So, it looks very much like David Jones will be signing for Wigan after gaining seemingly universal praise in pre-season.
The midfielder was reportedly cheered off in their friendly win at Preston to raucous chants of ‘Sign him up’ from the travelling support.
Afterwards, Roberto Martinez was equally gushing, stating, “It’s obvious that our fans can spot a good player when they see one.
“And we will be working extremely hard to try to persuade him his future lies at Wigan. If we can do that I’m sure he will be a big, big asset for this football club.
“David is a very talented player, technically very gifted, tactically very clever, and has great experience in the Premier League.
“He is 26 but has a great desire to learn, and has a sweet left foot. At the beginning he wanted to come in and get himself fit, and he impressed us all from day one.
“I was already a big admirer of his from the work he did at Wolves, and when a player like him becomes available you can’t let the opportunity pass you by.”
Hmmm.
I’ve had a nagging thought bouncing around my head since Jonah packed-up and left, so this seems like a good time to spit it out.
Put simply: I think we made a mistake letting this guy leave.
I mean, what did he ever do wrong?
Bossed the Championship? Made the 451 viable during the often troubled first season back in the Prem? Generally never gave the ball away?
Yet despite all of this, he was never Mick’s cup of cocoa, constantly in and out of his team, flitting between shining star and waste of space.
Supporters seemed to have mixed opinions too, accusing him of dawdling on the ball and frequently drifting out of games.
And although I don’t necessarily disagree with all of the above, I always thought Jonah was one of our better players. Someone who pretty much never let us down.
Now, the specific ins and outs of why he walked on a free are largely unknown.
If I remember rightly, the information that was made public intimated that he was offered a deal, he didn’t take it and subsequently wasn’t offered a better one.
Thanks and goodbye then.
We’ve got Milijas, O’Hara, Edwards, Henry and Guedioura anyway right?
But with Mick openly looking for another midfielder, I can’t help but wonder why we let a perfectly good one leave for nothing?
Add to that the fact that Guedioura is crocked, Edwards isn’t fully fit and there’s even been talk Milijas could be sold to balance the summer spending.
Call me a scaremonger if you will, but before a ball has even been kicked I’m lamenting the loss of the one that got away.
Always rated Jones. Proper central midfielder, not afraid to do a little bit of everything. With Guedioura now injured (again) we are in dire dire need of another CM and Jones could have been ideal to slot in Guedioura’s place.
i think time will tell if we lost out or not iv always liked dave jones good bloke done the job that was asked of him,
He was offered new deal and turned it down rumoured to be ebcause he believed he could do better then wolves thus an improved contract was never offered,
Also last season after he turned down the contract shortly after he was injured since he came back from injury i believe he struggled to impress
Mcarthy did say when he turned down the deal that wolves would not sell him and he continued to be part of first team plans up untill the injury
Why worry?
We’ve always got Captain Fantastic, our beloved Mr. Ward.
On a change of subject, sorry, but it’s quiet at work, I googled Wolves v Arsenal 1971.
Lo and behold, up pops youtube with the highlights.
Check it out, all you youngsters, and bear in mind that Arsenal had, the season before, become only the second team in the century to win the double of cup and league, ( FA Cup, there was only one real cup in those days ) and watch three world class goals, a penalty which the keeper didn’t even move for, and a pretty good volley off Doog’s wrong foot.
THAT is the quality and class we had in those days, THAT is what we old farts are always going on about, because THAT is what it’s all about. There are few teams around today who could have lived with the side we had then.
So, forgive me for harping on about crap players etc, the current team has a lot to live up to, let’s hope they and the manager realize this, and we progress accordingly.
Told you it was a slow day!!!
It also showed the first leg of the UEFA cup final v Spurs. Were you at that one Clive? I was and the semi v Ferencvaros. Who scored Wolves early winner in that game?Without googling it!
Apparently we won 2-1 not 1-0. Well long time ago wan it? Revised question, who scored for Wolves in the first minute?
Wasn’t it Steve Daley?
