As a first father and son away day together, an Elland Road experience with the boy was something I’ll remember forever.
As a game of football against Leeds United, it was a quite wretched performance that I can’t erase from my memory quickly enough.
It’s a funny old game, football. Despite the cruel timing of the equaliser in the final seconds, it still felt like a relief to be taking home a point, having been completely outplayed from the moment we scored.
And when the Wolves fans politely enquired about Leeds’ famous atmosphere, a grand old stadium rolled its eyes, took a collective intake of breath and started blowing the ball into the net – through an incongruous ‘champions of Europe’ song that still makes little sense.
Watching Wolves makes little sense either, who were magnificent for the first three fixtures we lost, only to pick up 13pts from six games when looking like a pale imitation.
While my Bovril runneth over when watching the lad immerse himself in the experience, the team played as if it was a sinking, tethered ship, spending the entire afternoon plugging leaks until they could stem the tide no more.
But to keep making the same mistakes and expecting a different outcome is stupidity in itself, encapsulated by Nelson Semedo when giving the referee a decision to make at the death. The same Semedo who Bruno moved from the right to the left to deal with a problem that Ait Nouri couldn’t cope with. The same Semedo whose Wolves career has been blighted with moments like these.
That’s not to scapegoat him, but he has glaring defensive weaknesses, as does Ait Nouri on the other side. In the middle of the park, Moutinho can’t turn back the clock, never mind against an extra man in midfield. Dendoncker alongside him is of little use when he’s so terrible in possession (his hospital pass to Kilman which earned the defender a booking summed up his afternoon).
And we all know about the deficiencies in the centre of defence, with a lack of mobility prohibiting Bruno from playing two centre halves. In this game though, Coady, Saiss and Kilman were all fantastic. The best I’ve seen Saiss play for a long time, too. A word too for Sa, who looks a serious goalkeeper and an upgrade on Patricio.
Then up front, Adama remains the frustrating enigma that he’s always been, seemingly not participating in the game whilst Raul was doing the work of two men on his own. Whether it was Leeds’ Cooper and co making Traore tackles a badge of honour I don’t know, but he just didn’t turn up and he simply has to be better than he was. While Hwang offered positives – most notably his fourth goal in six games – he is still finding his feet too, making Jimenez’ task all the more unenviable.
In short, they’re all Nuno’s players (bar Sar and Hwang) and expecting them to dominate games in a new age of swashbuckling football is as unfair as it is unlikely.
So at a raucous old stadium on a Saturday afternoon, I drank it all in with my son for the first time away from home.
I’ll forget about the football itself, as I’ve seen all that before.
I don’t understand why an attacking coach like Bruno didn’t go for the jugular when we went ahead.
Another goal would have sealed it.
But, if Semedo hadn’t goofed in the final minute, we would have come away with three points and everyone would have been happy.
And, I would have settled for a draw before the game.
So, not too disappointed.
– Wolves lost the initiative completely, and I think Neves should have been brought on for Moutinho much earlier (who did some horrible mistakes and he looked very tame compared to last games). I was shocked how easily the Wolves players gave away the ball. One giveaway by Moutinho when we were under heavy pressure were neither a clearance or a pass (straight to the opposition’s player). Although the Wolves players looked a bit heavy, they surely applied pressure together and worked well as a defensive unit. If they can add some aggressive bite to their defensive play, I believe Wolves will be really difficult to break down. Sa continues his good play and doesn’t seem to be a downgrade compared to Patricio.
Semedo had a very good game except for the penalty
I’d respectfully disagree Louie. His positional play, or lack of, petrifies me. At the end of the first half, he just went AWOL and I’m nudging my lad beside me, telling him how he’s got to get back in behind the ball and he’s just stood watching Leeds attack down his side. Maybe it’s a concentration thing as he was culpable at the end of the second half too.
I presume it’s a tactics thing and we play with a 4 at times.
At best, he shows a lack of inclination to work back, irrespective. Compare and contrast with Leeds’ players who just never stopped for 90mins.
On one-on-ones he gives me kittens.
