I’ve not made as many away games as I’d like this season, but I wish I’d made this one.
Drones stopping play, a second half interval that felt as if it lasted an eternity, an overturned red card, a SECOND goal of the season for Joao Moutinho, and a canceled swansong from Adama Traore.
Whoops, I almost forgot to mention the pot-kettle-black irony of Brentford fans moaning about time wasting.
No, this isn’t a script for the new series of The Twilight Zone. This is a summary of the madcap events of Brentford 1 Wolves 2.
It’s certainly a game that will live long in the memory, and is further proof of the wonderful job Bruno Lage is doing at our club.
Wolves had to dig in deep for that today, and dig they did.
I’d say we were second best prior to drone-gate, with Brentford evidently keen to halt their recent bad run of results.
But after play finally resumed, we were much more fluent. I thought Podence did a great job of occupying the pockets of space between the home side’s defence and midfield, with young Fabio Silva showing plenty of willingness alongside him.
It was ironic that the deadlock should be broken by one of the least prolific scorers on the pitch, but it was a lovely goal nonetheless. Semedo, surely our most improved player this season, did really well to tee up our 5’7 maestro, who finished with aplomb.
The nerves kicked in around the time of the red card that never was, so much so that it wasn’t a huge surprise to see the Bees level the game. What was surprising was the paucity of our defending, with Ivan Toney virtually unmarked at the back post.
Still, to concede your first goal from a set piece at the end of January is some feat and, that aside, it was another assured defensive display from the Wanderers. Toti Gomes is virtually like a new signing and has brought some welcome competition for our established back three.
With the home side in the ascendancy, you’d have been forgiven for fearing the worst. But this Wolves team don’t roll over for anyone, and so it showed when Reuben Neves added another to his seemingly endless highlight reel.
It was a moment right up there with his scuffed winner at Villa Park, and proved even more crucial when Traore’s farewell strike was cruelly (but correctly) chalked off at the death.
The table doesn’t lie at this stage of the season so make no mistake about it, we’re in the mix for European football. And with Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham to come next month, squeaky bum time is just around the corner.
But bet against Bruno’s boys at your peril. They’re the real deal.
There are some games where you feel we really put it up èm. Bristol C away, Cardiff away, the Vile away, well add to that the Nylons away. A game like no other probably any football supporter has ever witnessed. Aside from all the drama and a second time this season the league has seen radio problems with referees but all of this means nothing because boy can we get the results and for the second time on the trot VAR goes in our favour. Listening to the ever wise commentary from Thomo et al on the official site whilst watching the game at the same time it is sheer bliss to see what is going on with our team. Don`t want Adama to go but we will manage without, what is most important is Bruno, Ruben and Jose. They are the 3 for me that make this team what it is at the moment. We have a great deal more great players and the new guy Gomes is a gem. Let all the expert pundits crack on about your West Spurs Devils for the european places whilst we idle along nicely under the radar.
To pay back the nylons at their very own game from earlier this season was lovely jubbly. The Red card for the bulldog slupring yellow stuff off a thistle, seeing that face coming off the pitch just made my day reminded me of Colin at Cardiff. Sometimes it isn`t about who played this and who played that, it is about the victory and this ladies and gentlemen was all about the victory…..happy days indeed UTW
Bruno`s pack just keeps rolling on. A well deserved victory. Solid and very professional throughout the side, and two superbly taken goals. Here we come.
As an aside, I`ve come across a great football novel entitled ‘THE MATCH’ by a new author, George Brent. A bottom tier League Club overwhelmed by massive debts, attempts to survive by trying to sell its only real asset, its star young player. The tale revolves around the intricacies and pitfalls of developing transfer negotiations with Premier League Clubs leading to a totally unexpected ending. A great read for real football fans, ‘The Match ‘ is widely available in Paperback and e.book formats, including from Amazon.
P.S Mr. Brent makes no admission, but I reckon he must be a fervent Wolves fan. His brilliant description of the Club`s financial predicament and its dilapidated stadium mirror our woes all those years ago when our fortunes were at their lowest ebb. Who knows, but perhaps he is now penning a follow up novel about our subsequent renaissance.
Can’t see it in Kindle format – at the moment – but thanks for the heads up.???
Not ??? But emojis. Sorry, didn’t realise they don’t show up. It looks like I’m being sarky. I’m not.
I’m sure others will go into detail on yet another top performance (marking from that free kick aside), so I’ll restrict my comments to a one word explanation of events to that jumped up gum chewing hippy of a Dane, Mr Frank. “Karma”.
– I praise the role VAR has had in its role to remove wrong decisions which might otherwise had been decisive for the outcome. The referee was actually my MOTM today who changed his decision and annulled Toti’s red card. It was the right call. The outcome could have been different without VAR today.
He certainly got his Karma Sea Pigeon and the whining at the end about how they could have should have would have got at least a draw and if anyone deserved a narrow win it was them was just pure delusion. I thought they were Stoke in disguise with shit tops and the long throw as their only weapon. Jose doesn’t let many in and wouldn’t have let that one in either if the defence hadn’t been grappled like they were.
Looking forward to our 3 minutes of highlights on MOTD as I haven’t seen any of the game yet.
But yet another cracking result and it seems that game management has improved dramatically since the arrival of Mr. Lage. And the hypocrisy of Brentford complaining about time wasting is beyond belief.
We ‘re really on a roll now and another feather in Bruno’s cap is that we are now getting the results we should against the middle / lower range teams, something which Nuno never managed to crack.
Keep up the good work lads.
ps. In spite of Spurs’ ongoing series of illegal approaches the will he. won’t he Traore saga drags on. It’s self inflicted really Adama, but for your 18 month go slow you could have been at Liverpool on Klopp’s bench months ago.
If you have Sky Sports, it’s on at 2am Sunday.
Thanks DW, will tune i for that as well.
