Goosebumps one minute and wayward thumps the next, Adama Traore is an enigma that none of us will forget.
Spray-on kit, peroxide flash of light and 0-60 speeds like a 911, he was impossible to ignore from the moment he arrived.
He was a Porsche Carrera when motoring from deep and so often a Ford Capri at the vital moment, misfiring unfathomably / unluckily <delete as appropriate> with the onion bag beckoning.
I’m going to miss Adama Traore massively, precisely for that maddening ability to endear and infuriate in equal measure. If he was like Forrest Gump then it wasn’t so much his blistering running, but more the fact you never knew what you were going to get next.
A skill-set like his has surely never been seen in old gold before, nor has a pretty unassuming bloke polarised opinion quite like he, with some of my most placid of friends spewing bile-filled hate whenever his name was mentioned. The genuine anger, in my opinion, was as misplaced as a whole heap of his crosses.
Should he not have been embraced more for fashioning such opportunities in the first place, or ruining regimented formations simply by his presence? For some, that was never enough and on a goals / assists ratio, I understand.
I just loved Adama Traore and I’m going to bloody miss him. His willingness to try things when his confidence must have been low (from constant reminders of his outputs) took repeated levels of bravery / stupidity <delete as appropriate>. And in this safety first world we struggle to make sense of, Traore was the perfect antidote, never opting for the easy option and always doing something to get us out of our seats. For the years of McIndoe, Forde, Saville, Rowe and co, watching our incredible hulk in action was like medicine for my soul.
As cult heroes go, he is etched in my top three, sandwiched between Steve Bull and Chris Iwelumo, precisely because he was never scared to put himself about like those two other heroes of mine either.
I’ve never heard audible gasps quite like the ones when our number 37 either embarked on a run or entered the fray from the bench with those big bursting jumps onto the pitch. It was just a shame his outputs so frequently failed to match the expectation.
With his contract dwindling down and his boyhood club beckoning, it was clearly time to let go. And using a ‘Moneyball’ approach to the game, I get it. His stats just didn’t stack up. But from a gut feel, you sense he might just raise his outputs to ‘half decent’ and there’s a highlights reel thicker than his biceps. I guess that’s the unique weighing scales that so many managers keep putting him on. For the second time in his career, he’s tipping the balance in Barcelona.
I’ve no doubt that a career defining moment is up ahead for Adama Traore and it’s sad we won’t see it in a Wolves shirt. In keeping with the Adama anomaly, a Ronnie Rosenthal miss is as likely as a solo strike in the Maracana. And isn’t that the joy of the Beautiful Game right there?
Either way, life always was a box a chocolates with our Adama and for all those orange cream moments – and occasional peanut cracknell in between – I thank him for tingling the taste buds.
Very nicely written and articulated Ben. He will indeed be missed, we were nothing if not royally entertained. 🙂
I agree Andrew. I’ll be really disappointed to see Adama leave. He brings a lot to our team. He can be frustrating, but he’s a unique talent. He’s another hugely potent talent on the ball, like Podence and Neto and he also provides a wonderful “out ball” escape route when we’re being pressurised defensively. Added to all that, it seems he’ll be leaving just as he’s come into a good run of form.
Yes, I’d far rather we kept him.
– Yes, Barcelona doesn’t have to buy him, but they have the option to buy (according to sources). The board should demand that he signs a new contract before they send him off to Spain, assured he’ll get the move if it works out for him in Spain. I don’t know what the deal encompasses. Wolves must get something out of it in case they don’t choose to buy him during the summer, because as a team Wolves will miss Traore as an option both out wide and as an option as a central striker.
Agree 100%.
Agreed, brilliant but infuriating. I wish him well at Barca and look forward to a few tasty clips and I’m really pleased he’s not going to Spurs.
His highlights reel would be fantastic, just too short.
Adios and gracias
Sadly too short and too few.
Adama Tarore! I will remember that name for the rest of my life! So much potential and so much dissapointment! So much excitement and so much frustration! His potential was massive but he continually underachieved. World class in dribbling, but championship standard in finishing. The enigma of Adama Tarore!
I wish him well in his future. So pleased we sold him to Barca, and not to that cheap arse, Daniel Levy, our CL competitors, Spurs. Well done Jeff!
I think we had to sell him. No offense taken by not renewing his contract, it is his right and all reports stated that his attitude was always exemplary.
I will never forget how defenders cringed when he came on as a substitute, and how Wolves fans roared when he got the ball at speed blowing away the defenders,– only to disappoint with the finishing. Yes, he frustrated us, like far too often, like all the time, but that is life, such is life!
All the best Adama, I genuinely wish you all the success in the future! Farewell!
Your first sentence summed him up perfectly Mikey. I liked the guy but felt he was too inconsistent for us to retain. I am interested in whether or not Barcelona take up the option to buy at the end of the loan. It is up to him to impress.
Great to meet up with you the other day my friend. Stay safe.
Forgot the pic mate
??
That should be two smilies! Great to meet you. It is a shame it was not for longer.
That’s that then.
Goodbye Adama, thanks for the brace at the Twatihad and all the other magic moments. That season with Jota & Jimi was class, you always seemed to find Jimi’s head. May your days in Barcelona be your best.
Remember us when we meet in the Champions League final in a couple of seasons time and take compasionate leave.
Thanks, you didn’t sign for the Spuds, but they proper messed that up. Konte Kunte is still spitting feathers and bare chewing wasps. They’re now chasing an out of work Polish plumber from Fleetwood Town for 35 mill. Not our problem.,
I trust you are fuly insured while out on loan, and I will continue to follow your career with interest. Hasta la Vista, baby.
1 lv & COYW.
I can’t say that I was too enamoured when he arrived. But now I don’t want him to go. But Barcelona is his calling and and we shouldn’t begrudge him.
But if we get £30m for a player who couldn’t make our starting 11 ?
Hats off to Fosun.
Cutrone, Vitinha, Goncalves etc. misjudgements, if that’s what they were…….forgiven.
Of course no-one has equated that he’ll blow his opportunity at Barca, they’ll not take up the option to buy, and he’ll be back in the summer. I mean bless him and all and thanks for those two man city back 2 backs (and to be fair most of 2019-2020 season his only truely good season with us). But honestly this is Barcelona we’re talking about and despite their financial peril I still think they won’t settle for a winger who can’t cross for sh*t irrespective on how quick he can run.
Good look to him though and glad he didn’t opt for the spuds.
Congrats to Adama. Barca, his hometown club, has always been in his heart and it would be churlish indeed to begrudge him his move.
But boy, will I miss him. Those mazy runs. The searing pace that left defenders clutching at thin air as they tried to grab his bulbous, slippery arms. The occasional rocket shot which made all those wild efforts all the more frustrating.
