Let’s face it, watching Wolves last season was a slog at times.
Despite Bruno Lage professing to be an attack-minded coach, his convictions often failed to translate to positive returns on the pitch.
As we all know, the reasons for that are not solely down to Lage himself. The lack of backing from Fosun has been well publicised.
However, over £50m has been pumped into the team so far this summer and, on today’s evidence, we still look paper-weight up top.
It’s getting to the point where I’m actually impressed by how woeful we are in front of goal.
Time and time again, we got in behind the Fulham defence only to blaze the ball over the bar or cross it meekly into their keeper’s hands.
Much of that is down to the fact that we seem to have gathered together an identikit of attackers who all want to do the same thing.
None of the current crop of forwards (Guedes excluded, on account of him only just arriving at the club) appear to possess the cutting edge needed to decide games like this.
And, at the risk of me hitting the panic button after two games, that is a huge cause for concern.
Our attacking statistics made for grim reading last season and, with the league looking far more competitive this term, we all know a major improvement is needed.
The question is – can Fosun finance it without cashing in on one of our crown jewels?
On today’s evidence, I’d be fighting tooth and nail to keep Gibbs-White. He was often at the heart of our attacking play, though he should have buried his big chance early in the second half.
Ait-Nouri, on the other hand, is one I’d consider cashing in on if rumours of Man City’s interest are to be believed. Sure, he’s a huge prospect but he once again proved himself to be defensively suspect by handing Fulham the chance to steal all three points.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure he’ll cut those mistakes out with time but if it came down to losing him or Neves I know who I’d rather keep.
It feels like Groundhog Day to be writing this again, but what we do in the next few weeks will have a huge impact on our prospects this season.
Over to you Mr. Shi.
This has the makings of a very looooong season.
If things don’t change soon that is
Well. Watching that today. I said after Sa saved the penalty i’ll take a point. I couldn’t see us scoring. No invention. Poor passing. The new bloke out on the left wing. Could be a long season. My starting point now is 1 point per game. I will review it after 10. Very disappointing.
Written by someone who never played the sport at any real level.
Gets tiring reading time after time.
You’re reading it time after time because sadly it’s happening time after time. We can’t hit a barn door at 10 paces – surely amongst the army of back room staff and coaches there’s someone who can give a bit of striker guidance??
How are those letters of apology we are all supposed to be writing to Guo, Jeff and Scott looking John?
Same old, same old. I wasn’t enthused by Bruno’s post match interview on BBC. He seemed more pleased that we didn’t concede. It’s not a style that will entertain fans. He’s got a lot of work to do before fans start to turn on him. Let’s hope that attendance by Fosun chairman and Mendes today was not just a coincidence. We need quality investment soon before the season slips away
Perhaps they are preparing the axe!
So……the defensive set up has changed so that we can become attacking. We still can’t score and the defence is arguably more suspect than with he system built around Conor. And Lage is happy we didn’t concede. Well I suppose there’s some logic in all that. Somewhere.
Reluctantly I`m coming to the conclusion that Bruno is full of BS.
Fosuns`s problems are well documented so of necessity we have limited resources. But surely Bruno must have some say as to how any available monies are spent [ If he`s not able to insist on this basic requirement, he`s the wrong man for the job anyway ]
But look at what we`ve done this summer. Why spend 20K on a young unproven defender [Collins ] He may well have potential, but was he really needed as a priority? I say not.
On the other hand we have Raoul, our ONLY striker, injured and out of action. Why Bruno, if you`re such an attack minded coach did you not prioritize using the cash for VERY URGENT reinforcements at the other end of the pitch? J Just how do you think we `re going to score ? Every man and his dog has been crying out to rectify this issue for the last couple of years. Or. Bruno, do you think that as long as we play pretty pretty football and squander a hat full of chances scoring is not that important ?
Then Bruno`s post game interview comments beggar belief. He only appeared interested in the fact that we did not concede. But for goodness sake we were playing Fulham !! At home !! The fact that we again failed to score appeared to be inconsequential. Is that the response of an attack minded coach ?
There`s something just not right with this picture.
Sa, Collins and Kilman had the most touches and all close to 100% pass completion, that tells you everything.
No creativity, no end product.
As a midfield player, MGW is lightweight , gifts possession away with unnecessary flicks, runs around like a kid in the playground. Sell for cash now, use as a deposit for a grown up.
Daz Hale reports that Guo Guangchang, Jeff Shi and Jorge Mendes sat together today at the match, please let that be the green light for several bits of shopping.
Otherwise this is going to be a bottom 6 season with Fulham, Leeds, Southampton, Forest and hopefully Man Utd.
PS- We could have lost that game 0-1. Well done Jose Sa.
The defensive play was excellent (with exception of Ait Nouri’s foul leading to the penalty). Dendoncker and Neves protects the defense in a formidable way, and Collins and Kilman had an excellent game. I wonder if it’s necessary to play with two defensive midfielders. I think perhaps playing Neves as an anchor and Gibbs White as a box-to-box midfielder, with Podence in an attacking midfielder role would have resulted in a more sound and dynamic attack. I agree in those who think we’re too lightweight up front. Neto or Podence should have scored today. Still early times and it’s way too early to draw any conclusion regarding how we’re going to fare in premier this season. The start hasn’t been as good expected result wise. We lack the right players up front – it’s as simple as that.
I don’t think Fulham looked the strongest opposition today. So we should have been able to take all 3 points.
Indeed we could’ve lost the game but for Sa’s penalty save. That would have been a real kick in the teeth given we looked much the better team out there. Collins and Kilman were first class, I much prefer a back four but think the full-backs have a more difficult job than in a back five. It will take time for the new system to bed in. Think Samedo looked strong when he came on, so for me he’d get my vote over Ait-Nouri with Jonny moving over to the left.
But it’s the forwards, we did create chances, good chances but we can’t finish. Podence and MGW just take too many touches and Podence’s fancy Dan back flicks seem to lose us the ball rather than get us goals. Guedes, it’s early days, but he looked good in parts, fast, quick and can handle the physical side. Thought Hwang looked okay up front. Neto has definitely lost his cutting edge, because really he should have had at least 1 maybe 2 goals today.
Neves’s goal line clearance in the first half was class, and his battling qualities are second to none. But he’s got to practice those free kicks! I like Dendoncker and thought he had a good game today.
I am optimistic for this season but then I’m glass half full in terms of football and the Wolves.
Bruno Lage needs to get his forwards finishing. I want to see a win sometime soon. But on the evidence , so far, a back four gives us more attacking potential. So things can only get better!
That’s one goal in two games! It’s early in the season, and the transfer time-frame is still active, but so far, that is the same as last season, with Spurs next!
If the big three were in attendance, let us hope it was to sanction a couple of new transfers. Perhaps it was to discuss the sale of Wolves? Nah!
The new system is work in progress, transfers are work in progress, and my patience is also work in progress!
