After the sacking of Stale Solbakken it was hoped new boss--How many times have i used those two words together the last six months?---Dean Saunders would instill some confidence in what's becoming a rag bag of a team and garner some wins to help us claw our way up the table away from the relegation zone.As yet none have materialised.Infact three draws and an unfortunate loss to high flying Leicester have seen us slip to fourth from bottom with only goal difference keeping us from being below the dreaded dotted line...
I have seen all four of Saunders games,either live or on television and can see signs of improvement in style and application of what the manager wants from his players.However the players confidence is still as fragile as a Ming vase in a tumble dryer...If that part of their psych does'nt improve pronto then we'll find ourselves in the third tier of English football for the first time since 1989/90.
Despite Captain Karl Henry's protestations that Wolves are too good to get relegated---a supremely stupid thing to say in my book,these claims have a nasty habit of coming back and biting you firmly on the arse---I would suggest that not only are we not too good but that we're now looking like favourites for the drop...
However there are small signs that we can dig ourselves out of the hole the players have dug the club into.
Against Leicester in the 2nd half we dominated play and perhaps should have won.However we only came to life after scoring---That old confidence thing again.Before that we'd forgotten how to play,after the goal we suddenly came alive like Frankenstein's monster hooked up to the National Grid---On saturday versus Leeds,in what was a hard fought game we deservedly took the lead and started playing some nice stuff only to be caught by two sucker punches that knocked us for six.
Leeds first goal was a nicely curled shot from outside the area but questions have to be asked about their player not being closed down.The second was a result of a player being asked--And willing it has to be noted---to do a job he's clearly not suited to do.Bakary Sako has cemented a place in Wolves fans hearts by his all action wing play,delivery from set pieces and shoot on sight policy but defend he can't.And neither should he.He gave away another penalty on saturday,I think that's three he's conceded now.If i were the manager i would instruct him to hog the halfway line when we're defending...Just stay there and wait for the break...
We can't defend with ten players.One more won't make a bit of difference.Best to use him for what he's good at.Namely scaring the Bejesus out of opposition defenders,not our own...
Both Foley and Doyle looked to be getting some form back too,which is encouraging.But biggest plus for me is the emergence of young centre back Danny Batth from the youth ranks.He looks solid,composed and seems to read the game well.He also has the happy knack of getting vital goals as he did against Leeds to grab a last gasp leveler...I think the boy can go far,I only hope it's with us...
So are we too good to go down? well yes and no.
Yes because frankly there are some piss poor teams in this division.I have not seen one that stands out from the herd.We have some decent players who should at least be in a team fighting for a Play Off place.But that's the problem,maybe they have stopped doing the things that should make them at least looking at a top six finish.They have rested on their laurels too long.It's time for them to show they're worth 20,000 fans turning up week in week out.If they don't then we will go down and their names will go down in Wolves infamy...They're not Premiership players anymore,they're Championship players playing in the Championship.They have'nt got long to get that into their heads and drop the superior attitude.It's hard to be superior when you're playing Crewe,Walsall and Colchester every week...
No comments:
Post a Comment