You might not think it, but there were a couple of positives to take out of this mundane encounter.
Namely a third consecutive cleansheet and a seventh notch added to the undefeated streak.
Now up to seventh, the gap between ourselves and the play-off places may have increased to three points, but only six separate Wolves from the top two. It’s all up for grabs.
Yesterday may have seemed a missed opportunity, but the reality is, it could have been much worse.
Charlton deployed and executed an effective game plan.
Having been slapped five nil at Watford last weekend, their objectives were clear from the first whistle – contain and destroy.
Faultless would be a fair description of the visitor’s defensive display. Clueless sums up Wolves’ attempts to break the resistance.
On the rare occasion the force field was breached the delivery wasn’t up to scratch and there were seldom enough bodies in the box.
In fact, for all Wolves huff and puff, the only real chances of note fell to the Addicks, as they picked off their increasingly desperate and shapeless diazepamhome.com hosts on the break.
Carl Ikeme made a couple of important saves, whilst each individual member of the back four were forced into desperate interventions.
Kenny Jackett attempted to conjure victory with an identikit solution to the previous Saturday, bringing on another forward and shifting Dave Edwards to the left.
On this occasion, it didn’t work – even with Scott Golbourne pushing forward – and robbed Wolves of width.
Rajiv van La Parra was the only effective outlet and despite some neat trickery and the odd burst of pace, his efforts failed to prise open the gates.
Over in Africa, Bakary Sako scored the type of goal for Mali that reminded us why he’s so important to the Wolves cause.
If he was to leave this month, to Albion (can’t see that one happening) or anyone else, our immediate prospects would be significantly hampered.
We can only hope that the player will wait to cash in his chips at the end of the season and the Molineux hierarchy show the same defiant resistance that Charlton so admirably demonstrated yesterday.
I gather you weren’t too impressed Thomas.
How did the new boy do?
Did he have any chances?
Did he look like he will fit the bill when he settles in properly?
You’re so right about Sako.
Whatever anyone says about him – and there’s been a hell of a lot said in the time he’s been here, a lot of it by me, and not all of it complimentary – he is the ONE player on the Wolves books with the ability to beat ANY defence.
If he added consistency to his undoubted skill we’d be looking at a player valued in the tens of millions.
As it is, we desperately need him to stay.
If it was up to me, I’d make him an offer he couldn’t refuse to sign a new contract.
Unfortunately, it’s not up to me.
Over to you Mr Moxey.
Regarding your questions on Afobe mate, the best compliment I can pay him is that he looks like he’s capable of doing what Dicko does, which Clarke, McAlinden, Cassidy, Doyle, Sagbo and Graham were not. So there’s hope. He got nothing yesterday, but I’d wager in better team performances where space isn’t at such a premium, he’ll prove a useful acquisition.
Not sure what I think about the overall performance Doog.
I more or less agree with Kenny (in above video). Charlton were well organised, but Wolves could have done more to try and break them down.
Personally, I would have kept Henry on this week, taken off Price (not based on performance, just tactical), shifted Edwards back into the middle and played Dicko and Afobe up top in a more conventional 442. That would have shown some real intent against a team who were happy to camp out for much of the game.
What Kenny tried to do was keep Edwards on for goal threat and use Golbourne to offer width down the left. It didn’t really work. We also had Dicko or Afobe dropping into deeper/wide positions rather than both pushing up to put pressure on their centre halves. The result was ugly.
Kenny has forgotten more than I’ll ever understand about tactics, so I’ll assume his thought process factored in something I’m missing. And of course it’s easy with hindsight to say what might have worked.
Btw, you can watch Sako’s superb goal for Mali on ITV player:
https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/africa-cup-of-nations/series-3/episode-8
6 minutes into the first game.
That is one helluva goal!
You’re ceratinly right about the huff and puff stuff .. I could only count 2 or 3 times their keeper had a shot to save (and I’m using the word shot very lightly) in the whole match.
I was puzzled why Dicko didnt start along with Afobe .. they looked decent against Blackpool … this would surely have put some more pressure on their back 4 (at times 5). I can’t think of anything cosier than a defender just coming off the back of a 5-0 drubbing and only having 1 forward to contend with !!