Good luck Adama. Remember us fondly.
I cling on to the hope that, come summer, Barca decline the option to buy and we, newly qualified for Europe, put our contract back under his nose and he realises where he is really best off being.
I’m with you and Brizzle on this – I am not convinced Adama will suit Barca’s style either and we may not have seen the last of our enigmatic forward.
Very sad to see him go. Particularly at this point in our season but if the deal had to be done i”m delighted it is Barca and not Spurs. Good luck to him.
Yep … absolutely loved him at wolves
I wish him well and thank him for exciting stuff .
Once on a lifetime player
The threat of Adama was often big enough to change the approach of a team when he was on the field (remember when Tottenham threw Kane back to chop his legs out because nearly every other player already had a yellow card against Traore?). So despite the general lack of final result, just the threat of him was often enough to scare the opposition. I wonder if it will change now he has gone? Man City and Liverpool can probably afford to press us further up the field knowing Adama is no longer around.
So I am sad to see him go. He was the most exciting player ever to wear a (very tight) Wolves shirt. But think of the money we’ll save in oil costs now he has gone!
Sad to see him go, but a good business decision to not break our wage structure on a player that is so inconsistent. So glad he’s going to barca and not spurs or any of the other premier league clubs he was linked with. I’m not ready to see him tearing up our defence just yet!
Thanks for the memories Adama!
35 million for a bench warmer Btilliant business if reinvested
But we haven’t got it yet!
Very sad to see him go .Despite his failings he was always exciting to watch that is for sure .Like others very pleased he opted for Barcelona .Seems quite right he should go full circle and return to his boyhood club in his boyhood town .
Good luck to you Adama and thanks for the memories .Ironic that his last moment at Molineux was a goal !
And a disallowed goal away.
Yes, typically frustrating for his last goal ‘scoring; strike that VAR called his toes offside before he received the ball.
Intense
Impotent
Exciting
Huge
Rather have him with us than against us for sure.
I hope, when he eventually hangs up his boots he truly realises his actual potential.
Maybe he already has……?
Loved having you here Adama
Make sure you set la liguea on fire ?
So many thoughtful comments here.
Adama excited and exasperated in almost equal measure. I kept waiting for that final piece – the ability to read a game and move effortlessly into the right position consistently – to click. But I’m afraid that despite the undoubted skills and efforts of both Nuno and Bruno, it never did. Too often Adama would be standing still, looking lost (imo) until someone shouted to tell him where to move. Whether he can learn – he seems so willing – I do not know. Anyway, I wish him all the luck in the world and, like every Wolves fan, I’m so pleased he is leaving the Premier League (and, especially, that he is not going to Spurned). And if he comes back to us in the summer, I hope he will settle and unleash a few more of those defence-scaring (and scarring) runs for us.
As Ben has very eloquently put it, we all know Traore’s strengths and weaknesses and I would have loved it if a sensible contract agreement could have been reached for him to sign on the dotted line for another 3 or 4 years.
But I have a massive bugbear about players running down their contracts and sadly it is time for a parting of the ways, especially as Lage has decided his best position is being used as an impact sub.
I would have sold him last summer, but if this deal comes off and Barca take up their option then this is a brilliant bit of business by Fosun. If not, well we can always have a “welcome back” blog!
In the meantime, best of luck to Adama, it must be the best feeling in the world playing for the club you support – I hope he smashes it.
A marmite player for sure. But, having him in old gold & black certainly made for entertaining games.
None of us are privvy to the deal, but from an outside view, it looks odd that we have to wait for any cash and then there is no obligation to buy. Can’t believe we are that hard up that it was about reducing the wage bill….. Or, a message to the dressing room not to demand more salary? only Jeff knows.
We will look back and celebrate his time with us a lot more in the future.
I for one wish him well back in his ‘home’ club, I’m sure he will astonish and exasperate the Nou Camp in equal measures. Oh and 2 fingers up to Levy too.
We have Pedro to look forward to coming back, so the team is still strong and we are in a great position in the league.
Keep the faith.
Players come and players go.
Some remain in our thoughts longer than others – I do wish some of you younger ones on here could have witnessed the sight of Dave Wagstaffe occupying the wing. He may not have had Traore’s speed (who does?) but not many players could out-dribble him.
I’m chuffed that Traore is going home, where he truly wants to be, and I wish him all the luck in the world. But, it wasn’t just Nuno and Bruno who failed to hone his finishing touch; the coaches at Barcelona youth academy, Middlesbrough and Villa failed, too. I just don’t think he has it in him.
Anyway, best wishes to the big man, and thank you!
I for one will very Sad to see him go and I know he was so frustrating at times but as said when he was on his game he was unplayable and every coach in the premiership wanted him in their team.
It’s just a pity Nuno and Bruno couldn’t harness his power to the full and so he will always be a enigma.
So glad he’s not going to Spurs and really he always wanted to go home to Barca.That said I wish him all the best and hope he sets the champions league on fire.
Barca have to get there first.
Well said, that article. He was excitement and mystery, personified. The one stat about him that seemed most unfair – IMHO – was the assist stat. I believe, many a time he has set up fellow teammates only to be let down by their finishing.
Maybe the assist stat should mean ” final pass before someone SHOULD have scored”. He would be higher up in that list.
Good Luck to him, and like so many other here, I’m glad he won’t be facing us in the premier league (or assisting Spurs to finish above us).
Utterly devastated to see him go.
The next game was the game where it was all going to click into place and the Exocet was going to start hitting its target – wasn’t it???
The excitement was palpable when with half an hour to go the high vis came off, the oil went on and those leaps into the air preceded the almost audible thoughts of the tiring opposition “Oh shit!”
Whether we’ve seen the last of him, who knows but I can’t begrudge the Barcelona boy stepping down so early in his career to play for the team he grew up supporting.
Good luck Adama. It just won’t be the same without you.
Not going well for Spurs! They’ve lost out on Traore and now I read that Luis Diaz could go to Liverpool instead of Spurs. Daniel Levy probably has only three days to keep Conte at the club.
Thanks for the memories Adama. One of the most talented players, and certainly the most unique, ever to play for Wolves. If Barca don’t buy you in the summer I guess we might see you in a Wolves shirt again, as unlikely as that may seem now. That ‘non goal’ against Brentford was superb, and shame it didn’t stand. Your power and pace were too much for most Premier League defenders. Against the less physical Spanish defenders you will be awesome. I can’t imagine you will fail at Barca. Adios amigo.