I was at both legs, the away match in Tottenham will live with me forever, the time me and Ada took on several hundred Spurs fans in Trafalgar Square after the match, with the mistaken thought that the coach load of Wolves fans behind us were actually behind us, not standing watching over the top of a wall!!
Whatever happened to Ada?
He always wore the most horrendous dark turquoise suit to the matches, and was a good mate of Pat Banks.
Yes, that second goal from Chivers at the Mol was a screamer………….bastard!!!
Still, we got to a European final, a feat not accomplished by many, before or since.
Clive, I guess you are talking about that 5-1 win in the snow,I was there,and also the game against Arsenal the season before when they beat us 0-3 at home.In those days we could pull it off against the best on our day,but we still lacked consistency.Just like today we needed a better defence , a couple of decent defenders to play with Munro and Parkin and Parkes was never a top class keeper.The mistake we made was not signing Banks at the same time that we signed the Doog.Still happy memories.
Blimey! how far back do you want to go? We won the bloody thing in ’59, you know! What “The current team” have to live up to is what they have achieved in the last couple of seasons, not something that happened before decimalisation, ffs!
Honestly, it’s like a lot of Wolves fans have a massive blind spot covering the last 30 odd years! Were you even there when we were down in division 4? Or about to go out of business altogether? I could hardly blame you if you weren’t, We were a basket case of a club! It’s been a long road back, longer than it should have been due to crap management. But now that our feet are firmly planted towards the end of that road, let’s hope ALL the Wolves fans realize this, and we progress accordingly (by supporting the management team and maintaining the club’s stability)!
When I think of some of the crap players we have had to put up with over the last few decades (especially in the mid 80’s), ANY of The squad we have now under MM being referred to as “Crap” (as they frequently are by some Wolves fans(!)) is just wrong. Remember where we’ve had to come back from. For me the nadir was Hoddle.. And when HE left US(!) MM came in and had 12 players, £1m to spend and 2 weeks ’till the season kicked off!
I hope the real Glory days come again, but the way football has changed since 1971, I doubt it.. Those were the days, etc…..
I think greed could have been the factor in him leaving. I believe he wanted more (and i dont blame him) but the club werent prepared to break their salary cap. I still think we will do well without him.
I agree with the article but I think we probably offered him the best contract we could, bearing in mind we were bringing in the likes of O’Hara, who is a much better player anyway. However, with the current injuries and the need for a midfielder, Jones would be ideal. I rate him above Henry, who can’t pass, or score! O’Hara, Guedioura and Milijas should be first choice.
i think it was more a case of the one who “walked away” rather than got away, if he was happy and bought into the club he would have stayed surely. So either he belevied his 8 abject perfomances in 10 should have been overlooked through some misguided thought he was better than he actually is for the sake of the 2 good ones or he plainly wanted more money and his decision was based on that (which has always been my thought)
Exactly ! We tried to keep him, and rightly so, he is a great player, but something wasnt right and he’d been edging towards the door all season long.
What im getting twitchy about is our “BIG 2”, Jarvis & Doyle… I dont care what stupid money is offered, we surely can lose them if we want to move forward.
I wouldn’t be that upset to see Jarvis go if the offer was right (and we invested the money in another CB and a LB).
I think Hunt can only play on the left and Jarvis struggles on the right.
He was a good player. He decided he wanted more money than we offered. Mick dropped him because he wanted to leave. We have many midfielders equal to or better than him.
Everybody is happy.
Many central midfielders? O’Hara, Guedioura… I’m out.
Milijas, Henry (different type I suppose), at a push Edwards who in my opinion does a good job as an attacking midfielder.
I liked Jones, he did a good job for us but he’s nowhere near our team and not as good as made out.
i wouldnt worrie about it to much people play better when they are trying to get new contracts,and if we are short in midfield foley is plenty good enough to do a job that jonah would have done
That’s where we’ve been going wrong, playing players out of position. Foley aint a midfielder, next to Henry we have nothing going forward. We shouldn’t see a perfectly good CM walk out the door and think it’s ok cos we have someone who can ‘do a job’.
