Just how good were/was/is/are (Wolves Edition)

[Deano]

Sako was very good for the level(s) we were at. He always contributed good goals and assists numbers and was our biggest threat.

I think he got unfair stick from Wolves fans, he was a bit of a maverick and you'd see people asking for him to be dropped after a quiet game or two, but back then we just couldn't afford to do it as he had that bit of extra quality that could get you a goal from nowhere. Agree he wouldn't get near our team now but for the time he was very good for us.

 

[Lycan]

That might also be the game where Stan Hullis was so drunk he left at half time... :Icon_lol:

Sent from my GM1920 using Tapatalk

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I will say that he rarely had an indifferent game, when he was bad he was seriously awful, like "not sure he's even seen a ball before" awful. But these things happen when you have players like that.

He used to get ridiculous flak for "not tracking back", when we played him in a 4-4-2 he did track back! But as Kenny says, you don't want him there as he was a disaster waiting to happen. He tried his hardest but it wasn't his game.

There are many, many, many things I'd like to literally nail Saunders to the wall for but potentially wrecking the boy's career in a pathetic attempt to save his own skin is right up there.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Absolutely dreadful at defending though. A penalty waiting to be given everytime he went in for a challenge.

Loved the man though.

How many did he give away?

 

[YoungWolf]

Shocking video quality but this is the only footage I can find right now of his goal at Leicester:

Right peg as well!

Absymal stuff by Ikeme on the opening goal.

I definitely saw a video for this the other day so I will try and find it. I also noticed the quote from Saunders saying we had at least ten chances FFS. Though you are right, we did play well in that second half and the shape with the midfield three looked a semi-decent plan going forwards. It even allowed Doumbia to look half-decent again. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21175818

 

[YoungWolf]

Ah, in fact it was Wolves goal of the day recently

https://www.facebook.com/Wolves/videos/bakary-sako-vs-leicester-city/807838449620637/

 

[North Shropshire Lad]

Very much bucking the trend here, but I was no great fan of Blake [mistakenly I think in hindsight] or Sako.

I always thought Bakary lacked nous or technical ability and relied totally on power and pace, which was why he never really made an impact higher up the league. As regards his tracking back, I used to dread him being anywhere near our penalty area!

I think Blake's best performances were away from home in typical backs against the wall games. Probably the reason why I never was onboard with him at the time was because I always believed he was better than the contribution, particularly goals wise, he was making. Having seen him 'destroy' us on occasion before he arrived, I never felt we got the same level of performance from him. Subsequently my opinion has changed, as my regard for the managers and coaches he played under here has diminished.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I also noticed the quote from Saunders saying we had at least ten chances FFS.

https://www.skysports.com/football/leicester-vs-wolves/stats/279842

We had 10 shots so presumably every single one was a "clear cut chance". I think not.

He also had our shitty defending for Knockaert's goal down to a "lack of belief". No, I think it's because you have them backing off forever as we conceded loads of goals like that.

 

[PuntsWolf]

Shocking video quality but this is the only footage I can find right now of his goal at Leicester:

Right peg as well!

Absymal stuff by Ikeme on the opening goal.

Loved Sako, what a legend. Can’t beat a blockbuster reel from a left footer.

Ward probably most at fault there. Back off, back off, shit nearly in my 6 yard box, he’s done me, shot on goal. Standard procedure from him for a period.

How many did he give away?

Think I heard on the Fancast that it was actually only 1 (although it could/should have been a lot more).

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

I remember thinking that he was on the brink of giving free kicks/pens away a lot too, but i think it's similar to Berra, we always worried that he would give a penalty away from cuddling opposing players on corners, but he never did.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Defo one in Saunders' first (horrible) game vs Blackburn, that might be it. He was a nightmare though, he didn't know what he was doing. He could have caused a load of other stuff indirectly just from the panic he brought to the party. Get away from here man.

 

[Kenny]

How many did he give away?

Actual numbers were low and certainly in the "Murray's kicking will cost us" and "Berra needs to stop wrestling the defenders in the penalty area" zone but there was a spell where you would nervously look at the ref. We found a way to keep him away from our own penalty so the issue died

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

It's in the original video but this one:

I was sat right behind Kenny for this one. Paul Robinson in nets with his thunder thighs. I said "if this is on target it's going in, 100%". Dined out on that for the evening.

 

[Alan]

Not as good as Boukari. :icon_wink:

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

29. Karl Henry

Karl Levi Daniel Henry (born 26 November 1982) is an English former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Henry was a product of the Stoke City academy who went on to make over 120 appearances for the club, also spending time on loan at Cheltenham Town in 2004. He joined his hometown club Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2006, and went on to become captain of the side in the Premier League. Henry spent seven seasons at Wolves, making 272 appearances in all competitions.

He joined Queens Park Rangers in the summer of 2013 and helped them to victory in the 2014 Championship play-off Final. In 2017, after four years with QPR, he was released from the club upon the expiry of his contract; he later played for Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City before retiring in 2019.

Henry joined his hometown club on a three-year contract in August 2006 a week before the start of the 2006–07 season. He made his Wolverhampton Wanderers debut and his first start for his new club against Plymouth Argyle on the opening day of the season.

