When it comes to the traditional Molineux curtain raiser ahead of the Big Kick Off, nobody expects a Spanish Inquisition, irrespective of the La Liga opponents we’re usually facing.
But compared to the more tepid Valladolid fixtures of yesteryear, we faced a prolonged period of questioning from a particularly irritable outfit.
A 1-1 draw represented the most competitive final friendly we could have expected and revealed our chief weapon of surprise…surprise and fear.
Surprise that we took the lead from an under-hit back pass – which van La Parra intercepted before squaring to Dicko to net – and fear that Dicko might be hospitalised when their defender dropped the nut on him minutes afterwards.
With the Monty Python references thankfully out of the way (apologies), the game itself can be reviewed like so many we enjoyed last season.
We look a fit, hungry and committed side who refuse to back down in a physical scrap.
Rather obviously, we get it down and boast no shortage of ability on the ball.
Yet for all the virtuous methodology, there was no real intrigue or sub-plot to get the sparse crowd talking – aside from the fracas that should have brought about a red card.
Maybe that’s a good thing as the team virtually picks itself. Unless Sako recovers for the game on Sunday, this is the side we’ll be seeing.
Jacobs in behind Dicko, Evans next to McDonald and our flying Dutchman on the left to complement Henry on the right. The keeper and back four picks itself.
There was no shock and awe of an Iwelumo cameo debut like the Blackburn game of ’08 (4-2), nor the utter astonishment of a Van Damme abomination at Leeds a year later (1-3).
Nope, this was neither bitter or sweet and more an affirmation that we’re in a healthy, settled place.
Van La Parra looked a genuine outlet wide on the left and showed a good turn of pace, while Lee Evans really shone in the middle of the park, as our eyes were legitimately averted from McDonald for once.
The Welshman has clearly benefited from a thorough pre-season and was my man-of-the-match.
Dicko looked extremely sharp up top and when we looked the better side in the first half, Jacobs linked up well.
When the subs came a-rolling on for the Spaniards we then showed resilience, even if they hit the post and came a bit too close for comfort.
Unusually perhaps, the main talking points arise away from the lush green pitch itself.
Where were Price and Clarke and when will Rowe be fit?
Kenny Jackett, so usually the calm statesman of the touchline, looked unusually disgruntled and cut a figure of general frustration.
Maybe he still sees room for improvement, if not a new striker for when the going gets a bit tough, as it sometimes did today.
Whatever his source of angst and whoever he has in mind, he’ll know we’re in a solid – if unspectacular – position ahead of our first proper test.
Fingers crossed.
Great write-up matey. Like the lads out on the pitch, you’re fit and firing for the new season based on that performance.
I saw the same match and agree with all points, so very little to add.
Overall, they started and finished the better side but Wolves had a half an our spell either side of half time where they could easily have won the game.
Player ratings:
1. Ikeme – 8 – Made a few comfortable saves and one very good one. Little he could do about the goal.
2. Ricketts – 7 – Wasn’t as influential going forward as he usually is and was late a few times as some of their more nimble players moved the ball around at speed.
3. Batth – 7 – Some very good tackles and interceptions. Didn’t notice him much which is probably the sign of a decent defensive showing.
4. Stearman – 7 – Same as Batth really. A few typical Stears moments when trying to overplay, but nothing awful.
5. Golbourne – 8 – Got forward well throughout and always comfortable on the ball. He’ll have no problems in the Championship.
6. McDonald – 6 – Below par performance for Macca, particularly by his lofty standards. Lots of misplaced passes. Still a crucial presence.
7. Evans – 8 – Agree with Ben, just about MotM. Generally competed well and a few lovely raking passes. More all-action than Price, which has it’s pluses and minuses.
8. Henry – 7 – Typical James Henry performance really. Lots of neat footwork and menacing crosses. Should have scored form Dicko’s cutback just after half time, but scuffed against the post.
9. RvLP – 7 – Fast, strong and tricky. What’s not to like? Has the ingredients to be a star performer, but like all wingers will no doubt infuriate at times by losing the ball. Did that a few times in an otherwise impressive performance.
10. Jacobs – 7 – Influential and very dangerous first half, finding those pockets of space. Faded second half as Wolves dropped deeper. With only him and Dicko forward, we risk inviting teams onto us at times.
11. Dicko – 8 – Got his goal, which was a tap-in but caused them problems throughout. They didn’t like his pace or his tenacity (hence the lashing out) and I suspect most teams we play this season will feel the same.
