I’ll let you in on a secret.
I was sceptical when Fosun bought Wolves. While the majority rejoiced, I was privately fretting that our club would become the latest to be rendered a laughing stock by inept owners.
After all, you only need to glance over at St Andrew’s to find an example of what can happen to a club when it falls into the wrong hands.
Fast forward five years and, with the Wanderers well established in the Premier League, it’s clear to see my fears were unfounded.
Or were they?
For the first time, it feels as if Fosun’s motives are being doubted by devotees of the old gold.
This inclination was never more prevalent than on transfer deadline day, when Jeff Shi appeared to be channelling the spirit of Dale Winton during a madcap, but ultimately unsuccessful, trolley dash around Jorge Mendes’ bargain bins.
As my fellow Wolves Blogger and namesake put it so poetically in a recent blog post, our failure to land a big-name centre back and/or midfielder was akin to being ghosted by an improbably attractive Tinder match.
In fairness to Jeff, he hasn’t shied away from communicating with fans this summer (albeit it through a paywall on the last occasion). The question, I suppose, is whether we believe what he is saying.
We were told that we needed to sell to buy this summer and, given our modest net spend, that appears to have been the case.
However, frugality in the transfer market doesn’t necessarily explain why the much-needed redevelopment of Molineux has been shelved.
I’m far from an economist, but I’m not sure I entirely buy Jeff’s reasoning for delaying those works. If the board want to grow the club’s fanbase, then surely it needs to cater for those who are sat eagerly on the season ticket waiting list? And surely the debacle with the Graham Hughes stand could have been avoided?
Whatever your take, it’s safe to say that Fosun’s initial ambitions have been considerably scaled back and that in itself leads to a much more prevalent question – should we be disappointed by this?
The success of our first two seasons back in the Premier League was more than a little unexpected. I’m certain that most fans, myself included, would have settled for the comforts of mid-table before we embarked on our return to the top flight.
And, while it’s easy to get a little punch-drunk on the ride to the top, I don’t think it’d be a terrible thing to settle for now. The league is becoming an increasingly closed shop. Wolves aren’t the only aspirational team that will struggle to compete with the financial might of the Manchester clubs, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Just look at our neighbour’s result at Stamford Bridge last weekend. My old man is a Villa fan (and, I assume, paying for sins in a past life) and reliably informed me that they played well against Chelsea. That may be the case, but the scoreline still read 3-0 at full-time.
Cast your mind back to our opening three results and, at risk of sounding like from Rust Cohle from True Detective, I’m inclined to ask – what’s the point of trying to compete? To what extent could we ever realistically challenge the ‘Super League’ cabal anyway?
Perhaps we ought to ignore Jeff’s dalliances with esports and dodgy Chinese clobber and just carry on kicking back and enjoying the stellar football being served up by Bruno Lage’s charges, and worry about the future when it arrives.
We’ve had it worse.
Interesting post Ben and I agree with the sentiment.
There were reportedly fans considering a protest after the transfer window closed, which shows how quickly expectations are raised and progress forgotten.
Pre-Fosun, I think most would have called it dreamland to secure a 13th place Premier League finish, followed by a summer in which we didn’t lose any key players and acquired a winger from Barcelona.
Fosun have to take some of the blame because of some pretty bombastic statements when they arrived. You don’t have to read between the lines to know Jeff is now trying to speak in more realistic terms.
I understand why after two 7th places finishes and European football it feels like the club has gone backwards, but it’s just the reality of a relentless competition. You get bad luck or make some bad decisions and other clubs will pounce on that weakness.
And a lot of supporters discount the strength of competition in the Premier League and have unrealistic expectations.
The reality is we’re miles and miles behind the top four plus Arsenal and Spurs (commercially). Then there are loads of similarly ambitious clubs below headed by Leicester but including Everton, Villa, Leeds, West Ham and yes, I’d put Wolves in that bracket. Based on what we’ve done and the players we’ve got, we should be in among those teams so 7-12th is where I think we should be if everything played out predictably. But then you’ve got teams that have been in the Prem for a long time like Palace, Burnley and Newcastle who always have some good players and the unpredictability of how promoted teams will do, which is normally shit, but you get freak seasons. That means that bad decisions can suck you into that bottom third, which is what we want to avoid.
