We may have been on the receiving end of video technology again, but the better team won the day.
Of that, there can be little argument.
You can’t contest a second half like that in the latter stages of a European competition and expect a different outcome.
There was only one team playing. And they weren’t wearing gold shirts.
No ball retention. No attacking intent. Wave after wave of Sevilla pressure.
Yes, Wolves have built their success around organisation and absorbing the blows, but there has to be an out ball and an appetite to win possession in good areas.
The longer the game went on, the less of that we saw.
It’s nigh on impossible to win any game when you only have the ball 25% of the time.
In mitigation, Sevilla are a great side and the lads are dead on their feet, so pressing higher up the pitch probably wasn’t an enticing prospect. Completely understandable.
And of course, there’s the thorny issue of the penalty and the lack of punishment over blatant encroachment, but like the guys on the pitch, I don’t have the energy to go there again.
We were gypped, so just add it to the list.
More refreshingly, it was interesting to hear Nuno comment afterwards that we ‘mustn’t make the same mistakes as before’ and ‘we need more players to help us’.
A clearer message has never been sent.
This team can already do battle with the best, but to consistently end up on the right side of the results, we need to swell the ranks.
No European football next season will help too of course.
If we can add the bodies and make use of the lighter workload, who knows what could be achieved in the Premier League?
We fret about getting worse, but there’s still every chance Wolves can become even better and make an immediate return to the European stage.
In the here and now, it’s been a great adventure and the team have done us proud.
I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next and as Nuno is more eloquent with his words than I’ll ever be, I’ll steal his best line again.
The future is bright.
UTW.
We were totally in a different place tonight I sent a text message to a friend and said this is like an FA cup tie between Liverpool and Reading . We had no possession and the ball kept coming back. We did our best but it just wasn’t good enough. And before the social media muppets get going just remember what a great season we have just experienced . In the end a step too far. We move on. Wolves ay we.
Yes I’m with you Thomas. Sevilla are Champions League material with the team of experienced players. There is no shame in losing while although all our hearts were hoping for a win , our heads were telling us this might be the end of the road.
It’s a measure of how far we’ve come that we’re disappointed not to be in Europe again. Those points lost to Burnley and Sheffield Utd. have killed us.
I want to hear from Jeff Shi and Fosun now. What’s the plan for the next three months and the next three years?
I cannot comment at this time……..not just on tonight the season as a hole has been well I’ll save that for another Blog.
Disappointed something that hasn’t happened much in Nuno reign. We do need to build on the last two seasons I mean really build if that means a bigger squad then so be it
Thalassotherapy two seasons have shown you can only go so far with a small squad if you want to competed in Europe and the Premier League at the same time.
Off to the fridge to drown my sorrows …!
It’s really frustrating that a team with our pace up front sits back and defends like we’re playing without forwards.
I can’t pretend I have the tactical know how to question Nuno’s planning but we’re not utilising what we have.
Tonight we pretty much played hoof ball from the back and with the obvious couple of exceptions the forwards didn’t get a touch.
I might have calmed down a bit by tomorrow and return to the “look how far we’ve come” mentality but for now I’m pretty pissed off.
I have to disagree with your comments.
The problem for us was that our team, comprising a very small squad and after a very arduous season lasting over 12 months, was just knackered. This was one game too far.
Our team spirit was tremendous. We fought to the death. But our legs were gone. It was just survival time, and that we held out until the last few minutes against a very good side, was in my view an amazing achievement. I have zero criticism .
Brilliant Mike you said it all.
Absolutley right Mike. Exhausted after a tremendous season was my assessment. Everyone at Wolves, fans included, have been just brilliant.
A sad and disappointing end to a great season.
Yes, we deservedly lost the game to a very good side. But let`s not minimize our outstanding achievements through this long and very arduous season. We can all look back with huge pride in our team.
But now is surely the time to look forward. The basic ingredients for major future success are in place. Notably, a world class coach, a proven infrastructure, and the core of a very good team. With a few quality key additions and the benefit of a somewhat larger squad, there is no reason why next season we cannot be challenging right at the top of the table, fearing no one.
For me, I shall tonight be celebrating with a glass or three of a good Merlot, well satisfied with what has gone before, but absolutely confident that the best is yet to come. What a great time to be able to proudly boast to all who will listen, that Wolverhampton Wanderers is ‘ my team ‘
Disappointed that they take away is yet another bizarre VAR decision. It seems the rub of the green both home and abroad is shifted towards the established sides. Yes we performed poorly overall but a retake and a goal turns the game on its head a Sevilla would have had to push forward opening up more space for traore.
My take home is it’s essential we not just keep players like Jimenez but that’s we sign able substitutes as well. It’s clear Jimenez is running on fumes as we’re a few of the other regulars. We have a team to match anyone if we want to be regularly pushing for Europe and silverware we need a squad to match it.
It will be revealing to see just how Jeff /Fosun perform in the transfer window given the Chinese government’s continuing dispute with the west. If they are not restricted then the future is bright but if they become a pawn in the tit for that political game then we could really suffer and see a nosedive in fortunes.
What today’s game revealed is that we are several players short in being able to consistently compete with Europe’s elite. Yes, we can beat anybody on our day but to be able to dictate the play and not regularly rely on breakaways being our saviour we’ve just got to get more midfield control and that means midfielders with the ability to pass the ball forward with incisiveness. Too many times our midfield possession ends up with the ball going back to Boly and Saiss and their distribution just isn’t up to scratch at the very top level with the result that we end up giving the ball away on the vast majority of occasions.
Fingers crossed, the Chinese don’t meddle and the project is allowed to continue.
I was always thinking how long it would take before the team could rest. We were never really ready for this European outing but they certainly tried, surpassing my expectations .
Rest Gentlemen, you deserve it
Rest well as I expect you to end next season within the top 6.
Yes, we were beaten by a better team tonight, but it was a night of “what ifs!” I was devastated that Raul’s penalty was such a poor one, and far more aggrieved by the VAR failure, not one but TWO. The goalie moved off the line before the kick, AND the defender who headed the ball away entered the area well before the kick was taken. A mandatory VAR check is supposed to occur, so that can only lead me to one conclusion–the same conclusion, that VAR is being used against certain teams — like Wolves..
One F.A. Cup semi-final the first year and a Europa Cup quarter final this year, both ending with a penalty heartbreak.
