Football fans are always convinced they can do better than the players they pay to watch.
But it’s not until you see them training that you realise just how good they are.
It’s not just their fitness or skill, but their power and strength, accuracy with the ball – along with pace and sheer intensity.
It might have only been a nondescript pitch in the shadow of the grim Grangemouth skyline, but it could have been the new Wembley for the Wolves players, such was their effort during yesterday’s two-hour afternoon session.
This is where the real graft is done, although it was impossible to single out anyone as everyone tried so hard. There was a cracking battle in midfield between Karl Henry, David Jones and Mark Davies.
Davies was polished and classy, while Jones and Henry virtually had a wrestling match for the ball.
For those interested in the dynamic of McCarthy and his coaching staff, it was interesting to see Terry Connor take the early part of the session, before the manager took over what became the main focus of a condensed game – crossing from wide areas and finishing.
The wide men were Michael Kightly and George Elokobi for one team, with Kevin Foley and Daniel Jones for the other.
Chris Iwelumo scored two, with Sam Vokes netting one at the other end, in an 11-a-side match which saw Dave Edwards watch from the sidelines with a slight knee injury.
Rob Edwards, injured by a block tackle at Chasetown on Friday, was the only absentee.
In his day, Wolves fitness coach Tony Daley was an electric winger for Villa and England, winning seven caps for his country.
Wolves fans may struggle to recall too many flashes of such brilliance, given Daley’s cruel run of injuries which blighted his four years at Molineux.
Few of his most ardent fans would have seen too much evidence of his ball juggling skills. On the windswept training pitches, a dormant talent was revealed.
To ‘Dales’ as he is affectionately known by the squad, it was merely a more extravagant take on keepy-uppy, at the end of a two-hour training session.
To the layman, the former pacy wide man’s flicks – using only the outside of his feet to continually flick the ball over his head, and all off the ground – were like watching a modern-day Coca Cola kid.
Kights beware – the fitness coach is after your place!
When it comes to food, be careful of what comes in parcels, we discovered. That was the motto as our elusive search for healthy food continued in Grangemouth.
‘Mozzarella parcels’ was what Express & Star photographer Gavin Dickson ordered for his starter.
On closer investigation, it turned out the mozzarella parcels were in fact, small pieces of deep fried cheese on toast.
33 Comments
“It might have only been a nondescript pitch in the shadow of the grim Grangemouth skyline, but it could have been the new Wembley for the Wolves players” - well it aint like you will get to the real one is it…
Get used to those grey drap places guys - I hear Doncater on a cold day will freeze the boos as soon as they leave your mouth….
Is it true they have heated seats at the Emirates?? LOL !!
1. They are playing, no getting slaughtered in August!! you must be talking through your arse!That’s where your team comes from.
god ur so sad…its a sign its the summer hols..all em hours with nowt to do!!! but play on here!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy_baggie lets see where we are this time next season in comparison to Albion and then we can make jokes
Fatty_baggie,
You will struggle to find many Championship grounds worse than Fratton Park….. also don’t forget that half of your games will be played in the Sandwell Council dump, or the Hawthorns as you call it.
orange and black champions 08/09
ORANGE AND BLACK
Where exactly is ‘Doncater’? South of Sandwell perhaps! Not sure you will have too long on the seats as your ‘very loyal’ fans normally leave when you’re 0-3 down!
Up the Wolves
1.Happy_baggie.A lot of grim skylines for the
yoyo,s this coming season if your over the water
friendly,s are anythink to go by.It will be nappy
_baggie,with all the times you will be falling asleep watching one loss after another.Come to
the golden palace and watch the goals fly in,you seem to like our page your always on it.
im sure it is cold in donny on a grey winters night…you lot will be able to let me know in 2009/10 wont ya!!! boing on that!!!
I remember your last wembley appearence well, It keeps me smiling.
Those heated seats will come in handy. It is not as if you’ll have to stand up to celebrate a goal.
Hay happy, youd better get the most out the heated seats..youre backsides will be the only warm thing week in n week out…coz nowt else is gonna warm you through whats gonna be a cold, fruitless season…again……mind you..knowing you lot you’ll only have to endure the seats for 45 mins..most of you got up n left at halftime last time you were in the Prem…
Hope we get you in the cup….wont be playing you next season either…what will it be like when we take youre place in the PREM next season…cant wait…..
