Judging by Bruno’s post-match comments about the shortcomings of our squad, he must feel like the golden tit after again being sold short by Fosun.
With the hierarchy continuing to weaken the squad, Bruno can’t be expected to turn water into wine forever.
A bang average Norwich side were there for the taking, but Bruno was inexplicably forced to deploy a negative 352 system with just one wide fit senior player to call upon.
Regardless of the contract situation, letting Adama go when Hwang and Neto are still a few weeks away from returning – and many more from getting back to up to speed – is unforgivable.
What makes it worse is a not-fit-for-purpose Donk chasing shadows between the lines. Expecting the Belgian to do the job of a technically gifted number 10 was excruciating to witness. Equally, playing balls over the top for Donk to chase seemed futile when he has no pace.
Neves and Moutinho were perfectly in control of the midfield for much of the afternoon. Bruno must be fuming that he had to stick an anonymous third man in there because of a lack of wide forward options.
However, there’s this nagging concern, that for all our possession, there’s a lack of clearcut chances being created. Is that down to the lack of quality movement in the final third? Silva, Raul, Podence and Trincao are probably all guilty in that department. It’s as if panic sets in of how to fashion a chance once the 18-yard box is in sight. Mind you, enough inviting balls were sent across the face of goal without being punished.
It’s performances like today and a depleted squad needing investment that makes me think we’re kidding ourselves about cup runs and any European aspirations.
Let’s face it, Bruno said as much post-match.
See my last blog on previous page, Bruno sold short just like Nuno was. Both asked for backing and to be able to build a squad caple of competing and both were let down by Fosun.
The trouble is both of them have over achieved with what they have and had to work with and that became a milestone for first Nuno and now Bruno.
Jeff and Fosun are playing Russian roulette with every season they fail to strengthen the squad again today it has come back to haunt us nothing on the bench to come on and change the game for us.
I really do hope some of the Wolves fans start to open there eyes to what’s going on behind the scenes because Bruno is a very good manager but our owner and chairman don’t or won’t or both want to back him for what ever reason.
Fosun have taken us a long way but there does not seem to be the will or desire to see the project through if that is the case then they should do the decent thing and come clean to the manager and the fans and do there best to find some that does.
Fosun have had their revenue streams from Club Med and Thomas Cooke torpedoed during the Pandemic period and are therefore being very conservative with respect to funding their Wolverhampton Wanderers project. While the Wolves project remains behind the Wolves project in their sense of priorities we have little if any chance of fulfilling our potential.
Sorry I meant “their Wolves Project remains behind their other projects in their sense of priorities”
Fosun plans to play the long game. That’s their project. Neto, Gomez, Chiquinho, Silva, Shabani, Trincao, Cundle etc. are proofs of that. Then they’ll add some big signings now and then with money generated by sales. I guess we just have to be patient. Wolves are the English version of Ajax.
Seems like we were in the exact same position last year, except that Bruno tried to win the game and Nuno did not, judging from his team selection.
It was a great goal, probably a tad lucky, but once he headed it, no goalie in the world could have saved it. Very flat performance in the first half, and it took the goal to wake them up a bit. Raul looks out of sorts, and Fabio has a very long way to go to perform with any quality.
Still, the results of the next 5 games against teams around us will determine how our season will end. Nine points would be good!
Manager of the Month, loosely translated into Wolverhamptonish means
Kiss of Death.
Big deal.
And I for one am sick up to the back teeth of the complaints that we didn’t splash the cash last month.
Do you seriously want to be like Manure?
I don’t.
Face it, before the match we were all gung ho about how well we’ve played this year.
So most players had an off day.
Get friggin’ over it.
And put your back stabbing knives away, which have come out at the first opp er toon ity. ( apologies to Paulad67!)
There will be a different team and a different mindset come Thursday and Sunday when we take on the North London posers.
Have some faith, boys and girls, we are better than the whiners from OT.
And Norwich arr still going down, with Newcastle and Burnleh!
Clive, just how are we to field a different team within the next week when our squad is so small ? The team will barely change because there is virtually no competition for places
No one expects Fosun to chuck cash around will nilly, but should they not be listening to the cries for help from their newly appointed Coach to strengthen positions where he has identified obvious weaknesses ? Where is the logic in letting Traore leave without any firm commitment from Barcelona to buy him at the end of a loan period, when we are so depleted ? You have only to look at our bench today to see the paucity of our situation.
I meant a totally, mentally, psyched up team, with the burning desire to put today’s aberation behind them, not a bunch of new faces.
I believe we are going to be a very, very good team, and much as I hate the term “ bad day at the office”, that’s what it was.
Our quality does not disappear overnight, and we have some quality players.
Still a work in progress, but a vast improvement from a year ago.
Completely agree with your comments Clive. Neto is around a month away , Hwang less and Trincao short term absence. Like it or not Fosun are working with a business that has revenues that are around 25% of the top 3 and have to look at the bigger picture. No sensible business is going to spend money at the worst time to do transfer deals knowing those three are within a month of being available I think Bruno is doing a great job but one option he could have tried on Saturday would have been to put Fabio and Raul up top as a traditional pair with Podence floating in a free number 10 role behind them using the wing backs for width for the last 30 mins. Couldn’t have made the bad day at the office any worse.
