We’ve all had to keep ourselves occupied lately.
Whether you’re working, furloughed, unemployed or other I suspect you’ve found things to keep you sane.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed is catching up on the many great Wolves podcasts that are out there. It’s helped keep me tethered to something that quite literally takes up most of my social life.
As well as the expected chat about our top four prospects, many of the episodes I’ve listened to have harked back to yesteryear and allowed me to broaden my knowledge of all things gold and black.
And there was something refreshingly throwback about aspects of our performance tonight.
Our winner was almost Roy of the Rovers-esque in its simplicity, with the buccaneering Adama laying it on a plate once again for an imperious Jimenez.
The way that the former had swashbuckled through the Bournemouth team in the first-half was more akin to a kid in a playground, as was Neto’s attempts at scoring a late wonder goal.
Each instance showed that Nuno’s team, while one of the most well-regimented in the league, is not one to over-complicate things for the sake of being clever.
Put simply, they get the job done.
And that’s what they had to do tonight against a dogged but ultimately uninspiring Bournemouth team.
Let’s be frank, this was a dull and mostly uneventful game of football and no amount of spin could make you believe otherwise.
Mind you, BT Sport’s simulated crowd noise did temporarily make me question it by piping in the most raucous Bournemouth crowd I’ve heard!
But we’ve crucially found a way of winning these sort of encounters, with one after-game tweet noting that we have now taken 26 points from games against the bottom six (as opposed to 14 last season).
Such habits point towards a team capable of maintaining, or perhaps even bettering, its current lofty position in the table.
We all know that we’ll hear no such talk from the gaffer though, with eyes swiftly turning to Villa Park.
Good summary matey.
I do like that despite all the technical wizardry going on at Compton we’re still profiting from dazzling wing play and a forward willing to go in where it hurts.
It wasn’t one that will live long in the memory but much of that owes to our defensive organisation affording them precisely zero opportunities. That’s two games in a row that Rui might as well have got the deckchair out. We must herald this achievement as it’s half the job.
Going forwards, we waited to shake out a mistake in the first half and on a few occasions they did surrender the ball in dangerous positions, but we couldn’t quite make them pay.
It’s frustrating to hear commentators, again and again, bemoaning our slow first-half performances and suggesting we should do more when 90% of the time that’s how we play, remaining compact and working our way into the game before pushing on when spaces open up.
I loved that Traore computer game run in the first, moving horizontally across the pitch until a space opened up to saunter through. I thought he was going all the way at one point. Surely only a matter of time?
Neto needs to work on his one-on-ones as he’s missed 3 or 4 this season and with so much ability those opportunities will keep on coming.
Bring on Villa.
With the Saharaesque temperature, this was very much the game for conserving energy in the first half and upping the tempo and performance in the second. Si it proved with a very comfortable victory.
More typical conditions and temperatures beckon for the weekend so watch out greaseball and co, we’re coming to get you.
Come on City tomorrow night.
Understandably, given the temperature it was a bit of
a
underwhelming game, but the mark of a good side is to grind out a result. So, fair play 3 points, hopefully Bournemouth will disappear into the conference, where they belong… Bring on the Villa. Was it me, or the BT sound of keep the red flag flying high, was bit much given the noise we make at the Mol?!
The banana skins of old all seem to be drying up this season.
This was one for the big book of statistics, nothing more.
A very dull game, played in excessive, for you lot, heat, and quite understandably, fairly slow and pedestrian at times.
However, that is not to belittle the brilliant way our boys battled against a very poor and typically cheating opponent.
Boredmouth have been well coached in how not to lose by any means, but all the coaching in the world does not mean your team of dummies gets the proper message, nor can it stop a flash of lightning on the right wing, and bingo, you are chasing a game you never looked like drawing, let alone winning in the first place.
Smirk firmly wiped off smarmy boy’s fizzog.
Howe many away games on the bounce have you now lost, little Eddie??
Three points lost today would have negated all of Saturday’s good work.
Onto Villa Park, and how ironic that our match is the only one this Saturday, the traditional day for football of yore.
6.30 am kick off is very civilized for us Texas folk, do any of you on the West Coast need an alarm call??!!