Ait Nouri too… I love him going forward and he’s a serious prospect when attacking, but he’s another full back who scares me witless.
There are caveats here: we got battered and there’s only so many times you can stem the tide. That’s not the fault of Semedo. There was an inevitable air about the equaliser.
Leeds were terrific too.
I just expect a little more from Semedo now, irrespective of the penalty incident (which stemmed further back with others culpable too). ????
Disagree. Semedo and Ait N were both ok. The problem is still in central midfield. M and D are far too slow.
I watched the game on a stream and other than his liability for the penalty I thought Semedo played well. On the other hand, whilst I agree that Saiss had a good game, he was lucky to not get a 2nd yellow. He is rash too often and he scares me as I am always waiting for him to do something stupid.
That said, what do I know?
Totally disagree ben. I must have watched a different game.
Yep. He kept James quiet in the first half and he set up our goal. Seems some people have forgotten that. He was then switched to left back after RAN ran out of steam. He wasn’t the first and he won’t be the last Wolves player to give a penalty away in added time.
Ait Nouri asked to come off as he was injured. He was replaced by right sided Hoever, so Semedo was swapped over. Tough on Semedo, after playing a good game for 92 minutes, that the Leeds player ‘drew’, as they say, a soft foul……………
And, Semedo had just gone down with injury…but he got up bc he knew he couldn’t be substituted.
Poor manager, poor tactics and poor game management.
That leads team didn’t register a shot against Southampton – they dominated us.
Unfortunately, we got what we deserved because Leeds were there for the taking but the decision was taken to try and hold on to that single goal lead. I was pulling my hair out when the players chose to recycle the ball instead of being more positive. Okay, you could argue that we were only 3 minutes away from succeeding but those last 30 minutes really were most frustrating and difficult to watch. Sorry, Bruno but this time you got it wrong.
I agree, Bruno got it wrong. Holding on to a 1-0 lead, or trying to, is so dangerous. We were fortunate to come away with a point tbh.
I still can’t understand why we did not continue to play like we did in the build up to our goal.
Anyway, we move on. Bring on the blue scousers. Hope to see some of you on that Monday night.
Bruno ball now a brief mirage .
Once again we sat back when we did not need to do so and Lage waited far too long to make his substitutions .I fear this is him and we cannot expect that to change .
Still another point was probably what we deserved .
Strange at times, poor at times a Leeds team who play that high, should have been sprung if we had played with pace and attack. like doog would have taken a point. But, this evening all feels a bit flat and we dodged a bullet with an uninspiring display.
Wow, other WWFC sites are giving it lage (see what I did there 🙂 and in meltdown. We are WIP under Bruno still I guess. Onwards and err sideways I guess.
Do not understand why we are leading after ten minutes then sat back and did nothing. It seems like Nuno all over again trying to hang to a lead and fail 2 points lost imo.
That was awful, leeds where there for the taking when we scored, awful, ive decided now adama get rid, runs with his head down a sprinter not a footballer, beckham had no pace, but delivery spot on, denodecker has cement on his boots, semoda fee , robbery, at least we did not lose, time to get smashed, wolves aie we.
I got the score right for the first time this season but I would have happily foregone that to see Wolves win. The second half was horrible to watch.
Villa away. Leeds away. Premier League. 4 points. No complaints here.
It would be churlish indeed to deny Leeds deserved their point. We did seem to lose ambition as the game wore on but as always, there are two teams on the pitch and the other one has a say in proceedings.
But a point at Elland Road is never a bad result and I shall take it and move on.
Nuno was supposedly sacked because Mr Shi wanted to see a more attacking, entertaining brand of football, and it was time to move on.
But just where is this new approach ? What`s changed ?
Leeds today were a very poor side, and when we went ahead were surely there for the taking. But we just sat back and tried to protect a single goal lead. Nuno tactics to a tee. Frankly, we played very poorly, and in my eyes we deserved no more than we got.
Right u bloggers , adama , should he stay or should he go.
Totally irrelevant with regard to today’s game, Binda.
