With every defeat comes inevitable scrutiny.
And while it’s correct to analyse and evaluate what went wrong, results have to be put into context.
Wolves hadn’t lost a league game at Molineux in 2014. It’s been repeated a thousand times already but it’s a fact that simply mustn’t go unrecognised.
Losing, particularly at home, has become a completely foreign concept under Kenny Jackett, which makes any reverse that bit harder to digest. As a consequence, the natives are easily made restless.
But it would be a grave error to throw the baby out with the bath water just because the team were out-manouvered by a physical, well-drilled Huddersfield side.
Wigan
The Latics will almost certainly provide a very different challenge to the tactics we saw employed on Wednesday, but I’m sure Uwe Rosler will have gleaned useful insight from Chris Powell’s success.
Wigan remain a passing side and like Wolves, have largely enjoyed the majority of possession even though results have been going against them.
Individually, they have strength through the spine of the side, so it’s surprising to see them languishing in and around the relegation zone.
Looking at the numbers, they haven’t scored many (10) but haven’t conceded shed-loads either (12). That suggests that most of their games have been close, as was their stalemate with Forest in the week, but they’ve too often been edged out.
Wolves
It’s rare for me to look at a Kenny Jackett teamsheet and wonder what the thinking is behind his selection, but that’s exactly what happened on Wednesday.
I presumed, perhaps falsely, that Sagbo was largely competition for Dicko or a strike partner if Wolves are chasing the game. Wedging him into the number 10 role didn’t look right to me and so it largely proved.
I’ll be surprised if Kenny doesn’t revert to a more tried and tested player for that position tomorrow, most likely Dave Edwards or Michael Jacobs.
If Evans and Doherty are both ruled out, Ricketts and Saville are the most able replacements in my opinion. I’m yet to be convinced by Tommy Rowe, albeit on limited evidence.
The gaffer
Predictions
A few people foresaw the banana skin on Wednesday so well done to them. The majority went pointless though having predicted another home win.
This will be tough game to try and rebuild momentum in. I have a slight concern that Kenny is still looking for the right blend with all the players he has it his disposal.
I don’t think he got that blend quite right against Huddersfield and how he continues to rotate the squad will continue to come under the microscope if results don’t go his way.
I still feel if Wolves play well at Molineux, they will overcome most at this level but going for a score draw tomorrow – 1-1.
Up The Wolves.
Business as usual.
Looking at our team sheet, we should have bags of goals in it, or at least plenty of people to create chances. I hope we make the most of it this weekend against what I think will be a tough Wigan team to break down. I’d like to see McDonald get forward a bit more, but if we go with Edwards and Saville that might be asking a bit much. After all, it isn’t like he’s not already pulling most of the strings in our side.
Back to winning ways. Sagbo off the bench for a brace that restores our faith in Kenny’s excellent scouting ability.
Agree we shouldn’t panic but anything other than a win would give cause for concern after the Reading and H’field games, where we weren’t at out best.
If this is a glitch and nothing else, I expected a restoration of familiar personnel and a 4231 formation.
Sagbo is not a No.10 and I agree Jacobs or Edwards should be reinstated. I’d also bring in VLP for Henry to keep things fresh. Dicko up top.
2-1 wolves
A home win will settle all the nerves here & get things back on track.
I would like to see RLP start along with Edwards. Lack of goals is a concern as we could do with improving our goal difference.
UTW
About time big Macca got on the scoresheet isn’t it?
I think he’ll make changes tomorrow and we’ll see a better performance and result. Dicko the scorer
Keep it smple, Kenny.
Normal service resumed!
Scoreless for me
Hello, think that there is danger of season dropping off dramatically. Was (over) confident after first six weeks. Now there’s been a reality check and I’m concerned. Still not smacking them in up front with consistency and shipped six at the back last two games. All seasons have a flakey period. Hope ours is short.
Edwards must start.
I’m a bit worried that Kenny sees the new boy as a ‘middle man’ but he has seen a lot more of him than I have so I bow to his better judgement.
But if Edwards starts, we’ll win.
In my humble opinion.
This is the time Kenny needs to show his ability.A couple of shaky results but he has managed before to quickly put setbacks behind us and I expect him to do it again.
