Lee salutes Jackett’s big-money stars
Reporter: MATTHEW CHAMBERS
Date published: 22 October 2013
KENNY Jackett deserves full credit for Wolves’ positive start to the season — despite the wealth of playing riches at the club.
Athletic won’t come across a trio as proven at a higher level all season than Bakary Sako, Leigh Griffiths and Kevin Doyle.
But a promising opening to 2013-14 for the club surprisingly relegated from the Championship was by no means inevitable, Lee Johnson suggests.
Not when other relative giants of the division, Bristol City and Sheffield United, are struggling so badly for form.
Nothing comes easy in Sky Bet League One — particularly when an away-date at Molineux is one of the first that players look for when fixtures are announced in June.
“We want to win the game, no doubt, and I never go anywhere for a draw. We go there trying to impose our strengths on their weaknesses and also to not be exposed by them.
“They have top players in Bakary Sako, Leigh Griffiths and Kevin Doyle, but they can be exposed and we have players who on their day can cause Wolves some trouble.”
Jackett, appointed to the lead role in late May following the departure of Dean Saunders, once attempted to snare Johnson as a player before he instead made the move from Huish Park to Hearts seven years ago.
“I know Kenny very, very well,” Johnson said. “He tried to sign me once for Swansea when I was at Yeovil and he was assistant manager when I was a young player coming through at Watford.
“I am fully aware of what Kenny is about. He is a real football man and a good guy with good values.”
Johnson feels his remodelled squad has started to form a real understanding of what is required for success in the division.
He added: “Performances have been reasonably consistent and it has been down to a little bit of luck here and there or that little bit of quality missing.
“It was a new group and there is a long way to go yet, but I feel everyone is in my mindset now — and more importantly, in each other’s. People know what everyone else requires on the pitch and they are able to influence each other.”