Blimey, that was annoying! Another wasted chance of a cup run and trophy. I totally agree on the lack of sense or ambition in letting Adama go at this point, especially for a zero fee or commitment to buy. Given Hwang n Neto won’t contribute meaningfully this month and the run of fixtures that will almost certainly determine our chances of Europe next year, why on earth leave ourselves so short?!? It’s not as if Trincao has been ripping it up either, it’s just so annoying.,…. I guess we revert to trying to Nick a few 1-0’s again in the next 2-3 weeks before we can start to get on the front foot again, it just feels like we’ve taken a huge backward step but maybe things will look rosier in the morning, I bloody hope so!
Letting Adama go AR? He was running down his contract and his home town came calling and he couldn’t get to the airport quick enough and who could blame him? Given those circumstances I think Jeff did OK.
A criminal dereliction by Shi / Fosun during the January window speaks volumes. But should any of us really be surprised ?
It`s bad enough that as a consequence of neglect we will likely lose games during the rest of the season which should be won, so that our league prospect will be diminished. But what does this lack of ambition say to those key members of our squad upon who`s future commitment we depend ? Why would guys like Nevez want to sign contract extensions at a crucial stage in careers, when they see the continuing unwillingness of the club`s owners to support a Coach who has somehow managed to outperform beyond reasonable expectation ?
Worse yet, how do we hope to persuade players of necessary quality to join a club with such an obvious lack of real ambition ?
It seems to me that Fosun are now quite happy to retain a status quo whereby we hold onto a mid table status, and boost their coffers by the sale of our better players. But they would do well to remember that in life it`s impossible to stand still. Either you go forward, or you go backwards. Given the present lack of intent, our future is at risk.
Fosun are an investment company. Balancing the books and making a profit are the priority. Given they have invested 100s of millions in getting us to where we are it is no surprise investment has dried up. A company is not a good investment if it can’t make money or the very least balance the books.,
They have said they want Wolves financially to stand on their own feet. I guess current investment represents where the club is on standing on its own.
The problem is we want success and investment at the same level as to what got us to where we are now. So it’s hard to take when Fosun don’t back Nuno/Bruno to ‘take the next step’.
Given investment restrictions due to FFP maybe this where we are at as a club financially, as much as it pains us Wolves fans?
I would suggest there are question marks against Fosun’s longer term commitments to taking Wolves to the top of the game in English football. An original intention probably tempered by the financial and political landscape.
Perhaps we will not do a ‘Man City’. It’s the hope that kills us all.
Fosun should have done there homework because even a blind and deaf and dumb man knows football clubs don’t make money and I cannot believe for one secound Fosun didn’t know that prior to buying Wolverhampton Wanderers.
So why would an investment company buy a football club only Jeff and Fosun know the real reason.
As for the FFP rules well look at Villa’s spending and Everton they don’t seem to worried by the FFP rules there just a smoke screen.
We’re in a terrible position aren’t we?
If only Mel Morris would buy the club and “invest” in our future.
All would then be well!
You mean Villa and Everton – the teams behind us in the league who’s spending so far is looking less shrewd than our own?
No FFP is not a smokescreen, Fosun do not want to bankroll the club, they want it to stand on its own two feet as it were.
They have said as much. Frankly their approach seems more healthy and less toxic than the ridiculous over funding practised at the Ethiad, Newcastle, Chelski, Spurs, Arsenal, Maunure, and also at Liverpool although their owners do seem less prone to buying success than the others.
Yes you’re right we don’t spend the cash like Villa, Everton and Leicester do at the moment and all are below us in the table.
I appreciate what Fosun have done for Wolves, so should you. Jeff Shi has said recently that they do have top six ambitions.
Personally I hope he means it. I’d much rather we did that without big named, big egos, big waged superstar buys that eventually break the club, and in the end football as we love it.
There’s too big a gap between clubs now brought about by the current Premiership model. It’s not healthy when a team like Derby County can be weeks away from going bust, and Newcastle add to the toxicity by buying up all the players the top six don’t think are good enough.
We can’t be in a bidding war with the above, so let’s hope there’s more like Toti Gomes to come through for us. There’s hope there because Corbeanu, Sanderson, Giles and MGW seem poised to be challenging at Wolves for first team places. I sincerely hope they come good.
That to me is the way forward, rather that than sitting in a renamed stadium; The Golden Ethiad. Our success is harder won, and it is far more satisfying.
We’ll a blind , deaf and dumb
Man would be wrong in Wolves case.
I see from your name Mr Sell up you’re an open minded sort of chap.
Take a look at the league table. I think you’ll find we’re doing ok.
Ben isn`t this a matter of balance ? Your points are well made, but it is the case that every Company must surely protect its investment, and to totally neglect obvious current needs must be dangerous. None of us expects previous levels of investment to be maintained, but some continuing financial input is surely essential.
There is also the matter of how the available cash is spent. How many millions are being wasted by buying players who will never reach Premiership quality ? Why keep buying mediocre, unproven players and then loaning them out to Grasshoppers ?
As an example I quote Matheson, a well hyped full back who a couple of seasons ago we purchased from Rochdale for one million quid. He has since had several unsuccessful loans to clubs in lower divisions, his most recent being to the rock bottom team in the lowest division, Scunthorpe Utd. Suffice it to say that he is sufficiently bad even there, to have to sit on the bench !! Courtesy of Wolves, Scunthorpe now boast a one million pounds substitute.
Surely this cavalier approach must be corrected, so that limited available cash is wisely spent
I find it difficult to believe that the likes of Neves, Sa, Kilman ,Neto or even Semedo and Ait-Nouri will be very impressed by the Fosun “do t on a shoestring” philosophy when the vultures start circling again in the summer, while Bruno is clearly distressed already.
Looking back at January’s activity it almost looks as if our transfer strategy has more to do with what goes on in Zurich than in Wolverhampton. Which is the feeder club?
