Untangling a web made of silly string

Where do I start?

I'm going to give it a go one handed, might as well try and do a rubix cube with the other.

Right, slightly odd Team Selection to start, which I didn't expect. I didn't feel it gave us the right balance especially up front. Not sure whether Hecky thought that Wolves had so many extra bods in midfield he needed to have Williams in the hole behind the lone man of Watkins up top. It didnt work, but I'll come back to that later on.

We didn't lose today because of an absolute horror show by the most inept referee I've ever seen, we just looked disjointed from the kick off, although as the game wore on in the first half we looked to be taking a foothold and being the team looking most likely to score, apart from when a very poor Wolves side got the opportunity to put the ball in the box from corners or wide free kick areas. We look vulnerable and I think we look even more vulnerable since the window situation. We have looked shaky on Corners and Free Kicks, especially recently, on the front post. I've not seen the goals back but it seems to be McDonalds runner across the face of the front post that gets the time to cause the damage. Not sure whether it was because Wolves are a team of giants or we are looking lightweight, apart from King Robbo, but its an area of sever concern moving forward. Wood caused us issues last week and today was no different.

I could write a short story on the rest of the game but I'll just pick it up in the players ratings.

Davies - 5 - Don't know what to give him, because he didnt really do anything majorly wrong but dived in the opposite direction for a weak header for the 1st goal, it all happened in slow motion. Runner lost his man, like I said across the front post but the header wasn't exactly great. Maybe being harsh though and he thought it was just going to go to the near post. Defending didn't help.

Jones - 2 - I'm only giving him 2 because he turned up and didn't get lost on the way. Didn't look comfortable in possession and looked sloppy defensively

Evans - 4 - I've seen posts that are slaughtering the young full back which I think are harsh. He started well and along with Scowen, probably was one of our better performers, sadly in the 2nd half he jaded badly, but remember we were playing with 10 with little protection from Hammill who was rightly pushing on to try and get us back in the game. I feel for the lad as his confidence was evidently zapped in front of our eyes.

Roberts - 7 - I think he's by far our best defender and also looked comfortable on the floor, considering he can't pass well enough for Chelsea under 10s. Wins almost every header and did well against Wolves team of props.

McDonald -3 - Worst game in a reds shirt for me, was beat for the first goal as he was against Leeds on that front post from a bog standard front post run. He frightened the life out of me again with the ball at his feet. I'm willing to forgive him though as he's been one of the finds of the season.

Hammill - 7 - Huffed and puffed and showed quality in patches and was a constant threat, shame he just doesnt seem to have the pace in this league to really make the chances he did last year. Can't fault his effort

Kent - 6 - I thought Kent looked dangerous and was really surprised to see him taken off when he was. He wouldnt have been my choice.

Mowatt - 4 - Looked handy but not sure if he's the Central Midfielder we need. I see him being moved out wide or used as a hole man in a 4-4-1-1. Terrible tackle and obvious red

Scowen - 15 - If he doesn't sign a contract then we have a huge hole to fill. Worked his ******** off and showed quality through out, defensively and attacking. I would offer him the biggest contract we have ever paid. We need him.

Williams - 2 - Today reminded me of when he was here on loan. He has ability but he also reminds me of a sunday league player, who doesnt really know what to do. He's quick and has a trick in him but he runs down blind alleys or plays in silly areas and gets caught. Next minute he can give you a gut busting run. Frustrates the life out of me. Shock inclusion.

Watkins - 4 - Never really got into the game and playing up front on his own didn't work.

Subs

James - 7 - Looked bright and I thought he looked after the ball well. I think with game time he'll come good. We'll need him to in the next 3 games with Mowatt suspended.
Armstrong - I like him, shocked to see him omitted but not on long enough to really give a rating
Bradshaw - As above, can't give a rating on 10 mins, but he showed what he gives us, which is presence. He'll knock people about a get the ball down when its lobbed up there. None of our other strikers can do that. He caused them more problems in the 10 minutes than Watkins, Armstrong and Williams did combined.

Referee - Minus 7 -

Completely obscure performance. I don't need to go on but 7 yard walls, penalties given then reversed, the throw in situation when Hecky was sent off, random fouls given, wrong throw ins, and a good referee would have booked almost the entire Wolves team in the first 10 minutes. Edwards should have had his 2nd booking in the 2nd half but because he let then get away with so many fouls, Edwards included then it was a farce.

Disappointed but we move on, lets see what the new lads have got in their locker. Its one that got away. Wolves were there for the taking but we let them bully us to a victory. **** game, in **** conditions against a **** team.

Onwards to Preston.

You Reds.

 

Nowt to add, except I reckon there's potential in Evans and looking forward to James getting established in the middle of the park.

No doubting as we stand we appear weaker than we did 31st Dec, but let's see how things go.

 

I'd agree with that mate. Like I said the other day, one of the biggest signing we can make now is for a reputable CEO that can grab this opportunity by the scruff of the neck. Get the fan engagement back to what it was and utilise every last drop of potential out of the club.

That means getting the players we have on the correct contracts and looking to build viably through the transfer market. If we stall on this appointment then no amount of money is going to make a difference. Important position to fill and quickly imho.

 

Harsh

 

Which bit?

 

Agree totally. robbo, MacDonald, Scowen need long term contracts asap.

 

I think Scowen will get a better offer elsewhere

 

They all could, state of the game innit.

 

Yep.

It's why I'm disconcerted with the loans as if they do well we won't be able to keep them and will need to recruit again.

Critical appointment is now a CEO who can deal with out of contract players and start summer recruitment off early.

 

I've not really slagged Evans if you read what I put.

Jones had a stinker. I gave an honest appraisal of what I saw. I just didn't think he showed up.

 

I think a lot of it is keeping powder dry until the summer. Obviously not been able to get the permanent signings in we wanted, so let's have another look later.

 

Anyone think we should have made changes abit earlier in the second half??

 

Maybe yes but Mowett's stupid actions shackled us

 

Dunno, Hecky was in a bad hole - needed to keep Armstrong & Bradshaw fresh for Saturday - tonight's game was effectively lost when mowatt went, but that said - 2nd half you couldn't tell we were a man down.

 

Great report! The transfer window has been a complete catastrophe and I'm not sure who's to blame. Contracts that should have been buttoned down, money in but not spent. That's all behind us now.
The main asset remains Hecky and we need to keep behind him while he rebuilds. I never thought we'd win this one, we just haven't had time to build and bed in a side that's lost three major components. It will take time on the training pitch to put that right and we haven't had any. I'm surprised that nobody seems to rate Wolves, because my impression was that they had strengthened, whilst we have done the opposite.
Wouldn't be surprised at some signing coming in for next year, even though the window has closed just like we did with Yiadom. The lad from Luton being a case in point, there was no rush to sign him today.

 

In hindsight, Wolves were ****ing cack and playing with two actual forrads we could have beaten them.

Still, it's what happens when the squad is light...

 

Yes at half time. Wolves rested half their best players from the Liverpool game including their record signing and an Anfield goal scorer and still won comfortably without being anywhere like good to watch.