Goodbye and good luck, one of those players that in years to come when he is lighting up the international stage we can at least say that we once saw him play for Wolves. An enigma is a very apt description. We have seen some amazing players play for Wolves over the years and will do again but will we ever see another Adama Traore. Still remember the two games against Manchester City in 2019, his two crackers at The Etihad and at Molineux when 2-0 down he got us back in the game and then robbed Mendy on the byeline to set up Raul for the equaliser and the rest is history. Those two games won me £400 so thank you for that. The last minute winner at Fulham in 2021 is another moment of his to treasure. He will be a big loss and sorry to see him go, but, we are not doing too bad. My brother in law once said that he would love to see him at Liverpool to which I replied “why would he leave a massive club like Wolves to go there”. So glad though that he didn’t go to a rival Premier League club too.
Adama Traore – thanks for the memories.
We all know that the European Leagues all have, at best, three good teams, and the rest are just cannon fodder.
That is why the likes of Messi, Ronaldo, Lukaku, Lewandowski ( spelling ?) all found it easy to score goals aplenty.
So it might be with Adama.
Not many Prem defenders can touch him, so even fewer Continentals will be able to, so he might just have found his niche.
So, maybe he will be a hit in Barcelona, and maybe they will cough ip the readies in the summer, and maybe it will get invested wisely.
Who knows?
Whatever happens, we will never forget those “I Was There” games against Pep, two years ago.
Still got them saved on my tv back up thingy, still watch them late into the night when nothing else is on, still wonder how Adama’s shove in the back of Mendy was not given as a foul, and still expect Doherty to miss!!
But, all players leave our beloved Wolves eventually, some are forgotten, some vilified and some missed sorely.
I have never been a huge Traore fan, and I think we’ll be better without him.
Just happy for the few thunderbolt memories he’s left us with, and glad he’s not in the Prem.
Good luck, Adama.
After some of the vilification he’s endured, it’s heartwarmingly great to see how without exception everyone wishes him well. That’s not always the case when players move on.
Just goes to show however frustrating, we’ve enjoyed the opportunity to watch a unique talent.
buena suerte y mis mejores deseos Adama
Muchas gracias u adios
Estoy triste
I’m also glad that he didn’t go to a rival club … but that was going to be the case if the board had their way . I’ve made my feelings clear on this blog along with plenty of others about how stupid that decision was to sell him to spurs . Now Adama is seemingly out of the door and cash till is about to shut … all eyes seem to have shifted to Ruben Neves . He is the absolute Heartbeat of this Wolves team and a huge part of our modern identity Not only is he a fabulous footballer . Off the pitch he also a reason why players would sign for us they would like to play in the same team as him and J Mouhtinio.
No decision was made to sell him to Spurs as far as I’m aware.
Spurs made an offer, the board said no.
Anything else is just speculation
But they didn’t sell him to Spurs did they.
And I’m sure they had no intention of doing so if they could avoid it. And when you say “the Board” who do you mean? Because the big decisions at WWFC clearly aren’t made at Molineux or even in the UK.
Jeff Shi may sometimes be open to criticism but stupid he certainly isn’t. All the time you were crying into your beer and ranting on this blog Jeff and Jorge Mendes were working on a strategy to avoid such an eventuality. But the alternative was to write off around £25 million in just over a year’s time, which would also have been pretty unpalatable, particularly given our grossly unfair FFP constraints.
Adama Traore has rightly been on the end of some heavy criticism but also given us some wonderful moments. None of us who were there will ever forget those last 20 minutes v Man City in late Dec. 2019.
So Adama
For your irregular, sometimes spectacular, often unforgettable contributions let’s give you the accolade of being a very talented and unique enigma and wish you well on your return to Barca. It’s clearly the unlikely culmination of a long cherished dream.
And in a less demanding environment than the non stop helter skelter of the EPL I for one believe that you may just do very well indeed.
Bon voyage and thanks for the memories.
I never referenced the geography of the board … but we certainly have one
Are you on it ?
You seem to have a superior knowledge to everyone else
Funny really because all the press down here had Adama down for provisionally signing a contract for 120 grand a week till 2026 … but obviously you are more in the know
Tell us more … what else should we know as we bow to your superior knowledge and eagerly await our next strategic milestone
What on earth are you raving about now? I never mentioned Traore’s contract details and you won’t find I stated anywhere that I claimed to KNOW anything. You’re the one who published a string of posts stating wrongly in no uncertain terms that he was going to Spurs. It seems you jumped the gun a bit doesn’t it.
It’s a big leap from telling me that I, quote, “talk absolute shite” to accusing me of being in the know. Make your mind up.
And if you think “the board” at Molineux (other than Jeff Shi) has any real power then you are deluded.
You obviously have information regarding the decision making processes that I don’t PJB.
Frankly I don’t care who or where the decisions are made as long as they’re good ones and given the information we have and the circumstances this looks like a decent call.
Couldn’t agree more. We all want to see decisions that are in the best interests of the club whoever makes them. And as far as information goes it didn’t take much “”knowledge” to follow what was going on behind the scenes with Barcalona, including a good degree of input from Adama himself.
Adamas move surprised no one but….
If we end up losing neves i think we will regret it for years.
Just slap a 60 mil price tag on him for crying out loud!
We mustn’t allow the European superleague wannabees to lazily cherry pick our crown jewels.
Can’t wait for the window to close tbh
Fantastically well written blog Ben ! Thank you.
I never understood the depth and amount of negative comments Traore suffered on social media – from our own supporters ! It beggared belief. Every Wolves supporter has an opinion about Adama, but some were so mind bendingly hateful.
Even when his performances improved during the pre-season when we won the Asian cup and continued into the the following season. When he was MOTM time and again, and clearly our most improved player, still he received stick.
Then he really started to deliver. He and Raul forged a brilliant partnership, becoming the most lethal attacking pair in the Premier league, bar none.
Yes, he still had his moments of infuriating and inexplicable misfiring, but he, along with Raul had clicked.
Of all the players at Wolves, it was Traore who’s form dipped the most when his partner in crime, Raul, suffered that horrendous injury. The understanding the two of them had developed was match winning but suddenly Jimenez wasn’t there.
Even so, Traore was still box office gold. His incredible surges forward, leaving top quality opposition in his wake, were breath taking. It wasn’t just his speed and skill, it was his strength, bursting through tackle after foul. If only his stats, assists and goals, could come close to the carnage he created amongst the teams we played.
But even when he wasn’t scoring or assisting, his presence and the fact that most teams double and even trebled up on him, created space and opportunities for others.
A popular and unassuming guy by all accounts. Football is about enjoyment and entertainment above all else. Well, Adama entertained us and I feel privileged to be able to say he was a Wolves player and I was fortunate to have watched him weave his magic on the pitch.
