Albion aside, the defeat that disappointed me most was Palace.
The shellackings handed out by West Ham and Liverpool were bad days at the office, but the reverse at Selhurst was a spurned chance to build some much-needed momentum.
With that in mind, it was vital we didn’t undo our good work in midweek by losing today.
A deserved draw against one of the league’s standout sides will hopefully provide a springboard from which we can revive our season.
We certainly looked a lot more like the Wolves we have come to know and love.
Disciplined at the back, uncomplicated in possession and occasionally daring in attack, we were certainly more than a match for Leicester.
And though the Foxes were the team asking more questions by the end of proceedings, they surely won’t feel aggrieved by the result.
Ricardo Pereira will certainly be counting his lucky stars that he doesn’t have to come up against Pedro Neto every week.
Our flying winger had his compatriot on strings for most of the afternoon, turning in another standout performance for the Sky cameras.
You sense that when he and Traore – who grew in stature as the game went on – hit full gear, so will the rest of the team.
However, it’s hard to see that being the case if Fabio Silva is leading the line.
Handed half an hour to impress, our record signing spawned a gilt-edged chance to bag the winner.
Call me harsh, but any half-decent forward should have put that away.
But, with four points from six on the board, now’s not the time to dwell on the negatives.
Whisper it quietly, Wolves may just be back in business.
Yes agree may just! A better performance today felt much nearer the Wolves of old. Traore & Neto a threat to any team, with solidity in a back three and the return of Jonny things, just might be looking up.
Never count those chickens though! Hopefully Nuno’s refocused them and this is the response, but very nervy at times. Jose needs time & Silva not a hungry predator striker as yet.
Onwards and upwards, a better half of the season to come we hope.
As you say Ben, much more like the Wolves of old. Nobody would look at that game and say they were 16 points better than us. More fluid in possession and incisive at times with their attacking, but overall very little to choose.
Had Ruben or Joao or Fabio (most glaringly) had their shooting boots on it would have been even better. Pedro and Traore were both excellent and did all you can really ask of wide players, but again nobody could put the ball in the net.
Jonny was a major plus. We looked better with and without the ball when he was on the pitch. There was immediately a better balance to the side.
It sounds like Boly and Podence and going to be out for a while though, which is a blow, particularly when you look at our options from the bench. Limited to say the very least.
But we’ve shown we’ve got enough to grind it out so just. need to keep on going. An important little run of games now against sides around us int table and we must get our share.
Longer-term, I think it’s clear we need more mobility in the midfield. Neves and Moutinho have been fantastic for us but too similar, particularly if we do want to get more of the ball and operate with a back four. I was surprised when Nuno so readily dispensed with N’Diaye after promotion. Someone like him who could cover more ground would help change the dynamic of the team, even if it’s just an option rather than the go-to.
Agre wholeheartedly Thomas..Benn saying for ages that the midfield is where we need to strengthen
With an attacking midfielder we could have scored many more.
Much better today and confidence is returning
An alien landing at The Mol right before kick off, and being told one team was challenging for a top four spot and the other in the bottom half of the table, would have had his work cut out to tell which was which.
Jonny looked solid and assured, Pedro was a handful all game long, and their much vaunted super mid field missing for long spells.
And any team with an ex shit donkey at the back cannot have their top four aspirations taken seriously.
And here’s a question.
How come their Romanian center back did not get sent off for such a cynical body check?
All advantage Traore had was gone and they got back to defend.
Ridiculous rules, but at least var not involved today.
A good performance, but we vould have won, or lost(!) very easily!
And it would seem, if he ever gets fit, that Diogo might not be playing champions league next season!
With Liverfool’s relegation form, Kloppy might be the next managerial casualty of the season.
The grass is not always redder on the other side of the Mersey Tunnel!
And thanks, yet again, to Big Sam.
The SS Titanialbion is sinking quickly!
The ref couldn’t send off the Romanian centre-back because he’s Turkish…
Oh. Dual nationality then, eh??
Don’t matter what delights him, he should have gone by by
Who is this Jota you speak of?
I was very happy with that result.
And pretty pleased with the overall performance.
At times we actually started to look like the team that I have come to know and love over the past few years.
Confident and solid at the back and threatening at the front, with two wide men who really made their mark on the opposition.
Johnny looked like he’d never been away during his 45 minute run out. Pure class.
I agree that our midfield is still not quite right. And agree even more with Thomas that N’Diaye, with his driving runs through the middle of the park, has never been satisfactorily replaced.
In the end, Silva should really have won the game for us but Kasper must take a lot of credit for the save.
But… injuries!
Podence out for about six weeks and Willy Boly missing with hamstring trouble.
When will it end?
We’ll be down to Mrs Miggins the cleaning lady playing sweeper if things get any worse.
I think that I’ll be happy if we just get through the rest of this season safely.
Then we can regroup and drive on to glory next time.
Is this the same Mrs Miggins who has a pie shop in Blackadder?
The very same!
Blackadder:
The Scarlet Pimpernel is not wonderful, Mrs Miggins. There is no reason whatsoever to admire someone for filling London with a bunch of garlic-chewing French toffs, crying “Oh-la-la” and looking for sympathy all the time just cos their fathers had their heads cut off! I’ll have a cup of coffee, and some shepherd’s pie.
Mrs Miggins:
Oh, we don’t serve pies any more! My French clientèle consider pies uncouth!
Blackadder:
I hardly think a nation who eats snails and would go to bed with the kitchen sink if it put on a tutu is in any position to preach couthness!
They don’t write them like that any more.
Brilliant Doog. A kindred spirit!
Remember Blackadder’s search in the mountains..
Are you the wise old woman of the mountains?
Yes , that I be.
No, yes I am.
Great script
Any chance of Mrs Higgins sharing a cunning plan. Perhaps one from a fox who is a professor of cunning at Oxford?
I agree we deserved at least a point but the problem still remains we don’t score enough . I felt sorry for Jose no one gave him anything bar maybe neto with a cross that he did not react to. I’m still of the opinion we do not get enough players forward when we attack if a ball goes into the 18teen yard box theirs nobody there. But a good point anyway and a bit more confidence going forward.