Yes, the grass isn’t necessary greener on the other side of the fence, just ask Doherty. I think Wolves should offer him a contract on par with the highest earners at Wolves and rather sell him for the double during the summer, if he still wants to leave. Next season Wolves may very well be playing in the Champions league or the European league. I’m sure the money will be reinvested wisely if he completes the move to Spurs (we really need a quality striker to replace Podence who does his magic best on the right wing), only to play as a wing back. Do you really want that Traore? If not ask for a new contract. Imagine the havoc him and Chiquinho would make together. Sigh!! The deadly combination Neves and Traore, starting on the shoulder, has beared fruits in two games on a row now and could become a habit if he gets more matches in this position. A cracking, disallowed goal by Traore. A master stroke by Maestro Neves, finished clinically by Traore. To bad his big toe was offside.
Following the reverse fixture antics from Brentford, that was a sweet, sweet victory.
The momentum keeps building and with players returning from injury – Jonny, Neto, Boly, Mosquera, Marcal not to mention Saiss after his stint with Morocco, we should look to the future with confidence and belief.
European football is a real possibility next season.
The Bruno effect is becoming more and more apparent after each game. All of the players are showing improvements in their performances. That’s some achievement.
Bravo – great time to be a Wolves fan !
UTW
Well, folks, this is getting painful.
For three weeks solid, the shit eating grin has been plastered all over me fizzog, and it’s gonna be here for at least another week.
Yet another game in which we competed as a team, no one outstanding, except Ruben, Nelson, Jose, Ran, Connor, Toti, Jao, Fabio, Leander, Daniel and Max!!!
Brentford were up to their now typical thuggery, but our lads didn’t bite, and gave them a footballing lesson.
They will probably bitch about losing two of their defenders, but if they are stoopid enough to run into each other, then tough shit.
We are established in the top section of the league, and them what beat us earlier in the season will have a lot of boot quaking going on.
Wolves are no pushover, and top six beware.
Underestimate us at your peril.
We’ll let City win the league, this season,, but next year, watch out, that Prem title is destined for The Golden Palace!
FOwb
– Toti impressed even more defensively against Brentford than last game. Totis pace comes in handy. Ran past Toney and stole the ball in the first half and saved the day. The only negative was that he and the other defenders gave the ball away to the opposition too many times.
Football Focus today. No mention at all. West Ham in our sights. Top 6 in reach. Love it. “Under the radar’ we sail. Thomas Frank. What a fucking wanker. What gos around comes around. Twat.
Sky Gillette Soccer Saturday – chat re Wolves – what difference will Traore make to Spurs? And that was it before ten minutes on Brentford.
Well guess what Wolves won and still nobody has seen us coming. Top four! No kidding.
– If we don’t lose Neves, yes. His goal does guaranteed resparking Man U’s interest.
– A wonderful goal by the way. A real masterpiece as always.
Surprised not to see any other commenters mention it but I’m pretty sure that Brentford had 3 or 4 guys deliberately blocking our defenders when the ball was crossed to Toney for their goal.. call it gamesmanship / shithousery / naivety on our part or whatever but very impressive to go up the other end and get the winner when it looked like the opponents had the momentum with them at that point. Great win! 🙂
Absolutely seen it and also the shit house tactics of impeding Jose as the league now knows he dispatches at a rapid rate, one booking but it should have been two….but as they say ´they don´t like it up ém Captain Mainwairing´ and they didn´t
I heard a guy looking like he’d just left Woodstock with a strangely annoying accent and a black hoody and face mask was seen running down Waterloo Road at about 0130 this morning
With strange serial killer eyes it must be frank.
What a childish, petulant wanker.
As a result of their antics I have another hated side – the nylons, may their runs always be short and nasty.
Clues left at the scene were some left over herrings and smorrebrod.
Our team learned a lot of lessons from Brentford earlier in the season, lessons which we put to very good use as this game wore on. Normally I hate these tactics but against them, I just had to smile.
What goes around, comes around, as they say.
Great, incident packed game from which we deservedly emerged victorious.
Putting aside the drone crap… yet another marker on how inept Peter Bankes is…
An exact replica of when he sent Danny Batth off at Bristol City and good old Pete is at it again waving that Red Card…. thankfully VAR gave him a second chance and our new found ‘Willi Boly’ alias Toti remained on the pitch… correctly imo.
A big game from him today btw…
Two top quality goals and no amount of thuggery from Jansen and his other centre back gorilla…. could stop us closing in on a Champions League spot.
There was a large amount of gamesmanship today, blocking moaning and whinging… and how ironic that Frank got the Red card that the Ref had been desperate to dish out…. and what a cheek he should moan about time wasting…. Get real I say … start preparing for the championship….
And just like the drone… we’re flying lovely.. under the radar…
Brilliant result ….but we were fading and then we put Adama on pitch and if was as if we put 11 new players on the park
Anyone that can’t see that is blind
What on earth are we doing selling a player like that to a rival for 4th place
WHAT THE FUCK ?
Why is this being allowed to happen ?
Why is no one asking fosun why they are doing such a stupid thing
Champions league is in our sights and they are prepared to hand it to spurs ?
Why ?
What is going on?
Maybe a question to be put to Traore who has had an unsigned contract on the table for 18 months.
I don’t understand your point … so he has wage demands ?!
We spent 35 million on silva znd hardly played him in18 months … we could surely hold onto Adama and still get 20 million at the end of the season… if we were champions league he may reconsider his position
– Yes, and if he’s not succeeding adapting into Spurs system as a wing back, his career is at risk. A lot is at stake here for all parts. Waiting for the summer is the safe option, at least for Traore – not for Spurs and Wolves (if he don’t sign a contract). Moving to a club to play in the position regarded as not his best doesn’t sound like a good move to me.
Absolutely 100% agree
A carnival spirit continues to follow the Wolves.
We got the lot, bar the Fox at Leyton Orient and the power outage at Watford. But Three whole points and some free honey, get in mi beauties.
Thanks for the post, Ben. Conveys the excitement of consistantly winning hard old prem matches, and the Wolves go marching on.
And Colnel Kenny Hibbit has surpassed his duties at Refs Monitoring Station. A red card overturned!! When was the last time that happened to a Wolf. Even Conte’s drone didn’t get a chance to distill the Bruno magic.
