What do we know heading to Elland Road?
We know that Wolves will be playing in a back four and that barring injury it will be Collins and Kilman holding down the fort.
We know that those centre halves will be flanked by two highly capable full backs and protected by two of the most intelligent midfielders in the league.
We know that Bruno Lage has worked to get the team pressing higher up the pitch to accommodate the change in shape.
We know that the forward players are looking more dynamic in the more attack minded formation and are making more runs off the ball to stretch defences.
That is a major positive and in Neto, Podence and Gibbs-White we possess enough individual talent in forward areas to cause problems.
It was Neto doing most of the damage yesterday, winning the penalty and wreaking havoc. If there’s a criticism it’s that a better final ball could have delivered a winning goal on several occasions, but he looks strong and ready for a big season.
But we also know that we don’t have a focal point to the attack and relying on late runs into the penalty area by Dendoncker to get on the end of crosses won’t deliver results in the Premier League. The last two years have taught us that lesson.
A centre forward (preferably two) must be added in the coming days or failing that weeks to avoid another season of drought.
The midfield leaves me just as anxious with any injury to Neves or Moutinho leaving the bones of the squad exposed. We can’t expect them both to keep going full steam for 38 games.
It was great to see Sa back in goal and Hwang getting some minutes (he’s not as bad as many make out and should improve in this system) and if Adama is going to give us a final year it will give us another useful option.
But as things stand we arrive at opening weekend with more trepidation than anticipation and many questions about how well this squad is equipped to deal with the marathon that’s to come.
Hi bloggers not posted for ages, got serious health issues, but agree bare bones it is, enough to stay up, this blog cheers me up in dark days, love u all , wolves aie we.
hope you are as well as you can possibly be . all the best to you
utw
Thank u for your kind words sir.
Stay strong my friend. I sincerely hope that regardless of what happens on the pitch this coming season that the bloggers comments at least makes you smile.
Sorry to hear about your health issues mate.
Lots of positive vibes being sent your way even as I type this.
Love from me and the PMDG’er.
Thank u for your kind words, life is cruel , had so many things to do, at least the golden Palace and bully in his prime where precious and happy memories, wolves are we.
Hiya Binda …
Messages such as yours puts life into perspective… we both hope that there’ll be light at the end of the tunnel and we send you our good wishes ….
Lots of love from the Twixes xx
M’Lord,
Thank you for your call the other night. Forgot to say hi to Lilian at the time. Great to hear you are both well.
Perfect summary Thomas. I share your trepidation.
We have an excellent defence and are absolutely threadbare elsewhere.
Where the hell are the goals going to come from.?
Do we expect Neves (if we don’t sell him) to stay fit all season?
Do we seriously think Moutinho can play 38 full matches?
The sad truth is that all the signs indicate that Fosun have given up on this “experiment”.
It all starts in earnest next weekend. If we don’t make any serious signings this week we are on the back foot from day 1.
Wake up everyone we’re in trouble.
20+ goalless draws and the odd 1-0 won’t keep us up.
Here we go again
Interesting that Chairman Guo flew in to Portugal from China for the friendly yesterday. Apparently we are trying to seal the deal for Nunes who played for Sporting in the match. May be just a coincidence.
En route from Fosun meetings with their gnomes in Zurich? Would be very surprised if he’s flown from the PRC on football business.
A good first team but a truly hopelessly threadbare squad . We have all been saying this for several years but Fosun have done nothing about it . Playing Bueno as a forward tonight tells you everything you need to know about the squad . Laughable . No wonder MGW , Neves and Traore don’t want to sign a new deal . I know I would not do so . This project is now on a downward spiral .
Fosun are only interested in staying up which I think we will do .
They don’t want to sign the new deal as offered.
Massive congratulations to the Lionesses today. Absolutely fabulous. And if the anti woke brigade would like to come on bring it on. Gladly have a chat with you all.
Come on then negative Nigels. Lets have it out . Let me know. Or are ya gonna hide away behind your Tory Boy keyboard. Let me know.
Come on then . Seen your negative vote. Whats up ? Are you a complete wanker ?
You’re really spoiling for a fight.
Yes, congratulations and excellent time wasting at the end. Totally scratching my head though at what your third sentence.
Well I said that because I picked up on some disappointing vibes tonight. That’s all.
