Could have won it. Could have lost.
And much like our last excursion to the Theatre of Dreams, it was the first half that offered the greater encouragement.
If Traore shoots across goal rather than slashing beyond the near post after one particularly enterprising break, nobody could have begrudged Wolves the lead.
Second half was somehow bittier than the first with neither team playing with any freedom or fluidity.
Still though, from a Wolves perspective, the chances were there.
Jota’s weaving run, a near post fizzer from Jimenez and a couple of Saiss headers all threatened to tip things the way of the old gold.
A double deflection and a header at the death constituted the best Utd could muster so they must be content enough with a point.
Take it and move on.
One definite point for the plus column was Willy Boly who looked like he’d never been away.
As good as Dendoncker’s been – and he has been excellent – we’ve missed the big man’s imposing presence.
Several times he stepped in and just wrestled the ball away to set the team going forward.
And at the other end he distracts and disrupts, either getting on the end of corners himself or freeing up a yard for Saiss and co to strike.
Ruben Neves also had one of his best games of the season, continually getting a foot on the ball and picking out passes few would even contemplate let alone execute.
Podence did enough in a quarter of an hour or so for Gary Neville to make comparisons with Eden Hazard and there were certainly signs he’ll offer a useful option in that front three.
Speaking of which, Jota, Traore and Jimenez all did bits without hitting full speed.
In Traore’s case, he looked done in after Harry Maguire’s armbar nearly dislocated his shoulder for the second time this season.
There’s nowhere near enough protection for Adama, with several other cynical fouls unpunished. Typically, on the one occasion he rides the wave of shirt pulls and calf stamping, the ref doesn’t allow the advantage.
No wonder Nuno was doing his nut.
All things considered, this wasn’t the statement performance we’d hoped for to cement our lofty aspirations.
But it also proved Wolves won’t be shaken off easily between now and the start of May.
It’s simply a case of whether or not they’ll fulfil the potential that this team so clearly possesses.
glad you highlighted Maguire’s arm pull, he was twisting Adama’s arm out of its socket. There’s a ridiculous amount of holding and arm pulling going on these days.
We did well to keep a clean sheet. Podence has Podencial, doesn’t he, and Jots will improve again for this return.
I’m happy but Utd were just a bunch of dirty cheating ass holes.
The bbc had us committing more fouls than them i simply dont believe it.
Would I have taken a point before the game …..yes but after I was pissed off we didn’t win this.
Nuno will be frustrated and I don’t blame him.
Podence looked sharp jota was almost there and boly was back to his imperious self.
Good things are coming folks I can smell it in the air .
Coyw
I thought it was a professional job at an iconic stadium. Excellent point. Three more we are safe. Wolves ay we.
A word about our supposed team strengthening in January in response to Nunos pleas for help. In summary: Pathetic.
Apart from a recruit from the immense heights of the Greek league, our “strengthening “mainly comprised getting rid of experienced assets, to reduce the wage bill. How can the sale of our only back up for Raul,[ Cutrone ] the departure of probably our most reliable real defender [ Bennett ] and a further input of yet more ” ones for tomorrow ” be described as team strengthening ? So what happens if Raul sustains an injury ? Ashley Seal, his very limited but sole back up, has departed for the glories of playing with the elite at Accrington Stanley, where he will probably spend most of his time on the bench. Maybe the plan is to fall back on Bright following his failure to get a game at that powerhouse team Wigan Athletic. ?
This policy of ” ones for tomorrow “, which seems to dominate our thinking, and on which we have dribbled away a small fortune in recent years, is seriously flawed. There is a huge difference from being successful at school boy and junior levels and making it at the top. Historically, it is a proven fact that not many successfully make the transition.
In our case, apart from Kilman, we have so far seen little success. Many of those who arrived amid a flurry of excitement seem to have just disappeared.
Would it not make far more sense for limited resources to be allocated on just one or two proven and much needed reinforcements for today ? Particularly so when our coach has cried out for such reinforcements. After all, if we cannot maintain our sucess today, there will be no meaningful tomorrow for anyone.
I assume you watched the game so your snide comment about Podence is quite bizarre
I did not intend my remark about Podenz to be insulting to him. I fully agree that he did well yesterday when he came on, and may well turn out to be a great long term acqusition. But my point is that overall we did little to resolve the issue of lack of cover for key players / positions in this very small squad.
Cutrone did not turn out to be as good as we all hoped– but he was experienced and reasonable, and could have stood in for Raul if needed. Now we have no one. I maintain that to let him leave without first getting in place a replacement, was not a wise decision. We remain seriously at risk in the event of injuries.