But onward and upwards. The players will get an extra two weeks break which is sorely needed. We must add to the squad to avoid becoming stagnant as all of the big six are looking to improve. One real marquee player would be wonderful, and a couple of improvements, especially if Raul leaves.
Sorry for rambling on, just so very disappointed at the feeling of injustice yet again. But I know one thing, the sun will rise tomorrow and the Wolves will rise with it!
The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and hoping for different results.
Agreed.
By the same logic, the definition of sanity is doing one thing well, and repeating it, hoping for the same result.
I’ve said on here that I think Adama is a one trick pony, and tonight he proved me correct, doing his one trick admirably.
But why oh why wasn’t he given free rein to try it again, as well as our other tricky fast blokes, Vinagre and Pedro?
Dribble into the box, where you have to be tackled fairly, fouled or score.
Simples.
Yes, you have to have the ball to do that, but we couldn’t string three passes together, playing Burnleyball all night long.
One shot on target, if memory serves, and no corners.
I am not in the “pleased with the season, didn’t we do well, Anthea”, camp, I fuckin’ hate to lose, especially as bad as we played.
Let’s face it folks, we haven’t turned up properly since the break.
We were set up wrong, again, Traore does not do good up the middle, They sussed our weak left flank mercilessly, and we had no plan B.
We have flattered to deceive recently, and several players, much as we love them, need to move down the pecking order.
There is a lot of hard thinking to be done this close season, if it hasn’t been done already.
Nuno, bless his cotton socks, can only play with the cards dealt to him, and with new blood and less games, unless we have bostin’ cup runs, should be a recipe for an improved league position next season.
The only saving grace about leaving germany earlier than we wanted to is that we won’t have those prawn sandwich armchair manure wankers gloating about knocking us out.
Instead we will be able to troll their websites, Josh, and take the Sevilla piss out of them!
See y’all next season.
Merry Christmas, or summat.
Clive I can agree with many of your comments. Yes, since the season restarted we have not played well, being able to scrape results against poorer teams. Certainly Traore is a much diminished threat if played as one of a front two. Also, like you I just hate to lose.
But the reality here is after such a long season and the massive obstacle of being having such a small squad , the inevitable outcome resulted. Yes, tactics are essential, but against a very good team, you surely have to be very physically fit and mentally agile to be able to apply them. Last night we had neither of these qualities. We were physically knackered and mentally stale. So we lost.
The comments from Nuno immediately after the game insisting that we need added players to ” help us ” if we are to maintain our momentum , came as something of a surprise. We have always been led to believe that the small squad was a Nuno requisite. But could it be that in fact he was denied the quality additions that he was asking for behind the scenes ? Was this a fundamental disagreement which caused the unexpected departures of both Dalrymple and Thelwell ?
In any event the response of Fosun to this clearly stated demand will be pivotal. If Nuno is supported we will move forward. If not we will almost certainly stagnate
A step too far and a few games too many. Putting aside the question marks over the penalty Wolves were beaten (on the night) by a better team.
For a while I dreamed our stout defensive display would be enough and we would be able to hold out for penalties. What an irony that would have been.
On reflection the clues were there before the game started. Nuno’s grouping of the squad and staff on the pitch at the end of the Olympiacos game and his speech in his press conference ahead of the quarter – final. He spoke of his pride in what has been achieved in his three years at the club and what a special group of players he had to work with. It all sounded like a retirement farewell.
But maybe, in my disappointment, I’m making too much of things.
Time will tell. But for sure Fosun have some big decisions to make. If they are to achieve their stated ambitions they need to invest, not necessarily in more players, but in more quality. If Wolves try to stand still we will start to move backwards.
So we wait and see.
The comments above have it right, but maybe the biggest contributing factor was our tiredness, how can the Wolves I have been watching, competing with the best, for the 2nd game running just sit back like that and soak up the relentless pressure? We just gave them far too much respect.
Our central three coped amiably with the constant pressure but unlike other top teams they do not bring the ball out far enough into opposition territory, thereby not giving the midfield chance to hold onto the ball and create something.
It was a hard watch, and very disappointing indeed. Maybe it could be a blessing to have fewer games, but we definitely need freshening up, and learn or relearn the offensive part of the game. The performance of the wing backs kind of summed it up, they just defended, when they should’ve been getting into the opposition’s half.
But a great 3 seasons under Nuno and we have progressed each season under him. With a rest here’s hoping for more progression in the fanless Prem.
Extremely tired , overstretched but did us all proud.
Incredible, how using such a small amount of players to play so many games has allowed us to stretch so far but in that is the problem.
Still , incredibly proud of this squad …
To think I’d have been watching the wolves in a QUARTER FINAL in Europe just a few seasons on from standing 5 deep at Crawley!
What a journey.
UTW !
Anyone else think ‘oh no’ when they see Adama named up front with Jimenez? It just never seems to work for me.
A great season that has unfortunately ended with so many low points – slipping to 7th on the final day, Villa staying up, Albion being promoted and then leaving the Europa on a whimper.
The players need a break and so do I at the moment
Well, I seem to recall that it worked quite well at Ma City for one. Those two up front are hardly the overriding problem preventing further improvement and progress.
If I remember right Adama played full back for a half in the Man City game. But I guessed someone would draw reference to it.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer and it’s been tried in a number of games since and simply not worked. Adama is a great winger not a centre forward.
I agree about Adama, Stourbridge……..where I used to live. ( Do you ever watch the Glassboys?). He does not yet have the skill set to play in an advanced central role. This decision has not worked before and is tactical mistake. I agree with Clive on this point. He is at his best as a wide player. Even after his sole magnificent
run, Liverpool fans are clammering for his signature. Dendonker’s addition to midfield was a good move. He rarely lets us down and did a good job breaking up play.. As for the back three , they had to shine since they were constantly under pressure. We all felt gutted when we failed to defend the near post header but strangely , in the light of day, I now feel relieved.an extra week’s rest for our players.
Let us all hope that the House of Nuno does not begin to crumble in the next month and that the squad remains intact. I am told by an agent that Neves is off to Liverpool. I hope his information is wrong.
What a great three seasons we have had. Onwards and upwards.
No I only have eyes for my beloved Wolves – wouldn’t cheat on them with a local team ?
Square peg in a round hole playing Adama up front (an excellent square peg at that) – you either play to his strengths or Use him from the bench in my opinion.
