If Julen Lopetegui is willing to stake his reputation on this group, I’ll try to maintain hope for a while longer.
That nugget of good news is something for a beleaguered fan base to cling onto as the nights draw in and Wolves continue to invent new and imaginative methods of torture.
Semedo was a few days late for Halloween but his first half horror show proved costly with the superb Mitoma twice stealing in on our hapless fullback to draw Brighton level and then gain the man advantage.
That’s the second time Nelson has been the chief culprit in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory after a similar implosion at Selhurst Park.
But the whole team have been far from convincing whenever they’ve been ahead with 11 points now surrendered from winning positions.
The well publicised issue has been scoring goals but an inability to defend a lead has quietly crippled our season.
Credit should be extended for coming back from the early Lallana goal to get ahead with Guedes scoring a superb equaliser to remind us he can be an asset.
The team also rallied admirably in the second half and would have been worthy of a point had they managed to hold on.
Boubacar, Bueno and Collins in particular covered the ground and showed the appetite to dig in against the odds.
But the inability to keep them out in that period after getting ahead and half time was pivotal, underlining the soft centered nature of the team as well as Semedo’s individual shortcomings.
Brighton were always the sharper, the more incisive, the better organised, the team with a clear idea about what they wanted to do.
And that’s the job that awaits Lopetegui – to somehow drag all these disparate components together and build something cohesive.
I don’t envy him the challenge.
He should be here now……..whether that’s down to him or not it’s a ridiculous situation he’s announced as the new manager but cannot start until two weeks time.
The whole process has been a shambles the complacency of our chairman is shocking and unbelievable after six years in football he is still clueless.
Jeff has done Juluin no favours what’s so ever basically jeffs attitude is the new guy will sort it out and is Jeff going to help him with money to spend in January probably not.
Oh and Semado should never play for Wolves again…..shocking defending he cost us today and at Palace.
Totally agree. It’s surely a matter of absolute urgency to get Lopetegui in the dugout .
Would be interested to hear reason for the delay if anyone knows.
I can only say that the recent abysmal process through which the new coach was appointed, cannot be a surprise to any of us . Shi, as Chairman of a business of some considerable size, is completely and utterly incompetent. He shoot be booted out immediately.
The man`s lunacy following his decision to fire Bruno, in leaving us in limbo for over a month and showing zero understanding of the very urgent need to get a quality coach in place to give us direction and leadership, is mind blowing. To leave Steve Davis in charge “do his best” for so many games ‘when clearly he was not up to the task, can only be classed as sheer lunacy. During that period others have consolidated, [ eg Leicester ] making our recovery far more difficult than it should have been.
Now Shi dares to smugly boast of his huge success in appointing the new man, sitting smirking on his backside, while allowing our problems to escalate by failing to get him in place and active right now. The fact that we continue to drift further from safety appears to be a matter unworthy of consideration.
These are desperate time for our beloved club. But the fact is that as long as Shi remains it`s certain that we`ll stagger from one crisis to the next. What a dreadful prospect is this !!
You are doing Davis a disservice,Mike. I wouldn’t mind betting that the joint minds of Klopp and Guardiola would struggle with our current disjointed squad.
You`re maybe right Ped Ant. With one of two notable exceptions we are a side comprising very average players.
I also fully appreciate that Steve Davis has been put in a no-win situation. The guy has done his utmost in a terrible situation and intend no criticism of him. But the real issue centers on the idiot Chairman who put Steve in this unenviable position.
Essentially Shi deliberately threw away a month of games while he prevaricated on what to do, during which time our position severely worsened. No Chairman of a serious business would act in such a cavalier, irresponsible manner.
I stand by my comment that whatever happens in the coming weeks / months, our club urgently needs major changes at Boardroom level if we are to enjoy any longer term success.
Thomas, you’ve nailed it. Brighton were “sharper, incisive and organised” from the first whistle. The way they popped the ball around in the first 10 minutes indicated how the game would go. Overloading down the flanks, switching play quickly and being willing to run behind and beyond our back line. A proper plan which everyone contributed to.
Just like we used to do.
Our press left us constantly exposed to the counter. The two fullbacks did ok but they can’t do it all on their own.
It was actually a relief when Semedo went off. He was so bad we were actually better off without him.
I’m surprised we only conceded two.
On the plus side we saw glimpse of what Guedes is capable of
Doh, meant centre halves. Full backs were a major part of the problem. Bueno is good going forward but not a great defender.
We were always going to be under the cosh after Semedo got sent off. He was badly out of position but then to rugby tackle the attacker is just plain stupid. we tried to hold on in the second half and had a few chances but to no avail. Good that Guedes scored. Hwang did nothing again. Lopetegui has his work cut out.
We are in deep shit. I take my optimistic glasses off. I can’t say much else really. And won’t.
Cheeseburger, you may not have said much but what you did say is bang on the money. We are a very poor football team, destined for relegation unless the new coach can deliver a miracle.
Samedo is like russian roulette, when he’s off form it’s terminal. He’s done us twice this season and he did it at Leeds last season. Jonny has not hit the heights of pre-injury but he doesn’t do an awful lot wrong, i think i’m happier with that dependability rather than Samedo’s all or nothing erratic inconsistency. Apart from that i thought we improved again and made a fist of it, had it not been for Samedo’s brain going awol we might have taken the points. Coulda shoulda woulda. I reckon we’ll be bottom by the time Lop gets here so he’s gonna need all his skill and guile when he takes up the reigns, at least we’ll have something to cheer about when he gets us out the bottom 3 which i’m sure he will. I’d prefer him to be starting asap but at least it gives us something to look forward after we lose to Germany in the semi’s :). Nice to see Guedes get a goal, lets hope he hits some form. A token appearence by Ronan is not gonna quell the shouts for his inclusion. Maybe we’ll see him against Leeds.
