Winter Improvement Thread (aka Winter Squad Weakening Thread and TWF Suicide Watch)

[Newbridge Wolf]

I think the higher the fee the higher the attention on the transfer, all transfers are a gamble and to a degree I'd say the majority aren't great successes. Look at Man U, they've had some woeful signings, many who wouldn't even spring to mind.

I don't think we've had an unblemished transfer record (Leon Clarke, why??) but I think we've had a few that have worked out. Mocks failing was that he never got the LB sorted, a CH who would lead the line, or a creative midfield, and failed to ever get them sorted, although it wasn't for want of trying.

Jackett seems to only want wingers coupled with a tombola approach to his striker recruitment, alongside totally ignoring defence after the first season.

 

[GoldFlagFlyingHigh]

One name to keep an eye on is Aaron Collins, a young striker at Newport, presumably to go into our development setup.

There we go!

 

[croxdenabbey]

I keep logging on expecting to see the old 'welcome to Wolves' thread, I dread to think what's gonna happen if there's not at least another one or two before the end of the month.

Me, too.

 

[Papper]

There could well be a power struggle between the recruitment team and Jackett. There is something very wrong with the club at the moment. It is strange how so many signings don't get a decent run, or are loaned out.

We're in blueprint, benchmark bullshit mode. Bullshit stats and measurements that are not really applicable - that are analysed and analogised by people who have no people skills or knowledge to apply them. Wolves is a sexy but very fake outfit. We stink and nothing will change until some messianic figure enters the charade and rips the heart out of it. I smell comfort zone, pointing of fingers and a ship of fools ... Morgan ain't got no balls.

 

[Aikiwolf]

And the first thing I see on twitter this morning is a rumour that Reading have had a bid accepted for Le Fondre...*

*not from a reputable account but it adds to this roller coaster ride we are all enjoying!

 

[Parkins left foot]

Bristol City now linked with Golbourne - only linked, but one I could see happening.

Out of contract in the summer, apparently not in favour with Kenny & started his career there.

Hopefully we don't seeing as how he is a better LB that Doherty and with sales/injuries the squad is thinner than a 50 year old blanket now

 

[Deleted Cyber]

At this rate we will have to play Ikeme up front. Who could blame him if he goes and gets a deal. We certainly haven't seen his best or used him properly. Good luck if its true ALF.

 

[Tony Towner]

Wolves need some fit players to get us to the end of the season!

From KJs comments (and to an extent Dave Edwards) I think the board are not backing any form of investment. I appreciate there are difficulties in signing players during January, but is is possible (see Afobe, Dicko - neither were overly priced and both came in january).

Not a Edwards dig, but I thought his comments were very interesting yesterday. I didn't read the article on the OS, but you didn't have to read too much into the E&S one to get to 'yes we are shit, but what do you expect?' Assuming that reflects the view of the management and players then the second half of the season is going to go very slowly

 

[Deleted Cyber]

This is only a guess but we must have the youngest squad in the championship. DW do you know for certain?
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport...nicolai-boilesen-deal-off-but-wolves-move-on/ that's the end of that then. Looks very much as though we could be priced out of anything. Am I wrong to be biting my fingernails ?

 

[Sniffer]

I think that is a very fair comparison. I think they both hit a transfer level and beyond that they struggle suddenly. For Kenny that level appears to be getting a team out of league 1 that can challenge in the first season but then a complete lack of ideas how to sustain that challenge in the Championship. For Mick the level is getting promoted from the Championship and a valiant and occasionally successful relegation battle in the top flight. As soon as you need something beyond 15th to 17th and remotely resembling consolidation then Mick is beyond his limit.

I think that this stems from the type of team that Mick will get you promoted with. He builds a team with players at a similar wage level/ hunger to succeed and with a work ethic. This will inevitably only get you so far in the division above as when you bring players in on higher wages / less of a team work ethic / more creative then it upsets the balance of the dressing room. You could label Steve Bruce's achievements in a similar bracket. Teams that go up and stay there are either decent footballing sides that can retain possession (Swansea) or ones that stick to what they have been good at (WBA / Stoke). I've got to take my hat off to Mark Hughes at Stoke as he has been successful at changing the style at Stoke over a period of time without even flirting with relegation. Stoke however have been prepared to pay the wages to allow this transition whereas Wolves were willing to pay transfer fees but not huge wages.

The next couple of years at Wolves will be crucial as we really need a plan to get up before the huge riches of the Premier League translates into the relegated teams being able to buy their way back up there.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

So much nonsense in that article.

