Wolves boss Saunders has no regrets on Leigh Griffiths loan

Wolves boss Dean Saunders today insisted he had no regrets about sending free-scoring Leigh Griffiths back to Scotland.

Leigh Griffiths
Leigh Griffiths

The 22-year-old has grabbed seven goals in his last five games on loan at Hibernian to take his tally to 22 in 32 matches for the Easter Road outfit this season.

Saunders, whose team were at Nottingham Forest this afternoon, watched Griffiths train back at Wolves in January after a stint at Hibs earlier this season before allowing him to return to Edinburgh for the rest of the season, with no recall.

The Molineux chief is still seeking a striker to boost Wolves’ survival fight but believes Griffiths, who has never played a league game in gold and black, is best served staying in Scotland until the summer.

“At the time I’d only seen him train once and I said we’d carry on monitoring him,” said Saunders.

“I said to Leigh ‘come back in pre-season ready to get into my team’ – I hope he keeps banging them in and he’s doing well.”

Meanwhile, Saunders wants a ‘team of Stephen Hunts’ after being impressed with the winger’s attitude and character.

Hunt was booed by some fans at Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Millwall after he labelled supporters ‘embarrassing’ for jeering him when he was substituted on his comeback in the 1-1 draw against Watford eight days ago.

Saunders said he was unaware of the fans’ reaction at the time and said Wolves need characters like the fiery 31-year-old.

“Players like him go under the radar, but as a manager you want as many players like that as you can get,” he said.

“I thought he might hit the wall on Tuesday, but he’s one of those naturally fit lads and he’ll give everything. It rubs off on everybody. He hadn’t played for ages, but his enthusiasm rubs off.”

Comments for: "Wolves boss Saunders has no regrets on Leigh Griffiths loan"

Solentwolves

Before that loan window shuts, it would be good to see a target man brought in - just as Tomwolf and many of us have been saying since the beginning of the season. Hoping for great things today, but would settle for a draw. UTW

Tony

Where were the bosses like Dean Saunders when I was a kid? I could have had a career as a professional footballer. I loved playing football. I was hopeless, but I had enthusiasm in spades. I would have lost evey week, but I'd have done it enthusiastically. All I needed was a manager like Deano who apparently aspires to that.

The Flying Winger

"A team of Stephen Hunts"

Hopes Griffiths keeps banging them in.

Hello!!!

BLEYDH

Scary ain't it

The Flying Winger

Yes it is

English Exile

Too right Dean, Hunty will always give you 100% and he is always looking to create something. Unlike some players who boot the ball skywards or backwards continually. Yes Hunty didn't perform well on his return but he didn't hide or take the easy option of giving someone else the responsibility.

Sussex Wolf

Not taking the easy option isnt the smartest move in the world, when you have zero ballcontrol

Genevawolf

Very happy to hear Deano is a Hunty fan. Spot on. He brings an infectious attitude and never say die spirit to the team. Rusty yes, deserves a shirt? No question.

Knocker Knowles

DS = Idiot !

give it to doyler

Omg did dean just say what I thought he said ....a team full of tryers haven't we already tried that ???

mossman

Shambles only wants to keep him because if he was sold shambles would be the shortest at molineux.

He may have been remembered for that goal to help save us in place of the thoughts of why we paid so much money for somebody who could not play for the first 6 months of his contract.

However after calling us fans embarrassing even though we were he will always now be remembered for that

Can't wait until his contract ends

The Teecher

He also said you were good, but, no matter, like the rest of the numpties you prefer to take part of what he said out of context.

I will also take it out of context . YOU ARE EMBARRASSING

we a new team

Not sure what you are trying to say here. I think you may a have embarrassed yourself with your caps lock on! The teacher should it be????

The Teecher

Caps lock ? Teacher ? Are you for real?

Stick to the Beano

I think it maybe you who has embarrassed himself

No point in being thick unless you advertise it, eh ?

shortie

No, I am the shortest at Molineux and frankly I am always perplexed at social inadequates who want to rise their own self esteem by looking down on others. I would say grow up, but that might be inappropriate.

we a left back

The guy was talking about the other post about hunt. Give him a break. He is100% right about hunt. As for your comment about growing up perhaps you should take a look at yourself first!

