It’s that time of year again.
The time for wasting hours of your life fretting about transfer rumours that will probably never come to fruition.
Whether it’s incomings or outgoings, we’re all guilty of being duped by the antics of tabloid journalists.
With domestic football on a temporary hiatus, the nation’s newshounds have very little to do other than desperately clutch at straws.
That’s why you’ll hear talk of Jack Grealish heading to Arsenal, a club whose own manager has admitted are strapped for cash.
Or, more importantly, talk of an impending fire-sale at Wolves.
If you believe what you read, our already lean squad is going to be threadbare by the time the summer is out.
Unless Fosun know something they’re not telling us, this is of course nonsense.
There will undoubtedly be interest in our star performers, but I’m confident our owners will fight tooth and nail to keep them.
That’s not to say those players won’t want to leave of course.
Raul has often been quoted (albeit by questionable sources) that he would be interested in a move to one of Europe’s top clubs, as has Adama.
And, whether we like it or not, this is to be expected.
To us supporters, Wolves is the be all and end all. The only club in England worth caring about.
But to footballers – homegrown or otherwise – that is simply not the case.
It’s a short career, and we’d be fools to expect our stars to turn down the opportunity to play for the likes of Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool and so forth.
What’s crucial for us is that we now have owners who can ensure we get top dollar for those players.
If Nathan Ake – a talented player but ultimately one that played at the heart of an awful Bournemouth defence – is worth circa £40m, then what on Earth is Raul worth?
Replacing players of his calibre would be bloody difficult, but it’d be easier to do with a transfer war chest at our disposal.
And let’s not forget, we’re a club on the up. Gone are the days when it was difficult to convince players to up sticks and move to Wolverhampton.
Other clubs hate to admit it, but we’re a global brand now. And with that comes significant pulling power.
So perhaps we should rest easy and trust that, whoever stays or goes, we’ll be okay.
So many rumours. So few hard facts.
It’s always the same and, whatever has been mooted in the press, the transfers when they happen are generally a surprise to everyone.
Wolves are indeed a club on the up and any player likes to be at the hub of such a revolution. They, and Nuno, must be loving the adoration they receive from we fans and the older more experienced among them will know that it ain’t always the case.
Similarly, our regular first teamers get to play almost every game at the highest level which they wouldn’t be able to guarantee at one of the ‘top’ clubs with vast, underused squads. This exposure has catapulted Raul to regular starter for Mexico and even put Adama on the radar of Spain’s international manager.
No, for me, it’s the incomings which hold the greatest interest this window as I’m confident we can hang onto the cream of our team. And I shall totally ignore media speculation until the player is there, on the Wolves website, wearing the Old Gold with due deference and pride.
Come on me babbies!!!
I do believe Raúl has been a regular starter for Mexico since 2013. I also think that if he was two years younger, he’d be a £100m+ signing for one of the elite this summer. Traoré- whilst having singular talents, is still inconsistent and maybe lacks the footballing brain / vision that your Jürgens and Peps require from their players. I would imagine that both players have their price, but Raúl’s age and Traoré’s flaws will work in Wolves’ favour.
Re Traore. In his defence when he’s been hot he’s been red hot. But to say he’s been playing most of the season with one arm tied behind his back is a tad unfair as said arm has been too bloody sore to tie anywhere.
The fact that he’s played at all gives a measure of the man.
I’d love to see us keep this group together for another season as I think with one or two additions we could be in for a special season.
I don’t care about who’s worth what, not my problem. Let someone else worry about that, I’ll just watch the football.
Ps. How good is the Copenhagen keeper?
Trouble at mill ? Not anymore. Well done Ben. I’ve thought for ages that there should be a decent forum for rumours. What exists elsewhere is click-bait infested and full of some incredibly thick fans in the main although with honourable exceptions. It sucks when you wade through oceans of advertising to read some Baggie pretending to be a Wolf, spouting utter nonsense.
Let us all hope plenty of them share the views of Wily Boly who reportedly said that he would be very proud if in ten years time with Wolves playing in the Champions League he could say he was there at the start of that journey .
It has been a truly incredible journey these last 3 years .I have sometimes in years gone by envied the European and domestic glory of other teams but to have shared this journey with those of golf and black persuasion cannot ever be forgotten or replaced whatever comes next .
I think that Raul has come out and said that he is happy at Wolves and would prefer to stay here. Then why doesn’t he just say he is staying?
