Clutching Chicken Tikka wraps in one hand, polishing Sir Jack’s bronzed shoe for good luck with the other, those befuddled Espanyol fans must have wondered what world they’d entered.
Swapping paella for pork scratchings and La Rambla for the ring road, a parallel universe might have felt about right.
If it didn’t before kick-off, then it must have come the 52nd minute when Ruben Neves transported us back to the Land of Milk and Honey with one of those sweet, sweet strikes belonging of another paradigm.
Cooing the ball from the chill Black Country air onto the cushion of his boot, our hypnotist stopped all the clocks with his tuneful right Tiempo, whistling the ball through the night sky into the bosom of the South Bank net. It was such a beautiful moment that if you stared to long, you’d probably break down and cry.
That sweet child of ours; displaying enough grace to paint a picture and enough brute force to collectively uppercut those Espanyol fans at the same time.
Once we were brought back down to earth again, our hearts were full and Espanyol’s were broken and our minds drifted back to that crazy Championship year – signature Neves moment v Derby and all. Our team seemed to take a leaf out of their predecessor’s book, blitzing the opposition with a lethal power surge to kill the game off like we used to so often, having rope-a-doped them onto us for a deceiving passage of play.
Following Ruben’s otherworldly effort, Diogo Jota cashed in with a near post finish and with fans thinking ahead to those lagers in Barca (while the Albion folk are back home?!), they could soon contemplate an even sweeter taste, with a sublime Jota finish to completely kill the tie less than 15 minutes later – completing a hat-trick after first half strike.
A four goal lead means that those lucky souls on the planes to Spain can indulge in the most comfortable manner possible with little to worry about but the price of the average Estrella.
It will sure look good when sipped in Catalonia’s gothic surrounds, which was meant to be the most stunning vision of all…
…Until a Thursday night in Wolverhampton when Ruben painted another masterpiece.
Great night and more to come, prawn paella and open bar in the sun for the second half ????
Incredible goal. Neves take a bow. You will forever be in Wolves folklore for your goals. It was his goal that broke Espanyol’s hearts. What a night. Bursting with delight. COYW. We are truly seeing out of darkness cometh light.
I’ve said it many times over the years mate, but you capture the essence of the occasion perfectly. Some poetry in there my friend.
Pork Scratchings 4 Paella 0.
Nothing much to add, other than my pleasure at the Neves strikes (obvs) and Jota’s third goal, which is the type of run and finish a player of his immense capability should be executing more often. I believe his contribution between now and May will prove the difference between a respectable finish and something special. When we don’t have his goals/assists we don’t hit the same heights.
Watching on tv, when that one from Neves went in I jumped and wooped so loud that the poor sleeping cat left the ground by at least 2ft, then scowled wolves, they are even worse than the foxes in the garden that I hate! I tried to explain, then realised that I was talking to a cat.
I enjoyed the superb 3rd and 4th in a much quieter manner, but wow, what a game, what a feast of football. It’s been many years since I had my prized season ticket, but the pride and love for the club never dies.
Loved every second ???
Have you sent the cat back to cheeseburger?
Another magical night at Molineux . The watching owner will have been inspired I hope to keep investing !
Am lucky enough to be going to Barca next week . To be able to relax and just enjoy the game adds to the joy .
What a journey we are on folks .
“I don’t always score goals, but when I do, I make sure they’re fekkin’ screamers!” – you can just see that on the billboards around Wolverhampton, picturing our Ruben holding a football 🙂
Wow, what a game, what a night! This is what we have all been dreaming of. This is what we have all endured for all these years when we stuck with our team through humbler times.
Everything and everyone was superb last night. Ruben’s goal, Diogo’s hat-trick, the fans, …, everything. And my word, Neto’s shot that skimmed the post – had that one gone in it might have been even better than Ruben’s! And the bench … I couldn’t believe how strong it looked again. To think that just a few weeks ago our bench looked like it was “bring your kids to work” day. … yesterday’s looked as strong as I’ve seen it in a long time.
