View Full Version : What type of players do we want to make us a good side.
UNCLE REMUS
22-10-2006, 18:34
Have watched a few games this season and have listened to a few on WM.
Just got back from the Pub and got involved in a discussion about the Wolves. It's the usual story of put enough Wolves fans around a table and everyone has a different take on the season.
The majority of us were happy with the league position, because frankly we were expecting the worse this season. However one or two who are die hard and season ticket holders have expressed their reservations about where the club is going and the fact that we cannot play the season on snot and $$$$$$$$ alone. In fact one of the guys was less than complimentary about the style of play against Coventry, several said that if Cov had got a decent striker we would have been swamped, can't comment on that one as I wasn't there.
This is not a moan, I fall into the camp of if we stay in the league this year I will be happy. I also fall into the camp of no confidence in the senior manangemnet of the club, but still. Based on whta you have seen (for those on here that actually go), what positions do we need to either get in on loan or buy to make a real impact on the division.
wolf of sedgley
22-10-2006, 18:36
We need a left winger so we can move ricketts to right wing, and an attacking central midfielder- Olofinjana is not an attacking midfielder. I still think that jemal and bothroyd are good enough and will score plenty of goals if they get the service. When was the last time jemal had a proper chance!?
ProudWolf
22-10-2006, 18:44
Get McNamara, M.Davies, Rosa and Cort back fit and in the 16 every week to supplement the good players we already have. (Murray, Breen, Henry, Ricketts, Bothroyd)
Either give Gobern a chance or get in another winger. Ricketts is in the best form of his wolves career on the left-side and deserves a long-run in the side now but currently he is our only creative outlet.
We also probably need a striker to compete with Cort, Bothroyd and Johnson who has gone off the boil lately. Clarke and C.Davies might be quick but neither could trap a bag of cement!
Eventually give Wheater a go instead of Craddock but he really should only be bought in once we have a settled team with players like McNamara and Breen around him.
SOUTHBANK_BULLY
22-10-2006, 19:04
we need a striker !
Flitwick Wolf
22-10-2006, 19:26
we need a striker !
Disagree, we need midfielders to make opportunities for our current strikers. This has been the problem for well over a season now, IMO
Rhoswolf
22-10-2006, 19:33
We are desperately short of any creativity and lack an out and out striker. Add to that, we are currently woefully weak in both full back positions. If McNamara ever returns that will could solve the right back position and Davies could solve the mid-field problem. Not sure about Rosa as he never seems to be fit!
So initially we need a goalscorer / striker, none of those currently available can are out and out strikers in that they can't be described as a "box" player. We also need some flair on the right hand flank, Potter may develop into a good player but he is adding nothing at the present time.
MM has worked wonders in the time he has been here with little or no support, I just hope that having found the "quantity" he will now be backed to add the "quality".
Welsh Y'am Y'am
22-10-2006, 19:34
we need a striker !
No - we need an attacking outlet from midfield - another winger and an out and out attacking central midfielder. Henry does such a good job breaking down play and tidying up that we can afford to have a more attack-minded central midfielder next to him!
dazmanwolf
22-10-2006, 19:36
We need someone like Hendrie at Stoke!
AmericanWolf
22-10-2006, 19:46
Disagree that we need a striker. Between Bothroyd, Johnson, Cort, Davies, and Clarke, we're fine in that department. All of those are capable of scoring at this level. I actually think that Ricketts has been playing well on the left side. I know he's off-footed, but that's not always a bad thing. Although Seyi has been playing well this season, I'd like to see how Potter, Mark Davies, or Rosa do in an attacking central midfield role. We also need an out and out right winger. Defensively we'll be solid when Jackie Mac is back in place of Edwards. Other than that, I think we have a solid team for this division that has the potential to finish top six. We are getting a lot of mediocre results, but a 1-0 win is still a win, and if we can keep grinding them out I'll be perfectly happy. Remember that our team was cobbled together only a couple months ago. I see us improving rather than falling apart as the season goes on, which is certainly a change for us.
