If only we could have swapped the first 30 minutes of the Stoke game with this one, then we’d probably be sat in 14th place looking forward to Christmas.
Unfortunately for us all, we can’t get the opening stages of this fixture back, just like we can’t rewind the clock to rectify the wretched second half showing on Saturday.
In an often pulsating game with 23 shots on target, the one big paradox is that there’s nothing much to talk about on the pitch.
Not quite poor enough for the ‘Mick Out’ brigade to shout too loudly, and not quite good enough to get the three points.
Just stuck in 17th place for what feels like a lifetime and a tasteless crumb of comfort through that little word called ‘if.’
Despite the woeful Adam Hammill late header, the Fletcher offside decision and the hopeless performance of Roger Johnson, there is nothing much left to see here folks.
Everything that happens from now on is largely immaterial in comparison to the moving and shaking that simply has to happen in January.
We all know that the players are a stoic, committed bunch and we all know they will sweat blood for the cause.
What I know on last night’s showing is that with three quality additions in January, we will become a decent Premier League team.
Our second half performance was as progressive as I can remember and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute – until Norwich scored a thoroughly preventable goal that no other team in this league would ever get caught out with.
It was naive, soft, weak and it underlines why we will get relegated unless something is done in January.
If Nedem Onoura comes in to partner the quite brilliant Christophe Berra (and that was an understatement) we will shore up our defence immeasurably.
If Kenwyne Jones is signed to partner Steven Fletcher, then the goals will be scored far more freely.
And if the speed of Lewis McGugan replaces the one-paced Hunt and offsets the near-unplayable Matt Jarvis, then we will mount more attacks than ever.
The big if now is whether Steve Morgan will make these deals – or similar signings of this ilk – a reality come January 1.
If he doesn’t, then he doesn’t need me to tell him where we’ll end up.
Good write-up Ben, and I generally agree. But I’m interested in your “three quality additions in January”: how you think we will possibly procure the services of the likes of Onouha, K. Jones and McGugun (or equivalent quality) given all the talk being bandied about of a 3 million “war-chest”? Or has that all changed and I’ve missed it?
Yes, the need to stiffen up the spine of the team as you suggest has been nose-on-face obvious for the whole of the current campaign. But the club has made no noises to suggest that we are suddenly going to splash a load of cash.
So, I’ll be amazed if we even get one such quality player. Three just seems to be completely out of the question.
£4.5 million seems to be the amount now being banded around.
Assuming we haven’t spent significant dosh on this bloke from Hearts, I’m praying we use most of the rest for Onouha and make a loan signing to play up front.
Cheers mate. If you are right, which I think you probably are, then we go down. It’s that simple.
Of course, Morgan might say Mick has already £49 million so he ain’t getting any more.
If he does think this way, then Mick must go and someone else must come in as this team will not stay up as it stands – no matter how hard working and admirable it is.
Morgan watches this and he must see that with some decent quality we will survive and finish above a team like Norwich.
If he simply doesn’t want to invest in the team full stop, then he needs to come out and tell us what he’s thinking.
After all, we’d all trade in the new North Bank for a Premier League team.
I called this upon news of the stadium expansion. We would all have rather seen those funds spent on premier league players and wages – get the results then worry about the capacity. But, as ever with Wolves, we seem to continually do things the hard way or the wrong way.
I’m glad you highlighted the performance of Berra mate. I thought he was different class last night – a colossus, doing the defending of two men (just as well).
Johnson was again very poor, dragged out of position for the first goal and skinned for the second, he continues to look slow, frail and well, just plain awful.
Surely Stearman must be pushing for a place alongside Berra? He simply couldn’t do any worse.
There were other pluses in the shape of Jarvis (again excellent), Milijas (played the whole 90?!) and Ward, who I thought was superb.
Like you mate, based on last night, I just hope the lion share of the January kitty is being reserved for a pacey center-half to play with Berra.