Good times my friends, and better times are coming yet. Welcome to the new age of trophies. I can feel it. It is nigh!
Go Wolves!
What a sweet goal! What a sweet game! Nothing more needs to be said!
We’ll keep trying in the EPL judging by last night ‘s magnificent performance Nuno, his staff and his players are fully focused on going all the way in the Europa. And the presence last night of the owner suggests he is as well. If he wasn’t before surely what he witnessed last night will have convinced him.
Every player was on song so no point in picking out some above others. Just a thought, should Adama move to the left side more often to allow him to get his favoured right foot into position for shots or crosses to the far post?
It’s funny how football works. At halftime myself and my brother were discussing about how wolves need to score more goals from open play, not just rely on set pieces. We talked about how we thought Neves could chip in with a goal or two more, and we mentioned that Jota gave the ball away a few times in the first half and looked a bit rusty bat his goal.
Well, fair play lads, you certainly gave us what we wanted.
A brilliant performance and an excellent goal from Neves surely puts this tie to bed already. From what I saw of Espanyol theres not much chance of them scoring 4+ goals to turn the tie around and wolves don’t look like conceding with Boly the colossus back and at his best.
Well done Wolves, sometimes I have to pinch myself to double check this is all real..
Wanted.
New voice.
Last one lost in pub.
All the superlatives have or will be said by others, quite rightly, but I want to point out that I feel our best prospect as a future superstar is young Pedro Neto.
He was excellent against Leicester, and his screamer against the post last night was but a prelude of what is to come.
I trust he has a good, long contract nailed down, this kid is the business!
And no coincidence that we’ve had three clean sheets since Wily returned.
Norwich are gonna have a much tougher opponent on Sunday than they had last weekend.
Last night will have made 30 other clubs sit up and start pooing their panties!
FOwb
Clive I absoslutely agree with regard to Pedro Neto. I was one of the doubters who challenged the wisdom of allowing Cav to depart, when Neto his supposed replacement was so inferior. How stupid was that !!
This guy really is the business. He is only 19 years old. To think just how far he can go if he maintains this rate of progress is mindblowing. And he plays for Wolves.
Absolutely agree about Neto Clive. Everyone’s raving about the Neves volley and rightly so. Nevertheless, I reckon that Neto’s thunderbolt was the shot of the night and would have been the goal of the match IMO if it had crept in.
Jota got a terrific hat trick, but he’s going to be kept on his toes by Neto I think.
This result may kick start the roller coaster back up the hill for the remaining Premier League games and a trip to Gdansk. The Espanyol manager made me smile (in a self depreciating Black Country sort of way) in his pre match comments that his team were not in Wolverhampton to go ‘sight-seeing’. Isn’t the grandeur of Mander House not enough for him? Any way surely the last 16 beckons. Celtic next anyone ? How are you gonna keep them lot out of the Wolvo pubs ?????
Brilliant night. Thought Espanyol were starting to make a real game of it until Ruben’s moment of magic. A word for Nunos substitutions- he got it spot on last night, Leander gave us back control of midfield and the Doc was back to his very best going forward. How we have missed his goals/ influence this season. For all Adamas skilful running, I look forward to him playing the Doc in more often. We could have had 8 last night but Espanyol probably deserved 2 also. Good ref, don’t like to see headbutts but did Diogo kick the lad on the floor? Think we are better when Diogo moves into the middle to link with Raul. What a star in the making in Neto.
The old guy next to me, well I think he had tears in his eyes, Ruben’s boot had connected and everyone around us was screaming.” Are you ok ?” I asked, he replied “I can’t believe he plays for us”. Just about sums it up and you could add a few more names to that list. What a journey this is becoming , hope it never ends. UTW
Note to self:- If Nuno ever leaves the post of Head Coach, Zen Master and Deity for all faiths at Wolverhampton Wanderers, don’t apply for the job.
