By Tom Bason
July 28 2012

Wolves today strolled to a 3-0 win over Walsall at the Bescott Stadium (as I predicted in the pub before the game). First half goals from Frank Nouble and Adam Hammill gave Wolves control, before Kevin Doyle netted midway through the second half.

Line-up (first half): De Vries; Zubar, Elokobi, Stearman, Berra; O’Hara, Davis, Jónsson, Forde; Kightly; Nouble

Line-up (second half): Ikeme; Foley, Batth, Johnson, Ward; Hunt, Henry, Milijaš, Jarvis; Doyle, Ebanks-Blake

• The tactics of the first half were interesting. Looking at the players, I assumed a 4-5-1 formation, with Michael Kightly and Anthony Forde on the flanks and Eggert Jónsson and David Davis supporting Jamie O’Hara. Instead, Ståle Solbakken decided to play O’Hara and Forde as the wide men, with Kightly in behind Frank Nouble in a clear 4-4-1-1 formation. I like Kightly in this position, and have always been convinced Mick McCarthy planned on playing him there throughout the Premier League, only injury thwarting his plan. Kightly was able to get around Nouble, and was unlucky with a couple of through balls.

• Yet, this meant O’Hara was being played on the right flank, a position he is not suited to. I have a great belief that slowish midfielders (as oppose to wingers) can be very effective played on the ‘wrong’ flank, especially if used in conjunction with an attacking fullback. Look at the way Luka Modric played when he first arrived in England, or how Steven Pienaar plays for Everton. Neither have the pace to go past fullbacks, but instead play as wide playmakers, cutting inside on to their stronger foot. Unfortunately, O’Hara doesn’t have the nous to play this role, and was never really able to influence play. In theory, the space created by O’Hara should have given Ronald Zubar room to bomb into, but he never really took advantage of this, and didn’t seem to have the confidence in his ability to deliver the ball into the penalty area.

• The goal that Frank Nouble scored was beautifully taken, from a long accurate kick from Dorus de Vries. Nouble was able to race onto De Vries’s long ball and clip the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper. But, this smart finish was in direct contrast to his shooting during the warm-up, which was abysmal. He appeared to have no control over where he putting the ball, lashing his first couple of efforts high into the back of the stand. Maybe he should take a leaf out of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake book and skip the pre-game shooting practise?

• While I like Kightly in the role behind the striker, the second goal came from the only real time he drifted into the channel. He was able to run at the defender, into the box and cross for substitute Adam Hammill to finish. Speaking of Hammill, I was surprised he was involved given he played an hour against Kidderminster Harriers last night. But, he was only called on to play 15 minutes here. I was critical of his tendency to cut inside last night, but today he used it to good effect, scoring once and testing the keeper again soon after. Incidentally, at half time, he had a chat with Solbakken and shook hands, not appearing to be an unhappy player.

• At half time, eleven changes were made, including Hammill departing. This saw Wolves play a traditional 4-4-2, again with inverted wingers (Matt Jarvis on the left and Stephen Hunt on the right). This appears to be Solbakken’s preferred style, with the wingers cutting inside – last night against Kidderminster Harriers, Hammill and Johnny Gorman played more like attacking central midfielders than wingers. This formation does rely on two defensive midfielders, who won’t move forward into the space that the wingers will attack. It also needs two offensive fullbacks to attack the space vacated by the wingers. Today’s second half pairing of Kevin Foley and Stephen Ward looked far more comfortable in this role than Zubar and George Elokobi in the second half.

• This was demonstrated most notably in the second half as Ward constantly overlapped Matt Jarvis, and it was a typical Ward run that led him to square to Kevin Doyle, who finished from the penalty spot. Doyle came close to scoring a second late on, but was stopped impressively by the goalkeeper’s face.

• Disappointingly, Wolves dominated the second half – disappointing only because I was hoping to see how Danny Batth played. But, he appears to have forced himself into Solbakken’s mind for one of those central defensive berths. It has been too long since a youth team player secured a regular first team place, so fingers crossed Batth has the ability to do this.

Walsall 0-3 Wolves

Discussion started by Wolves , 28/07/2012 20:23

Wolves
28/07/2012 20:23

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:08:11:21:12:23 by toomb.

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Risca TM
30/07/2012 11:50

Excellent read, thank you.

Is Fletcher injured? I'm not up to speed on his fitness but if not then he's on his way?

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Risca TM
30/07/2012 12:05

Will Sigurðarson be more in competition with O'Hara or with Kightly a for place in the team?

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toomb
30/07/2012 13:32

Quote:

Risca TM
Will Sigurðarson be more in competition with O'Hara or with Kightly a for place in the team?

Difficult to know without seeing more of him. I thought he was the sort of player who'd play off a striker, or even wide, but in the Q&A with Karl Henry, he likened him to Chris Iwelumo. From the brief highlights I've seen of him, it's impossible for me to say



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toomb
11/08/2012 20:57

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