So I think mid-table (13th-10th) is about the par and where I’d place my expectations. We have a squad capable of achieving that in my opinion, so while I wanted some upgrades, I can understand why Fosun are letting it ride, especially if the rumours we can operate in the market with greater freedom next summer are proven correct.
We had a sliding doors moment under Nuno when the Champions League was a possibility and had we got there, I think we could have gone up another level, but we didn’t and bad moves in the market have cost us since.
What I would say for this season specifically, is that the top four look incredibly strong but there isn’t much between everyone else due to Arsenal and Spurs being average, so top six is up for grabs for a team that can find any sort of consistency. I doubt very much that will be us mind due to some pretty obvious deficiencies.
I would like to see us pushing for the top half, picking up points consistently to stay away from relegation chat, play good football and push hard in the cup competitions. If we do that in the next four or five seasons and can inch forward to become a top half force and always pushing for Europe, that would be success.
Great read, plus a sprinkle of reality
Spot on Thomas and Ben. Both well reasoned and sensible reading.
We will never know what goes on behind the scenes, but the mothership is reining back overseas investment, why only this week, the largest Chinese investment company in real estate, according to the FT, have been ‘ordered to stop UK & European investment and reinvest in China’.
Now, that may have no bearing on us, but the noises on capital expenditure overseas have abated considerably from the home land.
Many of us on here and else where have been around many, many years, have endured John Ireland lack of investment, when it was needed in the 70’s, The Bhatti Bros (nuff sed).
Watched Graham Turner shouting from the scaffolding tower at the team.
Paul comes on here and makes some very pertinent points about not accepting mediocrity and we need to continue to go upwards, he is spot on….. But, also the football league is littered with clubs who over extended to stay in the greed league.
Thomas maybe your summary is correct, let’s enjoy the ride and 10th – 13th place ain’t a bad place to be. If we can consolidate on what we ever and organically grow?
Hindsight is a wonderful thing….
The actions of Fosun could be any of a number of reasons:
A) There has been a directive from their unbending dictatorship government.
B) Fosun have now realized how difficult and expensive it is to grow the fan base and improve the players and are having a rethink.
C) They were in it only for the money and that is from player sales with Mendes, but now finding out that ones for the future by itself does not work
D) FFP rules and restrictions
E) Some other logical reason!!
Our future, the success of WWFC will depend on exactly which reason is causing the present circumstances.
Time will tell!
Fosuns reduced interest is probably more likely to do with changes at home. Football in China has been serious retreat for the past couple of years due to seeming change of heart of the communist party leadership, this is shown the loss of financial support for the Chinese Super league which has since led to the collapse and extinction of a number of the top clubs.
Football Clubs are vanity projects and much of the Chinese interest was born out of the enthusiasm of the communist party leadership for the sport, simply put having a football club meant that you got invited to meetings that you wouldn’t if you didn’t own them. Now the fad appears to be fading a lot of Chinese investors are left owning extremely expensive European clubs, ones that make no sense as a pure financial investment (very few clubs generate regular profits) and all that have very loud and angry support bases that demand constant improvement or investment. Grander clubs than ours are suffering from the gradual rolling back of Chinese investment in football, look at the ongoing crisis at Inter.
Wolves probably stand more chance of Fosun sticking around due to the overwhelming worldwide popularity of the premier league, but realistically unless the Chinese government reignite their interest in football we probably won’t see the grand investment we had in the first few years from Fosun again.
I doubt very much whether the Chinese Super League has any bearing on the popularity of The Premier League or football in general.
‘Football earns the highest television ratings of any sport in the country and has been one of the most well supported sports in China ever since it was introduced in the 1900s. There is also written evidence that a game similar to football, Cuju, was first played in China around 50 BC.’
Sport in China – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Sport_in_China
Ben agree with what you have said but its a bit confusing on the transfer front. Jeff Shi had said we will need to sell before we by or be smart in there dealings as money was tight. But after the window closed and the uproar began about no signings on deadline day. Jeff Shi was back on saying the money was there the trouble was we couldn’t find the right players and the fans do not need to worry. Which contradicted his first statement which one do we believe seems to have got him self in a pickle.