Be a laff to watch the usual saddo’s on MoTD going on about what a top striker Ivan Tony is as they spit out a few more feathers. The lad’s on 606, Savage & Sutton couldn’t manage a ‘Well done!’ between them.
Well I didn’t say it, but 3 wins v. Gooners, Spuds n Hammers = Europe.
I can hear a few Toffees whinging, ‘Why can’t we be like Wolves?’
1 lv & COYW
Great. Wolves on edge of top 6 and BBC put Leeds v Newcastle on first. Wankers
Yep, Cheese. Listening to Shearer prattle on for 10 mins about ‘improvements’ at the Toon, pure self indulgence and time wasting. We’re lucky he doesn’t get many chances for this kind of rubbish.
All positive remarks have been mentioned above. And I fully agree with all.
My one and only worry is the idea that Fabio is an up and coming PL player. He was, and will be for a considerable amount of time – totally useless. Why, in heaven’s name does Bruno insist on putting him on ?? All I saw him do (besides losing the ball and falling over) was running like a demented, headless chicken, chasing the ball. I believe even young Cundle should be selected over him. Please send him out on loan and get a decent stand in for Raul.
I am sorry to sound so negative after such a positive result, but when I see Traore sitting on the bench and Fabio on the field, I get rather agitated.
And are we seriously considering selling Mautinho ???
Totally useless is somewhat over the top but I think that yesterday’s performance did show that he’s still far from ready to be a premier league starter which requires much more of him than a 15 minute cameo against tiring defenders.
He didn’t see enough of rhe ball especially in the first half which on the whole was poor and he didn’t get much service but he ran his socks off, he’s been doing brilliantly in his previous substitute appearances and was on fire against Sheff U, surely you cant have missed that. He looks far more comfortable in a front three imo. Deserved his chance today. Great squad player, as is Traore. It’s not like Traore hasn’t had his chance to shine, too inconsistent but great off the bench.
It really boils my piss to read things like the youngster is totally useless.
He isn’t. He’s developing. He’s had some good performances when he’s come on for us and clearly is a work in progress.
At the risk repeating what has often been written – he’s a teenager. He didn’t set his fee or wages. He is new to this country, clearly well liked by his team mates and he is working hard for the team.
Given an opportunity to play in the premier league for a club with many players and a coach from his home country, what youngster would turn that down ?
It’s a team sport, we’re winning with and without him. Get off his back and get behind him.
UTW
I might have sounded a bit cruel saying he is useless. I used that term instead of “not useful”, which I am sure you agree he was not useful at all for the 80 mins he was on. As to not being his fault – I never said it was. The lad has only a certain amount of capability at this stage (that is understandable at his age), but the point is, he is being used ahead of others who have shown better qualities in that position. Trincao was available and the likes of Cundle and Campbell (in the U23) have been really good. I agree it is not his fault that such a high price has been set on his head, but to say he will one day become a star and therefore a bargain at the price is so utterly wrong. Let me remind you that his price of 35M is the same as we paid for Neves, Mautinho and Traore (combined). He is now with us and needs all the help he can get. In my opinion, that would be a loan move to gain experience. That’s what all the other youngsters do.
Why would you put Trincao ahead of him?
Trincao – 17 games 56min per game 0 goals 0 assists
Silva – 11 games 14min per game 0 goals 0 assists.
Trincao has had ample time to prove his worth and failed to shine, Silva has had a seventh of the playing time Trincao’s had.
So , Cundle and Campbell had 0 games, 0 mins and 0 everything. So they (according to your reasoning) should therefore be ahead of Silva, right ???
I said quite a few times that Silva needed a run in the U23’s. Unfortunately, when he did get a game, he was so bad, he got taken off at half time. That is now why I now think he should get a loan into a lower division. Look at Ronan and MGW. They are shining there and might very well be back in the fold, with a lot more more skill and experience. I have nothing against the lad, he just simply, isn’t good enough for the PL.
Adama Traore will go into Wolves history as another huge loss if we don’t U turn..
Our unplayable most times Exocet
is so important to keep ..he’s a catagoric game changer and he is irreplaceable..Conte fuck off..
Fosun change your minds and pay his agents fees..
This game and recent fantastic run proof of managerial progress indeed..
Even Neves value has gone up £20M ..
It’s there for all to see
Brilliant result and a reminder of the old heady days attitude..
Confidence.
COYW
Could not agree more . He’s starting to find the net now … are we letting what could be one of the greatest players the world has seen go to Spurs for a poultry 20 million. It’s a joke
They better use the money on Batigoal (Barbosa) or an other striker. I wonder if Doherty is a part of the deal? If so, Semedo could be regarded as a replacement for Traore.
Correction: Gabigoal. Batigoal was Batistutas nickname.
Irrespective of whether Traore’s goal and assist analysis is viewed critically, he genuinely does have the ability to change games in terms of how teams try to defend against him. In the modern world if someone was offering 50 to 60m you would seriously have to consider it as that sort of fee can be game changing if used wisely. However at @£20m it simply is not worth it.how is 20m going to elevate us into threatening the top six on a consistent basis? Just as the jota deal strengthened Liverpool and ultimately has weakened us, selling Traore now at this point in our development to an absolutely direct rival for Europe is at best a very poor strategic decision and at worst is a validation of what many are increasingly pointing out I.e Fosun are simply in a holding pattern until someone offers to buy the club and will continue to selectively sell off our best talent to keep the wheels turning as a solid PL team but one lacking the ultimate ambition they once claimed. This is not Fosun bashing as they have done great things for us but fans are not to be hoodwinked and being a critical voice should always be part of a proper football club
SCW,
It is possible Traore has made it absolutely clear in discussions with Jeff Shi that he definitely wants to leave Wolves regardless of how good any new contract offer is. If so, would you keep him and risk him leaving for nothing in 18 months time?
Yes I would. however, I do not subscribe to the view that Traore should not be sold under any circumstances but I would wait until the end of this season. If we qualify for Europe or dare us dream of the CL, there is the possibility he may reconsider his contractual position and then we have a decision to make. Selling him then would still probably yield 5-10m if he is now worth 20m
To add fuel to the bullshit transfer rumour mill, has anyone who is advocating a move for Doherty even thought about the fact he is almost two years older than when he last played for us?