Great summary Ben – we were very solid, everyone seemed well drilled and we were far more threatening going forward. And yet again, Neto was the standout man – he’s turning into some player.
I do feel our injury problems this season are going to curtail any hope of a real resurgence up the table, though – we never seem to have a full strength side, and our squad is far too small to be able to cope when key players are sidelined. Players like Silva and Hoever simply aren’t good enough to step in when called upon. I think 10th is probably the best we can hope for at this stage of the season.
In the summer, I really think we need to sign a quality centre back, a quality box-to-box midfielder, a quality right wing back a la Doherty (sadly I don’t think Semedo can cut it in the Prem), and a proven backup to Raul. I hope Jeff makes some cash available!
Joe before we signed Jose Wolves were going to put a bid in for Carvaliho of Sporting Lisbon i think a holding MF with a good range of passing but decided a striker was more important. I think i n the summer they will go back in for him and according to Tim Spiers a big improvement in the defence they are going to spend big.
Decent performance against one of the better performing teams this season. More solid defensively and most pleasing of all we played with intensity that has been lacking for too many games this season. A step in the right direction.
Tricky games recently against Chelsea Arsenal and Leicester and 5 points. Coming out of our deep mid winter slumbers this represents a solid return and once again shows we are a very decent side. Need to grind out another 8 or 9 points. Get to safety and move on . I accept a valid concern of fans is not scoring enough goals. It’s getting the balance right between solid defence and potency in attack. Has Tony Daley returned as fitness coach ?
Excellent last point, Cheese. Its very difficult to understand how we can transform from the team that gets no injuries to the team where virtually everyone gets injured. There must be more to it than the unique season we are in.
You might remember Neil Masters. Never had an injury before he came to the Wolves and made 1 or maybe 2 appearances. Seem to remember he may have scored against Blues one icy cold night game at the Molineux. And Geoff Thomas knee syndrome!
No it’s not. Just look at the schedule. Virtually no rest for two years.
It would be incredible if players didn’t get injured.
I did mention unique season we are in and intimated that can’t be the only reason. Perhaps Fosun sacked the witchdoctor.
Clean sheet, another confidence boosting result. 12 points clear of the bottom 3, starting to look a lot more solid. If I have one area of concern, today for me was Semedo who has flashes of excellence mixed in with a wtf was that moment.
Great to see Jonny back and felt Donk settled into the back well.
I know we can’t compare but just watched another youngster run at a defence and slam in great goal for Citehs 4th… Also same young man Foden, was always getting into position to score and despite being scrawny, holds up play.. Hope Silva goes that way.
Lastly, on twit media or whatever its called Liam Gallagher saying Pep, go sign young Pedro Neto please. Muppet, hands off and don’t look back in anger, when he stays with us.
Onwards and upwards.
Keep in mind we were playing a good side challenging at the top of the table, and over the 90 minutes we more than matched them A very committed performance and another point in the bag. This surely bodes well.
One point of criticism. I simply do not understand why Nuno stubbornly continues to put so much faith in Silva. Willan may not have had the best of games to day, but surely now that he`s here he needs to be playing so that he can understand and adapt to our team. Why was he taken off and replaced by our useless ‘ boy wonder ‘ who week after week shows nothing ?
The unfortunate fact is that Silva is simply nowhere near ready for this level. — if indeed he ever will be. Yet another glaring miss late in the game, which any half decent proven striker such as Willan would surely have put away, has cost us two more points. Just how many more opportunities is he to be given ? Is Nuno under pressure to play him because of the hugely inflated size of his transfer fee ?
Not a miss a good save. He was there – Jose who I think will be good for Wolves didn’t get near to a finish.But excellent in defence.
Well said. A good save by Schmeical. There was only one place to shoot at that moment. Silva reacted well.
He could have tried a chip a la Neto.
I tried a Chip ala Neto once, but it gave me the trots.
Should have stuck to a Cheeseburger.
If you watch the replay, Schmeical not only has his foot out to make the save but both arms are in the air. If Silva had chipped it it would probably have been saved. That is why Schmeical is one of, if not the best keeper in the Premier league.
Another point closer to safety and yeah if Sliva had been a bit more composed we could have had all 3. A clean sheet and the boys through there bodies on the line to achieve it.
We are getting there slowly but surely now let’s get pasted Southampton and into the fifth round of the cup.
And yet again the day has been made even sweeter ………..Sandwell Town lost again what’s that saying……oh yeah ” every cloud has a silver lining “
S**t are going down
And the Wolves are staying up
The Wolves are staying up
The Wolves are staying up !
Repeat many times and loudly in the pub as the beer goes down……………. I remember those days.. I need the pub. I need the pub……………..
D
We all do we all do believe me
We were so much more solid with a back 3 and I believe Nuno should continue with that this season as we still created plenty of chances to win the game .If and when we sign a top class centre back and have a full pre season to practice we can consider playing a back 4 but Coady will not be it .
I am afraid in my view Silva was money badly spent .Just look at the new Villa boy who is young and cost £20 million I believe and he was ready to play .
Assuming you are referring to Ollie Watkins, he is 25 years old with considerable experience in The Championship. Fabio Silva is 18 years old. Maybe an unfair comparison at this stage.
My comparison is with the money spent .Spending £35 million on a guy with no experience and no pace was a waste by comparison with spending £20 million on a guy still young but with pace and experience .
Ollie Watkins cost £28m with add-ons could rise to £33m. Still seems a good buy though works hard for a team that clearly focuses on attack rather than build from defensive stability. Must be a good side to be an attacking player in.
I will hold my hands up and say I muttered expletives at three key points in a fantastic performance yesterday. On reflection I was harsh.
The chance for Silva, the late foul by Hoever, the chance for Vardy when Semedo and Donck let him go.
Silva did very well to find space and react to a clever pass. Just like the goal against Baggies he responded very quickly. That instinct is natural and can’t be taught. He’s growing but will only improve with regular game time. So we either accept that and be patient or make it worse by getting on his back. Or watch him grow and thrive elsewhere.