So happy for him that he’s playing back in his home country and I hope that gives him more opportunities to play for his National team, and pleased that we won’t have the prospect of facing him ( or maybe we will one day ? ).
Adios and good luck Adama.
Beautiful comment
It seems to me most people make the fundamental mistake of believing the media. Media reports often come with misleading headlines, are commonly inaccurate or exaggerated and often completely untrue. Best to be patient and wait for official announcements from the club.
True, Sir,
can’t see anything on the Wolves site. But he was spotted having a medical at Camp. Can you make that up?
Also on Wolves, we’ve signed a 19yr old Korean international, m8 of Hwangs no doubt, and immediately loaned him out to Swiss Grasshoppers to test him for 18 months. Make that shit up. I could have been here for a million years and not come up with that!
WWFC twinned with Liverpool, Korea & Barcelona. Lets polish those links.
Somethings going on.
As Spuds sign a non league CF, Ollie Tanner, for 6 figures. Bet Conte is chuffed, give him his due. 1 lv.
I do agree but there”s been no communication from wolves about barca and yet adama was filmed going for a medical at the nou camp . Do you think that this didn’t happen because wolves haven’t issued a statement?
I don’t mean to be disrespectful but I think he’s decided to go to Barcelona and that is that
I hope we have opened new trading routes with these football giants onthe back of this if nothing else
If they’re not happy with the meds he’ll be on the plane home?
We just made Hwang permenant from Leipzig with a leg injury. which means he must be near ready for action. Happy Birthday Hee Chan Hwang. Get back soon.
Hi Bilko. Agree to a point BUT accepting that to us supporters, football is entertainment, transfer business being a part of that, please allow us a little bit of enjoyment. Also give a bit of credit – most fans can spot the difference between headline grabbing make it up non starter rumours, potential transfers, and likely transfers. Only using the internet and a little common sense, this looked to me like the latter. Hence this particular excellent blog post by Ben, and the multitude of comments.
UTW
Perhaps we could offer Spuds a cheeky 3 mil for Deli. Or a freebie even for a year, give Moutinho time to teach him how to Own that midfield, and Neves to teach him some class. With an option to give him back.
Swiss links. Fosun is obviously some kind of Ninja cookie. Wolves Outernational yam. Looking forward to the rest of the season.
Without Super T.
Dependingly fast and That was no foul v Mendy. He fell over, Good excuse to go back through the Traore files, That game at Citeh just epic.
Its been traumatic since Jota left and Jimi’s horrific injury. We did well to get through that, losing Nuno, losing to the Carrots. Covid. Boris. Its been traumatic watching it from the sides, like playing in it.
Adama got us through.
I’m getting a sub together for a fkin statue. There’s kids in Korea with virtual reality Traore’s, its all that keeps them going as sea levels rise, flooding ancestral pastures, and the Korean Boris raises taxes on rice.
Forgive me, I’m oiling up.
1 lv & COYW.
I think adama will be missed mostly around the 70 minutes mark of upcoming games against Spurs-west ham- arsenal.
There will be lots of eyes on the bench looking for a game changer, let’s hope the new kid with pace has plenty of training next week because he , or someone else have some big shoes to fill.
Good luck to Adama, I’ll be checking Barca’s results for the remainder of the season that’s for sure.
I really hope Spurs fail to strengthen and conti has a strop – on.
As Keegan says
“ I’d really love it if we beat them”
Come on you wolves
Marney … the new lad chiqhentho is an interesting player . I watched the under 23 s v Sunderland the other day, its on u tube . He’s not like Adama at all
You only have to watch from about 10 mins to just after half time to get an idea as he gets a knock and goes off
. I can understand exactly why Bruno has got him , this ethos of his that he says is about playing the game between the spaces, if you watch this new lad and that is exactly where he operates ( very skilled in crowded spaces) and he has some quick feet . Also watch how on a couple of occasions how he nicks the ball. He is very good but different
I hope this is just the usual nonsense from the red top rag
‘Wolves are only considering offers of at least £40m for Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves. Both Manchester United and Arsenal have expressed interest in the 24-year-old. (Sun)’
I think so . He’s an 60 million plus player
He’s ran every game he’s played in this season
Who on earth could possibly replace him ?
Matt,
Methinks you missed off the number 1 on your price assessment of Ruben.
If Grealish is “worth” 100 million, and donkey McGuire 80 million, then Ruben is worth at least 160 million.
At least.
I think our inherent hatred of everything Tottenham dates back to the eufa cup days and that super lucky twat martin bloody chivers for some reason in those days it was war with them on the pitch and in the streets.
Something evil grew inside me on that long walk back to the harpers coach from white hart lane that night we lost the final so many years ago but still its there and i wish them nothing but bad luck.
I Thank whatever god you believe in (if any ) that Adama hasnt gone there as i couldnt have stood the hand inside me ripping my heart out if he had started scoring and actually making an effort.
Barcelona are now or will be my second team and I’ve never had a second team before so to see that magnificent specimen galloping down the touchline leaving all in his wake and maybe.. just maybe.. putting the ball in the net will be nothing but a pleasure….. my tv channels are being adjusted for Spanish football as we speak (naughty box).
Farewell Adama Traore wolves will miss you more than a lot of your detractors realise but I will carry on following your career with huge interest and maybe one day we will witness your lightening striking Molineux once more i promise to be there.
Adios amigo.
Agree wholeheartedly. Adama is a wonderful talent, I have never seen a player quite able to change a game at Wolves, like he could. He saved us from relegation last season when our form hit rock bottom, imho. We should arrange a trip to Barca when he plays later this season.
Now thats a good idea i may just join in with that .
Once again, stolen off social facegram, another good read.
The usual suspects come forward at every Transfer window with cries of ‘back your manager’, we need 3 or 4 players, the media feeds this frenzy by taking Bruno Lage words from previous interviews and selecting the phrases that the media wants us the fans to read. So, is it any wonder, football fans get angry and frustrated with what they think is or might be going on at Wolves?
Events at Aston Villa, Everton, Newcastle or even Derby County are only ever used by Wolves fans conveniently to prove a point.
All football fans want better than they have, All football fans want the best possible players at their football club. But at what price?
