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

[Elephant Pyjamas]

For me it was the beginning of the end for Mick when he gave the captaincy to Johnson.

 

[Tony Towner]

I haven't heard that from Mick? Was that on a recent podcast?

It was on his episide of the Old Gold Club podcast.

 

[White Wolf]

I’m a day late but I loved Sako.

Suddenly we had someone who could actually score from a free-kick as well, was a wasted set piece most of the time under Mick. Was an exciting player that felt totally different to what we had seen under Mick, less disciplined but also exciting to watch. To a younger me this was great, easily my favourite player. The way he could strike a ball was phenomenal – the goal against Sheffield United is ridiculously fast, was unbelievable live. He clearly cared about the club, felt like he was almost single-handedly trying to keep us up under Saunders in games like the draw against Watford. Then he got injured and was obviously unfit but still willing to play as Saunders used him to try and save his own skin. Didn’t have to stay with us in League One and I wouldn’t have blamed him if he left, but he stayed and had two great years. Deserved his chance in the Premier League, didn’t go that well at Palace but seemed a bit unlucky. If I remember right he was actually doing quite well for them as a striker (?) under Hodgson but then hurt his ankle and left. Don’t mind that he went to Albion, don’t see the fuss. He clearly cared about Wolves and that was all that mattered.

On the negative side he could be erratic and his defending was poor, he’d go from amazing to shocking in a moment sometimes. I remember in the 3-3 draw with Brighton he scored a nice goal, then followed up with some stupid back pass that led to the equaliser.

Also ties into the discussion on Karl Henry because he also got sent off in that game for a stupid challenge. The perception of him as a thug was definitely overplayed but he bought into it too much, and could be a right idiot. EP says he got sent off 4 times and off the top of my head that seems right – Arsenal, Wigan, Aston Villa, Brighton – we weren’t losing in any of those games when he got sent off but lost all 3 in the Premier League, he cost us in them. The Wigan one was massive at the time and he killed it for us by getting sent off about 10 minutes in. Kicked Albrighton in the Villa game for no reason – that game felt like the turning point in 11-12 where we were definitely going down. Got him suspended for the 5-1 against Albion also, could have definitely done with Henry then. I think I am right when I say we never won a league game when he was suspended? We definitely missed his influence when he was not there, midfield was a lost weaker. Henry definitely brought the battle and drive that Mick wanted to see and for the most part that was good. Was vital to how we played under McCarthy and I think his influence was not appreciated at the time especially when we were in the Prem.

I’d read the programmes and he did come across as a bit of a nob when teammates talked about him. Big presence in the dressing room but felt very cliquey and he seemed arrogant, like he saw himself as one of the popular kids at school rather than a leader like Coady. That played in the player power thing. I’ve heard all kinds of stories about switching the captaincy thing from him to Johnson so have no idea what was going on, but he clearly had too much influence as was seen under Solbakken. Encouraged the players to undermine the manager and ignore his tactics. This was happening before the Bristol game by the way, I assume Edwards brought it up in his book because they actually won that one. My opinion has soured on him a lot, Jackett was right to get rid of him.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

I think that's a good point WW, the difference in character between Coady and Henry is vast.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Aye definitely, I'd say Keith Curle was a better captain too.

Coads is on a different level though, he's incredible. And I never thought I'd say that!

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

It's amazing how Coady has transformed from a midfielder that most of us would have driven to his next club to a colossus in central defence and basically Mr Wolves in his leadership qualities. Brilliant vision from Nuno to put him in defence and then enormous hard work by Coady himself to make him indispensible in the position and the team.

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

Fuck Karl Henry. No matter what he achieved at the club, I just can't bring myself to look past his political opinions.

I dislike him far more than I have ever disliked Roger Johnson.

 

[Parkins left foot]

Another late for Sako - did a good job for me & was pleased that he stayed with us for the Lg 1 season, but right that he moved on when he did. Whilst he wasn't someone that you wanted to defend at all he did improve a bit. When he arrived you had your head in your hands if he ever came back into our half & just waited for the catastrophe, by the time he left then you didn't want him there, but were not quite as anxious when he did.

Karl Henry was a reasonable player who is part of our history, but the ending & his stance since colours any view I would have of him. And he really wasn't a hardman at all.

 

[Paul]

Fuck Karl Henry. No matter what he achieved at the club, I just can't bring myself to look past his political opinions.

I dislike him far more than I have ever disliked Roger Johnson.

I loved DiCannio as a player the fact he was a tad 'right wing' icon_surprised: ) never entered into it ?

 

[Premier Quality]

Fuck Karl Henry. No matter what he achieved at the club, I just can't bring myself to look past his political opinions.

I dislike him far more than I have ever disliked Roger Johnson.

It’s pretty sad that you can’t separate the two, but it’s only you who loses out by having a mindset like that.

 

[Kenny]

Can't see why him being right wing should deflect your opinion of him as a player (wasnt a fan when played on the right wing though...).

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

I loved DiCannio as a player the fact he was a tad 'right wing' icon_surprised: ) never entered into it ?

It’s pretty sad that you can’t separate the two, but it’s only you who loses out by having a mindset like that.

I'm not exactly losing out, it doesn't really affect my life (or his) if I dislike him and his views.

Don't worry though, I am aware how petty it makes me :icon_lol: It's just that it you are that pro-Brexit and pro-Tory then I am going to find your personality pretty unpleasant and I don't want to be celebrating somebody like that.

My pettiness is not exclusively reserved for footballers btw. I used to hero worship Ryan Adams but disowned him when it was revealed that he was such a prick towards women. I haven't listened to his music since!

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

You have to separate. Phil Anselmo is politically and personally a fucking disgraceful racist pig. Doesn’t mean Pantera are suddenly shit much as I have been so utterly pissed off that he could even hold such views let alone publicise them.

 

[Newbridge Wolf]

Do you not engage with people who hold different political views to you? Sounds worse than the donuts who won't speak to someone as they're Albion fans.

 

[AndyWolves]

You can rate someone as a footballer and also think they're a complete cockend

Example : Luis Suarez

Whether you want to work with them or not is a different matter, I personally like the wolves "no dickheads" policy

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

Do you not engage with people who hold different political views to you? Sounds worse than the donuts who won't speak to someone as they're Albion fans.

Of course I engage with people who hold different political views to me, I'm not a complete knob. Neither would I judge anybody based on what football team they support.

 

[Paul]

Don't worry though, I am aware how petty it makes me :icon_lol: It's just that it you are that pro-Brexit and pro-Tory then I am going to find your personality pretty unpleasant and I don't want to be celebrating somebody like that.

My pettiness is not exclusively reserved for footballers btw. I used to hero worship Ryan Adams but disowned him when it was revealed that he was such a prick towards women. I haven't listened to his music since!

There's a bit of difference between someone who grooms women for their own gratification and someone who doesn't support the political party you favour regardless of whether they're right or wrong they're still entitled to their own opinions.

 

[Tony Towner]

I think the mods need to come up with an official forum policy on the spelling of nob/knob and knobhead/nobhead.

Personally I'm a nobhead.

 

[Paul]

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

There's a bit of difference between someone who grooms women for their own gratification and someone who doesn't support the political party you favour regardless of whether they're right or wrong they're still entitled to their own opinions.

It's not because he doesn't support the political party I favour. I don't even know which political party I favour, I just really, really hate the Tories.

I didn't intend to make it into a big deal. He tweets a load of shite on twitter and comes across as a right prick because of his views which makes it difficult for me to look on his time here fondly. I'm entitled to not like somebody because of their views.

He wasn't that good a player anyway! He was what we needed at the time but had his limits.