Noisy

The penultimate sentence will cause huge hilarity on here. Off to Forest - it seems a long time since the last visit, all that optimism and togetherness - let's try to get those days back.

Farmer Ted

This will bring out the loonies.

Dean Saunders needs to curb his over enthusiasm when he talks to the media. Stephen Hunt was well off the pace against Watford and clearly not match fit. The more sensible fans realise that he brings energy and no little skill when he is functioning on all cylinders, his free kicks and corners can be a real asset, but, not in his current condition and not with Wolves in the precarious position they find themselves. You could see he was trying so hard, but it wasn't happening for him. He needs match fitness and a few games in the reserves and/or behind closed doors could make all the difference.

Dean Saunders should have seen the problems on the training ground and certainly before the 70th minute or whatever it was when he substituted him.

As for the fans who booed him, as many of us have said, you do not do our Club ANY favours, just STFU

steve

totally agree with you deano any body who could'nt see hunts enthusiasm against watford is a joke all you boo boys hang your head in shame hope he signs a new contract casue when he's fully match fit he's a real handful

Thehoffsleftsock

Funny enough HIBS have no regrets too, 22 goals, I bet mad mick is happy too he got strata for nowt, what a shambles

gReEn NiGeL

Griffiths will do more harm than good. He should be kept well away from the Wolves dressing room.We can't afford any more distractions.

Leon

True the guy is an idiot.. we have enough small strikers anyway, we need something different.

Percy

The so called 'fans' who booed Hunty are one of the main problems of this football club! When I do manage to attend a game, I am constantly disappointed with the attitude of some of the self appointed 'experts' who you invariably have to sit next to! And if I were a player, it must stifle them, sensing the constant negativity within the stands! I appreciate results would alter this, but as fans, we, now more than ever, should play our part! Lets put on a united front and get behind OUR team!!!! Stay UTW!!!

Wednesbury wolves

So Everton who are sitting pretty in premier league, are losing 3 nil to Wigan at half time in fa cup, and 30,000 Everton fans booed them off at half time, so are all there supporters numptys?????? Happy clappers on here, your all deluded!!!!!!

manc andy

id have 11 hunts over 11 berras anyday of the week,,aleast hunts wants to play for wolves,,play for the last 10mins when we need to waist time,,hes great at that,,he reminds me of the swansea ball boy..

Tony

You'd rather have Hunt than Berra. Isn't that what they call "damning with faint praise"?

Jojowolves

I know Deano has to be supportive to players and I know Hunt is a fighter, but no way should he be in the team. He hasn't played, can't be match fit and one would question if he he has passed his sellby date. We haven't got time for anybody to play himself to fitness, look how long it has taken O'Hara and I'm not sure if he is match fit yet. Does Deano put team numbers in a hat , blindfold the tea lady and see what she comes comes out with because team selections are a bit of a mystery. Put the best team out which means Siggy and SEB up front and play to our strengths and let the team settle.

spanish ray

I don`t believe that we have a striker on our books who has scored in 22 out of 32games, 7 in his last 5 games and we don`t want him.OK,it`s Scottish football but surely he deserves a game or two.What I do believe is there`s something wer`e not being told.And as for Hunt we bought him when he was injured and as yet he`s done nothing to repay the faith the club had in him at that time.Best of luck today lads,UTW.

The Teecher

Apart from keep us in the Premiership, eh ?

oldgoldandblack

scored the goal that kept us in the priemer extra season

Sir Lupi

And getting man of the match against Albion when we won 3-1.

When Hunt is on fire Wolves don't loose, let's hope Saunders can get him playing to his full potential.

Defo need a big target man for SEB, cor we get Zigic from blues for a bit since his manager has publicly fallen out with him??

306

I haven't read Private Eye for a long while, does it still have the Colemanballs column? If the ball had gone into the back of the net it would have been a goal. Dean Saunders' would be the editor's choice every week. Forget the fans being embarrassing, Deano's comments are cringeworthy. Loved what Tony said.

The Real Bangkok Wolf

If Griffiths keeps scoring and Moxley will sell him for more money.

They are not interested in the first team but making money out of selling the kids.

That's what the new academy is for.

If some come through they we be sold on.

Crunge

Good luck today lads!

Brightonwolf

Shut up Deano!

