That’s more like it.
Views of the YouTube highlight reel are likely to be modest in number, but this was a much-needed return to basics for Wolves.
While I don’t believe that four at the back should be consigned to history, I doubt even the most ardent of purists would argue against our default setting being the best way forward for the time being.
Chelsea huffed and puffed while their new manager gesticulated furiously for the BT cameras, but the Blues couldn’t find a way past our resolute rearguard.
And who knows, on another night we might have pinched all three points. Neto certainly tried his best to ensure that was the case, turning in a performance that will do little to dispel rumours he could be next in line for a big money move out of Molineux.
But it’s far more sensible to focus on the positives of a second consecutive clean sheet (and the first in the league since late October) than dwell on that sobering prospect.
If we can get back into the habit of shutting opponents out, we’ll soon be able to dismiss any fears of us getting dragged into a relegation dogfight.
Performances like tonight may not be pretty but, as Frank Lampard will attest, football is a results business and our focus needs to be on climbing the table fast.
Willian Jose showed enough in his second-half cameo to suggest that might be easier to achieve with him leading the line.
Nuno was right to praise Fabio Silva’s work rate in his pre-match presser, but our new burly Brazilian looks like he can offer the sort of street smarts that the teenager understandably can’t at this stage of his development.
I’m excited to see how a front three of Jose, Neto and Adama/Podence develops, with the upcoming fixture against an inconsistent Palace offering a great stage for them to showcase what they can do.
Win there and I think we can start to feel a little more optimistic about our prospects for the second-half of the campaign.
Back to basics great point, where are the semodo haters tonight mom the match, time to get drunk , wolves aie we.
Not sure that there are many or any, Semedo haters. Just a lot of ardent Wolves supporters frustrated at his defending who, probably rightly, were expecting a lot more from a £35 million player. Training ground work on his defensive responsibilities paid off last night but the proof of the pudding, as with any player, is putting in consistent good performances. One summer doesn’t make a summer but let’s hope that Semedo’s display last night is a sign of things to come.
I think this performance would have been roundly criticised earlier in the season, but as you say Ben, it’s a welcome return to the basics that made us a good team in the first place.
Compact, tough to beat and (far too occasionally), a threat on the counter.
Although the chronic lack of attacking adventure was disappointing, it’s definitely the blueprint for getting results in the weeks to come.
Many other teams won’t be as cute in possession as Chelsea, meaning we should get forward more and pose a greater threat ourselves. Willian Jose looked like everything we’ve been lacking, with the ball hitting him at the end to save last-minute heartbreak even suggesting he might deliver a change of fortune as well as much needed hold-up play.
I’ll gladly gobble up the positives from this and head to Selhurst Park with more optimism.
Oh, and well played Nelson Semedo. I’ve dug him out as much as anyone, but constantly found myself saying ‘well played Nelson’ to nobody in particular. I thought he was particularly good in the first half and covered well in the second against tricky opponents. Like others, he would seem to benefit from a return to a back three.
I have also been a critic of Semedo but he definitely had his best game defensively in a wolves shirt. Let’s hope he maintains this level of performance from now on. I also think hoever should get the nod over ait nouri against palace as his second half performance was a lot tighter. As others have commented I already like what I saw of Jose willian. Let’s hope the palace game allows our front 3 to see more of the ball.
Great performance Semedos best performance in a gold shirt but every single one deserves praise great point.
Great Blog Ben couldn’t agree move. Tonight was about stopping the rot and getting back to basics
Like the look of Jose big strong and what’s pleasing is he gets back to defend and if he as good in the air in attack as he was defending with our wingers and wing backs supplying him he should not be long in getting on the score sheet.
They all played there part in a well earned point now let’s go one step further and get 3 points at Palace I cannot see why not this will have given the boys a massive boost.
Not pretty but very effective. A well deserved point.
Hopefully Nuno will realize that three at the back MUST be the standard way forward as we seek to grind out results. We looked solid and organized, with defenders clearly benefiting from playing within a system that is fully understood.
As others have commented,it was refreshing to see Semedo perform to a high standard. It seems that he can defend after all.
Rough but tough
I don’t care that Chelsea fans didn’t like our tactics, we have 4 from 6 off them this year and it had to be done to stop the rot .