I guess we’ll all be hoping for a positive reaction to Wednesday’s result.
Didn’t see the last one coming.
We’re better than that.
Think we’ll miss Evans but unsure about Sagbo . . . . . . . early days and you can’t expect him to slot in right away. Would prefer Edwards in the withdrawn 9 position.
Call it what you like but it isn’t new – the Hungarians were doing it with Hidegkuti in the 50s.
Wow ! Hideguti. There’s a blast from the past. I’m reminded that me and my pals admired his play as much as Puskas. The main thing about those players was that they had great skill on the ball, and footballing brains.
I’m keeping faith that our passing game can keep us on top of the game and this time score those 3 goals without letting the opposition do likewise. As someone said, you can’t expect Sagbo to slot in right away, that’s why it wa daft to start him on Wednesday. But give him time, and Kenny will find the right formula.
Yes, most of them were in the Honved side that Wolves beat after the Hungarians had thrashed England 6 – 3 and 8 – 1. Sorry, living in the past again.
Yeah – would have been a great idea if I’d included a scoreline – doh!
Lets get back to winning ways after that blip I hope.
If we do play 2 up front we must start with Van la Parra.
UTW.
We’ve only ever played Wigan 6 times at Molineux – won 2 drawn 2 lost 2
Too many changes on Wed, some forced & some though choice resulted in a very disjointed performance. Let’s get back to the team and formation that started the season so well.
I would like to see RvLP start, giving more width and pace along with Sako.
Think we will win, but the first goal will be all important. Come on Wanderers.
Need to get back to “business as usual” to keep in touch with the top of the table!
Back to our Saturday best. Back to 1-0.
My spy in the sky tells me Sako was a bit shit on Wednesday.
If El Maestro is tinkering with the line up, maybe a few splinters up Sako’s arse, from the bench, are in order??
Not having seen the game, I cannot give an accurate opinion, but maybe food for thought?
Anyway, my doom and gloom only lasted until the bottom of the second Boddingtons, or was it the third?, so I am once again Captain Optimistic, and will predict my usual, accurate score, 5 – 1 to us.
The law of averages sez I will get it right one day, lets face it, even the shit win occasionally!!!
Talking of shit, FO wb
Boddingtons! I hope that’s not the best you can get in Houston?
Yes Boddingtons not my favourite tipple but otherwise always like what Clive writes. Come on the old gold n black! Make mine a Banks luv! 3 2 to the Wolves!
I think some harsh reality debriefs have been handed out. Should be a rebound win to let the boss know that ‘ message has been rec’d and understood.’
Think the lads will draw a line under the last result and win comfortably, Hope so as I’m taking me dad!
A narrow and tense victory
Whatever Kenny’s idea was for Huddersfield it clearly didn’t work and he will be well aware of that. I’m Sure we will be back to Dicko or Sagbo,but not both at the kickoff, plus a return to winning ways.
It doesn’t feel right predicting a home defeat but having conceded 6 in two games,the problems are there for all to see.
nothing more to say that hasn’t already been said…
Come. On Wolves, show us it was a blip and let normal business resume. Please.
Blips come and go. Ours has gone. Hopefully.
Sticking with three nil but it’ll probably be a draw
Talk about a must win game..I don’t like to think we will loose touch with the top and Saturdays game fixture wise is very important…We could pick up a place or two..
So ..surely we can go for it with key players chomping at the bit..
Sako Sagbo Dicko.. To score…
As to what team style I reckon 442
With 2 coming on second half ..
Plse KJ get this one right..we need you to.
I reckon a low attendance…
COYW
Disastrous prediction on Wednesday. Hoping for a win any which way
Gone for a win but wouldn’t surprise me if it was 1:1 or 0:0. Need to keep it tight at the back and get confidence up again as were not clinical enough up front.
Calm down and keep yer Wig on!
I thought we were actually a bit unlucky on Wednesday. Huddersfield picked us off when they had their chances. On another day it could have been another 3-3.
I think Saturday will be a tense close one though because of the loss midweek. Dicko to get our goal.
Looking forward to seeing a midfield without Evans in it. He thinks he is better than he is and when I’ve seen him he gives it away too cheaply. I’d rather see Rowe or Price in the team. Can’t understand why Price has been sent out on loan, he was quality last year.
