Somewhere, locked away in the deepest, most optimistic recesses of my mind, I hoped every game in League One would be like this.
Wolves tying inferior opposition up in knots, moving the ball around the vast Molineux pitch and clocking up chances by the minute.
Make no mistake about it, if Kenny Jackett’s side have been effective up to this point, last night they were spectacular.
In every way a football team can be better than the opposition, Wolves were that as they completely took the Michael out of Tranmere from minute one to ninety.
Even before Leigh Griffiths’ hopeful punt squirmed under Owain Fon Williams to put his side ahead, Tranmere’s goal had been thoroughly peppered.
As the first half progressed, the only concern was that such total domination wouldn’t result in a second goal, leaving us open to an unlikely, yet not improbable, second half comeback.
Dave Edwards quashed those fears, nodding home a delicious Bakary Sako corner to engage full-on cruise control as Wolves cantered back to the top of the league.
Individually, everyone was superb. Alex Ferguson said in his recent book that in any good team performance, 8 players need to perform well, but you can carry 3. There were no passengers last night.
Well, maybe Carl Ikeme, who was given a deserved break from the spotlight as his defence comfortably dealt with anything the opposition could muster. They only managed one shot on target all night.
As Kenny Jackett demands, both his full-backs pushed forward well to support the attack. Samuel Ricketts in particular bursting a lung. His 80 yard dash just prior to the interval was a sight to behold, even if the finish was lacking.
In midfield the McDonald Edwards partnership was again imperious, ensuring a steady supply to our front four, whilst quickly neutralising any possible threat.
And with a wealth of possession, Sako and Jacobs really filled their boots. The only disappointment was that neither were able to find the decisive finish that their neat approach work merited.
Jacobs is the type of player we so rarely see in a gold shirt; quick, lithe and technically blessed. He was Man of the Match by a distance last night and that’s without a telling final ball.
Doyle carried on where he left off on in the first half Saturday, dropping into the pockets and linking the play together. It’s wonderful to see him enjoying his football again and rediscovering some of that swagger. If only he could shoot.
One player that can strike the ball is Leigh Griffiths and for the second game running, the Scot could have snagged a 45-minute hat-trick. But his overall play was superb and it was a luxury to rest him up ahead of the weekend.
Jake Cassidy won’t want to relive his horror miss, stroking the ball wide from 6 yards with the goal wide open. He worked hard thereafter and did some good things, but as Kenny Jackett suggests ‘he needs a goal’.
Peterborough on Saturday would be a nice place to get one Jake. We head there in arguably the best shape we’ve been in all season.
And with their recent dip in form, that optimistic voice in the back of mind is getting louder.
I like being first. But I like Wolves being first even better. Well done lads.
FOWB
Good blog Thomas. We were very good last night and should have scored more. We have to enjoy these type of games because as we all know there not all as easy. Roll on Saturday
Yeah our test has been the few games starting with Brentford till the end of the year, we have a few games against those there and thereabouts, if we can keep the points rolling in and win most draw the off one and lose none then the New Year should provide the confirmation that our team is good enough to make the jump to the next league up.
Santa, give me that and I’ll be a very happy man
That league table just starts looking better and better doesn’t it – and it seems like the perfect time to take on the Posh as well! Onwards and upwards!
Fantastic performance by the boys last night – 23 shots with 8 on target shows it could have been double figures 😉
Hope Cassidy finds his shooting boots soon !
Peterborough on Saturday is a game I am looking forward to !
Fully agree with all of the above comments. Isn’t it great to see the team which Kenny has promised for so long coming together at last? Coupled with their display on Saturday against Brentford, the fans are being treated to some really good displays of what football is all about. Now work on the finishing/scoring aspect Kenny and we will have the complete skill-set. Btw Jacobs seems yet another excellent loan signing with great potential to lift the team to even better performances.
It’s certainly all looking positive at this stage and a good time to play Posh away from home, when they seem to have lost their way somewhat. I can’t wait until Saturday – it’s just a pity that our away numbers have been so limited by Posh for this fixture but that won’t stop us making all the noise we can. COYW
Happy Days – keep ’em coming!
UTW
I haven’t felt so happy since I….
But I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone about that.
Isn’t it great to support a proper team?
Not just eleven disparate players, but a team that are playing for each other – and the manager.
How long is it since we’ve witnessed that?
I always had faith that Edwards would eventually come good. Just hope he keeps injury free.
And to cap it all, I took the present Mrs DG’er into Bath last night to see Peter Blake talk about his new illustrated book and got him to sign the front of my original Sergeant Pepper album.
Two great results in one night!
You took the her in the bath?????
I mean
You took her in the bath??
Damn spellchick!
You are a very boy smutty!
Rearrange into a well known phrase or saying.
Very smutty. Are you a boy?
no, but I like young ones….I am a priest!!