Happy_baggie

"A team full of Stephen Hunts"

Insert your own puchline or wait for Petenuts to give it to you - either way it's the funniest comment on here - of all time !!!

Wishformore

I think Dean is sending out a phychological message to his current strikers in giving them his full support, it is fundemental that he bolster's his players. I sent LG back because i think you are better is the message he wants to give anything other would not be good psychology at this critical point of the season. However, the facts do not lie the only striker who has a better goal to shots on target ratio is SEB and it is important to recognize scoring goals in any league is never easy. Therefore what LG at Hibs has acheived cannot be brushed aside as insignificant. Therefore, DS probably has got it wrong but let's hope we do not need LG to stay up. If we do stay up let's get him in the squad for next season. Although if LG carries on in the same vain he may be seen not as a future squad member but as a valuable asset for Jez to sell.

PeteNuts

What the hell is going on with his hair? Does he get it cut at the local monastery or something?

mossman

O'hara does it for him

Phil Smith

Another one of Moxey's cutbacks!!!

Filthy Wolf

Griffiths is an offshoot from the McCarthy school of buying strikers and never playing them. He did it with the tall bloke Stefan Maierhofer and who remembers Freddie Eastwood? He almost tried it with Fletcher after spending £7 million on him then leaving him on the bench, and only sticking him in the team (on the wing, wasn't it?) when he kept coming on and scoring.

Yes, Griffiths is playing in a lower league, but so will we be if we keep relying on Doyle coming good.

Mark B

Most strikers will score goals in Scotland, even Berra could defend up there.

As for the Hunty issue he has been out a while and will always get stuck in which is what we need, too many just standing off and allowing the other teams freedom.

WesternIsles Scotwolf

Mark B I wish you had to see the goals the we man got the other day. EPL quality, I can assure you.

wolves benalmadena

Saunders is just a clone of Mad Mick, he loved Hunt as well as he puts in a shift, in other words he runs around a lot just as Keogh did, but neither ever had any skill.

Hunt has never had any pace since he came to Wolves, he has never dribbled past one player all the time he has been here, he has never made a tackle without giving away a foul and just watches and stands at the end of the penalty area when the opposition are any where near our box. We have absolutely no ambition how can he play Hunt in front of either Hammill or especially Pesko who has pace can dribble past players, can defend without giving away fouls every time.

I had such hope, but even if we stay up we can say goodbye to the premier league for many years to come certainly not while we have such a poor Manager. We already know Doyle, Ohara, Johnson, Sako and possibly Siggy will all be gone the end of the Season and we will be left with the Ward, Edwards, Hunt, Foley types no skill but on lower wages. I just cannot believe it we have gone back 6yrs to being a mediocre Championship side at best in just over 12 months, thanks Moxey & Co, i suppose you cannot blame Saunders he is just carrying out instructions to keep the lower paid players and make the most of them and he knows he will never get a bigger job than this one, so does as he is told

Leon

The problem with Stephen Hunt, is he is useless in our half. He has no pace, so cannot go past players easily. He never looks up so does not see the moves of other players. If you had to play him in the team, the only place I can think he would play better now is in the hole. He could probably still create space or a pass for a striker.. But besides that for all his will to win it is wasted with his style of going around in circles. He is a liability in open play, only in scruffy stuff up forward can he be any good.. We have enough small players up forward, thats why we don't convert crosses into goals, that is why we seem bereft of ideas when we go forward, as options are limited.

Boz

We should have kept Griffiths at the club - sure, he's an idiot but that's where man-management comes in. As for DS' s comment that we need a team full of Stephen Hunt's - I know where he can get them: Tipton Harriers Running Club - they cover a lot of ground and always try really hard...not too good with a football though!

Aberdeen wolf

If wolves dont want Griffiths back they must be confident? good luck today lads, hope it's another win for wolves & abbey.

mossman

That's the trouble Mr Shambles.

Mick,TC,stale and now you are having to make a team out of Stephen Hunts!

werewolf

The Spain ex-pat resident above has left our best striker (SEB) out of his buy or keep calculations. Too much Sangria? The fact is, leaving players like Hunt or Sylvan mouldering on the bench, will mean they'll never be fully match fit. Training behind closed doors doesn't do it. To be 'match' fit players have to play matches!! Glad to see our two best front men out together (Siggy and SEB) today seems to make sense too me - I hope they achieve their potential together. Much and Bullesque?

