Ollie's 10 in 10 Diary: Wolves' Jordan Graham is a star in the making
Saturday 12 December 2015 08:26, UK
One day in, and to be honest, I'm pretty shattered already.
The Mrs and I left at five o'clock in the morning from home to get to Sky studios. I didn't know what to expect with the bus, but it's amazing - what an opportunity I've got here to spread the love about the Football League. We're very lucky.
There's no way we could have done 10 games in 10 days with me driving everywhere. Whoever hatched this plan, I've got something to say to you; you're a genius.
It's a case of one down, nine to go after we had a brilliant night at Wolves against Nottingham Forest.
The outside broadcast team, who do all the hard graft behind the scenes, are fantastic people. I want to congratulate them.
I've come from football management to TV work and it's sensational how professionally this is run. It was also special to bump into so many Wolves fans on the journey, and in and around the ground.
You lot were incredible at the game - both before it and after. I've never seen the Wolves fans be so vocal. I felt very welcome at your club and you backed your team with real passion. It's what it's all about.
I wouldn't call it a warm welcome though. It was freezing broadcasting pitch-side! You should have seen me between takes, I was bouncing around like a Duracell bunny just to get my blood flowing. It was a major schoolboy error to have left my thermals at home. I'm going to have to let Mick the driver know that we need a stop off in Milton Keynes: Holloway needs his thermals.
The game itself was a brilliant clash. I was impressed with Jordan Graham. For a player of just 20-years-old on just his fourth start for Wolves, to go out and perform like that was frightening. He looks so confident. He wanted the ball all of the time and his end product was excellent. Wolves have a got a real star in the making on their hands.
Kenny Jackett is the perfect man to keep the lad's feet on the ground. Dominic Iorfa also looked a good player - he's got everything you need. I didn't realise his dad was Dominic, who I played with at QPR. It's weird how football works like that.
Having spoken to both managers after the game, Dougie Freedman looked happier with the result as it was a good point away from home while once Kenny sits down and evaluates the game, he'll be pleased with it.
His reaction may be clouded by the fact they haven't won in five games at home now. But Wolves played better in this one than when they won 3-0 against Huddersfield. That's football though and, as I said, the home fans were magnificent. They never stopped singing.
It's a bit of a head scratcher that Benik Afobe was only on the bench. Is his head in the right place? Is it a loss of form? Is he looking to move? Maybe Kenny is looking to move him on in order to free up some money? It's a bit of a strange situation. I'm just trying to read between the lines, but normally when a manager drops his top scorer, it's to see whether they can do without him.
Talking of strikers, Dexter Blackstock - he got the all-important equaliser and, barring injures he's had in his career, he could have been sensational. Southampton paid a huge amount of money for him when he was younger to get him from Oxford and he went on to become a real success at QPR.
I think he might have got into the wrong crowd when he was younger in terms of his mates but on his day, he's capable of mixing with the very best at this level. He's a top quality finisher.
We're now approaching Milton Keynes as I spend my first night on our tour bus.
It's a bit of a strange place with the way it's put together. You can lose your bearings in that town. Those American grid things in the road? I got so lost there once: it doesn't make sense! I just hope Mick the driver has better bearings than me.
I'm looking forward to seeing how the MK Dons players react after what Karl Robinson said about his team the other day. Those lads better watch out. It's not the manager being tested, it's them. He's been very patient with them but now he's asking the question 'are you good enough?'
What's he's saying is: you are playing for your lives. Come on, step it up. It's a very clever way of kicking the lads up the backside. It's a very out-of-character move by the manager. Will it have the desired effect? I can't wait to find out at 12.30 this afternoon.
See you all then.
Watch MK Dons v Ipswich live on Sky Sports 1 HD from midday on Saturday.