Still a point and a clean sheet is nothing to be ashamed of at this level …. BUT OH HOW WE MISS SAKO.
LOSING HIM THROUGH PENNY PINCHING WILL BE A DISASTER AND A HUGE LET DOWN TO THE FANS…
Penny pinching ? Sako has made it clear he wants to play in the Premier League. He is not interested in signing a new contract even if it’s of “premier league” proportions. Never mind, it’s always good to take a pop at Moxey isn’t it ?
Jez Moxey gets paid a very large amount of money.
Part of his remit is to recruit and try to retain the best players that we can afford.
I suspect the sort of Premier League clubs that will come in for Bakary are of the WBA/Villa type.
I.E. Ones in danger of relegation.
It’s Jez Moxey’s job to persuade Sako that his future is just as bright here as it would be at either of those two clubs or their like.
If he can’t do that, fair enough, but he has to keep trying.
Investing in other quality players is one way, offering a juicy new contract is another.
I’m not knocking Moxey. I’m just a fan who wants to see the best for this club and keeping Sako is high on my wish list.
I’m not quite sure how much power Moxey has over this at any rate – as Jackett has said they are leaving the ball in Sako’s court so to speak insofar as offers coming in from him – all Moxey can do is make sure we don’t get ripped off should he leave for a Premier League club right now…personally I feel that Sako will leave if we don’t go up this season but I don’t think he’ll leave now! Worst case scenario is that Sako leaves on an overpriced deadline day deal which leaves Wolves no time to find a replacement with the money gained (even though they ought to be considering replacements right now in case htat does happen!)
If the report in the Belgian press that we have made an offer for Idrissa Sylla (Zulte-Waregem) is correct then, given his style of play, he would appear to be a natural replacement for Sako. The competition for his signature was coming from Anderlecht, but they have just taken Marko Marin on loan so that may swing things in our favour.
Show me where Moxey’ s name appears in my comments!!
penny pinching = Moxey !
Hey buster .. they’re your words … not mine … don’t you like Jez?
Now to stir the shit a little!!
We’ve had other prima donnas in the past, ( remember Camara) who made it clear they want to play in the Prem.
But then again, don’t all the players?
I haven’t heard one of them say they are happy to stay in the lower divisions.
Just coz Sako sez he wants to play in the Prem doesn’t mean he should be sold.
If it is true that he is not satisfied at the Mol, then it smacks to me of other mal contents, who Jackett quickly fucked off when he arrived.
If ANYONE does not want to play for Wolves, then get rid of them.
No one is bigger than the club, and I don’t care how good he thinks he is, there is no room for someone who is playing for a move.
Just ask O’Hara how that pans out.
By the way, bet he was happy yesterday, 2 – 0 up, and then letting 7 in!!!
He must have come on as sub at half time!!
FOwb
The club don’t want to sell Sako. They are happy to let him run down his contract and walk away at the end of the season,recognising he represents our best (only) chance of achieving promotion this season. By the way,love the word “malcontents”. Send them to the tower !
If you think greasel is happy to let Sako walk away for nothing in the summer, then I have some ocean front real estate in Arizona to sell you.
The match was, as a supporter said getting on the train back, real `shite`, yep correct. We were very frustrated as fans today. Too often the approach work fell away with the weakness of Van La Parra’s final ball.
But Batth & Stearman were peerless at the back, & Ikeme is such a reassuring presence. Afobe faded, he`s got promise thats all you can say at this stage. He did’nt work that well if at all with Dicko, they looked like strangers who’d never met.
Dicko himself looked like he was in mourning for his best mate in Mali, and it just did’nt go for him.
Charlton looked the most likely to score to be honest in the closing stages. Goldbourne’s return was good, he is more sure footed than Hause & can do something with the ball when he gets forward, Hause dithers.
We need Sako on the wing to mix it, and do the unexpected. I’m frustrated that Jackett did’nt at least try Jacobs. Surely he’d have been a better substitution than Doherty on for Iorfa.