Ben
To say that Fosun have invested hundreds of millions is not entirely accurate.
Their NET spend on players over the last 5 years has been around £200 million while the club they bought for £38 million has increased in value by nearly tenfold .
I fully appreciate there are external influences including the Thomas Cook collapse (their mistake) and Chinese politics (beyond their control).
But they haven’t done badly out of WWFC,
….and we are £150 m in debt. Fosun have effectively lent us their “ investment”. In reality, including the acquisition of the club, they have truly invested less than £100m which in the modern football landscape is sadly nowhere near enough to get us into the elite.
My apologies. My statement is factually incorrect. According to analysis of last accounts by The Athletic, we are £284m in debt, mostly owed to Fosun. We have £60m of bank loans and £15m in revolving credit facility, the principle of the point I was trying to make still holds true though I.e. there is little or no benevolent investment going on here .
PJB. I understand the point you’re making but The fee paid for playing doesn’t always equate to their quality.
Look at Toti..Cost next to nothing and on recent performances looks worth £10 million of anybody’s money and Lord only knows what the value of Kilman would be on the market right now.
And how can you begrudge Fosun making money when they’ve invested £200 million?
It’s that investments that has created the valuation. Looks like shrewd business to me and on top of it all we’re sitting eighth in the hardest league in the world.
I’m disappointed to be knocked out of the cup but try to keep some perspective, we’ve lost one game.
Prawny
I don’t disagree with you at all about overspending on transfers, but I believe there is a balance to be struck. Fosun have virtually locked up the cheque book over recent transfer windows which I think in part is due to some bad buys – particularly Cuitrone and I’m afraid the jury still has to be out on Fabio who really needs to come good at £35 million. “Ones for the future” is good but you have to look after the present as well. The frustration is that our first choice starters have real quality but we lack back up and enough depth. The current policy seems to rely on players not getting injured and with Mosquera, Boly, Jonny and Neto already having missed most of the season that view doesn’t seem to be very realistic – we will always have key players injured.
Also 100% with you on your comments below re Traore and Deli Ali. Traore has made it clear for nearly 2 years that he didn’t want to be here and has performed accordingly – I do hope Barca sign him; and Deli Ali at £40 million and high wages with his recent history would be a potential disaster.
To all u people dreaming off europe this month will be very painful, team kneeds investement, bruno please give cundle a chance, we are midtable, never mind cant wait to watch adama rip up spanish leauge, silva would not get in my pub team, 35 million, chuffing hell, wolves aie we.
For a moment there Binda I thought you were Paul come back to haunt us.
Having been hugely appreciative of what Fosun have delivered since they came there can be no doubt that fans are now beginning to seriously question the current motives. Simple questions to ask of Jeff : What is the current thinking in Fosun regarding WWFC short term/long term future? Is there any thinking towards serious investment in the squad in the summer?
Mike
I agree it is a matter of achieving balance. Maybe letting Traore leave at this point of the season will turn out to tip the balance negatively. Only time will tell. I for one wanted Adana to stay – but I am a supporter, not in the boardroom!
As you highlight their investment strategy/model is a bit hit and miss. Our better players will not want to stay if it isn’t working – thinking of Neves. The confounding person in all money matters appears to be Mendez. So a lot depends on Fosun’s relationship with him and Mendez ability to provide decent players – again hit and miss.
Results frame perceptions/opinions. So if we can get through the next 4 games with hopes for the season still intact and players returning from injury then Fosun will still tick positive feedback box?
Personally, I remain hopeful (if not confident) that Fosun know exactly what they doing.
Adama’s departure was bad timing for us yea but presumably the deal in the offing made his departure now a prerequisite.
But in attempt to cheer myself up after today’s game, I watched the Wolves B match in Zurich.
But I wouldn’t recommend seeing the highlights to anyone of a nervous disposition.
Yes I’m disappointed with being out of the cup given the gift of a home tie against a side who were pretty ordinary but well organised.
However I’d not subscribe to the doomsday scenarios of the above. Yes we were below par and yes it would have been sensible to keep Traore! But that didn’t happen, we’re in the top 10, we go again on Thursday night! It’s been a good season thus far, and I’ve enjoyed it. Sometimes it just don’t go your way, it just doesn’t work for many reasons not just the lack of buying players like Fosun are somehow playing fantasy league!
Raul does unfortunately look out of sorts, and my concern would be that if he doesn’t get back to firing on all cylinders then our strike options are the problem. Beyond that it seems pointless to speculate. Chinquihino looked useful in his 15 minute cameo, Samedo is quietly becoming our best player, he was yesterday, although he needs a greater confidence when through on goal, thought he had a good chance yesterday but didn’t hit his shot with any conviction.
I agree with Clive’s post I certainly don’t want to become Man Utd! But that’s probably because I’m old school. But maybe Fosun do? Who knows? You hear all sorts of stuff, Jeff Shi saying we don’t have to get into the top 6 straight away, FFP, well that’s beyond my comprehension, some say it’s a non excuse, others that it matters. Bruno has to manage what he’s got. I’d say there’s more to smile about this season than to bemoan.
I hope I’m saying that at the end of the season.
Not much to say really, apart from another abysmal first half straight out of the late Nuno era.
I’ve been involved in more skilful and exciting Subbuteo games than that.
And Robert Plant certainly chose the right game to watch.
At least he got some entertainment even if Kiddie were dreadfully unlucky.
The time to invest is when you are in a perdition of strength Man City won the league last season and stil went out and spent same again this season they are on course again to win the league and have again invested in the January window.