If it's so difficult to buy after selling because prices inflate then why didn't you get something lined up before hand? Afobe had apparently wanted out since the summer so it's not like you didn't have time to plan for it.

And he says they've moved one striker out but got one in, so Zyro is a forward now? That bloke who they scouted for months as a potential Sako replacement but swerved because he played on the right instead of the left is now in fact a forward after all?

Go home Jackett, you're drunk.

 

[Penk Wolf]

So much nonsense in that article.

If it's so difficult to buy after selling because prices inflate then why didn't you get something lined up before hand? Afobe had apparently wanted out since the summer so it's not like you didn't have time to plan for it.

And he says they've moved one striker out but got one in, so Zyro is a forward now? That bloke who they scouted for months as a potential Sako replacement but swerved because he played on the right instead of the left is now in fact a forward after all?

Go home Jackett, you're drunk.

The lack of forward planning at Wolves is shocking.

How long have we now been looking for strikers? 2 seasons?

 

[Nando]

Jokeshop comment from Jackett calling Zyro a forward to cover their arse. He's been a winger for his whole career.

 

[Deleted Cyber]

So much nonsense in that article.

If it's so difficult to buy after selling because prices inflate then why didn't you get something lined up before hand? Afobe had apparently wanted out since the summer so it's not like you didn't have time to plan for it.

And he says they've moved one striker out but got one in, so Zyro is a forward now? That bloke who they scouted for months as a potential Sako replacement but swerved because he played on the right instead of the left is now in fact a forward after all?

Go home Jackett, you're drunk.

For me it smacks of a pre emptive strike to excuse why we did very little business other than flogging players. I still expect more to leave. I am just waiting for the last minute bid to take Iorfa, KMac or similar. Regardless of your views on how best to progress surely everyone must agree its a clusterfuck. Still hoping as its not Feb yet.......

 

[jd1981]

My real concern is what state the squad will be in come August. This season has well and truly gone unless some miracle happens and we get dragged down towards the bottom.

 

[MARKakaJIM]

The lack of forward planning at Wolves is shocking.

How long have we now been looking for strikers? 2 seasons?

2 years this window you could argue, sold Griffiths and Doyle to bring in Dicko and Clarke but everyone knew the latter was a no-hoper and they've been playing catch up ever since.

It's been similar at the back to be fair, signed Golbourne and Ricketts early on but Wolves haven't signed another defender since then have they? Ricketts gone and Golbourne ruined by injury/out of favour leaves very few options back there, whilst the myriad of mundane midfielders continues to grow.

 

[thehistorymakers]

I think that is a very fair comparison. I think they both hit a transfer level and beyond that they struggle suddenly. For Kenny that level appears to be getting a team out of league 1 that can challenge in the first season but then a complete lack of ideas how to sustain that challenge in the Championship. For Mick the level is getting promoted from the Championship and a valiant and occasionally successful relegation battle in the top flight. As soon as you need something beyond 15th to 17th and remotely resembling consolidation then Mick is beyond his limit.

I agree with most of that, Paddy. Knowing when to get rid of a manager, is as important as knowing which manager to employ.
Mick should have gone before he did and we should never have employed Terry to keep us up in the PL. The Viking was the wrong choice as he had no experience in managing in English football. Saunders was OK in div 1, but was out of his depth with a championship club. Kenny got rid of the dead wood, got us promoted and had a good first season in the championship.

I won't judge Kenny on the recent signings, because I would of thought if he thought that much of the players we have signed, he would play them. I can't see how we would give Kenny money to buy players and then keep them out of the team. If they are his signings he should do one, but I doubt they are his choice.
It is likely that the wage structure at Wolves and concentrating on youth and potential( which is a good thing) has not found the right balance. I am not blaming him for that.
We could sack Kenny, but I don't have a lot of faith in the people who make the decisions at Wolves. Do I think Kenny would make a great PL manager? No I don't, but I think with whats going on with the sale of the club and us treading water, I would keep him at the moment.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

I am sure we will keep him until the sale situation is sorted out one way or another. I don't think we will give him much to spend though.

 

[Revenga]

This is only a guess but we must have the youngest squad in the championship. DW do you know for certain?
http://www.expressandstar.com/sport...nicolai-boilesen-deal-off-but-wolves-move-on/ that's the end of that then. Looks very much as though we could be priced out of anything. Am I wrong to be biting my fingernails ?

I don't think we ever close to getting that deal over the line, his tweets following the supposed medical made it clear he wasn't interested in a move to Wolves, so not that shocked.

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

We certainly weren't priced out of it either. The bloke just wasn't interested.