For most fans, a 2-0 victory over the Championship’s form side and a climb up the table to fourth brings about an inner sense of wellbeing and a good night’s sleep – rather than a handful of questions which kept them awake half the night.
I fear I might be in the minority in this case, whilst acknowledging what an encouraging performance the lads deserved great credit for last night.
McDonald gradually asserted his manful presence on proceedings, Ebanks-Landell performed admirably at the back and the Dicko / Sako pivot was a consistent source of menace.
But those questions kept on gnawing at me throughout the game, as I looked at our unquestionably successful manager who is way better placed to ignore them.
Why, for a start, is Tommy Rowe playing out of position as a left back, when we’ve suffered more than enough misery from Stephen Ward doing likewise for years (at the expense of the likes of George Friend funnily enough, who impressed for Middlesbrough last night)?
Rowe struck a chilling resemblance to the Irishman and looked every inch as uncomfortable, as ghosts of right-wing opponents past funneled through my eyeballs, in time for Halloween.
The sight of the tracksuit-clad Yannick Sagbo becomes more and more scary too, after both Dicko and Sako appeared to be in pain when substituted.
What, the Elephant’s Hat, was that signing all about?!
We now face the prospect of one, if not both of our talisman being out for the trip to Leeds, with either Leon Clarke or Sagbo – or even both – filling in.
Also, what became of George Saville, who must invoke similar levels of frustration for Jackett, on the early evidence so far this season?
Has Jack Price not looked far more effective in upping the tempo to the levels we’ve become accustomed to? We did look a wee bit laboured until the penalty was won.
Such questions can wait for the time being, as we eventually overcame ‘Boro with some degree of comfort come the final whistle.
The away team certainly had their moments, not least in the minutes after we scored the opener from a cheeky Sako dink after Dicko was upended in the box.
We did look brittle at the back, which is understandable after our collapse at The Den, but we grew into the game in the second half and looked way more compact when defending as a team, which is exactly what Jackett requested.
When Dicko scored a sublime solo second from a fine McDonald pass, it felt like that elusive winning feeling was finally being embraced. Maybe Hurricane Gonzalo blew away some cobwebs.
McDonald kissed the woodwork with a wonderful long range effort, while Dave Edwards missed the biggest headed sitter I can remember from all of three yards after a fine James Henry cross.
From here, we move on to Elland Road, just three points off the top of the table.
If I’m struggling to get to sleep later tonight, I shall bear this fact in mind!
The biggest question at least for me is why Golbourne has suddenly been relegated to the bench…he is a very much solid left back and more than good enough for this team! I am of course very pleased with the three points but it is harsh on him I feel!
Rumour has it he had a bit of a falling out with Kenny the other day, but if that were the case I wouldn’t think he would be on the bench.
If true though, please lads, kiss and make up in a proper manner. For the good of the team.
I think everyone feels for Golbourne at the moment… He has done nothing wrong, in fact he had done everything right… He’s a bit like Andy Thompson where you did not really get many headlines (other than scoring penalties) as a good solid left back should not be creating headlines.
KJ had a game plan, he picked the team to suit the plan, it worked and it is just unfortunate that Golbourne was dropped. KJ does see more on a daily basis that we do not and Goldbourne was thought to be one of his favourites, however this is just showing that KJ does not do favouritism!
I caught the stats on sky of something like 80% of the aerial battle was won by wolves and the pass rate was high. Also noticed our tackle ratio was very low. From this it looks like KJ’s plan is to win the ball in the least costly manner (again reducing the amount of cards produced and risk of injury lowered).
With these stats in mind… Does Rowe offer something different aerial wise that Goldbourne does not?
I’d say he offers less Shrews. He is no taller (possibly shorter in fact) and the 2nd goal away at Millwall highlighed this deficiency. I don’t want to be seen to be picking on Rowe. As you say, Jackett sees them in training ever day and we must back what he goes with.
