Failure To Launch

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Charlton Athletic

(Sako 12, Wilson 58)

So, another day, another disappointing draw at Molineux. In all honesty, this is the game the promised so much, and delivered so very very little. We have a fantastic record at home to Charlton, losing just twice in our last 26 meetings there. Our last 4 games against Charlton (both home and away) have seen us win 2-0, 3-2, 3-1, 2-1. So the expectation was that we'd win, everything promotion-wise (although I feel it's too early to think about that) would be back on track, and the mood around Wolverhampton would be much brighter this week.

Sako celebrates his goal (Photo credit: @kelly_wolves)

The reality was very different. We didn't really turn up for the whole 90 minutes. Played some pretty passing football but it was all in our own half (incidentally, Charlton actually dominated the possession stats, with around 55% of the ball). Indeed, even our goal was quite slow in terms of build-up play. Now this isn't a problem for me, I can see what Stale is trying to do. But there are times when you just want us to go for it and put the pedal to the metal. We have two top quality wingers in Pennant and Sako, but neither of them seem willing to take on their man - both spend the game in very narrow positions. Especially Sako - I love him to bits and he's quality, but he's quite lazy too. He's the sort of player that has to play though, because you know he has the quality to change the game. I do, however, have to question the decision to bring on Sigurdarson for Ebanks-Blake at half time. Siggy and Doyle clearly don't fit as a partnership. It's like playing Doyle and Keogh. Or, as I put it to my Mum after the Bolton game - like ordering fish and chips and getting just double chips. You're basically getting more of the same thing, rather than something else to compliment it (i.e. SEB as part of a big-man/little-man style).

Wilson equalises for Charlton (Photo credit: CAFC)

But anyway, as I said while we passed the ball neatly at times, we never really looked dangerous going forward. Indeed at the back we looked rather solid in the first half too. So much so that the game looked like it might be similar to the Sheffield Wednesday one, in that we just passed it around the back in the second half and weren't troubled, but likewise never threatened going forward. However, as per usual the second-half troubles kicked in. We began to sit deeper, we lost our composure and started going aimlessly long, giving the ball away in bad areas. A Charlton goal was always on the cards - though having said that, they never hugely threatened us either. We were hardly under siege, but you just knew they would score. And once they did, there was only one side that looked like winning it. And they should have really - Rob Hulse missed an absolute sitter on the hour mark, and Johnnie Jackson should've scored his header 2 minutes from time.

Once again though, I must ask questions about our fitness. We look tired in the second half, as if we're just trying to get through to full time. I don't know whether that's a mental tiredness, or physical. But something has to be done. I personally find myself asking questions of Tony Daley yet again. We have one of the best fitness suite's of any football club in the country, yet our players always look tired. Are they being overworked during the week? Or are they underworked fitness-wise and as a result are sluggish and lagging behind their fitter opponents? It's a project though, and I'm sure if Stale is unhappy he will, in time, bring in his own fitness coach and regime. Something also needs to be done about the sitting back in the second half. This is, I believe, just a result of last season and will eventually be fixed. It may take all of this season to fix, but it will be fixed.

The fans need patience. That's tough when supporting Wolves, I know. But Stale is building something here and it will take time. Still sticking by my "3 years to get promoted" mentality. But I've already said enough about the fans tonight on Twitter. This blog is about the match, and whilst it was disappointing, it's another point and we move on to Burnley next weekend. UTW.

My Wolves MOTM: Tongo Doumbia. He was a presence in midfield throughout with his running, and always looked to build attacks with some clever footwork and vision.

Wolves In A Word: Uninspiring

In Stale We Trust.