That was a horror show , semodo I can’t defend u we are in deep mire, wolves have ruined my weekend again, where is that whiskey bottle, wolves aie we.
Let’s hope Lopetegui hits the ground running because he is going to have to. We will also need a very good January transfer window with none of the usual balls off recruitment made by fosun. 28 points minimum from 24 games means we are moving ever closer to needing to win every other game and that will be a big ask of these players. On a brighter note Guedes showed a glimpse of what he can do and let’s hope he can now do that consistently. Collins was brutally exposed on more than one occasion. Semedo after a decent season last year returned to the woeful defending of his first season- if the rumours of Chelsea wanting him in January are true, I’d be very happy to see the back of him – another painfully bad deal for us I’m afraid in spending twice the amount of money we got for docherty – he has probably cost us more points than he has gained for us in his career with wolves which is a damning indictment. Neves, Sa and kilman performed admirably and bueno did ok for a kid still finding his feet in the team. Boubacar I like and with guidance could become a very good player for us. Once again, I found myself asking what the point of hwang hee chan is? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a striker who when he jumps for the ball rarely ever looks at it but instead simply throws himself at the defender. Another one in the crap signing folder for Shi and Sellars. I’m sorry but there is absolutely no point in him playing, even kids i the u21s must have more to offer than him,surely.
It certainly isn’t the first and I can’t guarantee that this will be the last time I make this point.
When Conor Coady, with his ‘terrible lack of pace’, ‘he’s not the player he was’ and anything else that his detractors would say against him, was defender in chief… we had one of the best defensive records in the Premier League.
Now, we look a complete shambles and are shipping goals at an alarming rate.
Obviously pure coincidence.
If the new manager gets money to spend in January, a new striker who can score goals and a slow, over the hill, centre back should be top of his wish list.
I thought we deserved something from this game, but Semedo’s horror show ensured that we came away with our usual ‘Nul Points’.
Pluses were:-
Guedes, who I thought played a blinder in spite of being targeted by the Brighton heavy brigade and scored a goal worthy of Steve Bull in his prime.
Bueno who continued to look like a VERY good player in the making.
Boubacar Traore who can look a bit clumsy but puts himself about and played a superb pass to put Guedes in for his goal.
Ruben Neves for his usual totally committed performance.
The whole team for their fight and attitude.
Minuses:-
Semedo who, was a liability for the entire 45 minutes he was on the pitch.
The lack of a leader in defence.
The referee who gave us nothing… but cards of various colours, while seemingly unable to punish some horrible Brighton tackling.
Gary Lineker who has said that the Lewis Dunk handball was a ludicrous decision.
His arm was outstretched and the ball hit it. In the penalty area.
It’s a penalty.
With our dodgy defence, misfiring attack and our inability to close games out , these are very worrying times.
The new man has an excellent CV. He’s proved himself at the highest level.
This could be his most testing challenge yet.
Here’s my 2 pence worth .. we have to go back to a back 3
Craig Dawson is available and willing to come . He’s a reliable centre half who can also chip in a few goals . A striker is paramount but the incoming manager will, have already identified who
The good news is that it’s glaringly obvious where changes are needed . Semado was shit but he was always in trouble because no one told the much improved Gedes that he is supposed to help defend
I agree with Liam Keane in that the Leeds game is a good chance to give Dexter Laberkista a run out at right back ,Nelson is to inconsistent and Johnny’s legs have gone
A lot of good points made above. I would add the following; right from the start of the season individual defensive errors have cost us. All of the defenders are culpable, they seem to take it in turns to make game changing errors. The back four experiment built around the quite average Collins has probably failed. Killman is half the player he was next to Coady. Semedo is not and never has been an upgrade on Doherty. Why let Saiss go? Why is Moutinho picked week in week out? Ronan did as much in the ridiculously limited time he was allowed today, and one our best away performances under Lage was Spurs when Cundle was selected. Mendes has too much influence at the club. Why wasn’t Adama started today? Positives? Er, well…Guedes goal was brilliantly taken and he had an excellent game, he reminds me somewhat of Jota. Would like to see Adama start next to Guedes in a front two against Arsenal. I am already dreading the train journey back to London next Saturday with a train full of merry gooners. . Nevertheless I’ll be there. We live in hope that the new manager has the balls to drop some of the under performers and give some players who have some guts an opportunity. Come on!
Collins was mostly excellent. Made some great blocks.
You were watching a different game to me Prawny. Collins was desperately poor. Lunging in for edge of the box potentially penalty tackles and time and time again beaten far too easily allowing dangerous crosses into the box. Winning goal a case in point. A new experienced quality centre half is needed along with a centre forward and right back.
I accept what you’re saying about the lunges HS but Haven’t we been lauding Coady for those type of intervention for years?
In fairness I was in the south bank so didn’t have the best view of the second half.