Kilman and coady looked resolute along side boly who is getting back to his best and semedo did exactly what nuno asked of him in one of his best performances.
If we were still playing now, Chelsea would still be nill.
A few goals and three points on Saturday will be nice but just for now I’m more than happy with the point.
Come on you wolves
Very sensible return to a back 3 which we must do to get back on track and avoid any risk of being dragged in to a relegation fight .All the team deserve credit for this result as does Nuno .
Highlights for me were yet another great performance from Neto .
A wise decision to put Hoever at right wing back at half time and switch Semedo to the left .I would stick with this as the starting set up until Jonny is fit and bring Ait Nouri on for some attacking flair second half if we need it .
The obvious strength and experience of Jose in both attack and defence .
The confidence this should give the team going in to the fixture against Palace .
I sense this game is a turning point .I certainly hope so .
Top 7 is now probably too big an ask but mid table and a real go in the Cup could make this a decent second half to the season .
First off, sick of the so called experts both on tv and elsewhere saying we were hanging on, lucky to take a point, never looked liked scoring, parked the bus and all the other negative bollocks.
We played against a very good Chelsea team, with some excellent players, and matched them all over the pitch, and had chances to win.
Only the third team to stop them scoring on their own patch this season.
I agree with everyone on here that Semedo had by far his best game in a Wolves shirt, and has raised the bar for his future performances. He did well on both sides of the pitch, proved he can tackle fairly, head the ball and take throw ins correctly!
I take my hat off to him.
Everyone else played extremely well, except Traore.
I have been criticized for going on about him for ages, but if anyone can tell me or somebody else that her performed even adequately, then they are totally blinkered.
He had one good run, one only, scuttled across the edge of their box, and then sent a sublime pass, to one of their players.
Total waste of time, he needs to go asap.
I felt sorry for Podence, he hurried and scurried and made a complete nuisance of himself, and got kicked all over the park for his troubles.
After a few weeks off, he played exceptionally well.
For me, an all round, almost, excellent game plan, perfectly executed, and if The Donk ever finds his shooting boots again, he might put away some of the chances that come his way.
Also, very impressed with Billy Joel when he came on, big, strong, can hold the ball up well and will take shit off no one!
Just what we needed.
Two clean sheets on the bounce, and another one looming this weekend.
Shit eating grin starting to grow again in Texas!!
And what a treat we had last night from the poorthorns, but I can’t believe Citeh only got 5.
Still it’s more than Ole got tonight!
Ha ha!
The invisible man Adama.
Yes Traore was poor tonight, but I’d not go as far to say we should sell him, he does still offer a threat, with a new centre forward up top I’d say we’d need Traore’s crosses to actually score a few.
We need all the players at the moment with such a devastating crop of injuries.
‘Total waste of time. He needs to go as soon as possible ‘. Good job that he didn’t go before the Palace cup game as that win was almost totally down to his performance.
I agree that he didn’t have the best of games last night and struggled to keep his feet at times. Maybe he needs some new boots.
Maybe you too need to remove your blinkers and replace them with cheekpieces. You might look rather fetching.
Whats a cheekpiece?
Something for my bottie??
Could be for your rear end but they areusually worn by racehorses to make them concentrate. A bit like blinkers but not quite so drastic.
Played to our strengths which is always a good thing. Our defence looked like a decent unit again although I did think Kilman moves like a lower league defender but I won’t hold it against him because he had a pretty decent game.
We looked a bit light in midfield. We miss Moutinho when he’s not there. I don’t suppose with all the messing around they’re doing with the rules the FA would allow us 11 outfield players?
Traore wasn’t at his best and was clearly suffering with the slippery surface. A more central role might have served him better tonight. Nuno has a decision to make with the forwards before Saturday – in the event that the extra player request is rejected.
I don’t think any corners have been turned but it was an improvement.
We’re better as a back three. It occurred to me one reason we’re so poor in a four is we need the extra defender in the box for crosses as rightly or wrongly Rui is glued to his line and has no presence at all in the box which leaves us exposed in a four. He might not be our future if we move to the new system permanently.
Dendoncker does not fit into a two man midfield. Neves needs a partner who has similar attributes to him, the ability to create and defend. Have you noticed the Wolves players avoid passing to him unless he is the only option.
