If ever a performance typified the times we’re all struggling to navigate, then surely this was it.
You could call it a circuit-breaker, although soul-destroyer would be more appropriate for a depressing surrender that makes you wonder if this is how things have to be?
In the absence of a miracle vaccine to instil some positivity and intent, we’ll just have to accept first half no-shows like this as some sort of necessary evil towards a greater good, it would seem.
But on first glance, this 1-0 defeat was like lockdown at its worst. A suppressing of expression, freedom and any sort of aspiration because the environment was just too scary for such notions to exist in the first place.
Worse still, this painful submission bore the hallmarks of a side that never believed it stood a chance against a better opponent in the first place. It was more befitting of an FA Cup minnow against bigger fish, hoping to take the game deep to force some sort of replay.
Like lockdown, circuit breakers and tiered systems of local rules, first half performances like this can’t be the solution in the long-term, can they?
With or without another stinking VAR decision to aid the Foxes’ cause for a third successive game, a complete abdication of intent – with the players at our disposal – made for one of the most pathetic 45 minutes in recent memory, where momentum was frittered away with half-hearted abandon.
This isn’t a formation or personnel issue either; it is a perplexing lack of inclination to compete with any sense of purpose, other than to ride the storm and hope to stay in the game once the half time oranges have been sucked dry.
Ergo, the second half is a mild improvement, owing to the first half being so awful to begin with. Aside from Roy Hodgson’s 4-4-2 and a Steve Bruce anti-spectacle from the same playbook, this has been the trend against mobile sides with an extra man in the middle for some time now.
The net result is a first half deficit – in either scoreline or possession – and a sense of regret that we didn’t at least try to create chances from the get-go. The statistics don’t lie, nor will the league table in a few weeks’ time with much more reverential obedience like this.
This isn’t a case of knocking the lads for the sake of it, but in the absence of an explanation for such a surrender, I can only call it as I see it (whether or not I should be counting my blessings because we were losing at home to Barnsley under Walter Zenga a few years ago) and, despite a rally of sorts in the second half, it was still garbage.
It was a performance purpose-built for lockdown; a grim environment under dark, swollen skies which forces you back to bed, which is the only sanctuary to make the monotony of life less tedious than it already is.
Best to wash our hands with this one, muscle a swab stick past the gag-reflex and hope that a mouthful of sick doesn’t soil your single-use surgical mask.
I didn’t think it was a penalty but you’re right mate, we got what we deserved for that first-half performance, which is nothing. Way too passive again. Sit in and be compact by all means but we’ve got to offer more than that.
We could easily have got a point second half but when you’re chasing a game against a top side you should expect them to close it out. We’ve got to work harder to get that first goal and realise it’s importance. Camping out for 45 minutes isn’t a sustainable game plan if we want any better than what we’ve seen up to now.
Most annoying for me is that Nuno doesn’t seem to have developed any sort of Plan B. Taking Neto off and playing Jimenez out wide made us worse. Fabio looks too lightweight to me to make a meaningful impact but he’s being wedged into naff unbalanced sides and being asked to produce in much the same way Cutrone was last year. With 10 to go chasing a goal, why not sacrifice a sweeper in favour of another body in the box? Surely should be Fabio and Raul in the box with Traore and Neto loading the crosses with the wingbacks creating space? I get he doesn’t want to abandon his principles but why not properly go for it with 10 to go? Play the same way just without the spare man at the back?
I have to say I am not used to seeing the level of negativity I am seeing from a large proportion of the posts on this forum this week. Last week we went third and everyone thought we were going to win the league. Yes, our performance against Leicester was not our greatest, no we probably are not a better team than we were last season at present, yes we have some issues to solve. I share everyone’s aspiration to challenge at the very top, but you don’t become a top six team in the best League on the planet by will alone. We are still a dangerous team and will finish in the top half come the end, and I believe we will mature into a much better side by the end of the campaign.
Leicester are a top six side at the moment. They are further on in their journey than us. And as such there were positives for us in this match – they have been scoring freely lately and that we restricted them to a dodgy VAR pen says a lot about us at the back – and building from the back is where it all starts.
Going forward is where we have work to do. No doubt we have talent there too, but nonetheless, I have been saying for quite a while now that we are too dependent on Jimenez for the goals. I’m not going to pretend that I am insightful enough to have the answers here, but what stands out a mile to anyone is the Traore conundrum. I think if we can get him firing like he was previous seasons then we can only be more successful. Opposition teams now routinely double up on him and crowd him out. But this is not new. They were doing this last season too. What is new is that we no longer have Doc supporting him, pulling the defenders about and give them something else to think about. Semedo looks quality and gives us something going forward but I don’t see the same inter play between him and Adama as with Doc. I want to see some work putting into getting these two to click.
That’s my opinion anyway, but whether I am right or wrong about that – we are not suddenly a bad team. Let’s leave the negativity for other forums and remember where we came from.
Well said Wokywolf. Like you, I find all this negativity unhelpful.
First penalty VERY dodgy but doesn’t excuse a glaring lack of cutting edge and creativity; yet again didn’t start to play until 40th minute by which time we should have been two down.
Second half better but still too much hit and hope a la McCarthy.
Still missing Jota, Neto not sharp enough today, Podence non existent, Traore enigmatic but not enough game time.
Sorry but I’m going to say it again – without a like for like replacement for Diogo I don’t know where the goals are going to come from.
Ditch the bunker mentality Nuno.
Yep disappointed not to see us pile sustained pressure on the Foxes.
Ait came down to earth not least because Leicester targeted him and Kilman
We will have worse days until coaches and players work out more ways to
Penetrate good defences
Next up the Saints…so let’s get our act together soonest
OODCL
Spot on summary. Our Manager it seems is beyond criticism according to most on social media. He must take responsibility for the performance today.
To sit so deep and allow the opposition midfield so much room was a naive tactic to say the least. Jimenez seems to want to play in midfield, Neves was so easily bypassed in midfield an£ was playing far too deep. The young lad at left back is going to be a good player but this fixture was too big too early for him and it showed. Scoring goals is currently a major issue for the team. When you have a major amount of cash coming in from the transfer market it needs to be spent wisely. Has Podence filled Jota’s shoes ? No and not likely to either. Not bringing in a proven striker or a hard running midfielder will be our downfall. We may do ok against the so called “lesser teams” but that is not going to take us above where we have previously finished. I don’t hold out much hope of a cup run as the manager will play the “fringe players” and we will probably go out to a lesser team as with the League cup. Only time will tell!
GC
It’s sad, but I agree with everything you say and summed it up in my above comment – Nuno has developed a “bunker” mentality. It’s a far cry from, albeit in the Championship, the sight of Costa, Cav, Jota and Bonatini (yes Bonatini) attacking in waves.
I believe the squad is now better overall, but it’s defence at the expense of attack and those who claim that the catastrophic loss of Jota is balanced by Podence and Silva need a reality check; then we have Cuitrone plying his trade in Tuscany and Campana and Jordao in Switzerland – what the hell is going on? And I certainly don’t see Podence as being an upgrade on anyone.
My reluctant suspicion is that our recruitment policy under Shi, Mendes and Nuno has as much to do with generation of revenue as success on the field and the glorious Fosun 5 year plan of progression to Champions League status certainly looks to be in disarray at the moment.
Well said Ben. Absolutely spot on. 106 goals in 84 pl games under Nuno tells it’s own story. I will probably be criticised by many for saying this but I actually think this is as good as it is going to get under Nuno, I just don’t think he knows how to take the game to the opposition from the off. There have been far too many first half no shows for it to be a coincidence – it is now ingrained into the psyche of the team. It seems churlish to criticise someone who has done so much for us but I do think we are getting to a bit of a crossroads in our aspirations to make the top six.
An absolute stinker from Wolves one pass forward two passes backwards three or for passes sideways this is the new evolved Wolves just like last season. We need a striker to play with Jiminez or he will leave a centre midfielder who can carry the ball forward and make a pass and now and again go for it i agree thomas take a CB of and put two up front two try and score Its just the same old nothing has changed same eleven players who always start bar now and again
Can someone clear this one up for me please ?
I figured I must have misinterpreted the image with the lines across the pitch for the second penalty decision.
I thought it was a clear offside in the build- up but it wasn’t given and it never got mentioned again.
Have I really lost the plot to that extent ?
Sorry Dek, I got confused with the posting mechanism as well, it seems.
I will look at it another way. Ten points from the last 5 games and could have rescued another one here today without that dismal VAR shithole once again screwing us and a big save from Schmiecal. I accept that we are certainly missing a spark. I accept the first half no shows are becoming tedious. In mitigation I will offer the view that we are currently in transition. Patience in how long this takes will begin to wear thin if we dont see tangible improvements on the pitch. But for now I am prepared to offer some leeway.
Well we’re supposed to be in transition, but the reality is that we’re still playing the same old way but without Doherty and Jota. Why?
Today was really depressing. Simply no ambition and nothing to enthuse about at all.
Well my point is just that. There will be ups (palace) downs (today). Maybe I am just boring but I always try and keep a sense of perspective. Hence that is why I said 10 points from 5 games. IF we beat Southampton that will be 13 from 6 which is massive. So. Like I say . Perspective.Say what you like about style. It is points that matter. I will gladly hold my hands up if things go in a bad direction. But I don’t believe it will. We are a very decent premier league side. As described by Lineker on Motd LAST WEEK. One defeat and the whole f**kin world is falling apart. Any way I’m signing off.
I’ve said this before and was harangued for it here..we are seriously retrograde from last season..our replacement players are inexperienced uncoordinated and need placing in the 2nd team..We need another striker to help Jimenez and someone who can cross the ball to them both like traore we need an attacking midfielder too….
Re Traore This era is even infecting Him who last season was an inspiration..(if he gets out on the pitch in time ) Nuno is guiding us to moderation.. side ways football and has lost his touch or luck with players who last year turned it on…Neves one example – give or take his fantastic effort today ..5 mins does not make a match and Patricio cant save us for ever..
Our goals scored says it all we are not making enough chances by not having enough key players that can move forward and create with confidence..
Nuno is showing his weaknesses
and seems to not know what to do ..I can’t believe his hands are tied either..
Well what can i say Ben you have just about… nay… completely summed up how i and i would guess a lot more wolves fans feel after that abject performance.
The loss you could take if we had at least tried to compete but this constant sit back and work them out system we play is quite frankly driving me nuts.
We are not chess masters and its high time nuno dumped this idea and started taking the game to the opposition and played to our strengths and not think he is some master tactical genius who can find a chink in the enemies armour and exploit it.
