The decline in Manchester United's fortunes is causing a lot of consternation among their fans and delight among their opponents. As most of you know i am not a Manchester United supporter,neither am i a Manchester United hater like many football fans are..
However we all like the feeling of schadenfreude the felling of a once mighty behemoth brings.It makes many of us feel better about supporting a club further down the pecking order.The cry from many fans to Man Utd supporters is usually "Now you know how we feel"!
Many think the downward spiral has begun since Alex Ferguson retired at the end of last season but in truth the wheels were coming off before that...
Manchester United are reigning English champions,which on paper should make them a strong outfit but the honest truth is that the Premiership they won was the poorest ever and they were the best of a bad bunch.They were able to get over the line with a combination of a fit Van Persie banging in a lot of goals,Fergies tactical nous and his ability to get every last drop out of his players plus the aura of invincibility that surrounded their name...
Well that aura has well and truly disappeared now and every Tom,Dick,Harry & even West Brom are finding playing them a relatively easy proposition.
So what's happened? Fergie's gone,although he has'nt really.He's still hanging around the place.I don't care what anyone says this can't be healthy for the club.They have made this mistake before when Matt Busby retired but hung about Old Trafford for years overseeing a succession of failed managers until,ironically,Fergie was employed about twenty years later...It's a bit like marrying a divorcee and having her ex living with you.
Fergie never addressed the problem of the centre of midfield.He clearly knew that was where the main problem lay---and still lies---he had to drag Paul Scholes out of his Oldham bolthole and when he was'nt fit enough Fergie played Wayne Rooney in that position.What he did'nt do was buy someone who could run the team from there like Roy Keane did...Basically he left them in the lurch. Whilst all Man Utd's rivals strengthened Fergie seemed to rest on his laurels...or maybe----and more alarmingly for their fans---Man Utd just can't attract the really top players that they used to and their rivals are reaping the benefits.
There's another problem for them too...Their famed youth academy is just not producing the sort of player it used to.They always had a good smattering of classy footballers coming through the ranks but that's dried up over the last few years.With many of the first team players now getting close to,or over,thirty years old---Vidic is leaving,Ferdinand will soon be gone too,maybe Evra too---there does'nt seem to be any ready made replacements waiting in the wings.Again maybe they're just not able to attract the best of the young players like they used to...
Now Van Persie is also making noises about his teamates in the Dutch press(Those Dutch players can't help themselves can they?) No doubt when challenged he'll claim something was lost in translation,Whatever,it does'nt make a happy ship at the moment.
Football,like most sport,usually has a natural cycle.No team stays at the top for ever.I remember when i was young it was unthinkable that Liverpool would go over twenty years without winning the title.They were unbeatable...Only they were'nt.
That's the thing.Every team has to improve all the time and if you stay still you get caught and eventually overtaken...
At the moment Manchester United are'nt even standing still.They're going backwards...
Wednesday 26 February 2014
Monday 24 February 2014
A taste of honey under the Westway...
On Saturday Wolves ventured to West London to put their five match winning run on the line against table topping Brentford who were unbeaten in nineteen games,an impressive record going back four months.Many thought the result would go a long way to deciding the division one title.Personally i'm not so sure about that especially with Orient,Preston & Rotherham still up there in the mix...It's just another three points after all,albeit a very important three points.
Playing games down south is always an odd one for us in London Wolves.We're used to long hauls for games at Molineux every other week but although games down south are more "local" to us it still means going to parts of the country we rarely usually visit.Brentford is in the shadow of the Westway and all i know about that is imagery from early Clash albums.Still it was a nice day and at least we all had a chance for a lie in and grab breakfast...
