‘To put it in gentleman’s terms, if you’re looking for a young lady and you pull one, some weeks they’re good looking and some weeks they’re not the best. Our performance today would have been not the best looking bird but at least we got her in the taxi.’
Ian Holloway, last seen traveling the country in a tour bus that had his face plastered along its side, offered this pearl of wisdom during his tenure as QPR manager. Though it teeters precariously along the lines of chauvinism, it’s certainly rings true when applied to our most recent performance.
There have seldom been games under Kenny Jackett’s tenure in which we have been dominated to the extent we were by Reading. Despite being far removed from the Championship elite, the Royals enjoyed three quarters of possession and, according to BBC WM, managed over 20 shots on goal.
However, the most telling statistic of all is Reading’s ‘goals scored’ tally. Despite a pretty calamitous first half showing, our defence managed to keep the away side at bay and, in doing so, offered hope that improvement is on the way.
Ethan Ebanks-Landell has come in for criticism in recent weeks but enjoyed a most impressive second half.
The January transfer window, along with the returning Kortney Hause, is likely to bring the Smethwick born defender some much needed competition but yesterday’s showing suggested he is good enough to make that contest more hard fought than we initially expected.
Indeed, our defensive application was a world away from the recent Keystone Cops tribute act we’ve had to endure. If we can get some more bodies in over January, preferably in the centre and left back departments, then we’ll have cause to hope that Kenny can finally remedy this season long ailment.
That being said, my Mom made the excellent assertion that, for all of the back four’s recent failings, we have largely been guilty of neglecting the defensive shortcomings of our midfield.
There is nowhere near as much energy in the centre as there was last season, irrespective of the combination Kenny has plumped for over the duration of the campaign.
Kevin McDonald, though still our most influential player, is often guilty of indolence and Dave Edwards appears to have been running on empty for some time now.
The cause of this malaise is difficult to diagnose but is something that also needs to be addressed over the ensuing months. We can but only hope that our flustered manager remains capable of solving such conundrums.
This was a big win for him and will hopefully instigate a revitalisation that will silence some of his more over zealous social media detractors.
One win, especially one as cagey as this, won’t be enough to rekindle Kenny’s love affair with our club. This needs to be a turning point rather than another false dawn.
Or, to revert to the tone of Sky Sports’ premier Football League pundit, the start of a long term relationship and not another one night stand.
We were absolutely awful to watch and on one hand you could say we were simply lucky to win but perhaps Kenny deserves some credit for this one. He knew it was all about getting the win. Coady went into the Makelele role and it was protect the lead at all costs. Of course this meant we had nothing going forward but for now the three points was all that mattered. We have seen some fine football against QPR, Leeds and others and come away with nothing. I realise this is a rather kind assessment and it was ironic that we managed to keep a clean sheet while producing some of the most comical defending you will see and I still felt annoyed even though we won. The challenge now is to play good football and be able to defend. If only!
It’s a win but a lucky one. Didn’t go, & just watched first half on Sky before going for a curry!
It seems this side with Dicko, Sako & Stearman were contenders last season, but without them are just about adequate enough to stay up.
To go backwards again as a club is a familiar feeling for Wolves fans.
I just long for the day when the trajectory is only upwards.
Good write up mate.
I agree a lack of bite and running in midfield is hurting us defensively. Attackers are finding it far too easy to run unchallenged at our back four. Same again last night for the first 45. Camping out in the second half solved the problem nicely.
Coady might be a short term answer. I agree that Edwards looks completely shot so maybe we should try Price/McDonald/Coady? It puts a lot of pressure on our wingers and Afobe to produce but might solve our defensive issues.
Got to disagree on Ebanks-Landell though. He made some important blocks second half but was again lost at sea in the first. Williamson or similar would be a massive improvement for me.
We’re a funny old side this season. We can stand toe to toe with pretty much anyone for long periods, but then seem to wilt at the pivotal moments. An experienced head at either end of the pitch would be high on my January shopping list.
It was dreary dreadful football.
But we won….
Nevertheless, hardly a game to fill one’s Xmas stocking, with hope for Wolves!
This season at this point is just about avoiding relegation and trying to find the best buyer possible for the club. Another club would have demolished Wolves yesterday but Reading didn’t make their pressure count and we came through on top. Any win will do especially with the form we have been in
1-0
That is now fixed in the record books for eternity.