Close.
And I was the last time I looked.
And Posh’s main man and top scorer is suspended Saturday x
Barcelona in Wolves shirts;) truly majestic at times, we should have 5 at least, still 3 points and clean sheet Bostin.
Despite having bald Scooped as house guest, with his match day socks which I swear haven’t been washed for ages, another day for the moronic grin.
More clean sheets than Ringwood Hall Hotel, and I understand Ikeme had time to sit in his deck chair and sip a cuppa!
It feels great to see the baffled stares of people in the stores as I go around singing
“Wanderers, Wanderers, top of the league”
Lovely Jubbley, FO wb
There is a nice bit of film of the lad Eusebio scoring two goals for the under 17s.
One a real cracker!
But he isn’t quite the complete striker yet – he can’t get his shirt off to celebrate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJMZ3QKX9Ss
He scored for the u-21, yes: http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/bancessi-at-the-double-211113-1187216.aspx.
What a prospect.
I really hope Torras, the former Barca player, is getting his work permit fixed soon. I don’t think he’s had his debut yet.
Great write up Thomas. Very much appreciated.
Sounded (and looked from the highlights I saw) like my 4-0 prediction wouldn’t have been far off if we had managed to convert more of the chances we created.
And another solid defensive display, for once not so reliant on the mighty Ikeme to keep the score in our favor.
Just like Goldbourne said in the week, we have to stop being so reliant on Karl. Well done the lads for effectively giving him the night off.
It is so good to be Wolves fan again. Long may the Jackett revolution continue.
Bring on the Posh.
Always fun to read these write-ups and the blogs, especially after a win. And not only did we win yesterday, but those around us also dropped points, so the day couldn’t have been scripted any better ahead of our little holiday of Thanksgiving here in the US. 🙂
I especially like that nice little gap that is widening above 3rd place. Not so long ago the top three were all within a point or just goal difference apart. Now the gap is widening, and we get a chance to continue to build on that gap on Saturday.
From listening to the game yesterday it felt like Wolves were driving with their hand-brake on! All those chances and only 2 goals … I’d love to see what will start to happen as they get more confident and even better as a team. Release the hand break! 🙂 Could have easily been 4-0. But no complaints. I’ll take 2-0 and no injuries any day.
It’s a long marathon, not a sprint. Just keep up the winning pace.
Go Wolves!
There is no LONG Marathon, a marathon is a marathon lol – I get your meaning though.
At half time I thought that my prediction of 3-0 was looking pretty good, shame about the barn door problem with our strikers. Couldn`t get to the Golden Palace on Saturday, but those around me said we played even better last night. That was the best I`ve seen the lads play for ages, the most one sided 2-0 win I can remember.
Thomas you are dead right, everyone was on the game last night, although we missed one on ones at Notts Co, and our shooting last night was awful, but if we continue to create chances like we did last night, buying my half season ticket last week can only be considered a good move, and as for Jacob – are we getting him permanently after his loan, he is a little gem.
Having predicted a 3-0 win I was feeling a little cocky at half time, anticipating three points for the prediction league, but our strikers had the barn door problem in the second 45 minutes. Those around me said Wolves played even better than Saturday`s game last night, and I thought it was the best I`ve seen the team play for several seasons. All that work on the training pitch could at last be paying off.
Are we signing Jacob on a full contract after his loan deal, imagine the side with him and Henry in together, what a football feast that would be. Onwards and upwards.
Just watched the highlights and there wasn’t one attack from Tranmere, got to say I am loving that!!…that gap to 3rd is getting wider, and the point we got on the opening day is looking like a good result as we expected, now if we could just have a one off afternoon I reckon a good 6-7 nil mauling is on the cards?
Thanks again for the write up Thomas!
UTW
Spot on Thomas, cannot remember a Wolves side pinging the ball about with so much confidence has they did last night, they ran rings around Tranmere. Hope this is the early seeds of the style of play we were hoping for, only slight moan was the lack of shots on target in the second half, great team display all the same ; Jacobs was excellent as was Doyle.
Over the moon (a) at the result, (b) top of the league again (c) the teams performance
I should also be happy that changing from my 2-1 to a 2-0 prediction gets me double point.
However, I would rather, having read the reports, seen the scoreline that Clive from Houston always goes for and it be 5-1!!!!
Should have been more,but who cares.
3 Points and a clean sheet what more can we ask for,Great team performance
MAJESTIC….UTW.
Excellent! Well played the lads, and long may it continue. (The dog-eat-dog scrapping in the rest of the division, Orient apart, isn’t doing us much harm either!)
Zip-a-dee-do-da-zip-a-dee-a. Its the truth. Its actual. Everything is satisfactual.fowb.