Can’t say I’d noticed that but I don’t think we had too many passes last night anyway! Chelsea it seems beat the record for the number of passes made in the first half of a game!
Dendoncker was quiet, but his defending at times was key, his work rate second to none, and he had got into position to score two goals. He’s possibly one of the first names on the team sheet at the moment.
Dendoncker who regularly has the most distance travelled in the game….
Most defensive headers
scores a few also
Who also does his job, and is in both boxes more then anyone….
Dendoncker who is the Pinnacle point of this Corner strat.
Dendoncker is the only defensive midfielder I know with more touchers in both boxers then any striker on the pitch.
You need a big burley defender when playing with a light weight creative player.
Neves is not good enough for the prem.
Can’t add much more. I said I wanted us to grind out a point, didn’t care if it wasn’t pretty, thank you boys you delivered it.
Jose a few days to train with the team now, which will really help.
Adama???
We do need to wary of Palace, Woy will be looking for a payback on 2 games lost, plus asking for a reaction following their West Ham result.
But, we are starting the new dawn and the future is bright. Said it before, we won’t go down I for one, just this season, will take mid to top half finish.
Tis strange times for everyone at the moment.
Good solid point away at stamford bridge. We needed a clean sheet and a team performance and that is what we got.
Semedo was exceptional – good management at half time because Ait Nouri was getting beat at will.
Bit more experience and Neto would of just side footed his chance.
Seen a few comments above regarding Adama – I mean when you go and play for a point there is no real out. Everyone was concentrating on defending – we had 21% possession.
Cant really pick faults in a performance when it was the kind we needed. No mistakes, back to basics and now push on against Palace, and we might be able to actually field a football team against them :D!
Well balanced post- I wouldn’t go so far to say we have’ turned the corner’ but can take heart from gaining a point on a difficult night where the typically biased BT commentators were willing Chelsea to win. Fine defending plus a little luck with the blocked 94th minute header gained us a point most hoped for, but realistically did not expect. Fine margins as usual, Neto so unlucky with his efforts. Does Podence need more protection, is he being targeted or is he too slight for today’s cynical opponents? I think he needs to adapt his game to make his very low centre of gravity and skills work better for him. Size should be no barrier if you are good enough- Messi, Maradona and Mueller can testify to this. Perhaps he should change his name to start with an M. Particularly pleased for Semedo who has being unfairly criticised principally for the size of transfer fee, not many could switch Roles so effectively against their best player. If Adama can bring his A game more consistently, we should be ok , an early goal for José at Palace will help him settle in too.
Jeez in the news, all I have read so far is TT this and TT that and Chelsea the other
In all honesty Rui had a fairly quiet game, a couple of good saves but the Wolves defence were back at their awesome best.
I thought Chelski were aggressive on our front players and when Neto pushed the defender he was booked and the defender went down like he had been hit by Mike Tyson and/or just had the Russian vaccine injection.
If this is what quality in a top six team looks like it was a disappointment.
Very true- only Mason Mount would warrant a place in our team,Hudson Odoi, on the bench. No others would feature. I get fed up with this talk of us playing Chelsea at a good time, if we had our first choice side out with Raul and Jonny, we would have taken all 3 points.
BT hopelessly biased. Read Henry Winter’s report I The Times – coming from such a well known journalist it was a disgrace. Only mention of Wolves in a reps spread over two pages: Chelsea could make no process “against well organised Wolves defence.”
Did you notice, that when we play a 4 at the back and try to be more attacking, commentators say “they don’t look as strong” “its not the formation for Coady” “wolves are second half specialists”
For me, we put a 94minute game plan into action and stopped Chelsea (only the 3rd team to do this), so Chelsea played how we allowed them too.
400+ passes was the choice of phrase for the commentators – not once mentioning there was absolutely no way through for Chelsea, and that 68% of those passes was around the back line!.
Woodend Wolf – yeh, agreed. Its not the corner turner yet, but we really are not too far from seeing what is around the Bend!!
We have beat palace twice with A makeshift team, I believe if we can edge the 3 points this week, that will be our momentum to push on I Believe.
They still managed to mentioned Kilman can speak Russian but I lost money on the standard fusball reference!