I think we’re better with Edwards in the hole rather than playing two up top, it did’nt work 2nd half at all. A lot of the supporters by me were pretty miffed by Van La Parra’s performance, the fancy step overs & back heels are like the emperor’s new clothes without the final ball resulting in a shot on target or that rarest of rarieties these days a goal!
That we can still be up there where it counts & get away with insipid & uninspiring performances like this says a lot about the resilience & quality of the side as a unit. I just wish the goals would come, that -2 GD looks more like bottom 6 than top 6.`
Its also a good sign that no team has looked better than us, Derby obviously mauled us at their place, but I did not see that one. In the home games I think we more than matched Boro, Brentford & current front runners Bournemouth.
Fresh rumours this morning are that Sako now wants to see out his time at Molineux and see how things are in the Summer. I personally think that’s a wise move by him, on the Topic of Dicko pining like a lost dog, well I brought this up a few weeks ago about Sako, when Dicko was out he wouldn’t pass to anyone. The pair of them shine when together but both turn in jaded performances in the absence of their Mali mate.
Also my mate at Molineux tells me, “Wolves will get Jesse Lingard from Man U tomorrow on loan with a view to buy”, so if Sako does go we may have the replacement ready if the intel is true. So tomorrow will tell us a bit more about Moxeys intentions .
I have intentionally not spoken about the game as I believe the same as the guy on the train. It WAS Shite, clueless and non productive. The only good thing I can say is, Scott Golbourne looked class again in his short appearence.
We shall have more “Days like these” I fear.
🙂
Stu, as I said in the preview, we need more creativity in the middle of the park much as I will be decried for it, we need Premiership quality in the midfield, and as fantastic as McDonald was last season, he’s dropped off this year, whether that’s because he just not playing well, or they have worked out how to stop us or he’s simply not quite good enough, I don’t know, but I’m sure plenty will have watched and formed an opinion.
AmberW01f.
As much as I love BigMac I have to agree with you on him, he has lost his shine a little and just isn’t tearing teams apart like he did last season. Every game I expect the absolutely crazy pass that ends up 50 yards in front of anyone, that’s part of his make up, then moments of brilliance that reminds me of defence splitting passes off the boot of Kenny Hibbit. For some reason he’s off the game lately.
I for one don’t think JP is the answer either, if it’s the option of him or Evans then I will take JP, but only because fewer of his passes end up at the opposition players feet.
The defence is solid again,the attack is filled with people who should be knocking them in left right and centre (without any doubt)
So as you say we now have to sort out the middle bit.
There’s a quote reference your preview blog.
” you can either go to sleep and Dream your Dreams, or you can wake up and make your Dreams a reality” I think Kenny has woke up.
🙂
Amber, I agree.
McDonald’s performances seemed to drop off, after he was called up to the Scotland squad.
We needed more creativity in midfield.
Love be in the top two this season and ensure Sako plays for us in the Premier league.
But, realistically, with the way we are playing; mid table is an improvement, on two season’s ago…
I’m (starting) to admit defeat on the master plan..just think where we might be if we won even most of our home games..
Were Charlton that good with experienced half backs as KJ says?
Was there manager too switched on for us and did we not have a statagy ourselves to create more chances?
2 points lost by KJ to me..why did he not play Dicko and Afobe in the first half?
To get into the playoffs we MUST win our home games..
So our new man.. is he a ‘nearly’or a ‘proper’ player as I havnt seen him yet untill we play at norwich brighton and dare I say it Bournemouth..
We waited long enough so it’s an important question…
It’s true Thomas that we are near the top frame again but it seems to be that every time we can make sure to be there we throw the points away again..
I’m loosing sleep over Sako.. Pullis
Will make a move,and I think that scottish idiot at Villa will too but for some reason I think Moxey will show his business class and sell the idea that it wouldn’t be worth it…
One further thing that is obvious to me is that his wage contract needs not only to be out of sight but with a fuck off bonus if (when) we get into the PL…
That should keep him…
Shit..did we miss him yesterday..
