With Kevin Foley and Stephen Ward closing in on returns, I’ve been thinking about the shape of the Wolves side and whether or not the two should get back into the starting XI.
Last season, we were undoubtedly at our best when we had eleven players all operating in their preferred positions. I thought there was a lovely balance to the side and we seemed to have a clear system of playing, which I’m not sure we have at the moment.
Starting in defence, the two full-backs that played against Arsenal are both center-halves. You can argue all day that they can ‘do a job’ in the wider defensive areas, but they’re certainly not specialists. And the problem is, our full-backs always tend to see a lot of the ball, so we need players out there who can use it well. So for me, that means bringing Ward and Foley back at the earliest opportunity. That’s a bit harsh on Zubar, but I’d expect him to be seriously challenging Craddock and Berra for a place in the center of defence.
In midfield, Mick is almost spoiled for choice at the moment, but all too often I think we’re seeing square pegs in round holes. Against Arsenal I could see what he was trying to do by tightening up and restricting the amount of space they had to operate in. But again, the balance wasn’t there. We had two center midfielders playing out wide, which meant the ball kept coming back inside to Henry and Castillo who aren’t what you’d call ‘creators’.
I think we need to see either Jarvis or Kightly in the starting XI every week, if not both. We need a ball carrier, someone with a bit of pace and trickery who offers that outlet in the wide areas. Last season we stretched opposition midfields and did damage down both flanks. We need to see that again, particularly at home when we’re playing the teams in and around us. Henry will play every match in the middle of the park and I’d like to see Castillo sitting alongside him when we play our two proper wide-men or Milijas if we employ a narrower shape.
Up front, we all want to see Doyle and SEB turn it on and get the goals we need and I think that could still happen. However, last season we saw the impact a proper target man can have and in tight games, it just gives you another option. So when Iwelumo is fit and available, I think he has to come into serious contention, even if that means dropping our golden boot or our record signing.
I recognise that against Chelsea we can’t just go in all guns blazing, but I’d like to see a Wolves side with some shape restored and players all operating in their recognised positions. I’d go 4-5-1:
Hennessy
Foley (if fit – Zubar otherwise)
Craddock
Berra
Ward (if fit)
Kightly
Castillo
Henry
Milijas
Jarvis
SEB
Then against Blues and Bolton at home I’d go 4-4-2 and really go all out for the win:
Hennessy
Foley (if fit)
Craddock
Berra
Ward (if fit)
Kightly
Henry
Milijas
Jarvis
Doyle
SEB
I know it’s easy to criticise team selection after a bad result, but I just feel we’re straying too far from last season’s winning formula. Maybe this international break will be a good chance for Mick to get the few players back, which will allow him to mould the team into a more cohesive shape.
What do well think?
Forgive me for asking a silly question but being from Canada, I’m not familiar with all of the expressions you use.
What is a “target man”? Is it a tall striker that you try to target with corners and crosses etc. Is he called that because he has a better chance of heading the ball because of his height or jumping ability?
I’d play Edwards before Milijas any day of the week. Milijas is good with free kicks etc. but I think Edwards gets involved in the game a lot more and he’s been one of our best players so far. Sad thing is our best 11 isn’t much different to what we had last year, the only major improvement has been Doyle.
I hate seeing players played out of position and I think that you’ve got to play Kights and Jarvis otherwise we’re really weak going forward and soon run out of ideas. Even against Arsenal I thought we were better when Jarvis came on, although that was more likely down to the Arse taking their foot of the gas.
Yes Tim, a target man can also be someone who you just kick the ball up to(hoofball style)
Tim, not a silly question at all mate.
Echoing what Laurens says…
A target man is indeed a big striker you attempt to ‘target’ with corners and crosses, as you seem to have gathered yourself.
In addition to that, if you’ve got a tall, strong player up front you can play the ball long to him from defence and he can collect it, hold it up and pass to other players, in effect, bypassing the midfield.
It’s not a particularly attractive style of play, but it can be incredibly effective.
And of course, if you’ve got two fast wide players (such as Jarvis and Kightly) who send lots of crosses in, it does help to have a giant in there to head them in.
Nick, agree with you mate about Kights and Jarvis. They just give us natural shape and put other teams on the back-foot. With two center midfielders playing out wide we just invite teams onto us.
I like Edwards, but my main gripe with him is that he ALWAYS gets caught out of position. I love seeing him get forward to support the attacks but he doesn’t pick and choose when he gambles, he just gallops forward recklessly time and time again.
I get what you’re saying about Milijas, but I still think we’ll score more goals and win more games with him alongside Henry than with Edwards.
Tom, I agree completely about the need to regularly get quick attacking wide men playing, but when Kightly has played this season he’s been worryingly anonymous.
Also, while I agree that we need a ‘creator’ and Milijas is perhaps the best man to do that, it’s hard to ignore Edwards’ presence in our two league wins this year.
Finally, doesn’t it seem bizarre that Mancienne and Halford, two of the brightest prospects and most consistent performers at the start of the season, are now not figuring in people’s ideal starting XI?! What sort of a role do you foresee them having as the season goes on?
Thomas, you would seriously drop our best performer and most likely threat (Doyle) for a goal shy and lacking in confidence SEB???? Are you serious or is it a typo? SEB at the moment is no where near the all around quality of Doyle in any aspect of his game. For me Doyle has to be the first name on the team sheet for every game. So far this season SEB has been unremarkable, hopefully he’ll get better the more games he has but at the moment he couldn’t lace Doyle’s boots!
I have some issues with Kightly at the moment as well. He is quite clearly a very talented player, but this season he seems off the pace and, dare I say it, overweight. Has been eating too many balti pies at the mol??