Clive from Houston – I remember the Arsenal game quite well, even after all these years, David Jones would have had more chance getting in the Monkees line up than our team back then, now that was a team (The Wolves, not the Monkees !).
My dad had bought our first colour TV that day, and Match of the Day was the first programme I watched….and it was that match!
Fuckin’ brill!!!!
unrelated but similar, our telly died the day thatcher got sacked from number 10, my dad drove into town top speed, bought the first telly he saw and drove straight back to plug it in so he could carry on watching the news. got home and was really happy to have a new tv, but not half as happy as my dad…
I love your dad!
He would be a decent back up but I’d prefer to get someone who really wants to play for the club.
I still think we need to make 2/3 more signings – we have only really made one addition to the team that ended last year, Johnson. Do we think he’s going to change our fortunes on his own? What if he gets injured? Then we’re back to the same team that played last season.
So far we’ve lost 12 players this summer, and brought in 3 (or 2 – we may have already been paying O’Hara’s wages). Surely we don’t need to sell before we can buy?!
As with anyone at the Wolves, they need to want to play for the club and do so without holding us to ransom over wages.
I think it shows how far we’ve come over the last season as I would have said that Dave Jones was one of our most important players a year ago and cringed at the thought of him leaving when it was reported he had refused a new contract but now him leaving is barely a blip on the radar for me.
Personally now, I think the departure of Jones is the shedding of dead wood. He’s an “ok” player in the Premier League. He did boss the Championship but as we know that never means you’ll do the same in the Prem. I don’t think he’s the level of quality of player that we are now looking to build a club on with real top talent like O’Hara and Johnson coming in. Jones would never be looked at by any of the top 10 teams and I think that’s where over the next few seasons we’ll be looking to push to get into.
I think Henry will be the next one that will move on within our Championship winning team if we can get in another battling centre midfielder. Again, I appreciate everything he did for us/has done for us/is currently doing for us but I think we need better in that position. The reason I believe he could be the next one to go is that (and correct this if I’m wrong because I didn’t know whether it was true or not) I read on an internet article that described Roger Johnson as “new Wolves skipper” which I would have imagined that Henry wouldn’t be to pleased with that. But it could be a ploy for the future and see Henry moving on. Alternatively, Johnson could have skippered one of the friendlies and so was automatically assumed would take over the captaincy.
Anyhoo, apart from the obvious Meierhoffer and Keogh, Ward should definately be another one to be moved on albeit with us needing to bring in players to replace these players of the quality of O’Hara and Johnson so this will probably happen over the next few years.
Also, all I want for christmas, or just the start of the season is for SEB to take some “Championship form” branded rocket fuel pills that bring back his scoring tally that terrified all teams who played against him. It’s got to happen one of the seasons we’re in the Premiership…….hasn’t it?
I know this is a bit delayed, but Ward has a place in the squad as the 4th choice striker who provides cover in other positions. It makes sense as I assume he’s on low wages, is happy with a bit part role and is probably better value than anyone else we could get in that role.
I agree with you on the point about Ward being a really good back up but I think the problem is that he is such a utility player and puts in a shift when he fills in in any position that the manager gets lured into a false sense of Ward being able to fit into and play regularly in any position. This very often in my opinion leaves Wolves very exposed when Ward is shoe-horned in at left back and we lost quite a few games last year as a result of that. Up front he’s a good back up and he showed that against Liverpool last year as well as a few other games in which I remember him actually looking like he made a difference when he came on.
Just a side note with regards to our strikers; there was an insider on Twitter last night who said that Wolves are currently leading the chase for Shane Long. AND, another Twitter insider who as long as I have followed him has never been wrong with his inside information on transfers tweeted yesterday a cryptic tweet that said that Hitzelsperger had made a decision on the club he was going to and that it was Wolves. So watch this space on Monday! You heard it here from South American Wolf first!
Mostly this summer Jones has been linked to Championship clubs – Forest, Blues – which says something about how he is regarded in the game. If he does go to Wigan it will be as a squad player, not an automatic first choice.
