A big thank you goes to Mark Davies, who kindly took on the role of our roving reporter, making the journeys to Walsall last Wednesday and Notts County over the weekend. Here’s what he made of the action.
Walsall
Desperately needing a football fix, and wanting to add the Bescot Stadium to the list of football grounds I’ve visited. I slopped off early from work in Chesterfield, had a cup of tea with my 86 year old mum in Walsall, then went to the match.
I am always surprised by the enthusiasm of Wolves fans who turned up in numbers far too many for the incompetent stewards at the Bescott. It’s a joke really that they had to put back the kick off by ten minutes to get all the Wolves fans in.
It was wonderful to see the gold shirts, hear the chanting and the crack from the fans. There was nothing really in the first half to get excited about but I’d make the following points:
Danny Batth looks good enough for the first team, give him a go.
Why did we spend 45 minutes hoofing long balls for SEB, and the even smaller Griffiths? They never won a header and against big defenders they never would. Seems bonkers to me. There was no height in the side.
Poor in midfield with Foley out paced, out muscled and unable to control the game in any shape or form. Surprised by his new contract extension, surely he was one who could have gone?
Big George surged past his marker and crossed from the goalline for a tap in goal, why doesn’t he do this more often? With his pace and physicality it’s a threat not utilised often enough.
Mackens’s goal would have graced any game. I missed Walsall’s second goal but the service for my coffee and kitkat was better than the service on the pitch to our front men.
Griffiths has pace but is lightweight, whether he will ever play first team is debatable.
The second half was far more entertaining and we looked far more threatening. The best comment from a chap behind me was that saying a player was the best left back in football, was like having a lesser type of sexually transmitted disease. However I’d make the following points.
Unbelievable Ward came on to play left wing before Jarvis or Hammill, before going to left back. George looked ok though.
David Davis looks a player, mobile, pacy and tenacious, he could replace certainly Foley or be back up for Henry in midfield.
It was only when Hammill, Jarvis and Doyle came on and added their pace and movement to the game that we looked a class above the opposition.
We still lack pace in central defence although the right back who came on looks very tasty.
Milijas can still spot and make passes no-one else at the club can.
It was only a pre season friendly being used for fitness purposes. Enjoyed my football fix, don’t think we learnt anything new as many of our big name players were not involved. Winning was a bonus, although I left 15 minutes early as I had over an hours drive home.
Notts County
On a beautiful sunny afternoon with perfect conditions for a football match, MM picked what may well be his first pick eleven for the coming season.
For 45 minutes the Wolves fans present were treated to a super show of football which should have provided more goals. Playing 442 with Doyle and Fletcher combining very well, chances came thick and fast.
The defence was very assured and in midfield with Henry winning his tackles, we had plenty of the ball to play with. O’Hara was excellent but for me the standout performer was Hammill whose one touch play, movement and ability to see a pass was of the highest order.
Zubar physical presence and pace always makes a difference, and our defence overall coped very efficiently with everything the opposition tried. If it had been a boxing match the referee may have stopped the game.
The second half rang the changes and we had the passing but only Kightly was providing any movement, and unfortunately neither Keogh or SEB could hold onto the ball to help build attacking play.
David Davis was probably the standout performer in the second half but apart from big George no-one else looked anywhere near the starting eleven.
In conclusion probably the best pre season first half performance I can recall for a while, a big step forward from the Walsall game. The one touch passing and movement of O’Hara and Hammill was a revelation, the link with Doyle and Fletcher looks very promising and lets hope its agood omen for the first game at Blackburn.
Also went to Notts County on Saturday and agree that Hammill was the stand out performer. I imagine he’ll be behind Hunt and Jarvis in the pecking order this year, which is a shame but probably just about fair. He’s a really exciting prospect though.
I think you’re a bit kind on Big George – he was noticeably AWOL when they worked it down his side and squared it for the equaliser. In my opinion Ward was far better in the first half.
I was also struck by just how out of shape SEB looks. The home fans were chanting ‘you fat b*stard’ and you could see why!
