Glance at the front pages on any given day and it’s easy to surmise that the world is in a state of flux.
And yet some things never change.
As sure as spring follows winter, Wolves’ cup woes and Andre Marriner’s terrible officiating are something we can sadly all depend upon.
And while Liverpool can count themselves fortunate to have made it to a replay, they needed no such luck tonight.
This was undoubtedly our poorest showing since Lopetegui’s arrival, with Kelleher barely tested all evening.
As was the case in last week’s League Cup exit, the manager made plenty of changes and it was thus unsurprising to see us make a disjointed start to proceedings.
This was compounded by Elliott’s early strike, which Sa will surely be having nightmares about tonight. Why was he so far off his line?
Unsurprisingly, the goal seemed to rock our confidence, so credit ought to go to the players for not capitulating.
The ability to stay in games has been a welcome characteristic of Lopetegui’s tenure thus far, and served us in good stead in the second half.
Several tactical reshuffles and the introduction of Semedo, Cunha and Nunes gave us a stronger foothold on the game, with the visitors seemingly happy to play-act and waste time.
It was frustrating (but not surprising) to see us fail to make this count, and the watching Sarabia will be under no illusions as to what he’s been brought in to do. Just a modicum of his goalscoring record at Sporting will serve us right.
Ultimately, an already flat cup tie ended with a whimper and eyes will now solely be focused on the league. And perhaps, with our Premier League future far from being secure, that’s no bad thing.
Rotten performances such as this can also help to temper expectations, with tonight providing a reminder that there is still plenty of deadwood in this squad.
If Lopetegui can deliver on the early promise of his reign and keep us up, then he will hopefully be allowed to undertake the serious rebuilding job that is required.
Until that has been done, dreams of a return to Wembley will have to continue to be consigned.
Yes agree a very frustrating night for Wolves supporters. Liverpool totally dominated us in the first half.
Traore’s final ball tonight was way off, we had promising positions but the killer touch was not forthcoming.
Matheus and Samedo improved things in the 2nd half, But we just haven’t got that striker who can change the game in our favour. Cunha gets into promising areas but last night couldn’t add finesse to finish, and make the difference. More composure required. Raul poor tonight as well. We need the new guy to hit the ground running, because I’d love to see a few more goals.
Avoiding relegation is , though, the most important objective, and maybe it’s going to help having no more distractions from that goal.
But Wolves much better under Lopetegui still have lots of work to do to reach the peaks we had under Nuno. Another game that illustrates why this season has been one of few highlights.
But Lopetegui gives me hope we can come good. You gotta keep the faith.
Disappointing and frustrating.
Apart from the first and last ten minutes, we were woeful.
When the game ended, I was almost relieved that we didn’t have to go to Brighton.
There is so much more we need to do to stay up and that’s where the focus lies.
City and Liverpool in the league next…
Nothing more I can add to that.
I agree fully Aquilador. An unwanted step backwards.
But a couple of points are of particular concern. Firstly, we now have an obsession to ‘ play out’ from the back so that defenders make endless sideways and backwards passes. This is a disaster waiting to happen — Collins for one causes palpitations. But worse is the fact that this allows the opposition time to organize, so that they`re far better able to repel our ultimate attempt to attack. We are most effective when we attack at pace.
Secondly, irrespective of who is selected to play, for as long as we play with one one up front we will not score enough goals. Last night for much of the game Jiminez was left virtually alone with almost zero support, with the result that and we never really looked like scoring. Somehow we must surely develop a pattern of play when we can get the ball rapidly into the box and have players arriving in numbers. so that we have real opportunities to convert.
In my view our survival essentially depends upon ensuring that we very quickly find the way to convert opportunities created by skill in the build up, into goals. This has been our main problem for a long time, but unfortunately as yet there is little sign that under the new coaching regime this problem has been solved
Totally agree with every word Mike – this ‘ playing out from the back needs to be nipped at the bud – Wolves are renowned for a more exciting direct ‘ attacking at pace ‘ style – that’s what the fans want – so lets somehow get the message back to JL – although he probably clocked it after yesterdays dismal performance – especially in the 1st half..
JL has been a revelation for Wolves – I’m just giving some constructive criticism.
Only 2 major errors so far :
1) Last nights initial team selection..
2) Dropping Neves for the 1st half in the Caribao Cup against Forest – think it cost us the game eventually..
So 2 costly mistakes…. sadly 2 losses. !
I also agree with all you say Mike.
I cringe at all those wasted balls into the box and no one there on the end of them. The opposing defenders must be laughing.