But if ever a position offered symbolic relevance at Wolves, then left back is it. We have suffered years of utter incompetence there, with a belligerent ex-manager refusing to acknowledge the importance of it at any stage during his tenure. (Apart from when he’d actually buy Friend, Hill, Van Damme, Mulgrew, etc, only to not play any of them!)
The sight of a midfielder playing left back, in a somewhat one-paced manner, brings me out in a rash. (not least when we have a competent one sat on the bench!)
I couldn’t agree more.
Most people would say Ikime, Batth, McDonald are star men for us and I’d agree. But nobody impresses me more than Golbourne. An intelligent footballer with good skill and pace who is effective in both defence and going forward. I think he would be quite comfortable in the premier league.
In the coverage I’ve seen he’s hardly put a foot wrong and I’m amazed Rowe has taken his place.
Last season every decision Kenny made seemed logical and understandable. This year he’s left me scratching my head on more than occasion. I just can’t help but feel that all’s not well in the camp.
Tommy Rowe is 1.8m tall and golbourne 1.75m. 2″ can make a big difference! I suspect KJ has realised that while golbourne might be a better all round full back, in the physical world of the championship height counts and Rowe does have experience of playing there. A similar reason for giving Ebanks-landell a go I think over stearman.
Mixed bag first half, but much better second I thought.
Sako is the difference maker and Dicko’s pace/power up front is a key factor. We’d be considerably weaker without either of those players in the side.
Edwards is another vital cog in the machine at present. You just can’t fault the bloke for the ground he covers. Should have been rewarded with another headed goal too as you say. Wouldn’t a coach say he did the right thing heading it down?
Agree about Rowe being out of position at left-back. I’m not saying he can’t ‘do a job’ when needed, but he’s not regular starting material, particularly with a player like Golbourne picking splinters out of his arse.
Hard to argue with a result though, particularly against supposedly the third best team in the league. I thought Boro would offer more than they did. Some flashes of quality but never for sustained periods.
Just goes to show top to bottom, there’s not a massive gulf in class between any of the sides. Leeds look achingly average, but you can bet that will be a tougher game than this was.
Still feel confident about our chances.
I was a bit puzzled when the final whistle blew. The reason was due to my belief that we did not really play well at all. Quite a lot of our passes were short or misplaced and I often saw players waiting for the ball to come to them as opposed to going to the ball. I was chuffed that Boro did not play as well as I thought they would, hence them not capitalising on our mistakes.
I was a bit puzzled how we won this game. But I am chuffed we did. Still a lot of work to do, but if I am concerned about our performance and we are sitting in 4th place then when we do get this sorted we will be flying high.
Traffic is a bummer with all the pigging road works and I got back at 1.30 am. Now awake, had my breakfast, and now smiling – 3 points when you don’t play all that well is no bad thing.
Come on me babbies – Wolves ay we!
It was a big relief for me to see us get some status back last night and although Middlesborough could of scored more than once the result could be key to future confidence and another run.
Manager politics aside most of us here know the edgy players and out of our squad who should play collectively…we are an educated lot ..
Rowe, Clarke, Sagbo, Stearman, & the jury’s out on Saville and VLP..
With the likes of Goldbourne (brilliant sometimes) is there still an influence from Moxey & co to play Rowe …?I’d love to know the real politics..
However it does seem again that we have a set team with a true ability to challenge the top places..
tonight’s result particularly against a very fancied side and what’s more obtain a clean sheet again …just.
We are back.
COYW
“I have something to say. It’s better to burn out than to fade away.”
A credo that I am gamely attempting to live my life by.
Name that film and name that song.
And which came first?
What’s that got to do with anything? I hear you ask.
Well, I ask a question that we are all dying to know the answer to.
Why is Goldbourne fading away on the subs bench?
He is one of the most skillful and solid left backs that Wolves have had since Derek (Squeak) Parkin. His link play with Sako is excellent and he’s not getting a game.
When’s the next Fans’ Parliament Ben?