28th March 1965
22-10-2006, 19:49
Disagree, we need midfielders to make opportunities for our current strikers. This has been the problem for well over a season now, IMO
Obviously you werent there today then..........a decent striker would have gobbled up the few chances we were presented today , Clarke and Bothroyds woeful strikes proved we need a striker.....
No - we need an attacking outlet from midfield - another winger and an out and out attacking central midfielder. Henry does such a good job breaking down play and tidying up that we can afford to have a more attack-minded central midfielder next to him!
Yes. Hopefully Rosa will replace Olofinjana and get us some goals from midfield.
cannockwolves
22-10-2006, 20:25
Jay Bothroyd has only scored 26 goals in the 6 years as a professional, that is 26 goals in 85 games. He is a talented footballer, he may have a purple patch like Sturridge did that one year but he is not a classic poacher/finisher. Jemarl Johnson has scored a grand total of 6 in 21 games, 50% of which came from his loan spell with Darlington, but his goals per game is better and on his career averages to date he could get 9 or 10 goals for us this season. Leon Clark 9 goals in 33 games, Craig Davies 2 goals in 26 at Oxford. So there you have it, wingers and an offensive midfield will without doubt improve the number of goals our strikers get this season – but, and this is the big but, they have not to date proved to be effective goal scorers that are going to keep a side at the top of the table.
Chances have been few and far between and they is down to the wingers and midfield, but the strikers have not displayed the classic characteristics of good strike play. No lung bursting runs into the box to get on the end of a cross, no obvious awareness of keeper and posts, no real anticipation or movement in the box.
This may be a little hard on Johnson because he is still young and may have potential to get into the 15-18 goals a season league. But lets face it if we had bags on money and a proper pre-season these would not be the strikers (on past performances) to make a promotion bid. But this the reality of where we are, all these players have a little something that makes them nearly men, Bothroyd has the skill, Johnson and Davies have the pace, and Clark has the strength. All of them could develop into something, they do have that little bit of magic that keeps them from being journey man fodder, but only just.
Maybe MM can get that little bit extra to their game, but I don’t think it will come this season. We need to find some killer instinct from somewhere, I am sure Billy Sharpe could improve the situation but I guess he is our of our price range, maybe the lad from Grays Athletic could be a nugget waiting to be found who knows. But contrary to some peoples view I don’t think this collection of strikers are good enough for a promotion challenge. This is not some reaction to today’s result, I have been thinking this for a while. If anything the win against Coventry showed the true calibre of our striking resources.
Flitwick Wolf
22-10-2006, 20:27
Obviously you werent there today then..........a decent striker would have gobbled up the few chances we were presented today , Clarke and Bothroyds woeful strikes proved we need a striker.....
Exactly my point, "the few chances" we created. At this level you cannot expect a striker to score every time he has a chance.
We need our midfielders to create more chances for our strikers. This is a problem we have had since DJ left and we stopped playing the more "wider" game.
Our strikers have scored some great goals this season, 90% of which have been self made. They can't do this week in week out, they need service.
28th March 1965
22-10-2006, 20:39
Leon Clarke's was a clear cut effort any half decent striker would have scored it , the same was in evidence against Coventry....
None of the strikers we have there are goalscorers.....that is one of the problems....the other is as clear as the nose on your face......Rob Edwards....I don't expect many games from Jackie Mac now so that is an area we also need to look at...
Lewis Gobern , Daniel Jones two wide men especially Gobern why the hell does Mick keep playing Potter when it's clear he's crap....
OldWolvesfart
22-10-2006, 21:07
The arguments seem to fall between poor strikers or poor midfield not supporting or supplying the strikers. I have not seen the games to make a vaild opinion and rely a great deal on the match feedback from MM members to fill in the gaps. But I suggest we may need a midfield creator/supplier to work out if Bothroyd/Johnson are flash in the pan strikers or not. Rosa seemed to be that sort of player but is he fit or not? The young brazilian has promise but?
I still feel that Mcarthy is giving us a sense of belief and reality working within the obvious constraints he has. Finding goals is our obvious problem at the moment and us armchair critics will have to watch and see what Mick and the board has to to say and do about that in the coming weeks.