Hindsight was correct, Prawny; Collins did some great work but the need for a cool commanding head and voice to lead these young defenders was there for us to see near the North Bank. In other words an experienced organising head, such as Coady is now a great necessity. Defenders need to be constantly talking and organising themselves, being proactive. We have a lot of very young but potentially good defenders but guidance is necessary. Semedo had a mare, the worst performance defensively in many a year and Jonny is looking poor at present; maybe time to put in a cheeky bid for Doherty in the short term. Julen needs to remedy the losses made in getting rid or losing Coady, Saiss and Boly and the need for effective strikers.
If I’m not mistaken The Lopetegui effect had already took place in the attitude and performance shown by Guedes. He knew he will be monitoring performances; maybe he has for a while now. The players who know him actually rate him very highly. Let’s hope the Premier League is a good fit for him. His appointment certainly cheered me up and the attitude of nearly all the players was first rate throughout despite the obvious weaknesses in defence.
There are some really hard games coming up and if the team lose the fans, Lord help us…
Finally, we must hang on to Neves, who in Coady’s loss has become the heartbeat of the club. To replace him would be financially enormous, so give him a contract he cannot refuse. It will save money in the end. Vocally his strengths are different and the need to obtain a tactically sound , positionally knowing experienced voice at the back is still paramount.
There’s a lot to do and the near future looks bleak. Thank goodness for the World Cup break, which I’ve always thought was corrupt and wrong for the game; but not for us at this time…
Who was Adama going to cross to?
Good point about Ronan. The boy has never been given chance despite good performances when out on loan. To give him so little time today was ludicrous.
I also thought that Guedes had a good game, showing what he is capable of. He showed great pace, strength and composure in scoring a very good goal. But he needs support up front — something he`s never going to get from Hwang who appears very limited. Hopefully the new coach already has ideas who to bring in to bring this about
In despair.
Hope Lopentengui can fix it but not sure anyone can in the short term. It’s broken. Too many players here who don’t want to be here, you can see it in their body language, lack of effort and general demeanour. It’s the result of too much dependence on Mendez for too long.
And now we have our fourth Gestitute manager out of five under Fosun. Nothing against a guy who looks to have a great track record, but incestuous or what?
Tail wagging dog?
If Wolves win a couple in a row, suddenly these players will want to be there.
I am assuming we will be turned over by Arsenal which will mean we have 23 games to get 28 points to stay up .With the team as it is this is simply not going to happen .
We now at least have a proper experienced coach for those 23 games but it is clear that in the notoriously difficult January window ( and early in it ) we need at least 3 new players of quality ready to go .
I am afraid I have no faith at all that Shi and his mob are at all likely to get those in which leaves me thinking it is probably back where we started with Fosun in the championship .
That will mean a loss of some £200 million for their asset ( a well deserved penalty for their arrogance and idiocy ) and a lot of emotional pain for the rest of us .
Up the Wolves
“Collins in particular covered the ground and showed the appetite to dig in against the odds”. Have I watched a different game this afternoon?
Yea. Collins was not good today..
It has been 45 years since I first purchased a season ticket (July 1977 – North Bank terrace) and 62 years have elapsed since dad perched my backside on a crush barrier in the South Bank (3/3 v Preston North End). It has been a pleasure (dubious at times admittedly) to follow the Wolves at over 100 stadiums from Wembley to Wrexham and Highbury to Hartlepool. You get the drift.
No more – I am now an “armchair fan” after throwing in the towel and getting my fix using VPN and streams from Argentina, Chile and for the first time today an exceptional picture via Brazil. Whilst I can blame the ludicrous kick off times/days and the 200+ miles round trip, in reality this is merely papering over the cracks. As I no longer attend fixtures does this mean I can no longer have an opinion? Or voice on the blog? Am I in danger of being “cancelled”?
Notwithstanding, one word sums it all up for me – “change”. That’s it – “change”. In the OED “change” has a number of meanings. In the context of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club, the word “change” was used by a number of ungrateful individuals who were drunk on success under Nuno and after an “iffy” season called for “change”. The rot had set in back then. Well and truly.
These individuals surely never had the gumption to stop and think – why? The mantra was “change”. “Change”, my arse and to treat Nuno, a man of integrity who took grimy Wolverhampton to his heart, with such disdain was a disgrace.
I called them the Holy Trinity – Laurie Dalrymple, Kevin Thelwell and Nuno Espirito Santo.
Shi engineered the departure of Dalrymple because he was perceived as a threat. The Chinese detest threat and seek to eradicate the source immediately. Its common in those remaining countries with an intensely corrupt political system (even worse that our own) such as China, Russia and North Korea. The likes of Xi Jinping, Putin and Kim Jong-Un will be in power until they die or decide to step down. Ditto Molineux. Whilst Shi is in charge any threat is crushed. Having visited China on a number of occasions for business purposes this mentality is quite profound and evident.
Dalrymple was instrumental in negotiating the deals and you could not imagine anybody really pulling the Wolves over his eyes – especially Mendes. There was no way on Gods earth those ludicrous deals involving (for example) Doherty, Jota, Semedo, Silva, Coady, Saiss, Adama, Hoever, Nunes, Guedes would have been brokered. Some had the impudence to opine Nuno was to blame for the first 4!
Let us examine some of these earlier transfers in detail, which occurred after Dalrymple (and Thelwell) had departed the club.