For me Jarvis has to play, he is certainly improving and looked great against Arsenal for his cameo. He also has bags of pace which we need, just to occupy the opponents full back. I like the idea of Milijas been used as an early second half sub, replacing Castillio.
For me it would be
Hennessey
Foley
Craddock
Zubar
Ward
Edwards
Castillo
Henry
Jarvis
Doyle
SEB
I agree about 4-5-1 against Chelsea, but instead of SEB I would pick Doyle. He’s been consistently better and scored more. With the five in midfield we can play jarvis and Kightly on the wings, which will give uis the pace to cause them problems (if we get the chance). I would go back to 4-4-2 after that, with kites nd Jarvis starting at home. I think maybe against chelsea this.
Hennessey
Zubar
Craddock
Berra
Ward/Stearman
Kightly
Edwards
Henry
Castillo
Jarvis
Doyle.
I can’t really see Foley/Ward starting as much as I would like them to. Ward back will really help.
Milijas on the bench and if we need him he can bring the creativity to the side. I would like him and Henry in the cetre of midfield for four foru two aswell. A very attacking move if Mick opts for that.
I think Mick is right about big George, 9 months out then 8 Premierleague games without even any championship games is quite hard for him. apparentky he was really good at centre back vs. Birmingham.
i think kightly needs a rest with jarvis being our out and out winger. jarvis may not be the most efficient winger but he definitely causes problems. Then henry and castillo in the middle with edwards or milijas playing on the other wing. zubar needs to stay in the team, the arsenal o.g. was more unfortunate than him being poor. generally he has looked really good.
doyle is another who has to play every week. he will get us goals whereas SEB looks a bit rusty. let SEB play every reserve match until confidence is up. craddock has to play as he has defended well and scored, cant ask for much else from him.
Jed, to be honest mate, I don’t think it makes much difference who plays out of SEB and Doyle at Chelsea. In fact, Mick will probably stick with a 4-4-2 anyway.
In my system, the two reasons I went for SEB:
1. Doyle will have played two tough internationals.
2. SEB is better at holding the ball up.
But it’s not the important selection issue at the moment. We badly need shape in our back four and midfield.
I agree with the view that Kightly has been poor, but he must play if Jarvis doesn’t. You’ve got to have someone in your side who can carry the ball and not just look to offload as soon as they get it.
Thomas, I understand your reasoning but even though I really like SEB, he has been awful this season, so too Kightly – I mean other than the penalty (which was mainly from the brilliance of Milijas, can you think of anything else Kights has achieved? For me it has to be Jarvis ahead of Kightly, with Edwards or Halford on the right.
We may have a chance against Chelsea (ok not much off one) but the gods are smiling at the moment – Lampard OUT, Cole OUT, Drogba DOUBTFUL – throw in an international injury or 2 (fingers crossed) and they may be somewhat weaker!
Have to agree with Jed on this one.
Doyle is a better option than SEB when playing one up front.
Castillo sitting in front of the back four which will probably be the same as against Arsenal.
Henry to man mark their creative player who in Lampard’s absence I would guess at Deco.
The rest of the midfield is a bit of quandry as we need the option of an outlet out wide when we have possession but Mick will want to keep it tight and narrow away from home.
Probably Edwards and Jarvis for me.
Lets hope the internationals all come back fit and healthy!
And now Terry is injured – ankle issue – the praying is working!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8353751.stm
For the Chelsea game I would have Doyle up front rather than SEB. The chances that we do get are likely to be long balls upfield from clearances etc. SEB is most effective in the penalty, whereas as we saw at Everton Doyle can run onto the ball and run towards goal
For the upcoming home games i would like to see Jarvis and Kightly on the flanks. I’d like to see Foley return though i’ve been quite impressed by Zubar. Maybe Zubar could move to left back, as he’s supposed to be able to play anywhere across the back four
For the Chelsea game it really doesn’t matter.Let’s be honest, we have been woefully prepared for this season.The lack of quality is there for all to see. We are in the bottom 3 because we are one of the 3 worst teams in the PL. In fact, I can’t think of 2 worse squads than us. Everyone keeps banging on about Doyle, he has been no more use than Keogh in this set up.Blake is hopelessly out of his depth, we have a pedestrian midfield, and our best player, Craddock, is nearly as old as me. How many times before the seasomn start did we lament our full backs…and what was done? Nothing! Midfiield, is weaker with Milijas and Castillo in it, and we are going backwards at an alarming rate. It is pointless spending million sin January, the seeds of despair are already blossoming.
Nice to see you have some faith Dazza, we have been banging on about Doyle because he is one fo the best player’s we have had for a while. To be honest, Craddock wouldn’t be in the team if Mancienne hadn’t been ill, he’s not in my first team. karl Henry is our best player along with Dave Edwards I think.
It’s nopt full backs, it’s left back. We all know how good Foley is, and Zubar has done a decent enough job. Ward looked like he was playing well too.
When I say best player (henry and Edwards) I mean so far this season. doyle is up with them too.
Since Chelsea don’t give up any goals, why not play a 4-5-1. You aren’t going to score any goals anyway.
Tim – interesting logic. But by the same logic, you could say that Chelsea always score. So we will need to score at least one…
dboy. Goal differential?
Flat back 10 for Sat, and park the bus in goal. Happy days!
Tim. All I’m saying is that you say ‘You aren’t going to score any goals anyway’. Ok… but by that logic, looking at what Chelsea have done this season you could say ‘Chelsea are going to score’. So if that’s the case, it’s necessary for us to score.
I’m not saying 4-5-1 doesn’t make sense, but that the logic is kind of wierd (ie assuming that we’re not going to score from the outset and so play for a 0-0).