I think everyone is also forgetting to mention the global pandemic we have been victim to for the last 2 years and are still in shaky waters.
I think our club has done wonders in the last 4 years. Only top teams can keep up that steam with investments and being able to bend the rules…
Every single story for wolves in the last 4 years has been progressive on any other wolves story over the last 15 years…
Our last stint in the prem was by pure fluke, with nightmare owners. Players way below standard.
I think we set the bar for promoted teams.
I’ve seen plenty of these doubting Fosun comments this summer.
Remember they bought the club for £35 million, when we were struggling to stay in the Championship.
Today, we have 2 players plus, worth more than £35m, and a team, judging by the first few games, capable of holding their own this season.
It is so easy to spend other peoples money by the millions, as a fan or critic.
As an old, old fan, I think Fosun are building a club that will break into a top six, but it takes patience.
Why buy Sanches before January if he’s injured till then?
The last day transfer day panic on Twitter was sad, and the doubt in the ability of the players we have, embarrassing.
Good luck to Fosun and thank you for buying Wolves.
A grateful fan.
Excellent Robin. Fully agree.
Well said Robin. Said it more eloquently than my post 🙂
Awesome comments. Bang on mate.
As another Old,Old fan (80 next month)I fully agree Robin, patience is a virtue unfortunately lacking in the younger generation these day’s. The last day transfer panic was purely due to people reading and believing the bullshit rumors on the click bait sites that come to the surface during transfer windows. I read some of them and think “Yeah Right.”
So many balls to be juggled at the moment but we will get there under Fosun, Believe.
Spot on Robin.
Thanks for your well thought out comments.
Too many Johnny come latelies on Twitter.
Patience is indeed a virtue and transfer window click baits absolute dross. None of us know what is going on behind the scenes regarding the running of the club, particularly when it comes to signing players good enough to improve the current squad or for that matter moving on those who are not good enough.
UTW!
I have normally been very supportive of Fosun and Jeff. I still am. But I was disappointed that they couldn’t deliver the two/three signings Bruno talked about. However, fair play to Jeff for going public and Bruno being honest enough after it was all over. Bruno now confident deficiency can be addressed in January. I think Jeff may have been a little stung by the criticism coming from sections of the fan base. But I remain confident in Fosun. Why wouldn’t I. Best position we have been in football wise for 4 decades. Thanks Jeff. Thanks Fosun.
Here here well said.
They delivered one signing who scored on his debut
We signed a defender before the season started …held back from signing a midfielder due to the fact 25 million was a lot for a lad with one leg .
And kept traore and neves
I am one who is hugely grateful to a Fosun for buying the club which has given me the most fun since the 70s when I was a boy .The Europa League adventure will stay with me forever .
I understand the logic that you cannot realistically compete successfully without materially growing the turnover which is what Fosun I believe are trying to do .In the meantime (and this is bound to take several seasons )they want to stay in the league ,improve the brand of football ,get some top home grown players and not slip in to huge debt .
Yes be great to sign more players and progress quicker but I am content with their plan .Whether it will work is another question but I do believe they have one at least .
Just waiting for all the negative nellies to come out the woodwork!
Just give it time Clivey boy.
I’m absolutely loving it to be honest.
I thought it was going to be 2003 all over again…. but how wrong I was thank goodness!
Life is so short.. and I’m just going to enjoy it while it lasts.
Following a shock thrashing by the Nylons…… naaaah, only joking!
Oh dear Ben, I think that your glass may be a tad half empty today. You now seem to think that your fears about Fosun may not have been unfounded after all. After the opening three matches (in which we’ve played brilliant attacking football against top teams without reward) you ask what’s the point in trying to compete. There’s every point in my opinion. Think about Leicester’s PL title. You finish by saying, we’ve had it worse. I’ll say we have…! No doubt Fosun will be relieved that there have been worse times for Wolves!