I’d love to know what has occurred behind the scenes to cause his fall from grace.
The other thing that I have to say is that we should break the bank to keep Sako.
He might be occasionally frustrating and is likely to give the ball away in silly situations…..
But my God, he’s a talent.
And his understanding with Dicko, and the obvious pleasure they get out of playing together, is priceless.
A great result last night however.
And I’ve got my tickets for the Brum match when we will hopefully do a Chelsea.
There. I’ve said my piece.
Now back to trying to burn out before I fade away.
Neil Young – Hey Hey, My My ( Into the Black )…………Class tune.
Don’t know the film.
Spot on US Wolf.
Isn’t Neil Young just the daddy?
What a bloke!
I think Def Leppard also used the line in one of their songs whose name escapes me.
Definitely one of my favorites to listen to while partaking back in the day.
Sugar Mountain, Comes a Time, and Heart of Gold were other favorites of mine.
Also used as a quote in “highlander” during a car scene and sung by the late great Freddy Mercury of Queen, “Don’t lose your head”
🙂
3 points & a clean sheet is a good result. I’m struggling as well as to why Rowe is playing where he is, also why Goldbourne isn’t starting or Ricketts for that matter as well.
Will be a worry if our strike force aren’t fit as I don’t much fancy Sagbo & Clarke.
As for DOOG – the film? Highlander I believe?
UTW
Correct Border Wolf.
V.G. Tick and gold star!
Ta. Sorry couldn’t get the song – bit before my time!!
I thought we played well especially in the 2nd half. I too thought that boro would show a bit more but could see how they have been doing well. Bamford looked a dangerous presence from crosses shame we couldn’t have got him . couldn’t help thinking that without sako we’re going to be left wanting. The win will do the camp the world of good and hopefully we’ll go to leeds and get something
If you were there mate, then it was a different game that I saw. I do acknowledge we had some good periods of the game, but overall I though we did not play well at all, hence my earlier post.
As for Bamford……….. I thought he was terrible. I had travelled down from Yorkshire with a mate of mine who is a Boro fan. After the game he also confirmed that he thought bamford was dire!
That said, everyone has their own opinion – just saying like!!!
I’ve found this on a ‘Boro fan site. Sounds like they were impressed: Worth reading all of it, as it puts things into a proper perspective: Here it is:
Boro suffered a rare defeat last night going down 2-0 at Molineux to Wolves. A goal in each half gave the home side a deserved victory. Although the Boro players found their feet and pressed for the equaliser in the latter stages of the first period we were never really at the races in the second half and so the unbeaten run came to an abrupt end. This was our first top of the table clash and although we remain in the third place we will need to step up considerably if we are to stay in contention after the Watford game on Saturday. Boro went into this match with high hopes of keeping the impressive away successes rolling along. But almost from kick off the Wolves no.10 Bakary Sako proved a real handful beating Fredericks and storming towards goal. Fortunately he was off target but he had posted an early warning of the threat he posed from his speed and trickery. Wolves no.40! Dicko was another thorn in our side and winger Henry was also a speedster down their right as Boro battled against the strong wind in the faces as well as the team in gold. Yet not until the penalty did Wolves make their superiority count.
Really pleased with the win but still not sure about our defence. I agree with the earlier sentiments regarding Golbourne – I’m surprised he is not playing.
DOOG – the song would be Hey, Hey, My, My (Neil Young).
Quite right.
You and US Wolf came up with the answer almost simultaneously so points are shared I’m afraid and, unfortunately, neither of you win the jackpot.
There was a 4 minute difference mate, so I say US Wolf wins!!!
Well spotted Brompton. 4 minutes is a long time, especially if it is added on to the 90, and the Men in Gold only have a one goal lead.
No worries Mark. The song alone is prize enough. Its not that they don’t do good music now but that was a good vintage.
For me that result makes up for the Rotherham game earlier in the season.
We weren’t that great last night but won (don’t they say that’s the mark of a good side?)
