As much as we brickhoused our way to victory, we would have lost that game under Bruno Lage.
The lack of intensity both on and off the ball is still rearing its ugly head and it’s going to take Julen Lopetegui another window and a summer on the training ground to eradicate that weakness.
But we now have a manager who is aware of the failings and is already able to influence change with cute in-game management and a powerful demeanor.
After yet another 45 minutes in which Wolves failed to understand the need to ‘earn’ the right to get on the front foot and play slick football, I certainly wouldn’t have predicted his changes. But the sign of a good manager is that you have faith in their work even when they do get things occasionally wrong.
I wouldn’t say Wolves massively improved second half but the tweaks in personnel and system and a realisation that Spurs were there for the taking, made enough of a difference.
Raul may not be the player of old, but give him enough service and the ball in the right areas and he still has plenty to offer. The same goes for Moutinho – tight games are made for João to come on and dictate proceedings. As for Adama, he fully utilised his pace. Too often he doesn’t want to take his man on, but you couldn’t say that today. He struck fear into Spurs, and that confidence led to the instinctive winner.
The old guard are of course on their way out, but they made the difference today, and fair play to Lop for getting the best out of them.
Whisper it quietly, but four points from Newcastle and Leeds before the international break, and we’ll be well on the way to safety.
I understand those concerned with relegation – it can still be a pain seeing us struggle to create much – but our relegation rivals would snap our hands off with Lop’s record of 17 points from a possible 30.
A massive result. JL’s tactical switch proved to be a master stroke, so well done to him and the staff. We looked so much better when Jimenez and Traore came on. Injury or not there can be no doubt now that Costa should be no more than a bit part player for the rest of the season. Sa made some crucial saves and commanded his box when we came under pressure. Thought the defence was excellent. Jonny impressed after so long out and Semedo, whom I have been highly critical of had an excellent game. Nunes continues to steal a living from us in midfield, slow, lazy , disinterested and wholly ineffective. Being subbed after 65 minutes for a 37year old who did more in his 25 minutes tells you everything about how poor he was. Surely he can’t start the next game? Cunha’s movement and energy was good but showed again why he isn’t a striker with his very poor effort with a clear chance.
Both Guedes when he was here and Nunes have looked as if they’re working to rule Sutton.
Yep. I think the best thing that could happen for us and Nunes is that the rumoured Liverpool switch takes place and we get our 40m+ back to buy a decent striker in the summer
I wouldn’t disagree with either of you but I don’t think it means they are duff players.
Neither Vitinha nor Pedro Goncalves could cut it here but maybe they or their families just couldn’t settle into our way of life, culture, climate etc.
It hurts to see them succeeding elsewhere but the same could apply to any of us trying to ply our trade in another country.
Great in principle Sutton Coldfield, but hardly likely in practice.
Mr. Klopp might well have been besotted by Nunes back in the summer, but he`s no fool, and he`s now had plenty enough first hand evidence that the payer is definitely not the wonder boy everyone was suggesting. If any interest remains it`s likely to be at a far reduced value.
But for now he`s our player, and that in itself is a problem. On his form to date, Nunes is a liability. Far too may errors; no meaningful outcome: a general lackadaisical approach completely out of tune with the rigorous demands of the Premiership. He adds nothing to the team — but how can he be left out without further diminishing his value ?
Not for the first time Mr Shi faces a major issue of credibility — or lack thereof — as his own incompetence in the transfer market comes under the spotlight
Well . Absolutely awful first half. Loads better second. Nicked a win. Not too upset as loads of games we got nothing and should have got summat. It’s football . But any team getting 27 points from 26 games is not a complete and utter pile of shite in the prem.
It’s not pretty is it? But 17 precious points from the 11 PL games under Lopetegui so far are absolutely priceless and the ppg if continued should see us with a decent top half finish; I assume that’s something each and and every on of us could only have dreamed about back in early December.
It doesn’t matter how we acquire them points are all that matters, but clearly a big reshuffle of the pack has to be on the way in the close season.
Big well done to all concerned today and specially to JL for producing anther rabbit out of the hat. Just keep grinding out results for the moment.