The obvious answer is that negotiations are happening behind the scenes for a pay increase.
As I’ve said before, he should be given a raise because he fits perfectly with the team both in effort and skillset. Replacing him will always be a gamble since we have no heir apparent anywhere in the system that is ready to step up.
Adama is doing well this year too but if we can get crazy money for him and be able to buy two or three very good players, I think it might be worth it. Not that I want him to go but we ARE on a budget, according to FFP. I don’t think he is as integral to the team as Raul is.
What other players are even being talked about? Neves and, to a lesser extent, Jota.
I have also heard about Rafa Mir being for sale but apparently, he wants to stay on loan with the team he was at in Spain.
I thought Cutrone deal was a must buy deal but I am reading that it is not and that Fiorentina may not want to buy him. They are saying he might be sent back but then would immediately go back to another Italian team. Of course, how much money is involved is another issue. He seemed to be getting some goals after the restart so maybe he just needed a settling in period.
Some good points Tim.
I am not in the mood to even consider our options tonight but I like what you said. Our team just need a rest now, they fully deserve it after their efforts over the last 13 months.
I will be expecting us to be in the top 6 next season.
But Ben, we HAVE to take these reports seriously.
Surely the press and other media outlets wouldn’t publish such stories just to sell more newspapers or get more hits online?
No!
Raul’s on his way to Barcemadrid.
Adama’s had his head, as well as his shoulder, turned.
Ruben’s next in line for Liverpool, or Manchester.
Nuno isn’t going to sign a new contract.
Fosun are cashing in and selling up.
Blah blah blah b l a h b l a h…. b…l….l….a…..h….
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz z z z z z z z……
So true. Its not long ago that we were dead certs to sign Andre Silva and Franck Kessie who are both still at the same clubs 2 years later.
Wolve sold Cavaleiro in January and Cost this summer. How much are they getting for the two of them? I would assume around 30 million pounds, roughly.
They made 20 million the last season that figures are out for, roughly.
I hear they will make about 20 million for the Europa League participation, too. Again, roughly and assuming we don’t go any further in the competition.
So that seems to be around 70 million pounds. I’m not saying they are going to spend that much but there seems to be some money for buying, assuming some of this money was not earmarked to buy players we already purchased (like Neto).
Does anyone else have a more accurate idea about how much money there is for purchases of new players?
Jeff Shi, probably.
No idea Tim but we must remember Wolves like other clubs have had no punters coming thru the doors so the lost revenue must be huge, l think it will be the hardest transfer window in history and with the global economy situation, l am sure Jeff Shi and Fosun will have there work cut out.
Rumour Mill…
Back in the days of a M&M, we had the kit man and his lad the ball boy feeding us snippets as they happened and giving us names of every player that came for a trial or medical. It was nice to hear all these names bandied about but it all felt rather amateurish and tacky with the feeling of betrayal from someone within the club.
Even the guy that was put in place to root them out and sort the problem eventually resorted to telling us names of incoming players at the Disabled supporter meetings.
Fosun arrived with their clinical professionalism and it became a crusade to oust the moles, last year, just a year and a half into Fosun’s tenure, the ball boy was sacked. He was quickly followed by his dad the kit man. This followed the rumour that was fed to them by the witch finder general, that Robbie Keene was to return to Wolves for a swan song. It was on every site known to Wolves and obviously these two guys being the only ones fed the info were sacked.
Interestingly enough, the witch finder general followed pretty quickly after that, no surprise there.
My point is, we are now owned by a group that have honesty, integrity and a great loyalty toward the team, the club, the manager and the fans. We know nothing of comings and goings right up until pen is put to paper. This feels a better way of conducting business, I for one prefer this way of doing things, knowing we have disloyal employees who in some way or another could have scuppered some of the deals Wolves may have planned.
Long may it continue, I have never been a fan of pregnancy scans where mums get to find out the sex of the child, it takes away some of the mystery and pure magic, it’s the same with transfers, much rather get a huge Oooh or Ahhh when a tasty player drops on the doormat. Makes looking them up and researching their credentials a lot more enjoyable.
Rumour has it that there is a story going round about the possibility of probably, or not, depending on who you believe, maybe a chance of seeing if there Is any hope of potentially a trial for someone as yet un named.
Perhaps.
As stated above by Stu The Wise, until its a done deal, we are better off not knowing.