Mike did you pay such close attention to the team set-up when we were being relegated from the championship under the maestro Saunders or even as we struggling at Burton under Lambert? You must have been ecstatic in those days. But it can be useful to think back to the days of Roger Johnson or waiting for Siggy and Frankowski to score a goal. I wonder if Bolton look back to the McGinley days?
Things not so bad are they really?
Quite nice when you have better options on the bench than Man Utd.
Those were heady days, Jacko. Many of us were around when we were waiting for Ray Hankin to come on …….People do need some perspective and a reality check sometimes.
Hey Jacko, surely this is a matter of context.
I was on the South Bank terraces back in the 60`s following the disgraceful sacking of the great Stan Cullis, watching the dross which followed our magnificenct peformances of the 1950`s. How difficult was that to endure.
I was one the bedraggled few hundred fans who followed the team around the country week after week to the back of beyond lower league grounds during the near bankrupt period. Stale sandwiches and dirty train cariages were the order of the day !! I recall my low point on one miserable rainy day in Doncaster. Sammy Chapman was the manager– a position held because he was the cheapest available — and prior to the game we could barely raise 11 players, so in desperation he played his son on the left wing. After watching that dreadful performance, which saw us well and truly thrashed by useless opposition, I had to question just what I was doing supporting this band of no-hopers. I was very close to giving up –but I stuck it out. And how glad I am that I did so.
In context, during those bleak days the possibilty of having available even those rubbish players you now very correctly deride, would have felt like manna from heaven. Roger Johnson and Sigi would have been icons back then.
So now how can we compare what we had and how we acted during the Morgan / Moxery era with where we are now. Then, we were being conned by guys with no real ambition for the club, ever reluctant to shell out to bring much needed quality to the club. Endless words and promises, but zero action. In contrast, today we proudly sit well up the Premiership table with a half decent chance of getting into the top four: we have one of the most talented coaches anywhere: we have a core of outstanding players who`s skills delight us week after week: we have the greatest, most dedicated fan base in the land.
In this context do you think we did well enough during this January window ? My opinion is that we did not. Nuno`s urgent plea for additonal talent in key positions was not met. Consequently, our ambitions remain seriously at risk because our squad is too small, and is not equipped to cope with any serious injuries. I think that this was a mistake which may well come back to bite us.
All that said, isn`t it great that you and I can readily and constructively exchange opinions in the knowledge that we are both ardent supporters of WOLVES. Without doubt the greatest club side anywhere. And we are just getting started. All the best.
Didn’t we sell Bright? Maybe I’m imagining things.
Also, Cutrone wanted out. He wasn’t a good fit. I think cutting losses was the way to go. They have enough attacking options that Jota can spell Jimenez and someone else takes his spot on the left.
You’d like to think that Manchester United’s tactics weren’t as cynical as “Traore has problems with his shoulder, so do your best to dislocate it”.
But seeing Maguire’s Half Nelson on him, I wonder.
Certainly cynical and at least a yellow card in my book.
Neves was my man of the match. Apart from one free kick that nearly cleared the stand, he was back to his best. Pinging inch perfect passes just like he used to.
Good to see Raul back on it as well. He ran and worked like a Trojan.
I thought Big Willy looked rusty and a bit nervous early on but got better as the game progressed.
Generally, a disappointing match, but I guess a draw was a fair result.
Teams used to be scared of going to Old Trafford.
Manchester United used to have skill, flair, style, panache and sodding brilliant footballers, from Best, Charlton and Law through to the era of Beckham etc.
We used to dislike them because they were so bloody good they were scary, and we were quite frankly jealous.
Not any more.
The present set up is an absolute shambles, not one player with any skill or footballing brain, a bunch of plodders lead by that biggest waste of skin, donkey mcguire.
The ghosts of Old Trafford must be looking down in disgust at the present shower.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t take advantage today, as they played the Newcastle way, cynical little fouls, by a different bloke each time, to stifle any flow and creativity.
To be honest, neither side deserved to win, them least of all.
We should have put them to the sword, but Diogo and Jimmy were slightly off today, and Adama got clobbered twice too many times.
Hope we play the cheating bastards in Gdansk, but I doubt they will get there!
FOwb
All the best for tomorrow mate!
It was a good game, and for the neutral, probably a fair result. We missed our chances in the first half, and got away with it in the final 15 mins.
No doubt, there will be some disappointment we didn’t win. This is great! We now go to Old Trafford and come away pissed off when we don’t beat Manchester United. How times have changed! It’s great we are now competing head to head with the best in the country. I’ll settle for the point and live to fight another day.