We will know our true circumstances in a few more games. Let us hope we improve, and quickly.
All happy clapping aside, time for serious answers.
Guo, Jeff and Jorge sat together.
But did they talk together.
On paper, our team has a lot of talent, but getting everyone to bring it to the playing field, every day, collectively, is nigh on impossible. And when they do, as pointed out above, so many are so similar they basically cancel each other out.
So where does the responsibility lie, and more to the immediate point, what can be done?
Is Guo a self thinker, or does he surround himself with brown nosed, kissy arse yes men?
If the latter, I fear we are in for a really poor season.
If our coaching staff cannot differentiate between OUR forwards, as to their differing attributes, as well as upcoming opponents, and end up training everyone the same, we have a problem.
If Jeff, Jorge and Bruno are all singing from the same song sheet, about how good our present crop is, we have a problem.
And if there is no one at he club with the balls to explain all this to the man with the money, we have a BIG problem.
Fulham and Leeds are supposedly some of the League’s cannon fodder, free points etc., not difficult to turn over.
If we struggle against the other so called fodder, dog help us. at least until New Year’s Eve!!
Glad I missed the first half.
Wow Clive
That 180 degree turn is impressive.
It must be very uncomfortable sitting on that fence of yours.
I agree withy much of what you say, Clive. However we have one other big problem which you`ve overlooked.
Mr Guo and Mr Mendez may have been talking together, and just possibly we may see an input of more cash. But the issue must be just how do we spend it ?
If this is left to the hapless Mr Shi and his puppet, Scot ‘How high do you want me to jump Oh Lord and Master,’ Sellers, then we`re in trouble. This pair of prats must hold the world record for rotten deals and cash chucked away . Millions thrown away on the flawed ‘ones for tomorrow policy’; [think Matheson one mill !] The ludicrous Traore loan deal; The absurd over payment for Silva. The gifting away of Jota: the Coady loan deal when we so badly needed some cash. etc. etc.
So please, Mr Goa, if you are considering inputting some cash, make sure you stay close so that you can oversee its disposal, otherwise we`ll likely end up with a few more third rate defenders and other non entities loaned out to Grasshoppers.
PS Mr Goa, why not check if Laurie Dalrymple could be interested in returning to the fold. He`d get us on an even keel and probably save you a fortune.
Word record for rotten deals and cash thrown away? I think you’ll find that particular claim to fame is held by a little club circa 75 miles to the north-west. I hated that long haired Danish bloke at the Molineux last season but really enjoyed watching him yesterday. The best early evening Saturday entertainment for a long time.
Dog help us , what Whangs’ guide dog?
Lovely bloggers its going to be a long hard season, our problem is the midfield its not rocket science, teams in prem are moving on, a draw was a fair result, no wins in 1o, that’s relegation form, thank u for kind messages for my health , I hope ill know the results when I go to the big man, months or weeks now, this blog cheers we up, love u all, wolves aie we.
We were ordinary, very ordinary. But for the reasons mentioned above and well documented it should not be a surprise to anyone. I have sympathy for Lage as I’m sure many do as he has not been backed in the transfer market until only very recently . Even now many suspect that what might materialise over the next3 weeks will be too little too late or will be accompanied by outgoings to key players. However, 10 games without a win in the PL simply cannot continue indefinitely. We are now reaping what we have sown over the last 2 seasons of little investment. As I said pre game, I fear for us this season and I saw absolutely nothing today to cause me to change my view. The questions for me are a) can we rescue it before the transfer window shuts and b) if not how long has Lage got left?
a. Do Fosun have the will or intent.?
b. Until the window has closed, Terry Connor in the frame to return.
To the many who think I’m a doomster I would say this.
.
Wolverhampton Wanderers is being run by people who are lost, led by Jeff Shi. We are rudderless at sea.
This is now becoming a crisis which has been gaining momentum for 2 years or more. It’s not all his fault but we are making mistake after mistake after mistake. For balance I believe-the departure of Laurie Dalrymple was a great loss to Wolves.
eg.
The giveaway sale of Jota on the never never.
The failed “ones for the future” strategy.
A string of poor purchases/loans notably Cuitrone, sadly Leo Bonatini (£5m and never played for us again), Willian Jose, Vitinha, Trincao and numerous minor buys which collectively tot up to multi millions.
Meanwhile the much maligned Fabio is scoring for fun in Belgium as is the untried Campana in the States, And we have had / have numerous full internationals in Zurich on loan who will never see Molineux; what’s that all about Jeff?
Why oh why when we are screaming out for a striker do we pay out £23 million for Collins and ditch Coady when we are well served with defenders. Good luck to Nathan but his record is hardly stellar – Stoke, Burnley and 6 ROI caps.
There is also a feeling of an unhappy dressing room. Traore is a maverick and MGW seems to be a wild card. The clearly acrimonious departure of Conor Coady (in another giveaway deal) speaks volumes.
Bruno “hints at” 3 or 4 more to come in before the window closes. Good luck Bruno but we’ve heard all before.
Yes I err towards negativity, but make no apologies. I have been watching The Wolves for over 60 years and unfortunately I’ve seen it al before, more than once. Deja vu doesn’t even get close.
In the short term (this season) I just hope that there are at least 3 clubs in a bigger mess than we seem to be.
But please don’t say it’s too early to panic – it’s not.
Yawn
Cheap shot – go back to sleep.
Discourteous. Such responses cheapen this forum.
It’s too early to panic
I’m with you PJB
NO PANIC
Just an interpretation of the facts
S/S/L in various combinations have led to the malaise
10 games without a win are the facts
Next 8 without informed smart recruitment management and leadership ?
A very short memory you have PJB
Please elaborate.
It’s too early to panic! Collins was superb today, clearly a class act. We are playing a new system, we have a new forward in Guedes, give him time.
We were a few easy chances missed from a home win, I thought we played well overall.
Fulham we’re wasting time, they were panicking at times at the quick movement of our play. They were relieved at the final whistle.
Winning is all I know, and so is confidence. You just have to believe it will come good.
I think it will, but it won’t be easy and gift wrapped. Patience is a virtue. So is believing and trusting things will work out if you stick at it. Fulham scored 2 v Liverpool, they, for me, didn’t offer much. That’s one of three worse teams than us.
It’s too early to panic but also much too early to say Collins is a class act. I’d like to see how he performs against a more mobile forward line.
I don’t think it is to be honest. He’s looked good in pre-season games. His handling of Mitrovich was excellent.
Time will tell obviously, but he looks pretty damm good to me. If he’s a dud we do have cover Gomes and Boly. The key thing is we can now play a back four. Or if needed a back five.
Its been almost two years since Raoul suffered that horrendous injury. And sincee that time we`ve had huge problems in scoring a goal. Four transfer windows have come and gone since then. Yet here we are with no real attempt made to tackle this basic issue.
The reality is that if we can`t score, we cant win. If we don`t win we`ll get relegated. Simple.