Now I’m not suggesting for one minute Fosun should match City in the amount they spend but they should follow there lead in investing in the squad.
Villa, Everton, Spurs have invested the later looking to get into Europe.
The problem you have when you don’t invest when you are in a perdition of strength no one wants to come to your club that’s the problem money bags Newcastle had in the last window, they have the money to pay the fee and wages but what players wants £150,000 a week to be in a relegation battle.
Surely Jeff and Fosun know this these are international business men it’s the same what ever business you are in.
It is you isn’t it Paul?
your an idiot/
Where exactly did Everton invest?
Think you need to go before fosun does. Cant believe a wolves fan isn’t absolutely ecstatic we are sitting in 8th of the prem lol
Something I wrote before yesterday’s game. I haven’t changed my mind 3 days later despite one narrow cup loss to another Premier League club. Apologies it’s a bit lengthy assuming you make it to the end.
Reflecting on the transfer window and Wolves current situation, it’s not difficult to understand why supporters are as split on that topic as they were on Adama Traore’s time at Molineux.
On one hand, there is an understandable expectation that a large and successful business, such as Fosun, could spend money on bringing in one or two quality signings to support and supplement a relatively small squad that appears to be out performing expectations for this season.
There’s no doubt that Bruno Lage has done a fabulous job of revitalising a team with considerable quality that had stalled under the much loved NES last season. A change of emphasis, with incredibly effective pressing in our defensive third, whilst improving the individual performance levels of most of the players, and maintaining or even improving the team spirit, is no mean feat. Signings last Summer, including our incredible goalkeeper, Sa, and Hwang Hee-Chan had strengthened the first team.
Improvements in players such as Saiss, Kilman, Semedo, Ait Nourhi, Moutinho and Podence are hard to ignore. Also, keeping hold of Neves and Coady was essential in helping improve our chances of a successful second half of the season.
Also, remember that although the first results of the season were disappointing, the performances against Leicester, Man Utd and Spurs were excellent and should have given us more than nil points. Three narrow 1-0 losses against three good teams.
The risk is that loaning out Traore whilst bringing in 2 youngsters that were loaned straight out and Chiquinho for a reported £3m has arguably weakened a squad that is still in the FA Cup, with every chance of another great run and potentially pushing for a European spot next season. Dare we dream of competing in the Champions League ?!
On the other hand, we have Saiss returning, Mosquera working towards fitness, Boly and Jonny likewise and the impressive Toti Gomes to play alongside Coady and Kilman.
With Marcal also recovering and Pedro Neto, who was reaching new heights before his injury, you could be forgiven for feeling optimistic about the strength and depth of our squad. If Raul Jimenez can hit the incredible performance levels he’d achieved pre-injury and Fabio Silva continued to develop, we have a formidable squad.
However, the risk is that we have suffered more than our fair share of injuries in the last 18 months, a complete reversal of the previous 18 months, and it would only take one or two fresh injuries to expose our small squad. Also, we cannot expect our returning players to immediately hit the ground running. It will take time for them to become fully match sharp.
Fosun are in the difficult position of having to operate within FFP rules having fallen foul of the European rules when we unexpectedly competed in the UEFA competition 19/20. We do not have the revenue of the BIG 6 – the gap is huge – and Fosun appear, if nothing else, to be shrewd financially. Their ambitions have been tempered with the reality of COVID, the shift in the Chinese government’s outlook on foreign investment in global sport, and the ever present non level playing field of top league football.
Perspective is useful at this point. New signings do not guarantee success and do not automatically translate to improved results. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Our results and performances are currently excellent. At the risk of drawing criticism from some, look at our history in recent decades to where we are now. Look at what’s happening at other clubs for example West Brom. Man Utd aren’t the team they were a decade ago. Leicester have fallen away.
We are above Villa and Leicester and on the coat tails of Man Utd, Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham with momentum and games in hand.
WE DO NOT HAVE AN AUTOMATIC RIGHT TO BE AT THE TOP OF THE LEAGUE. It has to be earned and it will likely take a long time. What most clubs up and down the land would give to be in our position ?!
Today is National Optimist day. There seems to be a day for everything now, but I think Wolves fans can treat every day as National Optimist day based on our current situation; just say a small prayer and hope that our squad stays fit.
This Summer the FFP restrictions are lifted and there will inevitably be expectations that Fosun invest a bit more and demonstrate a little more ambition. Who knows, by then we could be preparing for a European campaign ?!
It feels great being a Wolves fan at the moment and there aren’t many supporters of other teams that can say that.
UTW
Disappointing.
Considering we were a wide man short interesting that Giles got some decent crosses in yesterday.
Upwards and onwards, seems from the first halves against Sheff U and Norwich that the cup don’t float the players boat.
Not looking for Europe just improvement. Keep going lads.
Fully agree Muttleigh. Article in yesterday’s Times regarding Spurs and several other clubs desperately trying to get rid of players for whom they overpaid and are paying too much in wages. Likened it to decluttering your house. The writer’s closing advice “if you don’t like clutter don’t buy any”. You only have to look at Everton to see the consequences of throwing money at your squad on the whim of whichever manager is passing through.
Why have Jason Cundy in the squad – after repeated ‘ rave ‘ reviews – but NEVER every play him – its a nonsense and if I was him I’d well pi..ed off !
Also why wasn’t Chem Campwell thrown on and given a good run-out – got absolutely nothing to lose – as the forwards were firing blanks !
‘ Fortune favours the brave ‘ is an old saying which invariably works – why wasn’t it applied here. ??
So very very frustrating..