Recommend Martin Samuel in the Mail
“Havertz was engaged and saw plenty of the ball but that meant Wolves did too because he gives it away a lot.
Wolves invited pressure but none of Patricio’s saves will make an end of season highlights reel.
A superb interception by Semedo was flicked on by Podence for Neto to chip against the bar.
Tuchel is the latest of Chelsea managers to be one game nearer the sack.”
Well done Nuno, it’s not about Chelsea it’s about how we want to play and we needed a clean sheet, we started with a point and earned it. Now let’s get Big Bill on the end of some crosses from his compadres.
It was a bloody tough watch, crawling up the walls tough, indeed for most of the game.
Good defensive display , and hopefully a restorer of confidence for the team because it was so vital they didn’t concede. At times it was good fortune, but for the majority of the time we were very very good defensively. Compare that display to the Albion performance.
Samedo is getting there now, he does have bags of energy and can get forward well. Looking to see him get even better. Thought Ait-Nouri got a knock that’s why he came off but he was struggling against Hudson Adoi. Hoever, for me, gives the ball away too much, but he has solid defensive qualities and can get forward well. Need Jonny back ASAP!
If we’d have conceded at the death I think that would have shattered the team completely, so although it was a game on a knife edge for us to get over the line against such an array of incredibly expensive talent was a big plus.
You never know this season, what sort of clothing this Wolves team have on! So Palace will be interesting. You hope we can get points but in my heart of hearts to predict a confident win would be stretching it.
You just don’t know what sort of Wolves team will turn up!
A much needed solid performance. Good to see the experienced players to the fore. More pleasing about Semedo’s performance was that he did well at LWB. That gives Nuno the opportunity to play young Hoever on the right and give Ait Nouri a good, long rest. (the longer, the better).
Three at the back is certainly the way to go. I was going to say he could venture an attacking formation against weaker sides, but seeing our result last week and Manure’s to-day, who is to say which are the weak sides. So yeah, happy to see us fortifying our defence before we start planning a side including Neto, Podence, Jose and Neto all on at the same time.
There’s only one Pedro Neto!
All this media bias really does my head in. Chelsea this, Chelsea that, Tuchel this Tuchel that…….
I lost count of the number of times that I swore at the television last night when we were in possession and the camera switched to Tuchel or a Chelsea player. There was even a phase when the camera switched to an old fogey in the crowd whose mask covered his eyes aswell as his nose! When the cameras returned to the game we had of course lost possession. How did that happen?
To cap it all, my bleary eyes caught a glimpse of the BBC news this morning and, yes, it was all about how Chelsea failed to get a win against a team clearly considered cannon fodder. The best they could show was Kovacics curling effort that missed the post by a foot. What about Neto’s run and audacious chip that hit the bar? Nothing of course. It makes my blood boil.
And then of course a Chelsea player gets man of the match. Hudson-Odoi. You’re having a laugh Hoddle. Started well, yes, but was snuffed out. What about big Wily (his distribution must still improve though) or Semedo or, of course, Neto who was utterly brilliant despite very limited pickings.
Lee Mason didn’t thankfully intervene in that potential penalty incident but I bet that I wasn’t the only one with my heart in my mouth.
On to Palace where hopefully we’ll see what Jose is all about.
Well said, Pigeon. It’s a wonder that the cameras didn’t switch to Abramovich just as Neto was about to execute his chip!
Agree SP, very annoying, plus the comments, no shots on target, so, Pedro lobbing the keeper and hitting the bar is not a shot on target then???! Does my head in. Watching it on hesgoal, with Dutch commentators works OK for me though :-).
Hesgoal with all commentary turned off.
Watch wolves and listen to a Roxy Music album on utube.
I can form my own opinions on the performance from that.
Still like Roxy Music. Got a lot of theirs on vinyl.
Thank goodness for London teams (apart from the inhospitable West Ham this season).
Full credit to the spirit and effort in last night’s performance, but Nuno will know that is still well below our achievements in last few seasons.
Big area of difference for me was the way we used to be able to intercept passes or pick an opponent’s pocket then retain possession before a streamlined breakout.
Last night saw us endure dozens of uninterrupted opposition passes without us getting near an interception and when we did get it back some poor control or a bad choice between running or passing and we gave it away again. I am struggling to think of a 50/50 challenge we won.
