Season over for Hoddle and his Jokers

Incey
By Scott Cooper
April 1 2006

THE sorry sight of Paul Ince apologetically applauding the fans at the end of todays game with Plymouth Argyle summed up what has been another abysmal season which came to an abrupt end following 90 minutes of dross from Glenn Hoddle's men.

The Wolves skipper has had a glowing career but today he must have wondered why he is still playing as headed over to the visiting fans and apologetically applauded them after Wolves chances of a play-off end to the season were killed in 90 minutes at Home Park.

Ince was stood on the pitch applauding fans as every other player had trudged down the tunnel. Only Lescott showed a brief appreciation for the fans who had made the four hour journey down south.

It was a stark contrast to the reaction of the players following the previous away game at Reading but since that day in Berkshire the players have managed to kill off any hope of an extended season.

Glenn Hoddle had said prior to this game he felt Wolves had to win four and draw two of their remaining six games, but the former England manager had noted that the return of 14 points still might not have been enough to guarantee Wolves 6th place.

He had labelled the game against Plymouth as one of the biggest of the season, a certain must-win, yet less than 24 hours later Hoddle was facing the press and trying to explain a performance which he had no other choice but to call the worst of the season.

The Wolves fans chanted "We want Hoddle out", "We're **** and we know we are", "We want our money back" and following a highly embarrassing free kick; "We don't know what we're doing".

The latter of the chants was the most fitting, with the "men" in old gold devoid of any idea, passion or care. A free kick in a good position early in the second half summed up the fact that the players really did have no idea what they were doing.

Kenny Miller had been fouled on the edge of the area and the Wolves players somehow contrived to run into each other - leaving one on the deck - whilst Plymouth picked the ball up and strolled up field. It was a highly embarrassing moment for the team who's players are on the highest wages outside the top flight.

Infact the only players to come out of the game with any credit were the goalkeeper Stefan Postma, Mark Davies and 19 year old academy graduate Daniel Jones - who in the absence of Naylor made his debut at left back, before being moved to left wing and then replaced.

The fact that 17 year old Davies - one of the lowest earners at the club - was the only player to show a real sense of passion goes a long way to prove the problem Wolves have.

Hoddle's tactics make no sense, the Polish goal machine is yet to score (or get remotely close) and the likes of Kennedy, Anderton et al just want their fat pay cheques.

Apart from a brief bright start Wolves badly faded and found themselves one down after just 8 minutes. Glenn Hoddle had previously said that Argyle were all about corners and free kicks, so it was fitting that after Craddock had cleared for a Corner Wolves were to find themselves one down.

A simple corner from the left to the edge of the area found several Argyle players and it was Aljofree the ball fell to who blasted past Postma from 15 yards.

Nillis then came close to doubling the lead a minute later, but his free header - from yet another Corner - just missed the far post. The former Leicester man should have scored another minutes before half time, but he comically kicked thin air whilst in acres at the far post.

If Hoddle entered the dressing room at half time, then it would have been interesting to know what was said in the team talk. Either way it failed to work as it was Plymouth who missed a hat load of chances following the break.

"We've had a shot on goal" sang the travelling support following a Miller free kick minutes before Wolves went two down. After already conceding from one of Argyle's two danger points it was time to concede from their only other threat.

A free kick from the left caused mayhem in the box and Paul Ince headed past Postma into the top corner. The only consolation for the former England skipper being that the performance was so bad at this point that the second goal would not have effected the overall outcome of the game.

Today's performance leaves Wolves facing yet another season of Championship football, the only question is whether Hoddle will be in charge of the team. Following todays result it's difficult to see why he should be.

PLYMOUTH 2-0 WOLVES