Just before half time, I said to Dougie, who was standing (or should I say sitting) in for the PMDG’er last night, “I know he’s scored the goal but I’d give it ten minutes, take Jota off and replace him with Neto.”
Well, let’s be honest, his touch was pretty awful, his passing was ordinary to say the least and he looked frustrated.
In fact, Dougie and I both felt that the whole team needed shaking up as they were starting to look second best to a bright and energetic Espanyol.
What do I bloody know!?
When Wolves play like they did in the final half hour of last night’s match, I believe they could beat virtually any side.
VAR permitting.
What a night to be alive, under the lights at Molineux, with some special mates, watching probably the best Wolves side in 50 years.
The beer in The Clarendon with West Park Wolf, Brompton and Wolfstroker never tasted so good.
And I managed to get a Steve Bull’s eye view of three of our goals on film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvKSpLqZGH8
And, to top it all, I even got a belated Valentine’s Day message to Sue up on the big screen at half time.
Life doesn’t get much better.
Yes, a fabulous evening of good company, great goals and some decent ale. Life is good.
Roll on Sunday!
Amazing night & loved every second of it, despite the cold. I can’t comment on the head butt incident as a blokes large bobble hat blocked it from my view!
The tractor boy even bought a Wolves scarf from the shop! He’s slowly but surely turning into a Wolf!!!
I did feel for the away fans though! Long way home after that result.
I feel for the away fans traveling all that way to see their U23s.
Under 23s? You have lost me Timbo.
I just thought someone should mention the fact that this was not their first string line-up.
There were nine changes made.
I was exaggerating a bit but this was by no means their first string so let’s put things in context.
True. But the quality of our goals was undeniable.
Hopefully this will build our confidence for the Premier League games as well. We still need to try to finish as high as possible, regardless of what some people say.
It would be a real letdown if we weren’t in one of the European competitions next season.
Another pleasing thing from last night was that we were arguably playing our best team but the bench now looks more solid. To be able to bring on Dendoncker to alter the shape of the team and also bring on Neto who is on fire as well as the potential of Podence bodes well for the rest of the season.
My one and only complaint is that the stonking 4-0 scoreline kind of makes the 2nd leg over there something of a non-event so why I am I planning on going and leaving a poorly Mrs BW at home for 3 days and 2 nights?
Ok so there are a thousand reasons to still be going with fulfilling my lifetime’s ambition of watching Wolves play abroad in a European competition uppermost.
Final decision on whether to go won’t be taken until Tuesday night – flights, hotel and match ticket (and metro tickets) all booked and paid for – but it will depend on Mrs BW and how she is by then in her battle with her longstanding illness.
As for last night I was transported back to 1971/72 and our magical UEFA Cup journey. Only the names have changed. Then it was Dougan, Hibbitt and Wagstaffe and now its Jimenez, Jota and Neves. Oh and me of course. No longer a bright-eyed 15 year old, now a crusty 63 year old. The feeling remains the same of course – and it feels bloody brilliant right now!
OODCL
Best Wishes to Mrs BW and you Bedders.
nothing crusty about you Bedders, star man, then and now.
This result didn’t help matters ! After the U.K. government announced it’s ‘Points Based System’ for immigration, Wolverhampton Wanderers have been asked to leave the country !
Terrific write up Ben. Your words did to my aurals what Ruben’s goal did to my opticals. If you see what I mean.
Altogether a terrific showing from our boys, especially in the second half, against a spirited and skilful Espanyol side, whose fans, though small in number, were a credit to themselves and their club.
The atmosphere in the ground, right from the off, was absolutely crackling, and the team repaid we supporters with three superb goals and one good one. Our defence was rarely troubled although the total defensive balls up when Rui made a simple clearance look like a scene from a slapstick comedy could well have ended badly. Ruben’s goal, though, will go down in the annals as a moment of Molineux Magic. Not the first time for the young man, as we all know.