I Absolutely agree Stourbridge. Traore is neither a wing back not an up front man.
Why not ALWAYS play him out wide where he is consistent danger to all defenders who face him, with the consequent result of his ability to create outstanding scoring chance for others. Played up front he can be relatively easily controlled, and in any event he is not a natural finisher.
The trouble is Mike is that when Nuno opts for an extra man in midfield, we just have a front two meaning that we play without a winger. I think it was always going to be the case that Nuno was going to adopt the more cautious approach so he had to choose between Adama, Jota and Neto to partner Raul. With Jota being out of form and Neto even more of a wide man than Traore he plumped for the latter and, of course, it so nearly came off when he won the penalty.
So why not play him as the wide right side man of the central five. This way he would be a little more withdrawn when we are not in possession, but would be free to act as penetrative winger when we are on attack. Maybe this could be the best of both worlds.
But what cannot be of doubt is that he is wasted as one of a front two, and that his defensive skills as an out and out wing back are simply inadequate
Hopefully Nuno will have it all worked out by the time the September kick offs come around.
Wide right of the central five would be wing back, Mike.
Exactly, Ped Ant.
Goals change games. Simple
I thought we started really well and thought we look up for this, then Traore does his thing, Raul steps up to do his thing but changes his run up .
The relief and belief that the penalty save gave them was evident, we never recovered I’m afraid.
Halfway through the second half was us hanging on for extra time hoping they would tire, we nearly made it and maybe nuno had a trick up his sleeve had we got the extra half hour but to be honest it would have made it difficult to come back again on Sunday to do it again.
There’s every chance we can close the gap next season but the reality is that just like the epl, this comp will finish with all the usual suspects in the final!
Until next season ( which starts in about 4 hours time) enjoy the rest of your summer and let’s do it all again
Up the mighty wolves
There’s one thing that sticks in my mind about last night – apart from VAR performing it’s usual trick:-
“Oh were we meant to be looking at what happened on screen, in real time and slow motion, using a myriad of camera angles? Sorry, we thought you said “Don’t give Wolves any VAR decisions”.
It’s not Raul’s miss, or the way we defended superbly for 87 minutes and then lost concentration ONCE.
It’s not the way our midfield was totally dominated by a VERY good Sevilla side.
It’s Nuno’s words as quoted by Thomas above:-
‘mustn’t make the same mistakes as before’ and ‘we need more players to help us’.
Is that a message to the media… the fans… or a loaded one to Fosun?
It’s widely supposed that he hasn’t signed a new contract.
Does the signing depend on what Fosun are prepared to invest in the further growth of the club?
The future of Wolverhampton Wanderers lies in their hands.
Let’s hope they are up for the long haul.
Watch this space.
Very well made point doogster
As much as Nuno loves where he is right now, if no quality signings are forthcoming then….I think he could move on.
It isn’t as if there wouldn’t be any takers is it…
Watch this space as you say
We lost to the better team for sure and to me this is probably our level at this point with these players .We need more threat from midfield and back up in defence together with an alternative to Jiménez .These would be my three priorities in the transfer window .As I have said before and as mentioned by Sea Pigeon we also need politics not to interfere with our ownership .
I have thought for a while that eventually a keeper will work out Raul’s penalty technique and sure enough theirs did today .It has been too easy and surprised he has not realised that this will happen and vary his way of scoring them .He will surely do that now but too late for this adventure .
They desperately needs rest as frankly I do from the game !
Nuno’s words usually sum up a game best. Unfortunately you can use the same snippet two games running. “they made us suffer”. Sevilla were just the better team, and it highlights the task ahead in crafting a team that will be ready to challenge on all fronts in the future.
Well done Thomas for not dwelling on yet more VAR. Those kinds of decisions will continue next season, and the only way to thwart them is to play better, score more goals, and render them inconsequential once the final whistle blows. It was just another fine margin too far, for a team that has pushed themselves to the limit to get this far.
So how do we proceed? Can Nuno get any more out of some of these players? The Doc has been with wolves, for what seems like forever. Saiss, Donk, and in some respects Boly, can all be improved upon. That’s not to say I don’t want them to be part of the squad. Vinagre also did a decent deputy job last night, and at 21, still has a bright future. But we need extra quality players in the here and now to make any kind of push for top 4 or 6. Drop any of our top players out from the first 11, and their replacement makes the team ever so slightly more average overall.
The most gifted of footballers, get to play within some of the best teams. We can only truly get the most out of our best players, by improving the team around them. This also allows me to defend Traore at bit. Sorry Clive. I agree that he is a bit one trick at times. But he did do enough last night, with the run that led to the penalty, and considering no other player came any where near close to the opposing box or looked threatening at all. If our game play evolves to us controlling games more often, and with improved midfield and defence distribution, he will be found more often and in more dangerous areas. This is something I’m sure we will all discuss at length, while the “rumour mill” continues.
Really proud of the team this year. Get some rest lads, and we can go hunting again in September. Hopefully with a few more in the pack. UTW
Excellent points well made,Dom.
Well said that Wolf.
First time contributor here. I’m really disappointed with the way we set-up last night. Following on from the Chelsea game, I felt there were weaknesses to exploit if only we had bloody gone for it. It’s so frustrating. We didn’t go out on our sword as much as cower behind it. When you go so defensive, concede 10 corners, almost 80% of the possession and allow so many balls to be sent into our box, you have to expect a team with the quality Sevilla have will break through eventually. Even if we’d got to extra-time, it would only have delayed the inevitable.
Similarly, I didn’t expect to win the game; the Spaniards are a top class outfit with an unrivalled pedigree in this competition. Just wish we’d have given them more of a game.
Agree on VAR.I want it gone as much as anyone, but as much as it has screwed us, I don’t think the encroachment or keeper off his line has an effect on the miss, to be honest. I’m fed up of complaining about decisions now. Gutted for Raul with the penalty, so cruel on a player who has contributed so much to our success, probably more so than any other. You can’t overstate his importance to us. Considering he is the only centre-forward in the squad (the untried Campana aside), we would’ve been in the mud if he hadn’t been so reliably fit (I believe he’s played in all 76 Premier League games and the majority in Europe). I’d be devastated to see him leave, but wouldn’t begrudge him a big move. The best player we’ve had in 40 years.
