We’ve got to sort this attack out.
There are some good footballers across that front line but none possess the required aggression, devilment or penetration to consistently score goals.
Even if Bruno goes to a back four next season I’m not convinced an extra body further up the pitch will solve the problem. The personnel isn’t right.
Prior to Burnley going ahead in this game with the only chance they created there were a few nice passages of play but every time, without fail, it broke down around the penalty area.
Jonny and Semedo were the only players in gold shirts to register meaningful efforts on goal which tells you everything about how passive our strike force has become.
Raul, playing deeper behind Fabio, typified the performance, occupying some neat positions and looking creative in moments but seeming to forget the ultimate objective was to score a goal.
And Fabio himself was energetic and persistent but again on the rare occasion a cross did come into a good area he was nowhere to be seen.
Pedro came on with enough time to make an impact but again looked a couple of yards off the pace. I’d have liked to have seen Chiquinho who at least plays with energy and purpose. If we didn’t get him to disrupt games like this, I’m unsure why we bothered at all.
What’s frustrating is we were having the same conversation a year ago and two transfer windows have passed where this obvious deficiency has not been addressed.
Maybe it was fair to believe Raul returning and Trincao and Hwang coming in could offer a solution but unfortunately these are all technically sound footballers that largely operate on the periphery of the game and lack any sort of physical power.
A bonafide number 9 must arrive in the summer and maybe, just maybe, we won’t look quite so inept when teams are sitting deep and the onus is on us to force the issue.
The woeful attempts to do anything after Burnley scored (combined with the Goals For column) should at least serve as a timely reminder about the importance of this matter.
European football. Everyone ( well a lot of you anyway) have been hoping for that. Whilst not being negative, we are certainly not ready to compete in that competition. I mean “compete” not just participate, so I am quite pleased that we may not get involved. Other than that failure possibly seeing the likes of Neves leave for a club that can compete, I believe we need to see Fosun inject us with the resources that allow us to drive forward and compete with the likes of Liverpool and Man City on a regular basis. We are far away from performing consistently at that level I am afraid so until we can how an we expect to succeed in European Competition.
I have not yet seen the game today so cannot comment.
There is nil chance of the investment we all seek I am afraid
Based on what evidence Nick?
When Bruno was brought in to replace Nuno, we were told that the reason was that we needed to play more attacking and exciting football. But that`s never happened. What we have is just a refined version of Nuno`s philosophy. Great defense with little attacking threat. Limited excitement, with far too few goals. Definitely not the result expected.
So why not change our style for the last few games ? Bruno came with an attacking reputation featuring four at the back and two up top, so why not give this a go ? Nothing to lose in my estimation, and at least we`d get some idea as to future attacking potential.
Just a thought.
It did happen for the first three games, Mike, but we lost them all despite playing very well. That prompted a change in philosophy.
Or why not stick with the formula that has cemented us in the top eight, may yet still be just about good enough to bring us European football and do exactly what you’re suggesting over the summer?
Oh dear… Where to begin. Actually no where as Thomas you have said it.
1967 1st game, J7 Row U 183 ‘new stand’ since 25th August 1979 v Ipswich (if memory serves) and they are doing the best to convince me the 6 hour round trip from Marnhull is no long worth the petrol or expense of renewing my season ticket.
Rather peeved with them all tonight. Need a beer across the road at the Blackmore Vale Inn.
I understand my friend. My journey from North Yorkshire takes anything from 3 to 3.5 hrs each way. The only three things stopping me not renewing my season ticket is:
a. I get it a lot cheaper next season as I turn 65.
b. I have never seen us play so well at this level since I started watching in 1969 (bar the few crap games).
c. I will miss the bloggers.
There used to 12 of us home and away every game. Apart from Matt LWL they’ve all stopped going. I miss away games, miss the craic. New to the blog, so don’t really no anybody other than ‘on line’
3 pints in at the Vale, things don’t look as bad! Apart from the plastic scousers crowing about super LiVARpool.