Hoever did fantastic for a kid playing on the wrong side of the pitch. He was done by a professional trick, he will learn.
Donck did very well switching to a different position. Well done Nuno for selecting another player so adaptable and coaching him so well . Will need a little time to perfect it and get sharp.
Semedo is an easy target. Usually so comfortable on the ball but Barnes reminded him again just what the Prem is all about. He needs to keep learning, but I honestly feel he’s up for the fight and he will crack it.
Two comments wind me up I’m afraid ‘the squad is too small’. Go tell it to Liverpool, Southampton and Newcastle for just three examples of what this crazy compacted season is doing. No-one has suffered more than us as it comes on the back of the longest individual season in Prem history.
As regards cover for Raul, I was in debate last season with people who thought he shouldn’t be taken off when we were winning with ten minutes to go because it encouraged the opposition. If they had their way the cover for Raul would not have had a minutes game time in the last year.
As regards bringing new players in, has anybody noticed that the players getting stick are generally the new signings trying to settle in a difficult season.
The comment ‘they’re never going to make it’ seems to fit nicely with attitudes to the release of Pedro Goncalves now flying at Sporting and by all accounts attracting Real Madrid. “Why did we let him go, it was obvious he was going to make it?”
I guess the truth is, if you don’t invest you never get a return and nobody knows for certain who is going to make it.
Some well made and sensible points there Jackomac.
How much longer is it going to take nuno to realise that samedo is an awful player??? .he offers nothing in amy aspect of the game .
Championship player at best .
Not awful, Keith but as per Ped Ant stated in the previous blog, “pretty average ” although another blogger who was watching a different game took exception to that.
Hes far from average. He does nothing except give the ball away .
27 million pounds its laughable.
That’ll have been me! Seeing what actually happened without any preconceptions. Watch again and compare with other players in similar roles e.g. Alexander Arnold this afternoon.
Just re watched still awful im afraid .just watch the game back .tell me one thing he did ?
He gives the ball away 80% of the time .
Not being argumentative i just think he’s terrible.
I feel uneasy every time hes got the ball .
Can anyone explain to me why Gibbs-White was put in? Is he keeping Nuno company while his wife is away or something?
Absolutely no idea … maybe we should pack him off to the millers and bring Ryan Giles home … also I’ve thought that Vitinha has looked really good lately. I hope I’m wrong about m g w but … maybe what do we know ?
I thought it was a great performance today , Silva impressed me , great save from Casper , I can absolutely see why they spent the money on him although they had no idea that they would be reliant on him . What is he ? 18 ? I’ve got pairs of jeans older than that . I don’t think we got our recruitment right for this season but that doesn’t mean that Silva is not a talent . All the people slagging him off will be eating their words
A much, much better week for us and the 4 points won are critical.
Today – we should have won it, but could easily have lost it. Golden opportunities squandered by Dendoncker , Neves, Traore and Silva. We can’t afford to be so profligate. Only Neto looks capable of scoring with any regularity and he’s playing as an outright winger at the moment. Very few goals coming from midfield or set pieces, Traore’s one (cup) goal in 14 months is unacceptable, Silva still looks nowhere near and it’s early days but Jose is looking a bit ordinary for PL level.
We should be able to rustle up enough points for this season now but we can’t win without scoring and the future of Jiminez still has to be in doubt. So what of next season, We desperately need someone else with a natural instinct for for goal (like Jota) if we are to stand still let alone move onward and upwards and I don’t see it in the current crop.
And we now have more injuries – Boly out again, Podence and Marcal out for weeks and possibly also Jonny again. No it’s not unlucky, the squad is too small and we’ve been lucky for 3 years, get real Jeff and Nuno.
So. while much happier than this time last week. for all the heavy investment that’s been made “for the future” it seems to be rather slow in arriving. But for now let’s ride our luck and have a crack at winning the FA Cup.
Great performance we could of had 3 I’ll give Vardy his header so could of been 3-1…Big improvement.. Netto really is showing confidence as in 3 nutmegs..I stand corrected about the bloke..with traore doing his thing with 2 guys on him today we looked like the real Wolves in sections of the game..I’m worried about Jose who’s loosing his mojo and must be pissed when he gets replaced with Silva a very real current problem obvious to all..Surely down to training or needs loaning off for 3 seasons..
We look safe to me ..this season give to Man City and Start again.
(Oh give or take getting to Wembley again FA Cup but this time Nuno keep our players on the pitch at the end in the semi..)
Our season is improving thankfully.
Further proof that Leicester can’t beat us without VAR. I spent the entire game waiting for a comically bad decision to go against us but it seems the refs finally decided to let us have a fair crack at the Foxes. Only took 2 seasons!
This is the kind of performance that would have seen us lose earlier in the season. Games like Aston Vile and Man Poo, where we were at least as good as our opponents but on the wrong side of the result are hopefully behind us now.
Finally, a word on Fabio Silva. Admittedly that was indeed a gilt-edged chance he spurned, and aspersions are rightly being cast for that, however there’s more to a forward’s game than mere goals, and I thought the difference Silva made to our defending from the front was notable. Jose helped keep the shape, but Fabio’s desire to press the ball is as good as Jota’s. That said, I’d probably prefer a striker who scores goals to one who presses, I’m just saying the lad isn’t all bad.
Sory Sleachy but I have to disagree. Silva is a dead loss. A huge waste of cash. Loan him out and let` quietly forget him
Mike
If you,re right, and you may well be, it means we will have spent around £60 million looking for Jiminez back up over the last 18 months, plus Jose’s wages. It’s a pretty poor reflection on recent recruitment, particularly Mendez, but hasn’t he done nicely in commission. Costa, Cav, Jota all in and out, plus Neto. Patricio, Neves, Mourinho, Vinagre, Silva, Podence. Vitinha (pending) in and Doc out. I make that around £300 million worth of deals and I’ve probably missed a couple
At least let him get to 20 years of age, as Neto has, and see if any improvement has happened by then. To completely draw a line under him, during this seasons circumstances, is extremely harsh I think.