Aston Villa resurgence with the arrival of Steve Gerrard sounds great on the surface, but the gamble of throwing an all in approach comes with a financial headache if it goes wrong. Transfer funds are not a bottomless pit. Everton owner since 2016, has ploughed in transfer funds of £500m, and it’s still increasing. Newcastle for all the mega bucks, are still in a relegation dog fight, and still trying to throw money at it. Not succeeding to pursuade all the players with the lure of money, as some football fans believe. Derby County under Mel Morris has ploughed in £300m in the hope of promotion to the promised land. Now on the verge of collapse. Wolves under Fosun, owe Fosun circa £200m, a debt that is manageable but still remains unpaid. A ‘manageable debt’ is what we can afford, not what Fosun can afford, two totally different terms. The club have this season to break even, because of an agreement made by Wolves with Uefa FFP, or face further fines and sanctions The January transfer window has always been difficult, and clubs notoriously spend more prior to a new season starting. Wolves are 8th in the Premier league, yes we could do with a few additions, but I don’t believe that the club is looking for replacing first 11 players, in my opinion, the club is looking for squad players who are prepared to come in and prove their ability and worth. Not players who think they can walk straight in and tell Jimenez, Neves, Coady to sit on the subs bench because they are in town. Finding those players who are prepared to fight their way into the first eleven is harder than most of us fans realise. I appreciate its not what alot of us fans want to hear, but sometimes the truth hurts. Be careful what you wish for, bad investment decisions can lead to serious financial difficulties. Onwards and Upwards fwaw ??? Wolves Ay We
And, Spikeyboy, I was at White Hart Lane for that game, and also in Trafalgar Square at midnight, chasing off the Spurm fans, along with Big Mark, Pat Banks and Ada.
Very drunken memories!!!
Well put cloive
A Well run club in my opinion tweeks things not overhauls things.
Man use are a point in question,… look at the Beckham, Scholes,Giggs era.
If they had continued with little tweeks here and there and moved players on whilst bringing in Well coached, well sourced young talent the cogs would have kept turning.
But they just tried to buy their way back up and its not been half as successful.
We’ve shown ourselves in a good light and are building for the future.
Clive – pax!
With you on all of this one. Lots of valid points.
Agreed, we don’t need first team / starting players our first 15 or so are top class; we need quality squad players to plug gaps. And we seem to have a few hidden in corners like Zurich such as Toti Gomes, Corbeanu, plus now Kawabi and another Korean whose name I don’t yet know.
Since the Jota fiasco I think Jeff and co. have played a very canny game in the transfer market, particularly taking into account the grossly unjust and skewed FFP scenario.
The departure of Traore was inevitable, we should draw a line. And it’s good he’s gone to Barca.
But we now have acquired upgrades in Semedo, the rapidly developing Ait-Nouri, Hwang and Sa. Add in the emergence of Kilman, the tamimg of wild man Saiss and Boly (hopefully), Mosquera, Jonny and Neto coming back. Youngsters like Hoever, Jordao, Trincao, Chiquinho and let’s hope Fabio are waiting in the wings. Giles? Sanderson? Cundle? I also believe they made the right call on declining the lightweight Vitinha.
So you’re absolutely right, no need for panic buying and the confirmation of Hwang and a couple of genuine “ones for the future” is fine by me for this window.
I still haven’t forgiven Jeff for Jota and I probably never will. But we have to move on and evolution is much better than revolution. And as things are at the moment we’re evolving pretty well.
So now let’s go and win the FA Cup.
ps. I too was at White Heartbreak Lane back in May ’72.
And a lovely result from London today!!
Football is not only about winning and losing but also about entertainment and the level of entertainment has gone down quite a bit with this loan deal.
I can see the number of times Wolves are on television and the money from that going down because of this.
One final comment on Traore.
Wish we’d sold him for £6om when it was mooted and kept Jota.
Family silver IMO although a very collectible type …he goes down with Sako as a weapon lost and a game changer lost…
I just hope Barca buy him and the £25M goes to a good cause ..
Jimenez will miss his assists I’ll Def miss his spectacular runs…
In the meantime if we are trying to get to the top six I just hope netto gets back on the pitch..
I’m not sure what’s happening here..?
In Adama Traore we had a player unique in The Premier League.
No Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs (Hah!), Man Utd – you name them – had a guy who could do what he could.
The fact that he didn’t do it often was probably the only reason we picked him up in the first place.
But he could put the fear of God in opposing defences and get my pulse racing every time he got on the ball.
A jet powered human battering ram.
For all his flaws, and there were many, there will never be another like him.
And I miss him already.
Adama. Unique. Put the fear of God in to tiring defences. Breathtaking. Exhilarating. Frustrating. Sums him up. But I would rather him be in our squad than against us. Thankfully he chose Barca over Spurs. Wish him well.
I read a Barcelona fan’s comment on the arrival of Traore…..it was along the lines of
‘great he is back and he might be an amazing addition to the squad,,,,but if he doesn’t work out he will be a perfect security guard’
good that they have a sense of humour …and a sense of realism
adios Adama
The selling of Jota to Liverpool was inevitable. He clearly saw us as a steppingstone to bigger things. Nothing wrong with that, whilst he was with us, he gave us many memorable times. With Traore, it has been obvious that he was going to leave, so let’s hope he flourishes in Spain, and we get our 29m. We, as a club are unfortunately always going to be a selling club, due to our geographical location, and financial clout. There’s nothing wrong with that. With the exception the Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Chelsea, everyone else is on a similar footing, although the other top London clubs do have the attraction of being in the capital. If we don’t manage to get a top 6/7 spot this season, I can see us losing Neves also.
There again, with the squad we have, once the injured players come back, who knows where we might end up? Realistically though, I think 4th spot is the highest we can achieve, whilst 6th place is more doable. I for one am more than happy with that. How many years were we shuffling around in the lower leagues?
Whatever happens in the future though, I’ve loved watching the likes of Moutinho, Neves and Jimenez play in the Old Gold.
Adrian
I agree – the sales of both Jota and Traore were inevitable. Traore has wanted out for 2 years (since Klopp blatantly tapped him up on the touchline at Anfield) and as you say I believe Jota’s original move here was sold to him as a stepping stone by Mendes.
But I think that we sold Jota too soon and too cheap and that we have had to sell Traore too cheap as a result of hanging on.
I know I speak as Captain Hindsight but in Jota’s case the timing and price were always going to be wrong and his outstanding impact at Liverpool only proves it.
Nevertheless, as you say after the long wilderness yeas it has been a privilege and a pleasure being a Wolves supporter for the last 5.
Interesting to read the statement from Wolves confirming Adama is back at Barcelona. The speculation and bullshit of the past twelve months or more is over, as amusing as it was to read the click-bait rubbish in the media it was inevitable in the end , the longer the haggling over his new contract went on the more obvious it became that he had no intention of signing it and wanted away.
Some entertaining times to enjoy and frustrating times to forget while he was here, just hope they don’t decide to keep their money and send him packing at the end of the season. What value will we put on him then??
I do wish people would stop complaining that we sold Jota either too soon or that we sold him at all.
No matter who wanted him to stay: me, you, Jeff Shi, the bloke down the pub, my neighbour’s cat, the only person who counted was Diogo Jota. And HE wanted out.