Next you and Matt meet up Brompton, I will come and find you.
Final home game of the season, it is usual that a few of us get together pre and post match, often grabbing a meal together in the evening. Stay on this blog mate as theDOOGooder, me, Wolfstroker, West Parkian, Matt, Witley to name a few will be discussing meeting after the Norwich game. Be great to catch up.
Awesome.
Flying over for this game Nd catch up with family and friends
Please include me (+2) as would love to join the group (brianchad29@gmail.com)
By then I’m guessing we will have secured 8th
So still plenty to celebrate despite the frustration of recent games
Bottled it……players and owners alike. Five years of Fosun ownership and we are at a crossroads are they going to twist or stick on the noises coming from the main man Scott Sellears they are going to stick which is a massive missed opertunity because with a fair bit of backing Bruno could put what Nuno achieved in the shade he has done a brilliant job with what he has had to work with yes he has made mistakes but they have been few and far between.
Our scouts and the man who rubber stamps new recruitments ( Great Scott ) need to up there game as well because for the past 18 months and a number of windows th y have failed to get us a decent striker and ball winning midfielder if you want the best or as near too Jeff, you have to pay the going rate if you can spend £35 million on a 19 year old then why not on a decent ready made stricker I blogged we should go for Ivan Toney when Brenford won promotion he is the type of stricker we are lacking good in the air and on the ground scored 12 Premier League goals and 6 assists that is who we should be looking at.
Another missed opertunity but I guess the only ones who feel that are the fans and Bruno certainly our owner doesn’t seem bothered and there in lys the problem.
Fosun need to put up or put us up for sale and see if there is someone out there willing to put there money were there mouth is and not just give the fans the usual reterice regarding being self sufficient…..because there is not a football club in the world that is self sufficient.
One game doesn’t determine a direction.
This has still been a good season. However, were we to qualify for a European spot, Europa League or Conference, it would be a great season.
I don’t subscribe to the view that we aren’t ready. You qualify, you deserve it, you’re ready, you make the most of the opportunity, you grow.
Unfortunately, time is running out. Whilst the teams around us are all doing their best to offer us a helping hand, we seem to be unable to grasp the opportunity.
It’s frustrating and disappointing in equal measure.
A number of issues need resolving at the end of the season. Neves, Moutinho, Traore and MGW to name just 4. Marcal is going – thank you for your service.
Beyond that, as supporters, we could do we a sign, an indication, something to hang our hat on, something to reassure us that Fosun have positive ambitions. That they aren’t going to let us stall. To let us stagnate. We have to keep moving forward.
We will be competing again in the worlds most competitive league ( that in itself is reason for celebration ). Our competitors include 2 of the best teams on the planet, Liverpool and Man City. The European champions Chelsea. A resurgent Arsenal and Spurs. Euro league semi-finalists West Ham. Man Utd who will be more competitive as they start to rebuild. Now Newcastle with the resources of a rich country behind them. Not to mention the likes of Leicester, Villa, Leeds and, if they survive, Everton.
We need a smart transfer window. It will cost money. We will need some luck as well.
Above all we need to keep Ruben Neves and Moutinho.
The challenge isn’t one to be afraid of. It’s one to relish, but we need the ammunition to make a fight of it.
Fosun can’t use FFP restrictions or COVID impacting revenue streams as excuses now.
Time for them to step up to the plate this Summer.
UTW
Good point on MGW. Surely we need to be building the team around him. Never mind all this he doesn’t fit our system, make the system fit him.
He’s a goalscoring midfielder, albeit at a lower level, exactly what we’re crying out for. It would be a ridiculous mistake and surely an embarrassment to let one of our own leave only to watch him prosper elsewhere. Wouldn’t rule it out with Wolves, mind.