Final point of interest for me was that due to it being a pre-season game in a small ground you could hear the players shouting and communicating. Couldn’t help but realise how just loud Roger is, constantly talking to everyone around him in a way nobody else seems to. Even when we had a free kick outside their box (taken beautifully by Hammill and hitting the bar) you could hear RJ shouting ‘TARGET, ON TARGET’ from the half way line. If I wasn’t in love already I am now
That’s nice to hear about Johnson. I like the chant ‘on target too.’ No pressure Adam!
What a quality player David Davis is! He should be in starting eleven, in centre mid with O’Hara.
Cheers for the updates Mark. I am in need of my football fix too and not sure where I am going to get it as I’m away for the Spanish home friendly.
Sounds like Davis is every bit the player my Shrewsbury Town supporting mate told me he was.
Interesting that the first half partnership at Notts County was Berra and Johnson?
Incidentally, did you see Malone’s pre season goal for Bournemouth? I really do hope we stay patient with him and bring him back after his experience – particularly when we’re crying out for a left back.
Mick has to see that this left back issue can’t continue for much longer. Not a good sight seeing George ambling back and failing to cut the cross out.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m sure Berra and Johnson have been paired together in each of the three friendlies haven’t they?
That to me now looks like the odds on to be the first choice center-back pairing for the game at Ewood Park.
Again, correct me if I’m wrong, but one is left-sided and the other is right-sided and Mick definitely likes that balance.
My predicted back four for Blackburn:
Zubar
Berra
Johnson
Elokobi
At least they should do alright with the headers! 🙂
Foley’s not a midfielder. He’s been Mr Consistent at right back since he arrived and with Zubar injury prone it’s ridiculous to suggest he should go.
Foley is a right back sub at best.
Far too lightweight, no pace, no “oomph” when he passes,……………and his head is out of proportion to his body!!
Put Ward at right back, don’t think Mc Muppet has tried him there……yet!
Here, here Rich – Foley is not a premier league quality midfielder – he’s a right back plain and simple.
Its McCarthy that keeps playing hime there though (like Ward at left back, Mancienne here there and everywhere etc!). It’s a big frustration for me when square pegs are not placed in square holes.
The weekend game shows yet again that LB is our problem position – sort it out the 3 M’s – as if you believe the E&S we have only spent £7.5m on O’Hara and Johnson this summer. Another £3m should land Ridgewell and we have a centre half and left back rolled into one.
He did very well when he played centre mid around christmas, but I much prefer him at right back. He’s a class act in my opinion and we play better football with him in the team.
Regarding left backs, would you want that pin head Ridgewell? Is he even that good? I’d much rather we went for a loan deal for Bertrand. I can see us going abroad for one though.
Ha,ha,ha – pin head! I think Ridgewell would be better than what we have, and cant think who else would be available with Prem legue experience?
I wasn’t that impressed with Bertrand from what I saw in the under 21’s and I heard Chelsea wanted a hefty loan fee?
Abroad – noooooo! I can feel another Hof or JVD coming on – we only sign foreign players from countries where “Taff” goes on holiday.
The comment on Foley just shows that despite travelling to these friendlies you have seen very little Wolves football over the past few seasons, well I hope you haven’t or your judgement is dreadful. Echoing Rich’s comments, Foley has been our stand out right back and his versatility makes him even more valuable. Clive – you’re just as bad.
Also – stating Baath is ready for the first team based on this friendly! against lower league opposition? Ridiculous.
On Davis you stated he could “replace Foley”?? Foley is a right back and wont play midfield many times next season, its a friendly!
Although the ben and thomas can’t get to every game can we restrict blogs like this which are a lot lower in quality than what we’re used to.
Calm Down Bazza, the whole point of blogs is for opinions to be shared and discussed. Just because you disagree with what Mark has written it doesn’t mean the blog is lower quality. Comments like yours will cause arguments and that isn’t what this blog is about!
Foley is a good right back but as stated in the blog he played centre mid where he isn’t good enough. He’s a consistent right back and you know what you get but there’s nothing special about him. I’d play Zubes ahead of him every day.
By the sounds of it Davis looks like a good player and it’s great to see our youth team being played, hopefully one or two of them will break into the first team this year.
I’m can’t bloody wait till the start of the season!
Yeah, come on Bazza, lets not be quite so harsh.
Funnily enough, you made two good points about Batth and Davis, which I agree with in many respects, but lets keep in mind Mark took the time to write this for us, which he certainly didn’t have to do.