Excellent summary Thomas. I’ve not posted all Summer as I didn’t want to appear negative about the slow transfer window and kept hoping that some further signings were imminent. I’ve been encouraged by Bruno’s subtle shift in tactics and pleased that (fingers crossed) we haven’t lost any of those in the squad we all hoped would stay another season. However, it’s plain to see the squad needs additions in both central midfield and upfront. We can’t expect the players to last the whole season without any further injuries. Hope any last minute potential additions can integrate quickly. Don’t really want to be negative about Fosun, but hope they will protect their investment and be as open as they can with their fans about their aspirations for our great club. Whatever happens in the coming days, excited about the season ahead. UTW.
Not really disagreeing with you, Thomas, but I want to see some of our young players.
In particular, I would like to see Connor Ronan and Morgan Gibbs-White given decent runs. The same applies to Ryan Giles and Theo Corbeanu, but they are already out!
We have produced top players in Goncalves, Vitinha and Vinaigre, but they’re not playing for us, and we didn’t even get big money for them.
To me, the top priority is recognizing our own talent. Something is wrong here.
Let’s not buy until we learn to keep our Goncalves and Vitinha level players. We seem to be suffering from, “the grass is greener on the other side of the fence” syndrome.
Losing Goncalves may turn out to be a historic error which helps to scupper the Fosun project.
Let’s not repeat that mistake!
Utw
Nippy Lobo
Great summary, Thomas. I reluctantly share your trepidation and it seems almost churlish to admit it, given the the impressive quality in our ranks. With the exception of Moutinho in these his golden years, and possibly Coady too, every single member of the team is improving. The best years are ahead of them. I’m ignoring Maverick or Trigger, or whatever name I can think of for Traore as he is a one-off oddball. We need at least 2/3 signings of equivalent or even better quality to those who we already have. That will take some doing! We need to avoid adding numbers if of arguable quality just to placate the fans. In doing that we might block the progress of academy players. Some of those players really impressed last night. I’m reminded of that old TV show “Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width” , in that quantity is not better than quality.
Knowing that Fosun’s Chairman was at the game last night is intriguing. If we were just trying to stay up this season he would not be showing his face. I’m sure we are trying to persuade Matheus Nunes to sign but he will want to play in CL football. I think the only reason he might sign for us is to do a Jota, use us as a stepping stone.
I will go out on a limb and say that the January window will be of more importance that usual this season. One reason is the break for the World Cup before the first half of the season is over, therefore more matches in the second half of the season after the January window. By then Fosun’s cashflow crisis might be over and they might be able to spend heavily if the right players are available.
Congratulations to the Lionesses! What a match. I had it on TV and the Wolves match on my iPad.
Yes, DwW, with my desire to see a manager bring an ex-Academy player or two into the first-team squad, I too am looking to January for signings.
Great thoughts dances cheers for the blog
Message for Binda Spain.
Keep yer chin up.
If you, like most of the rest of us long suffering bloggists, hope to see some new and meaningful sparkly trophies in the Wolves winners circle before you pop your clogs, then you will, by all accounts of the gloom mongers on here, be around for quite a while!
And, remember and repeat the okd Wolves mantra
“ I wasn’t born in sandwell”
“ I wasn’t born in sandwell”
Lord twix, Clive u so funny , thanks for the kind words, I’m afraid I can’t be fixed, waiting for the big man to take me away to paradise, love and peace to all u bloggers.
Where abouts in Spain do you live mate?
For all you negatives out there, one fact not mentioned yet.
Good players who are in the marketplace will be fit, raring to go, and skilful enough to fit in with other teams.
That’s partly why they are good players.
Duh
Let’s get some of them signed up then, we start competing for points on Saturday.
So far one in, several out.
Bruno has done a great job in getting the players to adapte to 4 at the back but the lack of backing by Jeff will undo all that good work if we don’t get a striker and midfielder at least.
Here we are again on the eve of a new Premier League season still lamenting the lack of support and backing Bruno needs..
Again the investment this window so far has been pitifull whether that changes we will see but on past windows it looks like Bruno is going into another season with his hands tied by Jeff.
We have know for a least 18 months that we need a back up striker and again the injury to Raul has highlight this but with 3 day to go till the opening game of the season at Leeds nothing seems to have been done about this, shocking absolutely shocking.
We are 4 days away from the season opener.
We have 14 fit players with adequate PL experience to be reasonably described as fully fledged first team squad members (including MGW) to take to Elland Road.
And there are numerous posters on this site who think this is an acceptable scenario for week 1.
Talk about lack of ambition!
It’s not an acceptable scenario for week 1 or week 38. But if we sign the dog’s bollocks for £45mil from Portugal or somewhere, he won’t have ‘adequate PL experience’ either!