God bless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
God bless Mick Mcarthy.
God bless A------ football.
wolf of sedgley
22-10-2006, 21:19
we need a striker !
No we don't. We need service for the strikers.
The Bear
22-10-2006, 21:20
We need pacy creative midfielders.
Mark Davies or Denes Rosa fit the bill for the centre of midfield alongside Henry, and Ricketts now seems to be doing a good job on the left and is our most creative player at the moment.
Right-wing is definitely an area where we desperately need someone though. I also don't know why Merlin keeps perservering with Potter out of position. I can only assume he doesn't think Gobern is ready yet. I'd love to see him given a little run in the team though.
And speaking of Little runs, I'd like to see young Mark given one too at RB in place of Edwards for a few games. Not going to happen though realistically without an injury to force it.
Leicesterwolf
22-10-2006, 21:29
We need a catalyst ! A player out of the norm ,another Robbie Keane or of that ilk to ignite the players around him.
Otherwise, we are a hard-working honest side susceptible to days like today when a 0-0 is about all we can hope for, given the present scoring rate.
10 Goals in 13 games is really a better indicator of our current level this season. :(
Be honest, when can we expect to win by 3 or 4 . We don't set out to do that as its beyond our remit/ability . I think we'll just have to exercise that quality PATIENCE, particularly when said players are as scarce as rocking horse s__t.
SOUTHBANK_BULLY
22-10-2006, 22:00
ok some people have dont agree with me that we need a striker, but can you see clarke,bothroyd,johnson and cort getting 30 goals between them ?? i dont think so , there is no end product and that lies with the strikers , we need a out and out striker , listening to the radio today we had tons of chances in the 2nd half of the game but couldnt score as the end product was crap, their keeper was shakey and we didn't trouble him all game
28th March 1965
22-10-2006, 22:23
We didn't have tons of chances......Potter's in the first half after a keeper fumble from Bothroyds shot , Clarke's weak effort near the end and Bothroyd screwing one horribly wide when he should have made the keeper work those were the only ones of note to what I remember..
I do feel Bothroyd and Johnson can work but the likes of Clarke and Davies don't inspire me at all , I've mentioned it above Daniel Jones on the left and Lewis Gobern on the right , they will create chances from the flanks but it seems there well out of favour..
I feel when Mark Davies is fit you'll see more penetration and chances for the strikers....Davies and Henry will be perfect in my eyes...Olofinjana is just not cutting it consistantly..
I think we have a good array of strikers, but we haven't found the right combination yet. We should be making more of what we have though, and I agree with everyone else who says the buck stops with the midfield.
1) Mark Davies must replace Olofinjana when he's fit
2) We need another winger. Rohan is doing a good job, but we need them on both sides
3) Take a punt on Aaron McClean and see what the lad can do
The Bear
22-10-2006, 22:30
Don't worry we have Carl Cort to come back........pfffttt!!
Joking aside i wonder how well he'd link with Johnson. We all surely remember C-FORCE!!
Phys Ed Wolf
23-10-2006, 09:09
For now a left footed wide man, Ricketts to move to the right, Davies to replace Olly when fully fit, and hopefully show some of that early promise (though I don't think Olly has been playing all that badly), this will hopefully;
1. Create more chances for the forwards to capitalise on.
2. Take the pressure off them to score goals, as goals would be coming from the midfield department.
If this doesn't happen, THEN we should look at getting another forwrd.
paddingtonwolf
23-10-2006, 09:30
We need:-
Mark Davies
Jackie McNamara
Denes Rosa
Lewis Gobern
Needed-
Natural goal scoring striker
Right winger
Central midfielder
Central defender
paddingtonwolf
23-10-2006, 09:38
Central defender? I think that Breen and Craddock have been very good this season, although they aren't the quickest. Maybe Wheater could get a run out?
shroombat
23-10-2006, 09:48
No - we need an attacking outlet from midfield - another winger and an out and out attacking central midfielder. Henry does such a good job breaking down play and tidying up that we can afford to have a more attack-minded central midfielder next to him!