Well said Sleachy. Silva has massive potential. Although I don’t think agree that he spurned
that chance. He read the situation and reacted quickly . At that distance he had to go for the near post . It was an excellent save. I agree he is not yet ready and it was never the plan to play him yet. That was the outcome of poor management with no cover for Raul.. And he did not determine his fee. Wolves were investing in potential. Finally, it is fatuous to compare players by age. Some are exceptional at a young age , like Duncan Edwards or Wayne Rooney. Others take longer to mature. Silva has a good pedigree and will come good.
Too many people equate money and fees with instant gratification.
Thought he did what most strikers do and went for goal. Just a bit unlucky Schmiecal outstretched boot took the ball away from goal. Fair play to the goalie and to Fabio.
I don’t think it’s an accident but shorter players with low centers of gravity tend to develop faster. Taller players generally need more time to fill out.
Sommat to do with entomorphs/ ectomorphs.
You’re on the right lines Prawny. It’s somatometry- the study of body shapes, endo-, meso- and ectomorphs. Look it up and enjoy! You will see sportsmen and women in a different light.
It explains why we shouldn’t judge Silva as good enough just yet but his body isn’t strong enough to do the job that Raul does for the team machine. He’s not ready and wasn’t supposed to be. Watkins would not have come to Wolves to be Raul’s 10 minute sub, he’s a first choice no.9.
I’m much more confident for the the rest of our season after this game than I was after the win against Arsenal.
Frustratingly I find myself wanting more from the one player I find myself regularly defending against detractors on this blog. Why o why doesn’t Traore run at goal more often?
Seeing Jonny back is a prayer answered and despite Ben’s quite mean comment about Fabio I think his cameo showed real promise and it was a great save by a top keeper rather than a poor miss.
All in all we showed some progression.
I agree with all who say that we have to give Fabio time and we do because as a footballer he looks quite an immature 18 year old so good luck to him’ he has plenty of time to develop and justify his fee.
But with perspective I think the vast majority of us agree that has a fair way to go.so to invest £35 million in him and sell Jota at the same time was imprudent in the extreme as it left a huge vacuum for the present.
Tat Jota sale might prove to be the best business we ever do.
It proves to young players they can play in the premiership and still get a move to a “Top Club” without getting splinters in their backsides for two seasons,
You keep forgetting Jota wanted to leave and he has spent more time on his arse injured than playing for Klopp
Been harping on about this for months, Prawny.
If only he would dribble towards, and into, the box, instead of the corner flag homing beacon, we would see a lot less fouling of him, and hopefully a lot more shots/goals.
If his footballing brain was as big as his brawn, we would win the league.
After the latest round of games the PPG accumulated so far by the bottom 3 means that if that is projected forward for the rest of the season none of them will get more than 26 points. We might be safe already!
I know Neves and Moutinho are not strikers but – here’s a thought – hit the damn net!
They can’t seem to hit the net when nobody is in front of them but Nuno thinks they should be trying to hit the net with a wall of players in front of them. Makes sense, in some alternate universe.
Is that the same planet you seem to be on, half the time?
I can’t understand why these ‘ powder puffs ‘ can’ t at least get a shot or header on target – why aren’t they spending ‘ hours’ AFTER training ‘ shoot or head on sight !!
Neves and Moutinho should spend hours after training taking pot shot’s on goal from 20-25-30 yards from goal – they know they can score – but invariably 98% of their shots go 10 -15 yards over the bar !
Same with headers, how many times has Dendolker headed over the bar from a perfect position – game after game !!
It’s just about ‘ practice makes perfect ‘and talking about taking chances – all Fabio Silvia has to do is spend hour after hour learning to take snap shots on goal with ” extra ” solo training !!
It’s all in the head and he just does not possess that ‘ DYNAMIC ‘ shoot on sight ‘ Steve Bull ‘ finishing power !!!
Cost us about 8 or 9 points I’d say now – why dosen’t Nuno order him in for extra dynamic shooting practice !!
Wtf is dynamic shooting practice?
Agree Chris. You could teach ’em a thing or two from your day.
How many hours have you spent watching training at Compton?
I think you’ll find that Neves and Moutinho do spend quite a lot of time practicing kicking the ball in the direction of a net!
I think its a very good point against a very good side. Both teams had 1 great chance so a draw seemed a fair result.
Semedo is getting some stick but I think hes getting better, I’m not saying good just better. We looked so much better with Johnny back and I think he will steady the ship as Ait Noure just isn’t going to cut it and we shouldn’t take up the option to buy.
I’m pretty happy with our centre halves for next season, Coady, Boly, Killman Saiss and even Donk, For me there is enough quality and cover there.
I think we lack creativity and goals in the middle of the park. We desperately need an attacking midfielder or two and another striker as I don’t think Silva will cut it and we don’t know if Raul will be back.
For me we are definitely safe and won’t go down or even be in the mix. A continued run in the cup would be nice and I’d be happy with top 12 considering the injuries we’ve had.
Close game, Jonny superb, however Silva what a miss, time for Adama to go, been given enough chances, Bruno man united, 1 assist or goal every game, Adama none all season, no footballing brain, time to get more drunk, wolves aie we
Agreed 100%
GWS
You make lots of valid points.
Agree – plenty of centre back options.
Agree – break the bank for a top striker. If Silva is going to thrive it won’t be yet and don’t think Jose is good enough or young enough; and definitely no guarantees on Raul. A fully fit , FULLY FUNCTIONING Jiminez would be a huge bonus but is probably less than 50/50.
Agree on Ait-Noor. Don’t buy, it would be cheaper to bring back the equally capable or probably superior Vinagre (but no pay day for Mendes!!!). Put the £19m towards a striker.
And finally attacking midfielder.
Yes we desperately need one. My thoughts – Semedo can’t defend but is very strong and is great driving forward.
We could kill 2 birds with one stone with Hoever first choice RB.
Plus
Ottasawe, Sanderson and Vitinha coming through well.
DON’T SELL NETTO.
Get rid of party boy MGW.
And we could have very reasonable strength in depth for a much better season next time.
I think Asda bought Netto in 2010!