He was never the fastest player on the pitch, and is now that much slower.
We have a vastly improved Semedo, a young Hoever, of whom we aint seen the best yet, and a couple of others in the wings.
Bruno is gradually stamping his style and requirements on what is still basically Nuno’s old squad, and a bloody fine job he’s doing.
Roll on the end of this month, when the transfer window is shut, and the gutter press, rumour mongers and shit stirrers can crawl through the filth of their “professions” and find another topic to lie about.
Also, no one has yet pointed out the absolute wizardry of our goals yesterday.
The first, a delightful passage of play, culminating in a sweet and swift one- two, and a perfectly executed, outside of the foot shot, giving the keeper both no sight of, nor no hope of getting near it.
The second, beautifully teed up with a little toe poke, then gloriously squeezed past the keeper at the near post.
Fuckin’ A !!
Why on earth would we want Doherty back?
When push came to shove he couldn’t get out fast enough. What goes round comes round
One obvious question: Do Middlesbrough have a sell on clause? Doesn’t make any sense in selling to a rival for little more than we paid for him. Makes more sense to wait till the summer and negotiate a deal with Barca for Trincao.
Answer to my own question. Middlesbrough do not have a release clause. £25m still not enough though. Newcastle just paid £25m for Wood!
Correction they do not have a sell on clause. The release clause was activated when we bought him. Bit of a senior moment there I’m afraid.
The Traore debate rolls on. It’s been raging for 2 years going back to the time when he had a purple patch for 6 months when Jiminez and Jota together were able to interpret his eccentricity.
To all those who want him to stay – I get it. He’s a potential game changer.
But for the last 18 m months he has made it pretty clear he doesn’t see his future with Wolves and his performances have reflected this. In the meantime his value has dropped by around £30 million. Pity we didn’t take the money when it was there.
First of all he was courted by Liverpool, then others and now Spurs. But his latest dream is to return to Barcelona. Well Adama maybe along with Jurgen Klopp they have observed your behaviour (which by the way is a repeat of when at Middlesbrough) and decided that it’s not worth the hassle.
Good luck if you go to Spurs as RWB, hope you make a better fist of it than Doc did. The result of his departure has proved to be a blessing with the arrival of the younger Semedo.
Is there really much point in trying to hold on to a player who has made it clear with contract “negotiations”, body language and mixed (at best) performances on the pitch that we aren’t good enough for him?
I guess you have inside knowledge about what he is asking for and what Jeff is offering.
Can you please give us some of the details?
You guess wrong.
Feeling smug after cleaning up with BetVictor again. I got 6/4 for the win and 11/2 ditto with BTTS. The 11/2 odds looked too good to turn down.
The Traore situation is still unresolved, but I’m very much in the keep-him category. Correct me if I’m wrong, but is Fabio Silva earning more than Traore? If so, that would be enough to piss anyone off. And the thought of selling Traore for less than 30-year old Chris Wood is bizarre, even notwithstanding Traore’s fast expiring contract. Another season and a half out of Traore could be worth far more to us than a paltry £20mil. What if we say no? Is there a mega release-clause in his contract with us, like £50mil. I’d be happier with £50mil. Sod Spurs, sod Levy.
I’m off to Stamford Bridge this afternoon to spend some winnings and to boo Spurs.
My thoughts too, could the £35m paid for Silva (not his fault and had dodgy backhander to Mendes written all over it) have been the trigger for his contract situ. Totally understandable imo. Chris Woods goal tally has been double figures every season for the previous four years so his price is there or thereabouts (barring added desperate club with rich new owners tax).
I think he looks happy at wolves.
We are about to pull the rug from under our own feet
Unbelievable
We are so close to what was the dream
He looks happy at Wolves?
You live in never never land with him.
Great performance and a great deal of credit has to go to Bruno the man is a genius he has in some cases turned lead into gold which brings me to the only frustrating element is why oh why are the board not backing him we are so close to getting in the top six even dare I say the top four.
With a couple of quality additions we could go one better than our previous best we missed the opertunity a couple of seasons ago to get that last champions league place we are on the brink again of something really special we just need to push the boat out a little and with Bruno at the helm we can achieve anything.
Come on Jeff let’s not let another opertunity slip th,rough our hands again.
Tip for Adama:-
Doherty wanted to go to a ‘big’ club, so he chose Spurs.
Nuno had the choice of several clubs after Wolves. He went for a ‘big’ club… Spurs.
That went well for them didn’t it?
As far as the game is concerned…Time wasting?… Karma… with a capital ‘K’!
And they started it yesterday as well.
Bringing a drone on for 19 minutes was slightly more subtle than the goalkeeper taking 5 minutes to change his gloves, but it was never going to work.
The sight of Thomas Frank furiously slapping his watch as Moutinho lay on the floor recovering from a forearm smash to the back of his head will stay with me for a good while, and seeing him receive the red card that seemed to be wrongly going Toti’s way, just put the icing on the cake.
A great second half effort by the entire team, where Nelson, Ruben, Toti, Ait-Nouri, Kilman… well, everybody… stood out really.
A sumptuous performance and goal by João and another controlled finish by Traore just goes to underline what I said in the prematch blog.
We MUST keep these players!
If Frank is worried about time being wasted perhaps he should have a world with Pinock over how long he needs to prepare for his long throws.
Agreed doogy woogy
None of our players are the best in the world but they play ,each one for the manager.
Give mainly 100 per cent and seems that they are settled and happy.
Adama needs to be very careful about the choices he makes as you said about doherty.
Could end very badly.
Anyone remember Charlton?
The fans were calling for Curbishley to go as they wanted to progress from finishing 6th every year.?
My advice… man up, become the player we know you can be week in week out.
Ah yes, the chuffing Addicks. Remember them? Had a decent win over Fleetwood Who? at the w/e in the 3rd Div. Save us, football Gods, from a fate such as theirs. One of the loudest critics of Fosun money and FFP as our paths seperated in the Champ. Bare jealous wasp chewing all round.