We played one game where we struck out and went for it and won .
We all thought we had turned the corner and guess what ? wham back to square one.
And as for bringing on adama !!!!! what was all that about ???
Bloody hell the only explanation i can think of is they are all saving their selves for the internationals .
Bonfire nights gone but this lot need a rocket up their backsides !
P.S i am praying the vile get stuffed after this !!!!
Yeah. At least the S**t lost. And let’s hope Vile get stuffed to rescue the weekend!
Yeah well that went well
This was a poor performance to say the least, but not surprising given what we’ve seen in most of the games this season.
The first half was atrocious. We looked like we had never played together before and the only thing that got me out of my seat was the VAR decision for the first penalty.
The fact that it was that pathetic call by Stockley Park (and the ref watching the replay in slow motion) was the difference between a defeat and us coming away with a point, has left me at a loss as to think what is going on with the Premier League at the moment.
Leicester top?
What the Sam Hill?
And while I’m at it, a major frustration which has bothered me for a couple of seasons now is what happens whenever we get a throw in.
And what does happen?
I don’t know what the statistics are but if I had bet a pound every time we had a throw in, that we would lose possession, I would be a very rich man now.
And we never seem to close down the opposition when they get a throw.
Do we practice throws in?
All in all a really disappointing afternoon.
I have faith in Nuno to get it right but he can not be above criticism.
And today, we were poor.
We should sign that bloke with the big ears who used to take throw ins for Stoke under Pulis. It was like the battle of the Somme when he launched them in with players often running around with bandages and plasters on their heads as the game went on. Just get him in as the bloke who takes throw ins.
F##k me my weekend is getting worse !!! 1 minute 1 bloody minute arsenal pull yourselves together you cockney ####s
Worry not!
VAR rides to the rescue.
Just thought I’d drop in. It’s amazes me how all of a sudden people are saying now what I was saying three months ago re: transfers getting in inexperienced players in for a fortune for the future and not the here and now.
Nuno has hit he level someone has blogged…….even I have never gone that far. But I will now I agree totally. We have great players but they are being shackled.
Adams was destroying defenders for fun this time last season cannot get in the starting 11 now.
We’ve had 9 days off they had played 3 games in that time yet it looked like Wolves had played 3 games in 9 days.
Anyway might drop in again.
Stay safe.
Hallo Paul!
How ya bin?
Nice to see you back, drop in anytime.
We love ya!
Poor first half again, improved second half.
Felt sorry for Rayan he looked out of his depth, nervous and generally very shaky. James Justin and Praet looked dangerous going down our left hand side. Marcal must start next game, I hope this doesn’t knock his confidence too much, it’s a learning curve.
Thought Neto was good again and was surprised Nuno replaced him with Silva, strange substitution that one.
Took a world class save from Schmichael to deny us a goal and we restricted them to very little.
All in all a frustrating afternoon and much for Nuno to work on over the international break. They need to come out all guns blazing when they’re back as you know southampton are in a rich vein of form and it’s going to be another tough game.
I agree with most of the above critiques, Marcal should have come on at halftime and Saiss on for Willy to improve our attacking options. However, the level of criticism of Nuno in particular is harsh. We should give some credit to Leicester whose game plan worked perfectly and out fought and outplayed us for most of this match. We are not going to win them all. I for one will not lose the faith and always look to the positives. We are never as good we sometimes think or as bad etc. We are victims of our level of expectations, expect a tough ride with Saints, Liverpool and Arsenal coming up.
A lone voice of sanity in a sea of over reaction.
Based on a one-off game against a limited Palace side people chose to believe we were now Champions League material and we had our long term solution to the left wing-back position.
Given the run of games we have ahead there is going to be some gnashing and wailing of teeth before 2021. Or folks could begin to appreciate the current phase of transition we are in.
Agreed about the transition phase but we are also supposed have upgraded our squad which to a large extent we have in theory.
However, it’s clear we haven’t upgraded our scoring capability – completely the reverse by selling Jota and now no one looks like scoring at all.
Nuno said we were starting a new cycle, this means integrating new players ,refining a playing style and developing new strategies. This takes time (which he hasn’t had) and patience (which he has earned) from all of us.
We look like a mid table side at the moment and have to be big enough to accept that given just a few years ago we would have given our right arms for it.
Great summary Ben, plus all bloggers. Struggling to make sense of our team this season. We are becoming a bit boringly predictable… We are so much better when we use our pace and run directly… This ref would have given something. When are we going to play the full 90 minutes? We all agree Nuno has transformed our club, from top to bottom… the price for that, he has raised our expectations, so when we play without any spirit, or are relying players, who will come good in the future, the club can’t be surprised if we are a tad critical.
We could have done without losing most of our squad to international duties and had time at Compton working on a Plan B.
Paul, welcome back too.
Yes would agree with our no show first halves, it’s frustrating, surely he’s got to play Adama & Marcal from the off? Ait-Nouri looked very raw & there for the taking today.
All I’d say different is that the plan surely is to hit the opposition on the counter attack in the first half and grab the lead? . But we don’t look comfortable enough on the ball and surrender space and ball far too much for a top flight team.
It must be very easy to play against, Leicester could’ve been 2-0 up but for Patricio and that was game over.
These surely are not the right tactics. But will it change? It does not look like it. Playing 2 in midfield makes us play that way because the wing backs and back three do not push up to support the midfield and attack enough. Missing Jonny in my opinion because he did fill in spaces in the midfield and gave us a greater sense of press and urgency.
But in the plus side another good game from Kilman and we got Leicester worried in the second half. Could even have stolen it.
Another gripe from me is where is the TV coverage going to be after pay per view has been stopped? I know that was expensive but from what I know of what they’ve replaced it with, it’s cheaper and gave access to all games.
You would think that in these dark ages they could find some altruism so fans can access all games without going through hoops and shelling out fortunes.
I’ll just have to stick with Sky and follow Jota’s fortunes at Liverpool.
Note to Nuno:-
PLAN B) Get everyone to run into the box with the ball and fire it as hard as they can at the nearest defender. By the law of averages it will hit their hands enough times to get a few penalties and earn some points.
Do you know doog thats exactly what i was thinking
no point training to score goals we should be aiming for arms.
and as for arsenal …well.. how is it those jammy vile gits get to play all the sides who are on drugs at the moment
Any Wolves fan who thinks we are shit (and there are plenty out there in planet social media) should take a look at Arsenal. Funny old game. Ay it.
I bin sayin” that fer wicks!!!
Evening Clive. All getting a bit fractious. I know your usual calm view of things will ensure the blog is unified! Ay we…..
Of course!
NUNO OUT!!!
Get Trump in as manager, he’s looking for a job!!
I think America thought he had taken them as far as he could go.
Disagree with almost everything that has been written. We lost to a dodgy goal to a very good team so similar to us that in most respects we cancelled each other out.
Every week I read the hyperbole stating we are world beaters or utter dross. The evidence is we’re the seventh best team in the league and working on getting better.
If you’re unhappy with our progress talk to a Fulham Sheffield Utd or even a Crystal Palace supporter.
It’s a bumpy road but on the whole the good outweighs the bad.
The moot point is progress. I don’t wish to be argumentative for the sake of it but I’m genuinely struggling to see how we are progressing from a playing perspective not just this season but from the post lockdown of last season also. There is no intensity to our football, the passing is pedestrian , we rarely attack the box in numbers and only occasionally shoot from distance. I reiterate that 106 goals in 84 pl games tells its own story. That’s why I think we are at a real crossroads with Nuno. He has been magnificent but he talks about learning and improving and yet he has evidently failed to improve our goal scoring and has failed to learn from an alarmingly persistent trend of first half no shows. He is the best wolves manager since cullis but is he good enough to take us into Europe again this season or win the fa cup, which has to be the immediate benchmark of progress? I’m not so sure on the basis of what I’m seeing. I genuinely hope you are right and I am wrong.
We are a team trying but not yet succeeding to be different .
I think we are headed for mid table this season which is sad given how very much I enjoyed the European adventure last year .
Still not long ago I would have been endlessly worrying about relegation so am happy I need not worry about that .
Mind you I will not watch a Leicester game again .The luck literally never goes our way against them .
You must have a crystal ball I don’t have access to. We’re currently in a better position than we were at the same point last season.
This was another very poor performance. To hide behind the disputed penalty only disguises the fact that presently, we a very average, unbalanced side.
In the summer almost everyone on this blog identified the urgent need for a proven striker to support Raul. It was not rocket science. Our goal scoring record spoke for itself . How many games last season had we dominated yet failed to score more than the odd goal !
But ,we didn`t choose to do so. Rather we opted to pay the earth for an unknown inexperienced guy, who we were told had the potential to become the next ” Great One ” The reality is that the intended Great One is, as yet, nowhere near ready for such an accolade. Hopefully, over time he will come good, but for now we are probably doing him a big disservice by flinging him in at the deep end.
Nuno keeps on singing the hymn of needing to be “more clinical”. Great if you have the personnel to actually be more clinical, and if you have the midfield quality to make the chances. But have neither .
Our situation, simply stated, remains unchanged. If Raul fails to find a way to score, we are likely to come away goal less. Until we find a support for him, and more creativity from midfield, not much is likely to change.
From what we`ve seen so far, a mediocre season beckons
Maybe one day ……
……..I will grow to like VAR instead of seeing it as an abomination that is ruining football
……..I will see why they decided to change the very simple and easily understood handball law for something that is incomprehensible and illogical
……..I will understand why we sold Doherty and Jota instead of thinking it was utter madness
……..I will agree Semedo is good and worth £35m instead of thinking he is an overrated pale imitation of Doherty who can’t defend for toffee
……..I will come to like Neto instead of seeing him as a one dimensional lightweight who is nowhere near as good as Jota
……..I will understand why a player coveted by just about every other club and who we are desperate to tie down to a new £100,000 a week contract isn’t deemed by Nuno as good enough for our starting eleven and is restricted to bit parts usually when we are chasing a game
……..I will understand why we spent £35m on an untried 18 year old as competition for Raul when he isn’t considered good enough to play apart from a few fleeting minutes at the end of a game and when he does come on looks like a terrified rabbit caught in the headlights
……..I will understand why we only start playing from the 46th minute instead of the 1st minute
……..I won’t look back on this season as a golden opportunity to break into the top 4 that was wasted
Maybe one day ……but I’m not holding my breath.
OODCL
Your type is not welcome here.
Dear Tim, thank you so very much for your lovely, erudite and reasoned response to my post. Or to put it another way why don’t you crawl back under the slimy stone from whence you came and leave this Blog to (a) Wolves supporters and (b) adults.
