After Wolves` 1-0 victory against Norwich City, Kenny Jackett responded to Sky Sports reporters` questions regarding the signature of Chris Wood, confirming discussions and registering an interest. Sky Sports reports would later reveal that an undisclosed fee had been agreed between the two clubs. On the, admittedly, hefty presumption that the board have all but succeeded in nabbing the New Zealand international from Leicester City, Kenny Jackett will have a real struggle with his tactics board.
This presents a fascinating attacking topology for Wolves fans to consider, as we have at least 3 strikes who arguably already have the capacity to fill the lone position in Jackett`s 4-2-3-1 formation. Nouha Dicko played the role of the latent saviour last season, filling the void of goals with his impressive speed and inexplicable power for his comparatively diminutive stature. The Frenchman is buoyed with the confidence of a successful season, both at Rotherham and Wolves, and looked very sharp against Norwich City, turning Turner and Garrido inside out as he exploited the shaken East Anglian backline. Dicko`s low centre of gravity, great athleticism, eye for goal and ability to stick in goals from impossible angles and heights reminds me of a younger, fitter Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, and might just remind those a bit older than me of Steve Bull. Posing this selection conundrum to my Dad, he can`t imagine a team without Dicko in it. However, I would advocate a more even assessment of striking options.
I can`t help but feel that Leon Clarke`s prolific goal-scoring in the pre-season was made some of the Molineux faithful conflicted in their witch hunt. Few would argue that Clarke`s first spell at Wolves was fantastic: undoubtedly some talent, hidden underneath a crust of petulance and arrogance that struggled to break free often enough to warrant a starting place. However, I also think few could argue that Clarke has done a lot of growing up, a lot of bulking up, and a lot of scoring regularly since he last graced the hallowed turf in old gold. Nevertheless, I do think that there is an underlying prejudice against the man, because every club needs a quick and easy culprit in times of struggle. However Clarke is doing the most tangible thing a footballer can do in this situation; he`s scoring goals (and he`s bloody lucky that he`s a striker, because a centre half would already have been slaughtered). Clarke failed to impress massively at the tail end of last season, although that certainly had to do with the fact that Dicko was prolific. Clarke has the record, the physical attributes and apparently the attitude to do well, and I think we could do worse than giving him a fair hack up top.
Wood presents himself as another alternative, as a bit of a target man with a record of scoring goals under Jackett at Millwall. He netted 30 goals in the last two seasons of Championship football, on loan at Millwall and then playing on a permanent contract for Leicester City, for whom his 8 goals last season were a helpful hand in the promotion push. At 6`3″, Wood is an impressive figure who could potentially line up alongside the pacey Dicko in a more conventional formation, a la Ebanks-Blake and Iwelumo of yesteryear. Of course, any discussion of Wood is based on a delicate series of suppositions and possibilities, and it is necessary not to dwell overly on off-chances.
McAlinden is touted to be on loan elsewhere, unconfirmed reports alluding to Walsall for a short spell. However, I am definitely a fan of the man and think a lot of his potential. He is one of the few young players that the academy has yielded that looks graceful with the ball, and totally comfortable as a natural footballer. Unlike young Jake Cassidy, McAlinden has found the net relatively recently, last against MK Dons with a crucial last minute headed goal. With a firm strike, good aerial presence and some intelligent movement off the ball, McAlinden represents “one for the future”, certainly, but I hope that the future is sooner rather than later, and I would expect him to impress the Saddlers.
To briefly précis, I think Wolves have ample talent on the books, if Wood should sign a permanent contract with us. Promotion may be something of a pipe dream for this season, but I would wager that our strike force will surprise a few unsuspecting Championship defences. I would add, however, that Jackett may see the need to experiment further we our formation to make the most of what is now a department of the field with great strength in depth. I would also predict that should Jackett perform this autopsy of our formational dependence, we might experience a short blip in form before we adapt to another style, although perhaps that`s just a bit of pessimism shining through.
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