Just how many left foot midfield play makers can a club have at any one time. Jones could see a pass but for me lacked the mobility and pace to be a real force in the premiership, and therefore get that pay rise he wanted.
I think Milias was bought to replace him, but that didn`t work because while more gifted he was even slower and less mobile.
MM should get third time lucky with O`Hara, who showed glimpses of real quality in patches last year, and looks very good in pre season outings now he is free of injuries and fit. Its highly probable though that Mijas could be sold or only play when O`Hara is not fit, nice problem to have though.
We probably only need one playmaker in midfield, O`Hara for me is a much better player than Jones, but good luck to Jones who helped us get into the premiership, though we `ve all moved on.
I am going to stick my head about the parapet now…I always rated Jones above Milijas.
There, I’ve said it! Scored more free kicks for us, offered far more consistency and his delivery wasn’t disimilar.
In fact, we seemed to pick up when Jones came back in the team in that first season and our overall wins per appearances with him was very impressive.
I just thought he lacked a bit of mobility, which was his achiles heel.
I remember a youthful David Jones playing for Preston years and years ago when on loan from Man Utd. (we drew 1-1 and he hit the post – ran the game at Molineux)
He must have been about 19 and he was just phenomenal. He seemed more lithe and diminuitive somehow. He was so good that Dad walked home eulogising over this young kid who we couldn’t get near (high praise indeed from Victor Meldrew!)
When we bought him, that was the only aspect of his game I marginally disappointed with.
Apart from that though, he never let us down, always gave 100 per cent and an absolute steal.
I’d have kept him, particularly with use of hindsight, but not massively gutted at the same time if that makes sense?!
The power of christ compels you, the power of christ compels you, the power of christ compels you!
Get your tin hat on Ben – this is worst than me having a go at Kightly!
Don’t tell me….you agree with Clive about our 70’s team being better than the current Barcelona team or something as well. You my friend have PSD. Pre Season Depression. Let it go. Things will get better. The Blackburn game will soon be here and the world will right its wrongs. David Jones will be gone for ever and you will have forgotten all about him. And THAT free kick.
Jones was maybe more consistent, but in that first season I don’t think the way we played suited Milijas. We were more defensive, and Jones was better prepared for it.
Milijas is a class apart, in my opinion the most talented player at the club. When we play the possesion game, he is perfect for it and why he played so well in the middle (ish) of the season. His problem is that he is not mobile enough, and fit enough (although he has improved on that).
Jones is quality and thats his problem. He likes the ball to feet and then plays it to someone elses feet wearing the same colour shirt. Hence no place for him in a McCarthy side. Don`t be surprised at this. MM wants snotters and grafters when sometimes you need some guile to go with it. Good luck to the guy, he`ll be worth £4m plus in May and will only be 27. Apparently we can`t afford to buy anyone else before we sell and yet we let this talent walk out the door for nothing. Somebody`s not doing their job properly.
I think if we are serious about progressing, building a better and better team as we look to become an established Premier League team, then guys like Jones are going to be the ones that leave, or simply become fringe squad players. The key is to make sure we replace them with better quality players. O’Hara is a start, but would certainly like to see someone else come in as well to sure up the midfield.
Hopefully in a month’s time when the season is under way we’ll be able to pat a new ‘superstar’ midfielder on the back and say “You’re loads better than Dave Jones pal.” Hopefully.
Agree Bagsy, but your principle doesn’t extend to other players, judging by Mick history and pre-season form.
If McCarthy was going to get all hard nosed about progression and quality then you’d think it would extend to other areas of the pitch far sooner than Jones, where our frailties are far more glaring (left back?!)
Maybe wolfhedd has a point? After all, we averaged about 2.2 points per game that Jones played in when we won the league, yet he was still dropped for Nigel Quashie, only to be hauled back in when the wheels were falling off!! (He didn’t even make the 16 at Burnley 1-0 defeat!)
Maybe he just wanted too much cash.