With a bit of sadness
COYW
The view and impression from over here, reading all the doom and gloom, and bearing in mind I aint seen the game, is that we were shit and crap and dire and all of the above and are going to get relegated.
My thoughts are :
a, we didn’t let in a goal.
b, we didn’t loose.
and c, we moved up one place in the table.
Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but if we do that every week, wont we be champions??
Sako WILL be back
We Will start scoring lots of goals
We WILL get promoted.
Listen to the wise old head from Houston, and keep the friggin’ faith, lads.
What’s the difference between the Albion team coach and a porcupine?
The pricks are on the outside of a porcupine.
FOwb
For me it seemed both the team and the crowd were emotionally drained after last week, and it just wasn`t going to be our day.
Our style of play under KJ has been built on playing one striker, with Edwards bombing on in support. Edwards out on the left wing just doesn`t play to his strengths, and we were too slow getting the ball through midfield, so we couldn`t find space to play in. We still don`t have much height up front, and KJ wants us to play on the deck, so we have a few issues there.
We are set up nicely with pace and mobility to take advantage of the space afforded when away from home, oh for another left foot midfield playmaker like Paul Cook. Our two holding midfielders keep helping the defence and the clean sheet ration, but there is really no class or guile without Sako strutting his stuff. With him at the Molyneux we can dream of the playoffs or better. Happy with the point, lets keep going.
Hands up for being Mr doom and gloom re Sako..after seeing his goal go in at a 1000 miles an hour Moxey needs to be the Mesiah to keep him for us…
A bit of a lack lustre performance for me especially the first half.
It looked a little better second half with the changes made,but still we couldn’t break them down,That brings me to my thoughts of where we went wrong.
Our midfielders are so static with no movement in going forward at any point in this turgid encounter,KJ has gotta get a midfielder in asap someone who’s a bit of a snotter who can play a bit of fooball with drive and determination to support the front two with that we can compete with the likes of Boro ,Brentford & B/mouth.
Nice to see the return of Golbourne fit and doing what he does to support the forwards.
As for Sako moxey’s gotta pull out all the stops to keep him here at the mol,
We don’t want to see him go down the road at the s##t or the villa he’s better off staying with us than them pair of downers.UTW.
Look on the bright side. I awoke this morning and i wasn’t dead. The albion are still s**t. The burger i bought by the mol ay giv me ebola(yet). Next weeks trip to bolton=loads of beer. Win 9 games from 19 and we are about the play offs. Yesterdays dull point may yet to be crucial. FWAW.
Only know what I heard on Wolvesplayer,the briefest of highlights on the FL Show and what you guys have written but it sounds like a predictably dismal performance against a team who above all didn’t want to lose. Can’t blame Charlton for their lack of ambition. It’s as plain as the nose on your face that we find it hard to break down a massed defence. Yet we persist in slowing the play(I’m looking at you Rajiv) so they have time to get numbers back and organised.
I did see Bakary’s goal for Mali and fear that may cement a flurry of offers from the lower echelons of the Prem, although he would be silly to leave behind the adulation of the Molineux faithful for the sake of a few extra months in the top division. I think with Sako and maybe Lingard swelling our ranks and boosting our creativity quotient, we could be up there ourselves come Maytime.
I can’t really say a lot about the game as I’m going on all of your reports.
I would however wish to say that we were one of 2 teams on the pitch, in a division where everyone beats and draws with everyone else and we do not have a right to destroy every team we play.
The top 2 will unlikely be the same top 2 at the end of the season as their are no real stand out teams. It’s the most competitive I have ever known this division. (Except for Blackpool WTF 2nil up to let 7 in…) Seems O’Hara’s getting into the Blackpool roller coaster ride and may take another team down a division with him after spending a season as an outcast – nice CV that will be.
Anyway, back to my point….
Charlton had to stop the rot at some point, just like we did after our 5 game slump, it just so happens they parked the bus against us in the hope of keeping a clean sheet and maybe knicking a goal. Charlton made the game into a non entity in sticking 11 men into defend, we are not Chelsea or Man City and do not have £40m flair players to unlock a team that just want to spoil a good game of football.