Post match, and in high spirits, I strolled down to the Clarendon and met up with West Park Wolf, Brompton and DooGooder who were drinking beer, like they do. So, I succumbed to temptation.
An hour later, we were turfed out into the cold and headed off into the night, tired but happy.
Well done Wolves. You put smiles on our faces again.
Slowly being acknowledged by all now, that Nuno has developed a team and a strategy which truly involves controlling a game without the ball.
I have never seen anything quite like it and I believe it is a true original. It is so much more than simply parking the bus, and the transition into attack is so planned structured and deadly it is absolutely an art form.
Is it the finished article? No. Will it keep on developing? Absolutely.
When the next chapter of Inverting the Triangle is written, (that brilliant record of the key stages in the evolution of the game,) there will be another reference to Wolves.
At least a couple of pages will ultimately attempt to encapsulate the Nuno project. It will sit alongside the Klopp heavy metal pressing game and the obituary on the Citeh heavy spending game.
It will indeed be something our great grandchildren can read with pride. I just hope there is a trophy or two to confirm the significance of this era.
But either way, those of us who have lived through this phase will tell tales of the magnificent deeds done long beyond anybody wants to hear them or we can remember who we are talking to.
Met up with the lovely Ian and Sue aka “the Newarks” also joined by “Mr & Mrs Lowves ” for a great meal at the Bluebrick, (the away pub full of Espanyol fans).
Their fans were terrific with banter to match the Black Country version, right up until they stated they like WBA, well we did tease them about Barcelona. Spent loads of time checking up on things for us to do on next weeks trip to Espanyol.
Off to the game, which I personally don’t think we really got out of second gear for, we did what had to do and all the stars lined up perfectly for us to slot in 4 nice goals. Neto’s effort was stunning, but as per normal was ruled offside before it cleared the pitch after slamming the post.
Football days don’t really get much better and my 10 year old grandson was one happy kid as his hero Neto also got a run out. Tactically excellently executed with professionalism and finesse, well done Nuno, well done team.
On to Molineux on Sunday for hopefully our second six pointer, (Man City being the other)
Now don’t that have a great ring to it.
I for one hope we see Bedford in Espanyol, because that means Julie is well enough.
Our love to her mate.
Absolutely fab night, like Stu said the Espanyol fans were great with us. So glad that we stayed at The Premier Inn as despite being the designated “away” pub you get to meet some great away fans , not as good as the Crusaders fans but they were still good. Fantastic result and still worth travelling 85 miles from Newark for. Despite staying at The Novotel probably 50 or 60 times we don’t stay anymore , used to love meeting up with fellow Wolves fans there but most don’t bother to get in touch anymore so we have moved to pastures new.
Yes, great to meet up again Ian along with the lovely Sue and Jen, oh and Stu.
We went up on the bus because we were having a drink, and you could hear the Espanyol fans before we got off, fantastic atmosphere, no trouble at all,and a great result later on.
The Stuwolfs and Lowves will be off early on Wed morning for the return leg and a few days in Barcelona.
Thanks Nuno, my best time as a Wolves fan in a long long time following the Wolves….long may it continue
Thanks Stu.
Ian,
Not everyone you lose is a loss mate.
🙂
🙂
🙂
I’m still here.
As Jill is better, better enough to return to work at least, I was released from my ‘ings’ for a few days to attend last night and on Sunday.
Having visited my siblings in Salop I return to the Black Country tomorrow, so would be good to see you all pre match Sunday.
If we play like we played yesterday Norwich will pooing their pants.
Still on cloud 9 (but that might be down to the medication).
That was some night, with some superb goals. I’m hoping this will kick start Jota’s season.
Ben, your descriptive report translated the flavour of a special night for a long distance Wolves supporter in Melbourne. Love the quality of the writing and the passion for our beloved Wolves.