Frail Wolves in need of stability

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 v Leeds United 1

Think back four weeks or so and you may recall that the world of football managed to work itself into a lather over someone called Sam Allardyce. Amongst all the hand wringing about the “epidemic” levels of corruption were calls for inquisitions, public enquiries and even government regulation to rid us of this terrible stain. Those plying their trade in the Law must have been salivating at the thought of all that potential income to produce a 500 page report which advocated very little and after a few years was forgotten. Of course four weeks on and one would think that nothing had ever happened. The calls for an inquisition have subsided and last week even big Sam’s ample bottom was being measured for one of those Recaro seats in the Sunderland dugout. The problems however remain and a fortnight ago I read an interesting letter in the Sunday Times which offered a simple solution. Written by a Louis Hogan from Wicklow Town in Ireland it read “The Sam Allardyce affair has brought the toxic club/agent relationship into sharp focus. There should be legislation to ensure agents have no financial relationship with clubs, and that in all transfer business the fee to the agent comes from the player they represent”. All eminently workable though how that would sit with Wolves and their super agent Jorge Mendes is another matter.

One thing is certain. Conflicts of interest were not top of the issues troubling Leeds United as they strolled into town for today’s encounter. When the Yorkshiremen last came to Molineux on an evening in the December of 2015 they left with a 3-2 win, the home team rueing a succession of missed chances and being ultimately sunk by defensive frailties. Of today’s encounter one could write the same.

The game was twenty minutes old before it yielded its first chance. Dancing down the left wing, Joao Teixeira evaded two Leeds defenders before feeding the ball to Nouha Dicko in front of the Leeds goal. But, as with his squandered chance against Norwich three weeks ago, the Wolves striker proved why he will never ply his trade in the premier league and may even struggle to hold a regular place at Wolves. His touch was again poor, allowing Rob Green to close him down and save. Thereafter Helder Costa went close with a long range strike on 27 minutes and at the other end Hadi Sacko’s 38th minute strike singed the Wolves bar when well placed.

0-0 at half time the teams emerged for the second period unchanged and from the off Wolves looked the more likely. But when chances present themselves they must be taken and in a repeat of last week’s encounter v Aston Villa Wolves failed to take them. Under new manager Garry Monk Leeds have experienced something of a revival and on this outing looked robust and well organised, Ronaldo Vieira providing the midfield glue around which the team functions. It was Vieira’s somewhat innocuous 70th minute ball into the right hand corner that lead to the goal. Though it was behind him Matt Doherty had plenty of time to deal with it, by clearing to touch. But he failed to do so allowing Hadi Sacko to steal the ball from him. Advancing towards goal the latter’s low side footed cross was met by Kemar Roofe who poked home to claim his debut goal.

Wolves continued to huff and puff and should have equalised in time added on. But from four yards out their most creative player, Helda Costa, blasted over. More worryingly in ninety odd minutes of football they had mustered but one shot on target.

In a blog earlier this season I wrote that it would not be until November that we could take a reasoned view on Walter Zenga’s reign. When I wrote that it was in the hope that the manager would have formed a clear idea as to his best eleven, the side would be settled and riding high. We are nine days from November and the manager has no idea as to his best eleven. The side is far from settled and Wolves are four points and four places off a relegation slot. I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Wolves: Ikeme 6, Silvio 6, Batth 6, Hause 6, Doherty 5 Sub Coady, Teixeira 6 Sub John, Edwards 6, Saiss 6, Helda Costa 6, Bodvarrson 5, Dicko 5 Sub Cavaleiro

Leeds United: Green 6, Ayling 7, Jansson 6, Bartley 6, Taylor 6, Sacko 7 Sub Mowatt, Vieira 8 Sub Cooper, O’Kane 7, Roofe 6, Phillips 6, Wood 6

Attendance: 23,607

Ref: Stuart Attwell 6

©Mark Brennand