It's not Mick's team selections, Jez Moxey's transfer dealings, our position in the league table or the fact that we've won 2 in 20 league games and it's not that we aren't in the FA Cup this weekend.
It's our version of this:
Our bloody kick offs. At the start of the match or when we concede and we play the ball straight back to Wayne Hennessey, who gives it a great big kick down to the other end.
Why?
I've seen it so many times, and it goes straight to the opposition goalkeeper. Arsenal away, no one even went forward for it, we just gave it to Sczezny. It just sets the tone, that we are here to just hoof it, which we really shouldn't be.
When Jamie O'Hara signed, I thought we had got rid of it. In his first start, I remember him and Karl Henry having a lengthy conversation, which ended with Henry pointing to our goalkeeper, Henry played it to him, he passed it to Hennessey and he did what he usually does. A couple of games later Henry played it to him and he ran forward with the ball, and made a forward pass. It immediately set a new tone, that we wanted to keep the ball on the floor and attack.
But, we have resorted back to it, and the freshness from O'Hara was gone. What is the thinking? Is it that we will be in their half now? Because nine out of ten times we aren't, they have the ball!
If I ever get the chance to talk to Mick, that's what my first question would be about. But hey, maybe Frimpong will be the one to say this time 'what the hell is this?'.
Several months ago I made the very same observation on my own Wolves website, and I agree whoeheartedly with what you say. What is the point, all we are doing is giving the ball away! Say's a lot for where we currently find ourselves!
ReplyDeleteThat would be an interesting case study - find out how many other teams have the same hoofing strategy as we do and see how many of them are actually successful with it!
ReplyDelete...Nope, I can't think of any either.
It's not like we're not good enough to get forward through passing and skill, especially given our last two games and Frimpong! On a related note though, can't wait to see him and a hopefully on-form O'Hara together!
That's cuz mick knows best! And his club will be ok because mick says so! We don't need to pusy foot around give them the ball then they can attack us! Thus making sure no one notices none of his team can play football or are comfortable with it!! Then he'll not play anyone who wants to pass and move and sell any player who expresses a disorder to do so!!!
ReplyDeleteI can tell you that wwfc have the 5th worse team for not tackling in EUROPE..yes not the premier league...not the football leagues but the whole of the football leagues combined in Europe. Now thats bad.
ReplyDeleteIt is not only Wolves who hoof it upfield. Take a look at any match and it is plainly obvious what happens when defendera, a goalkeeper or whoever hoofs the ball upfield in hope, possession is lost, a defender just gobbles it up!
ReplyDeleteWhy players do this is a mystery and someone particularly at Molineux needs to address this issue and if necessary fine any player who does it when it need not be done.
Keeping the ball on the ground and playing it through midfield or up wing takes time and patience but if done properly brings its own rewards. Hoofing does nothing, that is unless the goalkeeper has the wind behind him and scores directly - but how many times has a keeper done that?
What about hoofing straight from kick-off? Makes no sense, does it?
ReplyDeleteIts simply a reflection of the belief that we are not strong enough to play through the opposition's midfield - so simply play it over them. Otherwise known as 'the percentage game'...
ReplyDeleteit is an embarrassingly negative approach. Away at Arsenal the further forward players made no attempt whatsoever to win Wayne's big boot and left it for Arsenal to collect. It was like they were sending out a message to them. 'We've come to defend'
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