The win and the clean sheet stops the recent slide and should hopefully act as a spur onto better performances.
As for golbourne I was as perplexed as you but I will give Kenny the benefit of the doubt for the time being.
As for sagbo I’m just glad that we hav loaned him rather than signing him like we did Clarke. At least if he doesn’t fit we can get rid and sign another striker on loan who will in January.
Doogooder, the Def Leppard track you refer to is “Rock Of Ages” off the Pyromania album… My favourite album of theirs… Went more pop after that… (Again… for the young uns before iTunes was invented, an album had more than 1 track… genius idea it was). Still quite like a bit of Leppard sandwiched between a bit of Rush, Ozzy and Zep.
Just a thought… Were we really playing bad in defence or were we playing okay “and won” against a fancied side that have a talented strike-force and where most would have written us off against Boro pre season? (…and still kept the clean sheet).
Looking back on Jackets thoughts before the Boro game, he did not even consider losing, his thoughts were on getting a tighter defensive and winning the game. He did that and it seems we’re still not happy.
We’re still controlling most of the games, no-one has shown us to be a shamble of a side as we have been the betterment team most games. We’re cruising along picking up points (just like last season) with a view to hopefully put some strength into the team come xmas (with a trialist that does not quite seem to be working).
With regards to Golbourne, maybe Jacket felt he needed a few games out to get him to come back even better, as complacency can set in. If Rowe is still in that position in 3 games time and he is still getting skinned every game then there is an issue that we don’t know about, whether that’s contractual, personal or tactical. Just a shame we may never know.
Kenny also likes to feed snippets and something I picked up on was that “Juan” was not match fit, however McAlinden is getting match fit… Could he be what has been planning all along with just getting a makeshift striker as backup and getting theses random strikers in to show face? At the end of the day “Homegrown” talent will have the fans enthusing more than an overpaid wannabe/has-been.
Not only Golbourne, but Ricketts would be better at left back than Rowe. I know he’s mostly played at right back for Wolves, but he’s excellent in either position.
Like many of you, I had mixed feelings about the game. Delighted with the win of course and especially the clean sheet. But in the first half I lost count of the number of attempted passes that went into touch. I think we try too many ambitious long balls out to the wings or over the top for Dicko to chase. And apart from Sako and Dicko, our attack is not very penetrative.
However the second half was much better. Kevin McDonald was close to his good form of last season. My moment of the match was Dicko’s goal. He was going to score and there was nothing that two Boro defenders and their goalkeeper could do about it. A goal in open play too!
The Boro manager, George Friend, practically all the Northern papers and football sites all say we outplayed a team that was the all singing all dancing team of the moment. Prior to the match it was,” if we beat the Wolves by playing as we know we are capable of playing we go top of the league.”
Wolves fans the length and breadth of the Country (myself included) were stunned into disbelief as to why our form seemed to have deserted us of late, no explanation just surprise at 11 goals against us.
Kenny was “Disappointed” with the defence’s lack of ability to keep clean sheets, something he was proud of and rightly so. The team were rightly defending each other and no blame being apportioned to any individual but instead solidarity within the team. Even though we know they were nervous, lacking in confidence, looking over their shoulders at players desperate to get a game and trying to put things right.
Last night with the exception of a small period of play after us scoring, when we again allowed them to run at us, this I don’t feel is unusual given what they had gone through in the last few games, they wanted as much as us to put it right. But they got to half time, got a gentle flea in the ear from Kenny and came out and settled down. No, by no stretch of the imagination did we play great, but given the set of circumstances they found themselves in, they were professional and a lot more clinical of late.
The twefth man was amazing they got behind the team and spurred them on, elements of the game were still not as tidy as we have come to expect, but a point I noticed, at half time I went to the loo and looked up at the tele screens to see the stats.
Wolves shots on target 1, Boro 2
Wolves corners 4 Boro 8
Fouls Wolves 2 Boro 6
As we now know, that was blown away in the second half, McDonald 2 screamers, Edwards 1 header, Jacobs a screamer into the side netting and many more not so potent but still fired up the other end.