Of course they did nothing with it because we immediately resumed our positions and they were again on the outside trying to get in.
I totally understand last night’s mindset of keep our shape, stay resolute and don’t commit and it worked. Also understand the damage our confidence has taken. It’s Just that fine line in decision making between when to commit and when to resist and you need confidence to act on the opportunity.
Just feel this is the next small step on our way back.
I would imagine Nuno is disappointed to have to return to three at the back, but he can’t be disappointed with the levels of commitment and organisation his team showed tonight.
Chelski were up for it from the word go, as one would expect, but we did what we needed to do and ground it out.
Back three terrific, especially Big Willy. Semedo had his best game defensively so far for us and Pedro ran tirelessly and was almost rewarded with a winning goal. No criticism from me for Donk for his two ‘misses’. Both came to him awkwardly and though a fully fledged striker may have converted one of them, he ain’t one of them.
Good to see Danny back and new man Willian get an outing. More to come from him, I’m sure.
Overall, pretty happy.
Pleasing performance and good solid point given our recent run of form.
Glad to see the return of the back three, Boly and Semedo both had great games.
Also glad with the return of Podence and the bright debut from Willian Jose da Silva, good to see him making that clearance right at the end.
For the first time in ages our bench looked decent as well now the injured players are coming back.
Feeling better about the rest of the season this morning.
I wonder how Neves is striking the dead balls at training. Is he finding the corners of the net, and it just isn’t quite working in matches – or has he lost all form and/or confidence?
I used to think any free kick around the box was a real chance for us to score (spectacularly!), but we aren’t looking likely any more.
Clean sheet and a point so happy with that.
Stick to the back 3 now please to get our momentum back. Semedo had his best match to date and Jose looks like a very useful player. A few days on the training ground now to get used to his team mates and he can hit the ground running at the weekend.
As for the commentary – I got so sick of it on Hesgoal that I turned the volume down and watched without. So biased!
Well done lads.
Best idea that, turning off the commentary.
Its not surprising that the bt commentary and the news this morning is so biased towards Chelski as most of the tossers who commentate and write on these games live there.
The fact they had so much possession seems to be their only joy as they didn’t get any from scoring in this “results are what matter” game against the black country upstarts from up north or somewhere.
“Are they going to give them the vaccination Nigel…seems like a waste to me.. but then again we may need them if there’s a war ”
So the good old wolfs are back and it was so refreshing to see it because if Nuno had played four at the back with the young prince up front again I think would have committed Hari Kari.
Much to the dismay of the ruling classes from south London we didn’t open up and hand them the game as we were supposed to indeed we almost ruined their martinis by having the audacity to almost win it…. oh my god what would the press have written about then.. that nasty disease from up north closing their private clubs down maybe.
Stick to your guns Nuno you know it makes sense and the players love it too.
There was a vitality about wolves last night that we haven’t witnessed for quite some time while Nuno has been running his little experiment with four at the back ( god I’m sick of that phrase).
Semedo was a changed man , sharp as a tack, neto was inspired , podence was like my jack Russel at the ankles of anything that moved until eventually he took one kick too many himself but he will be back have no worry about that.
Boly was as changed as semedo the old boly was back so watch out.
Traore was a tad lost unfortunately and should perhaps have gone to the shower a bit earlier. You never know with him he can turn a game in an instant but as last night was definitely about not losing and all about defending he was a bit of a luxury. .still.. his day will come.
So the countries elite will all be moaning on their conference calls this morning as they make their selves a few million extra to cushion their disappointment and the talk will all be about 85% possession something that lot from that part of the world know all about !
WOLVES AY WE !!!! STICK THAT UP YOUR KINGS ROAD !!
Spikey, aka Roy of the Rovers.
Bloody brill mate. 🙂
Love it Spikey :-).
Can’t add much to all the comments above. But I do think we need to be more assertive. Pody kicked and barged by Chelsea’s bullies, especially that thug Rudiger who must weigh twice as much as our boy. Neves too and Neto. What I’m trying to say is we need to be more assertive, going down with a scream like all the rest. Coady complaining to ref and some gesticulating from the bench. (Better than moaning about the ref after the game).