I’ve seen tiredness being used as a factor for these listless displays, which is fair enough after nearly 60 games with such a small squad, but the fact Nuno has constantly championed the quality over quantity mantra negates that excuse in my opinion. I said before the season that I would have beefed up the squad, especially with the European demands. It was gonna catch up with us in the end.
We just don’t seem to keep the ball as well as we used to. Out style has always been to contain, then counter-attack, but for me we’ve gone too ultra defensive recently. Think back to the United quarter final last season, where United had most of the possession, yet we were always causing them a threat. Jota’s lack of form may be a reason for this, as apart from Raul, the ball just doesn’t stick up top as much. Maybe teams have cottoned on to us a more after such a brilliant first year. As soon as the ball was played into Neves and Moutinho last night, Sevilla pressed us immediately, causing us to go long which their centre-backs then mopped up all night. Lampard did the same thing on the final day and we had no answer for it. Something for Nuno to ponder in the close season. Not being in Europe could determine whether we keep some of our star players, but I guess we managed to attract them without being in it in the first place. It will be interesting to see who comes in.
All in all it’s been a superb campaign.The European adventure, doing the double over City, winning at Spurs (also, the home performance for me was our very best under Nuno, despite the late defeat), and the emergence of Traore as the most exciting player we’ve potentially had for decades. At the outset, I would’ve taken a mid-table league finish and a deep run in Europe, which we have comfortably achieved, if not bettered.
But there’s still that lingering sense of a opportunity missed, which itself speaks of the standards Nuno and the players have set, I suppose.
We go again.
Agree NiWolves. This season feels like we lost a tenner and found a pound. As Jim Bowin used to say on Bulls Eye……look what you could of won.
We have had a great season not doubt but it could and should have been a fantastic one.
Agee Paul but I think covid etc has played a massive part in events!!!
383 Days
97 games
10 Countries
Longest football season on record.
Smallest squad used of all of the major leagues
Quarter final of the Europa league.
Nuno finally announces, Some of the players aren’t making the right decisions, so we need to bring players in to help us push onwards and upwards.
Me, I’m happy at this point, could have been better, but not with some of the players we have, we were on our knees at 80 minutes and only had MGW with any proven first team experience left to bring on.
Thank you for 383 days, 97 games and 8 of the 10 Countries.(Couldn’t do Pynik, and Duisburg don’t count, but I was born 20 miles from it in Wuppertal)
In years to come, maybe I didn’t go to Chorley, (I was working), but I can say, me, Jen de Wolf and Mrs & Mrs Lowves “we were in Istanbul”.
Over to you Nuno and Fosun. I’m off to get some welcome break from football.
Happy holidays bloggers.
Not going to enjoy 4 consecutive days of Champions league then, Stu? We should all be watching to see what we aspire to and maybe do some sneaky scouting.
No mate, will be glued to the box, as you say, thats the level we are at, but unfortunately not consistently. Just Wolves we’ll be resting from.
Cannot Even get away from it completely mate, coming back from Willenhall this afternoon, the boys went sailing by From the airport in the Ellisons team bus.
Enjoy a well earned break Stu. We all love our team, but yourself and all others that travel to support wolves, deserve a lot of credit. Don’t lose match fitness though…..
Three strings short of a decent guitar thats what we are.
As clive so rightly states we have not been anywhere near our best since the return to hostilities .
That was almost embarrassing last night we hadnt got a clue how to deal with “the press” that they constantly used to great effect .
It seems we do not possess enough players with the quality or the skill sets to deal with this top of the tree way of playing we hardly touched the ball and in the rare moments we did get possession it was soon taken away.
Boly was a collosuss last night but his distribution is woeful as is Patr.icio’s kicking and they are not on their own as we weren’t able to put together more than a couple of decent passes before being overwhelmed and losing possession .
A lot think we only need two or three quality players to make the difference i think we need five or six to be able to compete consistently at the very top on a regular basis and after nunos speech last night we may be looking at a bit of a clearout assuming we have fosuns backing that is .
So on to next season which in real terms is about five weeks away or maybe a little more for us but not much and that doesnt leave much time for many changes unless they are already in the pipeline.
I see us starting the season with roughly the same squad as we have now but i forsee a lot of changes as we move forward i also hope nuno has learnt a lot from our euro adventures and he and his team can adapt our tactics to give us other options.
Nuno you have to find a way to use traore properly he is the one player everyone is scared to death of.
Build your team around him he can open up sides like a can of sardines and stop taking him off because every time you do the opposition breathe a sigh of relief and come to life .
see you all next season
You amaze me Spike you’ve said what I’ve been saying most of the season yet you were disagreeing with me.
I guess it’s popular to say it now.
As headmaster my end of term report at the conclusion of class-master Nuno’s third season is:
1. The class has performed well above them selves in comparison to other larger classes in the big expensive traditional private schools elsewhere.
2. Head prefect, Conor Coady, worked tirelessly and endlessly. He must have a deputy for next term to avoid burn-out.
3. Young Morgan Gives-Shite blotted his copybook this term when going to a party outside school, although it was clearly banned. His school work also lacked application. Expulsion might be on the cards as detention has had little effect.
4. Class-master Nuno is one of the most successful and popular teachers this school has ever had. He is held in warm regard everywhere, especially at other bigger schools with deeper pockets. Nuno however must not rest on his laurels after three successful years of re-building this once world-famous old school.
Seriously, after being gutted last night, I’m glad it’s all over. The pivotal moment was the missed penalty. We were playing well at that point, and then heads dropped and fatigue descended on us. By the 80th minute we were zombie defenders. Had that penalty gone in, who knows, we might have been able to sustain over-achievement for a while longer or maybe even into the semi-finals – where we might have been seriously embarrassed. It did Watford no good whatsoever beating us in the semi-finals last season only to go on to be thrashed by Man City and relegated this season.
Nuno has now referred to ‘past mistakes’. By this I truly hope he accepts that his stubbornness in utilising only a small squad was a grievous error, unless he is forever happy with seventh placed finishes. Fosun’s ten-year plan now needs a large dollop of cash to take it forward. We are about to enter the fifth year of of Fosun’s ownership. Time to kick ass.
Nuno has never criticised Fosun and their level of support, he is too sensible and dignified. By actually coming out last night to say “we need more players to help the team” I hope he has at last nailed the ridiculous myth that he has blocked the previous signing of ‘quality’ players.