Not sure…
Totally agree with you mate. I was talking from my own mind really, rather than what we’ve all seen in reality. Think we would all agree that there are some decisions that continue to leave us baffled, the left back situation surely being the most glaringly obvious. It does seem to be one rule for one (Jones) and another for others (enter name of left back here!). Maybe it did just come down the cash and that’s why players like Edwards are still here as they might not be after as much money and do a job (put a shift in, even) as a reliable squad player?
“You’re loads better than Dave Jones pal”…………can I hear Hitzelsperger?
It’s gone quiet on that front and Wolves have said they may not buy any more players. All of this dumbing down is always what they do before they sign someone a la Stephen Fletcher last year after the board came out with “We’ve done all of our business now and won’t be signing any more players”. This is always the ploy to get business done at Wolves so that what happened with the vultures coming in to hijack deals such as the Sidwell one don’t come a sniffin! Hitzelsperger has also reportedly said that he was very impressed with the set-up at Wolves when he went for talks. So watch this space for why alot of people on this post are saying that the centre midfield is a bit light on back-up and quality – it may be about to be strengthened with more quality.
I’ll be honest, I was thinking of Hitzelsperger…I just couldn’t spell his name. Would love him to sign up for the Wolves so I can have plenty of practice to spell it.
Henry officially dropped as captain.
Thanks for the memories? A new tough streak from MM?
Sort out a left back please – we have only needed one for three seasons now.
I’m all for MM making tough decisions for the good of the team. Definately needs to sort out the left back position. In an ideal world I’d like to see a left back, another central defender to partner Johnson and a centre mid but I think if nothing else happens, at least a good left back please Big M.
Can’t say I’m particularly disappointed. When trying to buy him from Derby in 2008, the guy rejected our initial advances because of wages if reports at the time are to be believed. Last season, he was happy to run his contract down and leave on a free, so the guy is nothing more than a mercenary in my eyes.
David Davis is the man, put him in the squad & play him, don’t loan him out!
Jones was lightweight in the Prem. Some very good contributions, but not effective enough overall.
There is an interesting side issue involved here. While I applaud the wage ceiling and careful spending, its the players on the pitch who will eventually decide our premiership fortunes, not the new north bank or steve bull stand.
One reason Morgan used to decide to go with the project was the low costs involved in the construction industry as a result of the recession. You can`t argue with that logic and like all wolves fans I can`t wait to see the finished product.
However, interest rates are also as low as they have been for years, so if the club was borrowing to build the stand or using an overdraft, the borrowing costs will probably never be lower. I`m tempted to say that the full interest costs, if any, could be covered by selling Ward for half a crown.
However the football team needs a left back, and as a previous blog above says, we`ve needed one for three years. i`d have thought we would have done anything to support MM to get in that left back, with interest rates so low, and the value of the playing staff rising all the time, there is just no logic or common sense being applied in not sorting out the glaring weaknesses in our team – whatever the cost.
David Jones will be earning his living as a bench warmer at Wigan next season. No more comment is required.
A lot of speculation about Henry not being captain, and Johnson being captain for one the recent friendlies, but did not our hero Mr. Ward wear the captain’s arm band against Ipswich?????????????????
Now that would be something, I can see season tickets being torn up as I type!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve previously stated how underrated Jones was and perhaps it was a mistake letting him go, almost certainly looking at injuries to Guedioura and Edwards. To be fair though, it seems a similar situation to Mark Davies. He was offered a new deal but didn’t want to sign.
Henry stripped of the captaincy is an absolute shocker! Didn’t think I’d see the day under Mick. Does that mean a better CM is gonna come in and keep Henry on the bench? Strange one.
Roberto Martinez said, “David Jones is . . . tactically very clever.” At the moment I feel good about Mick: I don’t think a manager who was tactically lacking could lead Wolves to four victories over top-six opposition in one season (never mind the double over Spurs the season before)–maybe one, but not four! At the same time it disturbs me that Mick doesn’t seem to appreciate players like Jones and Milijas. It couldn’t be because they are sharper tactically than Mick, could it? That Jones was pissed off with Mick’s tactics? Right now I’m positive about Mick, expect Wolves to do well this season, and am not too bothered about Jones leaving. But I have a slight doubt at the back of my mind, so I’m hoping I’ll still be feeling the same in a year’s time!
