A ball hasn’t even been kicked yet but Solbakken has already earned cult status at Molineux.
Last season will be one to forget, a ‘void’ season as it were. Wolves season was over after the first 3 games. After then, they never took off. Despite a resilient Christmas and New Year against teams like Arsenal and Spurs, Wolves premiership era was ended 3 months early, at the hands of an embarrassing 5-1 defeat at home to local rivals West Brom.
What should have happened 4 months ago, finally happened on the 11th May 2012 with the appointment of Stale Solbakken.
Relatively unknown to the English media, the norwegian joined Wolves with a exciting pedigree, 5 leagues titles with Copenhagen and previously being offered the Norwegian national job. Many, including myself, we’re impressed that Wolves had found a potential hidden gem out of the well known list of available managers. Someone also with Champions League experience. Something you may not find which managers have in the Championship. If you have drawn with Barcelona and beaten Manchester United at that level, there’s something special about you.
Despite being sacked at his previous position as manager of Cologne due to their relegation, from reports surrounding his time there, relegation seemed beyond his control.
One of the key factors Wolves fans were looking for in a new manager, particularly 4 months ago, was someone to bring in a set of fresh ideas. McCarthy’s philosophy at the club seemed to have come to an end and what Wolves needed was a different direction.
Wolves spearheaded a policy of ‘Young and Hungry’, which worked effectively and proved to other similar teams at their level of what was achievable with money spent wisely rather than on ‘big names’. Sadly this tactic ran its course early on in Wolves premier league adventure and Wolves lack of buying established players cost them dearly.
From the impression we have got from Solbakken so far, he will have a different mindset to how to play the game. With no disrespect to McCarthy, Solbakken seems to display a tactical preparation to the game and from what reports suggest, a team which keeps the ball on the ground.
I would go as far as saying that Solbakken can’t seem to do anything wrong in the eyes of Wolves fans at the moment. The way he has put himself across in interviews and press conferences has been positive. Its the aurora of the unknown which he portrays which fans are getting excited about.
Reports of his pre-season training sessions already has been one of discipline and a early focus on skills and being on the ball. Rather than the reported early emphasis on fitness in McCarthy’s pre season preparations. Wolves had tweeted of early training sessions at 8.30am and first team and development players tweeting of their tiredness after training. But this also could be the initial shock to the body after a 2 month rest.
Solbakken will now take this time to assess the current squad and decide who will continue as part of the Solbakken era and who will depart as part of the McCarthy legacy. Some players may transcend and some will be shown the door. Fans want to see a new generation of players at Wolves, one’s who have a more skill based approach, rather than the ‘put in a shift’ approach celebrated by McCarthy.
Since the appointment of Solbakken, I have said that this season will go either 2 ways. Incredibly well, with Solbakken’s experience and approach being too advanced for the Championship, with Wolves aggressively taking the league for their own. Or, an incredibly poor and difficult start which will see an early exit for Stale.
Despite the positivity around Wolves at the moment and not one to burst any rose tinted bubbles, the pitfalls of this appointment are clear to see.
The Championship is a long and physically enduring league. Famous for being a tough league to escape from, It’s a tough way to introduce yourself to the English game. A few bad early results will start an early negative focus amongst fans, who will feel reminiscent of the feeling they had in the previous season. A string of defeats is the last thing Wolves fans will want to see again.
Solbakken will want to make his mark, but he needs to be wary of not over-stepping the mark. Getting rid of the McCarthy squadron may initially please fans, but it may also alienate him from his team. The majority of these players have been with each other for around 5 years and a dramatic change in personnel may affect the team morale. I’m not saying changes aren’t needed, but although these players were part of the relegation brigade, these players were also part of the team which promoted Wolves. Rather than being ‘out of date’, this experience would be key next season and Solbakken needs to keep this in mind.
Wolves fans also are keen to see the promising next generation of youth players getting their chance in the first team. The likes of Danny Batth, Johnny Gorman and the much talked about Zele Ismail are all on Wolves fans minds. Promising talent such as Mendez-Laing has also ready been sold and youngster Leigh Griffiths has already tweeted that he has been told he isn’t part of Solbakken’s plans. So will the youth get a chance?
Anthony Forde was the first academy player to graduate to the McCarthy first eleven, five years after McCarthy took charge. If the current youth felt alienated in the McCarthy era, they will feel that they will get a chance with Solbakken. But if there’s an early expectation from fans and the board to bounce back straight away, Solbakken may feel deploying them will be far too risky. If so, this rejuvenated hope will turn back into further frustration. They may take a lesson from other Wolves youngsters who have left to take on new challenges and succeeded, notably Andrew Surman, Elliot Bennett and Mark Davies, who was last rumoured to being touted by Liverpool.
There is also the possibility of McCarthy landing a new job, more likely in the Championship for the coming season. You may think this will be a chance for Wolves to shift those ‘favourite’ players which fans have come to dislike but also some of the backroom staff such as Steve Weaver and Terry Connor. But there are also drawbacks to this.
Despite Connor’s failed term as Wolves manager, there seems to be a concession around Wolves fans that he was out of his depth and that it is unfair to point the blame solely at him for Wolves relegation. He may be seen as ‘McCarthy Light’, but this is also the same man who helped build and develop Wolves attacking promotion team, a man who England International, premier league winner and former Wolves defender Joleon Lescott referenced as one of the best coaches he has had. With a vast experience in the Championship and the English league, Solbakken and Wolves fans may need to think carefully about whether his potential departure would be good for the club.
There will be players loyal to McCarthy who he will try to snap up. With reports that Wolves players who have a year left of their contract will be allowed to run this out or be sold, Solbakken needs to be careful not to jump the gun when or If any offers come in and needs to be wary of a McCarthy exodus. Players like the resurgent Michael Kightly and the experienced Kevin Doyle may prove pivotal in a promotion seeking season. If they were given the chance to leave and join McCarthy, it may give him the upper hand he needs with his already well documented promotion winning experience.
Solbakken has a tough cookie to crack at Wolves. The air of positivity around Wolves is much needed. I, like many Wolves fans, haven’t been this excited about a new season for a long time, despite being in the league which I hoped we’d never return to. I’ m not saying that wholesale or even no changes are needed, but a transition is. The right changes at the right time and place will help Wolves rectify the errors of the season before. It’s unclear at the moment whether Solbakken will have been the right appointment, but I hope he is. Make no mistake though, his appointment is no easy fix. Wolves fans may need to prepare for the long haul.
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