Doherty/Semedo – Nuno converted Matt into a formidable RWB to fit into his methods of playing the game. Spurs were (apparently) looking for a full back. The Spurs manager was Mourinho who is/was on the books of GestiFute. With the experience of Dalrymple (and Thelwell) out of the way, Mendes approached Shi who on his own admittance knows “nothing about football”. You can imagine the one-sided conversation “listen Jeff just sell Doherty to Spurs for £16 million and I have a ready-made and better replacement. His name is Nelson Semedo and will only cost £35 million. Explain the situation to Nuno”. Nuno (devoid of any allies at the club at board level) very reluctantly accepts the situation and GestiFute pocket a cool percentage return on transfers totalling £51 million and Wolves inherit an inferior defender for their money.
Jota/Silva – an even more bizarre transfer arrangement. In a million seasons Nuno would never have sold Diogo. It was a very similar scenario to Doherty. Mendes is Jota’s agent and is Silva’s agent. What a coincidence! Mendes spun the same story to Shi who still wet behind the ears swallowed it hook, line and sinker. As a consequence, and much to Nuno’s disgust (his demeanour said it all) Jota went for £40 million to Liverpool and Wolves splashed out £37 million on a totally untried 18-year-old who (through no fault of his own I hasten to add) was surely the biggest waste of money in the club’s history and that’s saying something. In addition, Klippety offloaded Hoever to Wolves as part of the deal. How is that working out then? Does anybody really believe Klippety would have shoved Hoever our way if he had been any good?
Prior to brokering any deals, Thelwell and his team would have been despatched by Dalrymple and Nuno to run their eyes over these players. Instead, Nuno had nobody whose judgment he could trust. This was the beginning of the end. The last away match before Covid lockdown was Spurs away. Wolves won 3/2 and Jota, Doherty and Jimenez netted the goals. The journey home to Bedford was fantastic. Of course, the “change” brigade conveniently forgets all this. As I intimated earlier a case of selective memory.
Indisputably Mendes, when working alongside the “old management”, did introduce some quality players to the club but he, or GestiFute, have been more than handsomely rewarded.
Does anybody truly believe that we would have to wait for eons to replace Raul after that horrific injury if the full Holy Trinity had been in place? Of course not!
Wolves were on the brink of true greatness and mixing it with the self-styled “big boys”. Remember the Fosun “mission statement” something about the Premier League being a gateway to the Champions League”? How is that shaping up these days?
The Lage appointment (as I opined at the time) ended in tears. Square peg in round hole and the comments of Saiss were quite damming. Lage et al completely ripped the spirit out of the club. Can anybody really believe what happened to Conor Coady for example? He was the beating heart.
Add on Sellars as a replacement for Thelwell and Shi miserably failing in the role of Dalrymple and it is the perfect storm. Undeniably clueless would be the most apt idiom.
Frankly, I could go on and on about everything that is now wrong along the Waterloo Road but what’s the bloody point… It all makes me weep in utter frustration that, in the words of Whitney Houston circa 1987, “didn’t we almost have it all”. We had that one opportunity and blew it following the ineptest management decisions imaginable.
As for the “change” crew well you owe us with a far more sensible and logical mindset an apology of humungous proportions. Undoubtedly Shi took your rantings into account.
Unless this incumbent manager (yet another cock up in overseeing his appointment) can turn it around after the World Cup for sure you will get your wish – a change in division. I shake my head in disbelief.
“Didn’t we almost have it all”.
Yes, we bloody well did!
Bedfordshire Old Gold
BOG
BOG This one of the best posts I`ve ever seen on this site. Your summary is spot on right. What you say is accurate in every way. Thank you for putting so succinctly what every real supporter understands to be true.
Brilliantly written and absolutely bang on the money. Thank God that more and more wolves fans are starting to see the Shi/ Mendes influence at Wolves for what it is. I pray we are sold sooner rather than later . Relegation and the overall financial plight of the Fosun group might just force an asset sale. Unfortunately, it is us fans that are completely emotionally invested in the club and the loyal staff who make up the fabric of the club that will suffer in the form of shattered dreams and job losses.
BOG, reading your post has brought tears to my eyes.
Tears of rage and frustration mostly.
You’ve summed it up in one go so much more succinctly than some bloggers have tried by repeating the same old whinge time and time and time and time again.
We did nearly have it all, but a tiny bespectacled chap who has confessed to knowing nothing about football and a permatanned wide boy, who is more interested in his bank balance than his clients, have taken it away.
But I fervently hope there is still a chance of grabbing it back.
Glad to see your approval rating, Doogooder.
But in the same breath your refer to the whingers who ” keep ‘repeating themselves time and time again.” With respect, the message that these whingers have been trying to get across for the past months, is the very same one that BOG has now presented, albeit in a more eloquent and succinct manner than others may have done.
It`s a great pity that these conclusions were not listened to long ago. Not that it would have mattered because in the world of the autocrat Czar Shi, we supporters really don`t matter !! To him it appears we`re nothing more than a inconvenience he has to put up with.
Why don’t we all stop going to games, get a VPN and watch online without paying?
Oh hang on, I see a problem: someone has to pay or the broadcasters won’t cover it.
Thankfully, there are enough people daft (honest?) enough to pay.
I think you ceded the moral high ground in your second paragraph, BOG.
Well Mikey … you said you were going to do it and very commendably.. you have ..
A brilliant summary and comparison of what losses the changes have created .. MANY FOLD… and the gains … WELL FRANKLY .. NONE.