Late night typo..
We don’t need an attacking midfielder, we already have Gibbs-White.
Great sarcasm Tim.
Bring on Soton.
What do my fellow bloggers think off Adama, sell or keep.
Play a different record. The bloke was excellent yesterday.
Keep him.100%
Keep him and have Nuno figure a way to take advantage of him drawing multiple players to him and opening up the pitch.
It should be like playing against 9 or 10 players.
Oddly there is interest in Adama in the states , I think its because he’s so quick and strong that some sports writers consider that he should be playing American football . Someone a while ago showed me that there was an article on him written by the New York Times and that article was about how Nuno had started getting the best out of him . Its quite clever really … what Nuno decided to do and that not many people noticed was that he changed the shape of the team behind him when he got the ball allowinghimtomake those runs and not so much risk if he lost possession. I see if I can find it and attempt to put it on here
I did try but it kept vanishing. Not sure why but you can Google the article, its from last season … the making and remaking of Adama Traore. New York Timex
I just want to put the Fabio Silva debate in perspective. Harry Kane, now recognised as one of the best strikers in world football (especially after scoring again against Sandwell) scored his 50 th pl goal at the age of 23 years and 34 days. Fabio Silva is 18, 19 in mid July. Silva has 2 pl goals playing in a struggling side this season . I cannot predict the future but Harry Kane didn’t even start playing in the pl until he had turned 20 so I’m reserving judgement on Silva for at last another couple of seasons.
That’s exactly right but should be doing what Harry Kane was doing in his formative years. Playing in the Championship.
Then who would have played up front this season, The kit man?
My point being that we should have had other options. Nice sarcasm though.
No, you mis spelled it.
The name is Kilman!!
The best news coming out of Molineux is that Jonny’s half time withdrawal was pre-planned after consultation with his physio and doctor. They obviously have to monitor his return carefully.
A welcome return to form. We went head-to-head with an in-form top four side and clearly edged it by a country mile. The increasing dominance of Neto and Traore on the wings deserved goals. We let ourselves down in failing to convert the many tempting crosses. Neto and Traore were superb. As for Fabio Silva’s late miss, words fail me. Nuno looked shell-shocked on the touchline. The whole issue of his signing is worrying as it seems that Nuno may have been blindsided by others into such an expensive gamble. We could have signed Ollie Watkins for a lot less, for example.
My suggestion to Traore is to try a more targeted cross instead of simply blasting the ball across goal. Man City scored a sublime goal yesterday when the ball was gently chipped over the keeper to be headed in. That’s the difference at the top level. Traore does everything at 100mph which can be counter-productive. It must be bloody difficult to get a head on a rocket cross from the wings. Given how often he is so cynically brought down by serial offenders, he should also get himself into the penalty box and get brought down there! Raheem Sterling is living proof of how productive this can be in the box.
Four points from two games I feared we might lose is pretty good going, but it should have been six. Happier times are back.
The return of Jonny was hugely successful, even though he was restricted to 45 minutes out of caution,. It just showed what we were were missing all this barren time. Max Kilman is fast developing into a versatile asset, and potential goal threat. .
I think Adama is trying accurate crosses. Sometimes he is just trying to get it around the foot of the opposition player but he has laid a couple of beauties in the last couple of games.
One in the 84th (85th) minute was so close to Jose’s head I don’t know how he missed it and the one yesterday was perfect for Neto but either the defender got there first or he just blew it.
What I would suggest, and others have before, is once someone gets a yellow card, target them and see if you can cause them to get a second one.
All of these “professional” fouls are sickening. Didn’t one guy actually just stick his leg out to trip Adama? That should be a red.
Yes, some of his crosses were fumbled in front of goal unfortunately. Neto got his feet mixed up for one.
I’ve long advocated for the situation where a player like Traore is targeted in turn by virtually a whole team. Against Spurs once, when he was on red hot form, they took it in turns to bring him down and take the yellow cards individually. Nobody did it twice! In this situation players like Traore need extra protection. For example, the third player to bring him down in a yellow-card offence should get a red card. Three strikes and you’re off, it’s a red instead of another yellow. The sheer physical effect on a player like Traore being brought down repeatedly by cardable offences is surely significant?
Completely agree Dances. Don’t know a lot about rugby but my wife likes it so we watch it. In the recent England v Scotland game the referee took both captains aside and warned them that the continuous fouls would mean whoever committed the next foul would be off and off went the next player to give away a penalty. Football should come up with something similar to rid the game of the curse of cynical so-called tactical fouling.
One of the biggest laughs I had all weekend was watching the latest episode of the long running farce, ‘Mike Dean – Referee?’.
Mitrovitc, who is built like the side of a house, flopped to the floor like a complete tart when his face was accidentally brushed by Tomas Soucek.
Even after viewing the replay on the pitch side monitor several times, Marvellous Mike STILL issued his customary red card to the West Ham man.
The red card has since been rescinded by somebody who can see beyond the end of their nose.
And so the show rolls on.
Where to next Mike?
Yes, absolutely ridiculous and laughable decision which I couldn’t believe when watching live.
Something does need to be done about the cheating players though who make the ref’s job extremely difficult. There again, it’s 40 years or so since that famous Francis Lee felling which caused him to be polaxed only for TV replays to show that the punch flew 6 inches short. Things don’t change.
Mitrovitc should have been booked for cheating. There are far too many screamers in
the game , conning gullible referees with their hyper dramatic antics.
Agree totally. While it’s appalling and wrong for players to be abused for their race, religion etc, players who have tried to gain advantage by faking/diving/exaggerating deserve to be called out for it. That would give VAR a better reputation. If Bednarek and Soucek are not guilty, then Martial and Mitrovic are culpable. While we’re at it, the Grealish trailing leg trick, the Sterling stumble and the “professional” foul patented by Fernandinho and copied to take out Traore regularly. This needs sorting.
It’s become more and more obvious since his injury, that Jonny was being sorely missed. It was also obvious to me that after such a serious injury and long layoff, it would take him several games to get back up to the levels we had become used to seeing. Well, it goes to show what I know. He stepped back on the grass like he’d never been away and gave us a terrific, no-holds-barred first half performance which was like meeting up once more with a cherished old friend. Great stuff.