Why would Neves stay with us? He is a top class player who would arguably get in the starting line up of the vast majority of pl teams and top European teams on a regular basis. He has stayed determinedly loyal whilst in reality we have not moved forward as a club for two to three years. He is coming into his peak and towards the end of his contract. He owes us nothing and if he wants to play regularly in Europe silverware and win silverware there is no realistic prospect of him doing that with wolves with the ongoing lack of significant investment .Even wearing my most optimistic wolves spectacles, I can’t find any material reason why he won’t be gone before the start of next season…..and before people say we are only a few points off 7th place and could get Europe this season. Having been today we were as impotent as we were at Newcastle and West Ham. This team isn’t as good as the one that actually played in Europe so we are quite a distance away from realistically threatening in my opinion
There is only one reason that could possibly tempt Neves to stay another year. The World Cup is being held in November, and if he goes to a really top club with stiff midfield competition, he may not be a regular starter, which would be very undesirable in a World Cup year. At Wolves he would be a certain starter.
We can live in hope!!!!
Simply not good enough. Once Burnley went ahead, our powder puff attack never looked like getting us back in the game. The fact that our best two attackers, and the most likely to score were the two full backs, says it all.
The decision by Bruno to play Raul as some wort of wide man is, to say the least baffling. Hwang, after an encouraging start at the Club , is proving to be very disappointing, perhaps at best a half decent squad player. Silva is slowly improving, but as yet is not a Premier League quality striker. So, with the absence of any drive from midfield, how do we expect to score goals ?
Bruno may sing his usual song as to the fact that we were ‘the better team ‘, But better teams, Bruno, actually score goals with some frequency. Our ‘goals for’ statistic does not lie.
The harsh reality is that to move on from this point we must surely have investment in the two key positions of midfield and up front. Are Fosun prepared to do this? Unfortunately this would appear doubtful.
Perhaps for the remainder of the season would our best plan be to give younger players a decent run in the side to ascertain whether their potential can blossom? For example, Chiquita and Campbell both show considerable promise, but until they are given an opportunity at senior level how can we know just how good they could become ?
We can’t blame Fosun for Moutinho and Dendoncker being passive. It’s not Jeff Shi’s fault that Bruno leaves Hwang on the pitch when all he’s doing is fall over and moan at the ref.
As much as I agree that Fosun need to back us, I am also starting to doubt Bruno. We have had 10 games to put pressure on the teams above us, and from a position of relative strength, each time we have failed when presented with a real chance to move up the table. I know that Bruno is doing his best, as I am sure that Raúl, Fabio and Pedro Neto are. However, nothing is happening. We either bottle it, or we aren’t good enough. The defence, despite some poor moments recently, is still one of the best in the league. In terms of wing backs, we are stocked strongly.
In central midfield, we’ve got 2 of the classiest players in the league, and The Donk. Cundle may be the second coming of Gazza, but he’s shown nothing yet to convince me that he’s anything special, although a decent midfielder in the premier league is not a bad shout. Up front, Raul’s never coming back to the standards from before the injury. Fabio needs to play in a two, and Neto, Podence and Chiquinho need someone to aim at. Maxi Gómez might be a good shout.
I get the feeling that Bruno is frustrated too, but he has to dish out the bollockings to get the performances, and they’re not happening. Two up top with Hwang in behind might have been a better idea for today.
Burnley were sh#¥. We were no better. It really does feel like our season will fizzle out now. Upsetting.
It should be clear to Fosun by now, that growing non – football revenue, growing the fan base and buying young cheap potential and selling at a increased price a few years later, is a flawed football model.
So is getting by with a very small squad.
Most of all, what does not work is the lack of entrainment, as for two years we can hardly score a goal, we cannot even buy one! Goals equals entainment, and someone should remind Fosun that without the entertainment factor, we have nothing!
Perhaps now that we are virtually safe in eighth position (almost) perhaps we should revert to the playing style of football that we did in the first three games where we had well in excess of 50 shots at goal (not on goal!)
Just very frustrated at this lost opportunity. Fosun must reassess their business/football model or we will never make that extra step that is required to take us to the next level.