Totally agree PJB. This stage of the season its just about wins and points. It wasn’t pretty. Who gives a shit.
Three points and a clean sheet ..
As Clive would say .. the record books now show …
Wolves 1-0 Spurs ..
Everything else is insignificant for today at least ..
Refreshing to see a game go our way in the end and It’s always a bonus to grab a win against a team close to the top (like the days of old under Nuno). Its also nice to not be talking/moaning about the ref for once. To top it all off, the vast majority of other results went our way today which was a decent tonic. Speaking of tonic, I’m going to be enjoying this one tonight with a glass! C’mon me babbies!
A great watch – I thought the team played excellently today. It really felt like the old Raul was back and his header from the foot of Adama sent me into raptures. Yes the first half didnt go our way, but that for me showed it really came down to a battle of two managers. Ours saw the problem and made changes that rectified the situation, theirs made a couple of very late substitutions, which were ineffective. Julen is the real deal.
I was very happy for Adama – his goal came from a really good attempt by Raul. I really hope he stays in the summer. What a difference it makes having a full bench to choose from and a manager which knows which card to play. Taking n0thing away from Sa’s amazing saves or Adama’s goal, our manager was the difference today.
A clean sheet and the lads will all be out to a well deserved dinner on JL!
Lemina was the unsung hero of today IMO! I took great satisfaction in his persistent harassment of Kane in the first half. Another tribute to J Lo’s superiority to Lage.
Also that was the first time I heard the “Harry Kane, is a wanker, is a wanker!” chant. Hilarious!
My view from zone 6
-DSW
That may well have been the most important 3 points of this season, if not the last few seasons.
Why ?
Because the progress and momentum that had been building under JL was in the balance. Lose today and we would have just 3 points above all 3 bottom teams. Having picked up 1 point from 9 and played 1 more game than everyone around us. We were being sucked back in to a relegation dog fight.
As it is, we are 6 points clear of the relegation zone. With a handy week break before Newcastle away, followed by Leeds at home, things are looking considerably brighter.
We were rock bottom at Christmas. March 4th and we are 13th.
Still a long way to go, however, the upturn in performances and results is dramatic. And the substitutions, sublime.
Julen Lopetegui. Take. A. Bow.
UTW
For the first time all season I cant wait to see the premier league table on teletext.
Up to the dizzy heights of 13th. I’m getting vertigo already. UTW 🙂
Can not rsay I enjoyed the game today espeacilly the first half were we looked like the away team.
Still as has been said already its points that matter and we just about managed to get all three today and also Harry f……in Kane didn’t score.
Looks like Costa will miss the rest of the season……one thing puzzles me …….why is Gomes not in the team he has proved he can score we were crying out for him today.
Agree – JL.. wrapped his arms round Gomes when he first arrived at Compton and thanked him for his loyalty towards Wolves – hope he hasn’t fallen out with him already – due to lack of playing time like Podence ?
Something going on !!
Please sort it and nip it at the bud..
Cheers
Chris
The lad is just a kid and learning the game. Also, he’s a defensive midfielder in the main and, currently, Neves and Lemina are ahead in the pecking order. His time will come.
Some really encouraging performances today from our players. The change to back three of Collins, Dawson and Killman worked and the defence looked far more secure than usual from that moment on. Moutinho played really well when he came on, dictated things effectively and when he plays that way is far superior to the ineffective and overrated Nunes. Plus I believe Ruben enjoys playing alongside him.Raul made a big difference and I reckon put in one of his best performances since that awful injury. Credit to him and to the South Bank for singing for him and encouraging him from the moment he came on. And Adama when he’s in the mood is simply a nightmare for the opposition. Lemina had an excellent first half . I reckon we could get something at Newcastle and if we follow that up with a victory over Leeds we can actually start looking up the table.
Well done Wolves , well done Raul … a lot have people have noticed that you’ve been looking good again lately but starved of service .especiallythe link up play with Cuhna at Fulham before he got injured
. Brilliant today … immense!
Welcome back
CMON YOU MIGHTY WOLVES
My main take from today`s game is the fact that if Raul Jiminez, if played with a partner up top, is still a formidable attacker. Today he was immense, both with and without the ball. He made the real difference.