Also I cannot stand the faffing around at the back just passing the ball around with no clear way forward. I’ve complained about this more times than I care to mention. Again, a waste of time, gives the opposition time to close us down and bad for confidence.
I’m not a football expert and maybe there’s a good tactical reason for it, but I don’t see it.
Spot on Mike, especially your first paragraph.
We do not have the required skill and , more to the
point, the confidence, to play out from the back.
Sa is increasingly causing many of us, as you write, to experience palpitations and seriously needs coaching. This approach is certainly not for the faint hearted supporter.
Not so very long ago we had one of the meanest and calmest defences in The Premier League.
And whilst we were amongst the lowest goals for, we finished 7th.
We do not need to rehearse the lamentable reasons for this yet again.
What is required is a solution.
I just hope that we can ensure the services of a mature, experienced central defender who is able to instil calm and composure which will certainly lower my blood pressure.
Kendalwolf, it`s travesty of major proportions that Mr Shi gave in to Bruno`s obsession with getting rid of all things Nuno. How would we benefit now from Coady`s presence now as leader of the pack and an inspirational organizing figure!!
And think back to the performance of Roman Saiss in the world cup — an absolute rock at the heart of the Morrocan defense which allowed them to have such an outstanding run .
When Saiss was chucked out by Mr Shi, as I recall he was barely 31 y ears old, and he went on a free. We replaced him with Collins, — at a cost of 20 million,– a Burnley reserve who is now proving to be a continuing disaster waiting to happen. Now we`re scrabbling around to try to get a proven central defender to save our season.!! Unbelievable. What gross incompetence.
Sounds like a call for John de Wolf, Kendal. If only.
I am really fucking confused to what this whole conversation is about.
You do realise, we had made 6 changes and lost 0-1 to liverpool…..
You do realise we have had more success in these 8 games then then 20 before it.
You do realise, we have more possession per game, more chances, less chances against – but yes we still lack the clinical edge.
3 games we have lost under J LO have been, 1-0 to MAN U, Penalties in a CUP, and 0-1 To Liverpool and you reckon we shouldn’t be playing out from the back?
Absolutely baffling.. Yeah, lets just be like stoke and kick and chase, seems like it makes sense…. God forbid our manager is trying to give us some style and an identity…. because apparently we haven’t got the players?
Fucking crazy
Please see my post on 15th January.
My answers to your questions…
1.Yes
2.Yes
3.Yes
4.Yes
And your final phrase……..it is skill and confidence that is lacking.
All without an expletive.
I’m afraid I have to blame the Manager for the defensive team selection in the 1st half – which was timid, woeful and cost us the game..
When I saw the team selection and saw all the fantastic players sitting on the bench in the 1st half, with our next game days away – I knew we were on the back foot by our own bizarre choice and so it turned out .
I’m sorry to say – 1st major mistake by the Manager – has to shoulder ‘ all ‘ the blame for our exit..
I don’t think JL has to shoulder ‘all the blame’ for last night.
The team he picked for the first game could have been construed as a bizarre choice but they deservedly’ beat’ the reds.
And he couldn’t legislate for Jose Sa’s positional howler for their goal.
That is what ultimately lost us the game.
I bought tickets for this but, due to unforeseen circumstances, I couldn’t make it from icy Wiltshire to even icier Wolverhampton.
And am I glad I couldn’t!
This was back to our pre-JL days.
Liverpool were there for the taking, lacking in form and confidence, and we made them look good.
Jose Sa had one of his off evenings – what on earth was he doing 6 yards off his line when that goal went in? – and nobody really came out with any credit.
If Liverpool want to offer £70m for Nunes, we should bite their hands off.
What with that, and Andre Marriner performing his usual tricks, we stood no chance of winning ‘The game that should never have been played’.
Ho Hum!
Back to the matter in hand.
Staying in The Premier League.
If Liverpool are interested in Nunes (have never seen that myself ) then surely that interest has waned after last night. His passing is so sloppy ( one of those who stands out in a team with many sloppy passers) and he gets caught on the ball regularly because of slow decision making.
I think he has great potential and looks quality when he’s gliding past players, but have to agree in that once he gets into positive positions, to often he either takes to long to decide or simply picks the wrong pass……
This is Nunes I’m referring to, but after writing I realised its the exact same comments that get aimed at Traore!!!!
Yep. Staying up is the priority and J Lo selections indicate he is thinking just that. The improved league form is something to hold on to. As for last night. As per The Doog I had a ticket but in the end didn’t bother going. It was freezing and the weather forecast said the possibility of snow coming in to West Midlands. I’m glad I didn’t. We were awful. Their goalie never had a save to make. But the FA and TV companies have got what they wanted. Liverpool in the next round. So on we go. 6 more wins required by the end of the season. Couple of draws should see us safe.