You’re right to mention Ward’s excellent performance – some of the cross-field passes he was hitting were sensational
I’m getting a little sick of the constant battering of Roger Johnson. The first goal, like Crouch’s header on Saturday, was on Ward when he first ruined the offside-trap and then lost the dual. And the second goal i really have no idea who should have marked him, but that may have been Johnson. Either way, I think it’s too easy just blaming Johnson for every goal that goes against us. I see no criticism for Zubars karate-kick that should have been a penalty. Norwich has scored 27 goals so far this season, bettered only by the top5. Of course Wolves is gonna allow one or two to get it, that doesn’t mean that our back4 is complete trash. I thought Johnson did a good game, he works his ass of and does a lot better than you guys give him credit for. Berra, for all his improvement, is still doing wrestling inside our penalty area. I’d like to see that stop before we switch out Johnson.
And who cares that we haven’t won against any of the promoted sides, it’s not like those three are the worst teams in the premier league. We’ve beaten Wigan, Blackburn, Fulham and Sunderland, and we’ve played well against Aston Villa, Stoke and Norwich. The ones we’ve beaten are the ones who we will be competing with against relegation, together with Bolton and hopefully Aston Villa. It seems you’re all thinking we’re gonna be top12, I’m happy with anything above 17th.
I just call it as I see it mate, and Johnson was absolutely woeful. Let’s not forget the context of this signing either. He was lauded as the answer to our prayers, and he is worse than Craddock.
He doesn’t organise, he doesn’t encourage and he doesn’t lead. He got pulled all over the place for Norwich’s first, five mins after Morison made him look like a statue and flashed one wide. He then had ample opportunity to cut the cross out at source for their second and inexplicably allowed the ball to come in, having backed off in his new-look customary manner.
Did you not expect better than this? It wouldn’t be so bad if he hadn’t have battered us Wolves fans by calling us morons (or whatever words he chose) earlier in the season.
I’m taking it you condone than particular battering?
Well I don’t recall exactly what Johnson called us, but I do remember being pegged as fickle, and I wholeheartedly agree. It’s not long ago since all Henry, Ward, Berra and Stearman we’re absolute trash and had nothing to do in the Premiership. Then Johnson comes along and after two weeks you all claimed him to be exactly what we needed, he was not only excellent in all he did but he made all other players better. Ward was suddenly our star left back even though we the entire summer were whining about Mick not signing a new left back. Henry has been our best man some matches this fall when Jarvis hasn’t been bringing the goods, and Stearman has played well.
Of course, now that we drew against Norwich this is all history. Our entire squad is now trash, except of course Jarvis who has had three good games combined this season. Johnson should be sold because he’s had a couple of bad games. Ebanks-Blake, our fat, slow and clumsy version of Doyle, is a gift from God, and Doyle should have been sold 2 years ago while we “had the chance”. It shouldn’t be long until the fans start hating on Fletcher for something as well.
I might have expected something better than this, but I am every week blown away by the fighting spirit of our 11+ men, and I feel we’re getting better for each game. You might not care since we only got 1 point (even though we clearly deserved 3), but in reality it is more satisfying for me to watch us play this football instead of last years defensive barf, even if it does get us relegated.
You are ‘every week blown away by the fighting spirit of our 11 men?!’ Did you go to Goodison Park, for example? (I did, for £35) Or our insipid showings at home to QPR, Chelsea and Man City? (to name but four games)
You see whatever you want to see and you slag off fellow Wolves fans for the fact we are struggling so badly to make a fist of our third season in the Premier League.
Your sarcasm really does wear thin, particularly when our chief executive last night said:
“Wolves have underachieved.”
So by your definition Jez Moxey is fickle as well?
Some Happy Clappers have the most warped logic when it comes to their obsessive dogmatism. Wolves are bad = fickle fans. Wolves are good = in spite of fickle fans.
So who is right then? You, or the majority of all Wolves fans and the bloke that Mick McCarthy reports to?
I’m all for a healthy debate, but I really object to supposed fans slagging off their own fellow fans in an idle, lazy attempt to pedal an agenda that even Jez Moxey and Mick McCarthy has moved on from.
Newsflash: Wolves fans are wonderful. (much as you hate the fact)
I’d think you as a writer of the somewhat official wolves blog could be less subjective when replying to comments. My sarcasm isn’t directed towards you in particular, but I read a lot of comments on facebook, wolvesbloog and Express&Star and the general feeling is that no one are happy with nothing. Three seasons ago we were in the championship, and now we’re a somewhat established premier league club. It’s all about having some perspective and some realistic expectations.