We met up at Waterloo station---which seemed to be full of English & Irish Rugby fans searching for an open boozer---to get the train to Brentford---picking up one of our number at Clapham on the way---getting to the pub at noon to fortify ourselves for the day ahead.The Nelson was a nice friendly place about five minutes from the ground although maybe they should invest in more bar staff on match days...Anyway,Brentford famously has a pub on each corner of their ground but we had no intention of going on a crawl.Once we're settled in a boozer we tend to stay there.Maybe it's an age thing...
Griffin Park is what can be described as "old school" It's been a long time since Wolves fans had the joy of a standing only terrace to jump about on.For us old buggers it bought back misty eyed memories of days gone and for the younger fans it must have been akin to discovering their dads--or Grandads--- vinyl LP's and playing them on a battered old turntable.
This was a big day for our hosts.A sell out crowd for the first time this season with all Wolves tickets sold once again there was a cracking atmosphere in the away end...
The first half was proving pretty even.Both teams sussing each other out.Brentford had plenty of the ball but they never got behind our defence,indeed the only shot Ikeme had to save was a free kick from just over 20 yards out.Meanwhile we had a couple of chances on the break but failed to make the breakthrough...Then in injury time of the first half a well worked throw in by the corner flag found James Henry in the box where his cross drifted into the top corner of the net.
Cue mayhem on the terraces! I'd forgotten how manic celebrating a goal on the terraces can be.We were stood right by the exit at the back of the stand.My mate ended up at the front!
The second half followed the pattern of the first.Brentford having a lot of the ball but failing to get anywhere near our penalty box.We on the other hand looked dangerous every time we attacked.The second goal duly followed when Sako spotted the run of Jacobs through the middle and found him with a superb pass.Jacobs ran on to score unhindered.He also grabbed the third with a superb shot after good work down the left by Dicko and the ever impressive Goldbourne.
In truth Wolves were not at their best and maybe the occasion got to Brentford but we were well worth the win.Some Brenford fans have been moaning that they had more of the ball,and that's true,but it's what you do with it that counts.They were restricted to three shots...one of which nearly hit me!
In the pub afterwards we were also told we were cloggers with only one half decent player...Nowt as blind as football fans after getting a good gubbing...
So that's six wins on the bounce with the best defence in English football.We have to carry on this great run though.One glance at the top three shows there's no room for complacency...
P W F A GD PTS
Orient 33 20 64 32 34 67
Wolves 31 20 54 20 34 67
Brentford 31 20 54 31 23 66
Playing games down south is always an odd one for us in London Wolves.We're used to long hauls for games at Molineux every other week but although games down south are more "local" to us it still means going to parts of the country we rarely usually visit.Brentford is in the shadow of the Westway and all i know about that is imagery from early Clash albums.Still it was a nice day and at least we all had a chance for a lie in and grab breakfast...
We met up at Waterloo station---which seemed to be full of English & Irish Rugby fans searching for an open boozer---to get the train to Brentford---picking up one of our number at Clapham on the way---getting to the pub at noon to fortify ourselves for the day ahead.The Nelson was a nice friendly place about five minutes from the ground although maybe they should invest in more bar staff on match days...Anyway,Brentford famously has a pub on each corner of their ground but we had no intention of going on a crawl.Once we're settled in a boozer we tend to stay there.Maybe it's an age thing...
Griffin Park is what can be described as "old school" It's been a long time since Wolves fans had the joy of a standing only terrace to jump about on.For us old buggers it bought back misty eyed memories of days gone and for the younger fans it must have been akin to discovering their dads--or Grandads--- vinyl LP's and playing them on a battered old turntable.
This was a big day for our hosts.A sell out crowd for the first time this season with all Wolves tickets sold once again there was a cracking atmosphere in the away end...
The first half was proving pretty even.Both teams sussing each other out.Brentford had plenty of the ball but they never got behind our defence,indeed the only shot Ikeme had to save was a free kick from just over 20 yards out.Meanwhile we had a couple of chances on the break but failed to make the breakthrough...Then in injury time of the first half a well worked throw in by the corner flag found James Henry in the box where his cross drifted into the top corner of the net.