I recall KJ saying at the start of the season that we have the formation to defend well and counter with speed when away from home, leading me to then think more wins away and more draws at home.
If teams are going to come to us to get a point, then I’m sure the fans would take that if we get the odd win out of them and win more away with this tactic.
KJ recognised the recent failings in the defence and has shored that up no end, he also recognises we are lacking in opening teams up, I ‘d put money on it that he’s not sitting there thinking bollocks to it, we’ll see how the next game runs, then the next, then the next before he looks to rectify that issue… No… He’ll be on the training ground or sitting down with his back room staff looking at ways to improve getting the ball up front. Afobe being the 1st part of the jigsaw, with the possibility of Lingard to help create those openings… Then there’s Sako hopefully coming back too… We are only just over half the season, plenty of games to concentrate on getting it right upfront now that he has sorted that leaky defence.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m disappointed that we did not win against Charlton, but I’m not too despondent as Charlton were playing to show their qualities to their new manager and their brief would have been to not let a goal in and try and get a point against the current in-form team.
My reference to Chelsea and Man City cannot go without saying what the feck happened to them too? Our result was fantastic in comparison and I’m not even going to mention ManUre as that’s just laughable.
Looking forward to the next game with the possibility of a new squad player, and with Golbourne back (no offence to the youngster he replaced, as he has been a rock while deputising) but Golbourne’s attacking mindset “when” we get Sako back will be another string of attacks that we need giving the balance that KJ keeps banging on about.
The future is still being constructed and I know we’re in the “We Want It Now” era, but let KJ do his bit behind the scenes as he’s definitely not a fool.
Definitely agree about Golbourne. His left side relationship with Sako was superb last season.
Now that’s a post, well said that man, nail on the head that Shrews Wolf. (Are you Kenny in disguise)
🙂
I’m no football expert and would never claim to be, but i do know this, if a team sets up not to lose then it’s hard for any team to break them down.
Do you throw every thing at it and risk getting caught on the counter ?
Or proceed with caution, wolves did well not to be hit by the sucker punch in my view.
As far as GD goes I’ll take 1 0 wins all day long and the odd 0 0 draw in between is far and away better than a 3,4, or 5 0 drubbing which happened no so very long ago.
Things aren’t perfect at wolves but i do think they’re heading in the right direction.
Take the point and move on.
At last, some very warm positive comments proceeding a dull performance. I, like yourself jmwolv, agree that things are not perfect, but KJ is still building and I believe when he finally gets his team where he wants them, then we will see some rapid progress. In the meantime I would be happy with 1-0s too and certainly the odd 0-0 when I would expect 3 points is fine by me, so long as the team has played as best as they could in the circumstances.
Just one of those days. We never got out of 1st gear & Charlton were comfortable in their game plan to park the bus. We never really looked like breaking them down.
Now, fellow bloggers, you may all get a mention in my Non Stop Oldies on STEVE WRIGHT IN THE AFTERNOON Radio 2, Tuesday 27 Jan!!!
Hope you’ll all be listening or can catch up on iplayer.
Once upon a time there was a tavern…………..:)
You interest me strangely Scooped.
Tell me more tell me more….
Didn’t you know you’d quaffed ale with a national radio superstar???
Just listen 2mrw pm & all will be revealed. Well, not quite all ‘cos it’s radio but I sent them 30 tracks & it’ll be interesting to see which 7 or 8 they select.
If Wolves won’t play Harry J………………;)
I remember the line
” We are the North Bank End” in there somewhere.
And I expect a cd recording of said radio program to be winging its way over the ocean in the merest hint of thyme!!
…. Where we used to raise a glass or two …Remember how we laughed away the hours
Think of all the great things we would do
Those were the days my friend
We thought they’d never end
We’d sing and dance forever and a day
We’d live the life we choose
We’d fight and never lose.
Those were the days oh yes those were the days ……. Da, Da, Da, ……
Still love his song mate … I’ll do my best for tomorrow .. can’t believe you’ll be mentioning Twixfix (Lion King) ……..