Why would Bruno bring on a 52 year old loudmouth reporter from Talksport??
Cham is only 19.
If you meant Luke, he’s only 19.
Both being not long out of kindergarten exactly why would they be pissed off?
Plus we were only one nil down.
Not the moment to start experimenting.
Just a small detail, to all those screaming for investment in new, proven players.
Who, exactly?
Not one of you have offered up any names.
Come on, who would you have us sign, that is available?
A striker, an attacking midfielder and a defender.
Brilliant.
How about being specific, and putting forth some names of players WHO ARE AVAILABLE?
See, not so friggin’ easy, is it?
Sanchez Bowman But to name two the one we were spoked to have bid for but Jeff only want them on HP…….a pound a week
I think Bruno was complaining about injuries. When everyone comes back he will have what he stated is too many players.
Do we spend 30 million pounds on players who will be surplus to requirements in a month or two?
Every manager wants more players. Klopp. Guardiola. Tuchel. Conte. Arteta.
I’m pretty sure Bruno knew exactly what he was getting into, having been contacted about possibly replacing Nuno if he left a couple of years ago and following the team since then. If you think he didn’t, then you are saying he isn’t a smart guy.
Stolen off Facebook, again.
This guy was answering a moron’s rant.
First of all, ALL Wolves fans would love to win something. But, most of us understand that there are processes and reasons behind why the club does what it does. Secondly, your statement of you can see the difference between Raul Jimenez and Fabio Silva, yes that’s partly true, BUT Raul Jimenez in his younger days played for Club America in the top Mexican league scoring 36 goals in 96 games, that got him noticed, he then got a move and played 21 times for Athletico Madrid 21 games for 1 goal, he then got a move to Benfica playing 120 games in 3 years scoring 31 goals. Due to injury set backs he never really got going. Jimenez then came to Wolves on loan with a view to a purchase. This spell at Wolves is the best Jimenez has ever had in his career so far. But Jimenez was far from the finished article when he was 19, and if he had scored 1 goal in 21 games, I’m wondering what you would say about Jimenez aged 19? Jimenez is now aged 30,that’s 11 years of experience and development, yes 11 years, so why is that surprising that we can see the difference between Jimenez and Fabio Silva? It’s so easy to get caught up in the frustration of what you think you can see, ironically one man, Bruno Lage wasn’t very happy when his then club Benfica decided to let a certain striker, Raul Jimenez come on loan to yes, Wolves. As Bruno Lage could see his potential. Bruno Lage has great belief that Fabio Silva will be the player he believes he will become. You think your judgment is better than Bruno Lage or all the scouts at Wolves, Juventus and many other clubs that scouted Fabio Silva before he came to Wolves? Finally, the club owes Bruno Lage an apology for the situation at Wolves? Really? Why is that? I’m not sure what you or like minded Wolves fans were expecting or hoping for in additions to the current first team squad. But, players with ability and promise are very difficult to sign or pursuade to come to Wolves to compete for a place on the subs bench, yes the subs bench not a guaranteed place in the first eleven. Do you appreciate or understand why Wolves have a small squad in the first place? Remember the song, Nuno had a dream, well the dream Nuno had was a small squad of talented players, all competing for places in the first eleven. What that means in plain English, is better quality first eleven on higher wages with squad players and a few youngsters coming through. Plus with a smaller squad it’s easier to keep the players happy. 72% of Wolves total club incomes is used for players wages. If you have a bigger squad, you then have to pay your main first eleven less wages, why? So that you can afford to pay the new additions part of the 72% club incomes. Oh and there is also the small matter of the club having to break even this season under Uefa FFP restrictions or get fined a further £600,000 and face further sanctions. Don’t forget that Wolves owe Fosun circa £200m, in unpaid loans. That’s an affordable debt, the club value is circa £330m, so if Fosun loan another £100m, the club would be on the verge of owing more money than the clubs assets. That is the road to bankruptcy and financial risk and ruin. So tell me again, why Wolves owe Bruno Lage an apology? Do you think that Bruno Lage doesn’t talk to Wolves regularly? Ask yourself this question, when Wolves sold first team regular, Rui Patricio did they bring in a good replacement straight away in Jose Sa?
Some people it would seem Clive don’t like common sense and facts that don’t fit their view.
Spot on cloive
Patience.
Slowly Slowly catchy monkey
Sums it up perfectly.
This blog has no strength in depth. The squad is too small.
If Thomas, Ben or Rasmin are injured, we have no one to call on.
Paddy may have been up to the job in the lower divisions, but he’s not Permier League.
When will you skinflints invest?
You could always call on me to do the match reports!
I, of course, would not be biased at all!
Yep your original journo style will be essential following the 5-0 thrashing of the Arse on Thursday. 1 lv
I think there’s a lot of people letting Bruno off the hook here, 352 against Norwich? Complaining about lack of wing options? Unlucky with Trincao testing positive but we have Chiquinho, he hasn’t gone out on loan and he’s in the squad and he’s cover for exactly these kind of situations, he should’ve started and we would’ve taken the game to them from the off with a positive 343 formation.
Ironic that our manager is bemoaning a lack of wing options when we just lent out Traore without even nailing the sale down at the end of the loan, baffling as the only beneficiaries from that are Traore and Barca but not really Wolves. Silva never shines with just two up front.
Despite all that and as dissapointing as it is it’s not all doom and gloom, we are in great nick in the league and have a chance to climb the table over the next few games.
The bigger worry is how will we line up against Arsenal on Thursday. I doubt Trincao will be back so we will have the same problem. I can see the Traore deal coming back to haunt us for the next few games. I hope i’m wrong.