I have no idea what the questions being asked were back in July, but the bugger who came up with the answer “Nathan Collins”, needs to give themselves a sound bollocking.
One positive (not that there were many) to take from last night was the sublime little touch from Costa to Cunha, which Cunha unfortunately put into Row Z, shows that Costa still has a lot to offer us. With the right supply, we could do a lot worse.
Jimenez looked lost again.
The powers to be got what they wanted … Liverpool through . Job done !
Maybe but we still shouldn’t have been treated to that dire performance. We do part with our hard earned after all and expect much better.
A disappointing evening for most of us ..
Why is it that games are always remembered for the crap referees we get… we all knew Andre Marriner was bad and he fully lived up to expectations…
Four Liverpool fouls on Jimenez and Traore to stop a transition… no cards…
Traore tracks a Liverpool player .. tangles with him… oh yes .. a lovely Yellow Card for him …!!
Twice in the 2nd half Marriner gave goal kicks instead of corners… Specsavers should be mailing him for business.
The game itself was pretty abject .. but hey .. the FA , TV and Pundits alike are all happy today… following our , in your dreams, 2-3 win at Anfield..
PL survival now beckons and I for one feel that JLO will lead us out of the wilderness..
You forgot to mention how the ref inexplicably gave Liverpool a goal kick when Traore was about to cross but the lights went out…. completely nonsensical decision….
At one time rugby shirts and shorts were many times stronger than the soccer equivalent – they had to be because of the way opposing players used the kit to help them control their opponent. It’s good to see that the makers of soccer kit – and ours in particular haver used modern technology and materials to perfect soccer kit that is apparently strong enough to use for rugby. Where’s the proof? It’s in the picture at the top of this article. In the old days someone would have had to fetch RAN a replacement pair of shorts.
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2023/01/18/fa-cup-wolves-0-liverpool-1—player-ratings/
It’s good isn’t it to see that Liverpool FC are bringing their young sportsmen up to play in the way the modern game demands, a way where fouls are a legitimate tactic and where the rule seems to be “a win justifies everything”
The Liverpool goal last night took me back to a match when, fairly late in the game Robbie Dennison scored a very similar one at the North Bank end, having run with the ball from deep in defence to a point 30-35 yards out from goal. It was greeted by the commentary team with something very similar to the adulation which greeted the one last night. In a later interview RD was very honest and admitted “I’d run so far that I was knackered, so I just wellied it”.
I doubt whether he or the Liverpool lad could have duplicated the effort given another dozen attempts. To my mind the assist out to be given to Sa.
Most goals look great when they go in, but there’s an awful lot more times when they endanger life in row Z.
To be honest my overall feeling is that as a Wolves fan I have been cheated and Messers Dean Attwell and co are laughing their tiny little nuts off
How many jobs can you have where you repeatedly make a balls up of it still get paid and continue in work ?
With regards to our team there is no doubt we were poor. JL selected it and must bear some of the responsibility. I thought Toti did his best but Nunes was shocking
I doubt that Liverpool will be seeking his expertise to strengthen what I would consider to be the worst Liverpool we’ve seen at Molineux in decades and with very little on the bench to improve things. At least we had at least 6 players on our bench that could have made a difference and in my opinion given us a positive result. Let’s hope that giving in to both cups does eventually help us to remain in the premiership COYW
Why did Wolves start playing negatively from the back – Collins being the worst defender – Wolves at home against a scratch Livepool side – should have been at the Reds throat from the off..
Anyone who saw it on BBC1 and watched the legend Steve Bull’s comments at half time were absolutely ‘ spot on ‘ .. Team selection tactically wrong – playing from the back – wrong !!
I agree with the maestro that is Steve – rest my case !!
Following on from my earlier mail and Nathan Collins in particular – ‘ playing from back ‘ Ok following orders…. but, is in my humble opinion a negative and lazy way of playing football, England tried the same in the World Cup and bored the paints of us . I used to be a CF many many years ago – and I would have been thoroughly peed off if the back 4 were phaffing about passing to each other without any thought of moving the ball forward – whilst I was eager and raring to go to get things moving and bear down on goal – but I need the ball !
Going back to Collins in particular, he received the ball and without even looking up- field he just passed it back or side-wise, its called ‘ lazy ‘ football – don’t have to think of do anything inventive – just pass it back or sideways and let some else make the decision.
Nunes should have played from the start – with his his energy bringing the ball forward at speed, dont tell me he can’t play two 90 minute games in a week ?