Cue mayhem on the terraces! I'd forgotten how manic celebrating a goal on the terraces can be.We were stood right by the exit at the back of the stand.My mate ended up at the front!
The second half followed the pattern of the first.Brentford having a lot of the ball but failing to get anywhere near our penalty box.We on the other hand looked dangerous every time we attacked.The second goal duly followed when Sako spotted the run of Jacobs through the middle and found him with a superb pass.Jacobs ran on to score unhindered.He also grabbed the third with a superb shot after good work down the left by Dicko and the ever impressive Goldbourne.
In truth Wolves were not at their best and maybe the occasion got to Brentford but we were well worth the win.Some Brenford fans have been moaning that they had more of the ball,and that's true,but it's what you do with it that counts.They were restricted to three shots...one of which nearly hit me!
In the pub afterwards we were also told we were cloggers with only one half decent player...Nowt as blind as football fans after getting a good gubbing...
So that's six wins on the bounce with the best defence in English football.We have to carry on this great run though.One glance at the top three shows there's no room for complacency...
P W F A GD PTS
Orient 33 20 64 32 34 67
Wolves 31 20 54 20 34 67
Brentford 31 20 54 31 23 66
Monday 3 February 2014
The quiet Molineux revolution...
Not all revolutions are loud brash affairs.Some are put into place on the quiet without many people noticing.Such a revolution is happening at Wolves under Kenny Jackett.
As a club Wolves have a history of playing high tempo football with the emphasis on getting the ball into the opponents box as quickly as possible.Nothing wrong with this and when it works it's exciting and fruitful in terms of results.The last time it all came together was under Mick McCarthy when we won the Championship in 2008/9.That season we had wingers Michael Kightly & Matty Jarvis tearing Championship defences a new one nearly every week.It was wonderfully exciting.But football moves on and so must Wolves...
After three season's in the top division followed by two successive relegations we needed a sea change at the club.Not just a change in personal but also a whole new playing philosophy to permeate through the place.This was first mooted under Stale Stalbakken but for many reasons that did'nt work.It may have done but he had too many players inherited from the previous regime who'd got too complacent at the club.They were bloated and lazy after a few years of relative success.They clearly resisted change and failed to get on board.Ultimately it ended with SS getting sacked...and a further relegation.
Come the summer and time to put the new Wolves footballing revolution into action...In hindsight going down to division one has been a blessing because a)It means that the clueless Dean Saunders could be jettisoned as boss and b)The new boss had carte blanche to get rid of the old guard at the club and start again.Now all we had to do was make the correct choice of who took over as boss...
At first glance Kenny Jackett did'nt fit the bill for many but few remembered that he was the man who'd put Swansea's upsurge into place by implementing the sort of football that got them into the Premiership and then receive many plaudits for their football...retention of the ball combined with crisp midfield passing and plenty of movement...Movement in football is key.No team wins games by players being stationary with their fingers up their arse.
Over a very short period he's made the team his own.First off by being good as his word on giving all the youth team players a chance to prove what they can do.If they show they're good enough they're in the first team squad.Some have fallen by the wayside but others have flourished under his guidance.
His other job was to get rid---either by sale or loan---of the old guard and get his own players in,again this he's done over two transfer windows.It says something about his football knowledge that every player signed so far has slotted in well and been a success.He clearly has an eye for a player...
As i said before the type of football he's got his team playing is crisp passing and lots of movement.He also likes the pressing game but not to the detriment to the players fitness levels near the end of the game.Pressing but at the right time.Not all the time...It's also noticeable that he's got us passing our way out of trouble in defence rather than just hoofing the ball back to the opponents in a blind panic.It's wonderful to see...