He’s starting against Atletico Madrid. Any goals or assists? We’ll see.
4-0 up after 49minutes. They’ve been bang average all season.
Traore’s stats
Minutes played – 61′
Goals – 0
Assists – 1
Shots on target – 0
Shots off target – 1
Shots blocked – 0
Dribble attempts (succ.) – 5 (2)
Touches – 38
Acc. passes
19/23 (83%)
Key passes – 1
Crosses (acc.) – 2 (1)
Long balls (acc.) – 1 (1)
Ground duels (won) – 9 (4)
Aerial duels (won) – 1 (1)
Possession lost – 9
Fouls – 2
Was fouled – 1
Clearances – 0
Blocked shots – 0
Interceptions – 2
Tackles – 1
Dribbled past – 1
4-1 that should be. By all accounts he had a blinder.
We had a player who could game change and make assists for our strikers or just Jimenez in most cases so we let him go on loan..
He will be unplayable somewhere else ..
Criminal just criminal
This result was predictable …
He’s just gone and done his 1st assist.
But he wouldn’t sign a contract. What were the club meant to do?
Not loan him out without an obligation to buy. There’s nothing in it for us except the ‘possibility’ he shines and they buy him. It’s a crap deal. If they had an obligation to buy him we could spend 29m on another player/players cos we’d know we had it coming back.
Fuck him off like they did.
Loads of bloggers ranted when Afobe left, when Dicko left, when Sako left. We did not miss them. Players come, Players go, we move on.
Wolves ay We
We definately missed Sako and Afobe, unless you consider a 14th place finish in the Championship a successful season.
Players come and players go and we’re all entitled to our opinion on those comings and goings, which is the whole point of a blog really.
Football aside. letting him go without our best interests at heart is just bad business.
Welcome to the post Traore era.
Well played Norwich & Billy Gilmore, you’ve got Liverpool away, good luck with that. Someone’s got to play Citeh eventually. And it won’t be ManU. A total headscratcher how Boro managed that with the new ‘hand assist’ rule.
Result for the Toffees playing for Big Frank, hard to see them staying down the bottom, signing Deli (£40 mill with add ons!!) and loaning Beeky from the Tragics.
But then there was Deaney’s last minute winner a few season’s back, and we were denied a Final v. Citeh, which was so one sided it was hardly worth the Hornets turning up. Fkin Troy Deaney. I think we’d have done a better job in the final.
Good to see Ruddy getting his customary Cup outing. Do we keep him in cryogenic suspension for most of the season? He never seems to get old.
It wasn’t a good game. But we have to be pragmatic. We’re not spending, FFP etc, but we’ve had a v.good January otherwise. Pray Neto returns soon.
Let’s get focused on destroying the Gooners and moving up the table.
1 lv & Coyw.
£40 mil for Deli is a huge risk given his form over the past couple of seasons and one I can’t see anyone other than Everton taking.
I’m always banging on about how as a supporter I’m not bothered about how much or little we pay for or to players but if the club are to be self funding I’d rather the money be spent on less risky options.
I know many supporters get frustrated at our lack of big name signings but big names usually come at a cost, often unjustifiably so.
With the exception of Moutinho (who was a steal) who had heard of any of our current squad before they arrived.
I’d say our recruitment policy is generally spot on.
Well said Prawny. Not for a minute suggesting we follow Everton’s model, or chase a bonafide poser about.
Its just fascinating how the modern game and money business panics clubs and owners into action. Mind the Toffees are a sticky lot to keep quiet.
They’ve been moaning on about their average mid table performances and lack of European football for 40 years, while their Red neighbours sweep up the trophy’s and can’t stop smiling. Be like us watching Sandwell win the Prem and Champs League. Not nice. 1 lv.
Everybody saying it was wrong to let Traore go but he has done nothing compared to Jota over the last 2 seasons and when he is sold in a couple of months we are getting nearly £40m for him.
I am sad to see him go because we will have to blame somebody else now for not providing an assist and not scoring any goals !
£40 million? I haven’t seen that number anywhere.
It’s £29million with no obligation to buy so he could end up back here.
In a perfect world I’d take that but I doubt it will happen.
To be fair, I don’t think I heard anyone complain about lack of wingers. Hwang, Neto, Trincão, Podence and Traore made wing the deepest position.
I certainly didn’t like seeing Traore go (I’m watching him terrorize the Atletico left back as we speak). But, I don’t think any transfer scenario had us adding to the wings.
This is not to disagree with the overall point. But, the lack of wings yesterday was a result of letting a player go – rather than not bringing any in (which I think was mentioned in the article).
And Chiquinho.
I’d like to comment here but feel the dislikes coming like a dagger in the back..
We were really poor in the 1st half… no threat , cutting edge etc.
We go on about Fabio .. give him time etc.. but mode is ‘time waits for no man’ .. and I’m serious to say he just doesn’t cut it.
He just doesn’t get into ‘receive the ball positions’… and therefore is easy to ‘manage’ out of a game.
Ok the service isn’t always good , but neither either the options, ad I feel that this lad isn’t ready yet for a start.
Which then brings me to the next step.
Molineux is always full..yes full .. tickets are like rocking horse shit…
Which .. primarily means the fans are 100% behind Fosun.
So why oh why are Fosun not supporting the fans reciprocally to make this push for Europa league or dare I say.. Champions league qualification..
Before I start to well update with emotion … please Jeff … feel the passion..
