MOLINEUX – August 2018 (not 1971).
Throughout my teenage years of the early and mid seventies I could often be found, by the side of my Dad, at Molineux on the opening day of a new football season.
Among the fixtures that loom large in my memory is an August 1975 clash (in every sense) between Wolves and newly-promoted Manchester United – the appalling crowd trouble referenced by historian Dominic Sandbrook in his television documentary series ‘The 70s’ – while twelve months later as the long, sweltering summer of 1976 was entering its final throes, Wolves played host to Burnley, both teams having been relegated from (the old) Division One a few months before. But strangely enough the game most fixed in my mind is the one furthest back – the first-up encounter with Spurs that began the 1971-72 season.
Why the match created such a lasting impression on me is probably due to the fact of it being covered in some detail by author Hunter Davies in his book ‘The Glory Game,’ an account of the ten months he spent chronicling the affairs and matches of Tottenham Hotspur, after manager Bill Nicholson granted him access to do so, from deep inside White Hart Lane. Beginning with pre-season training in July 1971 and going through to May 1972, the book is a must read for anyone with the slightest interest in how football was played and how clubs were run in that era.
It was then somewhat ironic that when spending time in the UK recently the Premiership should start – fate allowing me to be at Molineux last Saturday, when Wolves return to the top division after a six year absence was met with the visit of Everton.
Those who read my recent post about football in the 60s and 70s could be excused for thinking the author viewed the game of that era through distinctly Bobby Moore/Denis Law tinted spectacles and only has churlish things to say about present day football. There is some truth in that assessment, but even a curmudgeon like me sometimes has to concede that judging football of yesteryear against how it is now, while an intriguing pursuit, will never be an exact science, in much the same way as comparing my car of today to the one I owned nigh-on forty years ago – I had far more emotional attachment to my Ford Cortina Mark III than the four-door hatchback outside on the drive, which is far more economical, refined and aero-dynamic than my pride and joy in Daytona yellow, but with none of the quirky nuances.
That long-winded analogy actually serves what happened at Molineux rather well. At first hand the athleticism, pace and technical ability of the modern day footballer is quite breath taking and even a surface heavily dampened by torrential rain could not prevent some incisive play from both teams, each emerging with credit from a highly entertaining 2-2 draw – with Everton no doubt happiest with a point after playing the best part of fifty five minutes with ten men, captain and central defender Phil Jagielka shown a red card shortly before half-time for a dangerous challenge on Diogo Jota.
Up to the point where Jagielka was dismissed Everton had looked the more assured and deserved their lead. Brazilian forward Richarlison, a hugely expensive summer signing from Watford, had scored from close range after 17 minutes and in doing so taught Wolves their first lesson on returning to the top flight, namely slack defending is punished in a way the Championship sometimes allows for. The sending off was a bone of contention in the Everton camp due to the fact that the tackle was reckless rather than a two-footed lunge, challenges of similar ilk over the weekend no doubt prompting yellow rather than red cards. From the ensuing free-kick Ruben Neves equalised with a brilliantly taken free-kick and at that point Wolves looked certain to open the campaign with three points.
But despite a greater share of second half possession they produced little the visitors could not contend with – Richarlison showing what a threat he will be, particularly when Everton counter-attack away from home, in scoring his second with a neat finish to restore their lead on 67 minutes. Yet just when it seemed Wolves would be unable to find the pass 70s midfield schemer Kenny Hibbitt once excelled at in unlocking tight defences, Neves delivered a delightful cross from the left that screamed out to be headed in – on-loan Benfica forward Raul Jimenez duly obliging, scoring with ten minutes left to ensure a share of the spoils.
On this evidence Everton will fulfil the widespread predictions made of them in finishing seventh and in doing so will play in a fashion far more palatable to the Goodison faithful than the attritional style they found so dislikeable last season. As for Wolves there was plenty to suggest a top ten finish is not beyond them, indeed they could easily give a real chasing to a number of bottom half sides, especially at Molineux.
When Wolves opened the 1971-72 season against Spurs they went on to finish ninth. By the way did I mention – that match ended in a 2-2 draw as well.
NEIL SAMBROOK is the author of MONTY’S DOUBLE – an acclaimed thriller now available as an Amazon Kindle Book.