I agree 100%
Traore was an irrelevance in today’s game
Give the bloke a break, there were others who were much more ineffective today.
Maybe so Ped Ant. But Traore is an irrelevance in almost every game not just this one !! No point in having Olympic speed if you can`t play football.
Since we are supposedly strapped for cash, why not sell this non performer for what we can get in the January window, and use the cash to strengthen in areas where we are so obviously very weak ? Then we can stand back and enjoy watching some other Club face the endless frustration of trying to coach the uncoachable
– The stats tells otherwise. He has been poor in the last two matches where he’s played on the right side. He positions himself in the middle instead of wide, which I believe is due to the system (making room for Semedo). At his best under Nuno he could run to the the byline and deliver cross after cross. His style of play has changed since Lage’s arrival.
His best is definately not running to the byline putting cross after cross in, his final ball is too poor possibly due to the exertion he needs to beat his markers and get to the byline . By the time he’s done three stepovers and a breakneckdribble to the byline and crossed the ball the opposition players have taken up their defensive positions and deal with it quite easily and that’s if its even a threat as it usually sails over everyones heads to the other side of the 18yd box. If you look at his assists almost all come from slightly more central running on to the 18yd box and or the ball kept on the floor. I’m a fan of Traore and hope he stays but playing him as an out and winger did not work at all last season. He just made us very predictable.
traore go sorry mate you must be mad .
if you want to get rid of players there are far more higher up the list than him dendonkey being at the top .
Being as you invited opinions Binda.
Summary of Traore.
Doesn’t want to be at the club, always saw us as a stepping stone to (in his dreams) Madrid, Turin, Milan, Barcelona or maybe Liverpool.
Had six brilliant months when Jiminez, Doc and Jota were doing most of his work for him.
Spends way too much time sitting on the floor with his arms in the air sulking.
Inclination to chase back and help zero.
Very fast with very limited end product.; with his acceleration and upper body strength could have been a super star in Rugby League with a bit of effort.
On the rare occasions he does play well you can be sure it’s a high profile occasion when he sees a shop window opportunity.
Has now spent around 18 months “negotiating” a new contact.
Has “attitude” which could be a detrimental factor in the dressing room
Conclusion-
Waste of space whose value is diminishing by the week; get rid n January for what we can get.
Replace traore and semedo as quick as possible. Both awful footballers
– Semedo nullified himself: created our goal and Leeds penalty.
No comments about how bad the ref was, and where did fuckin’ Mike Dean get six minutes of extra time from?
Probably Cardiff all them years ago.
We should have buried them before half time, but once again, Traore stayed at home, and was an irrelevance. Definitely not worth keeping, let someone else try to coach him into playing football.
The bloke we need is their midfield maestro, who went off injured.
He ran us ragged in midfield.
I agree, Bruno should have gone for the jugular, but he didn’t, and we got what we deserved.
Just as Podence changed the game last week, their little teenager did the same for Leeds.
And, much as I hate them, the Elland Road crowd didn’t give up, and were the reason they scored, they pushed their team over the line.
Fair Play.
The bastards!
Any road, Toffee time next week, see if we can score more than Watford did today!
Fowb
Listen in my humble view adama just flatters to deceive, he drives me crazy, he drives me crazy, young bloggers google fine young cannibals, he has to go , robbie denninson any day, sorry im extremly drunk, wolves aie we.
Robbie dennison !!!
The man who only bothered playing any good when he wanted a new contract
Any supporter taking stock of where we are after 9 games could be forgiven for feeling satisfied or relieved.
Four games unbeaten, 10 points from 12. A draw away from home today.
It’s that glass again. How full is it ?
I will never subscribe to public criticism of individuals, players or coaches. They feel disappointment just as much as we do, and more. For them it’s their team mates, their careers, and they are the ones in plain 4K UHD sight. Every action and syllable scrutinised and then publicly judged by faceless people like us, hiding behind our screen.
We are supposed to be supporters. We are supposed to support. Of course we can criticise. Constructively. Free speech – and we are obviously entitled to our opinion. Respectful opinions.