There was evidence that his understanding with Cunha is beginning to develop nicely — Cunha should surely have done better when put clear by one superb incisive pass from Raul — and surely this is a partnership worthy of perseverance.
I remain convinced that if this is the case Raul will come good again to great effect. As Bill Shankly once remarked, ” form is temporary, but class is permanent ”
My projection is that once his first goal goes in and his confidence is further boosted, Raul will score regularly and will become the driving force behind our revival
Agree Raul was immense today, his link up with Cunha looks promising. Still work to do but a massive 3 points that.
Mike
Agree it’s great that Raul is getting back to something like, specially with Costa seemingly “done for”. And if he can strike up a partnership with Cunha it will make our lives a whole lot easier. However, think we mostly agree that in any summer shake up a proven striker has to be the absolute priority whatever the cost because Raul is no spring chicken and Kalajdzic’s injury record is dire. No more Mendes “special offers” please Jeff and Mr. Hobbs (whoever you are), we have had nearly 3 years now to address our lack of firepower. Just a thought, Leo Bonatini could hardly have been less effective than most we have tried.
PJB I agree with your comments about future needs, but I think it`s premature to dismiss Raoul as part of our future.
I believe the big issue here is that since his life threatening injury the role expected of Raoul has been totally unsuited to his talents. He was left in isolation up front throughout Bruno`s reign, seemingly being expected to create and to score, with almost zero support.
But when at his peak in the Nuno era, he thrived on working alongside a quality partner– for example Jota — with whom he established exciting and very productive relationships. Now at long last he is being deployed similarly with a strike partner — and we all saw the major difference initially at Fulham, but exceptionally so yesterday
My belief is that if we continue to play Raoul alongside Cunha, we will reap big dividends. As their understanding develops, both players will score regularly. There is huge potential here.
Finally I would point out that in today`s game, at thirty one Raoul is by no means old. It`s not out of the question that if his combination with Cunha is successful during the remainder of this season that is should continue to flourish next year. I for one look forward to seeing such a possibility mature into reality.
Spot-on Mike. I’ve said it before – I still think Raul has much to offer and we are really going to need him over the closing season. Great to see how well he brought others into play and feel an emerging partnership with Cunha could be an exciting one.
Blimey. Five wins and 2 draws under J Lo and no striker.
Just think how good it could be with a Bully, Richards or Jota and Jiminez together in their prime. All successful teams need balance and we still ain’t got it.
Poor from JL for the team selection or inspirational for seeing the error of his ways and changing it? Two ways of looking at it I guess.
The first half was turgid, from both teams, and mainly because the game wasn’t allowed to flow. I’d like to know how long the ball was actually in play. The front three didn’t work and JL obviously saw we were being overrun and needed an extra body at the back.
We grew as the game went on. Traore and Raul made the difference, Moutinho was rolling back the years, adding energy with his late cameo. From being meek in the first half, there looked to be only one winner late on, and thankfully we got the goal.
For all the buzz around Sarabia and Cunha, it was the trusty old guard of Raul, Traore and Moutinho gliding around the pitch like it was 2018 again. It’s perhaps a concern that the new arrivals have failed to have the desired impact. Goals will have to be addressed in the summer, and how long have we been saying that?
JL got it right in the end today, but he’s prone to a head scratching decision. The boss was lucky we were still in the game so he could rescue it. That said, Spurs were poor. It makes you wonder how they’re 4th.
I hope that Lemina took Harry Kane out of his pocket when he went off at half time. Julen obviously told him to nibble and niggle and stick to the ‘Uberwhingeranddiver’ like a limpet. And by golly he did!
And by golly didn’t Kane get wound up.
Lovely!
Plaudits also to Semedo, Raul, Johnny, Moutinho, Adama, Ruben… and, of course, JLo for making the changes that transformed us from no hopers to three pointers.
Sunha might not be the best finisher on the planet, but he and Jiminez seem to be developing an understanding which could well bear fruit in the future.
To sum up – not the greatest game in the World but, with Molineux rocking and Spurs leaving The Golden Palace with their tails between their legs, who cares?