As stated many times, I will take an ugly, lucky 1-0 win every time.
The three points is ALL that matters.
Another three tomorrow and there will be talk of the playoffs!!!
Despite all our moaning and griping, we am Wolves through and through, and nothing warms the cockles on a humid, warm Houston winters night like a Wolves win, no matter how it was got!!!
FOwb
The sign of a great team is that they can play badly and still win. Well we managed two out of three. This was an ugly performance by two ugly teams. It was like watching the two ugly sisters fight over who should go to the ball. Although, we showed very little interest in the ball as we struggled to keep it beyond two passes. We have clearly been practising what to do when we don’t have the ball. This practice paid off in the second half when we played total anti-possession football giving the ball away like a FIFA official dispensing brown envelopes. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the appearance of a jolly fat man. He was brought on with just a few minutes to play but had no presents to deliver.
The crowd figure seemed high but presumably that included the spectators in the dugout.
Well I watched the dire performance and thought it was only a matter of time before we conceded, somehow we survived though Reading were a bit toothless in the final analysis, anyone with a competent strike force would have put us away.
The problem remains. EEL NOT up to the necessary standard – immediate replacement needed January.
Might I suggest 4 4 2 ??? Instead of lumping balls in the air that Benik has no chance of doing anything with, put Holt on beside him from the start – or is that too obvious??
Jack Price MUST start whatever lineup we go for.
NOW FOR NEWS – during the 2nd half a steward came out to us and said NEW CHINESE OWNERS WERE IN THE STAND WATCHING AND THE DEAL HAD BEEN DONE – you heard it here first!!!
No idea whether it is fact or fantasy, but he seemed genuine – and boy do we need influx of cash and influx of new players January.
Apart from Afobe and Graham looked like everyone had a defensive brief. Took ‘winning ugly’ to a new low but the state we were in i guess it had to be done. Fortune played its part and it just wasnt Readings day. If its going to be the start of better things we will have to play better than that.
Lets not get carried away. Our defense remains useless as a unit. EEL is a walking disaster waiting to happen. He may have had a better second half but this surely had to do with the fact that we played with 9 defenders during this period to support him, and that Reading were doing all they could not to score.
Just a point about WALLACE. He was, according to Jacket, ready for the Championship when he was signed. His role was said to be that as support to the front man, having excellent regular scoring potential. If so, why has he never been given the chance ? Thus far, he has been used very occasionally as a wide man, a role for which he is clearly very unsuited. So, with Edwards running on empty, why not give him a chance ?
But not to worry. Our ace recruitment guru Thelwell has undoubtedly got his eye on another 6 mediocre mid field nobodies for signing in January, so we can all sleep well over the new year
One of the ugliest wins we are ever likely to see. But necessary. The central defensive pairing lack any cohesion/understanding and how Reading didn’t score in the first half, let alone the second, is beyond me. Doherty was valiant and is no left-back but the wide areas looked relatively secure c.f. the centre of the defence.
Fine to protect the lead in the 3nd half, but you also have to have an ‘out’. Afobe does not have the physical strength to be a target man and passes to him were easily picked off. So why not put the ball over the top of their defense to let him use his pace and prevent the oppo defense playing a high line ?
I’m finding it hard to reconcile the performances we are currently seeing with the close passing, swift moving, possession-based game we had last season. Surely its not only about losing Sako/Dicko?Stears…?
Enjoyed the first half, not the second. It’s a win so I am grateful for the 3 points.
January will be an interesting month, besides the signing of Zyro I am expecting a few out and in.
Well it was a happier/greatly relieved journey “darn sarf” than of late after three much needed points.
Sometimes you just have to say the result was more important than the overall performance and this was one of those games. However if anybody at the club has the temerity to suggest this was a “turning point” is either a fool, a clown, a prick or a mixture of all three – and we have all these within the club lets face it. It was a victory that simply papered over the huge cracks within the squad and the selection decisions of the manager.
Once again I could not understand why Afobe was left completely isolated – at times particularly in the second 45 the nearest Wolves player was 30 or 40 yards away! Yes he fluffed a great chance about 3 minutes from time but if/when he goes best of luck Benik.