Today’s scapegoat on social media would appear to be Nelson Semedo. And Bruno. Traore also, but that’s every game. Every season.
Fosun took over 5 years ago. They were not selling us 10th in the Premier league. They are. in the top 10 richest owners in Europe. They were selling us major force in world football.
Whilst we should’ve grateful for what they have delivered so far, and remember where we have been in our recent history versus now, they cannot duck out of showing their true ambitions for us in the next two transfer windows.
No more FFP rules. No more excuses about COVID ( it effects every club ). Put your money where your mouth is. No more undignified last minute transfer window farces. A cohesive strategy for recruitment please. Some transparency about what our plans are for the future.
So for me it’s not so much about this players mistake today, or the coaches substitutions in the last couple of games. It’s not even about glass half full or empty. It’s about who is buying the round ? And is it the Veuve Clicquot yellow label we were promised or cheap Cava ?
UTW
Yes we desperately need that hen to lay a few more golden eggs.
Poor today but a tough gig at Leeds even with their kids on. I agree with Connor in that we did not want to get into a basketball match we would lose. We tried to counter but never really had any fluency. Unusually quiet games for the front 3.
Way to early to call any judgement on Lage style. His initial impact does seem to have disapated very quickly though. I fear the Everton backlash next to be honest.
Brace yourself for a dry January mate. As to yesterday’s game, Leeds outfought and outmuscled us. Learn and move on Bruno.
My one week dream has been shattered! As other results went our way today, those two dropped points would have had us tied for fourth!! Yes, tied for a Champions league position! My one week dream has floated away!
Like most supporters very disappointed how we just tried to hold on, and to be honest we did not deserve to win!
My real hope is that Bruno learns from this, and not try to hold on to slim leads by just defending. Also a bit puzzled with the timing of the substitutions. This game did have some similarities to Nuno’s tactics which were very boring!!
And while Saiss has been playing well to date, he looked like his old self today, one tackle away from a red card or penalty! The ref spared him from the red for that bad tackle, and Semando took care of the penalty!!.
The old adage of the table never lies is true once again with nearly a quarter of the season gone. Strangely, if we had held on, as I write this we would have been 5th in the table but to be honest that would flatter us. We are not yet a team that could be considered as threatening CL places and when you look at how Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City have completely dismantled opponents recently you can see how far we have to go to be in that company. However, 4 points away to villa and Leeds is a good return. Those criticising Bruno’s tactics should I think look to the owners rather than the man himself. Bruno is an attack minded coach, witness the games at the start of the season for evidence of that. However, after early defeats I think he has realised he has had to be more cautious to get results with this current squad, so at least until January I would expect to see more of the same as the Leeds performance. The difference between him and Nuno is that Nuno’s natural instinct was defensive and I don’t see that in Bruno. One final point, I have been a consistent critic of the transfer fee paid for Semedo. In fairness to him yesterday, his involvement in our goal was exactly what we should expect to see week in week out for the money paid, so well done. . Unfortunately, he then reverted to type as he did on many occasions last season and either created a goal or a penalty for the opposition through poor defensive positioning.
I am doubly disappointed with the final result! Dropping two points with a couple of minutes to go and losing 3points in the prediction league. Being one of only 2 people to predict a 1-0 win, I am feeling guilty that Bruno decided to defend that 1-0 lead. Probably he tried to get me 3 points in the PL 🙂
Maybe, I am thinking, Traore is more of an impact sub to be brought on the pitch with 30 mins to go. (if that happens in the next game – I will definite conclude that Bruno is taking my advice – in which case I will ask him to go for 3-0 wins every week).
Much criticism of Lage which seems rather unfair. Played well in first 3 games for null points.so adapted tactics to avoid getting into an early relegation scrap. Good management I would have thought which has accrued 13 points from the subsequent 6 games.
Throw in that he is working with a paper thin squad and wasn’t backed in the transfer market to bring in the players he needed for his style of football (back 4 etc.) and I think that current tenth place is some achievement.