I entirely agree that without goals there is no entertainment and I have therefore concluded that making the long trip from London for the rest of this season is not worth it for the dull games we are enduring .It really is dire .
!00% agree with every word. As a Wolves supporter the model is flawed; as a business model it will also fail as the rot will start to set in and as we have seen before it quickly develops exponentially.
Daft thing is we can still get 7th and be in Braga drinking lager. Just a thought.
My recollection of Braga… was definitely drinking the lager.., but also getting pummelled by the heavy handed riot police outside the stadium..
I hope we get to make it but we’ll need more than what was on offer today mate …
Please, no!
Called this before the game. It was sadly all too predictable that we’d get turned over here. They needed, and wanted, it more. Really frustrating and puzzling how we can put in such piss poor performances yet be sitting a healthy eighth in the league. It’s not a one off either, we were anonymous at Newcastle and there are several other examples. Fans of other clubs must look at us and scratch their heads seeing us so high in the table.
Neves obviously a big miss but completely agree with Thomas’ assessment of the attack. It hasn’t been settled all season and Bruno doesn’t seem to know what his best front three are. Just throw three names at the board and hope for the best appears to be the thinking.
Sad to see the season fizzling out. Two more winnable games but looks a big ask to get top 7 now.
A bit down at the moment.
I didn’t see the game as I was visiting my 97 year old mother in her nursing home.
She was confused, almost entirely uncommunicative, in pain and thought that I was a man called Adam.
From what I hear, I didn’t necessarily choose the short straw.
Given the teams we have left to play, I won’t be too disappointed when this season ends.
Just watched Bruno’s press conference after the game…….and he said one telling comment when asked why are Wolves not scoreing goals…..he said because we just dont have the players which suggests to me he has’nt been given the players he wanted….sounds like he his telling Jeff and Scott look what happens when you decide who we buy.
Have a look at the whole interview he is very frustrated and you can see he wants to say more but does’nt.
The bloke in so anumated just look a this body language it is very revealing.
I would’nt be supprised if Bruno has been told not to qualify for Europe.
Ludicrous comment
You are seriously suggesting Fosun are telling Bruno Lage to lose games on purpose. What a load of bollocks.
Quote from Bruno post match –
“Burnley 1-0 Wolves: Bruno Lage says his side are struggling to score goals after loss to Burnley”.
I don’t want to be critical of Bruno but this is hardly a revelation to any of us who have been watching Wolves for the past few years; in fact since for whatever reason we sold Jota for a song and then saw the assassination attempt on Jiminez. At least he admits it, which Nuno always seemed loathe to do. Both have been inadequately backed by the Board trying to do it on the cheap apart from the enigmatic Silva. Cuitrone, Campana, Willian and I fear Hwang have all failed to make the grade; Silva remains an expensive experiment. “Permaloan” £5 million Leo Bonatini could hardly have been worse than any or all of them. What the hell are the managers supposed to do. Who is actually in charge of recruitment?
Our recruitment of strikers has been pitiful. I still hold out hope that Fabio will come good and that Neto will rediscover the magic; but I’m sorry Jiminez will never be the player he was pre David Luiz, an issue which has been brushed firmly under the carpet for far too long.
We have scored 68 goals in 71 league games since the beginning of last season. A question for Jeff Shi and his overlords has to be is this a statistic which is compatible with claims of aspirations for top 6 status. Don’t think so.
It is however a great credit to our defence and midfield and manager(s) that we have maintained mid table respectability.
It’s no longer time to stick or twist. Because standing still is never an option in football. The upcoming close season will tell us a lot about the real intentions of Fosun vis a vis WWFC. If it’s the stick option then thanks for the memories but maybe it’s time to cash in. And yes I know we should be careful what we wish for but stagnation is not a realistic scenario either – it’s forwards or backwards.
And there’s the challenge. Proven Premier league goal scoring forwards are
a) very very costly
b) going to take some convincing to come to Wolves especially if we’re not in Europe
c) as common as rocking horse shit.