As for Jeff saying we have to sell before we buy. He’s probably trying to do a Daniel Levy and drive down high transfer fees. If he said, no problem, we can buy without having to sell, that would put him in a weaker bargaining position (and raise expectations from fans). As for stadium redevelopment, both Arsenal and Spurs league form suffered as a result. Chelsea pulled out of redevelopment even though money was not an issue. Disruption would have been a far larger issue for Chelsea than money. I prefer to team build than stadium build.
Sure, we’ve had it worse, but we’ve not had it better since the Cullis era.
Hi pal, I think the tone of my piece may have been lost in translation having read your comment. It was intended to say that there’s no real need for us to be downbeat, and that settling for mid-table while playing excellent football (I’ve been to all four league games and was thoroughly impressed at each) isn’t such a bad thing. My point about competing with the top four is that, as you can see from the league table, it’s already looking like a closed shop that takes a small fortune to break into, money we seemingly don’t have or don’t want to spend right now. As a Wolves fan I’m very content with our situation and would much rather us be financially prudent than reckless.
I’m just happy to have a team that’s competitive in the toughest league in the world. Promises were made but if Jeff was daft enough to make ’em then I was daft enough to believe ’em so who am I to criticise.
Off to Exeter to watch the u23’s this evening. Not seen them before so looking forward to it. Look for me on WolvesTV. Won’t be many in the old gold.
Well said wolfstroker
We just need to hold tight enjoy the ride and remember wolves are making memories that we will be telling our GT. Grandchildren one day
UTW
The Nuno era saw us beat Man City home and away, beat United twice in three months, and take down Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs , the so called Super League teams. Principally, we were popular in the media and very proud to wear our shirts in public. We were led to believe we had arrived at the top table and were about to park ourselves in the best seats. Dreamland compared to five years ago.
Moving on, we are not where we would like to be maybe but a lot of clubs would like to be where we are. I know a very embittered Bluenose who tells me horror stories about their Chinese owners.
My question remains about transfer deadline day and the embarrassment of last minute faffing about, did we have money to spend or not? If we are destined to be a mid table team, the best players will say no thanks to a move to a club with no ambition and no likelihood of European football then our best players will be targeted by clubs that have and can.
At some point Fosun will sell up and make a tidy profit, it’s in their interests to ensure the club is seen to be healthy, profitable and secure in the division and for that reason we the fans have to be thankful for the position their investment has created.
This has to be one of my favourite threads for a while. Proper discussion with nuanced opinion and without any toys being thrown.
On the whole I’m really positive about Fosun’s management of our club. There was a lot of hot air regarding transfers this summer. Of course more would have been nice but the ones that came in are likely to make a difference.
That includes a new manager who I must admit I was less than keen on changing.
Right now I think Fosun are in credit and we should all be right behind them.
Quite a few fans in Old Gold at the u23 match tonight and they were not disappointed. Entertaining game and a deserved victory. Most enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
Greetings shed philosophers,
I guess we’re surfing the afterglow of our first victory of the season, in which we saw the S. Korean nugget net on debut and Jimi convincingly head the ball towards goal. All good for WWFC Outernational and bigger questions of Anglo – Chinese relations. Fighting it out with Ronaldo and Lokaku every weekend in the hyped up Premier league is a buzz no doubt, and a welcome distraction from the impending demise of capitalism and the destructin of the planet. But money, as we know, is no guarantee of success or happiness. We’re ‘lucky’ to have got away with selling Jota if / when we get Neto back. Look at the Villans minus Grealish. Our £35m ‘investment’ is still polishing boots and benchwarming with no indication he’s going to be playing Lage-ball anytime soon, especially if Hwang continues to Knock em in. Business must be shrewd, we can’t afford expensive mistakes, but we have a team at the top table and all being well and fit, a competitive shout in all matches. 2021 bring it on, COYW.
Always like your posts Rasta, I really hope that the reality matches my imaginary vision of you, that is of a bob marley lookalike smoking some funky stuff while you wax lyrical all things wolves and worldly and that your not a spotty 17 year old uni student?
One love
Utw
Thanks Marney,
Age is no guarantee of wisdom, expect little and avoid disappointment. ‘Let tnem pass all their dirty remarks’ in the words of the prohet. Pleased to be channelling some Marley at you, a great student of the game. 1 lv.
No complacency here Rasta.