I don’t entirely agree with your post Bedders but it would be a dull blog if we all agreed.
Tim stay with us but don’t post again till you hit puberty!
Why can everyone else complain about what other people say but I can’t?
You sound like a fascist.
It’s not what you say but the way that you say it….
Wots erudite mean, mister?
Asking for Timmy.
It’s a type of glue.
Brilliant. That put a smile on my face.
Wasn’t that Harold?
Harold Wilson?
Harold Steptoe?
Harold The Unerudite?
Haroldite
Bedford I agree with much of your analysis. However, I think you could have got in wrong with Neto.
In my view, you may be correct in your conclusion that presently he is not at the same level as Jota, — though for much of last season Jota was very inconsistent and overall disappointing. But we should remember that Neto is still barely twenty. My honest take is that in a couple of years time he will have become the real deal.
By the way, I think we should all remember that this Blog is about genuine supporters expressing personal views, in a friendly and constructive manner. For others who disagree to tell you to ‘clear off ‘ is disgraceful . I thoroughly enjoy reading your points of view, even if sometimes they disagree with mine. So, ignore the ridiculous criticism and just keep posting.
Thanks Mike. Not sure what it is about Neto but I just can’t take to him yet. Probably just a personal preference and I don’t wish to put him down. Maybe it goes back to him missing that open goal late on against Espanyol which ruined an otherwise enjoyable trip to Barcelona in February. Obviously if and when he does well I am delighted as he is a Wolf and I hope he does come good.
Well, here I go again, with the upset applecart.
I think Raul should be rested.
I think Adama, the one trick pony, has turned into a plodding carthorse.
I think Nuno should throw caution to the wind, play ALL the new kids from the off next match, totally flummox the opposition’s game plan, and see what happens first half.
I think the players who have not been given a chance yet, or much of one, will be desperate to show they can do better than the regulars, and will stun us all into disbelief.
I think we gave Leicester far too much respect today. Lets face it, they only had two shots, both penalties, but we played right into their hands.
I think Nuno is going to take off his kid gloves and give certain players a right royal kick up the arse, for their lack of urgency attitude today.
I think complacency has set in with some of our lads and they need place competition to up their attitudes and their games.
I think the season still has 30 games to go, and a lot of naysayers, doubters and old fashioned Wolves fans have got the knives out way too early.
I think I should stop drinking.
I still think WBA might go all season without a win.
Sounds like a sure fire way to ensure your well predicted score Clive. But probably the wrong way round.
almost all here in Nuno
we don’t trust to get us above half way ..
Mendes to the rescue in Jan?
Firmino might be available.
Nonsense. Imo.
And in May you can say I was correct in saying we will finish in the top six .
You miss my point dear wolves mate we could well finish sixth if we turn this stuff around..
You being a pseudo happy clapper fair play for being less critical than most but the criticism here on the blog currently says it all..
Nuno is not some Demi god
he has failings and don’t forget trains the strategy that we play..like the sideways backwards stuff..I’ll never never understand why he doesn’t play Adams like last season creating chances like before..Jimenez could even leave us as he is not getting support..
Neves give or take spot kicks that are on target 1 out of 8 ..
Netto being used as a wonder kid..which he is not…this all rests with Nuno..
I hope he reads this…
Any way. Chill out . Motd. Sandwell defeat. Rejoice.
First game I have missed for the season, and reading Ben’s report, perhaps it is just as well. Young Rayan has given away two penalties in two games, he is more of a liability than Saiss!! But life is strange. In St.kitts -Nevis where I live we have ZERO cases of Covid! Thirty of us caught the ferry went to Nevis, drank a ton of beers on the beach, and finished with Rum punch. Wolves are my life and my passion, but at this very moment, life is too short to worry! Tomorrow I might have a different opinion!
All I can say to that is:
I’m jealous as hell, ya bastid!!
Me to, ya bastid.
Two of the worst performances since promotion in the last three games.
Only four teams have scored fewer goals than us, the bottom four.
In 84 PL games we have scored just 106 goals.
The Halo above the head of he who shall remain blameless is in danger of strangling him.
VAR is still shit, as are those that are using it to spoil our game.
On another day …….
Kilmun penalty doesn’t get given ….. BUT …..
Vardy scores the other, correctly given, one, …….AND …….
The ball that hit Dendonker goes the other side of the post …. AND ….
Schmeichel gets slightly less on RN’s shot and it goes in …… GIVING …..
Leicester 1 Wolves 2. ……..MEANING THAT…..
For all their organisational superiority, Leicester get zero out of the game….AND
BR, probably rightly, claims they were robbed.
Small margins folks, small margins.
BUT ….. as someone who watched a good proportion of our games over the 1957-1960 period (2 top tier titles, 1 second and 1 FA Cup for the benefit of younger bloggers) I have long been concerned that over the last couple of years we have so rarely had any substantial wins. The 1950s team won their titles on the basis of a sound defence which on enough occasions got us single goal victories. On top of this there were a number of ‘overkills’ where we didn’t win by just one or two goals but, several times a season by four, five, six or even more. It seems to me that we have mirrored the strong defence, but have yet to find a way of generating such a positive goal difference that it effectively gives us an additional point.
To be consistent challengers for and in Europe we simply have to find a way round this. As many have commented, we are doing relatively well. For me, I don’t think we will do really well until a few Clives or better find their way into our results. Until we do that results like today are going to seem more critical than they really are.
Come on Nuno, give us some Clives. I understand that he knows John Richards so he may be able to come up with some suggestions. 🙂
COYW
I remember the good old days as well.
We would turn up at the Mol KNOWING not hoping or expecting that we would get a hatful.
Oh for a Hancocks, a Wilshaw , a Mullen or a Ron Flowers.
Don’t want to comment on yesterday still too pissed off.
Then we’re up
And then we’re down
And then we’re up again
And then we’re down ?
Life as a wolves fan eh
The worst thing about losing just before the international break is that all the negos on social media who only like to post when we lose, get lots of time to moan .
So we have 13 points from eight games, not too shabby.
This game wasn’t the best granted but Leicester did get the var leg up again, one day we will have a bit of luck against them but maybe they earned it ?
Perspective- we haven’t conceded a goal in open play for yonks so I believe we are still going in the right direction, just a bit slower than we all would hope, I think that game against the ammers knocked us back big time .
Maximilian will play for England soon and marcel will surely come back in for nait and personally I’d get three in our midfield and try two up top against Southampton but what do I know?
Stay in the pack
Utw
Plan A (used exclusively this season): 5-2-3 evolving into 3-4-3 when the wing backs are given sufficient space by the opposition to utilise the flanks effectively. This involves keeping shape and compact in the first half and hands control of the game to all the better footballing teams in the expectency that our well drilled defence can keep them at bay. As teams tire in the second half, we get more of the ball and hopefully eke out an opportunity for Raul or Dendoncker or maybe someone else to exploit. Set pieces are also important.
Plan B, 5-3-2. Often used in the first two seasons of Nuno’s stewardship, less so last season, not at all this season. Same discipline and shape required but should give more midfield control.
Plan C , nothing!
Therein lies the problem. Plans A and B will work some of the time but, when we fall behind, they are much too restrictive to enable us to effectively chase games. This is mainly because two of our three centre halves become virtually redundant when teams sit back and the result is we can’t wrestle control of the game and apply concerted pressure on the opposition.
A plan C, in my opinion, needs to involve losing one of the three centre halves but is Nuno too set in his ways or stubborn to evolve such an alternative? We will see but I can’t envisage progression without it because more and more teams are switching on to our method of play.
excellent analysis
You can tell when we’re playing shit! Everyone starts picking alternative starting line ups.
Well I do, we just have to do something different to avoid those no show first halves. I’d prefer 3 in midfield, gives us more of the ball because we’re being overrun in that area of the pitch and our wonder scorer is playing far too deep. Jiminez & Traore up top, Neves,Dendoncker and the USA youngster in midfield Otasawie.
Give it a few games to work, we can always rotate, but the current 2 in midfield is just not cutting it for me, purely because the two midfielders are not being supported enough from the back where we have men over.
Nuno’s system has of course done us proud but it’s looking both tired and vulnerable at the moment.
But maybe after the International break it’ll all come good again. Tough set of games. We need a step up.
I think we’ve become shit-scared of conceding that early goal which we so prone to not so long ago. The consequence is we’re incapable of getting out of defensive mode for the first 45 minutes.
I don’t know what’s happened to Willy Boly but he seems to think he can only pass the ball backwards or sideways, back to the player who passed it to him, in the first half. A great asset in defence but too one dimensional if we want to move forward at pace.
Semedo and Neto continue to improve and impress and Marçal looks good again.
I think we’ve got the Podence/Traore switch wrong. If it has to happen, Traore should be on for the first 30mins and then bring on Podence.
I don’t think there was much between the two teams by the end and a draw would have been fair result, but I can’t say we deserved to win.
Some varied responses on the blog this week, which shows how varied our performances have been of late. Chalk and cheese doesn’t come close to comparing the Palace and Leicester showings, though the quality of the opposition has a lot to do with that.
We’ve had a lot of success playing the Nuno way, soaking it up in the first half looking for a counter, then pressing on in the second. However, the vagaries of VAR and the liberal sprinkling of penalties for very little means that being solid around your own box is full of uncertainty.
Adama, of course, is a dangerous weapon, but mainly when we are ahead and the opposition, trying to attack themselves, can’t overload him with defenders. This makes our first half caution all the more inexplicable. It’s no coincidence that our two best performances this season, Sheff U and Palace, have come when we’ve gone ahead early.
I was surprised that Rayan started ahead of Marcal. Not that the youngster deserved dropping of course, but Marcal has loads of top level experience and even in his limited time on the pitch at Wolves has shown himself to be a quality addition to the squad. I felt this made a big difference in this one.
Still, Leicester are a top team and, if not for detestable VAR, rarely threatened to break through our rearguard. We need to play further up the pitch for sure and provide a consistent threat, but I remain confident we’ll find answers to the questions being asked.
VAR aside, and Casper’s save , we weren’t much cop today were we.
I don’t want to look at this game singularly and still believe we have enough to finish in the top six. Nuno knows that players have not yet gelled as much as he would expect but he will give them time and I am confident that we will start performing at a higher level very soon.
We may not all agree 100% with Bedford’s individual points but I find myself agreeing with the majority. I totally disagree with the Neto point, although he does go up blind alleys regularly. We need to remember that he’s still only 20.
Different opinions make this blog and at least Bedford doesn’t resort to the abuse that some bloggers utilise.