OK non of us like it but this is the world we are in
The possession statistics look alarming but, as with everything, context is important. We were playing a club that has had over a decade of finishing at or near the top of the Premiership along with several seasons outings in the Champions League. Financially they are in a different league to us and that is reflected in the respective squads. So, in the light of that, this was an excellent and hard-fought point.
It may be tempting for Nuno to switch to a back 4 for the Palace match for more attacking impetus, but given that the following league matches are against Arsenal and Leicester perhaps its best to further refine our back 3/5 system especially now we have a target man to play out to.
Thought Semedo and Neto were outstanding last night, tho’ Neto needs to learn to keep his cool.
I know after 20 odd minutes we can’t judge a player, but Willian Jose looks promising, if a player can react that quickly to a full blown, nailed on, goal bound, point blank header in the way he does, I’m optimistic that he is going to respond the same when Neto, Poddy et al start providing him with balls. (Notice I missed out Traore)
He just looks the part, so fingers and toes crossed the recruitment team have got it right this time.
Having read the TT Chelsea press this morning I was slightly disappointed to read our own rag slating Ait-Nouri, the lad is on loan is still a teenager and was marking MOTM Hudson-Odoi, HA had a great game so why the hell slate Ait-Nouri, who like the rest of the team gave his all.
I would think, if I were a reporter blowing about a team breaking the PL record for the number of passes, I would also be singing about the opposite team that reduced them to zero viable chances but managed a woodwork kissing chip.
Even “The World famous Thomas Tuchel”( the one sacked by PSG recently) had the nous to dig himself out of a hole by saying, “he was delighted that his team reduced one of the best breakaway teams in the PLto only a couple of chances on goal”.
It’s a funny old game.
Let’s build on this boys, same again and more at Palace. Again, I wasn’t at Chorley but it seems to have given the lads the same kick up the arse as last time.
It’s a funny old game.
It’s amazing how many people, Wolves fans included, who said the match was boring! I didn’t find it boring, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It’s all been covered above I know, but my two penny’s worth is this:
The TV commentators wrote us off. We were apparently about 500 passes behind Chelsea, the most ever or something in PL history. Funnily enough the score remained at 0-0.
It was a defensive masterclass from Wolves. Boly my MOTM. That was the only way to approach this match, go back to basics. Patricio hardly had a save to make in the first half, and made a couple of regulation saves in the second half. For all the hundreds of passes made by Chelsea, all the huffing and puffing, we dealt with it all. Our new guy Jose even tracked back and helped out.
Offensively our main threat was Neto and to a lesser extent Podence. Neto’s sublime dinked lob deserved a goal all night long. Donk had a marvellous chance in the first half but couldn’t keep his header down. Also in the second half he didn’t quite control a marvellous pass from Neto and was dispossessed,. I know he’s not long back from injury but he’s not quite where he was months ago. But when all is said and done, we came as close to scoring as Chelsea did.
Physically we looked a bit lightweight in the face of aggressive tackling. Chelsea seem to be quite conversant in the darker arts. My one disappointment on the night was Traore. No sooner does he look promising, he falls over! OK, he came in for some rough treatment but often the fall was a slip. One nice run in the second half was ruined by a horribly misplaced pass.
OK, so we lost the match by about 500 passes bur we gained a precious point and a clean sheet.
I remember Graham Taylor’s last game in charge – Charlton I think?
Popular folk lore has it he was released to soon but the truth of the matter was the team were so devoid of ideas and so scared of making mistakes that the ball was just shunted around the midfield for 90 minutes. We must have made a thousand pointless passes.
Maybe last night will be TTs last too!
Boring for the neutral, perhaps, but when you care like we care, it was gripping stuff and worthy of every minute spent watching it.
For boring look back to Wolves under(totally useless Hoddle). Listening to him last night droning on how Chelsea needed to make “little runs” behind Wolves defence could at best leave you give you with a wry smile. I can remember almost literally falling asleep watching Hoddle’s Wolves passing the ball in circles. Then he walked away. Useless Wuss. Says everything you need to know about BT’s coverage.