It wasn’t too bad for Nuno
I heard that he got 20 odd million for 12 weeks work
Word on the grapevine is that Adama wants to be the best paid player at the club. OK, we all like to be appreciated but wage caps are there for a reason and there is already a best paid player. He, Joao M I believe, and other world class performers we have in our club, will be unsettled and a wage spiral we can ill afford could well ensue.
Sure, as fans, we want all the best players to be at our club. But life in the real world just ain’t so simple.
If Adama wants to be the best paid player at the club, that’s fine with me.
Offer him a new contract, and put a clause in saying, when he BECOMES the best player at the club, he will get the commensurate wage.
Over to you Adama.
Well said.
In performance related pay terms he would be behind –
Sa
Semedo
Kilman
Coady
Saiss
Ait -N0uri
Jonny
Moutinho
Neves
Neto
Podence
Jiminez
Boly
Dendoncker
And possibly on a par with Trincao and Silva.
So if the rumour mill is correct dream on Adama.
You talk complete shit
You could almost have made a good point there but then you spoil it all with the inclusion of three players who haven’t kicked a ball in anger for ages.
Valid point, but they are on existing contracts which have to be honoured.
Not sure he’d be behind all them PJB, but he’d have a few above him for sure.
appy daze
Ruben Neves. Boy are we fortunate to be able to watch him. I want him to stay with us forever and never grow old. When I’m old, he’ll be one of the players I talk about wistfully.
Ran the midfield effortlessly once again and is in the form of his life at the moment. We can only hope no one takes him away so we can marvel at his wizardry a while longer.
I think we need to keep Adama. Very much an unpolished diamond but a devastating weapon in the armoury. I will respect Jeff if the intention is to sell him to buy someone better. If it is just to expand Fosun coffers I won’t be so happy. But my message is if we aren’t buying then keep what we have.
Just watched Spurs v Chelsea. If Conte thinks Traore is the solution to Tottenham problems dream on ‘cos he ain’t. Have him and give us twenty mill and thank you very much. A lot of coaches have tried to achieve Adamo’s potential and only Nuno succeeded but only briefly.
This was a very good professional performance. Moutinho and particularly Neves ran the show. The best bit was winning after being pegged back – it shows confidence and commitment and a belief in the system.
I think that the improved performances from the likes of Podence, Dendoncker and our new arrival Toti have been vital.
Fabio Silva will not cut the mustard. I can see no potential in him at all. We urgently need a new experienced Striker to assist Raul – otherwise we will miss out on Europe
Also, Semedo for all the time he has the ball still cannot put in a decent cross – how many goals would Doherty have scored/assisted by now ?
Will you stand behind that statement when Silva becomes a star – with us or another team?
I didn’t need to ask. Whiners like you never stand behind the old statements. Just whine and whine and when they’re right one out of 25 times they scream to the heavens.
Leave the comments to people with some perspective .
And…you’re still on with the idiotic Doc talk. Ask any football coach or scout who they’d rather have. Not one (not one) would say Doc over Semedo.
I’m just home from Chelsea v Spurs. I hope Traore was watching. Spurs were basically shite, after flattering to deceive recently. Wolves would have given Chelsea a much better game.
There’s a lot of talk on here about how much Traore is worth in wages compared to other Wolves players. I’d say he might be worth a lot more than you might think. In spite of the seemingly meagre returns he is truly an exceptional talent, and his contribution can’t be measured fully with conventional stats. He is a one-off special case and Bruno can see that.
Other teams are terrified when he’s on the pitch. That’s worth something.
I need to stop reading this blog. Instead of admitting that he was wrong about Semedo, the author needs to say he’s one of our most improved players.
He is improved. But, he was very good last year – especially the second half.
How about just saying you were wrong about Semedo. It’s a terrible personal quality to paper over errors.
Defensively he has improved greatly along with Ait Nouri who was also defensively suspect last season. However,in my view, he is still far to hesitant in forward areas and his shooting is generally poor. Example, yesterday’s blaze high and wide.
Hi Al, I’m happy to admit I was wrong about Semedo. To be honest, I thought my comment made that clear and was more in keeping with the flow of the post than a random admission of misjudgment would have been. That being said, I disagree that he was good last season – we paid an awful lot of money for him and he didn’t improve the team, though that of course isn’t his fault. Like many players this season, he has improved massively under Bruno’s tutelage.
On another note, a friendly reminder that you don’t have to read the blog and are more than welcome to stop reading should you so wish. A lot of hard work goes into producing the content we put out – particularly from Thomas – and we don’t make a penny from it. So, quite frankly, it’s unappreciated when readers such as yourself go out of your way to criticise our work. I’m all for a friendly disagreement, but your comment is just rude and unnecessary.
We’ll said Ben….
The free time and unpaid effort that goes into this blog is overlooked far too often….
Of course we’ve all got views, and we don’t always have to be in agreement but when it comes down to sheer rudeness and disrespect then there’s no place for it here…
I apologize. The rudeness wasn’t necessary (I call it snark – but, not apparent in text). I appreciate the blog.
a few things that bother me about the Semedo/Silva whining (especially Semedo).
1) we spend every transfer window asking Fosun to be ambitious. They reply with a signing of a very highly regarded right back and we just bitch that he was the wrong signing.
2) Semedo was a key player last year – especially in the second half of the season. With Jonny out and Ait Nouri still growing, ALL build up from the back went through Semedo. And, he got forward very well. He clearly had the remit from NES to get forward and he would have coverage in the back.
3) the whining started immediately – even though even a novice fan knows that the EPL usually takes a year to get physically used to. Semedo acclimated faster than that.
João Cancelo is arguably the world’s best wing back (if you don’t believe me, watch him play). He couldn’t buy minutes with man City his first year .
I understand that we don’t have the luxury to spend and wait that Man City does. But, if it took Cancelo a year to grow into the Prem, why do we jump on Semedo for taking 6 months.
Like I said. I was cranky (in general, whining about sports is obnoxious to me). I shouldn’t have been rude.