Bruno forget all the nonsense about how well we played and the chances we created. That matters not all if there`s no end product. Without a guy who know how to put the ball in the back of the net, with a degree of consistency we`re doomed.
Mike
Bruno is starting to sound like Nuno. He knows the problem but knows in his heart he’s not going to get the backing. So you keep picking up the (substantial) pay cheque and wait for the pay off.
Jose Mourinho has turned it into a very lucrative art,
10 games PJB. And a resolution to the transfer window . I thought the fans were quite easy going today in general. A few boos at the end Blimey I thought we were shite . Just reading Bruno comments he thought the fans were happy with that . I counted 9 goaless home games last season. Here is another one. As PJB pointed out the Fosun hierarchy were in attendance today. They will draw their own conclusions as to where we are headed. I will hazard a guess they wont want to be in division 2.
COD
You and your 10 games!
That’s over a quarter of the season and we’re lucky to have a point so far.
Surely you can see it’s just not right.
Not really mate. Ten games is a fair reflection. Last season we lost tge first 3 by 1-0. So in comparison we have improved !!
To be fair the boos were aimed at the referee and Fulham players antics
The new “attacking” set-up saw 7 shots with 1 on target in 97 minutes v Fulham.
Clearly not enough.
We are the only team that I have ever seen get the ball to a promising position on the wing and return it back over half way most times. I know we are struggling to head the ball in our attacking box, but we could try driving the ball in low and hoping for some chaos to get the ball to fall for us.
For me, it really is all about the next few weeks and those notional ‘3 or 4 additional players’. If they materialise (and Raul regains fitness quickly), I believe Bruno can go on to have a decent season. If his expectations/ hopes for extra resources come to nothing, we are in for a tougher season.
There’s an old adage, can’t remember exactly how it goes but it’s something like:-
‘Put x number of football fans together and they will come up with x + 1 opinions on the game they’ve just watched’.
Or is that Einstein’s Theory of Relativity?
Anyway, a few of us tried it at West Parkian’s super pad (which sits within sight of The Golden Palace) last night and it seemed to work.
We also tested out the theory that ‘Put x number of football fans together and they will consume x to the power of rather a lot’ bottles of Prosecco.
That seemed to be working fine until I lost count.
The bits we all agreed on were:-
We can’t score goals.
We got rid of Conor Coady because he doesn’t fit into a four man defence.
We are now stuck with two wing backs who perform much better when when they have three centre backs inside them and they feel more free to get forward.
Let’s open another bottle of Prosecco.
We can’t score goals.
Morgan Gibbs-White showed great commitment and not a little skill and should not be sold, certainly in this window.
The referee started off pretty well and then lost it big time. Mitrovic should have been sent off for his tackle on MGW, immediately followed by a VERY poor imitation of a rutting stag.
We can’t score goals.
A bit sad that the biggest cheer yesterday was when Jose Sa saved the penalty.
I’ve almost forgotten what Molineux sounds like when one of our players scores a winning goal.
– Yes, Collins, from what I’ve seen so far, looks like an upgrade for Coady. A really good signing. Everton’s loss. Joke aside, Coady performed ok for Everton, and got the second best Everton player rating on BBC.UK.
I agree with most of that DG. Apart from the bit about Prosecco.
Excellent prematch and postmatch gatherings, Mark, somewhat let down by the match itself. For me the highlight of the latter was Jose Sa’s penalty save, which at least rescued a point.
Last night. ( Saturday), Bruno and his colleagues were seen arriving at Faro Airport. Make of it what you will.
Gone home for some cooler weather.
Could be! Or , they could be visiting the water park near Lagoa, called
“ Slide and Splash”.
Let us hope that is not a portent for our forthcoming season.
Let me start by saying that my gut reaction to Bruno Lage is not positive. I would have shed no tears if he had been chopped in May.
However, I don’t share some of the specific criticisms I have read above. In particular, it seems unfair to moan about him being happy that we didn’t concede yesterday. A week ago Fulham scored 2 against Liverpool. And Fulham was our first match after Coady departed the club.. I too am happy we didn’t concede. Collins and Kilman are young for defenders, but they did the job. With them backed up by Toti and Mosquera, we can be cautiously optimistic about our central defence; and Boly is still here to back them up. This was a key game for our CD, and they did OK.
Bruno also has to consider the number of homegrown players. We only have five in the squad—that means we will be limited to a squad of 22. We already have 15 non-homegrowners, so we can’t buy more than two more. End of.
Bruno also has to keep up the morale of the players while we are trying to cope with the transfer window. It’s no use carrying on about our terrible finishing until September. He has to coax our present players through some important games in August.
In addition, Bruno has shown courage in grasping the nettles with the almost intractable Conor Coady and Fabio Silva problems. He deserves credit for being decisive.
Bruno is still here. Let’s try to be fair to him, at least until the end of the transfer window.
Nippy, that is a very good point about the squad rules, but there is little point trying to confuse bloggers with the homegrown player rules, most had trouble grasping the FFP rules for the last three years.
By my reckoning, excluding the players that Lage has said he doesn’t want (Bonatini, Cutrone, Jordao), the long term injured (Chiquinho) and the more notable U23’s (Cundle, Campbell, Bueno etc) we have a first team squad of 21 players. You can only have a maximum registered squad of 25 players, with a cap of 17 as non-homegrown. You don’t have to include U21 players (this season defined as those born after 1 January 2001) in the quotas, so Ait-Nouri, Collins and Mosquera can be excluded this season.
That leaves us with 14 non-homegrown players and only 4 homegrown (Sarkic, Gibbs-White, Kilman & Ronan).
So if there are no further departures we can only buy another 3 NHG over the age of 21 maximum, or another 7 HG to meet the rules. I’m working on the theory that as Chiquinho is out for all or most of the season they won’t register him, but if they do you are quite right that we can only buy another 2 NHG players.
Interestingly we have the lowest percentage of homegrown players in the Premier League, which is kind of depressing really.
Thanks Newt for that excellent summary.
Let’s just hope they don’t go and blow the remaining 2 NHG slots before they sign a striker (if we actually sign anyone).
Just hope Jeff and Scottie are as well informed as you are.
Oooohh! Yes sir, I can boogie
But I need a certain ……….
What ?
Confidence ?
We created several guilt edge chances v Fulham but failed to to find the back of the net.
Striker ?
At the risk of repetition, yes we need at least one out and out striker for injury cover and to provide competition for Jimenez.
Patience ?
It was the second game of 38. Still very early days. It wasn’t a bad performance. So let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water.
In conditions we are unlikely to play in again this season, a draw was probably a fair result. Fulham were unlucky not to claim all 3 points against Liverpool last week. We kept them out, thanks to Neves goal line clearance and Sa’s excellent save from the spot. That’s not good fortune. It’s top drawer football which is equally important at both ends of the pitch.
That’s our No 1 challenge to overcome. In a nutshell. The other end of the pitch. Goal scorers and confidence.