It doesn’t worry me that we lost at home … it happens. It worries me that we let Huddersfield stuff us for 3 with no competition … that just should never have happened. Period. No excuses. It’s not like it was a close one.
Hopefully the manager and players all see it the same way, have stopped feeling sorry for themselves, worked hard to prepare for tomorrow and are ready to take it out on Wigan. We have talent … just need teamwork, hunger and the right tactics on the day.
And of course, that little help from lady luck! 🙂
Go Wolves!!!
In Kenny we trust !!
Early goal, then we pick the Latics off and send them packing back to Wigan Pier!
I hope KJs team selection mirrors the one shown by Thomas. Maybe give the new lad a run out in the second half as an out and out striker, not playing deep.
UTW
Let’s hope Wednesday was a blip. I’ve always said that we will lose 2 at home because once we’ll be awful and once nothing will go right and Wednesday certainly falls into that category.
I would go back to 451 with Edwards playing in the no. 10 role but would also like to see Jacobs in the 18.
While the reaction to going a goal down on Wednesday was as surprising as it was disappointing I’m expecting a possitive reaction tomorrow. Hoping to see one of Edwards or Jacobs back in the number 10 role and a lot more fighting spirit. Dicko brace against his old club?
It has surprised me how much the doom and gloom mongers have returned, particularily on the E&S but even on these hallowed pages the general mood has been downbeat.
Shock horror we lost on Wednesday. This is a competitive league where any team can beat any team on their day lest we forget. This does not make us a bad team overnight. There is still plenty of quality within this side to beat any team in this division.
Moreover we have a gaffer with a history of putting things right quickly. I cannot recall during his time with us that we have gone more than 2 games without a win (stat fans anyone?). In our last really sticky spell in December 2013 we emerged stronger and went on the glorious record breaking winning run. Until I am convinced otherwise I will keep my faith with KJ and the boys to put it right and do the same.
I will go for a conservative win, but even if we lose I will not be throwing my toys out of the pram. In Kenny I trust. UTW.
Perfect blog. My only real gripe was the attendance on Wednesday, less than 20k with a chance to go top! The fans need to show up in greater numbers!
I’d love to think we’ll win but I think the line up, tactics and playing rationale for this one will be
— NOT TO LOSE.
So I’m expecting a tight game with few chances and a dour score draw to boot.
I’m still believing we’ll make the play offs though ….
i’m still worried bout midfield not protecting the back four.
Hope I’m wrong.
COYW!!
Shell shocked indeed. Steady as she goes……
and nick it at the end hopefully.
Can see us keeping the ball as usual but this time a few more of those chances will come off. Someone above said Mac to score – might be worth a flutter I think.
If we had taken our early chances we would have won easily. But this seems a problem we are not fixing. hopefully the players react to the setback with a more positive performance
Tight 2 – 1 win .
Come on Wolves ……
Back to 1.0 to the Wanderers. And to think a lot of fans were concerned about the lack of Goals!
Now were all dreaming of a much more subtle score line.
I’d give VLP a run and throw Jacobs in as No10, he must be desperate to stake a claim. Then if he has a quiet first half switch to Edwards.
Does anyone know a torrent site where you can get full games even if it’s a week late. I’m sick of 2 min highlights. We need to get back to the prem so I can get back to setting my alarm at 1 am to see us get beat by the big boys in the 88th minute. I didn’t appreciate how good I had it for three years their.
Back to form tomorrow
Oh woe is me, beware the ides of March and all that Shite.
You didn’t see the Man U fans running round with their hands in the air wailing because David Moyes lost 1 game?????????????
Oops (Oh yes we Feckin did)
Ah well I’m the Optimistic Pessimist, so I’m going for a Wolves win.
🙂
I will be at the match tomorrow, but I won’t be able to leave early enough to meet you beforehand this time, sorry. Maybe we can meet before the Forest game? If I remember correctly, other bloggers are planning to meet then too?
Cheers
Jerry
jerrd
Sounds like a plan.
🙂
That will teach me for being optimistic! Sticking with a draw this week
Normal service will resumed as soon as possible
(And if you’re as old as me, you’ll remember when the transmission on the tele used to go off, and instead of having a blank screen, a similar message was put up instead).