I’m sitting here with a saucepan on my head waiting for the end of time and refusing to enjoy the rest of my days.
I believe Fosun do want to take us up at least one more level – i.e. to Europe regulars – because for all their current ‘global brand’ talk, we need more visibility to reach that point than we currently have just by being in the top flight.
So they’ll bite the bullet and invest in the squad. They’ll do that well or poorly, but their track record to date suggests that they’d rather wait for the right deal, even if that means slower progress on the pitch. 10 years from now, if we’re battling Europe’s finest every mid-week, nobody will care that we got turned over by the sh*t in 2021.
Being controversial, I’d suggest that the stadium is a very low priority on that journey and Fosun recognise that. TV revenue is where its at.
My biggest regret of the Fosun era is that so few local lads break into the squad now. But that’s modern football for you.
My opinions on Jeff and FOSUN are well documented…..and Jeffs recent statements haven’t change those opinions. His statement that the lack of arrivals on dead line day was not down to funds was contradicting his previous statement statement that we had to buy to sell…..and yeah we did sell Mir and And the other lad but that generated £13 million not a massive budget to go and get a striker, midfielder and a centre back. Jeff said money was not the issue then what was…we are told the club are looking at players all year round yet we were rushing to the cash point trying to get the players Bruno wanted but who had been brought by other clubs weeks ago so we make half hearted attempts to signs players that in the end Bruno rejected…..that’s not how you run a football club or any bussiness fo r that matter.
The biggest frustration for me is the Stadium……the fans in around this City that are members and waiting for a season ticket……what’s that film…” Built it and they will come ” yet Jeff and FOSUN seem more interested in linking up with Royal Caribbean and high tec America gaming company’s than building a stadium for the people and fans of the city the football club is named after.
Jeff regularly says we need to be self sufficient and generate our own income…..how with a 32,000 seater stadium and 10,000 fans and more not able to get a ticket.. Jeffs statement we are going to review it year by year…..what the f..k for its not going to build its self if they are not careful those fans on the waiting list will loose interest and get fed up of waiting for a ticket they know they are never going to get without the stadium being expanded.
It’s these inconsistencies. that made me suspicous of Jeff and FOSUNs commitment our owner is a multi billionaire and we cannot afford to expand the stadium, I’ve seen Leisceter video for the stadium expansion not just the stadium the surrounding area and it looks brilliant.
I’ll make a prediction like I have before Jeff and FOSUN will be gone in 3 years everything points to that IMO, the scaling down of ambition, the lack of investment in the stadium…..I hope they prove me wrong….but I’ve seen the signs before with previous owners and I’m seeing them again.
Hi Paul
I get your frustration But where were the 10 ooo fans when we were in the first division?
And…if we spent big , how long would success, if we were successful last.
It’s a lottery,the premier League.
I’d rather be where we are now than become a faceless, customer laden business model.
I enjoyed our time in the first division … even the fourth division as much..if not more than our 3years in the premier League.
What is success?
How do you quantify it?
Life,and a healthy life is so much more important than football at the highest level.
I was told a while back that religion is not for this site ..
But some of this passion almost touches into worshipping your football team.
Just saying
If that’s your opinion…..why bother getting out of bed in the morning. If you don’t move forwards you stand still. Mediocre then your happy with that…fair enough it doesn’t mean everyone or fan is happy with that some stil aspire to see us win a trophy again……chances are slim I know but you have to aim high IMO.
Those fans have always been there fair weather may be but you could say that about City now and Chelsea they were both getting below 20,000 when they were bobbing up and down from Divison One to Divison Two and League one.
It’s just that some fans stick with there clubs through thick and thin and other don’t……that’s there choice.
Paul
Why bother getting out of bed in the morning..I want us to be successful.
It just isn’t as important as it was.
I just enjoy watching the wolves , good or bad and then go home.
My wife has been pretty I’ll for most of her life and I’ve got grandchildren and I’m not a teenager any more.still passionate but I’ve kind of grown up.
Charlton and Blackburn rovers and Leeds aimed high.
Look what happened to them. Our owners are aiming high but doing it their way and rightly so as it’s their money.