The only remarkable thing about Jota’s time at Wolves is that he stayed so long.
The same with Traore.
When these players move on, the thing that saddens me most, is that they clearly don’t love the Wolves as much as I do.
“The King is dead; long live the King” . . . . . . the person is gone but the institution remains . . . . . with or without these players, and whoever the First XI is on the day, Wolves will be playing Norwich on Saturday and I am very excited!
Away from Adama for a monent, I find it hilarious that there is paper talk about Coady being a target for Newcastle.
If other managers know anything about Coady and Wolves, they can see that they both benefit from each other.
Coady was a journeyman midfielder before Nuno, and has blossomed even more under Bruno.
He has, however, been ably assisted by a solid defensive set up around him, which both gives and receives confidence mutually.
Wolves have developed a very mean defense, in no small part due to the confidence of our back three, plus Sa.
Transplant Coady to Newcastle, and he will no longer have the adulation he so deservedly gets in Wolverhampton, nor the damned good understanding with his team mates.
This would result in loss of form, poor performances and eventual dropping from the first team.
Countless times in the history of football has this happened, and so it would, I fear, if he leaves.
There is also the small matter of communication.
No one up there would be able to understand him.
He’s not the tallest, nor the quickest defender but his awareness, passing and leadership qualities far outweigh his few shortcomings.
Him leaving would be a far bigger blow than Adama going.
Traore is still a Wolves player so the saga continues, his track record when joining new clubs is not good so we will see what happens. He’s pure entertainment however frustrating, the way he gets us all up and excited with those scintilating runs only to drop us back down to earth when he fluffs his lines at the business end, that is a microcosm of football really, highs and lows except he’d cram them into 30 seconds. We are less of team without him and his unique talent.
The thing with players wanting to leave you have to ask yourself why do they want to leave is it money well with some yes it is but that’s not always the case sometimes it down to ambition both the players and the owners of the club.
Now we have come a long way since Fosun took over we are unrecognisable from the club they inherited but here’s the thing when the club stop being ambitious and are happy to sit where we are it’s only normal for a player to think well I’m not going to achieve what I want to achieve here and then looks to move on.
Fosun have been in charge five years now and I ask my self what’s the plan for the next five years are they happy to tread water be a top ten side or as they previously stated want to challenge for the top four and beyond on the evidence of the last few windows and this one in particular so far when you look at what a fantastic position we are in to push on if we invested in a couple of quality signings the manager has been asking for I would say Fosun are content to tread water and stay in and around the top ten.
Now if I’m thinking this then the likes of Neves surely will be thinking this sooner or later espeacilly when he sees how Jota has done since he moved to Liverppool, cup finals Champions League football, just paying him what he wants is not enough to keep him if you are not prepared to build a team around him to help him achieve his ambitions.
Interesting last point KMLP, but it does work both ways. Does not the fact that Neves and his ilk are not angling for a move indicate they are happy with the ambition of the club and want to be a part of a bright future. They understand more about the situation than we mere fans.
Kmlp
I used to be overly passionate about the Wolves over many years but the last five years I’ve become more level headed…probably due to age and whatnot but its made me think in a different way regarding the club.
We are ,what seems from the outside a happy club,were not massively in debt and are also a very stable club.
All the attributes on which to build for the future.
Fosun are no fools and looking at the way in which we now do business and how they run the club i for one am very happy.
Wise words indeed from the last couple of posts.
I suppose the question is why should the likes of Jota, Neves or Traore “Love” Wolves?
They didn’t grow up in or around our great parks (Both east and west) and there’s a clue in the name “Professional “.
I’m sure we’ve all left jobs we’ve enjoyed to further our ambitions so why would footballers be any different? In their case it’s hesitate and you’re retired. No 45 years to climb the slippery ladder of success like the rest of us.
Let’s enjoy them while we have them because the nature of the beast is it going to be a fleeting visit.
We’re fans.
We never misplace a pass, never miss an open goal, never hit the first defender from a corner.
We always spend money we haven’t got on superstar players, we listen to gossip and believe it, we overvalue our players.
We really don’t know what’s in the mind of our players, our manager or our directors and owners.
We care from cradle to grave but that’s the cross we have to bear and sometimes it’s like a mushroom farm.
I loved Adama. Even when he missed the goal or over hit the cross, though sometimes I would stand exasperated, I still loved him. Every ounce a superstar for me. And easily one of the most exciting players I’ve seen in 40 years a fan. In fact I can’t think of anyone who could dribble at pace then find a yard on a defender so easily; I never tired of seeing it.
And lets get this one thing straight – the man was not lazy. He played to his strengths. You don’t swap a diamond for a garnet and as Connor said he was one the hardest working people he has ever met.
He left most on their arse, gasping for air, grasping at his muscular frame or failing that – playing tag kicking to bring him down. He deserved a tad more respect though I’m sure there are many like me who idolised him.
And so he is off to Barca to his boyhood club. The club trust him. He will take the next step. Good luck and dare I say god speed, though as we all know, you already have it my friend.
Confucius said, better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without. At least I think it was Confucius but it might have been Del Boy Trotter ! Traore is definitely the biggest flawed diamond around and certainly the most unique player ever to grace the Old Gold shirt. The fat lady hasn’t sung until Barca signs him permanently in the summer. Short of him breaking a leg or something, he will stay with Barca, and I wish him well. He will frighten those sissy Spanish defenders to death. If it’s true that he’s taking a big pay cut to go to Barca instead of Spurs, that shows how genuine he is and probably how much he respects his time at Wolves.
Lots of rumours that we are in the running for Ramsey today if Juve buy out his contract. Could this make his wages fit our salary cap? We signed Moutinho at a similar age (31?) and look how great that was. Maybe this is Ramsey’s last chance of top level success.
As long as he don’t cone poncing in like a prima donna, see Ronaldo, then worth a punt.
Bin a long thyme since we had a Taffy bench warmer!
Is that Bryn cloive Evans?
Ramsey aint no Mouthino though is he. Good article in The Guardian about Ramsey et al.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/feb/01/january-window-suggests-football-is-back-on-path-that-led-to-super-league-bid
Wolves loaning a player to Barcelona? Hand on heart, ignoring the recent Fosun years, did any of us ever think our beloved club’s fortunes would be elevated to such a position where such a statement would ever be conceivable? Certainly not me. These are the good times folks so enjoy them while they last.
Do Grasshoppers ever buy any players for themselves?
Surely buying resents for the wife isn’t that unusual.
Van Der Beek to Everton why have we not tried to get him if we are not buying why are we not using the loan market.