Everyone around my part of the North Bank referred to Dave Jones as “The Crab”. He’s got a great left foot – but never seemed able to use his right one!
Too many times opponents harried him fully knowing that he could only move one way – and then he’d be channelled away from a dangerous position (for them).
The point last season when I decided that we would be better off without him was was when he was just inside the Wolves half over on the right wing and (I think it was) Doyle went bombing down towards the right corner flag. It required a standard, strong, straight down the line pass. BUT this required the use of the right foot! What did Jonah do? He kicked it with his the outside of his left foot – in effect trying to bend it along the touchline.
It went out!
This was right in front of MM!
I don’t think that Jonah played many more games after that.
If Jonah wants to be a well paid Premiership Player – and don’t forget £20k per week is over £1 million per year! – then he should be able to use both feet. Or at least have some use for the right foot other than just to stand on.
No loss at all.
For once I’m inclined to agree with Clive! Its inevitable Ward will end up strutting his stuff as one of the three central midfielders when we go for 5 next season. This is barely palatable at the best of the times, but when we’ve let a specialist go it simply stinks.
A specialist what?
I do not agree, he was too bloody slow…. and clumsy but had a good left foot. I do agree we need another midfielder, but dont forget Dave Edwards, Foley is also effective midfield. I really would not want to have counted on Dave Jones for a first teamer….
Great player was Jonah but he would never be placed over Hunt,Ohara,Kightly,Adlene,Jarvis,Milias, and Hammill. He would be on the fringes next season and Mick thought he would have more chance to make a 1st team performance elsewhere. Now if Jonah could have turned his skill to left back..then maybe!!!
It’s them ears.
If he had surgery to reduce the “sail factor” he might be quicker!!!
Bottom line, he’s gone, and he will be the worse off, not us.
Never was going to be a world beater, and no player is bigger than the club.
Dave Jones good player when he wanted to play,but for me to inconsistent
had a good left peg though. never reached his potential for what reason only he knows.But i think there is also the mick factor to take into consideration,putting a shift in and and all that shite like having lesser
players having the nod…..What about Joey barton as a replacement.
Yeah, at least we would get a lot of press all the time, mostly for the bollocks he spouts on Twitter.
I know he talks a load a bollocks so does McIdiot,but a good player when
he when he’s not twittering.Its only the same as what we do on our blog,
ripping the shite out of McIdiot,Moxey,and not forgeting your favourite so
n so Wardy.
Going to Wigan is hardly a forward career move, interesting it was them or Birmingham, none of the so called big clubs were interested it seems.
Wigan survive by selling their best players to keep the club funded and pay high wages, and with so many other premier clubs close by they endure poor support.
Jones played the out of contact lets have a big signing on fee game, and its worked as someone has given him a new contract. Good luck to him, every footballer should do that at least once. One day Wigan will get relegated and disappear back to where they came from.
Wolves are a club going forward, we have better players now than Jones in our midfield and he`s no loss to our team.
E&S are linking Juventus with an offer for Doyle. Apparently Fray Bentos are looking at Ward!
Seriously though I was consoling myself about the lack of a new LB and that we will concede more goals because of it with the fact that Fletch and Doyle up front would score more and hopefully keep the balance in our favour. If Doyle goes then I fear the worst.
If Doyle did go for anything less than £12m, it would be a shocking disaster. Not only would Wolves lose the irreplaceable Doyle, but there would be questions about the ambition of Steve Morgan and Jez Moxey.
I believe Doyle will not go. The rumour says Juventus will be offering £8m, but I don’t expect Wolves to consider an offer below £12m, and I hope the club will not accept one below £15m. There’s a big gap between £8m and £15m (or even £12m).
Not to mention that the rumour may be pure bullshit from the start!