2 hero’s today plus usual neves is Sa and traore who’s friendship with our manager suggests he’s back in a significant role ..and he scored for Christ sake – how about that…as for Sa he fantastically saved us 3 times …. conclusively we have a manager who can adapt in the second half and work out what’s going on…
He’s tactical.
We just need our new players to Be worth their money….
We are going to stay in the prem.IMO
Thanks God.
Just a word today for Jonny who had an excellent game today when he’s been so out of sorts all season. Despite being right footed, he’s so much better at left back
Agreed.
Jonny & Moutinho get a lot of unjustified pre-match stick on Twitter whenever selected.
I for one am happy to concede that JL may just know a little more about their capabilities than we do.
Great 3 points for Wolves (and me in prediction league). 🙂
Glad to see that JLo finally listened to me! I mentioned a couple of times that I would love to see us play 3 at the back with Collins, Dawson and Kilman, allowing the two wingbacks to venture forward. I believe that switch in the second half (plus the determination to play high up the pitch and pressure the opposition) was the turning point of the game. We looked more solid at the back which allowed that pressure up front. I believe that is what we should be doing all the time.
So glad to see Traore score, and especially the way he was mobbed by all his teamates at the end of the game. Surely this guy is worth a pay rise to entice him to stay. Raul was certainly an upgrade on Costa and I can see him starting at CF from now on.
Well worth staying up till 4 am to see the Mighty Wolves !!
What a win! Raul was excellent, Mourinho was sharp, and I was encouraged by the link up play between RJ9 and Cunha, even without the goal. Jonny brilliant
It bothers me that Podence didn’t make the squad. After being our best player in January he has yet to start a game and has looked poor and rushed when coming on. It would be nice to see him regain form… we need all the goal scorers we can get
Every loss feels like we’re gonna be dragged back into relegation and every win feels like we can make top half and kick on next season. We have the pieces. Over to you, JLo
Well I’m glad my prediction was wrong lads showed they had bottle and I still ain’t got over the UEFA cup final loss to them 50years ago
Bleeding he’ll, Positively n, you know how to make people feel old! 100% agreed.
hell!!
Yes. Chivers at the South Bank end wasn’t it?
Not much to add that hasn’t already been said, but that result more than levels out the disappointment of the Bournemouth defeat.
And hats off to Adama in particular for some of the best running down the clock in injury time I’ve witnessed. He nearly spoiled it with a pass to nobody that allowed Spurs to come forward for the final time but surviving one hoof into the area was preferable to the usual five or six last ditch clearances/blocks/saves it takes to get over the line.
Agreed Thomas, it’s all been said and for Adama it must feel like karma.
To hit a sublime winning goal against a Spurs team who several seasons ago serial fouled him to blunt his talents must be extra satisfying.
Harry Kane, England captain was amongst the offenders who received yellow cards. Disgraceful tactics.
All said above really but I’d say we played better than some said, but yes the first half was poor.
To me one piece of football said such a lot. Jiminez chased back in the second half and made an excellent sliding tackle in our penalty area preventing a cross. That gave me belief, I can imagine it did the same to our players on the pitch. As others have said he was immense today. He plays well with Traore, another partnership that worked was Neves and Moutinho. Neves, after the maestro came on, had three shots from range pulling out a good save from Forster, and 2 coming close.
Moutinho and Traore running the game down in the final stages showed there’s a lot of life in the old guard yet.
Lopetegui’s points return if played out over a “fantasy Lageless season” would have us in the top 6. He’s top class, he has confidence and authority, you feel it’s his way or no way. Love the way he went from a back 4 to a 5. Proper coach quality.
It was a nervy afternoon for us fans, but an immensely satisfying one. Still work to do but the glass is just a bit fuller now!
Jl’s game management is becoming the twelfth man.
The game was screaming for Adama’s pace and he Jl provided.
Some superb individual performances if not a great team performance.Raul and Moutinho are starting to look like the players from a couple of years ago even if they can only maintain it for a hour or so.
Survival isn’t secured yet but my confidence is increasing week by week.
A lot of work needs to be done in the summer though.