And why play young Hodges and Mountino in the same team – baffling and Samendo should have started after his impressive attacking last couple of games !
Anyway enough of my whinging – just have strong views about ‘ playing from the back ‘ and missing a great opportunity with the Managers negative ‘ initial team selection – that ‘s all !!
Sorry all..
Come on you Wolves
Probably a good thing we’re out of the cups to concentrate on survival but that’s the only positive we can take from this shambles. The fact that we won the Anfield “leg” doesn’t make it any easier to take (I assume that this one off 2 leg tie was at Liverpool’s request and that they went through on the away goals rule after a 3-3 draw).
This was a return to Lage football. With one exception no one had a good game; the exception was Neves who despite his personal contractual situation continues tirelessly to try to inspire the mediocrity surrounding him. Surely not one of us could deny him a good move to pastures new in the summer (Barcelona?) after the wonderful 6 years service he has given us.
We can only hope that our new signings hit the ground running though it’s difficult to see us getting anything at Citeh next and surely we still need upgrades at CB to partner Kilman (oh for Coady and Saiss) and Cunha up front (unless we can get a better swansong tune out of Costa), because Jiminez seems now to be playing purely as a hold up man which is a luxury we can’t afford whilst we continue to fire blanks.
In spite of some promising green shoots under JL I think we’re in for a worrying 4 months, we have to hope that last night’s debacle was just a blip on the road to recovery.
Have to agree Chris. The well-known phrase “This will end in tears” comes into my mind every time any team – but particularly ours – starts the passing it around at the back sequence. As we know from Guedes at Anfield, one imperfect pass or move and it’s a goal. Stan Cullis got widely abused for it at the time, but the long ball way we played was based on a very simple concept – if the ball’s in our penalty area it’s no danger to the opposition. If it’s in theirs it will be. Moral get the ball into the opposition area as quickly as you can.
For all the lovely long passes from RN out to the right wing, it’s disappointing how few of them result on the ball making it into the penalty area without first coming back nearly to the half-way line.
Mr Smith (Director of Football, Bentley West Primary, 1967-68): “Never pass the ball across your own goal!”
As true today as it was back then.
I think it is Lopetegui’s idea to play out from the back so instead of blaming Collins, you should direct your displeasure at the appropriate person.
Read my mail again re : Collins….. I said albeit ” following orders ”…
Give 1 good solid reason we shouldn’t be trying to play out the back? I just want 1 reason, if you cannot supply 1 reason, drop this bullshit and let the manager do his thing
Errmmm . . . . because we haven’t got the talent for it?
Once we have, fair enough. But, as Collins only seems able to pass the ball to Neves over a very short distance, he should shift the ball to, at least, the halfway line as soon as possible.
In 8 games, our 3 losses have been 1-0, Penalties and 0-1… Yesterday with 6 changes including 3 changes on the back line – Toti and SA have questions that need answering for the ONLY goal of the game.
With a 18 year old at left back…
but yeah we haven’t got the players to play out from the back?
I mean, for the games where he is good, collins is one of our better players in possession of the ball. A few mishaps here and there, sure – but its not going to be perfect overnight.
Just because your anxiety can’t take it due to the woes of the past, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be happy our manager is actually trying to make us play football.
Podence, back healing balls when our entire attack has pushed up the pitch and losing possesion is a much bigger concern then our defence ACTUALLY trying to play football, and bring the opposition onto them.
I mean in our last 4 games there has been a minimum of 6 changes to the starting 11…… Finally, We have had possession of the ball for much longer since we have started playing FOOTBALL.
Ok so another reason?
I’m delighted our manager is trying new things and I’m happy with our progress. Just as I’m sure things will come good.
But, Collins is a liability, just as he was for Burnley. He doesn’t play out from the back, he plays sideways and backwards from the back, often playing his team mates into trouble.
I don’t see any evidence that we have the talent for playing out from the back yet but I hope to see some soon.
Our most threatening times come when we move the ball wide, at pace, where we do have talent, most notably Ait-Nouri on the left and Traore and Semedo on the right.
It’s all opinion and I’d be more comfortable with yours if you were not slagging off the only player scoring for us at the monment.
You are right. Its opinions.
Didn’t slag anyone off – I Can just see that podence is the BIGGEST liability in the team
There were a couple times when the Liverpool forwards got in and scored where they were flagged as offside.
If Collins or some other Wolves player had touched the ball, would the goal(s) have counted?
Regarding Adama, I think you have to take the whole picture into account.