Boing Boing….the sound a YOYO or something that keeps bouncing up n down makes..suits you at the smallthorns…..
Keep up the good work boggie…
The futures bright..the futures ORANGE…n Black
You just keep gloating Happy, i would be very interested to see your comments if your team don’t do as well as you think they will next season. Call it a hunch but i reckon you won’t be so cocky or arrogant if you get relegated next season. I hope you don’t to be honest, we need clubs like ourselves in the prem.
Happy, aren’t you a smug B
Only 1 comment and thats from a sad boggie.
doncater ??
doncater??.heated seats will keep you warm cos you wont be celebrating any goals.nite nite
HB 1
They have heated seats for the Arsenal fans but not for you Tescos - mainly because you bring your own hot air to keep warm in.
Meanwhile I have have been told that Wenger is really insisting on his team starts well and because he lost so many points at the Emirates last year - he sees Tescos as an ideal opportunity to show the other premiership ‘contenders’ that his team are back…
You are going to have to play very well indeed.
Enjoy this ‘honeymoon period’. Enjoy the prospect of the premiership because the reality is going to be much more depressing - probably.
its a good job they have heated seats as youll spend 90 minutes in glum silence as you get the reallity of premiership football
mmmmtry hull long drive home after only scraping a point.come to think ov it all ya games will feel like hull long drive home and no points
jokin aside have a good time guys in the prem its a shame the wolves and the blues are not there then we could have given the prem real derbys
Its next to doncaster apparently.
1, HAPPY? oh dear
4 one good thing for you WW fans, you all know what league you will be in next season before the season starts, the WW CCC Fizzy pop league, you have been in it so long, they have named it after you. Staying down the mad MM and your new hero S Wards way
Happy
I hope the seats are heated at the emirates cos you will be firmly stuck to them during the game !
You Baggies fans should really be concerned about what will happen at the Arsenal thats the only “Arse” you should all be concerned about not what we will being doing–My bet is a good one and easy money–Arsenal–Lost 4-o—Everton Lost 4-o Carson playing out of his skin saves a rout–Good bet place it now if you can write a betting slip–Wolves looking hungry and lean that is our concern-We have plenty to look forwrad to-Trainning may look impressive but I have to say we want the same performance at match days and I know we are going to get it this year–In spite of the un-called for comments from idiots it is good to get what is going on first hand in the report–It does not appears to be E and S spin–At least he is on a face to face stance with the players from all the reports–Crazy Dave.
Well I can’t imagine you’d be spending any time our of your seat at the Emirates Hippy
TO happybaggie
Not a good idea to have the first post is it?
As our ‘common enemy’ you do more to unite the Wolves fans than Moses Mick does!
Congratulations on getting that draw at Shrewsbury
Finally where are your new players. Even posts on your site are indicating that many Tesco fans are getting concerned. Are you better than last year yet?
Moses Mick will lead us to the promised land…
Hippy, fatty, crappy nappy, boggie… did I miss one ??
What a bunch of childish morons you all are. I remember these boards desending into playground nonsense last time there was a school holiday too… you youngsters really ought to be out climbing trees or something.
Just because 90% of you wern’t born last time wolves got to wembley (you know, the one they pulled down years ago) you get all uppity cos we get to go every year.
Yes you can say you aint lost there but you have to get there first.
You all dream of being a big club but you aint even played at the national stadium.
You can’t accept being a mid table, average, 2nd division club, beaten every year by the Albion. Humiliated, out classed, out scored and out played - and now left behind.
So call me any name you like - I love it… just remeber to post it to Mr Hippy Nappy Boggie, The Premier League.
Happy
And you think that clever response is not childish ?
Happy baggey–Well said your command of the English language is to be commended==Answer to you question–Yes I was do you want to have a quiz on your past players–The Barlows, Kennedy, Keavan and of course our very own Ronnie Allen-clearly your football knowledge is limited as per your vocabulary- Perhaps the truth is you will not be at the Arsenal to see your team wilt with the magic–Well done at Shrewsbury by the way–Great Win..
Tried to be reasonable with your childish comments but you are a prat with no life other than winding up Wolves fans Happy. Just be prepared for some stick if your team gets relegated but you are too clocky and arrogant for your own good.
31 - eh ?? who taught you english - Yoda ?
I honestly can’t work out what you are saying…. but I’m guessing its drivel.