.. well up…
Twinx totally agree parts of the stadium ie Steve Bull stand are showing there age the plans for expansion have been well and truly selved and may never see the light of day while Fosun are in charge.
Jeff bangs on a bout Wolves being self sufficient well that means investing in building a bigger stadium/stands so our match day revenue will increase but this means an injection of cash from Fosun which they no longer seem interested in providing.
So we are at a catch 22 situation we need more revenue but Fosun won’t put in the cash to provide that extra revenue from gate receipts/bigger capacity.
As I blogged earlier if Jeff and Fosun went on Dragons Den with this business model they’d be laughed off or told to ………off.
I used to be paranoid about people coming to get me over the comments but ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……
Danger signs before Saturday
1. Manager of the Month
2. Great Expectations that just needed to turn up to beat a team in the relegation zone
3. Energy and buzz from string of previous victories inevitably lost by the winter layoff
So Haseley Wolf , whilst bitterly annoyed by the result, was not totally surprised by a lack-lustre performance. These things happen in sport all the time and we just have to pick ourselves up ready for Thursday. What would our chances have been away an Anfield in the 5th round?!
I suspect the players will be right up for the challenge of the North London clubs. Let’s hope Arsenal, after 18 days off, similarly struggle to get up to match speed!
And guess who Flashscore’s man of the match was in Atletico’s 4-2 defeat!
So why hasn’t he been doing it here for 2 years is the question. A pretty rapid return to form to be sure.
Well. Jota left here and was suddenly productive (after struggling here at the end of his term). Traore will be too.
There’s something wrong with the club’s end product. People complain about Fabio. But, Raul isn’t cutting it either. When Fabio plays, he tends to get more chances than Raul.
We just don’t play in the opponents box (that’s what she said).
Many have done nothing but moan about Adama, especially over the last 18months. Suddenly, now he’s gone, he’s the best thing since sliced bread. Perhaps he’s morphed into a very useful stick to beat Fosun with. Adama wanted to go back to Barca. It’s life. Get over it. Nothing was gonna keep him in England and credit to him for sticking to his guns and not letting Spurs money lead him away from his chosen path.
We’ve had a great start to the season. Serial winners in January, we fans were talking about Europe, even top four. Suddenly, one defeat in a competition renowned for upsets, and we’re in a doomsday scenario with lack of investment leading us into a terminal death spiral. Can’t see it myself.
Maybe it’s me underreacting.
Oh,and I thought Chiquinho looked pretty useful.
Good blog guys
Shout out to Muttleigh Clive Wolfstroker Lord T and Balsall H and I know I’ve missed a few
No surprises for me here
Traore leaves camp nou to
Standing ovation
Wurzels show up with more motivation
Young Prince is still a work in progress- ation
With everyone fully fit and our class loanees returned better and fitter ( eg MGW) we have a top 8 squad No
Doubt
25 players is a squad
I see many of ours getting better this season and …dare I say it …only Jimenez a lesser player than early last season .and . I remain hopeful
That by next August he will be back to his scintillating best
So maybe a chance for top 6 ?
Next few games will show us either way
Longer term ? I believe Fosun are in it for just that
So a couple or three clever signings ( like Moutinho Neves Jimenez) in the summer and a net spend of say 75 mill … then
I’m Strapped in and ready for a five year Spell even better than the last
Call me an
Optimist?
No , I’m a lifetime Wolves fan
I know I’m tempting fate but !
OODCL
Thanks for the shout out Marin.
I agree, next year looks very exciting with some of our youngsters coming through. So long as we can hold on to our stars. Neves and Kilman will definately be sought after by the the fatcats. Mouthino and Saiss are down to six months left on their contracts. We’d miss each one of them big time and they would all be hard to replace with the same quality.
So we lost to poxy Norwich !!
We nearly always lose to poxy Norwich !!!
I know not why but I do know its not the end of days as some would have us believe.
Methinks we shall have a barnstormer of an end to the season upon the return of the trusted few.
A few hiccups and lots and lots of moaning to come yet I fear .
But the end will be worth the grief we are yet to suffer .
Just wait and see.
I do apologise but i just cant take some of the moaners on here seriously and i do think we will have a bostin end to the season.
It’s more about being out the cup than tamely losing to Norwich.
I’d rather be dreaming about winning the FA Cup than qualifying for The European Conference League.
This blog has been outstanding , Muttleigh gets top marks.
Until Jeff comes out and tells us what is really going on with Fosun, transfer policy, contracts, stadium refurb etc, fans like us can only speculate, hypothesise and express our hopes and fears .
Let’s not hold our breath waiting for that.
Disappointing results always provoke a reaction, a home draw against a team destined for relegation was welcomed but it wasn’t to be and there was no Mr. T to come on after 70 minutes as a wrecking ball game changer. What will we do with a shed load of baby oil?
Well done Bruno, a deserved manager of the month, keep it going , we’re with you.
You get more revenue from the Europa League or Champions League than you do from the semi-finals of the cup so I am more interested in qualifying for one of those competitions. (It’s all about the Elizabeths)
Trouble is, we’ll be back in the UEFA FFP restrictions.
Football is dead….
A disappointing result. I bet that Bruno, in his heart of hearts knows that he doesn’t have enough fit players for a cup run, on top of our PL ambitions. Fosun are running the club in a sustainable way, but that means lean and mean. We’re not going to have a bench dripping in top international talent anytime soon.
We weren’t the only club to unexpectedly crash out of the cup. Man U, Bournemouth and Leicester can’t have any excuses against lower league opposition.