If you have a player who crosses well but only gets into a position to cross twice a game, is that any better than Adama getting into a position to cross the ball 6 times a game but only making 2 good crosses?
The results are the same – two good crosses.
I think the coaches are trying to have him cross the ball lower and slower so as not to lose a ball to the streets.
The Liverpool goal was a bloody good shot but a mistake by Sa and a lot of keepers would’ve saved it, other than that they didn’t have a shot on target, nor really look like scoring another. Wolves had plenty of possession and had enough chances to get something out of the game. Every time Wolves were approaching the opponents final third the player was fouled. You can’t blame the manager for any of the above, nor for at this early stage changing the team selection and trying things out in the cup competitions. He obviously has to prioritise premiership survival and I think the selection and performance in the up coming league game against Liverpool will be quite different from last night. A good number of the players have upped their game since JL came in and I think he is going to get us out of trouble and look forward to next season. We can’t get Coady back (unless there’s a clause in his contract about Everton being relegated – not impossible), but Dawson would be a good acquisition, midfield is looking much better, then we possibly need that elusive striker to seal the deal. A point at Man City and revenge against the scousers and we’re good.
He won’t need a clause if they’re relegated, he’s on loan for the season with an option to buy but won’t sign for them if they drop into the Championship.
Well that was a big let down, to slow in build up ,to many backwards and sideways passes, nothing in front of goal ,without Neves long passes up field don’t think we would have got out of own half for much of the game, we need to keep Neves if we are going to escape relegation till the end of season ,
Don’t think Cunha is worth £40 million another who can’t take his chances in front of goal ,doesn’t seem to be any better than what we bought in the past , Nunes is another who hasn’t live up to expectations and both of them look more like £20 million players or less.
The cheat pool youngsters showed us how to play with one or two senior players, quick passing , hassling, never giving us time on the ball, and more fight to get
back the ball every time they lost it
J Lop still got a lot to do to get us safe with this squad let hope the new boys can make the difference
Annoyed we lost, particularly as the football community knows we ‘won’ the first game at Anfield. I was not surprised sadly as a 3rd round replay could not realistically be top of our agenda.
This season is unique and the extraordinary fixture pile up in the next two months is going to severely test every team in the Premiership. We now have 3 less games than Southampton who have a double-headed semi final in the Carabao and a 4th round FA Cup tie and this could prove detrimental to their fight for survival.
Pundits on Talksport have mentioned that West Ham and Liverpool look burnt out after playing so many games last season!
Who knows what will happen against Man City. Most will back us to lose (on a dodgy Ref decision) but we will be a bit fresher and have nothing to lose
I’m sorry but Raul should never pull on a Wolves short again….he has completely lost his Mo Jo he just looks disinterested and his movement was woefull Adama done some good work but when he crossed the ball there was no one in the box and that goes for our midfield no one was breaking there neck to get on the end of his crosses and Hodge in two small to dictate our midfield he was chasing shadows he is not Primer League standard.
Another cup rgame tamely surrendered I sometimes won Der why we bother entering in the first place.
Your take on Raul is sadly correct; I garnered a net -14 on the last blog for saying the same. He (understandably) hasn’t returned as the same player from the David Luiz incident and almost certainly never will be specially as he is now also over 2 years older.
He remains the elephant in the room which is a situation that must not be allowed to continue any longer. We cannot afford sentiment or passengers, much as we would probably like to. Time to be ruthless JL.
Danny Ings would walk into this side, proven track record, 6 goals in 18 games for Villa this season, a snip at £15m and most likely already living in the Midlands. Why aren’t we interested given out problems up front. Baffling. Going to West Ham by all accounts.
That would be when he isn’t injured then, Happy. So for a few games then. Didn’t we get an injury prone striker last summer? I wonder whatever happened to him?
True Pedant, we’ve still got him somewhere. I reckon Ings would’ve been a decent punt as a get out of jail card, even if he only played a few games we’d have got a better return than Costa. Not that it would’ve took much. Let’s hope our acquisitions come good soon.
And now for something completely different.
https://twitter.com/nocontextfooty/status/1615372738721349632?t=cCYVk4IIYjXwSN8pqXUMvw&s=19
May I be the first blogger to wish a very happy birthday to one of the nicest men you could wish to know.
Dougie Singh AKA West Parkian.
Have a great day mate, and enjoy the malt.
We were pretty poor but I honestly felt that we should have had a penalty when Ait’s shot hit Gomez on the arm prior to Liverpool breaking and scoring. The other end – would it have been given?
That is so clutching at straws, Steppenwolfe. His arm was right in front of his body.That didn’t even fall in the, “seen them given category “.