Hear, hear.
Any news on Dorset Wolf Marnhull?
Hi Wolf. Spoke to Jill this morning. Rob at home making progress, he is banned from phone calls, email’s and watching the Wolves, no bad thing, following Sundays game! I hope to speak to him soon. I have past on your best wishes.
Cheers. Steve.
aka Marnhull Wolves
Passed!!! bring back the edit function xx
Hi Marnhall wolf…. Steve?
Glad to read that Rob is coming through this….
Please pass on our very best wishes to him and Jill…
Loves from the Twixes…xx
Hope to see them in the West Park cafe in the not too distant future..
Thank Lord Twix. I hope to speak to him soon, so will pass on all the good wishes.
Cheers
Steve
Thanks for the update Steve. Glad he’s picking up.
Steve(Wolfstroker)
OK we were poor but there are still lots of reasons to be cheerful. Our best start to a season in the top tier has left us in the top half, above Man City, two places above Arsenal and five places above Man United.
Marcal when he came on looked good, Semendo continues to improve. Apart from a dodgy penalty Leicester were unable to score, and they have been putting the ball in the net often of late. Credit to Wolves defence and defending is as important as attacking. Just ask a Leeds supporter.
No team has been consistently winning in this most bizarre of seasons, top clubs have let in three,four and even seven goals.
Arsenal have, under Arteta, been lavished with praise but were stuffed by Villa yesterday and early media darlings Everton have lost three on the bounce. And this is the context in which Wolves should be judged. Not by one very disappointing performance.
Not very long ago the best we could hope for was not being relegated from the Championship. But very good owners and an excellent coach has got us to where we are now, which is moaning if we don’t make it into the top four or six.
Nuno will IMO sort it!
if you think there are negative vibes on this site just take a look at the arsenal blog !!!!!
In reality we have very little to moan about .
If we had spent as much as they have and just been taken apart like that by the vile at home i think moilineux would be burning by now.
perspective is required from us all …I’ve calmed down now..wasnt to clever last night though .
Do you think it might be a good idea to leave the after match report 24 hrs until we have have all calmed down and sobered up ?
unless we’ve won of course .
Yeah, we weren’t great were we ? Noticed that in the first half we had our back 5 in position but they only had Vardy to mark. Result – Leicester could flood the midfield with bodies making it very difficult for us to move up the pitch.
That apart, the back-room staff study endless videos of our upcoming opposition and the variations they might use, so why oh why does it take us another 45 minutes to ease our way cautiously into the game ? Surely we could open up a bit after 20 minutes or so ?
The lack of any urgency in our play even as the clock was running down to the last few minutes is another frustrating aspect of our play.
Ait-Nourri and Kilman were targetted by Leicester (logically given their relative lack of experience) but Leicester’s full backs were no great shakes themselves, begging the question why Semedo and Ait-Nourri weren’t told to get on the front foot from the start.
Regardless of all that, I can’t believe that 3 years into a (probable) 10 year project some idiots on social meeja are calling for Nuno’s head. Behave !
I spotted that too Wolfman….
5 defenders in line with Vardy stood in the middle of it….
Thus meaning that our two midfielders were overrun with Leicester having five in the space in front of the back line.
As good a defensive unit it is we couldn’t stop the pressing.
I’m disappointed that folks single out Neves though…. busted a gut along with Dendoncker… but just overrun.
Second half showed that we could take the game to them and I’m a bit miffed as to why we didn’t press more.
Ait Nouri had a calamitous day and in hindsight Marcel should have come on much sooner.
Final comment is reserved for referee standards and VAR.
Stand up Anthony Taylor, Stuart Atwell for confirming just how bad and inconsistent you are.
How was Vardy not booked for a studs follow through on Kilman I’ll never know…. and booking Neves for a pull back and not Madison for the same offence later on shows just how bad the standards of inconsistency are….
Still I’m remaining upbeat despite this blip…
First of all let me say hand on heart, “we were very poor today” so not defending the team on yesterdays performance.
But, I have to say I watched the same game as everybody else apart from St Kitts, (we’re not jealous) and I don’t think Leicester were all that good yesterday.
Can anyone tell me when they had a genuine shot on goal, I don’t recall Rui making one save apart from the penalty. Their other efforts were spewed behind the goal or across the front with Boly preventing Vardy getting his head to it.
We had the “effort” by Poddy, Dendonkers round the post and it was certainly a Worldy from Scmichael that stopped Reuben bagging one.
We did not deserve a win yesterday that’s for sure, we were sadly very poor on the day, but Leicester are sitting top of the PL with a performance like that from a really bad VAR decision, plus the other 7 they’ve had already this season, the only consolation is that they deserved the second as that was a clear cut penalty.
So all in all, we were bad but they were slightly better, we’re still equal 7th in the PL, I woke up this morning and the World hasn’t ended, we’ve still got the holier than thou brigade on the blog, so what’s not to like.
Another win against Southampton and we’ll be the best team since sliced bread. Fickle or what!
Doesn’t matter how good or bad we were, if that questionable penalty were not given, we would have got a point out of the game which would have been considered a good result.
Are there any rumours over there about why Traore is not signing his extension? Is he refusing to for some reason?
Is that why he is not starting? Punishment for not committing his future (or increasing the sale value) to Wolves.
A disappointing showing yes, but at least it came against a very strong Leicester side who are a tough game even at your best.
Just wanted to give a bit of appreciation for the writing in this post. Not a Wolves fan myself, so can’t quite relate to the dismay at recent performances like you guys, but I still found myself absolutely absorbed in this piece. A thoroughly enjoyable read (as usual, I might add!)
Yes, we were poor first half and somewhat better the second half, but didn’t look as if we were going to score. This was down, partly to great defending from Leicester who overloaded on to Traore as has become the oppositions way now; send him into the corner, etc. I think we are stil a striker short down the centre and gawd help us if Jimenez, who had absolutely no delivery forthcoming, gets injured. In my opinion we need to quickly alter our formation during games at times and go with two down the middle on occasion. It became pointless charging down the right wing as the opposition had that fully covered. However, the VAR gods certainly look after Leicester and without a pathetic decision we would all be welcoming a well earned draw from the second half improvement. McCarthy, i know, as with Klopp, knew the worth of having a number of experienced strikers on hand and I do feel we are missing a trick there. Our lads are young and very promising but have yet no consistency. I have felt sorry for Jimenez for some time regarding delivery and assistance; not always, but to often to my mind. We are still within distance of a good placement and who knows what the next transfer window will bring. We are really well covered in each position now apart from the goal scoring leader of the line who needs cover and delivery. COYW!
Just shows the folly of spending £35 milioni on an 18 year old just because when , if he does come goodbye he can be sold on for a big profit.
I said this time and time again but got lambasted for i tour Transfer policy has concentrated far to much on signing for the future instead of the here and NOW.
Agreed.
Should of paid the asking price for Niles from Arsenal (20mill and we paid31 for semedo??????????) and Tellez ( who is now sitting on the bench at United)
I am not interested in what happens in 4 years down the line. We need to be competing now in this competitive prem season.
Probably will get called a “neigh sayer” however we dont have a plan B and that means we will never improve on seventh in the prem in my opinion.
We have a mix of world class, and 5th period….
We need to solidify points before we start experimenting systems. We cannot beat a team 1 week ( a team we SHOULD be beating) and then say that Nuno is a god and great game management – and then a week later play 11 behind the ball and hope?
Daniel podence is useless. Daniel podence is useless. Daniel podence is useless. Daniel podence is useless. Daniel podence is useless. Daniel podence is useless.I watched Leicester defenders just grab him and move him out the way, he cannot battle in the box. What is the point in him and Raul (and Neto) switching sides and positions all the time? If your going to play Podence over Traore it should be THE SAME ROLE. Don’t allow podence to be in the box and the Target (he was for a clear chance). If he is insisting he see’s somthing in Podence, then he needs to just use him out wide to get the ball in for Raul.
Do you have a parrot as a pet, Scousewolf? Podence didn’t have his best game, certainly but that comment could be levelled at any one of the front three. Traore may well start the Southampton game and Moutinho will be a shoe in so long as he doesn’t knacker himself playing for Portugal.
woooooooah. Im not scouse ;). Just living in Liverpool don’t tar me with that brush haha.
The comment couldnt be levelled at the others in my opinion as the fact Podence is so weak and cannot win anything it means the other 2 are fighting for scraps. They make a decent move lay off podence and he just gets moved off the ball. 1 weak link in an attacking force like ours and we crumble. Podence is that weak link.
Don’t see Coady being able to ping the balls out wide as they play so narrow to cover for Podence and the fact he wont win any Arial duel.
Is that straight from the horse’s mouth? Or the horse’s arse?
Perhaps you are a “neigh sayer” ;0)
” “
So Wolves fan in Liverpool what do you think of Daniel Podence?
A pretty awful first half. We looked a League One side NOT enjoying our big cup day out in the sun against PL leaders. Lethargic and unable to cope with Leicester’s pace and precision. We were lucky to go in 1-0 down at half time. That said, Leicester never looked like scoring from open play though, as they didn’t or couldn’t capitalise on their midfield superiority. But we didn’t look like scoring from any play!
We picked up in the second half but again we were slow in bringing Traore on. This time he at least got 30 minutes, but wasn’t given the passes to unleash his power runs and crosses. There was one trademark cross but why not more? Feed the beast! We seemed reluctant to involve him. Every time this happens with Traore I can’t help but think we are protecting him for a big-money sale in January. Coady plays every minute in the PL. Traore should do so as well. If this goes on, Traore’s value will drop.
Overall I felt we deserved a point. Neves forced a world-class save from their keeper that would surely have been a contender for goal of the month. If it had gone in we might even have taken the points. I think Leicester were mightily relieved that we let them off the hook. Again, did they really threaten Patricio in the second half? No!
I still can’t understand the big money spent on Fabio Silva. When he comes on for a few minutes he looks like a promising but ineffective kid from the academy, not a £35 mil talent! T0 be honest I’d rather have kept Jota. If Jota had to go, £35mil could have been better spent on an experienced striker with a track record.
I never thought I would say it.
“I wish we could play like Villa”.
I’ve joined the dark side.
It is King John’s 70th today. OH JOHNNY . OH JOHNNY. YOU’RE TGE GREATEST. IN THE LAND. OH JOHNNY. JOHNNY RICHARDS. YOU’RE TGE GREATEST IN THE LAND. King John Richards. Happy Birthday!
What is a TGE????
The. Predictive text. I thought even you could work that one out.
Mommy hasn’t taught me big words yet.
The.