idiakez would've been perfect for us to play along side either henry or seyi george but i got slated on here when i mentioned this before!
everyone seemed to want a team of snotters :rolleyes:
paddingtonwolf
23-10-2006, 09:51
Idiakez - overpriced, ancient and a fairy
Phys Ed Wolf
23-10-2006, 09:55
But Hoddle was trying to get Idiakakez at a time when we need a ball winner, Ince was hardly playing, and we were playing with 3 in midfield, without a player who could really tackle. Now we have that player in Henry, we can now look towards a creative midfielder.
Its a shame we always seem to have an abundance of one and not the other, hopefully Rosa and Davies can get match fit, and we can find a midfield that compliments each other. (And by that I don't mean 'ooh, where DID you get those shoes from, they look lovely with those trousers, and your hair....')
paddingtonwolf
23-10-2006, 10:00
That's where I agree - I think we are really going to appreciate it when Davies is back in the side, and Rosa will compliment Ricketts
danhlibertine
23-10-2006, 10:18
Definitley a winger on the right hand side. Our crossing was shocking yesterday. Also a poacher to complement Bothroyd, and also a midfielder who will make late runs and score goals although I'm confident Rosa/Davies will do that. For several years we had Cameron and Rae in midfield and the key was they would guarantee you 8-10 goals a season. We miss that.
glasgowwolf
23-10-2006, 10:33
Listening to WM on Saturday
Franksie (whom I rate very highly in his knowledge) was quite scathing of Bothroyd and Johnson. I must say n the radio they did not come across as working hard, however you don't get the true picture on the radio.
Both WM commentators said that Johnson and Bothroyd certainly had a couldn't care look about them if this is true it is unacceptable in a game versus that lot.
I saw Clarke's 2 headers Versus Coventry he really should have scored the one straight at the keeper. Yesterdays sounded a week effort on his weaker left side.
However we are bringing 2 young strikers on and asking them to turn a game round / take chances very quickly.
When Clarke has played full games he has looked like scoring. Davies has not really had a chance.
We are not creating many clear cut chances. So the fault lies with both the Strikers, and the Midfield.
Midfield are meant to create a lot and score some.
Strikers are meant to create some and score a lot.
IMHO it is time to give Clarke and Davies 5 games and see what happens they seem to have a decent understanding in the minutes they have played.
Move Johnson to the right wing, Ricketts played really well on the left.
Potter was anonymous on Sunday, I keep being told he is a central player so put him on the bench and bring him on centrally and see how he looks.
Goals per game for all our strikers is not a good yardstick. Certainly Clarke has not played 33 full games it is doubtful if he has played 25 full games.
One can only assume that Johnson and Davies have had a similar run where they have been bought on for bits here bits there. Without having a decent run in the team (That is an assumption not a researched fact). I have left Bothroyd out has he has played more full games than our others. (Again an assumption based on memory)
Strikers breed on confidence especially youngsters and all of our strikers are youngsters.
Clarke has been prolific at youth and reserve level, without having a long run in the first team. May be it's time to see if he can cut the mustard, his one goal came after a couple of full games. Neither JJ or Bothroyd look like scoring at the moment and they are playing full games they have had a good run in the team.
Just as a team defends in all positions, then a team attacks, creates and scores in all positions.
Our centre halfs should be a danger at corners they are not, our midfield has not scored many all season. Our forwards have not scored many, but they have not missed many real good chances, Clarke's 1 on Tuesday was a real good chance, Johnson missed 2 good chances in the stoke game.
On Sunday the chances were half chances and not clear cut chances.
The truth is the fault lies with all of our players, to create more chances we would need to be less solid.
At the start of the seaon we would have been delighted with a top 10 position most of us were looking at a bottom 10.
I know it is hard I was extremely unhappy on Sun, it must be worse for you guys working and drinking in the Black Country my heart goes out to you.
Lets give Merlin the time to build, lets take what we have, and accept it.
