There were four big reasons to be cheerful at the Banks’s Stadium last night, and that was before Jelle Van Damme and Steven Fletcher even took to the pitch.
The four goals were a wonderful ‘welcome back’ present to enjoy, but it was the appearances of Danny Batth, Scott Malone, Ashley Hemmings and Sam Winnall that were really worth the entrance fee.
The first half featured Malone (left back) and Batth (centre back) in a back four alongside George Elokobi (centre half) and Richard Stearman (right back).
Greg Halford played right midfield, with Ashley Hemmings on the left wing, with Dave Edwards and Kevin Foley in the middle.
Sylvan Ebanks Blake and Sam Vokes led the line and looked particularly impressive in doing so.
A cynic on Twitter bemoaned six defenders in the starting XI against a piss poor Walsall side. I hadn’t noticed at first, but he needn’t have grumbled.
We looked comfortable and inventive right from the moment we won a string of corners in the first couple of minutes.
So comfortable infact, that George Elokobi could afford a touch of swagger, in between some hearty words of encouragement of his partner Batth.
While the young defender wasn’t troubled much, it was great to see him in a Wolves shirt, looking strong and assured.
But it was Malone who really shone at left back, getting up and down the pitch with all the eagerness of a young whippersnapper.
Meanwhile, Ashley Hemmings looked a bag of tricks ahead of him, showing lightning quick feet and a rapid turn of pace.
It was great to see him opening the scoring, and was worth a bet too, as he smashed in goal after goal in the pre-match warm up in front of us all.
Halford – another to look extremely assured – whipped in a beauty of a cross, which Hemmings headed home with aplomb after 10mins. It was good to be back!
Then Malone stole the limelight, working a space on the left and crossing for Vokes to slot away, in front of that seething mass of Walsall fans. (all 10 of them)
Vokes then underlined his lean, mean new demeanour with a stylish finish before half time, rounding the keeper with some composure.
Then it was left to the same team to impress us all over again in the second half, attacking us away fans behind the goal.
The biggest roar of the night came when SEB capped a fine individual performance with a goal that had shades of the Charlton Athletic about it.
Okay, he didn’t pull off that cheeky backheel trick like he did at the Valley, but he collected a flick-on by Halford in the same area of the pitch, muscled past his defender, and powered in a snorter from a tight angle.
He looked like the old Sylvan we know and love, and if the goal was good, his all round play was equally impressive. Definite man-of-the-match contender.
Then it was time for a raft of subs. One of which, Sam Winnall, looked like he had been playing in the team all his life.
After a year out with a knee injury, I didn’t have a clue who he was at first, but I think we may be seeing him a lot more in the future.
Winnall played just behind Fletcher and Doyle, who gave us more cause for cheer.
The pair linked up excellently, and will surely be the first two names on the teamsheet come August, in spite of what looks like a rejuvenated Sylvan and Vokes.
Let’s make no mistake, Walsall were tripe, but it was great to see four young starlets make an impression, and even better to be back amongst our extended gold and black family again.
It’s good to see the team scoring goals, even if it is against Walsall. Wasn’t there listened on radio. Sounded like Hemmings and Malone did well on the left, and good to see Sylvan scoring a good goal too. If we can have him, Fletcher and Doyle all playing well we might be scoring a few more goals than last year.
Hi Louie. I just found the whole experience really uplifting all round. Yes, it was a pre-season friendly, but it was great to enjoy the football without biting your nails and frantically checking yuor phone for other results, the implications of them, etc etc. Nerves weren’t necessary for once! It was like our beloved lads were back to blow away the cobwebs of a completely shite World Cup performance.
Fletcher and Doyle did look very tasty indeed. I might be a bit optimistic with this, but I wondered if these young lads could actually add soemthing to the 25 man squad, being as they are too young to be counted?
Speaking to a friend at the game last night (and you wondered where Ed Milson had gone too – I can confirm he is alive and well!) we couldn’t think where these 4 kids could realistically play in and around the first team, but they showed real promise, and could add a previously untapped dimension to the squad?
Sorry, just realised you’ve addressed the same question in your comment as I did. Doh!
Surely it’s about time we saw one of our homegrown talents come through though.
Great write-up Ben.
Like you say, the real bonus has to be the young lads that were involved and made a pretty big impact by the sounds of it.
I wonder if the likes of Hemmings, Malone, Winnall and Batth could see some action in the first team this season? I’ve never seen them play, so I’d be interested to get other people’s take as to whether they’ve got enough in the locker to push for a place.
As none of them have to be included in the 25 man squad, it would be good to see at least one of them kept around the first team and given a chance from the bench at least. I suspect all will probably go out on loan though.
Great to see Vokes score twice and SEB rifle home the fourth. I still expect both of those players to be sitting on the bench come the Stoke game, but if they’re sky-high on confidence it gives us great options.
All that aside, if Big George was showboating it must have been a cruise.
The “first eleven” should always be looking over their shoulders, coz the young ‘uns are hungry to play and do well, which is good for the club.
If they were at Man U, during the Busby era, they would have played whatever the age. If they’re good enuff, they’re old enuff.
Hope CL has the same philosophy, but I doubt it, he’s kept Keogh and Ward.
And as for hoping Ward has a blinder of a season, well, he does play like a blind man.
Once again, to flog an extremely dead horse, Ward is just not good enough for any kind of professional football team above fourth division level, and that is being kind.
If he figures at all this coming season, we will lose.
FOWB
Sorry to dominate the comments slightly, but just dug up some highlights from last night’s game. Can’t embed them, but here’s the YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmUsgKAzbds
Not to put a downer on things but we heard the same with Dan Jones, Gobern and Little. After Mick’s first season they were never seen again. Youth rarely get a chance here and if they weren’t good enough for Championship level i can’t see them featuring in the Prem.
Great strike by Sylvan, would like to see some more of that this year
Yes, very good goal by SEB. He looks quality when he plays against rubbish … and vice-versa though, unfortunately.
That video has been removed, here is a replacement one 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNWW5NrZLq4
Does anyone know why Mujangi Bia wasn’t even on the bench? Mick said those who didn’t start in Ireland would start against Walsall.
Great to see us stuff Walsall in their own back yard!
Their fans really hate the Wolves, where as they do not even register on our radar.
Good to see SEB hit the back of the net with a thunderbolt too! Lets hope he comes good this season
Couldn’t agree more pal. They really don’t like us …where… well…..I’ve simply not even got an emotion for them. I just think…ahhhh poor Walsall….
I dislike them quite a bit. More for their over-inflated notion of themselves. L1 is their level but they seem very unsatisfied with that. Not sure why. If they could rely on 10-15k through the gates regularly then ok but they can’t.
You should never be satisfied wherever you are, you should always want to improve i think. Look at Blackpool