Very kind of you Clive, but I’m setting my alarm for a civilised 9.30am. Should be enough time for a leisurely breakfast and sorting out my viewing pass. Perhaps a Buck’s Fizz at noon.
West Coast, you plank, not West Park.
Jeez, when are you gonna lern to reed proper, loike wot I right?
Bostin Cloive. I hadn’t realised you were trying to be helpful to your West Coast compatriots.
No matter, I’m still having that buck’s fizz pre (and probably post) match.
I like what you did there. Just saying.
I know the players are paid to play in all weathers but I could barely raise a glass, such was the heat. Wolves controlled the game, scored the necessary goal and banked the points.
It would be churlish to single out any one player but I was pleased that Traore broke his shackles to, again, deliver a telling – match winning – cross. That Neto effort at the end would have been the icing on the cake. All in all, it was a professional team performance.
Now for some shut eye…..but not sure I can in this oppressive heat.
Turn up the a.c.
Oh, you heathens don’t have it.
Oops
Ha ha
We like to consider the carbon footprint over here.
Not pretty but effective. Energy, given the high temperatures, conserved in the first half. Then up a gear in the second: Jonny and Doc push up, Adama finds some space and bingo, there’s Raul crashing through their defenders. 1-0, game over.
Game management time. Neto shows again what a prospect he is, missing only the goal that his solo run deserved.
Couple of observations: I wish Saiss, who I otherwise think had a good game, would stop picking up first half yellows, and am I right in thinking Rui has added commanding his area to his great shot stopping?
Looking good and as we know Jota always takes a couple of games to get back into it after a lay off. Beware Villa.
Having got fed up with BBC’s non coverage of Wolves recently (although we did make it to 3rd on MOTD last night) I decided to tune in to Talk Sport this morning to hear about the exciting race for the Top 4. And this happened. Probably a 10/15 minute discussion on Yanited and how they are now only 2 points behind Chelsea. And then, I kid you not ‘at the other end of the table’ Bournemouth lost at Wolves to remain in deep trouble. And that my friends. Was that. As I type we are about to have an analysis of what is going on at Arsenal. …. Any way. On to Vile Saturday. I really hope we win that and sit in 4th place as there are no other matches. No doubt Talk Sport will find something else to talk about.
Update. Ally Mcoist brought Wolves up and gave us a great deal of praise to be fair. It wasn’t planned though. He just said Wolves hadn’t been mentioned. Alan Brazil didn’t want to know and swiftly tried to turn the conversation round to Spurs instead!
Cheesie does n’t O’Hara appear on Talk Sport. Nuff said.
That was pretty awful wasn’t it?
Enough about the first half though.
Then the second half started and we smoothly took control and never really needed to get out of third gear to beat a feisty, but limited, Bournemouth.
Amidst the plaudits being, justifiably, handed out to our ‘Dream Team’ of Raul & Adama I just want to mention two other players who stood out for me last night.
Can you guess who they are?
One didn’t really have a save to make – Ooops! That’s given him away straight away – but really impressed me with the way he commanded his 6 yard box and claimed crosses, which, in the past he would have left, or flapped at. His distribution was also much improved.
It seems that Rui Patricio has worked hard on his game during the lockdown and now looks to be the complete ‘keeper.
The other was our Captain Courageous, Conor Cody.
He defending was impeccable and his long diagonal passes to Adama and Co. were slide rule perfect.
One final point.
Apparently, Jack Grealish is the most fouled player in the Premier League.
What a load of nonsense!
Adama Traore is the most fouled player.
The difference is that Grealish flops to the ground after the slightest touch and Adama runs through the first four efforts at bringing him down and then brings a yellow card from the fifth tackle.
Six points out of six.
Villa next. Let’s make it nine out of nine!
Doog,
I’ve said it for a while, Greasy is the most fouled for picking up free-kicks but Adama must have most fouls resulting in players picking up yellows.
Oh and greasy is always looking for the foul against Adama trying to avoid/ride the tackle/hacking….
Never got to bed until 3am and was questioning my own sanity at half time such was the lack of entertainment but I’m determined not to miss one minute of action until the end of this season
So although slightly bored, I never thought we would lose this game for a single minute , draw perhaps but not lose .