It was awesome, I can’t remember a performance like that for eons! The midfield two were a real source of strength, Edwards running all over the place but purposefully. He directed play & at one point was shouting at the team to get back after an attack.
Him & McDonald get the ball deep, and they look so secure in possession. Sako’s contribution was top, he even managed a header back to Ikeme & several chase backs & tackles. He always adds the comic to the spectacular & his ballooning of a shot from just outside the box into the South Bank was a classic Sako moment.
But for me Jacobs was the revelation, only his second game & he played as if he owned the pitch. His running in from the wings adds so much to our play, as it gives the midfield extra options. I was just sad he did’nt crown a 5 star performance with a goal.
What was most evident was team spirit & togetherness. Exemplified by Ricketts’ run from our half only to shoot wide.
Yes Tranmere were poor opposition, the gulf in class as wide as when Wolves played Arsenal in the heady Prem days, but it was so nice to see that display from your team.
Selection problems for Jackett when Henry gets back from injury, but that game left me with such good vibes & hope for the club’s future that it makes a good part of the last few seasons hurt dissipate.
I thought their no 8, Wallace I think, was lucky not to get a red for his tackle on Jacobs. It was our players reaction that told me how poor the tackle was. Stearman squaring up to Wallace & the big no5. But he’s not injured I don’t think.
Hope we can repeat this at Peterborough, it seems a long, long time ago now from the Saunders debacle. Lets hope onwards & upwards is where we’re really headed now!
Lovely, young hungry talented team… KJ so far so good. Dare we talk of championship yet? I think so. Would be great to win next three and start to plan for Championship in the transfer window..
Still think the fat man is excess wage though
I agree, you can just sense that fat bastard lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce and take the plaudits for any success this season, while remaining hidden, ready to deflect all blame if things go tits up.
Whilst we are in a fabulous position right now, we must not lose sight of the fact that the root causes of all our woes over the past few years are still in charge, still thinking they know what they are doing, and still plotting for their own benefit, not the clubs.
You watch, The Redrow Molineux will be the new stadium name soon, you mark Scooped’s words!!!
However, Peterbro are there for the stuffing, the sun is shining in Houston, and a Happy Thanksgiving to y’all.
And remember, if the pilgrim fathers had shot a cat on that first thanksgiving day instead of a turkey, us Americans would all be eating pussy today!!
As ever, a happy FO w b to y’all!
Interesting to see we have pulled out of a loan deal for Craig Davies. Perhaps Kenny didnt want to jeopardise the growing sense of togetherness by bringing in too many new(old) faces. Ok at the moment Cassidy couldnt hit a cows backside with a car ferry but he has done it before and could still be one for the future. Also O’hara could be going out looks like after having another look Kenny has discovered what some of us have forgotten.
That’s the closest to a report orgasm I’ve encountered lol..here’s to nxt season then..
I can’t understand why they are not trying to negotiate with ebanks-Blake, a short term deal lets him prove his fitness to likely suitors and give us a striker on the bench who might chip in with a few goals.
A few new people who are posting on here I see. Or, names I cannot recall. That says one of two things to me. That is, new people coming on now we are doing well, or people coming back because we are doing well. Either way, welcome back or welcome to the Blog. To me the more the merrier as long as they dont start tainting the blog with “wolves are crap” etc if we lose a game or two. The boys need our support. This blog is awesome.
UTW/FOWB
Can someone, anyone please explain to me what is going on with ohara. One minute KJ said he wasnt in his plans. Then he was playing for wolves, then he wasnt, then he went on trial to blackpool, then he impressed and was going to take a £20k a week paycut, then blackpool say he isnt fit enough – even though he impressed on trial. There is something really really wrong with this ohara situation. Please help me to understand
Dont think there is anything much going on with O’hara. Bottom line is nobody seems to want him. That he is not match fit probably the kindest thing Blackpool could say. I would be interested to hear other opinions though – he has still got 2 and1/2 years left on his contract !
On further thought the thing that is most ‘really really wrong’ is that we paid 5M.
You have started me off got to go on to the finish. Big money buys wont guarantee you anything.One of the big stories in the Premier league this season will be how Spurs spent 100m and only finished just above the relegation zone.
….and they have still got a ground thats too small.
….and so we come on to the new stand. I would be a fan but why spend 18m and barely increase the capacity. Still cant comfortably hold 30k unless we give them the south bank. Complete bollocks.
Having predicted a 3-0 win on Tuesday, I was feeling pretty smug at halftime thinking even our lot could get one more goal, but the barn door syndrome kicked in and had to watch the comical shooting non skills of my black and gold heroes.
However a superb display and what a player Jacob is, pretty much everything o`hara isn`t and never will be, ie pacy, mobile and well suited for todays modern pass and move game. Maybe dinasuar MM will come in for him, as he must have seen something in him to sign him, not sure what exactly…… Onwards & upwards lads.