Great stuff too from our team who showed renewed vigour, composure and understanding and gave the title chasers a severe test. They arrived at the Mol’ with one of the best away records in the league but left having been taken down quite a few pegs and all our performance lacked was the goal we so richly deserved.
So we head into the next clutch of games with rising confidence levels, our huge problem at left wing back eased and a growing understanding between our front players. Surely, surely, the only way is up.
Curtis Mayfield? Move on up ! Throw some shapes on the dance floor. Silly trousers. It’s all good. All good. Pretty sure The Jam did a cover as well. As you say Wolfie we are on the way back in an upward trajectory.
Move on up by Curtis Mayfield.
One of my eight Desert Island Discs for sure!
(Although they do tend to change on a regular basis).
Oh, I forgot to say. Maddison should have been sent off for his blatant, second half trip on Adama. It’s not ‘taking one for the team’ and the pundits do the game a massive disservice when they dismiss it as such. It’s disgraceful cheating and should be rewarded with a straight red.
I was going to say something similar Wolfstroker and then saw your comments. Trouble is that last season’s Spurs game would have been abandoned as you can’t have less than 7 players!
And the problem with that is????
Besides, if that kind of cynical foul was rewarded with a red, they wouldn’t do it in the first place and the game would benefit greatly as a result.
To answer your???? there would have been thousands of pissed off people who were at Molineux (remember that?) and the match would have had to be replayed (at further cost to supporters) unless the powers that be arbitrarily decided on a 3-0 win.
Like I said Hind Sight, if it was punished with a red, they wouldn’t do it so the problem wouldn’t arise.
SO if we had to choose which game we win vs Saints I think I’d take next Sunday over Thursday. There’s too many good teams left in FA Cup and I just want to sleep easier once we have the required 38 points
SO…that says we should put out a team on Thursday that has MGW, Young Prince, Vitinha, Ruddy and Otasowie and certainly give Neto a rest
Sunday lets play the same starting 11 from yesterday….there were glimpses of past glory and I’m thinking that the goals will come as the team gains familiarity. The new Willian might get a hatful
Sorry Marin have to disagree. No more giveaway games now this season.
Southampton will not be an easy game. Some day before the season ends they will get back on track and like us a decent cup run could give a very average season a bit of polish.
But even without Raul and Boly we can give any team in this division a good run for their money.
Nothing to fear let’s go for it.
Agreed.
Why bother turning up at all if you are not arsed if you win or lose?
If we win all our remaining games we should be in Europe as fourth or third placers, and Cup Winners.
So there!
Lets prairie dog it!
(Gopher it)
No one remembers who finishes 12th in the league but cup winners (unlikely maybe but much more likely than relegation)are there for posterity.
OK OK
I’ll sit on the naughty step for a few days
Just will be curious to see who Nuno starts Thursday
And then Sunday
(One of my points is that with our injury list we have a horribly small playing squad right now)
I see your point Marin, and league safety has to be the priority. But I’m feeling pretty secure on that front now anyway. And many of us are desperate to win something, anything, after all these years. I mean, look at the celebrations when we won the Championship trophy. Imagine that tenfold if we took the FA Cup. And we can do it, you know.
I agree young man and back to back wins would maybe mark the turning point in our ,well , underwhelming season so far
Squad looks scary small right now ,however ,given injuries
Would love to get Bournemouth in 6 th round
Used to have family holidays there… well Southbourne actually
They Shouldn’t be trying to play football
But would rather win 5-1 Sunday
Pace Clive
Nuno should request better protection for Adama. We should also. It was blatantly obvious that Rodgers had sent his team out with instructions to stop Adama. Just as Arsenal were sent out to stop Raul. It went too far that time. This is sickening and cynical and it happens every week. The pundits on MOTD accept this as ‘professional’ behaviour, ‘taking one for the team’. That kind of comment comes from respected ex-internationals like Ian Wright. It’s OK, it’s just a little trip – no harm to the player (most times). And then discussion passes on. It is almost as if “if you want to be successful, this is what you must do” and it’s naive not to bend the rules. A few of us have picked up on this theme in earlier comments.
Compare the rugby ref, he told the England pack he would send off the first player he thought was doing this kind of thing, immediately before the game started against the Scots.
In addition, top teams are going out every week to trick the ref by ever more subtle ways of engineering a penalty. Salah in particular is the grand master. It almost never condemned on MOTD. It seems that it is dishonourable for ex-pros to ever suggest a player cheated.
I suspect this is getting worse and has been fostered by the absence of crowds on the terraces. The ref makes a decision and moves on, so do the teams. We, on the other hand, would be reminding the cheats that we hadn’t forgotten.
Well, what can we do? We can start by complaining to the BBC about their pundits’ attitudes and their condoning of morally wrong behaviour and its effect on kids view of football. Football is first of all entertainment, I am not entertained by cheating.
Someone should have asked Rodgers if he would be comfortable with Wolves players taking down Vardy like that.
Tim
Zero tolerance!
Call it out, wherever, whenever, whoever!
And shame the people who protect cheats and encourage the cheating.
You think we targeted Vardy? You think we cheated? Call it out!
I saw some desperate defending, overzealous maybe.
I have been very uncomfortable sometimes with some Wolves tactics. For example the targeting of Joey Barton by one of Mad Mick’s teams when QPR came to the Mol. And I would be calling it out on this blog if it occurred again.
Good post- Mick embarrassed himself and the Club with the disgraceful targeting of Joey Barton. Refs and VAR should have the discretion to punish, as in rugby, as previously mentioned.
There in lies the referees problem Woody.
The refs are continuously lambasted for not being fit for purpose when the real problem is, for the sake of a supposed level playing field they have had all decision making taken away.
If A happens then you do B. No nuance just follow the rules. Great in theory but it’s clear to everyone that it’s worse than what it was meant to improve.
Spot on wishfart , I’ve mentioned this recently and have noticed more and more people becoming disinterested in football ( my son and his mates included) because of it .
