He's managed the introduction of youngsters extremely well and been brave in picking them. That's very difficult to do and we'll be considerably better for that in the long term, not least because it will convince young players to join us because they see we're a club who will give them opportunities if they deserve and take them. 


I also believe jackett gets wolves, understands what we're about as a club and enthusiastically buys into our history and future. I think that's evidenced by his selling of the club to Afobe and this bodes well for other signings where we face stiff competition.

I'm cautiously optimistic about next season. I think Kenny will have learned a lot from this last season and is the kind of guy who won't make mistakes more than once. I think we've got a stronger base  than we did twelve months ago and, sako aside, I think we'll go into next season stronger and wiser. If we avoid a November style collapse but maintain our average outside that month we should be well in the mix.  

Agreed on all fronts there mate.
I had a good debate with a few lads while rehydrating myself yesterday, the general consensus seemed to be that if we can get hold of a decent "prem" centre half and a matty jarvis type replacement for Sako then we won't be far away next season.
Personally, as much as i like kmac, i think we need a bit more flair in that position, maybe saville will come back and surprise us next season but i doubt it, if you look at watford, boro and brentford with bamford, pritchard and guedioura in those positions its no coincidence how well they have done.

the article i agree with bar the non-critical view on the exclusion of price - well written and knowledgeable i suspect the author is ulf
the post i differ with more. with no sako and badly in need of new signings in critical areas i cant see us doing anywhere near as well as this season

Where do you think the critical areas are Wolfgang?

I feel Price has done well but players like him epitomise being 7th. He's no Leadbetter or Tettey.

Either we give him games so he is at their level in a few seasons - which requires patience - or we get a better defensive midfielder to push us further.

Here's the telling part Wolgang...when we're winning price looks great passing it around. When we're losing or it's tough he doesn't lead and goes missing.

Not being critical because he's done well but a key area to change next season and let's see if Price steps up

Great article and one that I agree with almost entirely, Ulf.
Of course, if I'd written this, I'd have been negative in the extreme.
As I've said on numerous occasions, just because I'm not popping champagne corks for finishing 7th doesn't make me negative, just more balanced than some.

Kenny has done OK and has got Wolves to where I thought they would finish, no more, no less.

I also posted a comment on another thread that over the last 16 (now 17) seasons that we had competed in the Championship, our mean league position is 8th and out mode is 7th!

I think that we should put the statue of Kenny on hold for now!

comment by Pundit /\_/\ (U16869)
posted 22 minutes ago

Here's the telling part Wolgang...when we're winning price looks great passing it around. When we're losing or it's tough he doesn't lead and goes missing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I disagree with you there. I think Price is one of our more consistent performers, win or lose.

I think out problem is we lack leaders. Stearman never shuts up when he is on the pitch and you always se him trying to get everyone going, but other than him there is no one. I think a need another experienced head about for when we are under the cosh, who will drive everyone forward. I think that is something KMac should be doing, but I have been disappointed in him that respect this season.

Don't bite cinci !

Might go for a pub lunch and a couple of cold ones

comment by 2472wolves5280 (U16284)
posted 50 minutes ago
Where do you think the critical areas are Wolfgang?
.................................
in midfield 5280
our first choice midfield of price. kmac, henry, maybe edwards and rvlp is simply not good enough tor top end champo

Lampard and Gerrard for a season??? Wolvo has got to be more appealing than the usa ........

appealing ..... or appalling ?

I agree with most of what ulf has written, I have pointed out numerous points open to question.

What I will never agree with is anyone saying it was 'just OK'.

Two seasons in Kenny deserves a hell of a lot of credit regardless of errors made here or there.

As for transfers, we have barely made any, 10(two for the development squad), Ipswich made 20, Brentford made 17.

Other than Brentford, who have done incredibly, we have the youngest and least experienced and certainly smallest squad in the top 8, we will improve, it takes time, 78 points in our first season back here is a great effort given the tools at our disposal.

Just a side point, I keep seeing 'he did what was expected'.

I haven't seen anyone who said we would get 78 points and miss the play offs.

I have seen many who felt mid 70s and a play off place though.

Cinci, the play-offs are only a stepping stone. It's no good making the play-offs and still not getting promotion.
78 points is a decent total but would still have not got us in the top 2, even in a normal season.

My ambition for Wolves is promotion. Whether this is top 2 or via the play-offs, I don't really care. Whether this is with 78 points, 108 points or 58 points, I don't really care.

Promotion is what matters and until Kenny or his successor does that, I won't be happy, regardless of points totals, transfers or youth policy.

Agree cyp, but you have to be sensible with your demands.

It took one of the championships best ever managers 3 seasons to achieve it with us, and that was with a second season regression.

It is rarely an overnight process, you have to look at the bigger picture, we have a young squad with some real real talent.

Only about 3 of our squad had even played above mid table champo level before, this is where I get lost as I don't understand how anyone thinks that is evidence of automatic promotion.

Compare our squad to any of the other 6 outside of Brentford who have produced miracles with amazingly an even younger squad than ours.

I'm happy with where we are, I said at the start of the season that we would have around 77 points and just miss out on play offs by May. So, I have got to be happy with the extra point KJ has mustered up !

See it here .....

http//www.halfyssportworld.com/halfytalksbollox

Agree with virtually all of the article. As Ulf says no good saying we have done well considering the tools, considering where we came from, it's Kennys squad now and he has chosen who has come in. Most of his signings haven't even deepened the squad let alone improved the first 11.

The only thing I would add to the points made is how much emphasis is placed on our poor results in the autumn. Felt to me that we had largely overcome that and much more telling to me was that when it came to the crunch in April, with a fully fit squad, we never looked like beating Boro, Ipswich or Blues and that told me that finishing outside the play offs was where we belonged.

But I think Kenny has done well and I remain hopeful he can take us to the next level. I was impressed that he found a plan b by moving away from the passing game that wasn't working in the autumn and found a more pragmatic way to play. He is in credit with wolves fans for sure

Maybe KJ isn't quite so good at motivation at this level, or not so much motivation is required in Div 3, as long as the club is big enough to have a half-decent squad. For all the criticism that MM used to get, he was certainly one who could motivate a side in this division. The turnaround at Ipswich, when he first joined, and they were heading South, was just one example of this.

The ideal manager will have tactical nous, an ability to recruit players that slot in, and as importantly, a way of motivating that squad.

Well two managers were in must win/must not lose games Saturday, one got the win, one blew it completely.

Yes, a bad moment for Maclaren, but that was the culmination of a bad run. Had hopes until the end that we'd get into the play-offs, but sadly not to be.

You know as well as I do that we are referring to McCarthy.

Are you man enough to admit he blew it Saturday?

Of course not.

comment by Cinciwolf (U11551)
posted 26 minutes ago
You know as well as I do that we are referring to McCarthy.

Are you man enough to admit he blew it Saturday?

Of course not.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

He didn't blow it though. They got into the playoffs. Whilst he may have lost at the weekend, his record over the season was better than 18 other teams.

Whilst we won, we had more or less blown it before Saturday. So whilst we won on the day, there is only technically one team or manager who 'blew it.'

McCarthy is in the play offs and your bitterness might continue to blight this forum but it won't change the fact he has had yet another successful season

Bute refered to motivation and how mick is good at this did he not?

Whilst implying that Kenny isn't as good at this.


Well Saturday mick had a very clear task, do not lose and we are in the play offs, they lost and had to rely on other results.

He blew it Saturday pure and simple, that is undeniable.

PS. You may notice who as usual mentioned mick first