Wolves under Nuno have never had masses of possession. The method was always stay compact. Stay in the game. Break up the opponents play and lightning counter attacks. Man City away October 2019n was an absolute Nuno away day classic. I don’t suppose we had much possession then either! But won 2-o. As Nuno said last night after the came it was time to refocus. Get back to doing what we do best. The defenders seem more comfortable in a 3/5. Is it a co-incidence that Nelson probably had his best game for us as a wing-back? I am sure once the confidence comes back along with one or two more key players we will get out mojo back. Keep them out at one end and nick a goal at the other. Accumulate points accordingly. Get safe and then may be have a look at a back four with a proper pre-season. I can’t see it being pretty for a few games anyway and I don’t care. Let’s get those 4 or 5 wins. Just to finish after the latest round of fixtures if the current bottom three continue a similar PPG to what they have over the first half of the season then not one of them will get more than 26 points.
Note to Semedo: Much better matey! You’re starting to get the hang of this defending lark aintcha!
Note to Big Willy: Much better matey! Domination of the air complete. Passing on the floor still needs work.
Note to Adama: Please make sure you put the studs in your boots next time. It saves you spending most of the time on your bottom.
Note to Pedro: Please don’t go!
Note to Podence: Stop giving fouls away by being constantly pushed and kicked by the opposition.
Note to the opposition: Pick on someone your own size!!
Note to Rui: Those lessons from JR have obviously payed off. You caught a cross! Keep it up mate.
Note to Nuno: See? I told you to stick to five at the back didn’t I!
Note to BT Sport: I didn’t stump up the’ hard earned’ to watch close ups of a skinny bloke with a comb over dancing about like a demented dick head every five minutes. Please keep the cameras on the game.
Another note to Nuno: Please get a throw in coach, or if we already have one, SACK HIM!. I don’t think we retained possession from any of our throws in last night. It keeps happening. A throw in to us inside our own half is as good as a corner to the opposition.
Note to Willian Jose: You look like you can, so you have my full permission to KICK ASS MATE!
Note to the World: We’re Wolverhampton. We’re on our way back!!!
Couldn’t agree more with this summary. We desperately needed to get back to basics and after the run we have been on in was what Nuno enjoys best, don’t concede and go from there. A point at the Bridge is never a bad result. While it was concerning not to see the ball stick up top for any prolonged period, last night was all about staying in the game and nicking a result, which we achieved. A certain former manager of ours might have filed that under ‘wipe our gobs and move on’.
Much more pressure to get three points – and show attacking intent – on Saturday. Jose only had a few touches but it’s clear he’s the hold up man we’ve been looking for. And from his highlight reel in Spain, he also looks like he can find the net.
From his highlights reel in Spain, he scores every time he gets the ball.
That was not the best of watches but fair play to the lads for effort. The new man looks to be just what we need up front, hopefully. I thought we needed the extra man in midfield and just the two up front with Dendonker and A N Other breaking forward. We were too outnumbered in the middle but Chelsea did nothing with the resultant possession. I should imagine that there will be 3 or 4 changes for Saturday. The last two matches have been hard to watch but successful and nearly very successful resultwise. Suspect Saturday’s may be a good game. Our players’ confidence which, to me, looked frail, may have some boost from the results and inclusion of the new guy ; hope so. I would hope he and Saiss would start and I would like us to not be outnumbered in the centre. Let’s win a league game 3-2.
DW
There’s a strong rumour we are looking for a Vibrant attacking midfielder.
With only 4 days to go, we should see very soon.
Like you I think we are struggling in that department now, with none of the returning stars midfielders we need to look elsewhere.
Report today Maitland-Niles has asked to go out on loan to increase his England chances, apparently he plays in lots of positions. Wolves have been reported in some papers to have rekindled interest.
But, it’s rumour, but I for one like the guy.
For all that he can do a job in midfield Stu he’s really a full back. Don’t really think that we need another one of those.
HS.
My thought was, Semedo in an attacking midfield role and M-N in his fullback role, (whichever side needed).
Many on this blog have long thought what we lack is a fast, fit attacking midfielder, playing Neves/ Moutinho for half a game each alongside.someone with a more attacking flair.
I certainly wouldn’t turn up my nose at AMN Stu, but I would like to see young Vitinha or Otasowie given a run at it. The solutions lie within the squad, said the good doctor, and I feel regarding midfield, he may well be right.
Missed most of the match through dodgy WiFi, but so pleased with the point. By all accounts it was a battling performance.