Would suggest if there is any criticism due it should be directed at Mr. Shi and his principals in Shanghai,
I’ve no problem overall with adapted tactics but I do have a problem with his perceived dilatoriness in making substitutions when they are clearly needed. Examples being the removal of Trincao in the Newcastle game and not helping out our totally knackered midfield yesterday.
Agreed PJB
Also grade F for recruitment team not doing homework on identified targets, not delivering tasks by the set deadline and trying to smuggle sub standard work through at the last minute. Detentions all round!!!
A decent through ball in the last 15 minutes when Leeds were right up the pitch would have presented one on one situations with their keeper. It happened 3 times. Guess who would have got at least one of those balls right? R Neves.
Respects to all support who made it up to that sinkhole of ambition that is Elland Rd.
Disappointing we’re not the team to to take advantage of an understrength Leeds and push on to challenge Brighton for a Europa League spot in the Prem. Nearly but not quite. Nevermind, a point and no bones broken following last weeks heroics at the Villa.
Saiss was wreckless in the challenge on Raphina, and if it wasn’t for the handball would have been red carded. But it has upset the Leeds support so every cloud… no that’s just wrong. Can’t get used to seeing ‘career ending’ challenges after David Luiz.
Always good to see a young player making an impact, shame he’s not on our team.
After 10mins looked like everyone took the afternoon off and settled for backs to the wall defending practise. WTF. C’mon lads you’ve got to push for that second goal with Traore. Didn’t warrant a mention post MOTD. At least we didn’t go to Stamford Bridge……
1lv & COYW
We got away with that one imo cos Saiss should’ve seen red for that reckless challenge but he didn’t and our defence were brilliant for the most part. Don’t get why Neves was on the bench if our game plan was to hit them on the break with a long through ball, we missed his ability to pick a player out from distance.
I thought Ait-Nouri did well.
Traore didn’t get fed and had a quiet game. Saying we should offload him seems a bit reactionary considering he was instrumental in our comeback last week. Personally i think he will be sold in Jan if he still hasn’t signed a new contract.
Kilman MOTM for me.
Leeds teenage sensation turned the game around. They batterred us for last half hour. The equaliser was coming one way or another. Questionable 6 minutes added time though. As soft as the penalty was Saiss shouldn’t have stayed on the pitch and we could’ve been looking at a cricket score defeat so rough with smooth.
Would i have settled for a point beforehand? Nope, never!
UTW
Talking of soft penalties. When was the last time Wolves had a soft penalty. This season already had 3 given against us. None for. I cant remember any soft penalties for Wolves. We don’t even get proper ones ! Happy to discuss.
Well no penalties this season but last penalty we had in Prem was Jose getting clipped by Luiz last season in Feb. He got sent off too. Not sure it was soft though. We don’t get many do we.
He’s done it at last! Not talking about Salah’s hat-trick against Manure but Cutrone has actually notched his first league goal in almost 2 years. Well done lad.
I don’t comment on here very often but I must say that yesterday was a really good away day despite the 94th minute penalty. Got in to Leeds at about 12ish and avoiding the busy pubs like Wetherspoons we went down a side street and found the famous Horse & Trumpet which was full of Leeds fans. We snuggled up in a corner near the pool table, got talking to some Leeds fans and introduced ourselves as Wolves – what did they do ? they bought us drinks ,we bought them drinks and then we shared a taxi to the ground. The away end at Elland Road really is crap compared to The North Bank but that’s what you get with grounds that are a throw back in time. I won’t go on about the match as it has all been said on here already. Afterwards as me and Sue enjoyed our chips and curry sauce it was quite funny watching all the overweight Leeds coppers running to their vans to go and contain the trouble that was occurring up the road from the stadium. We went to flag down a taxi but some Leeds fans got there before us, what did they do ? told us to share. We went with them to The Double Tree By Hilton hotel and this is where the day got better, we were heading to the railway station but 6 of them invited us to their hotel room for drinks, now I have been kidnapped by Leeds fans before (that’s another story) but they were great, they plied us with red and white wine for an hour, we said our goodbyes and then we headed for the station. A couple of drinks in the station bar and then off to Sainsbury’s for a bottle of red wine for the journey home. Arrived back in Newark just after nine, a taxi home and then collapsed in bed drunk and happy. The moral of this story – you can’t beat a Wolves away day no matter how poor the performance or the result. I love Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, always have, always will.