SUBS
12. Clayton – Barely got a kick and played out wide. Seemed strange given that he was supposedly on trial?
13. McAlinden – Late sub when Dicko got a kick. No time to do anything.
14. Doherty – Again, wasn’t given much game time, but showed what he offers with one powerful surge forward. He’ll get a concerted run in the team at some point I’m sure and could be a real star.
I agree with you both lads.
Poor use of substitutions from Jackett. Apart from injury, surely a player needs at least 20 mins of a friendly to make it worthwhile.
If i was Clayton, id be really disappointed at being played out of position and i hope his transfer is judged on more than that single cameo.
Not that i want to insinuate anything or make any accusations but did anyone who went to the game notice that the spaniards had a particular problem with three players, Dicko, RVLP and Golbourne, all of our black outfield players. I also remember seeing Tony Daley particularly animated at one altercation in the second half. I really hope that im wrong but any racially charged aggravations taking place need to be reported to the FA immediately.
Dicko and RVLP as far as I can tell were more or less in their faces the whole game, which is a good thing, its something youd want from attacking-minded players! Id say that has more to do with it than anything and going from the twitter feed there was one alteration with Golbourne as well…wouldnt look too much into it!
The intensity of the game was very surprising though, even more so remembering that CV played Norwich yesterday, admittedly also with a mixed team I think…and as for Clayton I had assumed a decision must surely have already been made on him if he wasnt given a chance today but post comments proved me wrong…a mystery indeed!
Good to read your reports again Ben and Thomas, seems like we’ve got a good team to start with. I reckon if they play up to their strengths they can do OK in the Championship. I’m a bit suspicious at Sako’s recent absence, hope it doesn’t mean he’s going.
Best wishes for great season.
Really hope we keep Sako, though suspect he may go.
It may be there is some ‘exchange’ in the offing, which may bring either a defender or striker to Molineux.
It is a fine line between disturbing a winning team and strengthening it.
Looking forward to seeing how the club deal with being back in the Championship, so far KJ has made a good fist of it, let’s hope the unbeaten run continues….
Nice write up Ben and player ratings Thomas.
I will have to change my name soon as I am returning to Blighty.
I will probably become WA Wolf.
I will miss the opener against Norwich on the 10th, but will be back for the next home game and the rest of the season and hope to meet some of you guys if you do a similar thing as at the end of last season.
I am quite looking forwards to our championship campaign, and as of yet have no real concerns.
I have aspirations of a top 6 spot, and would obviously like a top 2, but we may have to be patient.
Having said that, although I wanted automatic promotion last season, I don’t think any of us could have predicted the way in which it was achieved…….So who knows.
Bring on Norwich.
They may be suffering a relegation hangover, whilst we are on a promotional high, a tasty opener for me.Come on me Babbies.
Great match report and player ratings guys. I got up this morning keen to read the E and S match report but was left frustrated at not really being given a decent impression of individual performances. Then I read the blog, what was I thinking!
Good report Ben .. They certainly provided a stern test for our young guns, closing us down quickly when we play out from defence and putting in some petulant and feisty challenges in midfield. Big Mac, for me, didn’t sparkle and a few misplaced passes from him highlight just how our performances depend on him.
I did feel at times that Dicko was isolated and didn’t get the support he needed from Jacobs. That said he put in a powerhouse performance and was my motm. Golbourne too was excellent and the back four were very solid. The fact that Norwich drew 2-2 with C.V that I’m already thinking of a draw next week. Looking at the bigger picture I still feel we need cover for Macca , although Evans let no one down today.
Exciting times and a top six finish .. here’s hoping..
Thank you Ben for the detailed report. Always great reading material. Extremely excited for next weeks start against the Canaries. My wonderful sister has just sent me the new away shirt and well, its brilliant. I will wear with pride and, to the local Fado’s Irish pub in Atlanta. Of course I hope they’ll show the game on Sunday. Nothing like a good pint of Guiness at 11am.. LOL.
Cheers lads…
Well done Ben. A most welcome report in the midst of the g’kids’ mayhem. Can’t wait for next week and another considered account of the match. Oh and peace will be returned to the household!
Look out Championship the Wolves are coming!
I would suggest that Jackets ‘source of angst’ was the fact that at no point point in time do I recall us being able to sustain any meaningful possession of the ball – the result of which meant that we had little control of vast majorities of the game and saw us increasingly rely on ‘percentage’ balls out wide to the like of van parra, with the hope of producing something from a bit of pace.