Excellent pressing game by Sevilla last night. They simply cut off our attacking supply.
To suggest we simply sat back and couldn’t summon up the energy to impose ourselves on the game is an interesting idea. If anyone does feel that I suggest you reflect on that a little longer.
To aspire to have a team depth such as Liverpool or Citeh, that can attack every game both in the Prem and Europe is understandable. To expect it to be just around the corner is delusional.
There is only room for six English clubs on the the tiny little exclusive ‘Executive Prem Island’. It costs many hundreds of millions to buy a property there. If someone new moves in someone has to move out. Bizarrely the nut-job Cundy summed it up correctly, people are terrified that we have been looking at property on there. We have even been camping on there for some weeks this season.
We have rattled their cages and don’t be under any illusions what this establishment will do to hang onto their status. Lean on authorities, strip out players or even the coach.
As Nuno reflects he will be aware of the challenge ahead. He will know what he has achieved with a threadbare army of players overlooked and unwanted by the big clubs. He will question what Fosun’s support is, how long we will have it for and whether there is any way through this minefield laid by the opposition. He will also consider the effect of spending months away from his family.
Nuno’s achievements so far have been legendary. His decision to postpone signing a new contract is not coincidental. Whether or not he continues is I believe a decision rather more in the balance than any of us would like to consider.
So, just for the record, thank you Nuno for an amazing three seasons of miraculous mountain climbing. You and your army have taken us to heights undreamed of. I have never taken any of it for granted and if that was your last game I will be forever grateful. If it wasn’t your last game, I shall be behind you 100% on the next step of the journey.
Doesn’t this sum up what a sorry failed mess VAR is. It can’t get the glaringly obvious right and nit-picks over half a millimetre for offside decisions. What a complete and utter farce it is!!!
But Still COYW
Sorry to bring up conspiracy stuff again but.
Since the Olympiakos game has anybody seen any player being substituted leaving the pitch other than via the area directly in front of their bench. Has anybody seen anybody else booked for this?
It definitely is a rule and Podence would have been aware of it, but……..
That Polish referee was a joke.
Must admit I am not at all surprised by last nights result, in fact I was happy that we only lost by one goal. To be honest I thought the team look so knackered in the last few games I thought we could end up on the wrong side of a heavey beating. Thankfully it did not happen.
All credit to the team for the way the have performed this season, in my opinion it has been one of the best ever over the last 60 years of watching the Wolves. In Nuno we have found a manager of vision, who’s only fault if it can be called a fault is his stubborn belief in a small squad. Hopefully from his comments last night he has now seen the error of his ways and will try to get Fosun to add some more to the squad.
I have really enjoyed the journey we have been on this season and hope that Nuno will sign a new contract, that we keep all our players and make the necessary additions to finally shove the Cundy’s of this world back in their boxes or under their various stone as we make the top four next season.
There have been many highlights this season but for me it was the look of sheer joy on the face of my nine year old grandson when, his favourite player, Jota scored directly in front of him the first time he came to the Mol.
Keep safe fellow bloggers and how to join you on the next leg of the journey in September.
I think Shi should demand an explanation for that VAR decision. No, I am not making more out of it than should be. These types of decisions seemed to go against us time and time again throughout the season and if they can’t get something simple like that right, what is the point in even having it? Maybe they can get some statistics to show that there is bias in favour of some teams.
It’s almost as if there is either a plot or some subconscious bias in the referees and this just highlights it because they can’t say everything is happening so quickly and they are only human.
It’s similar to body cameras and cell phones showing the world that cops are not always telling the truth. Nobody believed it before but now we know that they can be racist and overly violent.
And I don’t ascribe to the idea that Sevilla were better than us and deserved to win any more than I think City were better than us and deserved to win. It is a game of who scored the most goals. Period.
Couple of points Tim.
The statistics regarding VAR bias is already out there. We’ve suffered badly all season.
You’re right about ” It is a game of who scored the most goals. Period.” Sevilla scored the most goals so actually deserved to win.
Yes, but if VAR had done its job, that might not be the case, which was my point.
Don’t really want to get involved in this debate Tim so I shalln’t continue the discussion whatever you reply, but I couldn’t let one of your previous comments go unchallenged.
Our Police force is a microcosm of society and therefore of course contains some individuals with unpalatable ethical views and values.
But on the whole bodycams have been mostly effective in identifying individuals in that small section of society who want to live their lives unfettered by any rules no matter how much this frustrated, intimidated and terrorises other members of society. When brought to account many of these people are more than happy to use our democratic right to complain based on lies and further intimidation.
It’s an ugly world out there including people of all ethnicities and gender. Our police force are far from perfect but they are the only thing standing between the law abiding silent majority and maliciously induced chaos.
Yes, but they sure like to protect the bad ones. One former top cop in Toronto said that 20% of the police force is racist. That’s a lot of racists if that is an accurate estimate.
Police need to be held accountable and 20 years ago, we would have always believed them but now we know many of them are racist.
Why are we talking about racist cops on this site. We all, I am sure, are united in our hatred of racism. But this blog is about football, and Wolves in particular.
We’ve played a helluva lot of football this season and those that took to the field last night have played most of those games, Ruben V excepted. We were also without two of our most influential attackers in Podence and Jonny.
Notwithstanding that, Sevilla were by far the better team on the day and richly deserved their hard fought victory. Things could have been different had the penalty gone in but we’ll never really know so it’s irrelevant now. For sure though, we did look like the season had caught up with us and I’m sure the heat in the stadium didn’t help our cause.
However, despite what some others may say, I feel it has been a fantastic season in which we’ve continued the progress made since Doctor Nuno’s arrival. To think we are just gonna elbow our way into the top six/four with the regular incumbents simply standing meekly aside was always for the birds. The law of diminishing returns states that the nearer you get to the top, the larger the investment needed to take the next step. Will Fosun hold their nerve and make the decisions we all crave? Or will they decide to bail out now before politics and greed make the whole project unviable.
Only time will tell, but personally I feel they are in it for the long haul and will not allow their ship to be blown off course by short term politicians whose only interest is the next election.
I understand your comments, Wolfstroker but as China is nowhere near a democracy the pressure they can bring to bear on companies that invest heavily in the west is immense. We should all, I think, be concerned but hopefully that concern is misplaced. The next few weeks will surely be a very good indicator for the direction that we’ll be taking.