He was appointed captain for the first time in December 2006 as Jody Craddock was out injured. Henry's first season for Wolves came to an end when he suffered a serious injury in the game against Luton Town on 3 March 2007. Henry bruised his spleen and was forced to sit out the remainder of the 2006–07 season, which saw him miss out on the Championship play-offs. He made a total of 34 appearances in his first season for Wolves, scoring three goals.

In the 2007–08 season, Henry again impressed for Wolves after holding down his position in the centre of midfield. He went on to make a total of 42 appearances for Wolves, scoring three goals again. These goals came against Preston North End and two against Charlton Athletic, both home and away. Henry also picked up an injury against Charlton on 29 March 2008, which saw him miss the last six games of the season.

The 2008–09 season saw Henry impress again for Wolves and he was also handed the captain's armband for the majority of the season as Jody Craddock was out injured. He was an integral part of the team which made an impressive start to the season as Wolves were at the top of the table for numerous months with Henry captaining them. He was in the starting 11 against Queens Park Rangers in which Wolves went on to win the game which resulted in them gaining promotion to the Premier League. On 3 May 2009, Henry and Craddock both lifted the Championship trophy at Molineux on the final day of the season after their 1–0 over Doncaster Rovers.

Henry was an ever-present captain in the Wolves team in the 2009–10 season, his Premier League debut came against West Ham United on the opening day. He went on to make 34 appearances for Wolves during 2009–10, missing only four games, as Wolves stayed up at the end of their first season in the Premier League.

During the 2010–11 season, Henry made 31 Premier League appearances as captain. On the last day of the season, on 22 May 2011, Wolverhampton Wanderers stayed in the Premier League after finishing 17th.

A start of the new season, new signing Roger Johnson replaced Henry as club captain. Henry started Wolves' first three games in the 2011–12 season, including the 0–0 draw away at local rivals Aston Villa. Before the match between QPR and Wolves, Henry threw down the gauntlet on Joey Barton as they prepared to go head-to-head at Molineux. The two (both Joey Barton and Karl Henry) were involved in a physical confrontation in August 2010 when Barton was still at Newcastle. The confrontation occurred after Henry made a number of strong tackles on Barton. During the match between QPR and Wolves, which QPR won 3–0, Henry continued his strong challenges on Barton, who hit back by making claims that Henry 'tries to hurt people'. Henry says Barton was 'embarrassing' after recent comments. Henry was taunted by a section of the Molineux crowd after being substituted, when Wolves were defeated by Newcastle United by a score of 1–2. He was defended by Wolves captain at the time, Roger Johnson.

With the arrival of Kenny Jackett as manager, Henry was transfer listed, despite his contract still having three more years to run.

Henry signed for Championship side Queens Park Rangers on 23 July 2013 for an undisclosed fee.

 

[YoungWolf]

He's ruined any affection I had left for him (wasn't much after the last two seasons he played in) with his politics :icon_lol:

But at the time, I was a fan of his even if he did have limitations. Interesting listening to the OldGold podcast, all the players seemed to be of the opinion that he had the ability but wasn't allowed/chose not to express himself more on the pitch.

Also when he got media attention as a 'hard man' he seemed to buy into it a bit too much I felt, which was a shame as he was more than that.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I've mentioned it a billion times before but I played with him when we were kids. He was Ashmore, I was Coppice Farm/Vention. You would never have picked him out as a pro. I probably looked like a better player :icon_lol: but I found cigarettes, alcohol and girls more interesting than running around a park.

He was exactly what we needed when we signed him. He was on trial when we played Villa in a friendly, sat with Kenny and we agreed that he should sign the next day if we could get him.

Definitely played up to the hard man shtick far too much. Karl, you're not hard, you're being a prick.

A total cock of a man now, totally forgotten his roots and I've grown to hate him. Remember where you came from, knobhead.

That said, was a damn good player for us for a while. Understated but vital.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Oh and he was defo behind undermining Solbakken and said after we played Blackburn under Saunders that it was "proper football".

Stick your "proper football" pal, that was fucking rubbish.

 

[PuntsWolf]

On top of what’s been said, it sounds like he was the ring leader to get Stale sacked and there was a few similar sort of instances. Apparently in the huddle told the players to forget the tactics and play our own way. So then you’ve probably got 3 sets of players pulling in different directions, manager doesn’t have a chance.

Imagine now, Moutinho going “sod this soaking pressure, I’m pushing up and playing on the front foot”. The tactical shape is ruined, holes everywhere and we concede goals.

The reason why MM took the captaincy off him was for similar reasons too.

 

[lemonjelly]

in 09-10, the way he stepped up to the PL was exceptional imo. He adapted his game to how Mick wanted to play so well, and he was so consistent, yet never got much praise. He was pretty essential for us at that time. He'd looked good, but not exceptional in the championship, but very tidy. The only player I was confident would be able to make the step up was SEB. Everyone else I had doubts about. Henry proved me completely wrong.

It all went downhill after we were relegated, and I have avoided his politics since. However, for a period of time he was essential to us, and was a very good captain too.