Aiming high is great but you seem always to be so negative . Not a slur, just an observation.
Just enjoy the ride..
Good post sir. The key phrase is ‘ I’ve kind of grown up’- the triumph of experience and common sense over naivety. Too much instant gratification in life generally, unrealistic expectation levels largely fuelled by the media who have their own agenda. Like you, I have see all manner of tripe over the years and are happy to take in Bruno’s obvious ambition to play attacking and ultimately, winning football. Its only a game, innit?
Spot on ?
A game I love but it ain’t gonna turn me into a blubbering wreck if we lose
Bruno. Who can blame anyone from staying away when the product Is shite. I wouldn’t go to the Odeon to watch reruns of Casablanca. Doesn’t mean I hate the cinema.
Yes but we’re not shite.
Not now it’s not but I was referring to an earlier post with the usual “where we’re you when we were in the fourth division” sentiment.
I won’t spend my money watching any sort of rubbish entertainment but I love what’s on offer now.
Paul. “Go and get” sounds so easy.
This isn’t an Xbox game.
Don’t understand what your saying Prawn….?
If plagiarism is passing off other people’s words as your own, what is it called when you pass off your own words, time and time and time again, as new material, ad nauseum?
As you are a past master of this, Paul, surely you know the answer?
Asking for a friend, by the way.
Clive I am responding to Bens Blog……now I didn’t ask Ben to write that Blog.
And yes your right and like I said my views on Jeff and FOSON are well documented. The issues were raised by Ben for discussion and I’ve give my opinion and like I have Blogged many a time I’m not forcing anyone to read my Blogs.
I am not going to shy away from responding to a fellow Bloggers view that’s why he wrote it to get other Bloggeres views…….isn’t that the whole point of this Blog.
I’m responding to the subject matter……like I say if you are bored with my Blogs don’t read them.
Catch 22, innit??
If I don’t read them, I can’t complain that they are all the same.
If I do read them, then I can!
Simples!
Have a nice day.
Nowt wrong with linking in to Royal Caribbean. I get an even bigger discount off of my cruises Now!
7 years ago we were in Division 1. Last season we finished comfortably mid table 17 points above the relegation places and we are understandably disappointed after 2 years finishing 7th. We now have a team littered with internationals, we have a young hungry manager with an exciting philosophy. We have owners taking chances with new exciting managers and young talented players. I think the moaners have short memories or worse still just fair weather fans. The sun is shining, so enjoy the ride cos you never know whats round the corner.
Yea but what a great season that was in League 1 … We won the league . it was great
Wholeheatedly agree Nige but what about the season before though?
When we were being bought out by Fosun I was very very happy after what we had had to endure from Bob the Builder who got us for free and did diddly squat alongside Mr Poxey. Those guys took the piss out of my beloved club. We never stood a chance of staying up during our only other fleeting skirmishes at the top table. Not a chance. Love him or loathe him how Super Mick kept us up for that length was nothing short of a miracle not to be underestimated.
Fosun came in and put more into this club over a couple years than what had been put in in a couple of decades. That Championship winning season was beautiful
followed as we all know by the double 7 and a fairly underwhelming unlucky for some. For me I would have snapped your hand off with that finish when Dave Jones had a war chest of 3 million to keep us up. Yes guys are banging on about a lack of ambition in some supporters for being ‘satisfied’ with not finishing 6th or above etc but a large pinch realism is required and dare I say perhaps a tad of gratitude. Sheffield U fans after a great 1st season back in the Prem would have loved a 13th. I can’t see why some fans think we have the God given right to be continuously in the ascendancy. As I type this we have just equalised against 12 man Tottingham (surely the worst ref for many years) and what Fosun have given us is HOPE and a change from the usual 7th or below in the Cumpionship. Enjoy the good footy folks UTW
In further to the man in black (not the genius that was the late great JC) I am so pissed off with how the ‘fashionable’ teams always always get away with assault/GBH/penalty shouts etc etc, that thug should have been sent off several times how many of our team does he have to take out before a card and the Arsehole was the same in our first meeting .
Don’t want pens because we have deserved to win this….twats, oh and the niceties to NES stop here. New Era.
Fuck it!