One thing everyone used to know about Wolves was that the fans could get on the players back if we were'nt gubbing teams within the first half hour but even us fans are beginning to learn and appreciate this new way.On saturday Bradford had a player sent off within 30 mins.In normal circumstances the home crowd would be going apoplectic if we did'nt immediately bomb forward in search of goals.This did'nt happen on saturday.We continued to play the pass & move game,tiring out the opponents before the breakthrough came...The Wolves fans learning to be patient? A revolution indeed...
The average age of the team is about twenty two/three and they're improving weekly as they get used to each other.The future looks bright...KJ is doing a bang up job,nicely backed up by Owner Morgan and CEO Moxey.Contrary to popular belief among our division one rivals we're not buying the league,All the players bought in have been paid for by sales of players to higher clubs...Self financing.It's the way forward apparently!
The quiet Molineux revolution is in full swing...It won't be televised either until we're in the Premiership...
As a club Wolves have a history of playing high tempo football with the emphasis on getting the ball into the opponents box as quickly as possible.Nothing wrong with this and when it works it's exciting and fruitful in terms of results.The last time it all came together was under Mick McCarthy when we won the Championship in 2008/9.That season we had wingers Michael Kightly & Matty Jarvis tearing Championship defences a new one nearly every week.It was wonderfully exciting.But football moves on and so must Wolves...
After three season's in the top division followed by two successive relegations we needed a sea change at the club.Not just a change in personal but also a whole new playing philosophy to permeate through the place.This was first mooted under Stale Stalbakken but for many reasons that did'nt work.It may have done but he had too many players inherited from the previous regime who'd got too complacent at the club.They were bloated and lazy after a few years of relative success.They clearly resisted change and failed to get on board.Ultimately it ended with SS getting sacked...and a further relegation.
Come the summer and time to put the new Wolves footballing revolution into action...In hindsight going down to division one has been a blessing because a)It means that the clueless Dean Saunders could be jettisoned as boss and b)The new boss had carte blanche to get rid of the old guard at the club and start again.Now all we had to do was make the correct choice of who took over as boss...
At first glance Kenny Jackett did'nt fit the bill for many but few remembered that he was the man who'd put Swansea's upsurge into place by implementing the sort of football that got them into the Premiership and then receive many plaudits for their football...retention of the ball combined with crisp midfield passing and plenty of movement...Movement in football is key.No team wins games by players being stationary with their fingers up their arse.
Over a very short period he's made the team his own.First off by being good as his word on giving all the youth team players a chance to prove what they can do.If they show they're good enough they're in the first team squad.Some have fallen by the wayside but others have flourished under his guidance.
His other job was to get rid---either by sale or loan---of the old guard and get his own players in,again this he's done over two transfer windows.It says something about his football knowledge that every player signed so far has slotted in well and been a success.He clearly has an eye for a player...
As i said before the type of football he's got his team playing is crisp passing and lots of movement.He also likes the pressing game but not to the detriment to the players fitness levels near the end of the game.Pressing but at the right time.Not all the time...It's also noticeable that he's got us passing our way out of trouble in defence rather than just hoofing the ball back to the opponents in a blind panic.It's wonderful to see...
One thing everyone used to know about Wolves was that the fans could get on the players back if we were'nt gubbing teams within the first half hour but even us fans are beginning to learn and appreciate this new way.On saturday Bradford had a player sent off within 30 mins.In normal circumstances the home crowd would be going apoplectic if we did'nt immediately bomb forward in search of goals.This did'nt happen on saturday.We continued to play the pass & move game,tiring out the opponents before the breakthrough came...The Wolves fans learning to be patient? A revolution indeed...
The average age of the team is about twenty two/three and they're improving weekly as they get used to each other.The future looks bright...KJ is doing a bang up job,nicely backed up by Owner Morgan and CEO Moxey.Contrary to popular belief among our division one rivals we're not buying the league,All the players bought in have been paid for by sales of players to higher clubs...Self financing.It's the way forward apparently!
The quiet Molineux revolution is in full swing...It won't be televised either until we're in the Premiership...
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