Regarding the game itself, I think there were many positives and some challenges which no doubt, will need to be resolved before we can confidently say we are ready for the next level.
Positives include a clean sheet (after eons not getting one), Willy Boly being back (any coincidence with the former ;-), Jota back, Podence looking lively, and a healthier looking bench than we’ve had recently.
Challenges: Still not clinical enough in front of goal. Didn’t think Saiss had a great game ( I don’t understand letting Bennett go) – he’s not a natural defender and was the weakest link for me today. Jonny was the next one. I want to see more from this guy in terms of precision in his passing and threat in front of goal. And Raul looked totally knackered in the last 15 (that problem still hasn’t been solved, as we know).
I agree about the McGuire incident. The guy’s a brute and I don’t understand why his arm lock was not a yellow card. Despicable.
A lot of good, but a lot of work to be done. No doubt the team will be busy in Marbella. A good chance for the players coming back into the team to gel back. Then hopefully we push on and up.
Go Wolves!
We were a bit disappointing tonight. Which makes the result all the better. Our newbie looks like a player which is a positive but when Traore isn’t on song we can look a bit ordinary. Boly is back as good as ever but I do prefer him on the right. Neves was immense.
Two teams set up well by both managers, could only be one result. They got it right yesterday and so both teams were cancelled out by the other.
How on earth we didn’t stick that ball in the net in the dying 20 minutes with Jota 2 metres from goal, turning his man then for some reason known only to him, he turns and passes to Jimmy, he turns and lays it off to Neves who doesn’t shoot either.
It was another one of those days of draws throughout the PL, so our result apart from Sheff Utd winning was not the disaster it could have been, if Man City beat Spurms this afternoon then it’s as was position wise.
Bloody cold on them there terraces yesterday evening, took hardy fans to sit/stand through that, but Wolves 12th man was unbelievable yet again, fair Play to them one and all.
Now a Winter break, which by the looks of Jimmy after an eight day break, it can’t come soon enough. He needs to give them a 7 day R&R pass so they can go off with their families and get their heads right, then off to Marbella for 5 days training with Leicester to follow.
Here’s a thought, there’s only 6 more away games left this season, I’m getting dizzy watching all this footy.
Biggest cheer of the day yesterday was when the Bournemouth game finished, Wolves fans launched into the loudest rendition of Mind the gap, mind the gap Aston Veela.
Deafening……
Take a draw but disappointed
These are the games we need to be more clinical in to have a chance to qualify for the champions league
Podence gives us cover for Traore but on opposition corners he needs to be well on the edge of things
Prefer big willy as a left back myself
Patricio’s kicking not a lot better as we seem to concede possession to many times in a game.
Small things make a difference between a draw and the win we all crave
I don’t think we can complain about a point each although yet again, I was pretty disgusted by their bully boy tactics, especially Adama nearly having his arm amputated. Pointless really as he doesn’t take our throw-ins anyway.
Daniel Podence looks a real live wire and Diogo and Big Willy slotted back in seamlessly. Almost like they’d never been away. No coincidence I’m sure that Big Willy’s return and our first clean sheet in yonks happened in the same game.
The bench is looking stronger and a two week break coming up. All is good. No worries.
Aan interesting game in which both sides mostly negated each other and lacked a sharpness up front when it counted. Traore was a little off his best and well ‘handled’ by United. Boly and Jota will be better for getting game time and Podence did well in adapting to a new set up. Jimenez carried the attack well but, understandably, looked shattered for the last quarter. We did need true back up for him but this door is notoriously difficult to attain what you require. This break and the warm weather training is much needed by our offensive players and to integrate new player(s). A top five place is certainly there to play for. ODCL…
Willy Bolly returns. We keep a clean sheet. Welcome back Big Man.
Desperate days at Old Trafford they sacrificed so much to stop the breakouts, not just their supporters but Traore as well. We are going to have to accept that Traore is now the most marked man in the Prem and use the opportunities this creates elsewhere, particularly Podence.
Personally I now usually spend the last hour of most games chanting hail Mary’s to myself in order to stop Saiss getting sent off. I love him to bits he is a real warrior but in order to re-build my relationship with the almighty would prefer Donk in the back three.
I remember the big broad grin that Raul used to have as he used to embrace colleagues at the end of a game. Now I keep expecting him to finish the game on all fours, then collapsing before he reaches the touchline.