It’s clearly you that has the warped logic here – you peg me as a happy clapper simply because I’m not as negative as you, while you claim that wolves fans are wonderful in that they applaud at the stadium and then go home to write angry comments and blogs. Your entire post is toxic, how can we have a healthy debate when you say that i make a lazy attempt to pedal an old agenda. I have no such agenda, this is a comment on a blog, I’m not starting a revolution… Instead of making such a hateful comment you could actually reply on some of the criticism i give. Do you not agree that we all used to hate Ward and now he’s our best player? Is it not rash to suddenly want Johnson out after ~18 games?
I don’t hate the fact that wolves fans are wonderful, why would I? No I wasn’t at Goodison Park, in fact I have yet to actually be at a match as I am a student from Norway and have only been a fan for a few years. I still think I qualify to have an opinion.
If you want to write sarcastic claptrap while simultaneously marginalising fans like me – who pay 500quid a year to cheer on the lads every home game – don’t start preaching to me about being impartial.
Being a student from Norway, you doubtless gorge out on stigmas of fans ‘hating’ players.
It’s a falsehood.
We were promised better than this by the club, so don’t get all sanctimonious and precious because I happen to expect a little bit more than the 49million spectacle I’m currently watching.
Of course you qualify to have an opinion, but expect me to challenge it if you slag off Wolves fans who have been a damn sight more patient and supportive than any rival set of fans in the same echelons of the league.
And no, we didn’t all hate Ward. Most of us thought that he wasn’t good enough, that’s all.
Well said ben,where’s this bloke coming from,did he say norway.
Armchair fan me thinks,he wants to come over and see for himself what we
have to put up with,i know we moan and groan about the football but we pay
for that privilege.having said that he’s poor student and can’t really afford to
come over so i would if i was him be a bit more reserved in his comments.
If you’re wondering where I’m coming from johnok just read my goddamn post, it’s right there above yours..
Anyway, I seem to have struck out in finding men to discuss with. Apparently my opinion “matters”, though I have to pay 500 quid a year for it to be worth a damn. Armchairfan or not, I buy the kits and the occasional beanie and I would certainly love being able to go to the game every weekend.
I only wrote here because I enjoy reading this blog, but I had recently found the posts to be overly negative and especially against Roger Johnson whom I believe to be much better than you give him credit for. It sure wasn’t my intention to put down on wolves fans in general, so for that i apologize.
I am sorry Gebb, I over reacted big time. I just think we are great as fans and I wasn’t as reasoned as I should have been. You do make some valid points..I do agree, things are a lot better than they’ve been in most of the years and i go back to my blog in that with 3 quality signings we will be fine. I can’t see it happening though. Apologies again
Well yea, sorry for being kind of a douche.
But yeah we could really need a few new signings. The islandic fella is gonna get his chances now that O’Hara’s out until February, and it’d be nice to have an extra central back to at least give Johnson competition for his spot, no matter how good or bad he is. I’m sure we could get Frimpong, but seeing him tonight vs Aston Villa wasn’t exactly encouraging.
Apologies, nothing to apologize for old lad.anyway if and when you do
manage to get over to watch your beloved wolves i’ll be in the Hogshead if you fancy a drink of good old real ale..Seasons greetings.
gebb.
“I am every week blown away by the fighting spirit of our 11+ men, and I feel we’re getting better for each game.”
God, you sound like McNumpty. Getting better each game? Norwich out passed us most of the match and really should’ve been two or three up in the first half. We offered nothing in the second half against Stoke and have shown absolutely no courage or commitment in recent outings against Everton, Man United and Chelsea.
Based on those nonsensical comments, I wouldn’t be surprised if other readers thought you were Mick McCarthy writing under a pseudonym.
Mick (Gebb) out.
Well I sure wouldn’t want to be Mick these days. Norwich out passed us the first 40 minutes, the rest of the game was largely ours. The first half against Stoke we absolutely dominated and they were lucky not to be down by more than one, even if you don’t count the red card they surely should have had. I really do think we’re playing better, and I don’t really care if you don’t. No one are forcing you to be a wolves fan.
Good morning Ben.
I see the Express & Star website match report says the team needs fresh blood, fresh ideas and fresh impetus, well that will only come with the arrival of a new manager.
As for last night, we were outplayed for 30 minutes by a team playing the modern way with 3 midfielders, with good movement and passing at pace. Henry who I thought was excellent did his best to compete but with the lumbering Mijas offering limited support, we couldn`t get near them.