But it helps if you’re drunk all day, apparently!!
Glad you had a great time.
And Kloppy was thinking of me today, Five for Clive!
I ay loffed so much since the house fell on me sister!!
Good Effort Ian and Sue….
I’d be under the table before kick off at your rate of consumption… and definitely comatose if I’d got anywhere near that volume….
Glad you got back safe ….
How did you get a ticket is the question lol. Glad you both had a great day though
#jealous
Marvellous Newark. I have managed to get 2 tickets Palace away with my new girlfriend who doesn’t even like football . I said if you are a Wolves fan you don’t need to like football ! You just turn up . Sing Wolves ay We. And drink alcohol. Incidentally her ex husband is a Villa fan. And her 2 kids are also Villa fans. I am already busy working on this travesty ! Including banter over the 3-2 last week.
Hi Cheesey, Sue didn’t like football before she met me – she supported Forest…….
Ian,
She told me secretly she still does.
Hope to catch up soon.
“Ollie at the wheel”.
He should be arrested for being incapable.
Yow gorra loff!
On the one hand most of us would have gladly taken four points from trips to Villa and Leeds. But the nature of the performances has been a bit alarming. We weren’t in either game for large spells. I guess Bruno would say take the points while you’re not playing at your best and move on.
Obvious concerns about central midfield which criminally weren’t addressed in the summer are beginning to tell. We can’t be forced to rely on Dendoncker. And Moutinho, fabulous player that he has been, is past his best. God forbid an injury crisis. Perhaps more concerning is Bruno had promised a more attacking brand of football yet much of the last two games has seen a return to Nuno ball.
I guess the upshot is we’re doing ok but nothing more, we’re not pulling up any trees and at this rate will continue to be last on Match of the Day. But points on the board are always welcome. Hopefully the performances will come with it.
I don’t think criminally is the right word, no one’s committed murder or anything, and really, re MOD, which incidentally, I fortunately don’t see, does anyone really give a shit what that big eared little troll thinks about us?
He’s hated Wolves ever since Bully decked him at World Cup 90, and we beat Leicester 4-3 twice
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Clive from Houston (Doesn’t really scan but who cares)
Happy Clivemas to you!!!!!!!!!!
Here’s wishing you a happy and HEALTHY year you old fart.
Lots of love from Mark and Sue xxxxxxxx
Thanks, Sue
And Doogle!
Happy big birthday, Clive. All the very best from me and her (not so much) indoors.
Thank you, my turkey pie eating mate!
Wonderful post Ben, I look forward to that day with my lad too (a few years to go yet).
Bruno inherited a squad with a bottom six defence and a top six attack (with Neto and Raul fit at least). In that scenario you upgrade the weakest positions first, but our poor summer transfer window is a setback to that.
So Bruno’s plan B I’d speculate is to make sure he’s still in a job come January, and that means mitigating our defensive frailties with the three at the back, safety first system, that we’re seeing. It will lead to frustrations like Saturday but I don’t know what the alternative is. We want to be in with a long shot of top seven come January, we need to accumulate points for that.
Agree with that Joe. Our first three games saw us play with the promised attacking commitment and verve and we lost them all. Since then we have reverted to a more defensive, counter attacking style and the results have come, despite our play generally being far less attractive.
The way I see it is that Bruno tried to play his way with a largely Nuno team and found many of them weren’t suited to it. At least not up to Premier League level. The defense especially need quality cover from those in front of them which, with an ‘up and at ’em’ style, isn’t there.
So, I figure, until Bruno can get the necessary reinforcements through the door, he is forced to play ‘a la Nuno’ for the time being to grind out results and keep us high enough in the table that the players he requires will actually come.
A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the officially OLDEST WOLVES’ BLOGGER…..