Likewise Doc. I think in days to come when Doc releases his autobiography we will fully appreciate what he has played through this season. Let’s hope it can be sorted in the summer. In the meantime maybe give Traore an hour back at wing-back we have the cover and the opposition will struggle to adapt- just a thought.
Anyway, solid point well deserved and now a well deserved break for all of them.
Sorry to be cynical, but…
Is it me or does Jota – way too often – forego the pass to try to dribble through 3 or 4 players? I don’t remember him doing this last year.
He’s one of my favorite players. But, I feel like there have been many instances where – even after dribbling past one or two players – the pass is there. But, he just keeps going
It’s not you, he doesn’t always know when to release the ball.
I think he remembers the Man Utd Cup game when he put Luke Shaw on his backside and scored – and thinks he can do it every time.
Exactly how I feel.
I was going to say the same thing. He is like Traore was last year where he thinks he can go all the way.
The biggest part of my limited brain absolutely agrees with you Lou. But just a small part thinks that on the next run he will break through. The one run on Saturday was so close. I’m sure it puts doubt in the opposition minds.
It is the major difference between Jota and Neto and I wonder if that variety is a bonus.
Can’t wait to see how our new ‘Hazard’ fits in.
Arsenal has six wins in 25 games. 6!!!!
If we are to reach a top 4 finish I think we will need to win 9 or 10 of the last 13. If Chelsea roughly achieve their current points ratio they will finish on 63 points. We are on 35 and our ratio repeated over 13 more games will leave us on 54 points. Therefore top six is a more meaningful target and realistically in our grasp. I think we need to score more goals. Countless times we draw when more ruthless finishing would mean a win. Looking at our run in. You could say 10 out of 13 games are ‘winnable’. All is not lost. We still have a great shout. We owe Leicester and Spurs a beating. Should have had six points. Got one. My prediction is a haul of 55 to 60 points. Which may get you in the top six.
Given we’ve won 8 out of 25 so far, like you, I think winning 9 or 10 of last 13 is unlikely. I think top 6 might also be challenging but doable. At the start of the season I’d have happily settled for mid table given the extra europa league games. Not scoring enough goals is an interesting one – I often have that impression of wolves although I think our goals for and goals against are both the 7th best respectively in the league so I guess we are pretty much where we should be! I think the forwards could be more clinical but I also think we rarely put teams to the sword because of nuno’s preferred style of play. Sometimes I think he is slightly too cautious and his default position is to set up to keep a clean sheet and then think about scoring rather than the other way round – a nuance I know but when was the last time you saw wolves flooding the opponents box on attacking forays a la Liverpool, Man City, etc.? I think that explains why our central midfielders score so few goals other than set pieces or long range efforts. Not really a criticism, it is what it is, but might explain why clive’s 5 -1 will be a truly magical day when it ever happens?
Not there yesterday but credit to those of you who were. Could hear you easily over the librarians.
Watched on TV but witnessed a different game to those who edit on behalf of MOTD. According to what they showed Man U had most of the chances. For example both of Saiss’s headers were missing. And the summing up of the game managed to not mention Wolves at all. Like not at all!
Lineker, Shearer, your programme is boring, and largely because you are only interested in a few teams. Do better or bring your programme to an end. You’re boring!!
Bang on Happy MOD showed a different game.
Fair point given the 2 teams seemed to know each others tactics inside out after recent meetings. Good to see Boly back even if he was a little rusty, as was Jota. Thought Doc looked well off his usual game – struggled to get forward and some of his passing was very lax. Anyone know what the problem is there as he’s been like this for some time now ? Thought Jota could have been replaced (by Neto) 10/15 minutes earlier, but was impressed by Podence’s movement when he came on.
Its well documented that it is very difficult to do good transfer business in the January window, so I understand the frustration of some on here. Having said that, Cutrone clearly didn’t want to stay so best to cut your losses. Bennett’s departure is justifiable insofar as we have adequate centre-back cover. Maybe it was just to get his wages off the books for FFP ?
Reading up on why Nuno lost appeal amongst the Porto fans, it seemed to be a combination of a lack of goals and missing out on the league championship from a commanding position.
For me, Nuno’s teams play lovely football and compete with any team anywhere.
I also believe him to be a man with honour and integrity and a true wolf.
In truth I don’t believe we will ever battle the top two for the leading scorer title. It is a consequence of how we play. But that’s ok for me.
Maybe i am easily pleased and I am concerned that eventually it will not be enough for others. But life must play out the way it is.
Man Utd have the second highest wage bill in Europe. If I was one of their fans I would not be pleased with the way things are.
I’m very glad that I am a Wolf not a United fan.