Im more concerned about the impending problems building with the chinese regime and the huge power and control they have over their resident companies.
Fosun are a huge multi national conglomerate as we all know but are ultimately allowed to function in that way at the behest of the chinese government .
Whilst i have absolutely no worries’ what so ever with fosuns intentions to the running of wolves i do worry greatly that the way things are playing out on the world stage there may be a change of tack from above which could be very detrimental to our club.
Would i be happier if we were owned by a bent russian oligarch or an egotistical arab prince ….no i wouldnt .
I only care about wolves and at the moment the chinese situation is not good on a world basis so lets hope the powers from above dont decide to pull their horns in and do anything knee jerk which they are quite capable of doing.
If the situation subsides which it should the only way is up for wolverhampton wanderers .
Nuno has already said there is no need to sell any players. I believe him. Nuno is not a bullshit merchant. He has demonstrated that over 3 year. Why disbelieve him now?
Have Manure had one of their 2 designated penalties yet ?
Disallowed offside.
Wow. Funny how the euro VAR makes a difference ay it !
Even our VAR would have seen that one cheese.
Who ever comes or goes Wolverhampton Wanderers will always be here…….in my heart and thousands of others…….we will survive thick or thin we have proved that over the last 30 years.
Me you and tens of thousands more will turn up whether Raul and Adama is here or not I’ll never stop loving Wolves and have never stopped loving Wolves I’ve been frustrated been in dispair more times than I care to remember but I’ll never stop loving my home town team……Wolverhampton Wanderes.
That wasn’t the case in the early Turner days Paul. It wasn’t quite one man and his dog but not far off.
Nowt so fickle as folk and football fans!
Second that Paul ad 67. Wolves ay we. Forever in our heart wherever we may roam.
Yep, there’s the 2nd Penalty.
A manure penalty? My God…….
On their knees at 120 minutes.
Hard work.
If Wolves can do the job in 90 minutes the dream could be on.
Another good read on how we’re scaring “the Elite”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8612761/MARTIN-SAMUEL-elite-European-cartel-twitchy-ambition-wily-Wolves.html
Thanks for the link Stu.
Very interesting and so true.
COMBs!
All a bit sickening really. What is the game if they kill competition?
It’s sickening to read that article Stu……Europe is so curupt I sometimes thin we would be better if the so called big clubs pissed off and formed there own league they soon get pissed of playing each other four times a season and so would there fans.
No local derbies no passion just greedy bastards trying to out do each other week in week out.
Let them go I say let them form there own League they’ll soon be back after a couple of season when nobody’s paying Sky to watch them.
It would show them they need clubs like Wolves more than Wolves need them.
That says it all really!
We can beat any team on our day so can everyone else.
Sevilla are a great team who have a pedigree in this competition.but it’s a one off so if and it’s a big if we can turn up we CAN WIN this match and WIN the Europa.
It used to be just the click bait sites peddling bullshit to sell advertising but now the MSM has sunk so low and lost so many readers that they too will invent anything that sells a few more copies. As has been said before when Wolves announce it you can believe it as for the papers well they can’t even be used to wrap chips in now.
I’m taking the view that Wolves wouldn’t have done a load of new t-shirts with Diogo, Raul, Adama & Neves in them if they were intending to sell those players. Plus if they went to these “big clubs” (cough cough) would they actually get a start every match?
Like others I’m more interested in new signings to back up the existing squad. The only outgoings will hopefully be those returning from loan like Bonatini etc.
We don’t need to sell players & they are a tight knit group who seemingly get on well. Fosun & Nuno know what they are doing.
Hope I’m right anyway as I want to order my new shirt with Raul on the back!!
As there doesn’t appear to be a Sevilla prematch post on the horizon, I’ll record my take on the forthcoming proceedings here.
Tonight should see the end of our season.
All the odds are stacked against us..
Sevilla are serial Euro winners.
Wolves are total greenhorns in Europe – we haven’t been this far since I was knee high to Daniel Podence.
We’ve just lost one of the vitally important pieces of our defensive jigsaw, and there’s no real substitute available.
Our opponents score goals for fun whereas we are finding it almost impossible to create chances.
Our ‘unstoppable’ winger has turned into a ‘One trick pony’ with a dickie shoulder. (Not my words I hasten to add).
BUT…..
We are Wolves.
We have hope.