Everyone likes to blame the refs but seem to just shrug off the fact that players are constantly cheating.
Change the rules so that a so called professional foul and simulation are straight reds .
Also a trial by video type of system where players are banned retroactively would hit the clubs hard enough to maybe change the mindset.
Cant see anything actually getting done though unfortunately.
Utw
Excellent wishfart. How I am incensed by “ professional fouls”, and “taking one for the team”. Lineker et al need to think what they are saying. As you say, players are coached to commit these unprofessional antics and players do what they are told.
I have not seen any school boys’ football for many years, although I was heavily involved
in the seventies. In those days, the main problem was the behaviour of parents on the touch line.
But you are right, pundits , commentators and players need to be aware of how they
might influence young minds. Today, each game begins with a gesture to respect and tolerance. However , when the whistle is blown, other values come into play.
I am not anticipating ever returning to the Corinthian spirit but this conning, cheating,
play acting needs to be eradicated. And the FA could make that happen but let’s not hold our breath because they will do sweet FA.
Klopp has been listening to the Guardiola school of inane excuses for losing.
Apparently the Liverpool goalkeeper was so sh*te because his feet were cold.
To get to the real reason just drop the last five words of the above sentence.
Disturbingly on Coronation Street tonight. Nick and Lianne’s 2 kids . The one kid looks like the bastard son of Starskey off Starskey and Hutch. The other kid with the glasses looks like the kid at school in Biology who knew the DNA of a frog’s lungs. Suppose it is Manchester….
What the Sam Hill are you doing watching Coronation Street?
It’s been rubbish ever since Minnie Caldwell’s cat Bobby, died.
Always watch it when there’s f**k all else on.
I agree with all of the post with the exception of the comment regarding Fabio Silva. Without making the obvious comments about Silva, his was our only shot on target and required an excellent save from Schmeichel. There were plenty of other players, far more experienced, who missed good opportunities, failing to work the keeper.
He did well, worked hard, took up threatening positions and tracked back and defended when required. He has a lot of work ahead of him and requires development to reach his potential, but he’s improving without the benefit of our main strikers presence; something that wouldn’t have been foreseen when he was recruited last Summer.
There seems to be a shortage of goodwill and support for this young man. He did not set his fee at £35m, but it seems that is the measure by which he is being judged and it does not seem fair or reasonable. He is one of our team. Very young to carry such a weight on his shoulders.
Patience is required and deserved in his case I think.
Very good post and I support your sentiments entirely- surely all genuine supporters wish this young man success? At 18, a long way from home and family in a wretched pandemic- he seems to give maximum effort with lots of technical promise and surely deserves the full support of the so called ‘ pack’? Or do some just want him to fail for some obscure reason- they should be ashamed. Any young player in the Wolves shirt , considered by Nuno to be worth his place, should always get our full support if he’s a trier. Fabio can’t be blamed for Diogo’s departure and that seems to be the underlying reason.
I remember a couple of years ago, some on here were giving a certain 18yr old we had recently bought the thumbs down. His name? Pedro Neto. I wonder what he’s doing now.
Where is Jeff Shi ? Not been seen or heard for yonks. Might be nice to hear some reassuring words from the boardroom.
Probably in that Chinese restaurant in Penn.
Fabio well what can you say ! Fans are not directing their frustration at him, sure he’s a lovely
lad and as stated he did not set the price of 35m! It’s the guys who put him forward who should pay the price and Shi who states he is a generational talent , well what generation
that is I don’t know ! The guy has now lost all confidence having been played at a level he
is not and I feel never will be ready for. To be frank from his first few games is was obvious
the club have made a major blunder ! Who could we have bought for such a sum ?
Fabio Silva.
There is only one reason why he tries so hard every match he plays, and that is because of me.
Clive the Black Country Texan From Houston.
He found out that I spent over $100 on a Wolves away shirt, yes the ugly blue thing, and had his name and number on the back.
He also knows that I constantly have the piss gently taken out of me when I wear the shirt at Nicks Place on match days by my fellow Houston Wolfonians.
It bothers me not.
The young man will go far, I have every confidence in him, and Dr. Nuno.
We all know we aint gonna pull up any daisys this season, so let us give this lad a break, stop friggin’ bitching about him, and support him like we do the rest of the team.
And, I will try to stop my negative rants about Traore.
If Dr. N loves him, I will support him.
And, as usual,
FOwb
Be careful Clive – you’re mellowing – or at least feeling mellow. Just like Donovan way back.
Don’t worry, it won’t last.
Thanks, pal.
I love y’all too.
That’s right, that’s right!
Electric banana gonna take a bite outta me!
Clive, Mutt1eigh, well said indeed.
Yep !
Here’s a “professional” foul in La Liga. This happened at full speed as they were both running towards the Valencia goal.
…and your point is…?
My point is that they don’t even try to hide it in Spain and nobody from either side seemed to care.
There you go Cheesey, Clive and BOG..
Buzz Lightyear to the rescue….
Agent Sam . Mission almost complete.
You watch us win the f.a cup in the only year we cant go to wembley.
sods law !
pub quiz question 2040
who is the only team to win the f.a cup in front of no body ?
lets win it next year please when we can go….hopefully
Team for tomorrow:
Purely a guess, of course
Ruddy, Dendocker, Saiss, Kilman, Hoever, Jony, Moutinho, Neves, Gibbs-White, Silva, Traore.
A little woodpecker from Melksham told me!
I love reading the different posts on this wonderful blog and it seems a lot of us have been around the wolves for a long long time so a question :- Who will admit to being a wolves so called hooligan back in the good or bad old days of the 70s ?
I know I used to love the mad Saturdays and could wax lyrical about some of the things we got up to and now think are plain stupid….. but back then we were all young and daft and it didn’t seem so bad did it ?.. just reminiscing after my son in law struck up a discussion the other day about what it was like back in the skinhead days of the early seventies when it was guaranteed to go off no matter where you went.
He reckons he would have loved it and I said its much better now you can take the kids but when I thought back I did love it even though most of the time I was scared shitless at away games.