Hence taking chances on players that aren’t so expensive, but are by definition a risk. Cutrone, Bonatini, Hwang and Willian Jose spring to mind. Jimenez was one of our successes but currently struggling, Jota sold and Neto injured just as he was hitting his stride. And Fabio – a long term project it would seem.
That’s the difficulty of trying to compete with established teams in this league when resources are literally in a different league.
Just compounds the mistake of selling Jota too soon and too cheap then. It didn’t take a genius to see he was going to go all the way and he was the bargain of the century at £43 million. Meanwhile we have spent nearly twice as much trying and failing to replace him.
Jota was shit for us for 6 months. Never made the first team. No one really moaned when he went. Thomas Frankowski would score goals in this Liverpool team.
Jotas was not shit for 6 months he was messed about by Nuno; and I certainly moaned about him leaving at the time and have been doing so ever since. The worst piece of business by the club in living memory (except for buying Cuitrone).
Respect PJB. But if you remember the consensus was Jota got in to positions and fell over. Or ran in to brick walls. He certainly didn’t score loads of goals. I remember that much.
Opinions CoD, that’s what we’re about isn’t it? Respect indeed, we all have the same ambitions. COYW.
My recollection is that when we sold Jota he was struggling to score and was clearly behind Adama and Neto in the pecking order, who were seen to have a higher ceiling. In hindsight, it was not the right call, but we were offered a lot of money for one of our bench players.
Sadly, it might be about the same money as we get for our jewell Neves. (I think Neves is worth way more, but if he agitates to move we will end up taking what we are offered, like Adama was valued at 40+ and now we will get 20).
Not happy about it, but it may be the reality.
If you want a decent player you have to pay the going rate. As PJB has said we have pissed away money on a succession of strikers Hwang, Catrone there’s £28 million could of brought Toney for that or Abraham when he was at Villa but no……..like anything in this world you get what you pay for.
Fifth consecutive season in the top league. First time since the 1970’s. Top 8 premier league behind the the big six. 3 seasons out of 4 in top 8. Still ay good enough. We had enough quality on the pitch to beat Burnley. We didn’t. Its football. Get over it.
Cannot argue with that Cheese but something just does’nt sit right. We have and owner we never here from .
We have a football director who decides who we buy……..his words not mine not the manager, and yeah as mad as it seens what happens if we do qualify for Europe.
Expectation goes through the roof do FOSUN want that I dont think they do because that would mean more investment .
The more success you get the more fans want and expect.
It not bollocks if you look a bit deeper.
Bruno lage is the worst manager in the prem when it comes to game management and taking action mid game. Useless twat. We are a joke.
The only player to deserve any praise from that debacle was johnny at least he made an effort.
The rest reminded me of greek waiters at the end of the holiday season who couldnt give a shite as they’ve earnt their money and are looking to the beach.
Its laughable how the hammers and the mancs have handed us their spots in the league on numerous occasions only for us to run away scared and give them back
Its no surprise a lot of us are convinced fosun dont want us to qualify for any european competition.
I would love to be completely gob smackingly surprised by fosun pulling all the plugs out and going for it but at the moment i am firmly in the other camp of that will do reign yourself in bruno eighth is good enough.
Think i will go to the beach early myself !
I may just bump into some wolves players .
Fosun don’t want us to qualify for Europe. What a load of tosh. Fosun are an investment company. Why wouldn’t they want maximum exposure for Wolves. I’ve heard some shite over the years. But this takes the biscuit. Fucking hell. I remember Exeter away in 1987. But we ay allowed to mention that are we?
Well Cheese its about time they speculated to acuminate.
Took over The Weary Traveller in Cullompton afterwards, I recall, much to the thanks of the landlord who said he did a fortnight’s business in 2 hours and had to call upon some locals to help serve.
Any way. I’m signing off. It’s the Wolves. And as ever passionate views. Hope we haven’t fallen out. Wolves ay we !
NEVER fall out with you mate. You make me laugh too much. Stay safe fella.