From our vantage point in W2 Billy Quiet Upper we had a perfect view of the Reading onslaught in the second half. At times the ball was ricocheting around as if it was in a pin ball machine.
Frankly I felt for Doherty as he took the full force of criticism from those around. Not only did he appear to be totally out of condition – puffing like a train on the Severn Valley – but his positional sense was simply non existent. Whether he was playing to instructions from Jackett Lord knows but time after time Reading exploited huge gaps created by his absence (in both halves I may add) and more than once Jordan Graham was chasing back trying to cover. I could swear he looked beseechingly at Jackett to take him off on more than one occasion. Not that Doherty was the only culprit in the defensive mayhem by a long chalk as they all contributed to the mayhem. Indeed in the first half only some glaring misses by Reading and last ditch clearances by Coady and Ikeme plus what looked like a clear penalty shout turned down meant we turned round one up instead of 5-3 down!
Daft as it seemed Wolves could and should have increased their advantage when Afobe clipped a shot onto the post after a telling pass from Henry and we could well have had a penalty awarded when Afobe appeared to have his ankles tapped.
One incident early in the second half somehow made me think this could be our day when a 30 yard cracker smashed against the South Bank upright. No goalkeeper on earth (Yashin, Banks, Shilton, Bert, Zoff, Jennings etc etc) would have stopped that but fortunately for Ikeme and Wolves the thud against the woodwork could be heard in Dudley and the ball bounced away.
Another thunderbolt straight at Ikeme saw the goalkeeper fumble the ball and it rolled inches wide – agony for Reading but a wave of relief swept over us lot.
With our retreating midfield inviting trouble I remarked to my neighbour that Edwards looked as if his normally reliable “engine” had run out of fuel. Another who looked completely out of sorts.
Anyway we somehow held on and despite their pressure and possession (75%/25%) and innumerable shots (24 was it?) we escaped with maximum points.
Man of the match for me – well hard to say – but Ikeme maybe? Or Coady who did try and do what the manager asked him to do in front of the back 4 and to be fair try and restrict Reading to longer range efforts. Or Jordan Graham (again) as he carried our only threat in attack (again) and provided the goal assist (again) when his pin point well driven free kick was headed in from close range by Henry. Or Henry himself?
For me Jordan Graham – he did run up some cul-de-sacs in the second half but at times his threat meant two, three or even four Reading players were giving him close attention. I love his close ball skills and ability to beat defenders. Add on electrifying pace and searching balls (five assists already this season) and there you have it – another player for Moxey to pin on a “for sale” notice! Graham remains one of the (very few) attractions at a jaded Molineux and until new owners are in place we will continue to tread water and stagnate.
Before closing some points to ponder
1. Where was Price?
2. When Henry scored he raced over to the bench to celebrate – Jackett remained as unmoved as the Billy Wright statue outside and demonstrated no emotion whatsoever seeing “straight through” Henry – why? Your/our team has just scored for heavens sake!
3. Two minutes from the end Afobe was substituted by the Moxey girth lookalike. He waved to all 4 stands of the stadium. Swansong?
4. What was the point of substituting Henry for Byrne? What bloody difference did that make!!
5. The Iceman was on the bench – is this the guy to take over the mantle of Afobe?
6. Will we ever score two again?
The mind boggles.
I suppose one could argue that over the years Wolves have completely dominated opponents and ended up with nowt so swings and roundabouts but yesterday tea time we must have used up our share of good fortune for the entire decade!
Have a great New Year everyone and to all those travelling to Charlton and Brighton – safe journey to all and I will be on my knees praying for 6 points.
BOG
I thought the celebration in front of KJ looked a bit odd there seemed a lack of eye contact and shared emotion between manager and players but who knows.
This was indeed a painful match to watch with the 2nd half quite capable of giving any self respecting Wolves fan several heart attacks ..if you had bet your house on Reading scoring in the second half then you’d be counting your winnings..
KJs comment of played defensively well and ‘negated their chances of scoring’ ..Wtf is all that about..?
This game really represents our true capabilities and (management) style this season..Defence that risks every match ..players that don’t get played (Wallace) donkeys that do (Holt) and a lone ace – Afobe and I have to say that I have never seen such a demise of a player as in Danny Batth…EBL dumbstruck the Sky commentator by falling over his own
legs..miss hitting balls.. heading back to them ..uncoordinated play etc etc and yet (via a few good blocks ) played better than our young captain …What an indictment that is..
