Thursday, 31 May 2012

Who can Ståle re-ignite?

It's going to be interesting to see who Ståle Solbakken rates, and even more so who he bins off straight away. For example, will he have the same love for Stephen Ward? When the going gets tough, will he bring in Jody Craddock? Most of all, there are players who badly needed this change, to get the Wolves careers back on track. Here are some:

Adam Hammill
On reading about the way Ståle's team likes to play, one thing came up plenty of times. He likes his wingers to drift in, letting the full backs bomb forward round the outside. Much like Michael Kightly, this will really suit Adam Hammill's style. We know he likes to bring out a trick or two, but we are yet to see him really produce in quality consistently in a match. We know, like other players in our squad, that he can star in this league.

Ronald Zubar
As painful as it was to watch Zubar as the season went on, I think he could have a role to play next season, if he is still there. His shocking positional sense and lack of defensive nous won't be shown up as much and as mentioned above, Ståle likes to have his full backs getting forward. With some decent coaching, it's possible that Ronald might, just might be an important player for us next season.
Ebanks-Blake is Wanderer's number 9


Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
There is no better feeling than when Sylvan scores for me. The man who fired us into the Premier League has had a tough time in the last three years, showing glimpses of the striker we adore. Back in the Championship, he could become the main man again and given decent service, he WILL score goals.


Nenad Milijas
Another thing I picked up on reading through Copenhagen fans' views on Ståle, was that in his 4-4-2 system, the two centre midfielders sit very deep, allowing the other four to get on with he attacking duties. For technical ability, and a football brain Nenad is probably the best we have and I think he has thrived in the deep lying play maker role when we have attempted to keep the ball. A move back abroad wouldn't surprise me, but I'm a big fan of Milijas and think he would be way too good for the Championship.

Others like Adlene Guedioura and Jamie O'Hara could also be big players under Solbakken. Both will be desperate to win the Wolves fans back over and with their quality, could find a year in the Championship a nice confidence booster.

There will be ins and outs, but I get the feeling there will be players who are like 'new signings' for Ståle.

Monday, 28 May 2012

What has happened to Kevin Doyle?

"I won't make a rash decision on my future. Ideally I would love to be back playing in the Premier League but also I don't want to be relegated again. I would rather have a year in the Championship fighting to be promoted."
Things can change very quickly in nearly a year.
On July the 3rd last year the Internet went mad when Arsenal were heavily linked with a £12m move for Kevin Doyle. In an article about it, even suggested asking for £15 million for him. 


Now we will be lucky to get £5m for him and with him saying he doesn't want to play for a team in a relegation battle, it looks like he will be set to stay at Molineux for at least another year.


The question is, will we see the Kevin Doyle of old, or the one we've seen this season? 

he was worth every penny of the £6.5m we spent on him, as he hustled and bustled his way to keeping us in the Premier League in  his first year. In fact, watching Didier Drogba in the Champions League really reminded me of those performances from Doyler in 2009/10, Liverpool at home sticking out. The next started slowly for him but when he got going we improved as a team and looked set to stay up. His injury nearly cost us our Premier League status until the three Stephens (Hunt, Ward and Fletcher) fought to keep us up.

Since then, good performances from Kevin have been limited. The goals have dried up even more, and he has looked lethargic at times. Why? 

I noticed this season that Mick was careful with Fletcher, resting him (especially over the Christmas period). It seemed that he had realise what he had done to Doyle, burning him out and running him ragged on his own up front. His confidence dropped and he began to pick up more and more injuries. 

If Ståle can reignite him, and we can see him back to his old self then he will surely be too good for the Championship, and strengthen our chances of an instant return to the Premier League. He was a joy to watch as he twisted and turned defenders, pulling them apart and running them ragged. 

Let's hope Ståle thinks the same. 

Friday, 11 May 2012

Wolves appoint Solbakken

As of July 1, Ståle Solbakken will take over as manager of Wolves. And although before yesterday I knew nothing about him at all, I'm quite excited! 


We've moved swiftly to get the man we wanted, it's our first (proper) foreign appointment and he has had a lot of success in his short time as a manager. 


It would be silly to ignore his time at Cologne this season, but as many know the manager's job there is something of a poisoned chalice, and he had plenty of problems to contend with. 


He's got no hair, but we don't care
Listening to the Norwegian correspondent talking to Sky Sports News, he spoke of his attractive, attacking football, something that will certainly please the home faithful. A passionate character (look at the video below), he certainly seems like someone that if it goes well, Wolves fans will like him a lot. 


The players reaction to it all will be interesting. An up and coming foreign manager with experience of winning titles may convince the likes of Fletcher, Jarvis etc that it may be worth it to stick around for another year. How he deals with Roger Johnson will certainly be something to look at, as my guess is he probably doesn't know that he has (apparently) been a disruptive influence on the dressing room harmony. 


He'll have been briefed on the young players we have by Morgan for sure, Matt Doherty and Danny Batth the main ones that may be in the fight for first team positions. 


And in a way, I'm pleased that Terry Connor looks like he will still be at the club. Ståle will in all likelihood bring in some of his own men in, but having Terry there may be good as he can help them adapt to English football, and get to know the players. 


I'm not even bothered that it could go all wrong because for once we look to have a young, modern football manager who could possibly, take us onto a new level.


Friday, 4 May 2012

Endless ball of energy

I never really understood Dave Edwards while we were in the Championship. 

He didn't seem to offer any qualities there, and when we were playing him ahead of David Jones I couldn't fathom why. 

But since our return to the Premier League, I've generally been impressed by him.

He offers us what none of our others seem to have had this season, when we've been having a stinker (this has been the case in pretty much every single game) not many have stood up and been counted. But Edwards, alongside a couple of others have never stopped running, chasing lost causes or trying to get us back in the game. This was exemplified last Saturday at Swansea. 

Even Tony Gale was full of praise for him, claiming he had changed the game. And he had, he'd got us flying, playing some fantastic football, linking play with the wingers and forwards (perfect case is his goal to make it 4-3). 

It makes me laugh that he has been the main target of criticism when really, alongside Kightly, he has been our best player recently. It makes a mockery of the idea that Wolves fans don't mind if they aren't good enough, just as long as they care. We've seen that with Neill Collins, Stephen Ward and Karl Henry already though.

Of course has had some poor games, but no more than any other player, if not less. Arsenal at home he was extremely poor but under TC, I can't think of any other games where you would say 'Edwards was rubbish'.

He will, sadly, always lack the star quality. His finishing does let him down, as does his passing at times. It's just sad that he has to suffer the abuse while others get off scot-free. 

I'm not sure I'd even have him in my team next year, with hopefully Adlene Guedioura coming back and Jamie O'Hara returning to full fitness, but at least we'll know we've got someone who can come in as back up, because he can certainly 'put a shift in' from time to time.