Looking at how other teams have started, we are not the worst by a long way. Man Utd are in free fall, Everton poor, Forest, Leicester and Southampton have their own problems.
But we cannot measure our success by comparing ourselves against other teams that are struggling at the very start of the season. We need to focus on what is needed to make us competitive and challenging for Europe.
We have Tottenham away next Saturday followed by Preston in the cup, then Newcastle home and last day of the month a midweek evening game away to Bournemouth.
3 Premier League games to go this August. I suspect if we get to the close of the transfer window on September 1st with another 3 signings (at least one must be a striker) and 5 or more points on the board, most Wolves fans will be satisfied.
Suddenly things would look more promising.
So, zero goals and just one shot on target were the main negatives for yesterday’s game. The positives?
No new injuries.
Sa seems to have put his relatively poor showing v Leeds behind him and was back to his best. We really need him if we are going to entertain any ambition of a decent season whilst we rebuild our attacking line up.
Collins stats v Fulham were very impressive. He and Kilman have the makings of an excellent partnership in defence.
Traore and Semedo are back from injury and give us much needed options. The bench looked considerably better yesterday than it did a week ago.
Neto is improving and when he hits the form that earned him player of the season before his injury, he will be immense for us.
We had the new captaincy of Ruben plus Kilman as his Vice Captain yesterday and it was interesting to see Collins intervene in the heated moments after Mitrovic’s poor foul on MGW. With Coady, Saiss and Ruddy gone we need leaders in the squad.
Guedes has only been a Wolves player for 5 days but showed some promise during his 58’ introduction.
We have Moutinho to come back ( don’t underestimate how much we miss him ) and Jimenez.
Back to the Boogie :-
Sure makes me wonder
If you know what your looking for….
We have too many attacking players with similar attributes MGW, Neto, Podence, Traore, Guedes – quick and skillful going forward but it just underlines the total imbalance we have regarding our attack.
We have spent circa £50m on Guedes and Collins. However, Fosun’s aversion to risks (Fabio Silva is a long way away from achieving return on investment), means we don’t know how much we have to spend or where. Waiting to sell before we buy weakens our position in the market.
Neves is yet to sign a contract. Our original plans around recruitment must have been based on him leaving, creating money to invest and a vacancy. Likewise MGW – I doubt Forest or Everton have given up on securing his services, and again, he is yet to sign a contract and could go on a free next year. And then the ongoing saga of Traore …
The closer we get to September 1st, the more desperate we become for signing. And all the clubs and agents we try to buy from will know this. It works both ways as players, agents and clubs want to secure sales before the window closes but it’s like a complex game of chicken. Far harder to control.
So there it is. We need those 3/4 quality upgrades that Lage has again referred to, a confidence boosting win, some luck and a little patience.
Then Yes sir, we can Boogie all season long.
UTW
Another brilliant post Muttleigh and I have little to add other than as the new defence set up further evolves we will be as solid as previous but with the benefit of freeing up the extra player forward. Yes, we have a number of similar forwards but so do Man City and we can do much worse than adopt their style of fluid attacking from all angles with technical players who are comfortable taking the ball in any area of the pitch. I thought it was an entertaining game given the conditions and if Bruno does add the players he wants then we could be in for an exciting season. We clearly won’t always prevail but the attacking intent is instilled in this team and long may it continue. This is the Wolves DNA.
Nice summary Mutt1eigh – almost made me feel optimistic! Hope those additions arrive before the end of the window. 🙂
Well said. We are at least one point better off than at the same point last season and we should not doubt Bruno’s wish for more playing additions. We just have to hope that Fosun know what they are doing.
Still think we can be top 7-8 this season
Tipton
Comparison with last season’s start is setting the bar a bit low don’t you think.
The more relevant comparison might be we couldn’t hit a barn door then and we still can’t.
So hands up who is happy with 1 point and 1 goal from 2 of the easiest fixtures we are likely to have all season. Cowardly anonymous down voters back yourselves by making a contribution.
Or are they all from The Texan.
Come on PJB. You cant start shouting “crisis” after 2 games. Yes. I was there yeaterday and i was massively disappointed. Positives were Collins/Kilman. And Sa. Neves. MGW to me still not dominant. The occasional incisive pass. Seemed to fade last 20 mins. Guo/Mendes in the stand. Said it millions of times. Say it again. Fosun will not want us in division 2. What good is that to them ? Rotherham v Wolves Shanghai. A wet Tuesday night in Yorkshire !! Even Bruno said “3 or 4 signings” coming in. Always said. And will stick by it. September 1st. Will hold my hands up if it’s all a flop !
It will be a full castration job, CoD, judging by some of the comments! I’m with you- there is no need to press the panic button yet, the two new acquisitions are top quality and add value to the first eleven. I get the feeling we will not do a Forest and deal in the bargain basement for umpteen players who are no better than we have. Keep the faith, review on 1st September and pray Neves is still with us.
We are now 11 weeks into the transfer window with 2 to go. We knew we had no back up for Jiminez weeks ago and then loaned Fabio out but have done nothing about it before or since; and then surprise, surprise Raul was injured.
Thus far it looks very similar to the last few windows. 3/4 signings in the next 2 weeks????
Brewery and pi$$ up spring to mind.
The good news is that M. Gibbs-white’s contract expires in 2024 so we can still sell him next summer at no risk losing him for a free!
Hope he stays with us this season though, as he is like a new addition to our squad, not being around last year!
Just a few words in defence of Bruno much maligned by quite a few. He was criticised for appearing pleased with a clean sheet. I’m in danger of stating the bleeding obvious but if you don’t let in goals you don’t lose games and Kilman and Collins pretty much made that so. They took the much hyped Mitrovich out of the game and Sa did the rest.
Equally, as many endlessly point out, if you don’t take your chances you don’t win. But Wolves are creating more chances than many of our rivals and sooner or later they’ll start being converted.
Come on guys BELIEVE.
Sound thinking Pennroad, but the key lies in your last sentence. “sooner or later ” Football club owners are not a patient bunch, there being huge financial consequences for failure. The Championship league is not an easy place from which to emerge !
And of course, said owners will never, never admit that their policies are in any way to blame for a disaster. It MUST be the fault of the manager !
So Bruno, will be judged on a very short term basis. If he is to have any future with us, irrespective of his quality, it`s essential that the ” sooner ‘ part of your sentence is quickly forthcoming.
With you on Bruno Pennroad; how can he be criticised when he hasn’t been given the tools to do the job.
We’ve had major deficiencies in the goalscoring dept. since we let Jota go for a song and Jiminez was taken out by David Luiz. The goals scored column for the last 2 seasons is dire and it’s beyond belief that we have started off in the same mode. 39 goals now in the last 40 PL matches.