And, to be fair, Ben was complimenting Semedo. I just thought it was a watered down compliment bc it implies something from last year that was greatly exaggerated by the haters (a name that I don’t feel applies to the writers here).
You must have been watching a different Semedo to me last season but his defending has improved tremendously this season, probably thanks to the work Bruno and team are doing with the whole defence because all other defenders have improved too.
I don’t your comments about getting used to the physicality of the premier league. Some can cope straight away such as our own Joao who took to it like a duck to water and he’s hardly built like a brick outhouse!
Wow Al
I didn’t think I had to agree with you to post a comment.
That’s my opinion agree or not
Semedo has improved but was he worth £35m and Silva £37 m and Silva on £80k per week ???.
Semedo has no end product for all his speed and dribbling skills, that’s his problem – a bit like Adama but not as good
To bring some facts to the Semedo v Doherty debate.
Matt Doherty 97 PL appearances for Wolves, 8 goals, 11 assists and 22 clean sheets. Nelson Semedo 52 appearances, 1 goal, 1 assist and 13 clean sheets.
A personal view is that Doherty had defensive flaws to his game and I’m not sure £15m was full value for him but based on his time at Spurs we may have sold at the right time. Semedo , a pretty poor first half to last season but improved as time went on. This season much, much better. Was it worth the extra £15m to secure his services, not totally sure, his stats which are the key things which determine outcomes to games, would indicate No. However, the price tag is not his fault and so it is more of a criticism of Fosun’s recruitment than Semedo himself
Sutton,
Watching Doc at Stamford Bridge yesterday, we most certainly sold at the right time! He definitely wasn’t at the races but most of the Spurs team weren’t either. On the BBC website Doc was rated 4.12.
Karma for Harry Kane. His goal was disallowed due to the Chelsea defender Silva going down from the fainest touch, in true Harry Kane style. How many times have we seen Kane go down that way?
As we move into the final week of the window, it’s significant that Bruno has drawn attention to Daniel Levy’s stonewalling of Citeh’s pursuit of Harry Kane last summer. Bruno did this to explain his reluctance to sell Traore. I don’t think it’s a done deal, and there’s no point in selling at the end of the window, leaving us unable to bring new players in. As the days go by the chances of Traore staying will increase. It’s not a coincidence that Traore is looking sharper and happier with the benefit of Bruno’s coaching.
I hope that you are right dances , I can’t believe how stressful this is
It’s one thing selling him , but I truly believe that he’s so game hanging that anyone around us that signs him will get that champions league place .
And we already have him . !!
Changiing not hanging !
Thanks DWW. Yes, you could well be right . The whole transfer saga with Traore is a very interesting one. For once, Levy doesn’t appear to hold all the cards and I hope Jeff is playing the long game to maximise the negotiated position in wolves favour if assuming a deal is still our intention which as I said previously I personally think is the wrong decision at this stage of the season.
Spot on dances, levy is under pressure from conti to spend but he still tries to get a bargain, surely this is a time to play hardball?
If we let traore go for less than 25 mill we will become the only team in Europe to sell cheap in the January window!
His contract still has 18 months, keep him, get into the top 6 above Spurs and pump up traores stats , he will be worth 50 mill by seasons end and you never know, may want to sign that contract.
The thought of selling him cheap to a rival and then paying more for trincao is messing with the numbers in my brain !
Utw
Marney..You’ve actually opened my eyes a little…
My good friend sent me a copy of Wolves wage structure recently and Trincao’s weekly wage was a darn sight more than Traore’s….
Which goes a long way to explain
a) why we should offer Traore a much better deal and
b) bringing in players on wages to disrupt the equilibrium never works for the good of all…
Totally agree. No benefit in selling Traore at the end of the window and to do so to one of our direct rivals for a European place would be beyond criminal, not to say potentially financially very costly.
Full of sense, Sutton. To dislike or not agree with your comments indicates a blinkered attitude. Just my view, of course.
Yet again, scrolling and trolling the instaweb, I came across this piece and unashedly stole it.
The building of the first team is obviously a priority for any football club. But, using Wolves links to bring through young players with ability to the point of regularly playing in the first 11 or even the first team squad, in my view is twice as important as just getting the cheque book out and trying to buy our way through the league. Personally, I get more of a buzz seeing a total unknown come through, a Max Kilman or a Toti Gomes, just to see the absolute enthusiasm in their faces and body language, to wear the shirt, they have spent weeks and months to get to this level. Yes, it’s not always possible, and sometimes a club has to buy in experience, but somehow, to me, it’s more satisfying to see our own come up through the ranks. Onwards and Upwards fwaw ???
Absolutely. Every great player was once a total unknown.
Agree with the sentiment but weeks or months to get to this level? Years more like, a decade plus in most cases.
It is well worth reading John Lalley’s assessment of the game on the Express & Star website. Perfect summary (quite an extensive one!), in my view.
It could be, of course, that Adama himself doesn’t want to go to Spuds and would rather stick around with us until summer then return triumphantly home to Barca.
I’m sure there’s a deal there somewhere as we are sniffing around talented midfielder Puig as well as deciding on the future of Trincao. Swapsies perhaps.
My thoughts also.
Probably would suit all parties and Mendes on hand to facilitate the deal.
Here’s hoping.
If only we knew what the heck was really going on!
Assuming money comes in who is the player about to arrive? Haven’t heard much about that have we?
If no one leaves we promote from within, recall loanees and wait for the injured to get fit. That doesn’t seem such a bad idea after all
Looks like it all a done deal . Sky bet has it at one to twenty that it’s happening,. Can’t believe we could be so stupid
Spurs fans are laughing cos he’s gone for such a small price
Absolutely stupid decision to sell a player like that to a direct rival at a critical time in our clubs history
All that stuff fosun were saying zbout putting us back with thevEuropean elite must be bollllocks . Full of shit . Why has no one at the club come out and said
” this is a mistake , don’t do it
Imagine if it was the other way round and spurs sold us Harry kane or song for twenty million? …. never in a month of Sundays
We ll do it though .