I could say so much about this Ped Ant, but this isn’t really the place.
I do agree though that the next few weeks will go a long way to answering all our questions and concerns.
Does anyone else remember reading that Wolved didn’t want to get more players last season because they were unsure how far they would get in Europe and they didn’t want to spend the money for extra players that were not needed?
Or am I misremembering?
Personally this match showed me 2 things, firstly how far we’ve come and second how far we’ve still got to go.
Nuno has had 3 years in charge now, the first year we win the championship & promotion. The second year we finished 7th in the PL, got into Europe & got to the semi final of the FA Cup. This year weve again finished 7th & got to the quarters of the Europa League. None of that is gone sneezed at.
We’ve done amazingly well, we’re clearly worrying the so called “top 6” and with less games what can we achieve next year? I also think the lack of fans in the stadiums hadn’t helped our team but who knows when that will change.
We need a bigger squad, that’s been said all along. A few more quality signings along with what we’ve already got & we can go from threatening to achieving.
I’m proud of what we have achieved & the future is certainly bright.
As for last night, penalty & VAR issue aside, the better team won. I’m just hoping they now go on to stuff Utd!
Let’s once again prepare to see what the transfer window brings, sit back & enjoy the ride.
Thank you once again to Thomas, both Bens & everyone else who makes this great blog what it is.
Onwards & upwards.
Absolutely agree. Thanks Thomas and both Ben’s.
Easy to forget how much work goes into maintaining this site and providing such excellent front articles.
I think sometimes given the quality of your output I assume you are all well paid journalists not fellow fans just working for your love of the club.
Once again the pain of a bad result is eased by being able to share the low point.
At the same time the highs are that much sweeter for sharing appreciation of the challenges overcome.
Really feels like a brilliant journey shared.
Thanks again gentlemen and bravo!
Very well put JackoMac. I can only wholeheartedly concur.
Not much to add to all the comments. Was a game too far and there is a bit to do before we are a consistent top 4 side. Agree with Clive about the restart.
We should be proud, but our expectations now are higher, will be interesting to see if Fosun are going to invest.
Wanted us to win, but if we were going to lose, rather it be to a proven Euro side and not Manure in the semis and some dodgy VAR decision in their favour.
Time to reflect, rest and get ready to break up the elite top 4 next season.
Thank you fellow bloggers for some entertaining reads over our marathon season.
Against Man U, I’m rooting for Sevilla as they’re coached by Julen Lopetegui. This is the guy who was all set to join Wolves in 2016 to start our revival. The Fosun takeover took a long time and in the interim the Spanish national team came calling, and he couldn’t turn his country down! I consider him to be an honorary Wolf anyway. Go on Julen, stuff the Reds.
Manure are already 1-0 up in the semi final. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will announce shortly before kick off that Bruno Fernandes will take the penalty.
Hush your mouth. Ole will have the decency to wait for the penalty to be awarded. The Seville keeper will have to superglue his foot to the goal line just in case he saves it.
Spooky prediction cheeseburger.
The Man U scam is getting too obvious!
I should of had a bet !
I’m with you, Dances. I had a big saver on Sevilla to win the competition before yesterday’s game to cover my possible losses on our boys.
Hindsight is 20/20 I hear… well done. Sadly I had a few quid on us to win/both teams to score. I didn’t have a back up plan.
I did OK a few weeks ago when I chickened out on a bet. I originally had Wolves to finish top six at the start of the season. 7/1. We were looking solid top six, maybe even 5th place, when I saw cash-out being offered for around 5/1. I took it.
(posted prev on wrong site)
You may not have read the article linked below. If not it’s an interesting article posted by someone who has no axe to grind on our behalf.
It indicates just what we are up against.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8612761/MARTIN-SAMUEL-elite-European-cartel-twitchy-ambition-wily-Wolves.html
Yes I saw this article by Matin Samuel in the Mail. He has written about us before and likes what he has seen. He has also repeatedly blasted UEFA for its corruption and its close d shop approach to FFP, similarly critical of the Premier League “big six cartel” and regularly calls out VAR for it’s nonsense. Basically, he’s one of us!
Just on the “a game too far” theory
Sevilla played 11 games to finish their season off so a couple more than us .
Both teams, along with everyone else had a few months off so I’m not sure how we got more tired than other teams tbh
Next season’s start will throw up a few surprises with the short break that’s for sure
Utw
Marney good point re tiredness, but did Sevilla have to start their season last July?
I’m just guessing that they didn’t have to play in the Europa League qualifiers, so wouldn’t have played as many games as our lads, but I stand to be corrected, mate.
Hi Wokingham, I’m not sure when they started but I’d guess they probably didn’t have to qualify and i can’t be bothered to google!
I just thought after a 3 month break , it kind of felt like starting a new season really,
It could also just be that they use more players than us too either way let’s just hope we can start next season on form
Utw
100% agree that a good start is vital Marney. Hopefully all these new born babbies will be sleeping soon to give their Dads a rest! COMBs!
I think the quality of responses on this Wolves Blog is great.
There is a wide range of interesting viewpoints and by and large, contributors are respectful to each other. The beginning pieces, eg today from Tim , are measured and insightful.
It is a pleasure to read through responses so thank you to everyone who contributes.
It’s gonna be even more fun next season when
a) the fixtures are announced
b) when the villa and shit derbies are upon us and
c) after we have stuffed said local opponents, the gloating begins!
I think the squad needs a overhaul we need 4 to 6 new signing to challenge for top six.
Quality and yes I know they might note want to come here……and so on but that’s where Nuno comes in he has sold the vision once and he can do it again. If I was him I’d be saying to players look what I have done with decent players imagine what I could do with you and other world class players like you.
Of course it all depends on Jeff and Fosun and how much is in the kitty which shouLd be pretty healthy considering we finished 7th and got to the last eight of Europa League.
As I have Blogged a few times I am yet to be convinced that Fosun really want to go all out to make us a force in the Premier and Europe. The issue of the Chinese Goverment may come into play if that is the case then why not our owner put his own money in from his personal wealth which is considerable that would be one way round that issue we shall see.
This next season is vital we are at a crossroads invest and we push on hesitate in investing big time and we stand still or worse go backwards which is the same thing.
More chance of Clive boing boinging than Fosun’s chief putting his personal fortune in. That’s not how top businessmen do things although there may be examples that prove the rule.