What is The?
I have seen some of this ‘Villa’ bollocks on social media from so called Wolves fans. This is the same Villa that got 0 points from 2 home games whilst conceding 7 goals at home to illustrious Leeds and Southampton. At the same time we were taking 4 points. And conceding one goal to a dubiously awarded free kick in the last minute. The more I see of this sort of crap. The angrier I get.
So klipperty and olly aren’t too happy with how the top six is shaping up and are asking all their mates in the prem to vote again for the third time for increasing the subs from 3-5 .
Hold on, wasn’t it their owners who were having secret meetings to break away from the premier for the European super league?
The five subs will give the most advantage to those with the biggest and best squads and help put the big six back where they belong!
You couldn’t make this stuff up , you would think with all that is going on with peoples personal problems amid a pandemic that footballers could manage to play a few more games of football and cope with the extra massage or two on their tired legs .
Shut up klopp and manage your football team, it’s not a lot to ask .
Utw
Looks like some a-hole is using my name.
Don’t be silly, Timmy, we’ve all got our own.
Hi BG
I.m not sure the “upgrades” ( Semedo / Neto excepted) are any such thing.
Podence v Cav / Costa?
Silva v Jota?
Marcal / Ait- Noor v Jonny / Vinaigre?
Even in the long term Kilman v Bennett?
Yes we have to evolve, of course.
Again we’re buying “for the future” but the difference now is that we are paying big bucks for untried, unproven youngsters and currently it looks to be at the expense of the present.
Cuitrone, Jordao, Silva, Hoever,, Podence, Campana, Ait Noor, Vitinha (yes both options I know).= > £120 million.
High risk purchases all.
Jota, Neto, Neves, Boly, Jiminez, Jonny, Dendoncker and others were all unknowns to us, and they didn’t work out too badly.
Bennett, Ruddy, Patricio and Moutinho were established and seasoned professionals when we got them, and they worked out pretty well, also.
Time and again Nuno and his team have come up trumps, and this last crop of recruits will be no different, I trust.
Give him and them a chance, get off his back and let him do his job.
FOwb
Clive
You are stretching credibility a little.
Neves (yes at 18), Dendonker and Jiminez were established full internationals when they came while Jonny and Boly, were seasoned pros in major European leagues. I would accept that Podence falls into the same bracket as an experienced pro but definitely none of the others I listed.
Of course I hope that you are right and that this high risk strategy works out, but let’s not be fooled into thinking that this potential spend of c. £130 million is factually an OUTLAY as INCOME from Jota, Costa, Cavalero , Doherty and potentially Vinaigre will more or less balance it out.
In truth what we are seeing is a “new lamps for old” operation which as in the fairy story might turn out to be be flawed.
I’m really sorry you guys don’t know North American expressions and jokes. It’s similar for me when you write your pidgin English.
“Your type is not welcome here” is clearly a joke and a popular expression in this part of the world. I guess you Brexiters might not see it that way, now that I think of it, though.
I’m sorry you guys think your style of banter, full of swearing and hate, is the only kind of banter that is acceptable.
Hi Tim
I understand that we may be two peoples divided by our common language and indeed divided, I hope, by our cultures. But Wolves supporters are mainly, though not exclusively, Black Country, and, therefore, recognise bullshit when they hear it.
Really!! Brexiter, swearing and hate, for goodness sake… I was going to respond to your North American piffle, but I can’t be bothered to lower myself to your level.
Opinions from people who don’t use their real name mean nothing.
Try being a real man or woman if you mean what you say. Seriously. Be a man.
Jota has stated that Klopp is the best coach he has ever worked with.
What are we supposed to make of that?Hes only been there a few weeks!!
Well, as Mandy Rice-Davies once famously said:-
“He would, wouldn’t he?”
Must be exciting for Diogo, so many ‘firsts’ for him that never happened at Wolves.
Like conceding seven goals in a game.
Still wishing him the best though.
Can we all settle down a bit?
This blog is meant to be primarily a discussion forum for fans of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC.
Not an excuse for bickering and petty points scoring.
If I wanted that sort of thing I’d watch East Enders.
So can I just quote the surviving Mitchell brother and say:- “Leave it! It’s not worth it!”
A lot of written word humour can get lost in translation. You have to be face to face with each other to pick up the verbal nuances.
Chance would be a fine thing. Maybe next year.
Meanwhile why don’t we all draw a line under what’s gone on and start again.
Get in lad!
I’m sure it won’t take more than a nano second for some numpty to say “ it was only Doncaster “ but a couple of goals can only do his confidence good.
Now just the winner against Southampton please young mr Silva .
Utw
Yes it can only help his confidence so it is great news for him and us. I’ve just checked Harry Kane’s record and he had 56 games out on loan, scoring 14 goals at lower division clubs before forcing his way into Spurs team aged 21. Of course the burden this lad has is the money we have had to spend to get him while Kane flew under the radar as he came through junior ranks. At Silva’s age he was playing at Leyton orient on loan. We would all love him to be the end product now but on the basis of comparison, if he does anything this season in the pl, he will already be 2-3 years ahead of Kane
Delighted for Fabio- looking at the ages of the teams it sounds more like ‘Dads and Lads’ than U21?
Nice bit of investigative journalism there Sutton .
Utw
However, Silva does still look a bit like gene wilder’s portrayal of Willie wonka. ?
Well it was only Doncaster!!!
And Harry who??
Reminds me of the old joke about the manager of sandwell town calling the Wolves manager and asking how the Wolves players had so much confidence all the time, and was told to put eleven dustbins on the pitch, let his team play against them for a while, and their confidence would be sky high.
Thirty minutes later he called back and said
“What do I do now? The dustbins are winning 3-0?”
Agree, and when I saw him play at that level, maybe a couple of times, against Wolves Kane looked quite ordinary. Let’s hope for the best with the youngsters; some will work out and others may not. To my mind confidence is the greatest gift they can attain at this stage of their career and Nuno always aspires to see what is best for a player in their development.
Haha , I’ll set em up and you can knock em out the park mr Houston
What do you call someone from west brom in the England set up ?
Linesman
Utw
And then there’s the tale of a Wolves fan, with nothing to do as Wolves were not playing, who went to the poorthorns to watch sandwell town, for a laff.
There was a guy on the terraces with a dog, and the dog was all dressed up in sandwell town regalia.
When the two teams came out for pre match warm up, the dog started barking and jumping up and down in excitement.
The Wolves fan was quite impressed.
The game kicked off, and wonder of wonders, sandwell town got a corner.
The dog went ballistic, barking, jumping up and down, and doing summersaults on the barriers.
The Wolves fan said to the dog’s owner,
” I am very impressed by your dog’s support of sandwell. Tell me, he gets so excited when your lot get a corner, what does he do when they score?’
“Don’t know” came the reply.
” I’ve only had him two years”
And, they’ve found a major structural fault at the poorthorns.
All the seats are facing the wrong way.
Surely that’s not a structural fault? Seems like built to plan.
Why did the chicken cross the road? Because it was practising social distancing.
Just heard that a promising youngster in the Wolves Under 21s scored a couple against Doncaster.
How many times have we read such reports over the years? Haven’t those promising youngsters all moved on by loan, or sold or released? Now, have we actually gone and bought a long-shot promising youngster for £36mil? I’m trying not to be exasperated at the thought of all that money being spent on Fabio Silva. Was he even on our radar? Was this a rumoured signing, or did it come out of the blue? I read stories of how much less his selling club were getting of that £36mil. I would contrast this with the £18mil spent on Traore. Like him or not, £18mil seemed like fair money for a young player with his potential. He tied us in knots at Middlesbrough, we had three players on him, he looked unplayable. Now we’ve spent double that on Silva, and where was the aforethought? I’m bewildered. Just saying.
I hope someone can prove me wrong, especially the lad himself in the PL by scoring. Again and again.
One interesting thought about Silva (£36 million in) and Jota £41+ million out) is that it has done Gestitute’s turnover no harm at all has it? Then throw in another £75 million for Doc, Podence and Semedo plus a new contract negotiated for Nuno and it seems uncle Jorge ‘s bank0ng contributions this year have been quite lucrative from WWFC.
No one can deny that Mendes has been instrumental in our revival but I do wonder whether it’s time to maybe open up our recruitment policy a bit.
Also, isn’t it time that PLAYERS pay their own agents.
Exactly. No man should have two masters, is a general principle in law of agency.. Footballers have agents, and should pay those agents directly. If a club pays an agent that suggests a contractual relationship between club and agent, not between player and agent. That’s English law as observed here and in the English-speaking world generally. In Europe it will be different.
I’m disappointed that £36mil for Silva has not reaped immediate dividends on the pitch in the PL. Like Jota for Liverpool. I’m beginning to feel this is some funny-money type of deal for reasons not apparent to me, maybe even for tax reasons. Whatever the selling club got, or will get in the fullness of time, is probably a hell of a lot less. I wonder what the re-sale value of Silva is right now?
Hi DWW
Agree on both fronts –
Football and agency practices are not in line with normal relationships operating the UK (not just WWFC).
Of more immediate importance is the on field scenario. If we are to continue to believe in Fosun’s claimed ambitions for the club then the sale of Jota taken in conjunction with the import of Siva for a net gain of around £ 10 million is nothing short of crass.
Looks like one of the top U23s this season is Canadian. I wonder if he will make the bench in the senior team?
Why not? Others have been given a chance.
Is he a carpenter??
Or a lumberjack?
No he’s a judge.
I think I’ve watched too much football. At least on my own via the telly that is. Call it saturation point if you like, but I think there is only so much punditry and analysis of VAR you can take before you yourself turn into a Roy Keane, spouting, “this isn’t the wolves way of playing.”
But back to reality, it is the way we are playing for now. We were rubbish, but lost 1-0 to a team now at the top of the league, because of a penalty which shouldn’t have been given. That balance between defence and attack is strangling us during games at the moment. But it took Liverpool an age to go from continual draw specialists, to winning most games.
I find myself spending more time thinking about how predictable and boring football has been made by the use of VAR, to help bluntly implement the rules of the game. A sad state of acceptance comes over me whenever an attacker reaches the area and any defender dares to try and take the ball away.
Tackling and defending is a dying art. If you can’t do anything by accident as a defender and get away with it, Kilman might as well of held back and let the cross in, take his chances that it’d be shanked over everyones head instead. Even when an attacker is clumsy in possession or comes to challenge a ball the exact moment a defender does (Boly in Palace game), theatrics will win a penalty. With how Nuno views the beautiful game, it doesn’t surprise me that we neither win many penalties, and concede such soft ones. He just isn’t going to coach our players to take advantage that way. It’s honourable, but puts us at a disadvantage because in the Leicester game it was the deciding factor.