It is to the players immense credit that despite MM outdated tactics and team set up, we didn`t lose, but at 1-0 down Morrison beat Ward (no great surpise there) to a cross, and with a Hugh Mcilmoyle style flying header on the run, (BEN ask your dad about that) headed straight at Hennessey, a couple of yards either way then we are 2-0 down and going to lose.
Not good enough to take the many chances we created, but have to be impressed with Hammill`s movement off the ball, compared to Hunt`s laboured efforts. Is it only me who thinks he has lost a couple of yards of pace since last season.
Just another example to show we can`t play 442, with isolated wingers and only 2 in midfield, one of who is so slow and unfit for premiership purpose that its no wonder we struggle. Overall a great game of football to watch, but little quality and for a must win match, simply not good enough MM. Where on earth do we go from here?
Agree. We don’t (probably) have the money to invest in wholesale changes to the team, therefore the better solution would be to bring in a new coach who can freshen things up and bring a new impetus to the players that are already there.
Maybe he’d play a different 11? Maybe he’d give certain players a kick up the arse? Maybe he’d invest in better targets during January (if we assume that he’d buy better than Mick which is arguable as some of Mick’s signings have been good and others bad).
I’m afraid that drastic measures probably need to be taken as we aren’t going to hang on to 17th forever simply due to other teams’ results.
Well, it was an exciting game for a neutral but the result is hugely disappointing – like you say, we do need investment in January but with our upcoming fixtures we will be finding ourselves in the drop zone…
If it’s all the same to you guys though, I’m going to avoid the comments page on here – despite our second half performance, a draw was still not good enough for us!
Just don’t want to feel gloomy on Christmas! 😛
Eggart Jonsson is signed! Exciting signing.
I expected to see Forde at the end of the match. The problem is that he plays on the left side, and Jarvis has to move over to the right wing. An alternative to Hunt and Hammill should be Ismail
If we buy K.Jones or Zamora, we’ll have a strike force similar to Norwich. Both their strikers scores a lot of goals, and that means a lot. After all our attacking strategy is wing play.
Johnson has improved, looks stronger physically, and will continue to improve. Berra also struggled in his first season (maybe because of our rigid zone defence play. Onoura would be a welcomed additioned, but not crucial.
Yesterday we all saw how dangerous Ebanks Blake is. His goal was a typical goal scorer goal, and he could have scored earlier in the match, but the keeper saved the first attempt – the shot that was so hard that the keeper had to make a rebound, which Hunt blasted over. He worked hard through out the whole match. And given his total playing time this year, his performance was very good.
i agree Johnson has looked slow and clumsy (not to mention a little bit lost) at times but it has also struck me that Berra (in particular), Ward and both Stearman and now Zubar look vastly improved with him alongside. Perhaps it’s because he’s so rubbish he makes them look good or perhaps it’s something to do with the fact that he clearly talks non stop for the whole game (like captains are supposed to i guess). I only say this because I watched blackburn the other day and dann was crap but when i saw him play for Birmingham (with Johnson) he looked a really good player. Also Johnson has played less than 20 games for us so i don’t think we should write him off just yet.
After the first twenty minutes in which Norwich were really quite outstanding – i don’t understand fans reluctance to say this about the opposition. so what if they just came up and, incidentally, wasn’t their left back good? – down the left we looked very impressive going forward. This team have a remarkable spirit, that there is no denying, and it is epitomised by Ward (who really deserves better from the fans i feel – again a strange reluctance to praise) and he and Jarvis are developing a formidable premier league partnership which is clearly cause for optimism. The irony that it is Ward, Henry and Berra who (along with Hennessey) are excelling this season should not be lost on the boo boys. We have gained more points from a losing position than any other premiership team so far this season. If we could just work out what to do when we are in front…
Which boo boys do you allude to?
The ones that make banners at home games to hound out their manager. (Oh no, that was Sunderland)
The ones that fly a plane over the ground with a manager out banner? Or write on the back of their jackets with tip-ex (Blackburn)
Or those Villa lot who create a new Holte End placard for whichever manager who they take a dislike to (O’Leary, Houllier, McCleish to follow soon no doubt)
I’ve never heard a Wolves fan boo Ward, Henry or Berra. I’ve heard a few sarcastically cheer when Henry was subbed v Swansea – a reaction not even confirmed to be aimed at Henry, more the manager.