NINETY ( 90) YEARS YOUNG TODAY.
(Teleprinter in reverse did you notice).
Have a great day CLIVEYBOY… keep those informative posts flowing and mine’s a pint when you next come to the Mecca of Wolverhamton…. MOLINEUX.
Look after yourself mate.
Love from the TWIXES XX
Much appreciated, y’all!
After a delicious dinner of redfish, crabmeat and shrimp, washed down with too many Captain Hurricanes, and my ancient insides playing havoc with my sleeping requirements, here I sit, coffee in hand at 3.30 on Clivemas morning, with the following thought revolving around my adled brain.
Are we, as fanatical Wolves fans, being vastly over critical of our team?
We see and comment on every little misplaced tackle and pass, every scuffed shot or wrong decision, and we tear it apart like rabid dogs.
We have won four and drawn one, so far, in this first season under new management.
We think we’ve played badly and won luckily, but what about our opposition?
Apart from Norwich, every team in the Prem is a tough nut, a banana skin waiting to bite us on the arse ( terrible metaphor, but it is the middle of the night ) just look at Watford at Goodison, and despite the complaints about pretty much everyone, we aint doing too bad.
Several on here, including the one and only Stiltonburger of Deff, suggested the team should initially be judged after 10 games.
We aint played them 10 yet, let’s see where we are at full time on Monday, and then comment.
Look at the varied results so far this season all over the country.
Nuno’s lot have been up and down more times than a whore’s drawers, and his head was being called for weeks ago.
Newcastle fans got what they wanted, but who is gonna want to play for them?
And who would have thought Liverpool would be limited to only five ( for Clive!) at Old Trafford yesterday?
Ha ha ha, bye bye Ole!
Hope he stays, and helps them into the second division.
Anyway, my rambling point is, let’s get off the now typical social media, we want it all instantly bandwagon, give the team and management a break, and bitch and moan later down the road, if necessary.
It’s far too early to be worried.
Ask them what fled OT at half time yesterday about panic.
FOwb
Happy Birthday Clive. And sage words in that post.
Thanks, Stroker!
Happy birthday mate. You can buy me a beer to celebrate when I next see you. Did Marla get you that Zimmer you were after?
Happy birthday Clive, your pressie package was posted this morning, sorry it’s late but I wanted to include the Leeds programme.
Happy birthday Clive. Very poignant scripture too. Must be wise sage thing.
As I wasn’t at the match I won’t offer an opinion. Giving one looks like a poisoned chalice anyway. Some posters above have pointed out they they seem to have watched a different match to others. What chance have I got?
I will say that four points from Villa Park and Elland Road would probably have been taken by most of us a couple of weeks ago! Bruno is still, bar Hwang and Sa, playing Nuno’s team. It took Nuno a couple of years to put his team together. Bruno’s signings are clearly the way forward. Four goals in six by Hwang is an extremely promising start. Sa looks every bit a top level keeper, and superior to Patricio. I said some weeks ago that Bruno has enough in the locker to keep us treading water mid-table until the January window. I can’t wait for a couple of new signings of the calibre of Hwang and Patricio. We have already upgraded our attack and defence with Bruno’s signings. Midfield must be the priority in January for him to work his recruitment magic. His opinion of Nuno’s star signing, Fabio Silva, is I believe, such that Bruno would never have sanctioned the signing.
Would have been lovely to be joint fourth this morning, but so what? Fool’s gold? Better to be joint fourth on merit rather than by luck. Back in August 2012 we were top of the PL. We all know how that turned out! Bruno is a serious coach and tactician and could be destined to join the elite of his profession. We must give him time.
Thoughtful and balanced post, Dances. I would only add that Hwang has been one piece of blue sky we were missing. His chance conversion rate is excellent and we would have seriously embarrassed Man U, Spurs and Leicester in those early games at his current strike rate.