Leicester got lucky, yes, but were ultimately rewarded for being more attack minded. Marginal games come down to marginal moments, and Nuno, I hope, will continue to reflect on this point, because he must be losing count of the times VAR has rendered useless, his defence first philosophy.
I remain positive and optimistic, as the answers have always been forthcoming by the end of each season. My enjoyment of the spectacle of premier league football on the tv? I’m not so sure…. I’d rather be at the Mol. Onwards and UTW.
That’s certainly an argument against playing defensively, as the more time the ball spends in and around your own box, the more the likelihood of giving something away due to playacting opponents or sheer bad luck.
No matter how good your defenders, incidents like the ‘Kilman debacle’ can happen at any time and can wreck gameplans at a stroke.
Well said Dom
Until divers and those feigning injuries are punished retrospectively, trial by video if you like, this trend will continue.
Imagine if killman kept his arms behind his back and the ball still hit his arm , it would still be a penalty because that isn’t a natural position either!
Leicester have had 8 penalties so far this season, E I G H T !!
Just think where we may be now if we had had the same?
Utw
I suppose that you could argue that VAR awards attacking play because the more times that you are in the penalty area, the more likely a defender’s arm will be hit by the ball and so you’ll get a penalty. Catenaccio would never have existed if the current rules had been around years ago.
In my view, there was nothing wrong with the old rule that required a hand ball to be deliberate.
You are right that VAR does reward “events” in the box and that is why I’m constantly frustrated how Traore is instructed to go the byline and cross or pull back but never drives directly into the box. At his speed the slightest touch and its a stonewall penalty, not through cheating , but simply because any force exerted to fast travelling object destabilises its path. We need to be a lot smarter in our use of him , not only to win penalties but by mixing up his approach in and around the box, he becomes an even bigger threat.
Agree. It has to be deliberate to be punished. They might get a few wrong, but it has to be better than consistently giving marginal, or non-handball / fouls, which all to often dictate how the game progresses or it’s result.
You are right ped ant , but surely the punishment for a minor infringement in the box doesn’t warrant the obvious advantage of a penalty.
I was listening to the guardian podcast today and it was suggested that an indirect free kick would be a better and fairer punishment.
Personally, I’d go one more, if on using the pitch side monitor it showed that the striker had dived, I’d hand a penalty up the other end .
This will never happen of course but something has to be done soon because otherwise all the fantasy football peeps will just have to pick the penalty takers in order to keep winning!!!!
Football ain’t wot it used to be .
Utw
I’d go one further, and shoot the bastard!!!
Subtle as always.
So, Gary Lineaker and Troy Deany reckon CR7 is coming to Molineux?
Joe Gomez picked up a really bad injury yesterday in the England camp, looks like his season may be over. Any bets on Klippety coming in for Captain Coady?
Owen Otasowie picked for the full USA squad against Wales tonight, it will interesting to see if he gets a run out. He’s been on the Wolves bench for the last three games.when he plays for the U23’s he stands out amongst the rest, he is fast confident and talented.
Tim’s eluding to an U23 superstar from Cannuckshire, I’m wondering if he’s referring to Theo Corbineau? We’ve watched all the U23 games they have being televising lately and the lad certainly has an abundance of talent.
On the ball Tim.
We all love wolves
During the boring international break and amidst the occasional confrontation amongst all of us on this brilliant blog , how about we all put any disagreements aside and briefly get back to common ground.
May I humbly suggest anyone who wants to share their story of why we support wolves?
As it’s ‘ my ball’ I’ll go first
This is how I remember it,
My old man was from Dublin and crossed the water in the fifties for work and to watch the wolves beat all and sundry,
He then took my older brother
Who then took my other brother
Who then took me .
First game was Leicester at home in a Tuesday night 1-1. Loads of trouble on our way back to the station and I was crapping myself but woke up the next day as an eleven year old desperate for more .
Going to school amongst hundreds of blues and villa fans only strengthened my resolve.
Moving to the funny end of the world in my twenties highlighted a couple of things to me
1- how many wolves fans there are around Australia, south eas Asia and beyond
2 how much I miss going down the wolves.
Every trip for the last 30 years has to be arranged around a few games to the point of my lovely wife asking me to check match dates before we confirm flights ( remember them) etc
As a kid, I used to skip woodwork lessons on a Tuesday afternoon to get to Birmingham rag market, load a few trucks , get the train to wolves , walk the streets, eat hot chips and wait until the noise grew , get in the Southbank ( my happiest place in the world as a teenager) and jump , sweat and sing until my voice went ,
Walk to the train station, hide my scarf if it was dodgy, get my connecting train then bus back home
Climb up the drain pipe and in my bedroom window without mom knowing what time I got home.
Favourite game league cup final 1980
Favourite player king John Richards
No trip back to blighty is complete for me without a train trip to wolves and a walk up to the ground and the club shop weather we are playing or not
Quite simply the best football club in the world
Come on you wolves
Nice idea Marney, and a great story. Quite an international flavour to it for this international break.
Maybe someone could start a new blog specifically designed for wistful bloggers to recount their tales of yore to an eager audience.
If I was smart ( like Tim ) I would, but ………………….
Yes , a good idea Wolfstroker. As fans we can all reminisce
about the days of yore
As a youngster I lived in the Whitmore Reans area and on match days there were coaches parked all around West Park : in the 50’s , not too many supporters owned cars.
I used to see Billy Wright in the grocer’s , Masons , and with his wife Joy Beverley in town. They were the forerunners to The Beckhams. I often saw Ron Flowers waiting at the bus stop carrying his kit bag. I bought my first snooker cue from Jimmy Mullen , at his shop, and he sent me away with four to try out!
Watching him fly down the wing was a treat. Bobby Thomson, what a great full back. And later, the excellent Derick Parkin.
Who can forget Eddie Clamp ejecting wingers into the fourth row of the Molineux Street Stand.
I remember attending two league cup finals and recall Rodney Marsh did not go up to get his medal. Remember Waggy’s debut on Boxing Day , and Doog’s debut hat trick against Hull.
And then there was Knowles’s last game , I think it was against Spurs and brother Cyril , that elegant full back played.
So many great memories….and then there’s the Nuno era.
Knocker Knowles’ last match was home to Forest, I believe, where we were 3-0 up, and then Henry Newton got a hat trick for them.
I remember being chased onto the top floor of the No. 11 Penn bus by irate Forest fans, but me and Skinhead Tim ( not THAT Tim ) standing at the top of the stairs kicking the shit out of them as they tried to get us!
Happy days!
PK still in my book the most skillful player ever to don the Old Gold.
Conor Coady self isolating in the England camp!
There’s something wrong with my phone today! I keep shaking it, iv turned it off and on again and it STILL says Scotland have qualified for a major tournament??
I’ll have to take it to the apple store it’s obviously stuffed
Utw
Marney.
It’s probably got that superiority complex bug, it was installed into English media and communications system in 1966. It’s lay dormant for 54 years, Apple put out a statement that they are gobsmacked “that anything would remember that event” but not shocked as England fans are even worse than Villa fans for living in the past, they tend to bring it up about 10 times a day.
You did well to throw it away, it’s a start on your road to recovery, hang on in there.
Haha, what took you so long stu ?
Not sure if you heard but England won the World Cup in 66
Utw
Nice one Marney.
Cheers mate., thanks for the heads up.
So where did coady come into contact with someone was it in the england camp or at molineux ? and apparently he caught it properly back in march ! they kept that quiet.
If it was the England camp then it is just another reason why these ridiculous internationals should be scrapped during a pandemic and if it wasn’t then it’s still a reason why these foolhardy games should be shelved.
Bringing all these players from different clubs and countries together is like playing russian roulette with our football as if it wasn’t bad enough without fans sooner or later we won’t have any players to play the bloody game are the authorities so damn stupid that they can’t see the enormous risk they are putting them and our national game at.
Utterly pointless in an already overcrowded and manically short season.
Stick your head in the sand F.A it’s money that matters.
UTW.
Come on Spikey, how can you possibly say that the faceless, useless, totally out of touch wankers in charge are motivated by money?
They love the beautiful game so much they have crammed in extra, pointless friendlies for our delight, knowing we are locked in with nothing to entertain us or spend our dwindling money reserves on.
How thoughtful of them.
It must warm the cockles of their hearts, they must be bursting with pride at the sheer joy they bring to us all, and helping spread the virus at the same time.
We must take pity on them, not being able or willing to break contracts in these trying times.
Dog bless them, I hope they get super rich, and live in mega mansions and drive luxurious cars.
Oh, sorry, they do that already.
Well, fuck ‘em then.
I agree 100% with you, the game is being slowly put to death by these greedy bastards, most of whom probably have never played, or even watched a match, more interested in a computer screen with lots of money signs and things.
If the fans are kept away much longer, a lot won’t come back, and the whole house of cards will collapse.
Further to the penalty decision given against Max Kilman,
I notice that during the training at Compton, all players are having to adapt to a new approach.
It seems that our defenders now have their arms fastened to their sides and stand, run and tackle a la River Dance style.
Michael Flattley has been appointed as a consultant coach.
Stop Press. Unfortunately Michael flatly refused.
Nice one Ken.
The nutters truly are running the Asylum up at Lancaster Gate.
I would just like to say congratulations to Nuno for being voted Premier League Manager of the Month for October. A month in which we took 10 points from 5 games and conceded 1 goal (and that from a dubious free kick and inadequate wall). Yet 1 defeat against Leicester City (lets face it to another VAR farce) and the keyboard warriors are out in force. They all know better than Nuno and the club. Don’t they.
You mean the same Nuno who is letting one of the best young strikers, wanted by top teams in Spain, leave for a couple million pounds?
You mean the same Nuno who has turned superstar Adama Traore into an average substitute?
That Nuno?
Yeah that’s the bloke. Recently guided Wolves to their best consecutive top flight finishes for 50 odd years. Yeah. That’s him.
Like I have said many times, what I am saying is what many of you will be thinking in upcoming months.
Wait until you realize that his grand new approach to improve possession is to allow Ruben to move up the field 10 yards or some other trivial change to the system.
Sorry, but over in North America, we are not azz kissers.
Were you born a dickhead, or do you practice a lot?
Defo’ born a dick head and practices a lot to stay top of the pile Wanda. Stay safe, stay positive, WOLVES AM WE. !!!!!!!
R.I.P. Ray Clemence.
A fine goalkeeper.
Yes
Yes RIP ray clemence.