In fact the losses are terminal.
Without a ‘Dalrymple’ unfortunately Shi and Sellars have become totally reliant on Mendes…. and many, if not most of ‘the changes’ have screwed us up.
At the time, I thought that a spend of over £100 million in the last window would raise our bar … but having had time to reflect on the past deals … I now realise that the ‘ Value for Money’ in reality is probably nearer £25 -£30 million.
So a loss in NRV (Net Realisable Value) of £70 million.. ouch.
Don’t get me wrong … I think Fosun (apart from Sir Jacks tlc) have given us a huge uplift … but I can’t help but think we’re heading into the abyss.
BOG
Best post I’ve read on here for a long, long time.’
You hit all the nails on the head. Coincidentally (or maybe not) we are exactly the same vintage (Molineux “debut” 59/60) so we’ve witnessed the highs and the lows in parallel.
Without doubt THE most important issue you highlight is the downfall of the Dalrymple, Numo, Thelwell team and the subsequent emergence of Shi the autocrat. If they were still here I have no doubt we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in – the catalogue of errors since Shi took sole charge is astounding and I can’t see that changing while he remains. Can’t see him going anywhere soon either.
BOG,
Paul AD67 agree totally and I’ve been saying the same for the last three years.
Well written BOG.
Sad as it all is, I imagine that you feel better for having produced this excellent summary.
Thank you.
Anytime I feel like I’m being cynical, I come here and realize there are more miserable bitches than me out there. Thanks.
Being miserable is an art form that takes years of dedication,and if it wasn’t for miserable people you’d have nothing to gauge your happiness by,
Same old,same old.
What is JLs record of getting clubs promoted because that is going to be his task.
By the way Lineker is a c..t and needs exterminating.
Tut tut Nélson… at the rate we’re going, we’ll have more red cards than goals.
What were you thinking!?!?
You know what? I don’t mind if we get relegated!!!
I want to watch us win more than we lose. Winning in the 4th division made me happy. Losing in the Premier makes me miserable for days, until the day before the next game when I begin to hope again. Lose to Arsenal on Saturday and I’ll be miserable till Christmas Day.
But what I really want most of all, is for Fosun (and all the other bastards, such as the Glaziers, the states of UAR, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia etc, who see football as a way to gain money and influence) to fuck off and give us our game (yes, GAME!) back.
Ain’t gonna happen, I know.
The price of us getting to the top of the shit-pile that is world football is too high, my friends. My health can’t afford it anymore.
The Guardian has a cracking profile of Lopetegui:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/06/better-late-than-never-lopeteguis-winding-route-back-into-wolves-arms
All of a sudden, I’m hopeful!
Thanks Roget De Wolf, superb article, yes feel positive now!
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/06/better-late-than-never-lopeteguis-winding-route-back-into-wolves-arms
BOG that blog was exquisite and certainly hit the bulls eye for most of us reading and blogging on here
Roget de Wolf Likewise I now have a modicum of hope
We don’t know why it’s taking so long to employ Mr Lopetegui but let’s give the club and Mr Lopetigui the benefit of the doubt and get behind him and the club and who knows didn’t we almost have it all could be back on course
Didn’t we indeed almost have it all, but that was before Jeff was in total control. Hope you are right and that Lopetegui can stand the heat in the Shi kitchen – he certainly has a good pedigree.
Suffice to say a golden chance has been squandered over the last 2/3 years to consolidate the brilliant job done by Dalrymple, Nuno and co.
It’s good to see that a lot of fans/ Bloggers are finally seeing through Jeff and Fosuns spin and bullshit me and PJB have been trying to open our fellow Bloogers/ fans eyes to the reality of being owned and run buy Jeff and Fosun.
There reasons for buying Wolves was never and still isn’t for football reasons why they think they can make money out of a football club but invest very little in real terms in beyond me may be the fact that they have shares in the agent’s company that 90 per cent of deals go through both players and manager has something to do with it.
Jeff and Co: thought they had cracked it those first two seasons moderate investment in Premier League terms and two 7th places finishes and Europe to boot……I can see Jeff saying it know…….you don’t need to invest millions……well the chickens are coming home to roost Jeff.
PS.
This is NOT I told you so Blogg I’m merely joining in with a very interesting and sadly depressing debate on our current predicament.
“Me and PJB”?
Are you trying to pretend you’re not one and the same person?
LOL
I can assure you that we are not one and the same. Whoever you are you’re hiding behind the arrogance that only your views can be correct. At least have the guts to declare yourself under your normal flag. Only cowards hide behind multiple identities (and block votes that go with them). How many email addresses do you have?
LOL,
Really……I’m betting your a grown man……..it’s about time you acted like one.
Wasn’t going to comment because watching us capitulate yesterday was more of the same and it’s certainly not life enhancing viewing.
However surely we have to have some, even a little hope and faith still? I can see and agree with all of the points so finely put in the BOG blog above. But it’s not as some posters on here keep insisting that us bloggers are blind to the shenanigans of Mendez & Shi. It looks like the model has been found out and is wanting at this current point in time.
But does anyone on here have inside insight? Possibly not. I don’t know. But Lopetegui is here in less than 2 weeks, his coaching team are coming in to meet the players on Tuesday.
I have to hope as fan and season ticket holder that this experienced coach with pedigree and a wealth of experience will get us going finally this season.