It’s frustrating enough when we are not willing to spend but not taking advantage of the loan market.
Can’t get in Man U’s midfield which is way below the quality of ours. That would have him vying with Dendoncker for the chance of a game. At £100,000+ per week, I’d say no thanks.
He’s a quality player just hasn’t been given th opertunity to show it. We don’t utilise the loan market at all…..why.
Lingard is another player looking for a club. Rather spend a million on an unknown and send them to Zurich.
Another serious injury to one of our key players Neves, Raul Kilman and you can forget any chance of European football may be that’s what Fosun want they know any sign of success will bring calls for investment.
Another wasted window.
Man U have already stated that they won’t loan players to teams they consider as competition.
We are competing with them atm for Europe
Come on you wolves
Don’t utilise the loan markets???
That’s a typo surely KMLP?
What folks should recognise is Fosun are an investment company. They inevitably look for returns on the investment. Seriously. Does anyone seriously think they will not invest long term in order to secure maximum possible value should they decide to sell up ? No way will they run the club down. Fosun have ensured the most succesful period in our history. Going all the way back to 1980. I trust them.
Should have said ‘recent ‘ history.
I completely agree COD.
There can be no doubt Fosun want to make Wolves more valuable because that’s what they are in business for and greater success on the pitch is surely an integral part of this. They have done quite well so far in both respects.
Fosun was started 30 years ago, operates in 16 countries, in 2019 employed 71,000 people worldwide and had assets of £80 billion at that time. I started 60 years ago, operated in one country, employed 3 people and finished up with assets roughly £80 billion less than Fosun. I think it’s fair to say they have been marginally more successful than me.I, for one, therefore, don’t feel they need any advice from me on how to run Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Brilliant Bilko. 🙂
As the dust settles on another transfer window, I am not going to critique who should or should not have been bought as there are as many shades of opinion on this as there are footballers in the world. What is true is that football clubs are never in a state of equilibrium. In what is a highly competitive league not just our action or inaction but those of other clubs will shape our future. In what is the second largest round of spending in the history of January PL windows we have done very little. Coming on the back of 2-3 previous windows where a similar lack of significant investment has been made, Bruno and the team have done remarkably well to be achieving their current league position and level of performance . We should enjoy our position while it lasts because for me the actions of Fosun confirm that the heady days of investment to establish us in the PL are without doubt at an end. Hopefully they will secure further investment from sale of a share of the club which they have been trying to do for 2-3 years. In the meantime I hope we can manage to remain highly competitive but we have to remember we are now a selling to invest club and that rarely, if ever, sustains progress over an extended period of time. The harsh reality is that progress from here is getting into Europe consistently and not simply staying in the PL
What the hell are Fosun up to? Bloody useless!!!
They spend all this money on scouts and recruiting staff when they should really be consulting genuine experts.
People like Kenny Miller’s Left Peg; and all the others on here who know more about football than anyone else.
Little wonder that PaulAD67 doesn’t visit any longer; he must be truly fed up of Fosun ignoring his advice.
Just because they’ve got us playing the best football we’ve seen at Molineux for two generations doesn’t mean they have a clue what they’re doing.
If we can’t get Steve Morgan back what about Mike Ashley? I think he’s available of a free transfer.
In my post and SCW’s post above you have two contrasting but equally valid viewpoints. As others have said before me, generally speaking and barring the miraculous, success is going to be proportionate to a club’s revenue/ value. To get to the level of the clubs at the top of the Premier and consistently achieve entry into Europe therefore, Wolves need to achieve the same level as them financially. This is a very tall order and if Fosun have decided to try to move forward gradually rather than risk a huge amount of money in one go I have no complaints.
I feel Fosun are building an excellent framework. I agree with Clive that seeing young players like Max Kilman grow into top class footballers is much more satisfying than buying someone ready made for £40 million. There is a good chance we shall see more of this based on their policy of buying promising young talent. I think it’s fair to say Fosun will do whatever they can to keep us in the Premier and for that alone I am simply very grateful.
Thanks Bilko, I’m glad you have read my post and seen it for what it is – an assessment of our current position and not a criticism of Fosun. I think the dilemma of a sell to invest policy is how you deal with the conundrum of developing talent that ideally form the bedrock of a truly successful team without selling them on before their prime to get sufficient quality into other areas of the team to truly compete with the top six on a sustained basis. I’m afraid I don’t have the answers which BDRN points out should be left to those more expert but it is where we are whether fans choose to accept it or not.
Good points as always Bilco.
I believe fosun always wanted a new stadium, hotel, retail. Entertainment arena etc, but the current site of our beloved golden palace is quite simply not big enough without major redevelopment work.
I’m only second guessing here of course but I bet there have been many discussions around the easy options of re- locating our stadium but fear of change from the fans ( similar to that of west ham) would be a big setback.
We need to increase our capacity ASAP while we have such a great team but ,,, how !
Utw
100% agree with all of this. For too many Wolves fans it’s either good or bad with Adama but life and football is never that simple. Stats can be misleading. Sure, he was a woeful finisher but he created absolute carnage as he scared teams to death – the ultimate weapon to cause destruction for others in the team to then finish (or try to) it off. Hard to get that many assists in a team that barely scores any goals.
Simply, it’ll be a lot less fun watching Wolves now. And that tells you all you need to know about Adama. Good luck to him.
Prior to losing his starting place other than the goals/asssist column his stats were excellent and he was one of the highest rated members of the team Rich. Stats aren’t everything correct, especially if folks are only looking at 2 stats out of 43.
I always said I would not want to cross Jonny Otto, nor meet him in a dark alley.
Just look at the pix on the official website, where all the players are decked out in long sleeves, two or three tops, long pants, snoods and hats, and Jonny is in short sleeves and shorts!
Tough guy indeed!
Love him!
Can’t wait to see Jonny back in the team Clive. He really is a class act. It’s gonna make the wing back position very interesting regarding who will play when.
It will be good to have a hard Johnny and a big Willy back again.
I always thought Jonny would be useful cover for Willy in some situations.
If Barca pay 29 mill for adama at seasons end I’ll eat my hat, and my coat and my umbrella.
It ain’t gonna happen.
Why would they , even if he does well, it’s a case of, “go back to wolves for a few months and we’ll give them 12 million, or wait until the end of the season and we’ll get you back on double – bubble money.
Wolves love an option to buy deal similar to the one we had for r-a-n because it allows for some negotiation which Barca will take full advantage of I’m sure.
My guess is, we get trincao – they get traore.
Still, it could have been worse, he could have stayed in the prem!
Looking forward to Neto returning to give us a real lift for the second half of the season though.
Come on you wolves
I know Adama is a loss … it seems he wanted to go even though there was a supposed big contract on the table.