I commented on here a couple of weeks back about a recent VAR table which was about ‘ most VAR overturns in favour’. Guess who had the most : Man Utd (19). Guess who had the least :Wolves (6). Well guess who are top of the table in ‘ Most penalties given against’Yep. Wolves. And I reckon all of them given against us were in some respect ‘soft’. And how did VAR/Ref not give the blatant pen against Trincao (v Utd) and the ‘soft’ one on Semedo who was impeded in the box v Spurs.
It’s not Rocket Science Cheesey but I’m sure many will appreciate that VAR is only as good as the Humans taking a view on each situation…
Yes of course there’s the ‘clear cut’ but there’s also the judgement or interpretation calls… many of which we get screwed over with.
Frankly I’m of the opinion that it creates more issues than it solves…..
Let get back to leaving if entirely to the referee…. Without the surgical MRI scanning that currently exists…
The media ‘pundits’ will still chew the fat…
It’s easy to think that teams ‘like Wolves’ don’t get the rub of the green from officials, but it’ more specific than that. It’s actually that Wolves are the main victims. I think that Brighton came close to Man U in getting favourable decisions. We should raise hell. Stats don’t lie.
At least then we could get back to celebrating a goal. Like we used to back in the good old days.
Just telling it like it is,,,,imo
We’re not as good as we have been ( like two years ago) and if we’d sneaked the win and been in 5th place today then the only way from there is down
Midfield was overrun and out fought
I love Moutinho but he’s only good for an
Hour …at best….why oh why not bring on Neves for last 30 mins??
I love Traore but without a scheme to
Get him in the game and then setting up Raul and Hwang he’s no use…But please don’t sell him
Feel like some jigsaw pieces are missing and we have yet to be tested by big 3 …who might give us a real thumping ( like on Dec 4?? hopefully not as I will be there)
When is Neto back? And Mosquera?
And can we buy Sanches in Jan 22?
Defence is OK….as long as Semedo isn’t the last man (or Saiss)
BUT..we don’t have the crew for Back 4
Don’t see top 6 without reinforcements and if we get more bad injuries we could end up
Bottom 6 and another season treading water will have gone
But if we secure 10 points from the next 5 games then my glass will be back to rather more then half full, and we will be close to 7th in the PL….again.
Sorry for ramble
(Lovely to
See Old Trafford emptying at half time tho)
Bruce for player/manager?
UTW
OODCL
PS happy birthday CFH …,whatever the number
One main reason why we’re not as good as were were two years ago is the departure of Jota and Doc. Traore has generally gone off the boil too. I can however see a seventh place finish this season as long as Bruno gets two midfield signings in January. Three signings, and the return of Jonny, could bring Europe. We might have to wait till next season for Neto though.
In my view, Ben has got it all spot on. Dendoncker, Semedo, and now Moutinho cannot compete at this level of intensity with the result that they , and others, lost possession under pressure time and again. Then, as a team, we retreated to just outside our penalty area which helped to mask our lack of quality. We urgently need two quality midfielders and a right full back who can defend.
As supporters, we sometimes forget that there are always two teams on the field, both of which are usually trying their best to win even if Man Utd’s performance against Liverpool may suggest otherwise.
As for Semedo, he may have given away the penalty ( Gelhardt did seem to fall over very easily), but it was also his little bit of magic that created our goal.
Leeds, for all their possession and bluster, didn’t really threaten our goal and could only match our “shots on target”.
I believe we’re heading in the right direction and should certainly finish in the top half.
I also believe that once Bruno gets the players he wants, next season looks very exciting.
Question. Who is going to the Everton game on Monday? And, who wants to meet for a pre/post match pint. I am staying over for this one as I would get back home around
1 am if not.
Answer. Me and she will be there hopefully.
That’s if we can get rid of the bloody bugs that we’ve picked up recently.
Of course, Sue’s is just a mild cold and mine is full blown man flu.
But you never hear me complain.
Will try and catch up with you both when I get there around 1600 hrs. Will let you know when I am in town. Sad to hear about the full blown man flu. That will take weeks to shift mate, people just don’t understand.
Can’t make it this week, sorry.
Still, I’ll let you buy Mark and Sue the drinks I owe them.
Cheers, old pal!
They will be pissed.