We have Conor and Willy and Raul and Ruben and Jao and Rui… and the rest of the pack in old gold who don’t know when they’re beaten.
And we have Nuno.
Bring on Man U.
Three games to go in this longest of long seasons
Neves to grab this game by the scruff of its neck , hunting, gathering and spraying the ball all around the joint
Pundits will sit up and admire as the anticipation of an all premier league semifinal is realised
Up @2-50 am , cuppa and maybe a little scotch to help enjoy the biggest game we have played since the playoffs
0-0 at half time
Neves free kick winner around 75 minute mark
Come on you wolves
Off down the pub in a couple of hours.
I think Dr. N will turn up trumps again, and field an unexpected replacement for Jonny.
I also think that we would have lost this tie over two legs, but as it is our latest cup final, we will prevail.
Rui is in scintillating form, and will need to be even better than that tonight, but I will never predict a loss for our boys, and tonight is no different.
5-1
Easy peasy.
The game would be far poorer if the fans were not able to dream. Sevilla are a better team, but better teams are not unbeatable in a one off match. In my opinion we have not been the same team since the restart; many of our stars have been off colour on more than one occasion. But, we are still pretty good and individuals in our team are capable of unbelievable skill and scoring ability on their day. We can dream and I did last night; I dreamt we won the tournament to our great ecstasy. Unfortunately I dreamt Manchester United had been beaten, so…
Whatever, I’m proud of our team and just wish this damned Coronavirus nightmare would be alleviated so that we could get back to what gives most of us great joy; following our team properly and giving the lads the support they are missing.
We are not the favourites to win tonight but, with our lads, you never know. Out of Darkness Cometh Light…
Just want to wish our team best of luck for the game. Whatever happens, I’m just stoked we are in such a game at this stage of the competition. This team has restored our pride and put us back on the footballing map.
Let’s go Wanderers! You got this!
I trust Nuno totally regarding tactics and lineup tonight. My gut feeling is for Kilman, Jota and the Donk to start. Neto and Traore to come on after an hour. The heat will surely take its toll and Adama is far more effective as a sub. Heart says yes..,,.
Real Madrid did the double over Sevilla in the league this season.
Real Madrid lost both Champions league legs to Man City this season.
Wolves did the double over Man City in the league this season.
So…… if only football was that easy but we’ve got ever chance. Come on me babbies.
Come on lads we are all behind you.
In Nuno We Trust.
One Pack Wolves Aye We !!!!!!
Come on me babbies………one last push. Whatever happens we are proud of you. Julien Lop the trees off better watch out we am after yo. Wolves ay we. The Pack. Just got a feeling we might just do this . Doe know why. Just do. What a block buster then on Saturday night v Manure . We ay scared of them. Anything is possible English team. German soil. The ingredients are there for a classic night . I’ve booked tomorrow off leave so am already having a few jars. Cor wait. Wolves ay we!
We should be in Germany now, in the ground waiting for kick off instead of watching Glen Hoddle pontificating. I’m getting worried he’s being positive about us!
If we were allowed in the ground, I reckon we’d be in Seville not Germany and we’d be off to sunny Manchester next before visiting the dockyards of Gdansk. Get your drift, though.
Good job you’re on the ball mate I would have been in the wrong country!
Listening to the match build up on 5 live because WM are too busy.
Happy so far.
Come on me bambinos, put your better 2nd half performance in and we could get this in 90 minutes.
Nuno’s taken of Adama……..why……..
He hasn’t been at his best but he still could come up with something…….worried….very worried
We’re OUT….! Dream over !
No complaints, every player on the pitch gave everything they had.
Time to make some new dreams.
Well done boys, great season with the squad we have.
Thanks WM for squeezing the match into your schedule.
Gutted
Never looked like scoring second half tbo, better team won on the night
Great season though
Roll on next season
Utw
Anyone know if Wolves get a Euro spot again if Man U win the Europa League?
Asking for a friend 🙂
I’m not bitter but…
So much for getting a better deal on VAR decisions in Europe.
The penalty should have been retaken for two quite clear reasons.
You could see the encroachment in real time.
Why couldn’t the numbskulls with slow motion and every camera angle available spot it?
You may not have read the article linked below, it’s worth a read. Written by someone who has no obvious axe to grind for us, but it highlights pretty clearly what we are up against.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8612761/MARTIN-SAMUEL-elite-European-cartel-twitchy-ambition-wily-Wolves.html