Ah yes, Clive the closet baggie. The man protests too much methinks.
Rats.
Foiled again.
Boing f…in’ boing!!!
But at least I came out of the closet.
l can think of one.
SIR JACK god bless him.
OK. Sorry for all of the postings but I think I may have figured out the VAR discrepancy between the encroachment rulings.
FIFA, or whomever, said VAR was to correct clear and obvious mistakes and that the Premier League was not using it as such. This was back in January or something like that.
The reason we had one penalty retaken because of Coady encroaching and Sevilla didn’t have last night’s retaken is because the Europa VAR officials were using the clear and obvious approach and the Premier League VAR officials are not.
That’s the only thing that I can come up with that isn’t complete corruption.
You post vas much as you like Tim. Always interesting to read your views.
Is that a Freudian slip there Stevie boy.
Vas.
Vas deferens :- as in your Bollox?
🙂 🙂 🙂
No offence Tim.
I like Tim.
Blimey Stu. I wish!!!
We have met Clive.
He is a really nice guy.
The cheque is in the mail, to your tent, Brompto
We here all kinds of quirky commentary nowadays.
But this takes the biscuit.
https://twitter.com/PEDRI_cule/status/1293444614632833024
that is seriously hilarious !!
Hopefully not that I put ‘here’ instead of ‘hear’.
Love it- now I have got over the VAR farce. Better to have been narrowly beaten by a very good Sevilla team as opposed to Man U which would have hung over us most of next season.
Love it… Perhaps that’s what Adama does when he runs..
Talk Sport must really hate us! One of their presenters is tipping us for relegation next season as we’ve been knocked out the Europa!
Surely they could find better things to talk about!
Yes l heard it the prat was Adrian Durham he was with Goughie on their show he is a Knob . Predicting as you say Border for us to be relegated Nuno to leave and take the players with him and Wolves are a club with nothing to offer.
He will no doubt go into the South Bank book of targeted people and receive a lovely welcome should he visit Molineux.
I heard it do Dorset. What a muppet…. When we going to catch up again?
Hi Marnhull can you drop me a text if you haven’t my number let me know.
Cheers.
At least they’re talking about us. It hasn’t always been the case.
For anyone who’s not spotted it.
2020/21 fixtures out next Fri 9am.
Wolves website has the story and a link to sync your phone or device calendar so you have all the latest fixtures on your device. Any changes or re-arranged matches get updated automatically.
Interesting development today-:
All Caraboa Cup games will be played home On a Wednesday, the the away game 1 week after.
Caraboa cup semis will be a 1 leg affair.
All FA cup matches to be decided on the day, no replays. (than Dog for that)
These two ideas should cut down on the amount of needless backlog and pressure heaped on the Elite teams like Wolves. 🙂 (feck talk sport)
Wolves have asked Chelsea to agree to asking the PL to put them toplay Man U and Man City first game of the season, that way it would be postponed giving all 4 teams an extra week off. Lampard is all for it.
Regarding your last paragraph: What a sensible idea. No way the PL will go for that.
Nothing to do with the PL or FA pal, as per usual the TV companies will dictate what happens, nobody else’s opinion matters……disgraceful
As someone – a dying breed maybe but I’m still here – who values the FA Cup, I don’t agree with the no replay rule.
For reasons too obvious to explain here replays have been an integral part of the glamour and attraction of the competition over the years.
If this rule is introduced to ease fixture congestion for next season only – fair enough I suppose.
But it will almost certainly continue after that, thereby continuing the steady downgrading of the competition that has happened in recent times.
That’s what’s called progress I suppose.
Very sad.
Perhaps, also for one season only, if a minnow is drawn at home to a giant and they wish to move the game to the bigger ground to maximise revenues, they should have that option.
Of course that’s presuming fans can actually attend the games by then. No guarantee of that, I’m afraid.
I disagree with no relays too doog.
Every small club that battles to a draw at home in order to make enough money in the replay to pay their wages for a year will lose out
Another bit of football magic will be gone next year
The big clubs will be fine though
Utw
The big clubs will be fine though
I see that Bayern Munich have scraped through to the CL semi finals against Barcelona…..
Currently 8 – 2…..
plenty to do to get to that level by the look of it….
To be fair, Barcelona are a shadow of their former selves.
Bet they are glad they got rid of Coutinho……………..to Bayern!!!
He’s still a Barcelona player too!
If I had to choose one word to describe Barcelona in that game, I would choose “messy”.
I agree Twix, a long way to go before our quarter final in the champions league.
Imagine if Rafa Mir had gone out on loan to Sevilla, and came on to score 2 and assist one. Barcelona you sorry lot.
Don’t worry. Only 6 years to go.
Of course. There would be no European leagues if not for Wolverhampton wanderers Fc. I remember 4 years ago me mates stag do. Budapest. We all went to watch Honved. Big statue of Ference Pushkas outside the ground. Talking to one old chap in the ground he remembered the Wolves. Brilliant.
Recommended Budapest by the way. Brilliant place. The city offers all sorts of opportunities. ?
Yeah, like f…….. ex wives from there!
No thanks, will stick to good ol’ US of A girls from now on!!
And spare a thought for poor little Raheem, missed the easiest chance of the season, for anyone, and then Lyon run down the other end and score again.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer little cheat.
How many ex-wives do you have?
Too many!!
A trail of devastated females in Penn. And next door neighbours cat.
I hear you’re outnumbered 5-1 by ex-wives.
BTW. Great win for Sevilla against Manure. Puts the Wolves loss in a slightLy different light as Sevilla have.won the bloody thing five times.
The arrogance of Man U- ‘we should be winning semi finals’ – so says the donkey McGuire.
The officials obviously weren’t listening to Maguire.
Don’t they know Man U should be winning semi-finals?
I like this new Tim. Just saying.
Cheesy was right. Manure got the penalty and Fernandez took it. Psychic he is!!!
Fat lot of good it did ’em though.
Nice to see Man Utd biggest club in the world…….probably as the Carlsberg avert goes……..may be a few years ago. ……..get there arse kicked by Servilla.
Arrogance and pride before a fall. Man Utd have no more right to win trophy so than anyone else the better team won simples.
It’s very quite on the transfer front………any gossip anyone…..?
So no trophy for Man Utd again
I guess they will find it hard to hang onto their top players now
Utw
It could be argued that they don’t have any!!!
