Wolves have completed their first piece of summer business with the £2.5 million capture of Anderlecht defender Jelle van Damme. Full story on the Wolves site:
http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2062550,00.html
I’m looking forward to seeing how the Belgian international fits into Mick McCarthy’s plans and the knock-on effect this signing will have on the current squad.
With neither Ward or Elokobi impressing on a consistent basis, there’s an obvious place for van Damme at full-back, which does seem his preferred position. However, the 26 year-old can also play in the center of defence and given our manager’s propensity for moving players around, don’t assume he’ll be the answer to our troubles down the left.
I can’t see Mick getting rid of either of the two left backs we already have on the books. Big George finished the season very much first choice and Ward has been given a contract extension, so both will almost certainly figure again next season.
I’m not as confident about Richard Stearman, a player I’ve always rated highly. Since getting himself sent off at home to Wigan the versatile defender hasn’t had a sniff of first team football. I wouldn’t like to see him leave the club, but I can’t imagine he’ll be happy if next season starts and he’s still not even in the matchday squad. I suppose with Michael Mancienne going back to Chelsea, there might at least be some light at the end of the tunnel for the former Leicester man.
It’s surely curtains for the likes of Matt Hill and Greg Halford, although the latter’s versatility might yet keep him in a gold shirt.
Funnily enough, even with all these options in defence, I still feel we’re a center-back short.
I wonder if Mick feels the same?
Even with the Muscles from Brussels on board.
Pleased with this bit of business. It seems that since our blog about being bored over the summer, the club has stepped up its work, purely for us on wolvesblog. The promptly unveil new stadium designs, bid big money for Fletcher, and now sign van Damme.
Thanks all at Molineux, keep reading!
Never seen him play, so no comment, except that anyone is better than Ward, even the tea lady.
But, The Cowardly Lion has signed Ward to a 3 year extension, so who is going to start next season??
McCarthy might get over his fall out with Stearman, and start to think like a real manager, but I doubt it.
If he thinks Halford, Ward, Surman, Keogh ,Ward and Hoff are real footballers, then he must think he’s a real manager, so………..we are in deep shit already and are still weeks away from kick off.
Does anyone know, stupid question, of course one of you lot without a life bloggers will know, when do the fixtures come out?
FOWB
Last year the fixtures were announced on Wednesday June 17, if that helps.
No comment (yet) from me on Van Damme either … except he did manage to duplicate himself in that Double Impact flick. If he can pull that stunt every game, I’ll be well happy 😉
How does he pronounce his first name, is it Jelly, like the mafia slob in Analys This and That???
Oh for the good old days, when we only had players from the British Isles, with traditional British names like Bonetti and Mancini and Macari and Kryczwicki ( Welsh International who played for the shit)
FOWB
Can we play Van Damme bingo with match reports next season?
First person to cross off tabloid mentions of the following films wins.
No Retreat, No Surrender
Bloodsport
Kickboxer
Double Impact (in the unlikely event he scores a couple of goals, or maybe clears one off the line and then scores)
Universal Soldier
Nowhere To Run
Hard Target
Time Cop
Street Fighter
You are assuming he gets to play.
The Cowardly Lion signed a bunch this time last year, and when did he start playing them????
Ward, Keogh, Berra and Foley have got to have broken legs before any new signings get a sniff.
FOWB
If he doesn’t play, surely the Express and Star will pun on the “Nowhere to Run” movie …
I’m a bit concerned about signing we make in this price range. I immediately think of Halford and Hoffbooter. Hopefully this is 3rd time lucky
Zubar was only 3 million though?
Very interesting article. Keep us posting dude !