Thought those days had gone
Patience dea Londinium
IF it happens we will not know the details of the deal…
We will not know if Adama is disrupting the atmosphere within the squad…
Don’t accept anything under 50 million and if there’s an atmosphere you’ve got it until he goes on a free.
Fosun are no mugs .
This is business; something Fosun are renowned for.
We won’t have inside information so any criticism is based on the mere scraps we have been fed.
No one player is indispensable…
Patience….
LWL,
Bookies odds of 1/20 don’t necessarily tell you anything.The bookies love to take £20 when their only risk is to lose £1. What odds are they offering on Traore staying at Wolves?
Don’t know and I’m too stressed to look
Can’t believe we could be so stupid
If he wants to go fine
Swap him with some one in Germany or Spain
Don’t give him to fucking Spurs
Must agree LWL. European qualification would easily offset Traores transfer fee reduction at the end of season. It’s a risk industry and Fosun should fully back Wolves to achieve a European place. Not by selling to rivals on the cheap! (Thought it was only Mike Dean who gave Tottenham European qualification over Wolves!)
Paper talk Matt, don’t get me started on sky, Ruskis shaping up for war, and Sky news spend first ten minutes of news time talking about Johnson’s birthday party.
They should be talking about Adams transfer fee, much more important.
Now laying on a sunbed on Carambola Beach in St Kitts so not really focused on the Traore situation. Will contribute when I return on the 5th.
Oh, and it’s nice and hot here. Also hope to catch up with St Kitts Wolf at 12 ish.
He’s not going to let you put your tent in his garden .. it ain’t west park or the m62 !
Pay for an hotel like every one else has to !
Don’t need an hotel Matt. We are on a ship lol. See you in the Lych Gate sometime when we get back mate.
Be careful knocking your pegs in then
Don’t want holes in the hull
See you soon
Great in Wolvo too. The Sahara has had rain more recently than us and it’s nicer weather here too! Can’t abide those roasting temperatures.
And the cut is better than the beach.
Blah blah blah
It’s actually 28C ‘ere in Devon and I’m sat on Torquay seafront in a deckchair stuffing a nice Tutti Frutti ice cream. So there!
Now where’s me factor 50.
I know .. all he talks about is his holidays these day s …never talks about the. Wolves anymore. ..it’s all about him and where he can put his tent
I’ve got a few suggestions as to where he can put his tent!
And the sun doesn’t shine there.
I think he has been moved from Smethwick already
Better warn Clive and Marin that Brommo is floating around not too far off their coast line
What we need is a Japanese sub.
When Hwang is fit, we’ll have a Korean one.
I read somewhere that the current transfer window has been described as “constipated”.
Discuss.
Can’t shit … full of shit … I don’t care as long as we can keep this team together and achieve something before they start selling
And a delightful result from deepest sandwell tonight!
Good old Preston
United are refusing to loan lingard to Spurs or west ham because they are top four rivals!
Weather you like or dislike traore, you just know he will be unplayable against us if we sell him now,
5 days to go , surely we won’t sell him on the last day , Will we ?
Now I’m reading that the board at wolves are saying that if we sell Adama it will improve our chances of keeping Ruben Neves .. so now I’m asking myself …
What is the point? We may as well sell the lot and go back to the championship if we are not going to achieve anything. What was the point in any of it if we have sell any of our players the minute they start playing well .
I’m losing heart here
I thought we were promised something .
I’ve given my life to following Wolves through thick and thin , mainly thin, with hope that someday we wouldn’t be a fallen giant anymore . That we would be respected again . Finally we’ve started to get somewhere and as soon as that has started happening the pigs are in the trough .
LWL, your dream and passion is shared by many, many Wolves fans, particularly those who lived through our lowest point in The 80s. I have consistently said we should judge Fosun by what they do, not by what they say. They have done a lot of very good things and have elevated us to a position that we have not enjoyed for 40 years. Just as the sale of Jota was a watershed moment, the first indication of their overriding objective to make money from player trading, so the sale of Traore would embed this further. I hope that the last 18 months or so are merely a temporary holding pattern until they secure the further investors needed to take the club to the next level. In the meantime, brace yourself for the periodic sale of further talent for profit. Perversely, the injuries to Jimenez and Neto have helped us in resting their talent as otherwise it is likely they too may have moved on by now. Neither should we be surprised if Neves, Kilman and Sa also come under the spotlight for sale in the summer. I agree that if Fosun were deadly serious in their ambition there is no way we would be selling Traore at this moment in time and there is no way we would be selling to a direct rival for a European spot. I sincerely hope Jeff is playing Spurs along only to let them down at the death. My fear is that it suits him to do this deal in the final hours of this window to then do a Moxey and talk about “ lack of time to spend the money in what is a notoriously difficult window and better to keep our powder dry until the summer”
Sutton.. agree with all that you said there..
I always look down on the teams like spurs and Arse mainly due to the fans constantly moaning about how dreadful the owners/management are…
Let’s not become another team like that.
Enjoy the journey.. some highs, some lows….and yes, the reason we are 8th IS because of Fosun.
Very short memories football fans .
We could still be trying to get out of the championship couldn’t we? Or worse ; be a yo yo club.Thanks Fosun for the fantastic memories that I never thought I’d have.
Here we are again, on the six monthly merry go round, bitching and moaning about transfers, policy, what Fosun/Jeff/Bruno are doing/thinking/ saying, blah, blah, blah………
When NONE of us know the facts.
Look at yourselves, boys and girls, acting just like the pricks in the media, making stuff up, speculating and generally sounding like spoilt brats.
We need to, once again, wait until the window is closed, and until then, all take a big dose of Shut The Fuck Up!!!!!
Clive – I regularly enjoy your posts as they make me chuckle. I don’t even mind the smattering of Anglo Saxon that accompanies them. Sometimes, however, you do come across as a bit of a gobby bell end.
None of us own this blog, everyone has the right to offer a view, disagree with it by all means but never censor the debate – it says more about you than the posts you are critiquing and I’m sure you are better than that.
Spot on.
But you are entitled to an opinion if Clive shares it,
Ask Paul AD67.
Hope so Clive .. trouble is no football this weekend so what else is there to do ?