Jota wasn’t happy and wanted to go. Coady was eager to go when he first heard that Everton wanted him in May. He’s 29, and his play was often criticised here last season. Neves could well still go, I hope he won’t, but where are those wonder goals he used to score? Traore will still be a great impact sub at least; he needs some tlc, like he received from Nuno. MGW still doesn’t convince me, as said, he can’t dominate, although he has some skill.
And……today we have a new £38 million signing, not a striker, that’s true, but we used to get goals from all over the squad, and I believe the goals will come.
Keep the faith, and be supporters.
Well we have quite rightly been told to wait until 10 games have been played (which is fair in my eyes ) before making any judgments or assumptions so that’s what I’m going to do .
My lips are sealed until then.
Apart from predictions.
Couldn’t hit a cows arse with a banjo.
Who said that …not me my lips are sealed
I am very confused.
Isn’t Dendoncker too slow and lacks the ball control to fill in for Moutinho?
Why not play Traore and Neto at the same time? Neto is like 22, he should be able to go 90. If I recall correctly it worked pretty well when Nuno put them on opposite sides when Raul was first hurt.
Guedes is a 9? He certainly didn’t look like one yesterday.
Good to see Semedo and Adama back tho.
Agree!! They are both players who like to play directly and take on defenders and cross. It’s perhaps not the most effective way of playing if Gibbs White, Podence and Hwang are playing centrally. However, good crosses toward Jimenez was a successful formula under Nuno.
How come, that in a short space of time, Nottingham Forest can decide which players and positions they want to recruit and sign them up, whilst Wolves hierarchy trundle along without purpose or conviction. They have no idea what they’re doing. We have an amateur hierarchy in a professional world. We can’t continue like this. Action needed pronto.
Just saying
A word on the ref, too young and card happy if thats the best off the young talent , God help us, get some European refs, they take no nonsense, once again many thanks to all you bloggers, in my dark days, wolves aie we.
We reluctantly take a point, but owe that exclusively to Jose Sa. What a save. I hate to imagine the therapy session unfolding here had we lost.
Talk of barn doors being missed, picnics sadly short of the final sandwich, collective amnesia when it comes to finding the back of the net, guide dogs etc. are all pertinent, but don’t get the cake iced.
There is a theory in management, and I have witnessed, that the team begins to resemble the manager, in outlook aswell as physical appearance. As a manager finds his / her feet, he brings in personel that echo his beliefs and weirdly, as if by suggestion. look like him. Partly due to the pressure of a seige mentality which forms collective character. see Sean Dyche at les Carrots. Though 10 games without a Prem win, is not quite a siege, other teams will look at us as a soft touch, so one of our Portugese wizards could do with getting his scoring boots fettled. At times it looked easier just to score that goal.
The Donk had another good game, winning the ball, passing it out, holding it up. Improved I would say. Looks nothing like Bruno. Super T is back for now. They didn’t break Neto’s leg. Though Mits had a good go at MGW.
In a weekend that saw the Aphids go into psychedelic meltdown at Brentford and Conor limit the Toffees’ loss to a single goal, though Father Frank Abraham still hasn’t a point to his name, we probably got off lightly. Onwards and preferably upwards.
1 lv & COYW.
It was hot.
And they had run out of bottled water in the Steve Bull stand by half time.
It was too hot to play football but I thought everyone put a shift in.
Both Kilman and Collins looked composed and worked well together at such an early stage in their partnership.
Ait Nouri was exciting to watch for all the right reasons when attacking and exciting to watch when defending for all the wrong reasons.
Jonny ? full back or wing back? is it possible to play as both at the same time? wing full back?
Neves is a diamond, he glittered in the heat.
Dendoncker covered the ground, more grit than glitter
MGW energetic in tough conditions. I hope I get the chance to see more of him.
Podence had so many tricks and flicks and rarely chose the simple option.
Neto continued to improve and hopefully will go on to achieve his full potential
Hwang was energetic in tough conditions but can he reach double figures in the goals scored column or goals assist column
Sa seemed calmer than he was in the Leeds game and saved the day when he saved the penalty.
Guedes too early to say much but worked hard out on the left mainly
Traore somewhere there is a jigsaw of which he is the missing piece
One point from six against two teams that are likely to finish in the bottom half of the league is disappointing
Bruno can still point to performance to support his experiment but performance without points will test the belief of even the most faithful.
Our first year back, we were expected to be in the bottom half of the table but finished 7th.
We will not know how bad these teams are until a lot later in the season, especially those who have made wholesale changes.
I would be more worried if we weren’t creating chances.
Isn’t that what they say when their team draws a blank. Our nippy fluid front line creates lots of opportunities and you would think that such obviously talented players would find it simple to apply the final coup-de-grace. But it’s like they have a collective mental block which prevents them from rattling the net in case we fans come to expect it every game.
Heaven forbid that should happen.
Had a brill weekend otherwise, meeting up with fellow Ivybridge Wolves in the Combemere and later with fellow bloggers enjoying
Dougie’s unmatchable hospitality.
I have a good feeling about Spuds next week. New striker by then.
We have been creating chances for 2 years.
And we have been failing to capitalise on them for 2 years.
Every man and and his dog knows this, apparently apart from Jeff Shi and Scottie.
It is a time of transition. Jeff Shi has said if the the appropriate player is available and a quality addition to improve the squad Fosun will go for said player.
It was great to catch up with you Steve.
Going back to basics we need to win 12 of the remaining 37 games. Which means we need to score at least 12 goals. So 1) we need to find a way to put the ball in the net and 2) keep the oppistion from putting the ball in our net. That is as simple as you make it.
Cheese. If only they had you as a summarise on MoTD, would cut down on all the wafflie bollo@ks. Tis a simple game. 🙂 when laid out as you say, 12 games.
KTF
Why are we still fumbling around without a striker………a out and out striker not a striker come winger come midfielder come you’ll play where ever we are short player.
It’s ridiculous if you need a new tyre on your car you don’t go and buy a new battery do you……it really is energy sapping watching the pantomime that is the Jeff Shi and Co: it’s almost worse than watching the team trying to score and that’s saying something.
I suspect its down to money…….either Jeff has’nt got any or he won’t pay the going rate or more than likely he is looking googled eyed at the sell on value because that’s the most important thing isn’t it.
Well done LW, you’ve seen through the smoke and mirrors. Pity so many can’t.
Podence and Neto and Hwang and Traore, and Guedes I suppose, are all capable of scoring goals, as are several of the midfielders. We don’t play that sort of old fashioned striker style these days, perhaps unfortunately, neither do Liverpool and Man City, but we are creating chances; the ‘squandered’, or ‘spurned’ chances last week were from acute angles, or all in a rush.
The goals will come…. the new Nunes will be a great addition, signed in the face of much competition.
Nice to see VAR go in our favour again when Mitrovich should have seen a red card. VAR agreed yellow after Mirovich had launched a late tackle on MGW and then head butted him. Oh and Fulham already awarded 2 penalties in 2 games. We had 1 all season last year. And well done MOTD for our game on last then spend 10 mins talking about Fulham .