We need a win and a clean sheet, lets get back on track.
I’ve been in hiding up here since Wednesday night, why always Huddersfield??
Anyhoo, they’re still battling around the bottom half of the table and will struggle against Blackburn, where as we will bounce back under Kenny’s expert tutelage and soon be knocking on the door to top spot once more 🙂
I chuckled at the comment yesterday that Steve Bruce gave us Sagbo out of spite.
Nervous times, but still a W.
Let’s hope the blip is over and we get back to a winning combination. As usual we all expect Dicko and Sako to feature on the scorers list.
A return to winning ways I hope.
Lessons will have been learnt.
A return to a more tried and tested formation and team selection (injuries aside) would be nice.
In Kenny we trust.
Come On Me Babbies!!!
We are all shocked about losing, but Wolves or not, even KJ’s stars will lose sometimes. For me it’s RVLP, Jacobs and Dangerous Dave to start, if Evans is out. Sagbo as sub, and should be used as a striker. I hope big Mac is back, he is key. This is my 1st prediction, it’s quality, not quantity. Goals from Dicko, RVLP and who would bet against Edwards.
Disappointed by Weds – could have been 2 or 3 up before they scored.
Stearman always worries me, and Grant Holt took him to the cleaners.
Sagbo – fully fit?? not an auspicious debut!
Anyway lets turn it around again.
Back to basics.
Kenny will have the defence sorted by Saturday
Come on me babbies
Going for a win which gets us back on track
A win and a clean sheet – normal service to be resumed.
Onwards & Upwards
🙂
I was going to rabbit on but It’s 4am and I can’t sleep or even think of anything to rabbit on about. Of course I could tell you about the time that I……….
Recruitment last year was inspired. Faulltless, in my opinion, apart from Clarke.
But it seems this year we’ve recruited players largely because they’re free and young and might be a good investment, rather than they’re what we need.
Therefore, loads of midfielders which has confused selection, and no decent striker which is what we actually needed. I wonder if some of these new players have affected morale.
Bring back Edwards and Jacobs, Kenny, and let’s get back to winning ways.
Looked like “one of those games” on Wednesday. Have only seen brief highlights but certainly one of the goals involved five or six pinball bounces all going the opposition way. It’s still hard to believe the shots to on target to goals ratios, surely some of them have got to start going in before long. I hope things change for this game, KJ must know he’s got to sort it.
Predicting terribly this year, so trying for the reverse hex again.
Delort to stick the knife in us with a brace, our scorer to be someone whose name ends in an O
Hopefully Wednesday was just “one of those days”..ahh feck it.
3 valuable points is what we all need and I believe there’s enough quality in the squad to achieve this today. A clean sheet will be nice too.
After the watershed defeat at gillingham last season, KJ was able to transform the side in part with some shrewd purchases. This time, he doesn’t have quite the same freedom of purchases but let’s trust him to see that Huddersfield should represent the start of wolves needing to kick on with a revitalised approach whatever that might include e.g change of line up, formation etc. I still maintain that without a couple of quality additions in January, play offs will be an over achievement for this very hard working, young but ultimately not quite good enough squad.
I have to keep believing in all that was good earlier in the season . The defence hasn’t suddenly become poor , perhaps just a bit complacent ? Confidence can work both ways . A nervy day but back to that simple but pleasing scoreline …
Prediction more in hope than anything else.
Hopefully KJ will get it sorted.
A reality check is no bad thing. A top ten finish would be a good result.
I remember the 3 1 victory in 2011 that ended a poor run of games. O’Hara played well and scored. Edwards scored (and Wardy) so Edwards to score again.
I’ve gone for a draw in the hope that I’ve not got a result right yet and this will be the same and Wolves will win.
As the last 3 games have shown if your night focused and prepared this league win punish you we might have got away with it it League One but not in the Championship the higher you go the more you get punishe for mistakes and sluggishness and that’s what Wolves have been with a slice of misfortune thrown in ie: deflected goals Dicko injured but then again it’s the same for every team we’ve just got to put it down to a bad patch and hopefully now go on a run again.
All teams have them throughout a season if your looking to get promotion the trick is to bounce back straight away .