I’ll quote Sir Jack Hayward in saying that: “Wolves fans are the best in the world.”
How about Paul Ince saying: “Wolves fans are the best I have ever played for, including Liverpool, Man Utd and Inter.”
With 4 wins all season and just 9 points out of 48, I’d understand it if we had some boo boys, (like Man Utd have, even while beating Chelsea 3-1 at home and BOOING Carrick; Arsenal booing in a PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY!!!)
Please can we consign this boo boy myth to the dustbin, seeing as our biggest detractor Mick McCarthy only ever praises us these days.
Seriously, the inadequecies of this team is not the fans’ fault.
You’re right, the team does have a remarkable spirit. Stoic and committed were the words I used. Not good enough though, if stats and performances are to go by.
Well said Ben. Spot on.
Where has all this talk of us signing Kenwyne Jones come from? And surely any mention of us picking up Zamora is a little wide of the mark? Unless it is Jock Zamora from Inverness Caledonian Thistle or some other Scottish Premier team.
LOL…the Scottish goal machine Jock Zamora
Not that I’m necessarily part of the Mick out brigade, but the simple fact is we should be beating Norwich at home. 1 point from those 6 available says it all. We were far from brilliant in the second half either.
On a serious note, looking at the fixtures doesn’t anyone else think, barring a miracle, we’re mathematically down? I reckon we’ll get anther 17 points this season, which leaves us on 32… It’ll be a lower tally to stay up this year, but surely 36 is a minimum.
Happy Christmas
I’m worried, but strangely not quite as much as last year. Yes we’ve been awful at times but how awful are the teams below us?
I’m remaining positive because we always tend to have a strong finish to a season. And the last couple of years we’ve come up trumps with a couple of signings in January (O’hara and Hammil last year), hopefully Onuha and Frimpong this year. That said I am getting sick of us needing it, just once I’d like comfortable mediocrity. A season where were not looking furtively at the results of the three teams at the bottom, a season where every loss doesn’t feel like the nail in the coffin, a season where we can look at the teams struggling with a sense of sympathy rather than a sense of schadenfreude (and before anybody says it I want it in the PL not Championship!).
Come on the three M’s and the lads feel our pain. Surprise us all with a couple of results against the big boys and get us out of the mire a bit earlier this season!!
I doubt we can afford Onouha’s wages
Last night while watching the match some things were obvious.
We play better when the back four are closer to the midfield and the midfield are closer to their goal.
We should have one winger who can swap sides (Jarvis), as one of the central two always drifts wide.
Too often, (I think managerial instructions), the midfield try to work the ball to the left side, Jarvis and Ward. It is predictable and another reason to play an extra attacking midfielder. In the 2nd half yesterday with Milijas and Henry further forward they looked a good pair. If, instead of Hunt, we had say ) O’Hara having a free role but also getting back defensively, we’d be a much better team.
Also, I agree with what others said about Johnson, the back four are better for his presence. He made some excellent interventions as well as the mistakes.
I’m not a happy clapper. I do feel the team would be improved by another manager. However, I am not so sure we will go down, after last night’s performance.
Onouha, Jones and McGugan = very happy Haywood Wolf. Most likely occurence = Eggert (happened), Frimpong and Diame, which isn’t bad either. We must buy.
Has anyone seen the prem league table after tonights results.Thats what 1 point out of 6 does
we’er hovering over the dreaded abyss,i fear we’ll be in it soon,who’s to blame THEY ARE.
From a very disgruntled fan.FTAO.
Main observations from the game. Stephen Hunt should not play. He’s slow, gives silly fouls away, constantly gives away possession. His inadequacies make it easier for teams to double up on Jarvo, as we can only attack down one wing! Berra was outstanding, I’ve said it a few times this season but he’s deceivingly fast, and I think his qualities are masked by the fact that he does like a bit of a wrestle. I really feel for Karl Henry… Milijas is a 60 minute player at the moment, and Zubar is OOP so often that Henry has to be everywhere. And finally, 3 games in a row I’ve been drenched in the north bank. We should be getting more than £40 off next year!
Used up a lot of the more winnable home games now. Will be reliant on beating our rivals away in the second half of the season. McNumpty out.