SEATTLE WOLF

Poor decision not to haul him back down to Molineux. Nevertheless, his stock has risen so expect some nice offers to arrive in the summer. Still, I would hold onto him for next season, that's if we can make The Great Escape happen!

Bottom line, he's class and Dean should have taken advantage of his services.

UTOMW

Wolfhound

What a plank Saunders is we need a striker and he loans Griffths out to Hibs with no recall,the guy is now the Scottish Prems top striker overtaking £10mill rated Gary Hooper.I hope for Saunders sake we manage to stay up or his decision to send Griffths back could send us down.

Griffiths Who?

Oh fickle ones...... loads couldn't wait to see the back of him and his attitude......

How people forget when it suits!

Aberdeen wolf

Yes even steve bull had an attitude and what did he do?

Every good forward has an Attitude,

SOLBAKKEN OUT

SAUNDERS PACK YOUR PACKS

ANOTHER FAILED CLUELESS GAMBLE FAILED

MORGAN OUT

MOXEY OUT

SAUNDERS OUT

HENRY OUT

WARD OUT

hmmmmmm.....

SOLBAKKEN OUT OUT

neil

sig, blake and doyle will not get the goals to keep us up this season. They ay all season so why am they going to start scoring now?

We need at least one good striker before loan window shuts otherwise we are down.

If the fans can see this then why the hell car the management when them paid for these decisions?

crazy

KARLWOLVES

for all you hunt lovers,his last min goal didnt matter as spurs were beating brum,WE WERE SAFE.now we got that out of the way , WHAT HAS HE DONE IN 3 YEARS......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................NOTHING!

Crunge

That`s right, its all Hunts fault isn`t it

Noisy

By my recollection this is factually incorrect. When Hunt scored Blues were 1-1 with Spurs and we were going down. Spurs only scored the winner because Blues had to chase a win once we went to 2-3. I'll agree he hasn't done anything since.

The Teecher

Utterly and totally wrong

MacLeish sent Johnson up front because of Hunts goal and they conceded, you no brain

Where do you people come from?

PeteNuts

A distant land where full-stops are correctly deployed...

GERRY HARRIS OWN GOAL

Couldn't you send the deadwood out on loan and do us all a favour Deano!

Northampton Wolves

So Griffiths has just scored a disallowed cracker. Need I say more.

This club is being run by clowns from top to bottom.

You could'nt make it up.

simon

Deano's decision making is really suspect. He really lacks experience and this and his negative tactics could end up getting us relegated.

We have a squad the nucleus of which is micks players who have continued to underperform for the the last 3 seasons and yet Deano backs them and continues to pick them . No surprise that results havent improved hey ??.

A good manager uses the players he has available in the whole squad.

DS said he needs another striker on loan and is looking for a player in the premiership. No surprise he cant get anyone to come to a team in the relegation zone in the chanpionship ???

Doyle and sigardson dont score enough goals.He had Griffiths who is scoring goals but sends him back on loan, instead of cassidy who is clearly not ready???

He chooses to pick edwards on the wings when we have real wingers like hamill and peszko on the bench sitting idle.

Woodley Wolf

Hunt is not the issue here. His enthusiasm and attitude maybe right and if this helps the over paid O'Hara and Doyle, then maybe this would be a good thing.

However, what is criminal is the lack of urgency in putting this situation to right. Games are running out and we face the in form Bristol City next. We urgently need to start converting the chances Sako creates. Doyle has consistantly failed over the last 3 years and especially this year when we need him most. SEB is a rather large shadow of himself from the last time we were in this division. Griffiths is the only striker who has consistantly performed this year and whose goal tally, makes him one of the hottest properties in Scotland....yet we are ignoring this and his cockyness seems to have upset a few of the more tender of you out there. He may be an idiot, but at the moment he is our idiot and give him the opportunity to show what he can do in the Championship, before it's too late and we then have do rely on him wanting to drop down to Div 1.