After yesterday’s games the PPG now showing the safety line is 34 points although it will go up to 35 if Everton beat Forest today. Last 4 weeks it has been 34 35 35 34/35 so remains steady. Wolves PPG under J Lo means we will be safe after the Villa game (3 games to go) if repeated over next 9 games and the PPG of the bottom 3 remains steady as now.
Reply to self. Everton draw means safety line is still 34 points. As the games tick by. The longer it stays around 34 35 36 the better. 3 more wins for our lads. Asap.
Tell you what, Jack Grealish might be a nailed-on cert for individual Gold, but Tottenham have to be in with an equally sure bet for the Synchronised Diving title!
I think Brentfords Ivan toney would be up for a podium place
How can Grealish be nailed on for gold when Sterling is still around?
Forgot to blog earlier. We have to stop trying to play out from the back so deep at times we were playing across the six yard box in the first half far to risky one stray pass and they were in.
Possession is good but you have to do something with the ball in the first half it was sideways and backwards not a single shot on goal.
And why don’t we ever play the ” Bully ” bull over the top for someone to run onto. Raul was asking for it over the top but we played safe and went sideways or back so he got frustrated and started coming into midfield to get the ball.
We seem to want to walk the ball in and never go direct……..we need to mix it up.
Something confusing me … Conor Coady
When Wolves were under the unfortunate stewardship of Bruno Lage … coady was dropped and for the sake of his ( international .? ) career he decided that he should leave , Sean Dyche has dropped coady for the last two games ( the same amount that he was excluded from Wolves… surely now he should be leaving Everton
He should come back and be our property to sell ?
If Everton go down Conor won’t want to go with them. My guess then is that Everton will exercise the option to buy him (£4.5mil) and then sell him for more money to another PL team if they can. If they stay up, who knows? I think his value has probably dropped anyway with his form and he might have to accept being a squad player next season in the PL. I don’t think Wolves would want him back.
But weren’t they supposed to be taking up the offer to buy in January?.. so if they haven’t paid for him and they suffer relegation ?
Conor was signed as a championship midfield player. And to be fair he looked a championship midfielder.. Nuno converted him to a sweeper in the middle of 2 defenders. And Conor was a massive part of promotion and cementing premier league status. He is not really a centre back and Dyche has realised this. I wish him all the best for the future.
But he’s got to be worth 30 mil in today’s market ?
I wish him all the best but I would like wolves to gather back that sort of money and the money we wasted on gedes and say – here’s 40 millions… have it Ruben
Have it Adama …. just give us 2 more years and if there’s no champions league … then there’s no hard feelings . Then we wish them all the best
30 mil?
We should all wish Conor Coady well in the future and if Dyche doesn’t want a bargain I would like to think that might be back here. Without doubt one of the most inspirational characters at Molineux in the post war era and Nuno’s moving him to the sweeper role was pure genius. He’s probably too strong a character for Dyche to handle.
Just a couple of weeks ago I watched J-Lop completely outsmart Nathan Jones and yesterday he played a blinder again, it’s as interesting watching him as some of the players. For once Danny Murphy called it correctly, a top manager who sees things and makes the necessary changes, clearly he has the total respect and trust from the players. After 20 minutes I messaged a family member “this is not looking good, it’s 0.0 but we’re not in the game, I’ll take a point now please.” Lemina did a great job on Kane, not only drawing blood but upsetting the old whinge bag, without Kane and Son, Spurs are nothing special but without Lemina I feared the worst.
So we revert to the Nuno system and suddenly realise it’s game on. Nelson and Jonny look so much better as wing backs, Moutinho gave a cameo masterclass in thinking clearly under pressure, Raul looked like Raul again, Adama made the right decisions. When the board went up for 4 minutes extra, the South Bank was jumping with glee as we ran down the clock near the corner flag. Brilliant 3 points, forward and upward momentum. Keep the faith and keep it going.
Post World Cup mini league:
(1) Wolves P11 17pts (0 gd)
(2) Forest P10 13pts (-5 gd)
(3) West Ham P10 9pts (-5 gd)
(4) Southampton P10 9pts (-7 gd)
(5) Everton P11 8pts (-13 gd)
(6) Leeds P11 7pts (-7 gd)
(7) Leicester P10 7pts (-7 gd)
(8) Bournemouth P10 5pts (-13 gd)
You should do the whole league Newt now we’ve started pulling clear, we must be around 6th place overall.