Hopefully Jeff is going to listen and act in line with the Lopetegui’s demands. If he doesn’t then we are definitely in the mire. Hope Lopetegui can do with us what Unai Emery has done with Villa today. A Villa with our former player Dendoncker in midfield!
If various Twitter posts are to be believed our hero Nuno did want to come back to us recently. I wonder if Mr Shi scuppered that one?
I’ve been a Wolves fan for 50 years and in that time seen a fair few owners come and go and all of them including Sir Jack came in in a blaze of glory promising the world but ended up……..selling up following lack of foresight and investment and relegation. The Bhatti Brothers were the first and has been well documented.
Sir Jack in 2013 when we finally got to the promise land via the playoff gave Dave Jones just £6 million the result relegation. Morgan the same got promotion then gave Mick a pitence.
What I’m saying is I know the signs I can read between the lines for example the current owners Jeff is the only one who makes all the decisions got rid of Therwell and the other guy Daryl something. The stadium rebuild that was promised but has been put on permant hold they are not even bothering to fill in the corner between the Steve Bull and the South Bank. Despite being given planning permission …….so like I say the signals are there that Fosun are no longer fully invested in there words ” The Project ” signs I’ve seen before which have always ended with the same result……relegation in Morgan’s case ne after the other.
Yes fair points and I accept them. I’m also used to the downs and the ups.
While it looks bleak, you got to hope Lopetegui gets us up the table.
As an added point rumours around Nuno’s return seemed to suggest that his return wasn’t popular with some players and staff.
But these are just rumours and probably have no validity.
PJB and Paul AD are very welcome and articulate their perspective well. But I will suggest that at this moment in time their view which suggests there are serious issues to be addressed (some of which I agree with such as the clear out of seasoned battle hardened pros like Coady/Saiss which in hindsight is a clear mistake) is currently in the ascendancy. The viewpoint gathers momentum in times of strife. It is to be expected. Hopes are now pinned on Mr Lopetigui. Where and when do we win 9 games of football. I am not expecting any massive sudden improvements. I think it will be a grind to the bitter end but I have faith with 2 or 3 good additions in January ( I assume J -Lo will made certain demands of Fosun) we can get out of trouble.
Not sure about the articulate bit COD but will take the compliment. More important is the state of our beloved football club which even you now admit isn’t good. Like all genuine Wolves supporters, I really hope Lopetegui can dig us out of this Shi created hole but I think we have structural issues in the club which may run deeper than the capabilities of one man; to me this whole scenario is reminiscent of the lead up to the crisis of the early 80’s and the dark days of the Bhattis and beyond. Deja vu doesn’t even get close. I hope the rot can be stopped but it may get worse before it gets better.
Forever a Wolf regardless.
Looks like the’ contact’ between Jeff Shi and Michael Beale has resulted in the ‘nil goals’ virus. I think QPR have recorded 4 goaless games in the aftermath of which Beale is fond of reminding everone. He should stick to his f**kin chip shop in Walford.
lol …even got ‘battered’ by them old tesco bags ..
Brilliant !!!
It’s inevitable that when things are not going well, and right now, they are not going well, the narrative is, well, negative.
Players being singled out and blamed, referee decisions questioned, transfers out and in the cause of our decline.
Add to that our appalling luck with injuries, an apparent haphazard approach to recruiting our latest manager and the rapidly increasing price of cheese, and it’s really difficult to be optimistic.
The thing is, we showed fight against Brighton. Especially after going down to 10.
That’s important. It would have gladdened the heart of our incoming Manager. For obvious reasons.
Also the announcement of Lopetegui’s appointment is hugely significant. Not just because we have secured the services of a true football heavyweight, but also he has delayed coming on board. He’s had time to consider whether this is a good move for him. And he’s decided yes. Also, he is likely to have gained assurances about transfer funds and autonomy.
He will have time to work with the players not involved in the World Cup and get acclimated to his new surroundings.
It will also have gone some way to restoring some of the Chairman’s credibility.
There’s positives, but for me, all the negativity is difficult to ignore. Except to say this. Things are very rarely as bad as they seem; (or as good).
I think we will be ok this season. I have faith that the break, an incoming quality coach, returning injuries and the quality we have in our team, plus some new additions, will see us climbing up the table. Wins breed confidence and confidence rubs off on all players.
But lessons have to be learned. This situation was wholly avoidable. The structure at the top has to change and the over reliance on Mendes needs to stop.
UTW
Mutt, well said! As you say, things are rarely as bad (or as good) as they seem. This time round it’s obviously the former rather than the latter that we’re talking about! There’s a lot of negativity around this weekend. I’ve even seen on some sites such stupid talk that relegation would be good… Jesus wept. I’m not a happy clapper, but some people need to get a grip. The result against Brighton was down to individual errors, but with ten men, was a far better display than the previous 3-0 home defeat. Graham Potter built a very fine Brighton team. They came to Molineux after thrashing Chelsea 4-1.
I’m a Nuno man through and through. I would have backed him, not sacked him. I would have rehired him last month when the chance apparently arose. That said, I believe that Lopetegui will be a better coach than Nuno. After the Bruno fiasco, and the humiliating rejection by the rookie (!) Michael Beale, we are truly lucky to have signed such a top class international coach in Lopetegui. And he comes to us with a much better track record of success than Nuno had prior to Wolves.
We will be safe this season, and the ten year project is back and running.
Muttie,
Great peice well presented.