Cheers mate. Always try and have a laugh. Lifes to short ay it. All the best.
I love your passion for the Wolves, Cheese, don’t ever change. Can’t wait to meet the real you!
Cheese you are close to being the voice of reason amongst the clamour created by the army of doom mongers who are beginning to dominate this once reasoning Blog. So similar is the style of them to each other I’m beginning to suspect they are one person with a number titles.
Glad someone else noticed. I have not posted on here as much as I used to as I do not enjoy reading the same comments over and over.
One man went to mow,
Went to mow a meadow…………….
I had a choice.
Try to find a lousy feed from Burnleh, or spend the morning on my sparkling blue and white ( not That blue ) tractor, mowing my meadow.
Guess which won?
Clue: I was not surprised, nor totally pissed off!
Beautiful morning, humidity has not kicked in here yet, the birds were birding, well the dozen or so vultures circling overhead looked harmless, the sun was sunning, all was right with the world, so I mowed.
Having seen the team sheet, was it any surprise we lost, with the same defense across the back from the championship?
You can trot out all the excuses in the book, but if we cannot beat second division bound cannon fodder, we have no business trying to beat European cannon fodder.
And whatever the bloke’s name is who owns Fosun, might I suggest new blood, from the top down, is worth thinking about from now through the summer.
Mind yer back, Jeff.
Burnley were much improved since the players had their yoke removed, and have now given themselves a chance of another season in the Prem. With our team sheet including what seem to be three centre forwards and no wingers to supply them, I wasn’t surprised we struggled in attack. We’ll never compete financially with City and Liverpool, or the rest of the top six really, but West Ham have given us yet another chance, so let’s see.
European football would mean Nevers more likely to stay and Fosun would miss out on a big pay day profit……after all that is there stated aim buy players and sell them on at a profit isn’t that the model Jeff has outlined.
15 points to go.
And Burnley just makes me paranoid, Every soddin time. The ball went straight thru Big Willy on its way to Vidra, and he had a decent game otherwise.
At least we ain brickin it like a Toffee.
Its like flogging a dead horse without Neves, and Jimi’s doubtful red red card is starting to look v. expensive. Has Coady stopped playing long diagonals for want of a target? Good to see Silva skipping about like a spring lamb, don’t mention kebabs.
We have a decent shot at holding the Title in our hands come the rescheduled Citeh clash. Which should be prime time. Fingers crossed for a thriller. Boly got sent off after 10 mins at the Twatihad, so he’s got some behaviour to make up. The Boywonder owes us a goal, and Batman could do with a flashback. Just enjoy your footy while you can. Anyone going to Boris’s leaving party at No10?
1 lv & COYW.
First things first: it’s not the end of the world. And not even the end of the season with still much to play for.
However, I can see us not getting any more points this season.
Does anyone think we will beat Liverpool or Man City? Chelsea and Brighton will be difficult and I predict Norwich having a last “Hurrah”.
There’s no doubt that we need a ruthless, fearless striker but, personally, I think our shortcomings stem from midfield.
Too many times they favour the safe ball, the ponderous lateral pass, instead of pushing forward with speed.
We lack the incisiveness up front to play like Liverpool so we have to attack with speed before the opposition defense can get set.
Ahhh well, at least England Women’s rugby team are a delight to watch.
Very valid point about midfield – far too many lateral passes, compounded by lack of movement up front. Big rethink needed on the goal scoring front if we aren’t going to really struggle next season. It’s a miracle we haven’t done so this time and you can’t rely forever on a solid back line. “Cheque book diplomacy” required from Fosun in serious numbers. £200 million net spend in 5 years is not the model for a club claiming to have top 6 aspirations. Bruno has thrown down the gauntlet – give him what he needs or we may well lose him too. The Academy and cheap “ones for the future” (how many of those have been and gone) won’t cut it.
