Another shocker at Selhurst Park on Saturday leaves Wolves fans asking what is happening?
After the 3-2 reversal by Wimbledon a fortnight ago, Jones promised corrective measures to prevent the same happening again.
However, the Swansea game seemed to indicate that the defence was as frail as ever and then on Saturday we were even worse.
It doesn’t seem to be just the back four and keeper that are playing poorly. The malaise seems to have spread to numbers 1-11.
We have now conceded a total of 11 goals in the 7 league matches played. This is only 1 fewer than Grimsby who are rooted to the bottom of the table.
Last season the defence was our lynchpin. This season it’s our nightmare.
What has happened?
Well for me the problems centre around two players and a change of tactics.
Tactics:
Jones has tried to get the team to play in a different style and the defence isn’t comfortable with the ball at their feet. Add to this that Kennedy was the outlet of pressure last season and we have no-one to relieve the attacking pressure that the opposition exerts on us.
On top of this Ince, Cooper and Newton haven’t been very good in the midfield.
Naylor:
However, I feel that the inclusion of Naylor at left-back has caused a lot of the problems that we are generating for ourselves. I like Naylor but I don’t think that the way he plays is solid enough as a left-back. He gets forward but leaves huge holes for the opposition to exploit. His ball control is poor and his distribution at times is amateurish.
Camara last season combined well with Kennedy where as Naylor didn’t. I don’t think Camara is a necessarily a better defender but he seems to hold his shape and work more in tandem with the defence.
However, I would like to see the introduction of Edworthy on Saturday with him coming in at left-back or switching over with Irwin.
Oakes:
His form has dipped alarmingly in the last few games. It could be he is carrying an injury or it could be lack of confidence. It could be playing behind a poor defence. However, with no real cover I think we have a problem. I think he needs to be taken out of the firing line for a while and allowed to get back to basics without the spotlight focusing in on him.
However, this would require us to bring in someone on loan, due to no transfer funds being available.
Are there any ‘decent’ keepers out there with first team experience who could step into the void?
Jones has known we’ve needed a second choice keeper but hasn’t done anything about it in the last year. We’ve had players on loan and on trial but haven’t made a signing. Now, when it’s a must, we are going to have to sort things out a lot faster.
Overall:
However, having said all this – Jones is stubborn when it comes to change. He seems to resist the call to play certain players preferring instead to stick to his tried and tested formulas.
But now, when having stated that changes would be made to the approach and these have failed surely it’s time for a change of personnel to see if they can steady the ship and also implement whatever approach Jones has in mind?
We shall see on Saturday.
E-mail me with any comments/feedback to: dave@wolves-mad.co.uk