Neto is going to be an absolute mega talent but I hope he starts on the bench against Villa because he has such an impact off the bench, also Jota is due a goal and when he gets one he can get two or three.
Man city to beat a very good Chelsea and give us a chance of going fourth,
F o u r t h !!!
I heard a pundit a couple of days ago saying Man U are still in the hunt for fourth, then said wolves are still in the hunt for top six !! Unbelievable.
I’m not sure what would give me the most pleasure
Finishing top four
Beating Utd in the Europa final
Maybe we just do both then
Ben. What were the best wolves podcasts you have been listening too?
Always looking for something to listen to at work
Tatdmf
Utw
Hi mate, Old Gold Club is excellent and I’ve also been listening to the Wolf Whistle Podcast. Would definitely recommend them both. Tim Speirs’ new one with Jacqui Oatley (the Molineux View) is also pretty good.
Thanks mate
Much appreciated
Utw
Shame for young Netto not converting after his brilliant breakaway solo run what a player this boy is.
Project ‘Mongoose’ completed effectively again! One hour of sparring then open them up.
Could look at it as three games against the bottom end of the table, or could look at it as three teams playing for something and committed to hanging on to what they have.
Would cost a lot more than we appear to be offering, but I thought Ake looked last night like he would be a decent addition.
Not so much of a spectacle, I’m afraid. A combination of heat and lack of fans encouragement made things a bit lethargic in general but there were flashes here and there of what lies beneath. Adama’s first half run, Pedro Neto’s last minute run(how did he miss?), Conor Coady’s fantastic long passing and Rui’s little cameo in the corner brightened up an otherwise uninspiring showing.
In general though, this was never going to be easy and our victory was well deserved.
I think that we fans are the only ones in the country who have noticed we are in with a shout of CL qualification. The media don’t seem to have picked up on it at all. Makes you wonder how they ever got their jobs.
To be fair, theBT Sport commentator and Jermaine Jenus both mentioned it several times. In general though the London-Northwest Axis media haven’t a clue. I gave up on that Talk Sport a long time ago.
Wolves didn’t need to get out of second gear to beat this crew.
The whole team deserves applause for the victory, without the work of the complete team then Raul and Adama would not have the confidence to shine.
Does anyone else watch the new Wolves zoom live broadcasts pre and post match, matchday live extra?
Yesterday they had Kites and Big Chris giving predictions and reviews and with post match player interviews from the pitch.
Thommo looks like he is comostose (intent on listening to the conversation) and Mikey looks like he needs a shave but hey I aint much better looking on zoom either.
BBC yet again all Utd closing in on 4th & Cheatmouth missing chance to get out bottom 3. Quite frankly it’s insulting!
Was stuck with hesgoal last night as don’t (or won’t) have BT sport, but least most of next weeks games on Sky.
Heat probably had something to do with things last night, was similar temperature to the Crusaders match and that was bad enough in the stands let alone on the pitch running around.
Game plan seemed to be if you can’t stop Wolves then floor them, especially Traore as usual. Ref seemed oblivious as usual!
3 more points so now onto the Villa.
Like you Border I’m pretty pissed off with the media coverage. There are honourable exceptions (Cascerino in The Times on Monday and Merson on Sky’s Soccer Saturday both predicting top four place) but most of them, supposedly experts, have either not noticed or are ignoring the bleeding obvious.
However as long as nobody is looking Wolves sneak in and on the final day all round astonishment or more likely claiming they knew it all along.
Last laugh Nuno and his staff, the squad and of course all of us.
Very true! I think we’ve annoyed a lot of folks but not being affected by the dreaded 2nd season syndrome.
Sorry. Meant by not being affected. Edit button has vanished.
“Wolves didn’t need to get out of second gear to beat this crew” very true Bard.
Doherty didn’t get into any gear, Boly was in the opposing box more than Iv’e ever seen him, Traore was dancing like a Rudolph Nureyev on Steroids and Neto changed the game again.
Anyone else spotted how Neto has filled out and baulked up this season, gone from being will of the wisp to Son of Adama. I just love how Moutinho reacts when Neto is on the pitch, apparently, according to Neto himself, Moutinho has taken him under his wing a d it certainly shows.