WTF, knowing the Wolves we will lose to Norwich, but beat the others 🙂
Well, I approached the match with trepidation, although I forecast a 2-1 win. Burnley are fighting for their lives and teams in this situation can suddenly walk on water. Jesus, I thought, when Burnley scored, but he wasn’t the only guy to walk on water.
Or for the days of a Wolves team with Jota, Jimenez and Traore up front, with Neves spraying passes and Doc storming forward. With three of the aforesaid long gone, and Neves injured, we are left with the diminished Raul. Pedro Neto is not a shadow of the pre-injury player he was.
Yes, we can spend more freely this summer, but I’m not impressed with our spending in the past few years, Podence and Sa being the exceptions. To think that Liverpool bought Luis Diaz for only a couple million more than we splashed out on Silva, makes me angry.
When all is said and done though, we should count our blessings. An 8th placed finish this season would be a credible start for Bruno, considering our disappointing final season under Nuno. We should watch our backs though, Newcastle are coming up fast. The irony of the weekend for me is that Jezz Moxey always held up Everton as an example of us to aspire to emulate. Ironically, our loss against Burnley may have consigned Moxey’s blue eyed boys Everton to relegation.
Your second paragraph sums up our shortcomings perfectly. Jiminez is nowhere near the player he was pre Luiz (and 2 years older), Traore has clearly lost his way and my frustration regarding the sale of Jota is well documented. All this in parallel with expenditure of around £75 million on the disaster that is Cuitrome, the inconsistent Podence and the purchase off another “one for the future” (hopefully) in Silva plus Neto’s injury has left us bereft of goal scoring capability. Less than a goal per game over almost 2 full seasons says it all really.
The irrefutable fact is we’re by some margin at the very worst the eighth best team in the best league in the world.
We’re now judging ourselves against the teams above us. How many times have I heard “to compete at the top we need this or that” ? No one is saying, as we have in the past “ to stay up we need….”
Yes we have some deficiencies. Origi to me looks like he was made for us. This time last year all our scoring problems would be sorted as soon as Raul came back. Sadly that’s not quite worked out.
And as for all this Fosun don’t care Bollocks, your guess is as good as mine but other that doing an Everton and buying any old dross that becomes available at any price I’d say their track record isn’t too bad.
We’re inconsistent without a doubt but we’re still better than most of us can ever remember.
Agreed –
8th is an excellent position for a medium sized PL club
It’s correct that Fosun don’t care is bollocks. I for one will be eternally grateful that they came along 6 years ago and rescued us from 30 years of mediocrity at best and
that they have done more than enough over the last 4 years to keep us well clear of relegation issues.
However-
There is nothing wrong with aspiring to improvement. WWFC has a huge catchment area for support and a very auspicious history. There is nothing to say that we can’t break the “big 6” monopoly with a bit more of a push which was the message that Fosun came in with.
I think it’s hard to argue against the view that Fosun’s stomach for the project has waned. Jeff Shi himself has admitted that it’s proved more difficult than anticipated. The problem then becomes how do you maintain your position amongst the “best of the rest” in the long term and our own history and that of many other similar clubs says you can’t – you either progress or regress. And the last couple of years show very little sign of progression.
We are still very close, but I think we are now at the watershed. It’s onwards and upwards or a slow return to relegation battles. Probably back to being a yo yo club again. Is that what we want?
The coming months will tell us a lot. Invest or risk decline because others are chasing the pack. Sensible (not profligate) investment at signicantly higher levels than recently is needed just to maintain the status quo.
Over to you Jeff and your principals.
I’m not so sure PL is best league in the world. It’s the most popular and most profitable but i think a head to head Euro trophy count would put La Liga ahead of PL.
I’m sure they want us to think that it is cos that gives them carte blanche to keep fleecing us.
Football was far more diverse before the PL was formed with a much wider spread of trophies outside of the big six. All the PL did was consolidate the big six domination.
La liga is a two team league with the occasional interloper. Below that is some real dross. Even our bottom three would stand a chance of a top six finish in Spain.