Chris waddle insight in to England 2-0 down v Belgium. ‘THEY ARE PLAYING TOO MUCH FOOTBALL’.. Doe seem to affecting Belgium too much.
Some comments on Nuno above both for and against.
Maybe let’s take a less polarised approach, eh,
Only an idiot would question his incredible achievements here, but he is not infallible and it seems clear to me that at the moment he is floundering more than a little. In almost any job you are only as good as your recent performance.
On Nuno’s own admission we don’t score enough goals and that is an understatement.
I am also baffled at our current recruitment policy. Given the lack of goals the sale of Jota for peanuts is one of thee craziest decisions in living memory and whilst our defensive capabilities have improved the attacking options are very limited with no Jota, Traore clearly not in the right place (Liverpool?). Podence in my opinion a downgrade even on Costa and a £35 million rookie sonly tarring in the U23’s. I’m not saying this is all Nuno’s fault because clearly i’t,s not.
But we are now into the fourth year off Fosun’s 5 year plan and currently look a million miles away from a top 4 place. And while some will say we are in a time of transition I would say – why? It wasn’ t broken so why fix it. Positive evolution is good but treading water (at best) is really going backwards.
Again a balance has to be struck, but I just wonder if, after being so beneficial to date, the influence that Jorge Mendes clearly has over the strategy of the club is now beginning to work against us and in favour of others (particularly JM / Gestitute). In any business putting too many eggs in one basket is a very dangerous game and it may well that be the time to move on from what up to now has been almost akin to a closed shop is probably well overdue.
“In your opinion”
“You are baffled”
Perfectly sums up your post.
As has been stated on this blog since it’s inception, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and the more diverse the better.
But, in my opinion, there comes a time to move on and accept what has happened, that popular players move on for various reasons, a lot of which we may never know, and others take their place.
The team and club we all love evolves constantly, sometimes for the good and sometimes not, but we support them through thick and thin.
In my opinion, times are very thick at present, and long may it continue.
We will never find out if keeping Diogo, Matt, Helda etc would have been beneficial, just as, if we had never sold them, we would not have seen their replacements, and how good or bad they will become.
Many years ago I remember us selling Alun Evans to Liverpool, for the then massive sum of 100,000 pounds. He was the first teenager to be transferred for that amount, and some Wolves fans were up in arms about getting rid of him.
He scored a few times but fairly soon faded into obscurity, and never did much.
There have been others down the years, who have gone on to better things, but there have also been signing gems who have flourished at The Mol and become legends, forever etched in our hearts.
The Doog is a classic example, as well as Frank Munro, Waggy and a certain Mr. Steve Bull, who according to the manager who sold him to us, was never going to be a goal scorer!
I case my rest.
FOwb
Quote your post.
“In your opinion”
“You are baffled”
Perfectly sums up your post.
You sound like a pompous MP.
Yes we ARE all entitled to our opinions and all you have done is written a completely negative reply with no solutions.
I too remember The Doog, Waggy, Frank Munro and yes Alun Evans who I agree was rather overrated and as you indicate went on to prove to be just that.
Jota is different.
1. He was sold far too cheap.
2. He was sold at least a year too early.
3. He was sold without being replaced when we can’t score a goal to save our lives.
How can you justify that?
If we really wish to fulfil Fosun’s declared ambitions then we have to build a team to achieve them before we start to dismantle it and make acquisitions mainly “for the future”; the priority now has to be to build a team FOR THE PRESENT and at the moment we are heading for mid table mediocrity at best; and I haven’t even mentioned the total non football we are currently serving up.
I rest MY case.
Firstly, I don’t see my post as negative.
But that’s your opinion.
Secondly, I am not trying to justify decisions of others, but pointing out that players cone and go, for better or worse, and we as fans cannot do much, if anything, about it.
Love or hate the decisions, we will never know the answers to the what if questions.
You don’t like the various recent sales and purchases, fair enough.
I happen to have a more positive attitude, realize we can’t live in the past, nor change anything, and will support my club no matter who is playing.
And I also feel a line should be drawn under this topic.
Diogo ain’t coming back, let’s move on.
Y’all have a nice day.
Clive
Agreed – players come and go.
My gripe is about the timing of Jota’s departure and apparent lack of thought as to it’s detrimental effect on the overall development of the team (not squad) at the present time when what we need more than any other commodity is more goals
I still see us finishing in the top six. When all our new players gel we will be awesome. Patience
It’s interesting that Nuno’s targets for success are probably being set by his own agent. Who else is qualified to determine how many points the team should get considering the players available? Jeff?
“I feel my client is doing an excellent job.”
“All righty then. We’ll keep him and give him a raise.”
Tim
I’ve deliberately avoided that side issue.
Suffice to say that Jorge Mendes seems to arouse a lot of raised eyebrows and controversy in the European football arena and as above seems to command disproportionate influence for an agent at Molineux.
And thinking back to the days when we were ripping the Championship apart. If we are honest with ourselves and had we been Villa or Leeds supporters back then don’t you think there might have been a temptation to cry foul.
The additional complication is of course Fosun’s 20% stake in Gestitute.
“The complex webs we weave!”.
What did I tell you? You read it here a week or two ago.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8953279/Adama-Traore-p-talks-stall-new-Wolves-deal.html
Adama Traore is ‘p***** off’ as talks stall over new Wolves deal, with powerful winger ‘believing he has been dropped from first team as negotiating tactic’
Yes Tim, it’s been apparent since Project Restart; it dates back to the hug and pat he received from Klopp on his left buttock at Anfield. Shades of Van Dyke.
Just as an aside PJB- what were your thoughts on the Crystal Palace game- I didnt see a post on the Blog?
Ww
Good in isolation, but unable to comment as I was without a computer.
If you were on this side of the great divide Tim, you would know that the relevant journal has more value as an asswipe than as believable reading material. Not saying it’s wrong. Just that you shouldn’t believe everything you read from that particular source. Or any source, if it comes to that.
Correct on the journalistic front but all indications from body language to team selection seem to indicate that he’s been got at and is now doing the usual footballers’ trick of throwing his toys out of the pram.
Perhaps he should be reminded that he still has 3 years left on his CURRENT contract .
If he continues to play up we should do what Man Utd should have done with Pogba – back Mourinho, sack Pogba and sue him for breach of contract.
Until football clubs take a stand against this nonsense it will continue with players and agents conspiring to avoid their contractual obligations.
PJB, Clive…
Tim Spiers quoted Wolves in saying, ” that Months before signing for Liverpool, Diogo expressed a desire to leave”, (if that was for Liverpool we will never know) but he wanted to leave that’s for sure.
That is out of the hands of Nuno or Wolves for that matter, when someone decides they want to move on what can be done.
The same was said of Matt Doherty, his best mate from Manchester travels to every game and he told us personally at Christmas, “Matt was on his way, hinting he was a Spurs fan”.
Costa another one, he had dipped in form and letting him go proved right because it has taken him two seasons to truly establish himself at Leeds again.Leeds fans are even now divided on him, to them he’s “marmite”.
Barry Douglas blotted his copy book by rolling in late to training after a night on the ale, his cards were marked. Now I thought he was terrific at Wolves, but they moved him on and we received Jonny who has grown and grown. Albeit with dodgy legs.
If we end up with 30% of the latest signings going on to success I for one will be delighted, scouts and pundits can claim what they like about potential in players, but they have to conform with the manager of their new teams and it don’t always end well, eg Pogba, Neymar, Mbappe, if the media is to be believed, players continually seeking away from their current club.
That brings me to Tim’s Traore article,
I have long believed Troare has great potential, but he is not consistent, there are at least 6 papers carrying the story that he is P’d off with Wolves not playing him, played in 8 games started 3. But, from what I’m seeing, he wants away and his attitude is Iike Neymar and Pogba’s, he throws his dummy out and then plays like a twat as he has done in his last couple of games. (My opinion).
At one point in the game against Leicester he received the ball and stopped dead, stood there and stood there and then ran into the corner where Leicester had by now stuck 4 players to counter him, then he ran back and laid the ball off to Coady. That’s not strong marking it’s poor judgement on Traore’s part in my eyes.
If he does truly possess the talent, why oh why is he playing like this. He danced around teams all last year and at Man City he destroyed one of the top teams in Europe with two identical goals. He can do it, he has the talent, but if he’s playing the spoilt brat to get what he wants, I for one would rather see him gone, as he is taking up a place in the team that others are fighting so hard for.
Prima donna’s we don’t need, Coady warriors we do, there’s no i in team Traore, man up, get on with it.
I guess with Traore, if he is being double-teamed or triple-teamed, it is up to Nuno to devise a way to take advantage of the areas that open up because of that, not Traore.
It has been said that Adama doesn’t have the best footballing brain so maybe the one who is supposed to be the genius, no not me, the other one, should come up with a solution.
I’m guessing Wolves want Adama to sign a contract with a super high release clause amount so that he is basically stuck at Wolves, whether he wants to stay or not.
(He is under contract now so he shouldn’t be pressured to sign another contract. People shouldn’t be forced to sign contract extensions).
Just guessing but that would seem like a good bet.
Of course, none of this may be true, except the part about me being a genius.
Stu
Trying to avoid boring everyone if being repetitive but I would like to clarify a couple of points.
I’m not in any way blaming Nuno directly for the transfer scenario; I do however have misgivings that he is very much an integral cog in the Mendes / Fosun / Nuno partnership given that Jota, Doc / Mourinho, Podence, Silva and Semedo are all part of the same jigsaw and that all these interlinked deals have taken place this year. Neto to Juventus is now being mooted in the rumour mill – he’s only been here for 15 months for god’s sake.
Disruption of this level can.t be good for morale or continuity.
Moving on to Traore. I fully agree; it looks as if he’s been got at and if he wants to go as far as I’m concerned he can pi$$ off as long as we get the big bucks that he’s apparently worth. On his day he’s electric but he is also enigmatic and arguably a one trick pony when marked effectively.
Whatever the upshot onwards and more importantly hopefully upwards. With Fosun’s continued backing WWFC has a better chance than anyone of cracking the Sky appointed, self serving “big 6” so let’ hope that they stick with us at least until the job is complete.
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/11/16/great-player-midfielder-sold-by-wolves-likened-to-bruno-fernandes-after-seven-goals-in-six-games/
‘GREAT PLAYER’: MIDFIELDER SOLD BY WOLVES LIKENED TO BRUNO FERNANDES AFTER SEVEN GOALS IN SIX GAMES
“…With seven goals in six Primeira Liga games since joining the giants of Sporting, ‘Pote’ (Pedro ‘Pote’ Goncalves) is not only earning comparisons with Estadio Jose Alvalade legend Bruno Fernandes, he also has the Lions dreaming of a first league title since 2002….”
