When Stale Solbakken took over as manager of Wolves in the summer there was the usual tub thumping press releases from the club which always follow this sort of thing.We were promised that the club would have it's playing style revolutionised from top to bottom.To a point that's true if revolution means having a playing style that is static to the point of Catatonia,a formation as narrow as the narrowest of narrow boats and so little fight that even Audley Harrison would blush from embarrassment.
I have been watching Wolves for many a year now and apart from our darkest days of the mid 80's i can say without fear of contradiction that this is one of the poorest teams i have ever seen down at Molineux.But we all know it should'nt be....
In the mid 80's---when we plummeted from top division to bottom division in successive seasons---the club at least had an excuse.They were flat broke,playing in a decrepit stadium to crowds of 5,000 and the players were recruited from local non league teams.They were basically playing way above their skill level in an effort just to keep the club alive.
This time it's different.
This time we have a core of players who should at least be among the best in the division---though most are plainly not premiership quality---Playing in a beautiful stadium infront of decent crowds.However something is rotten in the club.
When the season began we won a few games without playing well.Us fans were relatively happy and consoled ourselves with the thought that once the players got on board with what was being asked of them performances would improve and results get even better.Performances have not improved---They have got worse---The results have gotten worse and frankly if things don't change quickly we will be in a relegation dogfight...
I don't believe the current crop of players have the stomach for another relegation scrap...
Although it's a truism that we are "In the results business"---A mindset that i despise by the way----What's worrying me more than the lack of wins is the way we're being asked to play by the boss.The style is moribund to say the least.Nothing wrong in playing ball to feet but it helps if those feet are attached to a body that's either finding,or looking for,space.Our players seem rooted to the spot.Movement is the basic requirement in football,if you stand still even a pub team on Hackney Marshes will pick you off easily...
We have just played--and lost---two of the worst teams in the division without making one worthwhile chance,indeed this season we have made less chances than i can ever remember.Even when we were getting humped weekly in the Premiership we still created goalscoring opportunities...
Another problem is the players.Or should i say their seeming lack of fight for the cause.As soon as we went a goal down to both P'Boro & Ipswich that was it.We never looked like getting back into either game.This against the worst defences in the division remember...Over the last few years our one redeeming quality was our fight in the face of adversity.That appears to have disappeared.If i did'nt know better i'd think the players are trying to get rid of the manager...
Personally i am beginning to think a change is needed at the top.Either Solbakken needs to be replaced or he himself has to alter his basic footballing beliefs and allow the players to stretch the game by using all the pitch and get the buggers to start moving into space again...Otherwise the South Bank's jokey song "Whatever will be will be we're going to Shrewsbury" may well come true...
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