That to me is the players answeting all us critics the best way possible. Also, it must be noted, we didn’t get out of second gear to beat the team of the moment so convincingly.
I for one feel there is a lot more to come, I think the sun shines out of Goldbournes Rectal passage, but Kenny picks the team and I can’t do anything to change his mind.
Any bloggers going to Leeds on Saturday, fancy a beer in the upper tier of the Wolves end, it should be a giggle and 3 points are there for us to lose.
Onwards & Upwards.
🙂
Hear hear mate, my sentiments entirely. Happy with us not playing too well but taking all the points.
I will wear my Wolves Blogger T shirt on Saturday so hopefully I will get to meet up with you for a beer.
Nobody mentioned the new Wolves back four from yesterday.
Here’s an Ikeme eye view of them defending a free kick.
I was there and I never got a close up like that! Awesome.
No wonder he flapped at a couple of crosses. Still that tight unit couldn’t fail to impress…
Jackett did call for more upfront, a good rear guard action with lots of movement in the middle.
🙂
didnt play that well but very welcome 3 points against a side that were flying ,hopefully bought a bit of confidence back into the team .like most comments whats going on with golbourne who i really rate .please kj dont start putting square pegs in round holes .sorry to moan but whats happened to those missing fans only 18,000 last night .lets make the golden palace a fortress and a wall of noise with another few thousand please .WOLVES AY WE
Lets all look at the positives ,3 points , 2 goals should have been more ,clean sheet.
just what was needed,so no complaints from me..
Ho except the GOLDBOURNE MYSTERY something smells a bit like when McIdiot was hear. He must be on the naughty table-Bench.. ??????????????.
UTW.
Comparing Rowe’s performance last night to Ward is doing the Irishman a disservice, Rowe was awful. The problem is we kept a clean sheet so the same back four will probably remain. It was a bitty performance throughout I thought, littered with errors in the first half. But we got the points which mattered and Dicko’s goal was simply awesome. No service all night so why not just head for goal. Pure class.
as for the GOLDBOURNE MYSTERY , why are so many people spelling his name like that ? Is it a new nickname because of his hair – something to do with our GOLD and black colours -or what….
by the way, from what I’ve seen of him, he was our most consistently good player, who I thought was one of the first on the team sheet every week………
JHP
Well spotted that man, I for one have been so busy trying to include the E on the end of his name that I had not realised I was adding the D. I did know the spelling as well.
Good man JHP, we must try harder. Sorry Skot, my apologies (just kidding)
🙂
Scott Golbourne appreciation society.
He may well we called Golbourne but I was born gold and that’s all that matters to me.
I think the pertinent question behind all this is: “What are the Wolves’ board and management’s real goals and plans for Wolves?”. I say this because whether we are 1st, 7th or 10th come end of season won’t matter one bit unless they are really prepared to invest properly to make a good go of it in the EPL. Be under no illusions: the current team we have is a good Championship team, and no more. It is not a Premier League ready team.
If Wolves management (Moxey, Morgan, …) are finally prepared to pay what Premier League quality costs, then I would argue that our current position of 4th, just 3 points off top spot, is an excellent one to be in. One thing we can be sure of is that come the end of the season, the table will look different to what it does today, so being close to the top like we are is spot on for being in for it when it comes to the final push. We are in excellent shape.
But to date I have seen nothing to show me anything has changed when it comes to spending money on premier quality players, to add to the few we already have. We have all seen the whole striker saga unfold in just cheap acquisitions, landing us with Leon Cakk and Sagbo, when better players were available but cost money. Same for the summer signings like Rowe. Moxey didn’t exactly break his piggy bank did he?