Other plusses were the return of Podence and the introduction of our new striker. And I made a little profit, but not as much I would have liked, on Paddy Power. Onwards and upwards, as they say.
Message from Nuno, who donated £250,000 of his own money this week. What a bloke.
https://fb.watch/3iUH3onILo
I’m not very good at copying links and stuff but type ‘NUNO FEED OUR PACK ‘ in google. The great man has donated £250000 of his own dosh to a fund to help the poor and needy of Wolverhampton. He describes how Wolves fans and the people of Wolverhampton have been very welcoming to him and he wants to give something back.
Well done Nuno, brilliant gesture, thank you.
That’s a lot of money even if you earn a lot of money.Thank you Nuno . He really is a good guy
and a great manager.
Thank you Nuno from the same mould as Sir Jack.
Brilliant.
Nuno has just brought tears of joy to my eyes. What a way to show you care for other people. What a man!
Wonderful gesture by Nuno. He already had my loyalty because I have always thought he was a truly special and considered gentleman. While others are trying to take food from the mouthes of children because they think the parents don’t deserve help and in their judgement the kids shouldn’t have been born, he has demonstrated what is to be a man. And instead of cooking up schemes to profit from the provision of food to these families he has decided to put his own money in. Actions, solutions, he is the special one, never forget this Wolves fans.
Maybe we should ask Thomas or Ben to start a crowd funding appeal and we all stick a £10 or even £20 each, there has to be well over 500+ participate in this blog.
Then I could ask Steve Daley to get Fosun to match it. Were not paying for game tickets each week, let’s put some back to the area and prove what a fantastic blog we truly are.
Good call Stu. Count me in.
I applaud Nuno’s generosity but I am really angered that, in the 6th richest nation on the planet, we have people who can’t afford to feed themselves or their children.
Chucking £10, £20, or even £250k, into the fund might help in the short term but it won’t make the problem go away.
Whilst I agree with your sentiment WAML, doing nothing won’t help either. If it means, me as an individual I can help others I am keen to help.
Marnhull: Oh I agree 100%!!!!
That’s why Marcus Rashford’s approach is so much better; pressuring the buggers who can implement real change.
Often, people who are happy to give £20 to charity, are very reluctant to give 4p a week through their taxes to fund the same.
Back to football? Before my blood pressure kills me!!! :0)
Excellent idea I will happily contribute. Incredible gesture from Nuno and as one pack, for those who can afford to do so, we should all stand with him and donate.
Could I suggest calling it something like Nuno’s Fund or Nuno Aid or Following the Nuno Lead. All c##p I know, but something that shows how much we appreciate Mum’s gesture.
Nuno’s gesture
Re: attacking midfielder. Like the rumours about Maitland Niles. Another option I would suggest is Sander Berge at Sheffield United. Not as mobile as MN but physical presence and skilfull.
Nuno’s” Feed the Pack” Fund
It was never my intention to embarrass or cause anguish on suggesting we too get off our arses and do something to support Nuno’s” Feed the Pack” campaign. I respect everyones views and thoughts on how to tackle the problem. God forbid I know only too well the complexities of all the bullcrap that goes with it. I ran my own Humanitarian Aid charity for 12 years from 1989. If as you say, I had sat there and did nothing, many people would have starved to death or suffered for the lack of the life saving medical equipment we took to Eastern Europe.
Everything no matter how small helps, if we could get Fosun to match our efforts then twice as good.
I think the best way forward is anyone who wants to support this, give this a thumbs up, that way we cam gauge if we have a non runner. I would hate to start something so worthwhile if it is going to fail.
I start by giving myself a thumbs up.
StuWolf
Count me in for my 10 Bob stu
StuWolf. Think the sentiment is echoed by the feedback so far. I too do a lot of volunteering one is at our local prison, supporting families and working setting up new business ventures with guys coming out, to prevent reoffending. Raising funds for ec-cons is a challenge. We had 2 leave during covid, both homeless, who had letters from their respective councils and I quote ‘you seem fit and healthy, with no drug dependency issues, we suggest a sleeping bag from your charity and a safe door way’ I kid you not!!
Anyway, off the soap box.
This is a Wolves Blog not a political debating society.
Onto Palace……..
I’m in Stu