But we have an excellent option in a Returning Pedro Neto , and boy is he going to suit Bruno’s style of play .
I still think we’re going to be in the hunt for Europe.
U t w
Pedro really is a terrific player Matt. Just hoping he comes back fit and firing after a nasty injury and a long lay off.
For all those thinking we should have done more business in the January transfer window, and those who believe (like me) that we’re being relatively well run by Fosun, this makes interesting reading:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/feb/01/january-window-suggests-football-is-back-on-path-that-led-to-super-league-bid
Good article… looks like Fosun have foresight eh ?
Time will tell
Good article WTF. Required reading along with the recent article shared by Thomas. I have no complaints about Fosun. We’re being run in a smart and sustainable way for a club of our size outside of the top six. We won’t crash and burn a couple of years down the line. After ten year’s of Fosun ownership I predict that we will be European regulars, and we will have gone some way to closing the financial gap between us and the usual suspects. I also predict that we will replace Arsenal as long term Top Six contenders. Talking of which, Arsenal fans are crapping themselves after a disastrous window.
Relieved about Aaron Ramsey. If we were seriously in the running, that was a close shave, we definitely dodged a bullet. With his wages, injury record and unfulfilled career, he might have been a terrible signing. Good luck to Rangers though.
If Jeff and Co: don’t back Bruno in the summer I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bruno go either of his own accord or poached.
The last two windows he has asked for players but all he got is prospects, well the job he has done at Wolves certainly won’t have gone unnoticed across all the League’s in Europe not least his home country.
Jeff be warned.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/feb/01/january-window-suggests-football-is-back-on-path-that-led-to-super-league-bid
A very interesting read and for me makes the Fosun approach understandable. As a wiser sage than me once said to me
‘Better to be going slowly in the right direction, than quickly in the wrong one’
Thought the article is a cynical, but accurate portrayal of football.
Did you have a lie-in, Marnie? ;0)
Sorry WTF still it’s worth reading twice hey 🙂
Desperate times in Sandwell! Ismael sacked – Steve Bruce in advanced talks. Got to love it.
Steve Bruce and advanced in the same sentence.
That’s a first!!
Steve Bruce and advanced in the same sentence?
That’s an oxymoron. Unless we’re talking advanced mediocrity.
Apparently there is already a ‘Bruce Out’ thread on the Sandwell fans forum. He hasn’t even been appointed yet. Marvellous. Absolutely Marvellous.
He has surely got to be the only ever manager to manage them, villa and blues? ….and he nearly got the job with us if Morgan hadn’t got cold feet. Remarkable.
Oops forgot. Ron Saunders!
Best shit manager ever!!
He sold us Bully, who would never be a goalscorer!!!
All best wishes to Kev Mcdonald who has finally returned to the game after 2 years out undergoing a kidney transplant.
Always a cultured presence in our midfield, he deserves to enjoy these twilight years of his career.
You took the words right out of my mouth mate.
Good to see him back on the green sward.
Congrats to Bruno.
First of many.
Norwich tomorrow and it’s really pleasing to see the game’s a sell-out. Add to that the fact that I’m making the trip oop north and I’m expecting a strong team and a convincing victory. Hopefully Bruno doesn’t know about the curse placed on Managers of the Month so won’t succumb to it.
Really looking forward to the game and feel we will head into the 6th Round with a 3-0win.
Newark Wolves are there for the weekend too Steve so hopefully catch up with you at some point.
Love to buddy.
Text me if you like.
Nice one Boro!
Just watched the famous stand up comic, Cristiano Ronaldo, performing with his fellow comedians as they grab defeat from the jaws of victory.
Norman Wisdom would have been proud.
Thats the perfect example of a club that just cherry picks the top players instead of creating them in house.
A perfect example of how well run the Wolves are.
Well done to boro
Reading the comments on the bbc website it seems almost everyone but their own fans and the fawning media have nothing but contempt for manchester united.
Lesson :- Thats what you get from a bunch of out of control undisciplined so called superstars.
Carry on Bruno ….top job.
Wolves 5
Norwich 1
If I’m the only one predicting, do I win the whiskey??
Well, you’ve got the 1 right anyway.
Let’s hope for the other 5 in the second half.
What a shock performance I could see this coming said to the lad next to me we don’t have anything on the bench to change the game.
This is what can happen when you don’t invest in the squad only prospects on the bench another opportunity lost.
Best pick it up against the ar@e on Thursday because for me today that was lacking in imagination, desire and passion. For me 2 or 3 of our chaps were below par today and Norwich were no great shakes. A dive for their free kick, taken in the wrong place and poor defending
Long drive home this evening.
I don’t understand why Bruno didn’t bring on Traore in the second half.
Nurse, have I had my milky drink yet?
Did we miss Traore coming on to rescue us and game change ..?
F****ing right we did..
That was really clever Jeff Shi
Norwich… who would believe it..
We cannot buy player unless we sell. So being the great international bus sines man he his Jeff goes and LOANS yes LOANS one of our most saleable and game changing player so we end up the the squad down one and NO money to reinvest BRILLANT.
Jeff don’t go on Dragons Den for fucks sake.
62 years without even making it to the fa cup final. Pretty pathetic for our team which used to have a proud history in this competition especially considering some of the clubs that have made it to the final and even won it in that time…….and some people wonder why us older fans are so impatient for success! Those that say we should be grateful for where we are compared to the dark days 40 years ago should also remember we are still a pale shadow of the team that carried all before them 20-25 years prior to that. Ambition and desire to win trophies is what counts, everything else is hot air and counts for sweet FA in the final analysis .
On a happier note, I thought Chiquinho looked like a bright spark in his little cameo and put in two excellent crosses.
It was always going to be hard once they’d gone in front and apart from Danny hitting the post, we rarely troubled them.
At least we can concentrate on the league now. Again.
I can see history repeating its self, Nuno last January transfer in the lead up came out and said in public that the squad needed a number of additions.
Fast forward end of January Nuno says he is happy with the squad. Fast forward to December 2021 Bruno says the squad needs to be bigger wants 2 players for every position come January 2022 Bruno goes back on his earlier statement toes the Fosun line just like Nuno did and says he is happy with the size of the squad.
Similarity between Nuno and Bruno apart from the name is the both over achieved with what they had……and the other similarity is the both asked to be backed by Jeff and both of them were ignored.
We all know what happened to Nuno those last 9 months he cut a fallen figure and yeah some self inflicted but I believe a lot of it was down to Jeff and Fosun pulling the rug from under him IMO they appear to doing the same to Bruno I just hope he doesn’t go the same way as his countryman.
There biggest achievements have become there biggest handicaps to building a squad to compete.