A lot of us wont admit what we got up to simply because today it does make you seem like you were rather brain dead and some were but the majority I knocked about with were decent blokes but boy could they scrap if they had to.
I would use a different name or the righteous police will be after you
I”d like to offer a different viewpoint on your post. I started watching wolves in 1974, so witnessed at first hand a lot of hooliganism from the wrecking of train carriages through to violence towards opposition fans through the 70s, 80s and well beyond. I was personally attacked by a group of villa fans outside villa park c 1984- I remember it because my uncle took me to a game for the first time without my dad who had died from cancer just a few weeks before. I was also at bar tabac in Marseille when some hooligan England fans thought it was funny to lob bottles at a 10 year old kid wearing a Chelsea shirt in the window above the bar, a few minutes before the Russian thugs stormed it and tear gas filled the surrounding area. It might be easy for you to romanticise such incidents with the passing of time but hooliganism was a stain on football then and it is now. Try telling the poor Watford fan’s family who was put in a coma by some of our fans that they were “ decent blokes”. Hooligans were scum then and they are scum now. And no, I’m not one of the righteous police and , unlike hooligans who are essentially cowards , I use my normal moniker to post. Football should be a game followed with passion, good banter but never violence.
Totally agree Sutton. I knew who many of these thugs were back in the day. There was nothing romantic about them. On the whole they had sad empty lives and finding a few easy targets around football grounds on a Saturday afternoon was the highlight of their life.
I’m glad you’ve seen the error of your ways EWSH but those idiots are best forgotten.
Moving on….
Thanks Sutton for giving a perspective. Why do I remember queuing on the old North Bank carpark when the skinhead gangs representing Wolves and Chelsea waged a battle with bricks and bottles. Hiding under my Dad’s coat we made safety in the shack they called a souvenir shop and the door was bolted from the inside. This isn’t a happy memory and anyone who thinks otherwise isn’t clever enough to be called daft.
Southampton double header starts tonight. Which game would I prefer to win we’ll both but if I had to choose one it would be the cup game and may be am a draw in the League would be a good week.
I feel if we get past the saints we could go all the way no one likes coming to the Molinuex even a empty one we have picked up at home recently.
Just read the Dave Jones piece in Express & Star very interesting he or for that matter most Wolves fans still to this day don’t know why Sir Jack only gave him £3 million to take on the Premier League in 2003…… there’s only one person who could of answered that question and he’s no longer with us.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 Southampton 0.
Yes and there is the continuing myth that Sir Jack saved the Wolves. It was Wolverhampton council and the building firm the Gallaghers who saved the Wolves in 1986. SJH took over in 1990 when we were established back in the 2nd tier. SJH did preside over the rebuilding of Molineux stadium.
True the Gallaghers purchased the club so they could develop the Asda pure and simple, Jack paid them 3 million for the club from the Gallaghers Jack could have recouped his investment in weeks after an ltalian club offered him 3 million for Bully, wasn’t it 60 million in total for the ground and players Sir Jack pumped in not bad for a an old age pensioner.
Italian club? Don’t be saft, Bully wouldn’t even go to Coventry!
Nuno talks about how important the cups are and then puts out this line-up shows that what he says is BS much of the time.
Wouldn’t trust a thing he says anymore.
Gibbs-White must have pictures of him with a woman other than his wife or something.
Rather a week forward line, Timbo but the bench does look strong!
Or even weak!!!
I personally agree with prioritizing the league. If we were in the semi-finals, that might be a different story but winning 4 games in a row against fairly equal opponents is about a 6% chance.
3 points might get us millions more in prize money from the Premier League if it moves us up the table a couple places. I’m thinking we’ve turned the corner and should start slowly moving up the table.
Why bother entering at all then Tim….? We had a real chance to progress pissed it away again.
We still could have won without it being the highest priority. Not with the front three we had but with a weakened side.
Not sure what happened to Theo Corbeanu. Why not start him as a right-winger. He actually plays there.
Awful. Zero invention again. Back to square one. Depressing.
I am baffled. Baffled at what Traore brings to the game.
Dreadful
Sunday same again?
Can someone tell me when we last played well ? No possession again !!
I must admit that I agree wholeheartedly with the summary of my fellow watcher, “absolute shite”.
That’s what you get when you weaken starting line up and end up chasing the game.
That’s the weediest forward line I’ve ever seen. An abject performance. If the club aren’t bothered about progressing why should we waste our time watching that. I confess, I gave up the remote control and said “Watch what you like”.
Sometimes it can be hard being a Wolves supporter.
Watching that tonight, I almost lost the will to live.
We were absolutely awful!
Who said that my comment is awaiting moderation?
I didn’t write that.
The Blog police strike again!
Well that was 90 mins of my life sliding miserably into oblivion.
Some were given their opportunity to shine tonight and unfortunately didn’t take it.
Our second 11 not quite up to the task.
Aww well.. We can make amends on Sunday by taking 3 points.
Onwards and err sideways.
Another depressing, utterly predictable, miserable excuse of a performance. And to think I was quite looking forward to a cup run. What’s the bloody point? I need a very large, very cold martini. I’ve been shaken and I will not stir.
What’s going on?
I’ve just tried to post two comments, which have been deleted.
And I didn’t swear once.
Well it was a bit chilly. I wonder if we still have 5000 on the waiting list for a season ticket. I’m just glad I didn’t fork out 20 quid or whatever it would have been to sit out in sub zero temperatures being bored. I love you covid!
Pissed away another chance of a Wembley appearance……why do with bother entering the completion if we don’t take it seriously really I’m what’s the fuckin point.
May as well let Chorely through they would have given it a go…….not watching/ attending anymore Cup games fuck it.
We had the best opportunity to reach the semi finals and threw it away
I can’t remember the last time I saw MGW have a decent game. In my opinion he is barely Championship standard. I’d like to see him sold off soon. Vitinha and Silva both look lightweight.
Ah well, at least we can concentrate on the league now.
I can never see the point in playing the kids, going behind, and only then bringing on the big guns. The opposition can simply defend their lead and hit us on the break.
Hopefully a different story on Sunday.