What we need is a win be lat 1.0 or 4.0 a win to get back on track be that an ugly win or a comprehensive win I’ll take either.
I just have to say that there is a negative air around the blog ‘top 10 finish would be good’ Mr woody wolf ..
(and others)
Myself being a knife sharpener (almost as bad as Nige lol) ..I do honestly think that we are good enough to win this league or at least go up second..fuck the play offs.
We have a maestro as a manager who for the first time looked rattled recently (in his own way) but has the capability to work things out..
If you now take Forest,Derby,Ipshit Watford..are we better than them?
Potentially so..McCarthy having the jinx advantage as they are doing ok now..
No doubt there are other teams that could creep in such as Middlesborough but we truly are capable of getting that top 2 spot..
In my opinion it will be KJs tactics on the day, who he swops off the bench and at what time in the match,but more so our defence and Ikeme (who I thought should of had at least one of huddesfields goals)
The goals can come from up to 7 players and we still need a striker..
So.. we are capable of playing fantastic possession football and goals..it’s key players who will get us up Ikeme DB KMac Dicko and of course…Sako..
It’s if we could stay in the premier which would test KJ so we would have to spend real time and we all know about that subject..
I hope I’m right…
COYW
Quite agree.
If we settle for a top ten finish, that means we are prepared to lose some games, and to me that is defeatist and negative.
Who decides which ones we are going to lose and which ones we are going to win?
Can we bet on them?
We would all have lost a fortune on Wednesday, wouldn’t we?
What is the point of even turning up if you are not going all out to win?
Some of our squad are not good enough, some of our squad seem to go walkabout at times, but the sum of the total is better than individualization, or whatever the term is!
El Maestro didn’t get it right until Christmas last season, so for me the panic button is nowhere in sight.
Give ’em fook today, boys, while I try to work out this wziwig bollocks.
FOwb
I don’t like these streaming references, I don’t see how it supports Wolves – folks will find them if they want them and have confidence in their firewalls etc.
??????????????????????????????????????????????
I’m on about the mentions you and others keep giving to ‘live streaming’ websites. I know its great if your abroad and cannot get to the matches but I can’t help thinking these sites are effecting attendances in the UK when you can watch nearly every match for free if you accept the risk of viruses.
I certainly don’t agree to the soft advertising mentioning these sites gives on the blog.
On the other hand I think football fans are being robbed blind by ticket prices. £40 for a family shouldn’t be classed as a bargain offer IMO.
Slider.
I really like “on the other hand”
The information for Wiziwig was for people as you quite correctly pointed out living abroad or even too far away from Molineux to get to every match. Aimed also for this site which has a great cross section of fans who attend regularly and those who find it impossible due to location. As you said at the end it is your opinion and I’m sure that everyone will respect it.
In my opinion .
What about people who have Sky TV. The gates certainly plummet when its on the box, but is that acceptable, yes there are payments but it does reduce bums on seats which was the point in the first place. I don’t hear one single word from anyone at the Molineux when they pick up the Sky payment via the Football league, not a peep, they couldn’t care less how empty the grounds are.
I am a season ticket holder who goes to all away games and we certainly pay through the snout. Leeds are charging me £23 each for my wife and I to go into Elland Road and £34 for fans who are not over the age of 60 and qualify as concessions. Do you know what I don’t agree with? , the fact that the Leeds fans are paying £24 for their seat. So we Wolves fans must be sitting in the royal box then if we pay dearer.
I don’t particularly drink a lot, but whilst paying for a cuppa at Reading it P’d me off to see fans paying £5 a pint. Now that’s being robbed blind.
Sorry to rant on, but I am a Scot and my pockets squeak, anything I can do to help people Less off than myself I will.
If you want to see why attendance figures are dropping off, look no further than the £350,000 Rooney is on a week. Our Government ministers who can’t manage on £75000 a year, so they subsidise themselves by fiddling their expenses whilst many people on low incomes can’t afford £24 to watch the Wolves week in week out.
As I say, I respect your opinion and this is simply mone.
🙂
Thanks for your reply, it just disappoints me to see gates falling and see this as one of the causes along with the ordinary fans economic position and the sickening contrast with the payers salaries as you say.