This doesn’t mean there aren’t good young players out there that can be found for little cash and lower wages … and indeed KJ has done a great job finding some of these and using the home grown talent, some of which will become Premier quality. But the problem with this whole process of building from youth and searching for those undiscovered diamonds in the rough is that by the time you find the right person to strengthen one position, one is likely to lose another in a different position. (It would be a shame if Sako buggered off by the time we solved the striker problem, wouldn’t you say? :-))
Wolves in my mind need to decide whether they are finally prepared to make a concerted assault for promotion with a quality team so that this time perhaps we can stay in the EPL, or whether they just want to play in the “bargain” business, tapping into their youth system, and pretend to flirt with the occasional promise of promotions that won’t last more than a couple of seasons. It’s easy to say things like “we want to be another Everton” or “our aim is to bring European football to Molineux”, but the fact is we are as far away from fulfilling these cliches as we have ever been.
The club has made a remarkable recovery from the pits of doom we were all staring at a couple of seasons ago under that clown Saunders, and find themselves just 1 win away from top spot in the Championship. I cannot think of a better time than now to seriously invest in the next step to take advantage of the hard work and results KJ and team have put in so far.
Or we can keep bringing in players that just end up on the bench and thread water … which will it be Morgan and Moxey? There’s no better time than now.
Go Wolves!
Excellent analysis Go Wolves.
Is Morgan really interested in building a top club or is he just hoping to cash in on Premiership money now and then, as cheaply as he can?
Personally, I would rather stay in the F72 than have another 2 or 3 years of half hearted failure like the last one.
I said last time, if you want to join an exclusive club you have to pay big money. If you decide the transfer fees and wages are extortionate(which they are, even immoral) and are non-sustainable, then stay down the working man’s.
It’s all so frustrating because the building blocks are there ready.
All we need is Morgan to be brave enough to say, ‘LET’S GO FOR IT!’
A welcome win, but and it’s a big BUT what’s going on in Kennys head, he’s dropped our best outfield player Mr consistant Golbourne for the new Stephen Ward a k a Rowe no Ricketts no Jacobs .
I’m struggling not to fall out with Kenny, because we’ve seen all this before players being turned ( unsuccessfully) from one thing into another and it’s never worked. They say history repeats its self and that you should look back into history to learn the lessons your predecessors egnores, Hitler , should have looke at what happened to Napoleons campaign in Russia then mat be he would not have lost an entire army.
Learn the lesson Kenny please as I’ve said I dont want to fall out with you or see you go the same way a certain over inflated egotistic Yorkshire man from Barsley.
These those players served you well they deserve a chance to prove themselves, I don’t care what the others have done in training it’s what they done on a Saturday that matters and they’ve done no where near enough to replace there colleagues, there have been many a Cruff, Pele’s in training the new this and the new that but when it game to the real thing the game that mattered on a Saturday flattered to deceive the analogs of football are littered with players with false reputations who could not turn it on when it really mattered
Only time will tell, I can see the likes of Golbourne and Jacobs attracting interest I’m amazed no one has noticed Golbourne. If there’s been a falling out, SORT it out but your replaceing a Rolls Royce with a Citron micro.
The balance of the team has been affected morale has been affected confidence has been affected.and that’s not just the players……..the fans too!
With regard to the misspelling of Golbourne’s name…
Well blow me down!
I’ve never even noticed that.
It’s a fair cop JHP. You’ve got me bang to rights.
I will make sure from now on that I have the correct
GolBOURNE IDENTITY
Because at left back I think he shows his
GolBOURNE SUPREMACY
I would be very tempted to issue KJ a
GolBOURNE ULTIMATUM
To return the man to his rightful position so that he can fulfill his
GolBOURNE LEGACY.
Come on you boys in Old Gol and Black!!
Old Gol ………… love it.
This Blog site just ouses class
This is the Golbourne / Goldbourne family crest, looks a little familiar methinks.
🙂
Can’t wait for Saturday when we take Leeds apart. And having a beer with you before the game.
We’re on Coach two if your’e around when we arrive,failing that see you inside by the beer stand about 2-15 ish.
07710-449440
🙂