That would explain why Spanish clubs have won the Champions League 5 times in the last ten years and won the Europa League 7 times out the last ten years. Clearly inferior to the likes of Norwich and Watford.
Blind patriotism Prawny, don’t believe the hype.
Athletico are the current La Liga champions btw.
It’s a two horse race in the PL and has been for a few seasons now if you hadn’t noticed but predominantly dominated by Man City for the last ten years.
It’s boring. It’s not earned on merit, it’s earnt on moolah.
It’s definitely not blind patriotism Balsall. As I spend a fair bit of time in Spain I see qiuite a lot of Spanish football. When you get past the top two and maybe three or four others the rest are on a par with the likes of our bottom four.
I wouldn’t let one off matches sway opinion on this.
Strange how some real dross has reached the Champions League semi final!
All these comments make sense because we care even if we don’t agree but let’s be honest, Fosun don’t listen and Fosun don’t tell, this is mushroom ville.
Here endeth the season, hereafter known as the Season of Missed Opportunities.
Realistically we could go the rest of the season without a win. Only Norwich look beatable and we havn’t managed to do that this season in two attempts. Treading water in a forgone conclusion. It could be a lot worse but could it get any less exciting, probably not. It could end up being Newcastle grabbing the last place for Euro spots at this rate.
Thomas, I’m interested why you think Bruno might go for a back 4 next season rather than a back 5. If he was gonna do that wouldn’t he have tried it this season.
Not sure Bruno is the man to take us forward, he can keep us in this division but we have blown consecutive attempts to consolidate our push for top six with teams above doing their best to hand it to us on a plate and we’ve still failed.
Another no show-again against a team who haven’t done anything all season how many times have we been in this position .where if we win we put our selves in the mix for European football regardless if our squad is big enough or strong enough or even good enough.European football is the only way you keep your best players and attracting the better players to come to our old famous club.
We had enough in play yesterday to bag a result against a side who probably deserve to go down imo, Bruno must take some of the blame for his selections and substitutions especially when we went a goal down.we all dream of the day we can compete with the so called top six, but I fear Fosun have lost the will to invest in that Dream.
Let’s see what happens for the rest of this term and hopefully when all the dust has settled we will see clearly of where and what direction Fosun are willing to take us.
Now that Scunthorpe have been relegated, there are only two teams left in the Football League with a swear word in their name.
Arsenal and Fucking Leeds.
You shit! That caused me to splutter my tea all over my laptop!!! :0))))
The mention of Scunthorpe reminds me of the graffiti version of an advertising slogan from my youth. If Typhoo Put the Tea in Britain, Who Put the **** in Scunthorpe?
Anyone remember the petrol advert, I’ve Got a Tiger in my Tank? It spawned numerous bastardised versions. My personal favourite was: I’ve Got Lipstick on my Dipstick.
On a more refreshing note- just got back from watching a cracking U23 match against Stoke. Terrific entertainment, very high skill level and some of the Wolves long range passing was outstanding. End to end entertainment of a very high level – for free! Our lads aged 18-20 shared a 2-2 draw against a much more mature and experienced Stoke outfit who included their 16 year old ‘wonderkid’ who scored their two goals. Only disappointment was Yersons’ performance- by far the worse player in the team, looks like £17m down the drain on tonight’s evidence.
I thought we paid around £3m for him, where did you get £17m from?
£4.68m
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/yerson-mosquera/profil/spieler/716276
I must admit I used a bit of licence there! I factored in an estimation of his wages over the 5 year contract said to have been agreed.
Not going to the Man City game on the 11th May. My seat will be free for anyone who needs it.
Are we gathering for a bloggers get together post Norwich match on the 15th May?
If so, does anyone know if anything has been planned or are we not bothering this season?
I am travelling down that day and have arranged to stay overnight so can meet up wherever suggested.
Wish I could be there, Brompto, but not gonna make it.
Perhaps next year, to celebrate winning the league!
Will miss you mate. See you next season hopefully.