Sunday 11 January 2009

Sluggish Wolves need some fresh impetus

When Mick McCarthy looks at his calendar in his Compton training ground office today, he'll see three remaining January weeks that could define the next four months.

Saturday's shocker against Preston was only the second home defeat in 14 games this season.

But you sense it had been coming. Not since Wolves dispatched Derby 3-0 on Tuesday December 9 can anyone honestly say that Wolves have been flying at the top of the table.

We're still four points clear, but the last five performances, culminating in Saturday's calamity, have hardly suggested promotion is a racing certainty.

Sluggish is a word that describes Wolves right now - and our next two Championship games take us to the cauldron that is Bristol City's Ashton Gate, and the home of our nearest challengers, Reading, for a game that defines the word massive.

Throw in the FA Cup battle at Blues, and a potential fourth round tie with Middlesbrough - and all this in the middle of the transfer window when so much is expected, perhaps demanded, of Messrs McCarthy, Moxey and Morgan.

Look at the Championship top scorers' table, and two of the three top places are occupied by Wolves strikers.

But Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Chris Iwelumo, in particular, are living off their amazing Autumn exploits - and the service to them from the flanks is virtually non-existent.

Saturday's shambles saw only Stephen Ward and Neill Collins emerge with any credit - and they were part of a frail defensive unit that let Preston in three times.

Richard Stearman may have played many games for Leicester at right back, but he's a central defender, and a very good one at that.

He's certainly not a marauding full back, which is what Wolves' style of play demands, and his discomfort at Blackpool and against Preston sums up Wolves at the moment.

But the biggest concern to Wolves fans, and presumably to McCarthy and the player himself, is the form of Michael Kightly.

It's just not happening for him. Forget talk of multi-million pound offers from Newcastle and Bolton. There is a sensible and rational argument that suggests Kightly is currently not worthy of a place in the Wolves team.

He's not playing with any zip or confidence, and if Kightly doesn't click, Wolves can struggle.

Kightly has had a meteoric rise. Form is temporary and class is permanent, and Kightly is class. But I just want to see him back hugging the touchline as a left back's worst nightmare.

One obvious option available to McCarthy, before any potential new signings, is the immediate recall of David Jones in central midfield.

And what about the front two? Sylvan keeps the goal account ticking over, but frankly is doing little else.

And Iwelumo, who missed two fine chances on Saturday, is looking like a striker who enjoyed a fantastically hot streak earlier in the season, but is now struggling to offer anything more than a frustrating succession of foul challenges.

I still have absolute faith in McCarthy and a team that are determined to succeed. But they need help.

Losing Kevin Foley to a hamstring injury showed what a vital component to the team he is, and we could do with one of our two outstanding young goalkeepers really stamping their mark on the No 1 shirt - because Carl Ikeme was not without blame on Saturday, and Wayne Hennessey was at fault up at Blackpool.

When Wolves next play a league game at Molineux, against Watford on January 31, supporters will hope there are new faces in the team.

That's not to forget the absolutely outstanding effort that has got us to this point. It would just be an acknowledgment that this is a brilliant chance for Wolves to eclipse what we achieved in May 2003.

I don't think we'll blow it - for no other reason that the aforementioned McCarthy, Moxey and Morgan know we can't afford to.

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