I would rather win 1-0 against the teams we are competing against and still be in this division next season, than go out attack, leave holes, lose games 4 - 3 and get relegated.
I'd seriously look at dropping Johnson now. Has he really done anything since he scored against Luton? Bothroyd still looks a threat though and had a few decent attempts on Sunday but he's not a poacher.
I'd always been of the opinion that the midfield was more of an issue than the attack but it seems they are both areas we need better standard of players in.
meow mix
23-10-2006, 14:47
in order of preference:
a specialist right back
Gobern at right wing or if no faith there a specialist right winger
a pacey centre half to go alongside breen
Then if the tactics can be tweaked to promote forward play by said wingers and one of the midfielders which would open up more options. Also to not sit back and invite pressure when one ahead and to make sure everyone pushes up on clearing a ball.
wolfie smith
23-10-2006, 16:29
rome wasnt built in a day
i'd attempt to buy us a hero and normally they are strikers, sharp could be the man, failing that we must get this guy in http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/northeastghosthunter/page3.html
Eddie the Adventurer
23-10-2006, 16:43
I'd seriously look at dropping Johnson now. Has he really done anything since he scored against Luton? Bothroyd still looks a threat though and had a few decent attempts on Sunday but he's not a poacher. .
True. A lot of people laughed when Bully said he would play JJ on the wing. I think yesterday showed, yet again, but he is unlikely to cut the mustard. He isn't scoring enough, and does not look likely to. We need to have a rethink.
Jackfoxy
23-10-2006, 17:52
We need creativity in the midfield - we've got two pacey players and three strikers that can hold the ball up or be target men. I think we're putting too much on Mark Davies to come in and change our season... shows how much we miss Kennedy on the left hand side - he's in the top 5 in assists (I think he had at least 8) in the league this year - Rickets was our best player with 4. John Oster or someone similar would be ideal.
Hatch End Wolf
23-10-2006, 20:19
Only Hull have scored less goals than us, and they're bottom. Big Mick knows what the problem is, but the cure will require money. We have to buy at least one player capable of scoring over 15 goals per season, at least one winger who can regularly beat a defender and cross a usable ball to our strikers.
However, the number one priority is a striker. You can perm any two from four from our present "strike force" and they still won't score more than the occasional goal.
Big Mick is achieving miracles with the players he's got at his disposal but hard work can only take a team so far. As was shown on Sunday you also need a smattering of class players to get out of this league at the right end.
wolf of sedgley
23-10-2006, 21:28
IMHO it is time to give Clarke and Davies 5 games and see what happens they seem to have a decent understanding in the minutes they have played.
No thanks. Our problem is that thanks to Hoddle and Moxey we have had to let go 14 players this summer. Mick had to cobble together a midfield in about 2 weeks, and it shows. We have no wingers and no creativity, apart from Ricketts who imo has been fantastic just lately and should be starting on the right wing where imo he would do even more damage.
UNCLE REMUS
25-10-2006, 10:28
Old hat this but I would like the club to find a Mike Bailey/Alex Rae type for central midfield. We badly need a seasoned professional to organise midfield.
To complete the "spine" a striker with some "nouse", that can hold the ball up and is good in the air. Can't think of the last time we put sides under pressure from corners and free kicks
A left Winger who can actually take on a player beat him and put crosses in as well as take a decent corner. oh! and score a few goals.
Defensively we are not to bad, the strong central midfielder would solve a lot of problems in breaking up attacks before they "hit the beach"
We badly need some experience to supplement some of the promise we have.
Would like to sign Little from Reading or that Eddie Lewis chap for the wing position. We really really need Davies and Rosa back in the team though.
Also I'd like to see Frankowski back in January in place of C Davies or Clarke.
Danny Piorkowski, a young classy rb from melbourne victory, could get him cheep now, but next year when he makes the full Australian side...he'll go to a uk prem club.
Flitwick Wolf
25-10-2006, 12:53
Danny Piorkowski, a young classy rb from melbourne victory, could get him cheep now, but next year when he makes the full Australian side...he'll go to a uk prem club.
An Australian right back......hhhmmmmmm