The interesting thing to emerge from the friendlies for me is the midfield conundrum of whether to play 5 in midfield and accommodate the class(and limitations) of Milijas or 4 in midfield and see if a partnership develops between Doyle and Fletcher. I agree about the movement and touch of Hammill and would like to see him play against premiership opposition. Hopefully, this dilemma and the form of players like Hammill will create more competition for places and a strong bench.
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for making the effort Mark.
Well hello Bazza. I know had I gone to school I might have been able to write better stories, although having had a season ticket in The Billy Wright for years I do get to see a few games every season.
Its a fact at Walsall Foley played midfield in the first half and was outplayed by the opposition in my opinion, Davis took his pace in the second half and performed far better.
Incidentally Foley was anonymous when he came on at rightback in the second half at Notts, and was only standout in the championship where he could have spent most of the games sat in a deckchair as most teams were intent on attacking the even then glaring weakness at left back.
Its all about opinions and thats what makes this blog so interesting, its just really a bit of fun and I for one will never take it too seriously. Be aware though I may volunteer a Blackburn match report, might be the only away game I get to this year!!
We are undefeated from your travels so far, so I think one is due for Blackburn 😉
What our PL record at Ewood? 5-1, 3-1 and 3-0. I’m not sure if I want the season to start!
Thanks again for doing the reporting Mark. It is much appreciated.
Getting slagged off and told you don’t know what you’re talking about is like a rite of passage around here. A medal of honour if you will.
Congratulations!
In that case, I deserve a chest full!! Of medals, I mean!!
But he wasn’t standout player of the year because of our left back problem, he was standout player of the year because he was and is (in my opinion) a class act. He had to compete for that award with SEB, Kites, jarvis, Iwelumo and Marlon harewood (joke).
Appreciate that you taken the time to write this Mark, because I didn’t get to see any of it (apart from the goals) as it was only a friendly. It was interesting to find out about the likes of Batth, Davis, Griffiths.
Ok, maybe an over reaction but I’m sticking to my point that the attack on Foley in such a dismissive manner was digusting! Appreciate the more detailed analysis given by Mark in response though ……..”He’s F O L E Y”……
If that was an “attack” on Foley, then you need to get out more!!
I was more interested to hear about SEB seeming overweight.
I have a friend who contributes to this blog, and we have had many long phone conversations about SEB.
I personally don’t think he is good enough for the Prem, but was an outstanding Championship goalscorer for us. In my conversations with aforementioned friend, I have always maintained SEB looks out of shape, and I think the comment above is telling.
Sticking to my guns, Berra, Foley, Ward, Henry, Craddock and Elokobi should be second string at best.
With the soaring height of our forwards, which we haven’y got, we should be looking for more scurrying busy bodys, like O Hara and Hunt, so we can play the passing game, like we taught Barcelona! Now wouldn’t that be something, playing it on the ground all the time, man to man, with short neat, precise passing…………and then a screamer into the back of the net!!!!!
Then I woke up.
I just think its great that no one has mentioned Ward for over ten posts – oh sh*t I just did!
Unrelated but interesting article on the guardian website:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/25/mick-mccarthy-wolverhampton-tweet
Poor old Greg Halford…
Doesn’t mince his words does he?! Calling a stranger a cock for following who he thought was Mick on twitter. Brilliant! You can’t help but love him sometimes.
Halford – yet another nail in his coffin at the Wolves. You were rubbish, sod off to portsmouth.
But on the plus side… because the Sidwell deal fell through we got O’Hara on loan.
Is it just me or does Mick seems to be living in an angry world at the moment? There’s all this “cock” on twitter lark and last week I thought he made some unusual comments about Jarvis and England.
We seem to be developing a bit of a relationship with the Guardian. Not a bad thing.
E&S report that Wolves had agreed a deal for Lee Wallace at Hearts for£900,000 but MM pulled out because he wasn’t convinced he was any better than big George or SW. Whether or not this story is accurate, the fact remains that the player described as the best young left back in Scotland has now gone to Rangers for 1.5million.
Another victory thrown away on Saturday because of our weakness at left back; this time, luckily, just a friendly. Soon it will be points and league position once again as Mick goes into yet another season denying there’s a problem.