But, it is what it is, we are Wolves. Don’t mistake support for lack of ambition.
The preseason matches have shown the quality we have. Deadwood has been moved on, the wage bill has been slashed. Adding 2/3 players of equal or better quality by 1st September is probably our intention, supplemented by some fine prospects in our academy. When Frank Lampard managed Chelsea through their transfer ban, he found gold in their academy.
Dances
The lack of ambition reference is mainly aimed at our owners, but there are too many on here who accept the complete disdain with which Fosun are treating Wolves.
Anyone who reads the financial press knows that this is mainly due to the huge hole Fosun have dug for themselves, but that doesn’t help our football club, does it. Shades of the Bhattis? Maybe not quite but it looks like a hell of a mess.
Shades of the Bhattis? ‘Maybe not quite’ means nearly in my book.
Whatever our current financial situation is, Fosun are light years better than the Bhattis surely.
If Wolves sign a striker and a midfielder, some on here and on Twitter will take credit for it.
I don’t like to reveal too much now but Jeff and I ARE in quite advanced talks with a number of strikers and midfielders.
Hopefully something will come of them soon.
Only then will I take any credit.
DOOG
Please tell us that you and Jeff are going rectify the terrible mistake of allowing Wiilian Jose to slip through our fingers by not keeping him permanently. What a signing he would have been. And oh how we miss the free scoring Patrick Cuitrone. And all those goals that Fabio might have scored before he was banished to Belgium.
You see we have a very impressive record in trying to replicate the contributions that Jota made.
I guess the question is have Fosun got the finance to back Bruno or not if not then I can understand there lack of investment in which case and Jeff has said this himself find a backer or sell to someone who has the finance to compete in the Premier League.
On the other had if they have the finance but are not willing to invest to make us competive in the League then the answer is the same…..find someone who has either way Bruno, the team are the fans are the one who suffer.
Most of the time I know what I am going to read on here.
I really really miss the old bloggers who have left or who infrequently post.
Enjoy the season guys.
Tent fair, is it, M65?
M65? You’ll be lucky. Pritti Petal’s put a stop to those kind of Shenanigins.
As for trepidation, bet the lads can’t wait to rip into those Leeds puddings and give their toad a good stuffing.
Binda – chin up, there’s always the Swiss ‘option’. I’m booking early.
1 lv & COYW.
We must all suffer the vanity of the Ego.
Perhaps it’s the prescience that extends from winning the prediction league. Should do the lotto. 1 lv.
Won 3 times. Bored with it now.
Sounding like a Man City fan. Yawn.
Mind having to predict our inevitable losses over the season can’t be much fun. Didn’t see that end of season loss to the Canaries coming though. 1 lv.
So who is better? Sven Botman or Nathan Collins?
Can’t believe the apparent tacit acceptance on here of Coady’s likely fate – the bench then a transfer out, if he wants to be in the World Cup squad. The best captain in decades from so many perspectives, a real ambassador for the club. And as a fan of another club said to me yesterday, he would be regarded by those fans as the life and soul of WWFC. He’ll be hugely missed, not least when injury hits and Lage’s plans for a back four go the same way as last year. If all this comes to pass he deserves to go somewhere where he will play and be appreciated like he has been here. Then again, don’t we need another midfielder? The position we bought him for and then played him all over the park before Nuno made him what he is now.
Exit door becoming jammed by too many bodies.
Entry door seems to bolted shut.
2 days to go, not enough experience for a full bench already,
A disgrace if coady is discarded so quickly because of a putative move to a back four. His leadership alone is worth its weight in gold. As Peak suggested , why not convert him to a defensive midfielder and push others further up the park. Amazing how we can conclude so many deals for outgoing players but find it so difficult to conclude incoming isn’t it ? “A global scouting network working 24/7 to bring in the best talent led by Scott sellars” …..my arse! No recognised striker available to start a PL season, what an absolute balls of a recruitment strategy.
Hang on there, Sutton, I’ve just received a notification from Wolves on my ‘phone. Must be the long awaited news of a top transfer acquisition…..just checking… sorry, no, just another damn quiz question!
Keep up Sutton. Our ‘global scouting network’ is scouting for buyers 24/7, and they’re doing a damn fine job in finding a home for our players. Don’t you know? They can easily find a new home for Coady without breaking sweat.
There’s no tacit acceptance by me of Coady’s likely departure! Captain Fantastic must stay. Wasn’t he named player of the tournament, or something, for Engand, without actually playing? This was due to his influence in the dressing room. We must keep him, even if he is temporarily benched.