, last year we were optimistic after seeing the new guys, well Van La Parra is the new guy and already I love his drive enthusiasm and he’s even towing the party line for King Kenny, (i want to thrill the crowd but still see the need to play as a team member)
Injuries:- Tommy Rowe, (Dizzy I’m so Dizzy he’s got my head spinning) I know a song about that. He came on straight after MacDonald had played his usual solid game at Cheltenham and apart from fracturing his toe, he was like a mirror image of our Macca. Don’t try and tell me King Kenny doesn’t know what he is doing, what a signing!
Leon Clarke, sorry guys, he’s not winning me over yet, but I will stick with him and see what Championship opposition does for ho
Im.
New signings:-
When I saw Kieran Agard decided to realise a new contract, I thought here we go, King Kenny will snap him up right away that day, no such move materialised and so there must be a good reason for that one as King Kenny has got it spot on so far. So I do believe we will see a new MacDonald in the form of a striker some time soon, but, I do feel optimistic for this season what we saw in Pre season was Kenny checking on who will go forward and who is headed for the exit stage left.
Plus side, great to see Stephen Ward playing last night, who said, King Kenny bears a grudge, the lad played very well and linked up well with Eusebio.
The only way is up, what, with Clive turning to religion, then the team has a great future.
🙂
Re Oxford on Tuesday: yes I must say Wardy was good, especially given that he has been in group C. No attitudinal issue there. I thought Eusabio looked keen and sharp, with a great run and pass for Clarke’s well taken goal. The best feature for me was the pairing of Ebanks-L and Iorfa at the centre of the defence. They both looked good and solid, very impressed. Anthony Forde didn’t cut it for me though, I can’t think why Eusabio was substituted, he saw a lot of the ball and did well.
Sorry, (Kieran Agard refuse a new contract) when I get my hair and teeth fixed I will invest in glasses also.
Agree with Nige.
Not overly expecting much other than consolidating ourselves in the Championship.
Hoping we still have Sako at the end of August!
7/1 to go up? Short odds imo.
Fulham, Wigan, Cardiff and others will be difficult to compete with.
Mind you, my Fulham fan friend has bought me a ticket for August 18th and shall see the great Wolves play ‘live’, for the first time in two decades!
Well if he brought you a ticket for the 18th then you will both be disappointed cos the Fulham game is on the 20th according to my Tickets…. 🙂
Ok it’s the 20th! Maybe see u there……
Sadly I don’t think we’ll bag a top six finish this season but then I would never had thought that Burnley would finish second last year. The Championship is so difficult to predict with at least a dozen really strong, experienced teams all fighting for the top spots. If we get a good start then who knows but our opening 5 or 6 games are decidedly tricky.
I’m happy with the balance of the squad but IMO we need the following – central defender, defensive central midfielder and a striker. Still plenty of time to bring some new faces in even if we wait until after the transfer window and get some loans from clubs in the Prem.
Hopefully a few more of the young lads from the youth team will make the step and possibly 1 or 2 of KJ’s Group Three might be offered an olive branch and do well for us.
My prediction – mid table.
UTW
Sleachy..Dicko.. time bomb as in goals ..he’s strong.. quick..chance sniffer.. a bit like John Richards.. there.. I’m living in the past..
John Richards? I was only a young kid when I saw him play!
I’m not expecting amazing things this season, I’ll be happy with a top half finish. Would like to see a couple more signings in though & yes off load the ones surplus to requirements.
As for the wonderful Mr O’Hara I think the least said the better but could he close the door on his way out.
UTW
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