One of not so many supportive wolves supporters

Its a wonder why our players are so negative and knocked for confidence.. People need to get behind them but not so much that they're on their backs. We're in crisis and I for one dont blame Dean for that, hes pickin up the pieces, we need to be supportive and lift our spirits. Yes, a loss is negative, a strings of draws and defeats is even more so, but how do we expect positive results with such pessimistic thinking.. We'll turn up to the molineux on saturday and send bristol home with a deficit.. UTW! Bring on City, we want this more!

Sir Reginald

We don't need the 22 goal Griffiths. We have Kevin useless, overpaid Bambi Doyle to score us goals. Oh hang on- where's me tablets.

wolvestillidie

Got to say this remark again makes me wonder with this manager if he realises and can't see how bad steve hunt is. The minute I saw him on the pitch in his first game you knew he was a typical mcarthy player 100% effort no skill at all and we don't need players like that we need the effort but skill as well. To me I think Saunders seems to be too old school and doesn't seem to be with the modern football of today all that stupid run ragged and fight to the death thats great but you need skilled players especially now in the game how it is today; possession football. In terms of Griffiths I don't get it the blokes scoring goals left, right and centre even before christmas and still don't take him on yet they take on Doyle whos an absolute joke to call a striker and a waste of money the minute we signed him (was a reoccurring thing with mick). Just got to hope we sray up this year and have a massive clearout in the summer of players like hunt,foley,elekobi,henry,doyle and those players who put 100% effort but no skill we need to get rid of the mcarthy players. We need players like david davis and sako who are what are the modern football players which will allow us to play good football, with good foundations meaning we don't need to spend as much. Need to take a leaf out of Swanseas book and start doing the same if wolves fans want success and the board wants success along with fans coming back allowing us to spend less money then we were last in the premier with that idiot of a manager we called 'super mick'.

deano

Why would i want someone who has scored 22 goals and someone that knocks free kicks in from 30 yards (but blind lineseman didnt see) when i have 4 goal doyle + hunt who i thought had hit the wall but he missed it.wot a joke we are becoming

john doe

FOR MONTHS NOW WOLVES SUPPORTERS HAVE BEEN CRYING OUT FOR ANOTHER STRIKER E BANKS BLAKE IS BLOWING HOT AND COLD DOYLE MAY NEVER SCORE AGAIN THIS SEASON IT SEEMS THE ONLY PLAYER WE CAN RELEY ON IS SAKO MOXEY IS SEARCHING THE WORLD FOR A LOAN STRIKER AND THERE IS NO ONE TO BE FOUND WHO WILL COME TO WOLVES?

I HAVE AND OTHER GUYS AND GIRLS HAVE BEEN ASKING NOW FOR WEEKS FOR THE RETURN OF LEIGH GRIFFITH AS ANY ONE

SEEN THE GOAL HE SCORED YESTERDAY OK IT WAS NOT GIVEN NEVER THE LESS THE BALL WAS OVER THE LINE IF GIVEN IT WOULD HAVE WON ANY GOAL OF THE MONTH FOR GET FOR A MOMENT ABOUT HIM BEING A BAD BOY THERE ARE A LOT IN FOOTBALLERS SOME WITH DRIVING BANS OTHERS WITH DRINK AND DRUG PROBLEMS THIS GUY AS SCORED 22 GOALS THIS SEASON IN SPL AND HE IS A WOLVES PLAYER D S AS ONLY SEEN HIM ONCE IN TRAINING IS THERE SOME THING IN THE WATER DOWN AT WOLVES ARE THEY ALL GOING MAD, DOES ANY OTHER WOLVES SUPPORTER FEEL AS THOUGH WE ARE BANGING OUR HEADS AGAINST A BRICK WALL.

JOHN DOE

HO AND ONE MORE THING SOME WOLVES SUPPORTERS ON HERE SAY LEIGH GRIFFITH IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO PLAY FOR

WOLVES, NEXT SEASON ASK HIM DO YOU WANT TO STILL PLAY FOR HIBS IN THE SPL OR COME BACK TO WOLVES AND PLAY IN DIV 1 IF YOU WERE LEIGH WHAT WOULD YOUR ANSWER BE I WONDER.

Bully Stig

"I said to Leigh ‘come back in pre-season". Why did you Saunders ? You are not at Molineux/Compton then. You are sacked long before that.

lonewolf

Deano Ono just always saying the wrong thing paper hat comes to mind