So Wolves are starting to plan for the return of fans:-
“The club are asking to supporters ‘who do not share the same household, but wish to attend the same matches’ to register their groupings with the ticket office by Monday, August 31.
Wolves have also said ‘initial capacity calculations’ show they will be unable to accommodate all season-ticket holders in Molineux at one time during the early stages of gradually returning fans to matches.
And due to that, ‘2019/20 season-ticket holders will be randomly split into groups based on household address’. ”
Guess non season ticket fans will have no chance until full capacity is returned?
I wonder what the point of getting Wolves membership for 2020/2021 will be?
Good point Bard paid for our membership a month ago on reminder renewal.
To be honest, I renewed my membership t’other day, knowing full well my chances of going to games in the near future are zilch. However, Fosun are a business. If I can show them that I’m prepared to stick with the project, as they are so far, in these difficult times, then I hope it would give them just a smidgen of encouragement to stick with it too. If all of us do, all those little smidgens added together may help to keep them in the game.
I feel I owe it to them after all they’ve done.
Agree Stroker that was my thinking when we ordered the new shirts and would not want a refund on membership it will be interesting how it will start again no drips and drabs wait till all clear and return as one pack.
Keep safe.
I fear, Dorset, that if we wait until we can fill the ground once more, with no ‘social distancing’, then we’ll be waiting for a very long time.
But I see your point.
I have renewed mine, mainly for the Wolves Cash. We’ve not bothered renewing my hubby’s, no point until it’s full capacity stadiums again – which as you say will be a while. Just hope they don’t sell Raul now as I’ve ordered his name on my shirt!!
This is my ONLY concern regarding Fosun thus far, their failure to tackle the ground problem. I do believe we should be in a far more advanced stage with a new ground or major redevelopment by now.
A 50,000 seater/ safe standing stadium is a winner, worth 10 / 15 points a season extra.
Red Bull gives you wings.
The Molineux 12th man gives you new legs.
VAR is institutionally elitist!!!
Fixtures out on Friday morning. What is the betting on Sandwell Town being one of the games early doors with no fans Which is probably quite normal in Smethwick.
Getting anxious now is Nuno going to sign……….is Nuno going to sign any new players.
StuWolf has a good point are Fosun going to expand Molinuex any time soon like in the next couple of years.
Ground and team need investment sooner…..much sooner rather than later.
Don’t worry, Nuno made it very clear after the Sevilla game ‘We need more players’. Fosun have seen the progress made and will wish to maintain and improve their investment.
As much as i dont want to start the new ground debate again i wonder if fosun are looking at a brand new ground somewhere else close by as a much quicker option maybe the original mol could be used for reserve matches or games where low attendance is expected ?????? just a thought due to the “nothing happening ” syndrome.
Old Gold Bull would give you wings too. A new stadium would make a difference, but it’s one hell of a job. My local club Chelsea has wrestled with this issue for years. Planning permission was to expire this March only for the pandemic to intervene and suspend expiration. That’s probably a reprieve that Abramovich didn’t want… !
I can’t help thinking that the new Chelsea stadium would have gone ahead only if Chelsea had been winning title after title. By the same token I wonder if Fosun want to see greater and sustained success from Wolves before a new stadium is committed to?
A look at Chelsea’s London rivals’ experience in new stadiums is revealing. Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham have all struggled since moving.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HgPP8_itpNA
Not sure if this YouTube link is going to work. Titled Jordan and Dadashov on target for under 23s!
Worth looking back on this, just six months ago. Wolves u23 playing a very strong Liverpool u23 team. Particularly the contribution of Jordao, Dadashov and MGW.
MG W is infuriating, but there is a real player in there. Could be the Jordao breakthrough season. Hope Dadashov gets a chance somewhere.
Some positive chat going round about this guy, Faouzi Ghoulam, Left back from Napoli. If I was going to start buying, quality cover for Jonny would take priority.
Let’s see where this one runs.
Boredom setting in after 5 Months self induced confinement and the rain on for the day.
Thoughts running through my head.
Having watched nearly every Pl, CL and EL game since the restart of footy, I have noticed. Referee’s are gleefully waving yellow card appeals away for diving, cheating players, VAR in the main being given correctly to the right teams and denied to your elite teams.
The referees enjoying telling whinging players to piss off out of their faces while they awaited the VAR decisions, much to the enjoyment of the fans watching from the unbiased areas of the sofa’s and armchairs of Europe, unable to scream the referee into submission or worry the guys behind VAR in some dingy room somewhere obscure.
My comments above reference the new / restructured Molineux (not a new site) we’re based on my experiences around the grounds both at home and in the Europa league. We took 3000 loud, passionate Yam Yams and herded them into some corner of these massive stadiums and the evidence was there for all to see. We out sung, out bantered and subsequently out foxed a lot of these clubs.
When you pitch up to Man U, Liverpool, Newcastle and such with their massive crowds, any indiscretion on the pitch is met by a wall of protest by the home fans. Referees do back down and bottle it, they even pitch up ready to favour home side’s to afford themselves an easy life that day. (My opinion)
Taking Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Man City out of their traditional grounds disrupts this because they then allocate season tickets but don’t take into consideration groups of fans sitting together that instigate the singing. They can now be scattered all over the grounds, it’s very difficult to get singing going with you regular groups all over the place.
Proof of this is your hardcore Gold and Away STH’s all knowing each other and ready to blast the roof off, look what we did at Tottenham 2 seasons ago, we raised the noise level, the team raised their game and something magical happened. If you don’t believe me watch the game back and listen. It was a piece of pure magic that lives long in our memory, Liverpool in the cup is another classic example.
I want Molineux redeveloped, by doing this in stages it keeps the regular STH’s in their favoured location. Imagine opening up another 4000 places in the Southbank, the guys that want to go in there know what they are going into, they want to be part of the roar. We would have a better atmosphere than the Kop.
So if we are to redevelop, these things should be put forwards to the club for consideration. If they minimise the disruption of existing STH’s by retaining their seat positions then add to the stand with new fans, it will work. As I said above, ” that’s 100% worth 10 / 15 extra points a year”. The elite clubs with their big grounds that haven’t been disrupted are the proof. Man U didn’t move, Liverpool didn’t move they built onto what they originally had.
Wish I could double like this post, very well put indeed.