Maybe that performance at Liverpool wasn’t so bad after all.
Agree and let’s hope they do the same again next week at Bournemouth.
Ten Haag has sounded quite arrogant following Man U’s cup win, he might learn to keep his trap shut in future.
After the worrying first half, a tactical switch and sheer cussed bloody mindedness from the players dragged the game out of the fire, which seemed most unlikely at 45 minutes.
Ruben Neves ran his heart out for the cause. Such talent and character in one player is quite extraordinary.
Raul Jimenez was the best version of himself once more. What joy to see him rise from what many thought was the ashes of his glittering career. Fabulous performance throughout.
Only a player as athletic as Adama could have scored that goal. To jump off one leg high enough to avoid the shot hitting row Z, showed fantastic leg strength. He’s an all-round lovely fellah and a terrific weapon to have in your armoury. Pay him the money. He deserves it.
Congrats Adama Traore. Brilliant.
That knocked the Spursy chicken off its beachball.
No I havn’t forgotten about the Bournemouth result, but they made the Gooners sweat it, so have some form, as do all top flight teams on their day.
Let’s not get carried away, but I’m looking forward to MOTD2 tonight. SEVEN fookin’ Nil. They havn’t lost by that many since WWFC took them to town in 1931.
1 lv & COYW.
Yes. I saw that earlier about the last time they lost 7-0. It kind of brings a warm glow. 1931. Bloody hell !
Blimey, yom wearing well if you saw that!
Read it again
‘Wages fell by nearly £20m to £120m though the highest paid director, thought to be chairman Jeff Shi, received a pay rise of £212,000 to £612,000.’
How does the director of a football club in a relegation battle and having their worst season since promotion deserve a 300% payrise
For bringing in JLo as manager. Worth every penny just for that.
He also put Lage in charge who put us in this mess which JLo hasn’t got us out of it yet so i’ll reserve judgement till the end of the season, so far so good though. As for Shi, he’s done nothing to deserve trebling his salary, serial errors of judgement over the last 3 years, Scott Sellars took the fall but Shi was/is the main culprit. Even if we manage to stay up this season which looks increasingly likely he is still being rewarded for mediocrity.
5 + years in the prem – European football – Biggest spender at the club EVER, Showing ambition, Bringing in a world class manager?
1 dodgy start to a season and people seem to forget these things lol
I’m not saying he should be sacked Liverpool, just that he hasn’t done anything to warrant getting a £400,000 payrise. He aint goin anywhere, else he would have been sacked already. I wouldn’t shed any tears if he was though tbh, i think it was already established when we were at crisis point that he was an arrogant control freak. Sometimes it’s better the devil you know though.
£212,000 payrose that should be!
For once we agree.
Maths not your strong point at skool, Happy? 300%?? Apologies in advance .
Unbelievably Hindsight it was but i’ll concede that it is just shy of 3 times his previous salary rather than a 300% increase. It is in fact a 188.679245283% increase. Which is considerably less than 300 but he still hasn’t earned it in my opinion, 3 mediocre seasons shouldn’t get you a pay rise above the rate of inflation let alone that kinda money.
The answer’s actually 53%,Happy, but we are both agreed that it’s too much.
You are correct Hindsight, i completely misread the article. I read he had gone from 212,000 to 612,000. My bad.
Yuk. Thomas Frank face just appeared on telly. I just want to smash his face in. Standing there chewing gum in a nonchalant manner with his silly early 90’s rock band hair. Come on Fulham !!
Couldn’t agree more about Thomas Frank. Yuk. Looks a right gobby gobshite. But as I said the other week, Fulham have overachieved and are being found out. They’re not in the same class as Nuno’s great promoted Wolves side in those first two PL seasons. Same goes for Newcastle Arabia, getting found out, turning to sand. Thankfully, in Lopetegui, we have a coach fit to follow in Nuno’s footsteps.
I’d save the comments about Newcastle for a few more days as they were unlucky against Man City. Hopefully their form will continue to desert them camel Sunday and the geordies will get the hump.
We will be waving them dubai.