Greetings & Welcome Julen Lopetegui,
or J-Lo as must be going forward, (nice one Cheese). I’ve worked in the Basque Country, near Bilbao, or Bilbo as the locals call it, a post industrial, apocalyptic landscape not dissimilar to our beloved Black Country circa 1984, but warmer. Also renowned for its individual and ancient language, fierce independence and Guernica, which Franco bombed the shit out of in the Spanish Civil War. Bastard.
Anyway he won’t be phased by the scruffy car park, general malaise, wholesale negativity and our own specky twat from the lower fourth Chinese division. He’s managed Real Madrid FFS, and will soon sort the wheat from the chaff. And a few are firmly in the ‘Chaff’ department at present. I hope he has the good sense to keep Steve Davis close, at least until he finds his feat.
OK we squeak survival this season and then go on a Eddie Howe like resurgence next. We have unexpected games to win and lose before that happens. As long as we’re not dragging our four pack of chippy lagar down the Whorethorns next term, Hi Ho Silver Lining.
1 lv & COYW. FOWB.
I know the authorities don’t like us much but relegating us straight through to league 1 to play the boys from tesco’s is a bit harsh
Hindsight was correct, Prawny; Collins did some great work but Was diving in dangerously and not picking up players in dangerous areas in second half or competing strongly in the air. The need for a cool commanding head and voice to lead these young defenders was there for us to see near the North Bank. In other words an experienced organising head, such as Coady is now a great necessity. Defenders need to be constantly talking and organising themselves, being proactive. We have a lot of very young but potentially good defenders but guidance is necessary. Semedo had a mare, the worst performance defensively in many a year and Jonny is looking poor at present; maybe time to put in a cheeky bid for Doherty in the short term. Julen needs to remedy the losses made in getting rid or losing Coady, Saiss and Boly and the need for effective strikers.
If I’m not mistaken The Lopetegui effect had already took place in the attitude and performance shown by Guedes. He knew he will be monitoring performances; maybe he has for a while now. The players who know him actually rate him very highly. Let’s hope the Premier League is a good fit for him. His appointment certainly cheered me up and the attitude of nearly all the players was first rate throughout despite the obvious weaknesses in defence.
There are some really hard games coming up and if the team lose the fans, Lord help us…
Finally, we must hang on to Neves, who in Coady’s loss has become the heartbeat of the club. To replace him would be financially enormous, so give him a contract he cannot refuse. It will save money in the end. Vocally his strengths are different and the need to obtain a tactically sound , positionally knowing experienced voice at the back is still paramount.
There’s a lot to do and the near future looks bleak. Thank goodness for the World Cup break, which I’ve always thought was corrupt and wrong for the game; but not for us at this time…
To give Conor Ronan five minutes at the end and leave a tiring Moutinho on for so long is wrong. He was organising players well early on but, God bless him, his legs tend to go after an hour I admit I’ve always liked Connor and just wish he could be given some game time to find out if he can cut the mustard at this standard.
Just the thought of Conor Coady getting his teeth into the Toffees back line makes me sick. Like the warrior he is he’ll be giving it 100% and the Toffees will grow to love him as we did. Plus his Mum lives down the road. They’ll have to get relegated before we get Conor back.
It isn’t just Bruno who lost on this one, and I’m not even counting pay – off to said Bruno which I’ve not heard mentioned. That was a year settling in with the inherited Nuno team, a summers planning, R&D, transfer spending, clearing out old contracts, getting rid of our, ok ageing, but definitely experienced defence and our frankly inspirational capitan. Too right it looks bleak.
In the revolving door of personnel at WWFC the responsibility is shifting further up the ladder. Now J-lo inherits a failed Bruno project, presumably with the promise of funds to set up his relegation battle squad.
On finances, the Savers brand noodles in Morrisons used to be 15p a packet. The same pack now costs 55p, A 360% increase. If anything indicates a Tory government and Chinese sports speculators it’s this one stark disgraceful factoid, No wonder Shi feels buoyant sacking off his cash. Right I’m having a tablet before I get hysterical. Happy Dayz. You’re right about the world cup. 1 lv.
So is Coady supposed to give instructions from the bench or is he on in place of either Kilman or Collins?
Are you saying it is impossible now to play with only two central defenders of their experience level?
Sorry the above is a repeat of a reply earlier on which did not contain all my ramblings…
Can I be the first to say (adopting old style copper voice) “hello hello hello” to Lo and welcome to Wolves. That’s very very welcome. Hopefully just in time.
Please speak to Ruben over whom you must have so much influence as his mentor from way back. Get him on board with “the project” you are taking on.
I love the Wolves.. next rung down to my family.
every single day i check all news feeds for any information and i attend every game possible from a long way away .
There has been some recent bad management and a good side has been damaged .
Now Wolves have appointed a fantastic manager and it looks like him and his coaching staff are going to rebuild the side and put us back on track of winning games at the highest level . When that happens, and it will , some of the people on here can stick their opinions up their old arseholes
UTW
Great message London Wolf….
I know you don’t live in Tettenhall… in fact you have to travel 100 or so miles just for home games .. and along with the Whitley Wanderer .. you are complete ambassadors of this blog ….
Long may you both be my ‘mates’ …
Always forever.
A strange message in your last sentence london wolf . Should it be inferred that if some people wish to submit an opinion which does not meet with your approbation than they should seek an alternative home for it? Or , have I misunderstood?