Surely you didn’t expect any change there did you Cheesey…
Agree about the VAR stuff…
Not only was it a nasty cynical challenge… and absolutely no chance of getting the ball ..
but the head in your face with aggression is Red severe day of the week…
As for the referee … has to be THE WORST EVER to tread the turf at Molineux.
Your ref memory is failing you,Twix. We’ve had far, far worse. Actually thought he had a decent first half but the sun must have fried his brain and I agree that he was poor second half.
There’s loads of referees near the top of The Worst Referee league table …
His inexperience and the hugely differing interpretations by referees of the same rules continues to be exasperating…
Mike Dean, no doubt, would have waving the Reds in an instance…
Well. Up there with fuckin Uriah Renee or that twat who used to screw us over at Bolton!! Cor even remember his name !! …hang . That was him . Fuckin Lynch. Corrupt Peter Kay bastard ! And fuck off McGinlay !
Why was West Ham goal dissalowed by VAR . Complete and utter farce. It was just an accident. Forest already benefitted more thsn we have in 4 seasons.
Didn’t enjoy yesterdays game much at all..except the penalty save.
I remain in my bubble and will therefore not be tempted to throw darts..yet.
Please dog let’s start Traore vs Spuds and leave Conte ( by name and by nature?) in hissy fits
OODCL
Morning all – and a lovely cool one it is too….mid 20s, rather than the mid 30s on Saturday will do nicely.
A lovely pre and post match with some fellow bloggers and our better halves. The match itself was a bit of a damp squib, the big highlight being Jose Sa’s penalty save.
There was ‘a bit of a to do’ immediately after the match when I returned home to find that my phone was missing. Thanks to Lord Twix and Google Maps location sharing I managed to retrace my footsteps and found it. How lucky was that?
All I need now is to see a couple of incomings this week, transfer wise.
Really pleased you found your phone Dougie … could so easily have been pocketed by someone..
I was lucky, Mike. There are some good people out there.
A loss and a draw in the first two matches is a cloud, whatever way you look at it. Maybe the only silver lining this cloud has is that it reinforces our need for signings. The big boss was at Molineux on Saturday apparently. I hope he’s here to sign cheques.
5 goals and 1 assist in 6 games for Fabio at Anderlecht.
Meanwhile we can’t hit a barn door with the same players that have been misfiring for the last 2 seasons. There’s no guarantee that this will improve when Jiminez returns either as he has not been pulling up any trees since his return from the head injury. I like Podence but he flatters to decieve, this is his 4th season after failing to deliver in the last 3, managing just 6 goals and 4 assists in 59 games. As a forward those stats are woeful and i find it unbelievable he has not been moved on let alone still starting for us regularly. We got rid of Cav after one season in the Prem and his stats were way better than that as a sub.
Ait-Nouri is a liability with this system, i’ll be disappointed if he makes the starting 11 against Spurs. We were lucky not to lose this game and he gifted Leeds their first. He clearly struggles without the extra defender as cover. The Spurs game will give us a better idea about where we are with this system.
I thought we looked good on the break but if we’re going to break down the wing there needs to be someone shadowing down the middle and crosses coming in, trying to score from such tight angles is not gonna bare much fruit. Promising though if we can improve on this. Hopefully Guedes will bring that improvement.
I like the self sustainable model that our owners adhere too but the only way that will bring success is if all the other clubs adhere to it, otherwise the playing field is too uneven as we will always need to sell to buy and that will generally be our better players. Which means we will tread water in the main preserving our Premier status, no mean feat and not really anything to complain about given our recent history but not very exciting either as fans if we never really threaten the current status quo in any meaningful way.
I think our Premier league status is masking the incompetence of Shi and Sellars to their employers. Imagine where we might be if they hadn’t been so feckless in the recruitment dept.
John Ruddy on Talking Wolves podcast. He’s got some interesting stuff to say on how he was treated by Shi et al, on Bruno and on the club under Fosun. A thoroughly decent bloke.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F64yd0Kvvk
I always had confidence that Fabio will fulfill his potential. Not sure if we can recall him this season ? He received little service last season, and little support.
Ait-Nouri is not a left back, he’s an attacking wing half.
People seem to forget that we were without Neto for most of last season……and Traore wasn’t appreciated.
Semedo is improving all the time, and we still have Toti and Chuiquino, and Mosquero to come.
But these seasons established in the top division have been very welcome, almost back to the fifties ! Not quite.
Haha, we’ve got a way to go to reach those giddy heights of the 50s. Maybe if Fabio comes back on fire take us back there next season, we can’t recall him this season unfortunately, let’s hope he shuts up all the doubters on his return. It’ll do his confidence the power of good scoring for fun, hopefuIly shake the 35m stone around his neck that’s no fault of his own. I thought he deserved some support last season considering how poorly the rest of the frontline was performing but he never got a run of games.
Iv always liked Ait-Nouri but he looks out of his depth at left back, hopefully he’ll improve but i fully expect Samedo to replace him against Spurs albeit swapping sides with Jonny. Samedo has a mistake in him too though tbh.
Chiquino looked like an exciting prospect last season until he got injured.
Out of his depth in a back four that should read.
I’ve got very little to add to what the majority of lads have said regarding the disappointing purchasing regime over the last few seasons with regard to getting what is so necessary for the club to make genuine progress.
I will say that a good few Premier clubs are struggling to get top strikers at a doable price , but we seem to have done nothing effective in the past few seasons to get someone to lead and be the focal point of the attack; we have yet to see how Raul is able to perform this season and no one else is capable of doing his job.
Apart from that and the frustration of the results, I have, in fact, enjoyed the performances until the ball arrives in the opposition’s area. There have been a few too many little flicks and misplaced passes but, on the whole, the interplay has been good. I’m a Conor Ronan fan big time and watched his lovely cameos pre season; I wish he would gain some game time as, to me, he is the lad I’d go to to fit Moutinho’s boots; he’s a busy tackling bee who can pinpoint a long pass and also thread the needle to put a central striker in; he also can score. At this level it is different but I cannot see why Bruno is not showing more faith. I understand I could be wrong in my estimation of the lad, but his talents seem to be what is needed in midfield to my mind…
I suspect the management are trying their all to remedy our shortcomings and expect one or two additions and a prayer for fewer injuries over the next couple of weeks as our squad may remain short in experience. COYW…
Our youth system is failing if some of these players can’t get game time.
Unless anyone can throw in a name that I have forgotten the last 2 graduates of note from the Wolves Academy are Robbie Keane and Joleon Lescott. MGW still unproven.
I don’t want to engage too much here PJB ..
But what about Kilman ..
maybe Matt Murray .. Carl Ikeme.. Lee Naylor.
Ryan Giles.. Conor Roman … Dion Sanderson … the latter three not quite there .. but the Acadamy well hasn’t been that dry ..,
My Lord
Kilman bought from Maidstone
Fully agree with you on the 2 goalies and Lee Naylor.