With Doherty out of position (Golbourne inj?) and out of his depth too then conclusively you could say defensively we are in a bit of a state..
This is now our biggest problem yet again with KJs optimism coming a close second..
We are in nowhere land hanging on to hope with a manager still devoid of answers on and off the pitch ..
I sincerely hope after massive personal celebration that when we are sold we can start again and rebuild with a real team built around a real Captain with a real manager..
The expected news can’t come soon enough for me..
Fantastic that we achieved 3 points – but this result was a true miracle..
Your summary is absolutely spot on. For now, it would be a disaster to commit any funds to the purchase of more nobodies as recommended by the over-rated Thelwell, who would then have their confidence wrecked by the tactically clueless Jacket. Why on earth drop Golbourne for an unfit, mediocre Doherty who is playing out of position ? This just about sums up the gross selection incompetence of Jacket.
As for Baath, it is obvious to the dumbest that the guy can be half decent only when he has an experienced defender alongside him who can yell at him and tell him what to do. When paired with EEL — who would struggle to get into many a Sunday pub team — he is just plain lost. Every man and his dog can see this –except of course our coach.
Made my commets after match on last blog.
Just read about death of Roy Swinbourne, he was a player arguably one of the two best center forwards to play for the Wolves.
RIP
I saw a recording straight after arriving home from the Chelsea v Watford match. And to think, we were worthy winners against Watford a year ago! I wouldn’t fancy our chances today against the Hornets.
Jackett was standing around as impassive as a Madame Tussard’s dummy for most of the Reading game and so were some of the players. In spite of three precious points, we were RUBBISH.
The Chinese takeaway can’t come soon enough. I wonder if Jackett knows how long his job will last? The Chinese surely won’t trust Jackett to spend big money. He’s not even very good at spending small money. He was going through the motions last night as if nothing he will do can keep him his job. He probably didn’t expect to win as his substitutions were so belated and half-hearted. For god’s sake, at 60 minutes, Reading brought on two players and started hammering us. Jackett did nothing for ages and then took off our goal scorer.
Can’t bring myself to make any comment, other than, “That was shite”
But, Three points will move us away from the bottom end.
I fancy a Chinese Takeaway, for God’s sake make it soon, this is embarrassing.
My thoughts and eternal gratitude are with the Swinbourne family.
COYW’s
That was almost the best Christmas present us wolves fans could ask for,then came the second half .
Oh my lord that was the most turgid second half performance’s I have ever experienced for many a year,total dominance by an away side as you’ll ever see.
But as expressed hear on our blog,3 points is all that matters when you are where we are.
So let’s hope its a turning point for we to move ever closer to safety because that’s all we can aspire to at the mo.
With the new year looming let’s all wish for the same thing, ie,,new owner,a couple of experienced defenders in to start with,that will do for now.
And moxey picking up his P45.
And N Pearson taking the reins…because I still think KJ has gone as far has he can…UTW.
All our condolences to Roy Swinburne’s family on his sad passing.
R.I.P
I was watching the game on Sky with a friend not used to watching football. The second half was very painful, not to say embarrassing, to watch. We both stayed the course and as I said, we will never play that badly again and still end up winning.
Onwards and upwards.
Are we seriously analysing a goal celebration now guys?
Thanks for your kind comments as always, keep the faith x
Not sure ‘faith’ has anything to do with it Ben. It’s all about hope.
RIP Roy Swinbourne, My dad used to say he used to pick him up in the pub and drove him to the ground, those really were the days.
http://www.claretandhugh.info/jarvis-finances-revealed-in-full/ – really good read if you have not seen, shows how careful you have to be spending the sky money.
Looks to me as if Afobe affair is being stage managed to not cause a major revolt with the fans, you would not really play him as a target man would you ? Edwards running on empty and target men on bench, why 1 sub used when fresh legs were needed ?
We seem to be a player short i.e. 4 defenders, 2 mid McDonald and Price when Fit, 2 wingers and 2 up front – 1 to hold up and Afobe to run behind defenders, but then we have not got any defensive midfield cover – Can we play 12 please ?