I am interested to hear how the Editors to this site respond to your post.
I was always under the impression that the site welcomed , without fear or favour, a range of opinion , without dissenters getting anal about it.
As for the main part of your post , you describe my feelings about Wolves and the new appointment.
A strange message in your last sentence london wolf . Should it be inferred that if some people wish to submit an opinion which does not meet with your approbation than they should seek an alternative home for it? Or , have I misunderstood?
I am interested to hear how the Editors to this site respond to your post.
I was always under the impression that the site welcomed , without fear or favour, a range of opinion , without dissenters getting anal about it.
As for the main part of your post , you describe my feelings about Wolves and the new appointment.
Cheers Kendal. In mitigation, I read LWL post as a prayer for better days, y’know, like ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,….’
As the farmer said to the mushroom collector, in so many words.
Mind I still take issue with him calling a massive lot of fields with a few sheep in ‘his garden’. Tosser.
Your first paragraph is incorrect. I was hounded off for having a different opinion.
And when it doesn’t happen and wolves go down will you stick your opinion up your arsehole ?
Lighten up chaps, you hear far worse at the Molineux- not that is to condone the poor behaviour of the minority at a game. Great expectations for the glass half full supporters, another example of Shi’s incompetence for the half empty. I just hope we all stay with this blog – it will seem a long World Cup break sitting at the bottom of the League.
pferdepferde – spot on.
There is a very strong clique on here who do not tolerate anything which does not adhere to their single minded views of the stereo type of what “proper Wolves supporters” should believe and you are quite correct they have hounded and will continue to try to hound the objective posters off the site.
But whether they like it or not we’re all Wolves aye we and sometimes, just very occasionally (actually quite often), like now, they get it completely wrong.
So get back on and join those of us who are prepared to take on the playground bullies with their arrogant dogma,
Absolute Tosh….
I don’t want to get into any argument PJB… everyone has a right to their opinion.. even referees… and they’re not always right (although sometimes they are.)
I don’t belong to any clique… because I may be a friend doesn’t mean that I always agree with their opinion.. besides when you lobby someone to join your argument.. isn’t that the pre-curser to forming a clique..?
As I say .. I’ve popped some likes for you mate … and yes we’re all Wolves fans… (as you often read… ‘this inbox is not manned’ )
Let’s see how it all unravels…
LT
Don’t count you as one of the clique, but that doesn’t say it doesn’t exist and we agree that all opinions should be respected.
Hence I object to dissenters who tell people to quote –
“disappear up their old arseholes” (see above).
We can all stoop to that level if needs be – is that the sort of forum you want?
Welcome to the whingefest…..
To be fair, having a different opinion isn’t whinging it’s just having a different opinion, no matter how often they are repeated.
And until Elon Musk buys this blog and suspends people for having different opinions, then different opinions should be welcomed.
I’m whingin about whingers.
why would Elon Musk do that?
I guess you read half a headline?
Which half didn’t I read?
Whoever is manager
Whoever is in the squad
Whoever follows the Wolves
Whoever cuts the oranges into equally shaped pieces at half time
Whoever is chosen to run onto the pitch with the freezing cold bucket of water and the sponge they washed the coach and the managers dog down with…
The sun will continue to rise and set and we will all(hopefully) keep breathing ?
As has been said many times, just enjoy the journey.
I used to hate my drive home from work till I realised its just part of the bigger journey ?
UTW
What about asthmatic Wolves fans living in the Faroe Islands? I work from home so I don’t have any journey and I get travel sick. Wimp!
Spot on pjb, hear hear! I’m allergic to dogs and I prefer bananas to oranges anyway. Told ya so didn’t I….ner
“I now see the problems that come from owning a football club..
I’m selling up”
Sorry, did I just vocalise that?
Humour is the best medicine ?
Especially as a wolves fan
And I always thought the funny user names on here were dreamt up by Clive from Houston. Like, Nuno’s bike shed is on my foot. No, it’s someone else hiding behind the latest almost Shakespearean nom de plume.
I need a bit of humour as a Wolves fan.
What about them fraudster, whoever you are?
Isn’t Paul AD67 going to comment on this as well?
Sometimes it’s difficult to workout if PJB is the dummy and Paul AD67 has his arm up his arse; or vice versa.
Lopetegui coached Jonny before at a lower age bracket so hopefully, he will get him straightened out quickly.
Might be a good coach but he’ll need to be a miracle worker if he’s able to get back the yards of pace and lessened mobility caused by those cruciate injuries.
So why are they still playing him, then?
Oh dear. The curse of turning Wolves down. QPR lost 2-1 at home to bottom club Huddersfield tonight, after taking the lead. Michael Beale can’t do anything right at the moment. Thank our lucky stars !
OODCL
(and thank you BOG for excellent post)
Let’s stop. The slagging and get behind JLo from now on
Our last game on May 28 is at Emirates, so May 20 we will celebrate the turnaround with victory over Coady’s mob at the Mol
J-Lo will be at Molineux Saturday night for the game. If he is taking notes I suggest he brings a 250 page note book and several pens !! Oh and a stiff drink or 2. That’s what i’ll be having any way. OODCL.
Not a great performance tonight but a win is a win and can only help lift the spirits. Sarkic and Hodge deserve credit and lembikiska had a great cameo towards the end….and great to see a midfielder getting on the end of an attack to score. Something to look forward to whenever the next round might be.