If we’re not looking busy at the computer then we may get taken ikea or that shop that you can never find a way out of
Marks& Spencer’s. ..
I do wish people would take a wider view of the whole transfer situation.
It is not all Fosun’s fault that players don’t stay for their entire careers.
Jota: Like it or not, we were only ever a stepping stone as far as he was concerned. Read some of the interviews he gave when he left.
Traore: He won’t sign a contract, for God’s sake. I don’t know how much he’s been offered to sign on but is any one seriously suggesting he’s worth the reported £120k a week that Tottenham are said to be offering?
The global economic situation has changed immeasurably since Fosun bought the club and their long term ambitions have had to be adjusted.
We’re sitting in 8th and with a great chance of winning a European place with the payers we have. There hasn’t been much of a contribution from Traore.
If he has to go, I’d like to see Traore at Barcelona. Then, before long, we can watch Max Kilman mark him out the game in the Champions League final!!
Personally, I think Fosun are doing a great job.
Sky reporting Barca in talks to sign Adama on loan with option to buy for £29m in the summer. Fingers crossed.! Could be the perfect solution
This is in the Spanish press today Penn. Best solution all round for me. Don’t sell him to one of our competitors
“Meanwhile, Gerard Romero reports that Barca have reached an agreement with Wolves to sign Traore on loan for the rest of the season, while the deal will include the option to buy in the summer.
Not really the perfect solution, as it is only as option to buy rather than an obligation which would be far better for us.
I do agree sending him to Barca rather than Spurs is much preferable, but I do hope we are charging a loan fee to offset the loss of transfer value when we end up with the player back with us in the summer, as no way will Barca (who are in the financial shite) shell out £29m for a player with only 12 months left on his deal.
Unless of course Traore plays an absolute blinder over the rest of the season, or we try to do some smoke and mirrors with a player swap deal.
I would think the inscrutable Mr shi would tie them down on that one and the fee would be non negotiable I don’t see him coming back here if he leaves so its good that he goes back to the sunshine and not anyone in our league .
Funny how barca are supposed to be in the mire financially ( or were they really that deep in it) maybe it was it a ploy to dump the ridiculous wage earners they had hanging around and now its time to get real like a lot of others will have to eventually.
According to most reports obligation to buy. Suspect player exchange is on the cards, which leaves both sides room for manoeuvre.
Sorry, but every single report I’ve read says option not obligation.
While I do find it hilarious that Mr Levy’s penny pinching both last summer and now has come back to bite him, I do hope there is a bit more to this as unless Barca take up their option it is a bad deal for us.
Anyways, I hope Traore storms it, as he is a Barca fan this must be a deam move for him.
Dear Wolves
I have just read your latest email about ‘Lunch with Thomas’.
In view of that I would like to apply for the job of proof reader for pubic announcements.
Ooops! I mean pubic annulments of course.
On second thoughts, please ognire my application.
Yours fatfully
theBOOdooger
I was always a bit mystified at Conte’s ambition to turn AT into a wingback, it seemed to be at odds with our experience of his performances when he was asked to do the same sort of thing for us. It seems that AT himself knows his own strengths and weaknesses and, sensibly, looks to have opted for doing what he both likes and is good at.
The Spurs plan always felt a bit like signing Ronnie O’Sullivan because you planned to have him opening the batting for you. As JG almost remarked, ‘It really is a funny old game”!
Looks as if Traore is off to Barca then. If he is –
He’s wanted out for ages. So he’s got his wish.
He’s even doubled up and got his wish to go back to the Nou Camp. Hope it works out for you, it’s what you wanted.
And to all who have extolled his virtues (and yes he can be a game changer) let’s look at the positives.
He’s not staying in the PL to come back and haunt us.
We’re going to get a decent fee.
We’ve got rid of a major distraction.
We have plenty of cover, specially when Neto is back.
And if past experience is anything to go by then Mendes will be working on a reciprocal arrangement. The relationship with Jorge will always smack of Machiavelli. But with the exception of the Jota deal, which still infuriates me, let’s be honest he has done us much more good than harm
So if it comes off I say for once well done Jeff Shi because surely there is something in it for everyone.
Win/win/win?
And as a bonus lots of egg on faces around N17 to add to the Doherty flop.
Hilarious.
I’m so mightily relieved that AT is not going to Spurs. I never saw the logic. That said, it’s a strange situation that he is going to Barca this month, on loan, with an OPTION for them to buy in the summer, and in the meantime paying his wages in full. Obviously they should pay his wages, that’s no frigging concession! What do we get out of it, just a possible sale in the summer? Strange. There must be more to it. Like a Barca player heading this way?
A Spurs mate has phoned me in despair. He reckons Conte will walk next week if he’s not supported by Levy in this window. Lovely news!
I’m with you Dances, “What’s in it for us?”
Good Luck to Adama , he’s gone , we need to move on
and get stuffed Daniel Levy, good luck with your fanbase and stroppy manager.
Here I am again, stealing stuff off the tinterwebbookface thing!
Well the original Adama Traore ‘done deal to Spurs’, announcements by the media have gone down like a lead balloon. We now have Barcelona loaning the player, who clearly wants the move. The announcement that this deal is a loan with an option to buy appears to be met with again more criticism and cynism from Wolves fans all over social media. My view is this is a win, win for Wolves. Firstly, assuming Adama succeeds at Barcelona, Wolves gain the best possible deal £29m instead of selling to a Premier league rival, competing for European places with Wolves, for less money, rumoured that the actual increased offer from Spurs was more like £17 to £18m, not the largely reported £20m figures seen in the media. If Adama fails on his second home coming to Barcelona. Then the player comes back with his tail between his legs, and showing the football World that he hasn’t quite become the finished product his hype and flashes of promise has shown. Meaning that he signs his new improved contract with Wolves and gets his head down and works hard to earn the right to become what he desires to be, a top player with what it takes to be one of the best players in the world, instead of an enigma that frustrates us all. Clever move in my view by the board and Wolves. Onwards and Upwards fwaw ???
… and some payback for selling Wolves hollywood – thats another win.