You’ve always been my king & ‘Lion King’ is fitting ‘cos you’re my mane man!!!
And did you include ” Goodbye Horse, goodbye horse, he was saying goodbye to his horse……?
What about,
“I’m a long legged chicken, I’m a knock kneed hen.
I ain’t been so happysince I don’t know when.
I walk with a wiggle and a waggle and a squack
Doing the Wanderers boot walk”
Oh Happy days on the North Bank.
🙂
I always remember this being sung at the Mol when we played Albion in another lifetime:
“Ooo…Ooo…Ooo… Jeff Astle belongs in Dudley Zoo”
Also
“Zigger Zagger Zigger Astle is a….” I can’t remember what came next but the Albion fans used to chant the same about the DOOG.
How did we get away with it?
Oooooh……… I’m telling! I am fortunate to be able to pull a racist card if I want (lol)
Listening now. Where the feck are you?
Just heard it. You have a crap taste in music – must be something to do with your age!!!
Having to pop out of office, so I will probably miss the one you dedicated to me!
See you soon mate.
Well, what do we read into that then, looks like Sako could well be staying at Wolves because I’m watching Jesse Lingard playing a full U21s game for Man U against Liverpool on Sky Sports 2. I would have thought they would not have played him if he were making a move in the near future.
Hmmmmm he’s playing really well to boot.
The plot thickens, I said to my missus when watching the game, “I wonder whether we would see Kenny in the crowd”
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gossip-wolves-move-lingard-8527661?
Is it back on?
:-(( :-))
Very impressed stu..your info is very accurate …directly into the grapevine..
Steve,
If it’s as being said in the press this morning, they are putting a bid in for 22 year old winger Michal Zyro from Leiga Warsaw, that would then see everyone on our Blogsite satisfied.
A pair of tall full backs plus Golbourne back. (Free Gratis)
A new Midfielder in Jesse Lingard (loan with option to buy, good business)
A new Winger in Michal Zyro (Buy outright)
A new forward in Afobe (bought outright)
You were a business man, that looks like bloody good trading to me if it all transpires. If Moxey has had a hand in this and it materialises I have no complaints with that style of business.
Onwards & Upwards.
🙂
Brilliant. If it all comes to fruition, I see us qualifying for the Champions League next season then!!!
What has happened about Massimo Luongo?
Sounds like a car.
Not heard anymore since initial paper talk, the other two seem to be holding up though.
Back in Europe eh!
Now there’s a Dream.
Coach 2 on Saturday matey boy.
🙂
Coach 2? Got it. I will call when I get there, and clear up with you too.
Hopefully the 80’s zigger zagger songs are a thing of the past with all the nasty links to the far right. You only have to look at the holocaust survivors on the news to see the dangers.
We shall see Stu. I agree – if they are any good ..our standard has to be PL
(potential) now .
I felt K Mac was allways there but what the hell has happend? self confidence ? coaching or carrying an injury ..he was spectacular once… and playing for Scotland..
Mysterious to me.
From the Express and Star:
“Bakary Sako looks set to stay at Wolves after the star winger gave assurances that he will only leave this month for a top 10 Premier League club.
The seven-goal top scorer’s representatives have been approached by three or four top-flight clubs during the current transfer window – but all of them are currently in the bottom half of the table.
Albion, plus Villa and QPR, are believed to be the interested parties.
Wolves are understood to have set a price threshold of around £2m-£2.5m for the 26-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer – but with a ‘special rate’ for arch-rivals Albion.
The club know they would risk a PR disaster by selling to their Black Country neighbours”.
I love the bit about the ‘Special Rate’
FOWB
If Sako has even 7 days to run he’s worth more than £2.5 million.!.Its surely down to new contract wages and as I’ve said here before a big bung when we go up and of course his desire to play for Wolves..
To hear that Harry at QPR (on the way out) the twat Paul Lambert sniffing is fairly safe ..Pullis knows the local politics too..its the latent unknown(so far) club that bothers me..but unfortunately more so our ability to sell him the club by JM…
He’s probably our most valuable player since…..? …….Steve Bull?