But the others are as yet nowhere near the Wolves team – hopeful.y works in progress.
All the best.
Those three have been works in progress for sometime. Bruno’s lack of faith or unwillingness to take a chance on them might the reason atm. Ronan is 24yrs old now and still can’t get a game, Cundle came in at Spurs last season, did nothing wrong and never started another game despite our problems in the area.
He was yes but he went into the Academy group .. I suppose I’d agree that he didn’t go there when he was seven .. (21 I think).
The ‘others’ are doing ok… no PL place yet, maybe never, but they’re doing ok at Blackburn and Cardiff I think.. (or somewhere in the UK)
If you ever fancy meeting up with a few of us that would be great mate.
After all … wolves aye we..,
Wolves aye we indeed.
And yes that would be nice.
Can’t understand why you’ve had 3 dislikes ..
I mean .. you’ll be meeting me ..: lol
Absolutely, but –
Many posters who tell it as they see it have been hounded off this site. Pity because it’s supposed to be an open forum.
eg. Where is Paul AD67?
It’s probably about as democratic as the current election “procedure” for our next PM! And it’s only football. That’s something Bill Shankly definitely got wrong – it’s not more important than life or death. One of the most stupid statements of all time.
Prior to MGW, Ikeme was the last player through the youth system be a regular starter for the first team 2012 to 2017. That cannot be deemed a successful youth system.
Agree absolutely about Conor Ronan DW. Definitely my next in line after our three main midfielders. Got a real goal threat too.
Seems he may have been pushed down the pecking order if reports from Portugal are to be believed that Matheus Nunes has now signed? Great news if he has but a No. 9 is the priority.
Rafa Mir and Patrick Cutrone were brought in to try to add depth to the striker position but for whatever reason did not work out. And, of course, Fabio Silva.
More than one young attacking midfielders were also brought in. Jordao, Goncalves and Shabani and that Portugese guy.
Very good reminder, Debenham, Ronan was always one to look forward to, and I I hope he will get plenty of time on the pitch to show it.
5 goals and 1 assist in 6 games for Fabio at Anderlecht ?
Shit. Would he have done it at Wolves this season? Will he ever be able to do it in the Premier League? That’s unknowable at the moment. However if he carries on like this we might be able to sell the blighter at the end of the season for double what we paid for him, or more. Jeff will again be waffling on about a generational talent. And maybe he will be right. It’s fair to say that the signing of Fabio appeared to be a massive blunder, straight after the massive blunder in selling Jota. It was a double blow to the heart of many Wolves fans at the time. So this cloud might have a silver (or old gold) lining after all..?
Many fans say our biggest concern is the lack of a proper striker.
It could be said that Fabio’s exploits at Anderlecht show he is a ‘proper striker’. He remained remarkably unproductive goal wise last season in his limited appearances so does this mean that the problem lies with the quality of the chances the team creates, rather than with the quality of the striker.
Unfortunately Wolfstoker it’s nearly always a combination of all of the elements… life’s never simple ..! apart from quaffing Barb’s and Dougie’s Prosecco…..
Very valid point. Ever since he arrived under both Nuno and Bruno Fabio has only had bit part game time with the odd start. No continuity and not good for his confidence. They even preferred the useless Willian Jose to start.
As for the quality of the chances created for him there is a temptation to ask – what chances? Everything still stalls in the last third and has done for a long time.
And yet again no recall clause.
Hey PJB. Despite the Chinese Communists telling Fosun they couldn’t invest any more money. It seems we may be on the verge of signing Matheus Nunes for £38 million. . So that is Collins Guedes Nunes for £87 million.
To be fair we ay signed the geezer yet. But what a bloke if we get him. All those who doubted Jeff. He actually said in May (and I believed him). If the right players are out there and are of a high enough quality then we will go for them. Interesting Chairman Guo and Uncle Jorge were in the vicinity Saturday. I said the other week when Guo flew to Porugal it may be a catalyst. Apparently Guo is worth 9 billion quid on his own. Interesting stuff. And to PJB. Just a bit of banter chap.
It was a huge ask for Fabio to impress at Wolves so early in his career, but obviously he had shown something in Portugal to be snapped up as he was. He worked his socks off, but had little support.
I don’t doubt that Mendes inflated the price somewhat, but how good it would be for him to come back and fill that striker role that everyone is looking for.
10 games !!!!! 8 to go
this is killing me
Even stronger rumours about Nunes signing.
Nunes, Collins and Guedes seems like a good window if it happens, and still 2 weeks to go.
I’m happy with things so far considering the unfortunate injuries to Moutinho and Raul. My main concern from Saturday was a well below par Podence and lethargic Adama. Hope these are not to prescriptive of future performances. I can give RAN a break, he will adjust I’m sure. MGW is a diamond and I have high hopes for GG and I can scarcely believe our luck if the Nunes rumour is true, clearly another great talent to add to our galleon.
Yep, Podence made ‘Worst Prem XI’ for the week for a sloppy passing performance. Not like him really.
Nunes in, MGW out? Hate to raise this spectre on the back of good news, but our midfield is suddenley looking very congested. 1 lv.
MGW has to sign a new contract before the window closes. He only has 2yrs left on it and they won’t allow to run it down. They’ll him sell if not.
Loathe as I am to jump the gun until the deal is confirmed, I’m sure my fellow bloggers will agree that, if it happens, the Nunes signing is yet another indication of Fosun’s lack of interest in the progression of our club.
Nunes who?
A certain Mr. Pep from Manchester has been quoted as saying he is one of the best players in the world.
If confirmed, methinks HMS “Piss The Rest of the League” will be setting sail from it’s Molineux dock very soon.
Cries of” two more quality midfielders, change the defense, we need an out and out striker.”
Well watch this space, two answered prayers out of three, so far, ain’t bad.
Perhaps Mr. Super Big Boss is in town for the right reasons.
Staying in my bubble
and getting to
Like it more and more?????
I hope this isn’t a reference to you pulling the plug in your blog stuff Marin….
I for one think you’re an amazing bloke and ambassador for Wolves fans afar… and that includes all of the family too…. Top Bloke.
Yep. Can’t argue there M’lud.
I’ve always said judge Fosun on what they do and not what they say. I”ve been supportive of them until around 18 months ago when it seemed clear that their lack of action to address weaknesses in the time was hampering progress on the pitch. I still think the Traore loan was barmy at the point when we were challenging top 6 and I still don’t get the structure of the Coady deal BUT, I wanted to be first to hold my hands up to give credit where it is due and the acquisitions of Collins,Guedes and now Nunes are reminiscent of the investment in the earlier part of their ownership – statements of intent and a potential step change for us in terms of progression. So, well done to them.
I feel that our generous treatment of Mr Coady has helped Bruno to convince Senor Nunes that his future is safe at Molineux and we will not try to hold him back should opportunity come knocking.
Hopefully he can fulfil his ambitions with us.