By the way, I think he left for free.
Not true.
That part about you thinking, I mean.
Stop being a Clive.
Its widely acknowledged that he left because he couldn’t settle in Wolvo. not because we wanted rid of him.
I think we may all be getting a little bored with the second international farce in as many months and the speculation mill is in full swing it seems.
Biting on pure speculation from some of the shittiest newspapers in the country is not something i shall be joining in on.
I can only advise and if i were you i would take this crap with a pinch of salt.
Regarding jotas departure he wanted out as he had obviously been approached by liverpool and who can blame him leaving to go to one of the top teams in europe and pushing his very short career up the ladder by quite a considerable amount of rungs in one fell swoop …well done that man… i also dont think for a moment nuno wanted to sell him but what do you do when someone wants away .
Wolves are now in the big boys league and i wouldnt doubt that we shall be shuffling the pack a few times more before we find a squad capable of competing at the very highest level.
Patience it is said is a virtue and it seems our quite meteoric rise to fame has robbed a lot of supporters of that particular virtue and it would not be unreasonable if some of those were to take a step back and take a look in the mirror and reflect where we were just a few short seasons ago and also read how long it has taken the top sides to actually get to where they are now ,,, and i can assure you its a damn sight longer than the few short seasons we have been working at it.
All in all i for one am intrigued by the comings and goings and if simply for the fact that we have absolutely no idea what goes on in the corridors of power at molineux i think its best to just accept that our club is in very very good hands and no one is trying to pull a fast one and make a quick buck here or a quick buck there ..that is just utter nonsense .
Fosun will get it right and do it a lot quicker than others have done without breaking the bank but they are not about to tell us or the world how .
So the speculation will continue ….JUST IGNORE IT !
It’s worth reflecting on what Jeff shi said about 2.5 years ago
https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2018/03/13/ambitious-jeff-shi-on-wolves-10-year-plan-everything-we-do-is-for-the-long-term/
Thanks for that sutton it sums up everything about the philosophy behind OUR club and it seems a lot have forgotten it in exchange for a short term fix.
It doesnt matter who comes and goes the club is bigger than any one individual and the long term objective is exactly what jeff shi has said it will be .
Get behind the club trust the owners and admonish the old ways of thinking from your minds (because of our checkered past that isnt easy i know)
Things sometimes may not be to your liking but always remember the long term strategy is to take this club.. our club …to the very top of the tree in european football and stay there and we will not be doing it the way the others have done it by simply pumping in inordinate amounts of money . Those days are over.
Fosun will not advertise to the world how they are going about their business but you can bet your house that others will follow the sustainable development that is being achieved and a lot of copy catting will start to emerge at other clubs as they see us move further up the road.
The naysayers will always want us to cock up and amongst the biggest perpetrators are the gutter london centric media who have been on our backs since day one .
Take no notice keep your heads down and we shall soon revell in them squirming in their cockney shit piles when the mighty Wolves break up the top four and we stick our elbows out and stay there .
Oh and Adama traore isnt going anywhere soon .. you watch.
Keep the faith…. out of darkness cometh light . Our darkness has gone and our brightest light is just around the corner.
That’s really quite excellent Spikey.
thank you i had an epiphany .
whatever that means !
If I provided the wool can you make me an epiphany too?
in these times of extreme boredom i would give it my best shot.
pearl one knit two ….i think
Great post Spikey, an up-beat and reasoned analysis of where we are. Just what we need in this meaningless International week when we are being dragged down by to much negatively following the narrow defeat at Leicester. Just hope the Donk is not injured- but if he is, it may let in Owen or Vitinha?
I think re: Adama no one including Nuno was expecting him to be here this season after his Stella season previous.
That’s why Podonce was brought in to replace him but the transfer every Wolves fan and player and coach was expecting to happen never did.
And now Nuno is left with a player who he has replaced and can not find a place in the team for him.
Regarding his form this season it’s hard for any player to get going when they are only getting 20,30 minutes here and there also last season Adama was played as a third striker more central and further up the pitch.
Nuno has a dilemma on his day Adama is better than Podonce but it’s seems like Podence is more consistent IMO I’d play Adama as a third striker behind Raul and Neto his has a shoot on him just look at the goal he scored against City when we came back from 2.0 down Neves won the ball in the centre passed it to Adama and he let rip a belter from out side the box he had a free role in that game may be that’s what Nuno needs to do with him again.
Listen no player in the world is going to be happy not playing, just getting 20, 30 minutes here and there no matter how much money they are on or is on the table.
Welcome back the real Paul AD67.
Very good post mate.
🙂
Thank’s Stu and Marnhull Wolves and I think Clive. I’m just dipping in and out by my own admission I got a bit obsessed my views are still the same.
Couldn’t stay away Blogs is like Wolves it’s an addition but I’m lowering my dosage to a manageable level.
All of these negative comments about Adama are as bad as the ones I make about Nuno but, for some reason, they are acceptable but mine are not.
Maybe Adama is more frustrated than anything else. Like I said, if he is being double or triple-teamed, his teammates, or Nuno, should be able to find a way to help him. There would be some free space for the other players to get to and some pre-determined sequences should be worked on in practice to try in a game situation.
Has Nuno just left him to fend for himself? Is Nuno going to let him wither because he doesn’t want to adapt the system to suit one of the most talked-about and dynamic players ever in a Wolves uniform?
As long as Adama is a Wolf, I am not going to question his abilities or willingness to be there. Shame on all of you who have.
When I see him looking around, it’s like he is saying “Come on guys, I need some help here”.
i agree whole heartedly .
never thought i would say that!
Tim.
You do talk some shite at times.
Your comments are yours to give, if people choose to disagree then that’s life.
No one in their right mind wants Traore to leave, he is an asset, he has potential and he does give us that something extra special, which in the PL can be the difference between winning and losing.
Double or triple teamed I can only assume is an Ice Hockey expression, ( not familiar with that one myself) and practicing it on the training field. Well I for one can only imagine that’s what Nuno is doing all week. On the pitch his team mates are continually running off the ball but there’s been little or no end product these last few games.
But, as reported in todays press, Traore has said, ” he will sign a contract if Nuno plays him from the start”. Yes, I understand “paper talk” this could all be BS, it could all be true, but there’s usually no smoke without fire and he’s not signed yet after hearing talks were going well last Month.
It seems to me anyway, he is playing the petulant spoilt brat, this destroys teams. (Man Utd a classic example)
I want the Traore we know can produce, I want him to stay with us forever until he runs out of legs and talent. But what I don’t want is a Troare playing childish games to try and get what he wants. Nuno has to pick his team according to what’s in front of him, he plays certain team members for certain games, that’s football.
You telling me and others we should be ashamed of ourselves for making observations on players sounds as ridiculous as Traore’s behaviour.
Both you and he need to grow up and get behind the manager and the team trying to divide this blog is silly, because you won’t and can’t, there are too many intelligent people on here who share a common goal. All things Wolves.
Stop being a knob and join the pack.
Believe it or not, I’m one of your fans at times, but sometimes you are a silly twat to yourself.
StuWolf
I was going to reply to this and then I assumed it was someone using StuWolf’s name.
You know what they say about assuming anything.
Don’t.
It was not me, I am not clever with big words and stuff, like wot Stu is.
Tim.
It was me.
I do like you, but you do shoot yourself in the foot at times. Life’s to short mate, I can’t recall ever meeting one single Canadian in my lifetime, perhaps it’s just your way of getting things across.
If we ever get out of Lockdown, (we are in lockdown 2) come across to the next Bloggers ball bash and you will see first hand, that each and every one of us are harmless, fun loving guys and girls who simply love Wolves.
No, I like controversy.
I’m just putting my opinions out. Everyone seems to take things so seriously.
Here’s one of my points. Why are you saying Traore’s behavior is ridiculous? What has he done that you are sure of?
This same kind of character assassination went on with Cutrone. And Afobe as well.
You seriously never met one Canadian in your lifetime?
As far as I can remember, I dont recall anyone in my travels (and Iv’e been in over 60+ Countries) saying they were from Cananada :-).
On Traore, the last game and on other occasions in the last few games, he takes the ball, stops in front of the defender and waits until he is surrounded by a group of players, then tries to beat them all.
I cannot believe this is Nuno’s orders, the coaching staff wishes or to benefit his play. (Ridiculous)
I like some of your opinions, not all of them but as I say and I see others have said, it’s the way you say it sometimes.
Let’s not dwell on locking horn, your views are as valid as anyone else’s, but we don’t have to agree with them all.
I have met a few Canadians …. all great people.
Good night for Moutinho, one of Portugal’s best players in an average performance. Clearly not ready to wind down yet but probably needed a break and maybe needs more careful handling.
Semedo has also impressed on this international break.
Vintinha got an assist and completed an impressive 52 out of 54 passes during s strong performance for Portugal U21’s in Holland. Knocking on the door?
Some nice touches from Renato Sanchez, looks very creative. Can understand why Nuno might be interested, if he truly is.
Good, positive report JackoMac- just what we need in the grip of the International week when tempers are getting frayed! Good to learn that Leander had an assist too and is, seemingly, fully fit again. Like the look of Vitinho, his ball control is incredible- he can learn a lot from Neto who has bulked up to withstand the attentions of the Neanderthal defenders in the PL. Moutinho has so much experience to pass onto the younger lads, I hope he ultimately ends his career with us. As an aside, the only Canadians I have met were courteous and very well mannered, on that basis I am giving Tim the benefit of the doubt. I just hope he realises that continually playing Devils Advocate with bloggers he has not met will only cause offence, a pity because the banter on this site is second to none.
Absolutely, still all Wolves fans and so much to be positive about.
My age means that when I started watching International games, if I wanted to see a Wolves player the only game to watch was the Doog playing for his beloved Ireland (Northern – but not the sash)
Now we have a selection of players shining in some of the best national sides in the World.
I watched the last 5 minutes of the first half and the whole of the second half due to the missus dragging me out shopping.
In that period Wolves looked OK and matched Leicester, the only issue I had was neither Wolves or Leicester looked like scoring except from a set piece.
If you are still looking for Xmas presents for any woke offspring and relatives and possibly any odd Canadian’s you have encountered try adopt an animal at Dudley Zoo.
https://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/product-category/adopt-an-animal/
Nuno the penguin, I don’t think it has any Canadian relations but I may be wrong, is still available.
I see there is a Donkey called Clive.