Whilst looking fairly tidy during the game, the midfield 2/3 were most culpable of not being able to get on the ball and control periods of the game, which meant that they spent the vast majority of the game defending rather than doing anything meaningful attacking-wise.
I am a worried man.
Not because of the pre-season performances of the lads which, in the main, have been quite encouraging.
Not because we haven’t recruited enough new blood to ensure we are competitive in a higher division. I think we should do OK.
Not because I think that KJ won’t be able to hack it in the Championship.
Certainly not that.
No. It’s because Steve Morgan and Jez Moxey stand at a crossroads and the direction they take will decide, for the foreseeable future, how far our beloved Wolves will progress.
Aston Villa are sniffing around Danny Batth and there is talk of Wolves slapping a £5M price tag on him.
This suggests that they are prepared to consider selling him.
No No NO NO NO!!!
He is a local lad who has been nurtured by the club and brought through the ranks.
He represents all that is good about our youth policy.
He has just signed a new contract.
He is the future of our club and must NOT be allowed to leave.
If Aston Villa pick him up for a bargain price, or any price, it will confirm my fears that I mentioned to Thomas recently.
That Wolves will find a level in the Championship and become a feeder club for the big boys in the Prem.
The laughable thing about all this is that Villa aren’t even approaching Big Boy status.
Kenny Jackett has recently said that there has been no approach.
What we need from the hierarchy is a definitive statement to say that no matter who wants them, no matter how much they are prepared to pay:-
“NONE OF OUR FIRST TEAM SQUAD IS AVAILABLE TO BUY!!!!”
Then we will know that SM & JM mean business.
Then we can have confidence that KJ will be able to get on with the task of putting us back where we belong.
And where we belong is a lot higher than Aston Villa can ever aspire to!
I echo your sentiments entirely regarding keeping our promising players. However I take heart that reports are just reports. Newspapers are too fond of creating rumours to sell more copies and / or promoting their own agendas and agents will feed them in the hope of lining their pockets . Mr. Morgan & Mr. Moxey have refrained from comment, for the most part, since the dark days of 2012- 13 preferring others to promote the club. Kevin Thelwell said only the other day ” we would not welcome any approach” when commenting on the supposed enquiry from Villa. Kenny Jacket is on record as being satisfied that he has a settled, enthusiastic squad capable of doing well in the Championship . I do not believe that he would entertain losing one of his key players.
It would be reassuring to hear a positive message from the owner but I am optimistic that the manager and his back room staff will continue to conduct their business in a quiet and productive manner.
Bring on Sunday. The Wolves are back!!
Wolves already announced that Batth was not for sale. Three days ago.
Not sure about all that spanish aggression but it made it more entertaining, I think this team can hold its own over the season but to go further at least 3 players are needed. I’d still like to see another centre back stearman can defend but when he as the ball he worries me. a ball winner would compiment macca and with only 2 expierenced strikers another option would be good , we have the wingers so lots of crosses hopefully so maybe someone to get on the end of them.
Didn’t go to the Celta vigo match ,but by all reports we held our own to a fairly decent Spanish outfit.
Time will tell if we’re ready for the championship,but I feel KJ has been frustrated by the lack of signings,”not his fault”,i feel business isn’t finished yet ,hope we get another striker, pacey midfielder, central defender,
Gotta keep Sako and batth.
Roll on sunday,its gonna be tough first few games,but think we will be ok.UTW
Can’t wait for our first game of the season proper and hopefully we will see a few new faces esp a striker that can help out Dicko because as has probably been said before Clarke still has to prove himself.
Great match report and I’m sure it will be a tougher test against Norwich.
Agree totally with DooGooder we can’t afford to lose our home grown talent or Sako either. Otherwise all our good work last season will be undone.
Bring on the championship.
Great write up fellas, that silly World Cup competition made up for a lack of real football over the last couple of months but as of Saturday the real thing will be back and I can’t wait! Happy to start the season with what we have, there will be a few Prem players slowly realising they may not be getting the game time they had planned shortly which means there will be movement, if we can just pick up a couple of good young ones (Centre Back and Striker) and one experienced (Centre Mid) we have the makings of a strong top 10 team, possibly top 6 and in my wildest dreams a top 2?
Hold on tight, it’s gonna be an enjoyable ride!
UTW