If baffles me when many fans say that Fosun is an investment business. Well, aren’t all PL clubs owned or controlled by investment businesses or individuals? Are any PL clubs charities or something? No. How sustainable is the business model of other clubs? Everton’s, for example? Villa ? Many a club has been brought low by reckless spending over the years. Some are probably drinking in the last chance saloon now. In Fosun’s case I suggest that they may have burned their fingers with the Fabio Silva transfer, He may come right in time but the money could have been far better spent. That one signing probably stunted our budget since. Also, it’s hard to see any current financial advantage in the Traore loan, except that his wages are off the books. I’d rather have kept him, but if he was going to stay and sulk, there may not have been much reward. I expected Traore to be more explosive in the less-physical Spanish league and his second debut for Barca yesterday proved that. I think it’s horses for courses with Traore, and probably not for the full race either!
The cup loss against Norwich doesn’t deter me in the belief that we are in with a good chance of Europe this season. However, come what may, I do expect that Fosun will loosen the purse strings in the summer.
Agree 100% about Traore.
Been saying it for ever, the European Leagues only each have a couple of good teams, the rest are cannon fodder, bit like Scottish Prem.
So, any half decent player, Ronaldo, Messi, etc., can score at will, boost their stats, and look good.
Get them in our Prem, different story.
That’s why Messi, Lewandowski etc. won’t cross the channel!
Traore will get a few, they will suss him out, and then he will just be another journeyman winger, with little end result.
Shame, but we’ve got much better still on our books.
The strength in depth of La Liga is on a par with the Premier League although at the moment the standard of their top two (Real and Barcelona) has clearly slipped because of their financial troubles. Most of us know what a decent team Villarreal are for instance and they are currently only mid table. I did find your comments about Messi and Lewandowski hilarious however so keep it up.
Equal 7th being sort of mid table!
You’ve provided the perfect answer to the Wolves fans calling for big signings, Ped Ant. As you say, Real and Barca clearly slipped because of financial troubles. These financial troubles are the result of lavish spending on transfer fees and wages over a long period of time. Spending big does not guarantee success. Who’s next? Man U ?
Published yesterday.
Man. Utd. biggest NET spenders in Europe (so presumably the world) over the last 10 years with transfer deficit of over £1 BILLION. As you say looks like an accident waiting to happen.
Well done Woodward, Moyes. van Gaal, Mourinho, Ole et al for cheering up the whole of English football.
Sorry Clive. Have to disagree re Traore. He’ll burn up the defenders in any other league.
Pretty spot on with the rest of your post.
Re: Transfer Business… might be worth more a of a deep dive if someone has the naus, time, and writing talent!
Read a story on the BBC Sport site, and decided to follow it a little further.
https://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/sites/mr/mr67/en/
Take a look at Figure 4: transfer fees committed by club
[€ million, post-COVID transfer windows (Summer 2020, Winter 2021 and Summer 2021)]
As much as we know that there needs to be squad strengthening, Fosun has still managed to get us onto the list of top 20 post COVID spending teams.
We always have to look to improve the First XI in the here and now, but unlike recent history (circa 15-20 years) we have struggled to have first class young players coming through the ranks to really shine and become stars in Old Gold shirts, or even move on to teams competing in the upper echelons of European football.
They may have been…
1) what we needed at the time (eg Danny Batth – local lad, leads hometown team post double relegation) or
2) had a great start (eg Lee Naylor – local lad, big break at high flying Celtic) or
3) even just “flattered to deceive” (eg Zeli Ismail, developed through the Wolves academy, succession of injuries and never really reached the potential that was seen at a young age)
But if we can utilise our ties with Grasshoppers and Famalicao to give younger players game time, that they then can show up in a OG shirt like Toti Gomes has done, we have to think that the future will be bright and that we will be looking to continue as an established EPL team for many years to come.
Trouble is, MadBandit, you seem to be under the misapprehension that “facts” carry any weight here.
For some, the only way to success is throwing huge amounts of (someone else’s) money at the problem.
That three of the teams in that list of high-spenders (Leeds, Leicester and Villa) are below us in the league and continue to under perform won’t persuade the inexorable moaners.
I just hope we get some kind of result against Arsenal or the next blog will be a re-run of this one and someone will ask why we sold Jota.
Why DID we, and bring back Doherty, and Dave Edwards could surely get at least a bench spot.
The list goes on!
I think the sale of Derek Parkin to Stoke was the beginning of the end!
Dendoncker is the new Dave. Puts the mileage in, much appreciated by team mates, not so much by the fans, loved by the manager and the club for filling gaps made by injuries or the sale of players.
We sold Jota, I thought he was just injured?
Whose going to the Arsenal match on Thursday?
Oops. Who’s.
Me’n’she… that’s who.
Somewhere above, Balsall Heath lists Traore’s stats for the 61 minutes her payed on Sunday.
He was fouled once.
Now, either they’re greasing him with extra virgin olive oil now he’s in Spain, as opposed to the Aldi’s lard we used (Fosun are cheapskates, afterall), or Atletico’s defenders can’t match the aggression he faced here.
I suspect Clive’s prediction that he’ll have an easier ride against La Liga sides may well prove correct.
Barca have a massively wide pitch so maybe they couldn’t get near him. Might find different stats on tighter pitches.
What’s your evidence for this? A quick search of tinternet says both Wolves and Barcelona’s pitches are the same size – 105 x 68 metres.
According to Barcelona’s website, their pitch used to be bigger but it was reduced following instructions from UEFA:
https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/club/facilities/camp-nou
Of course these dimensions might be the total playing surface and not the “pitch” itself.
I’m not being argumentative here, just curious.