Slider
Your’e very welcome.
You are only echoing genuine fans disappointment in all things commercial, i have been in Wembley many times amongst 100000 happy fans. The commercial arm of the FA bless them built the new ground for 80000, and the corporate section remains empty when genuine fans could enjoy a unique experience if there were tickets available.
People kick back and officialdom can’t understand why.
Onwards & Upwards always.
Oops I forgot Norwich (we beat them anyway)
Defeat against Huddersfield wasn’t just a blip, we were sussed out on tactics in the last two games. I think Kenny will recognise this and start with Edwards. Jacobs could well come on later. Sagbo will take more time than anticipated. Macca will pull himself together and control midfield again. If sides target Macca, it leaves them open as well. We are still better than most in this division. If we get a goal today we will press for the second to kill off the game, all the while sharpening up our act in defence back to the benchmark clean sheet.
Clean sheet time – Stearman, do you hear me? I said clean sheet time, so stop being a nob and prove to me that you aren’t reverting to your old ways!!!!
Got a feeling we are losing our identity again.
Hoping for a response to Wednesdays shocker. Fingers crossed. A sagbo double?
Bit of shell shock after mid week defeat.
Concerned by last game’s team selection – starting a player who had only signed with us 24 hours earlier.
Hope this isn’t the start of a bad run but still somewhat optimistic.
Back to winning ways
IN KENNY WE TRUST
After ” A Hard Days Night” last Wednesday I’m sure Kenny spent “Yesterday” “Fixing a Hole” . “We Can Work It Out” today.
The “Revolution” continues.
Apologies for the above but ” When I’m Sixty Four ” was many years in the past !!
Lynx
You old smoothly you.
“Imagine” what we could achieve if we “Get Back” to winning ways. We need “Help” from Kenny to put it right, then it’ll be “Beautiful Boy”
Well that French bloke who made the wrong move is nailed on to score against us. I agree with Thomas’ team selection analysis, but I’m not yet convinced by Saville either – though perhaps he could be the supply line when Macca is tied down as he has been by opposition tactics recently. Or Jacobs?? And if Stearman really is getting a bit flaky rather than just reverting to being an unpopularity poll winner, how about Ricketts and Batth in the middle with Doherty or E-L on the right? Anyway, my predictions have been crap so far, so if I predict a win, we’ll lose. Looks like a draw to me!!
Wolves to bounce back in fine style – Sagbo hat trick!
Back to normal.
Sako to win it second half in a tight match
Popular prediction – who am I to argue?
Looking to bounce straight back.
COYW
We’ll bounce back from Wednesday night and win easy COYW
COYW! Hope that our defence goes back to being watertight!
Oh dear. Back on the wagon so I hope, but I think it could be a tricky one this…
Edgy and back to business as usual
I think it’ll be tight but I’m hoping we nick it
Back to winning ways
Never been a 0-0 draw between wolves and Wigan.
A week that started full of hope has ended in anti-climax – and if McCarthy & Clipboard go above us tomorrow tbat really would be too much to take!
… we were top for 2 minutes today when Edwards put us infront and he nearly got us the winner. (I don’t think he’ll be dropped for a while). After 11 games to be in touching distance, we’d have taken that at the start of the season.
The teams are well bunched up at the top now. Although we have not lost any ground on the top 2 spots, we have invited a load more teams to the party.
I suspect Kenny knew this would happen as we were one of the unknown team arriving from the depths a League 1.
Although one one hand I’m thinking we should have won this game and still a little pissed off, I still have to be grounded by the fact Wigan still have some established players in this division and we are still finding our feet with a mixture of mainly youth and 3rd division players…..
yet we’re still in a better position than Wigan, Bolton and Blackpool of whom were all powerhouses in comparison to us in recent years (as far as league standings go that is).
Congrats to Wigan for getting another’s point on the bounce against what was one of the top 3 teams last week. I see they changed their formation for us… Usually playing a 433, they played a 4411 and could have pulled off all 3 points.
When I saw the formation I was hoping the team talk would have been “they’re scared of us… Why else would they change?”
Delort did not come off the bench and get the winner so happy with that outcome too.
I have a feeling we’ll see 2 more signings before the window closes, 1 more defender and another striker.