So correct me if Iv’e missed any:-
Double over:-
Man City.
Norwich.
Borinmouff.
West Ham.
Newcastle.
Vile anyone.
Staying under the radar is nice, Fu*# Match of the day.
You are right about Neto bulking up, Stu. We also remarked on it. Just needs to get in some good finishing practice although last night’s miss was hardly in the Espanyol category.
Coady made a comment saying that Neto had arrived back from lockdown with his body fat down & his muscle mass up. Fair play to the lad, he’s trying hard. Good luck to him.
Remember when Costa bulked up he became a shadow of the player we new.
We’re having a heatwave, a tropical heatwave. That’s the start of an old song that came to mind when watching the match last night. It does account for the lacklustre proceedings but it was a job well done. We’ve learnt a lot this season. Against a team fighting for survival, we barely needed to up our game. Last season it might have been a banana skin of a result.
I’m loving these clean sheets as well. The occasional howlers of last season are gone and Patricio looked every bit the epitome of a clean pair of hands. It says much for our defence that I’m struggling to remember when Patricio last had to make great save.
Traore is turning into a great player before our eyes. The ‘complete winger’ was one description I read recently. Jota is emerging from lockdown a bit slower than most,. but he usually starts a season that way, and where we are is like starting a new season. The Villa match might just see Jota returning to top form. Neto has been amazing in his cameos. That run at the death last night deserved a goal but came so close.
No wonder he’s getting a new contract.
Boly:
Played 15 Premier league games, lost one.
Not played 16 games. Lost 5.
His distribution can be a bit casual at times but there’s nothing casual about his defending. Top class.
Yes,that MGW has another thing to answer for as rumours are that it was his tackle that put our big Wily out for such a long time. With those extra points Champions league qualification would be so much more likely.
Apart from maybe Van Dyke try naming a central defender you’d rather have over him. I can’t.
Van who?
Given the run around by us at The Mol, and had var been used properly at Anfield, his handball would have been given, Neto’s goal would have stood, and we would have three extra points.
I’ll take our Wily over anyone in the world at the moment.
We would have lost games like these not so long ago. May it long continue.
I remember my wife putting a bedding wash on after the game and realised she heard me saying I love clean sheets. Bless her.
Bring on Villa.
Good to read a few picking up on Rui. Confidentiality claimed those high balls. Just what we needed in a relatively tight match. He looks happy here and is clearly focused. A great asset.
Neto’s got a home gym….
Nice that he has a picture of you on his wall 🙂
Come on citeh. KDB equaliser. Don’t ever forget the injustice of VAR. I reckon comfortably 3rd/4th for us without it. The massive injustice of 2 x Leicester games. Cost us 4 points. The massive injustice at Anfield . At least 1 point. Weird in the post lockdown VAR not really a bother. No 50000 crowds ?
2 in 2
6 pts from 6
Veela on Saturday & 1st on MOTD?
If Carlsberg did football?
Not first mate. MOTD 2 on Sunday so will be last again.
Jimenez is on fire. Reminds me of Ian Rush. Deadly. Hope he stays with us!
3 more points please Saturday!
Go Wolves!
Congratulations to Liverpool on the title. Well done. The corks will be popping in Surrey tonight. ……… (very bitter).
It is going to be a fascinating run in. Us, Man Utd and Chelsea all in very good form. Leicester stuttering. A number of other teams in the chasing pack one of whom might put a seriously good run together. Just been reading some of the press on Liverpool’s title win – richly deserved for them- but two things in particular struck me. Firstly, the infrastructure and culture at the club is incredibly similar to the wolves model under fosun. Secondly, klopp has been there 5 1/2 years and reflected that the season they finished 4th three years into his tenure he knew they were a very good team and were winners even though they had won very little between them, the only thing they lacked was consistency for a whole season. Nuno is nearly 3 years in…. we are a very good team…. the only thing we have lacked for a whole season is consistency. We are not far away. The next 2 years could be very exciting ?
We were pretty consistent the year we won the Championship by a street!
True but premier league is a whole different level and with our aspirations under Fosun, our achievement in the championship, whilst superb, is almost now irrelevant.
I was just having a jest, Sutton.