You’ll never make a politician Wolfstroker …. You talk with too much sense …..
Great rationale and reasoning there mate…
I had 3 rationales of bacon this morning !
You need spell Checky installing Spikeyboy…
That’s a bit rash.
But cured it.
However M’lud, more like a politician, I could well be completely wrong.
Sorry I missed you on Saturday.
Yes mate …
We helped Dougie with the first 4 bottles of Prosecco (with not a small amount of Limoncello) and then unfortunately had to head back home ..
her ladyship was driving … as I couldn’t see the car.. lol
Hope to see you for Newcastle on the Sunday possibly…
It’s a big day for me ..?
I’m astounded.
I take it all back. Well maybe not all because it’s been a pretty barren 2 years in our recruitment.
But, if the Nunes deal is confirmed and we can sign an outright striker this is reminiscent of the Fosun of 2017/18. As long as no one else is about to go out through the revolving door (particularly Neves) we’ll have a midfield to match anyone.
Well said that man.
No one going out though remains to be seen.
Looks like the Nunes deal is done. What a turnaround in sentiment. I predicted earlier that many fans would be eating humble pie come 1st September. I can hear chomping sounds already. Enjoy the meal. Nunes will not be the first signing either.
My take on everything is that the Coady departure is confirmation of the way the wind has been blowing since preseason. This is New Wolves Mark II. The first Fosun revolution has run its course and the hero Nuno has been deposed. Bruno was given a season to show his mettle without big money being spent. To my mind Bruno passed with honours, although he was up against it with the depleted squad. Coady was too closely identified with the Nuno era and is no longer good enough for where we want to be. I’m afraid that Traore, given his attitude, will follow Coady out the door. When you think about it, the top teams of today have constantly rebuilt to get to where they are today. Man U have a mountain to climb. Wolves by contrast are gelling nicely.
There is now sense to the much-criticized great summer clear-out at Molineux.
So now we know what Bruno and his gang were doing in Portugal at the weekend.
I meant that Nunes will not be the last signing.
Clearly there’s been method in the summer madness. Fasten your seat belts…
It’s a good signing if we get it, but I’m hoping Man Utd are not sniffing around Neves again. They need to do something big but it could be a poison chalice for our captain; double his salary, I say. Easy spending other people’s money, I know. In life things do not always go so smoothly.
Just a proven stand in or partner for Raul now and we’ll all be praising Fosun et Al again. Let’s hope it is not going to be a long two weeks before we can relax somewhat. And I still think Conor Roman deserves some game time at this level to assess his ability…
…And the newsman sang his same song
Oh, one more Jeff Shi hater gone…
Why the emotive “hate” language presumably addressed to anyone who doesn’t share your exact opinions. Not a very objective comment really. Why would we hate Jeff Shi, presumably he’s trying to do his job. But it shouldn’t shield him from CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.
IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN !!!
We enter the last 2 weeks of the Summer transfer window. A transfer window that, for Wolves at least, could have been described as underwhelming. A slow burn. Frustrating. Like an expensive Firework Cake. Impatient spectators muttering their disappointment under their collective breath as time ticked on and nothing particularly momentous occurred.
And then, as the smoke began to clear from the display’s hors d’oeuvre, the main course was delivered in spectacular fashion. Matheus Nunes, considered as out of Wolves relatively modest reach, exploded into view.
This is a 23 year old in superb form, described earlier this year by Pep Guardiola, as one of the best players in the world.
A 6ft box to box midfielder, dynamic, aggressive, versatile, wanted by West Ham and Liverpool.
Suddenly the whole complexion of Wolves situation changes. Rather than the tightly held purse strings being the impression of Fosun’s default stance, suddenly another view appears. Fosun will spend, when it’s prudent to do so. Patience and trust.
Fosun have said from the beginning that this project was long term. There was no expectation of instant success from the hierarchy, although that message is nigh on impossible to successfully communicate to the whole fan base.
Although Wolves’ overall trajectory has been positive, the last two season’s have seen a plateau of the initial upward curve. Progress had stalled. Mixed with impacts of COVID, changing the coach, more than our fair share of injuries and frankly, Wolves bosses learning on the job, it’s completely understandable that faith would begin to be lost. Belief in the project eroded.
FFP restrictions have only added to that feeling. The club using it as an excuse ? A smokescreen for them losing interest in their football acquisition ?
No.
There’s no doubt that Jeff Shi’s initial statement, his vision of making Wolves one of the biggest clubs on the planet, was perhaps a naive if well intentioned faux pas. It merely served to raise expectations among the supporters who had suffered decades of lower league struggles. The mid 20th century golden years a memory shared by few of today’s fans. But now there’s renewed hope. And it takes the form of a Brazilian born Portuguese international footballing magician.
So, back to the present. Two weeks to go. What do we need to get back to challenging for Europe and getting back on the upward curve ?
In short, a striker. Someone to cover for Raul and provide competition up front. Sign the right individual and few could say this window was anything other than a big success. And it will only be easier to attract the right player when they see the team we are building, the commitment of the owners and how we treat our own players – fairly and with respect. For example, Ki-Jana Hoever and particularly Conor Coady.
Coady’s loan to Everton was not only the right thing to do for a player who’d been an exemplary servant for the club. A player who would struggle to fit in a back four. It freed up the Captaincy. Leaving Molineux is now harder for Ruben Neves. With an improved contract on the table, the Captaincy and oh, by the way, three excellent signings and more to come with a genuine ambition of playing in Europe. Well, he already loves our club. He’s staying. Fingers crossed.
But what of MGW and particularly Traore. Now we know that Fosun are prepared to put their hands in their pockets, it’s fair to assume that Bruno’s remaining 2/3 signings will be forthcoming.
But most Wolves fans have said many times over recent seasons we need more quality and quantity. Strength in depth. So those calling for us to cash in on MGW and sell off Adama. Well, perhaps we need to change our thinking. Now we can afford the luxury of a slightly bigger squad, having someone like Traore on the bench is a big bonus.
For the games where we are struggling, where we we need to change things up, bringing on Adama after 60 minutes to play against tiring legs and tie up 2 or 3 defenders is the type of player most teams would be crying out for. And it’s where his best performances have come from. Super sub. Well, he’s ours for another season if no one comes in for him, so let’s make use of his strengths.
For MGW, imagine what he can learn and the confidence he can build playing alongside Neves, Nunes, Moutinho, Guedes, Neto et al. He’s one of our own after all.
So, one big signing, one big statement of intent can change everything.
Trust in Fosun and believe.
The Final Countdown, sung by Europe. That is no longer an an unrealistic dream for the coming seasons but there’s still much work to do.
UTW
As Wolves bring in more and better players, it’s going to be hard for MGW to get as much game time as he wants.
Same with Adama.
I would offer Adama a good contract and encourage him to remain and be a super sub. Maybe his Barcelona experience was a good dose of reality for him.
MGW can go if the offer is strong enough, IMO.