Part of me was encouraged by a display featuring the type of swift passing and movement that has largely been missing since the dying embers of Nuno’s glory days.
But I was also lamenting the lack of additions our current head coach desperately needs to build the team in his own image.
The foundations are there. All we’re asking for is three or four additions, but Fosun’s inability or unwillingness to sanction such moves is foolish. Whether it’s FFP or not wanting to invest anymore, it’s unacceptable.
As for the performance, I was pleasantly surprised.For too long Wolves have lacked a cutting edge in the final third. Chances may have been spurned against Luton, but at least they were created. That’s something to be celebrated, albeit against a limited Hatters side.
Wolves moved the ball at pace between the thirds and that intensity to is exactly what’s needed. We are too guilty of playing in front of the opposition and not getting in behind to create good openings.
On the individual performances, Silva and Doherty have played themselves into the starting XI.
Fabio has a confidence and presence that suggests he’s ready to lead the line. He looks reborn and a completely different physical specimen after his stints with Anderlecht and PSV. Lopetegui must play Cunha off Silva at Old Trafford.
At 31, Doc still has that drive to go forward and get into the box that we’ve sorely missed. How did we let him go in the first place and pay double for Semedo? It’s only a matter of time until the former forces his way in.
Honourable mentions must go to Ait-Nouri, Toti and Sasa. Like Doc, Ait-Nouri’s driving runs were causing havoc, Toti was always on hand to sniff out danger, and Sasa’s link-up play could prove more than useful.
I just find it incredibly disappointing that any positivity is negated by Fosun’s dreadful running of the club, which is selling Lopetegui, the players and the fans short.
This squad is too light and Fosun would be fools to think that they can get away without bringing in reinforcements before the window slams shuts, even if that does mean breaching FFP regulations.
I agree with pretty much everything you say Paddy .. Docherty over Semedo any day .. he knows how to get into the opposition box and behind tgd back line, even playing in a back 4, which Semedo never seems to manage.
And Silva, IMO, began to show why we shelled out £30 million… pacy, closed down defenders, ran at defenders and had a good first touch and lay off…. his only blemish was to not hit the target, blazing over when through in goal.
No out and out stars last night, but a solid performance nonetheless.
Luton’s chances in the PL….judging by last night they’re in for a very long uphill season as there are many teams with a scoring cutting edge far far sharper than ours …
As for our chances.. we still desperately need a couple of players at least and you rightly say Paddy how Fosun are letting both Lopetegui and 30k plus fans down badly…. What’s holding you back Jeff .. don’t just accept the mess you’ve got us into regarding FFP … and do nothing positive.
If wolves go down fosun will lose a lot more so invest , that team is 3-4 good players short , not good enough to sustain a season fosun need to dig and break some rules other clubs do
They know that so forked out big in January. Having not learned their lesson expect the same again in Jan ’24!
Why do people call Doherty, “Doc”, should they not call him “Doh”!!!….just a jest, don’t take it too seriously.
In any business, your job depends on your performance! There should be plans, targets, expectations etc., etc.
The rules for Financial Fair Play are clear and well laid out for all to see. If you run into problems, then you have failed in your planning and execution of your duties. This is even more so in the case of Jeff Shi who has removed more and more of his executive team and has attempted to singlehandedly run this institution called Wolverhampton Wanders. He has failed!
While I get it that the transfer season is not yet over, it is clear for all to see that it is extremely unlikely for major additions to join the squad. We are now in a precarious position in the eyes of many and to be in a relegation battle — again, but this time without much room for improvement. The coach is as good as we will get and the squad is thredbare!
As with the start of an new season, there is always hope, and that your gut feeling will be wrong, but there is a certain uncomfortable cloud that seems to be hanging over us.
The Luton game indicates that we won’t be the only club battling at the bottom, but it will be squeaky bum season!
We live in hope
Agree to some extent but last summer’s big spending failed big time and it almost certainly wasn’t in their plans to spend big again in January (but had to in order to avoid relegation).Therein lies a major part of the problem.
Agree with you Paddy .The running of the club has been a disgrace and still having Shi in charge is a joke .No other private organisation which has performed so terribly would still have the same CEO .
It will be another tough season and likely few goals again sadly .
Nick you are spot on. Irrespective of investment now or not, our club will not be able to move forward while Shi remains at the helm. The man has proven to be commercially grossly incompetent for several years. The fact that is seems he is unable to communicate truthfully with his main executive [ Lop ] is damning
No organization can prosper in the absence of quality leadership. Shi needs to go. Now.
Nick
I`ve just read Shi`s latest statement. And what a load of B.S it is !!
The statement, unexpectedly very belatedly produced, contradicts all the information forthcoming from the club since the end of last season. Now we know that, as suspected, there never was any Plan A or Plan B. Rather there has only been an urgency to sell almost any player for whom a decent offer is forthcoming. And its not necessarily over. Podens, Johnny, Ait Silva or even Kilmer could go if the right offer comes in.
On the other side of the coin we now have it confirmed that there never was any intent to sign anyone for whom a payment would be due. Period. Thus, our signings relate to a lower division keeper who last season was loaned out unable to command a first team selection, plus the free transfer of Doc. We will now go into the new season with just the players we have left after Shi`s major cull !!
All teams are faced with FFP issues. Most mange their way around them. That we are not doing so is matter of our choice. The fact is that Fosun are unwilling to invest in their asset. But even now Shi tries to doctor the truth seeming to think we are all idiots .
This latest farcical episode only endorses my opinion that Shi is totally unfit to command his position. If I was Lop, I`d leave immediately to work for a club with serious ambition led by a quality executive able and willing to provide him with solid support.
Mike
Just read the same as you on the Official Website.
What a load of utter tosh.
Never seen such a transparent attempt to say – ABSOLUTEY NOTHING!
No explanations to attempt to explain the disastrous collapse over the last 3 years. Why were we affected more by the pandemic than other clubs? Why do we in particular seem so vulnerable to FFP?
No attempt to lay out any realistic long, medium or even short term strategy other than the failed “ones for the future” nonsense. Despite assurances to the contrary I believe Fosun want out asap without losing PL status which would cost them dear. Hence this pretence of long term stability whilst actually practising short termism.
Maybe their incestuous relationships involving WWFC, Portugal’s biggest bank, Mendes/ Gestitute and heaven knows who else is not as profitable as they hoped or maybe it’s just all not as politically expedient in the eyes of the PRC as it was back in 2016. Who knows but the non statement of intent published by Shi today says the party was over not that long after it started. Remember the the stated objective of regular participation in the Champions League within 10 years in a shiny new 50.000 plus capacity stadium. Never got close.
Maybe we’re being a bit hard on Jeff Shi; he’s very adept at preaching the official corporate line and I’m sure does what he’s told and says what he’s told too. He is, however, handsomely paid to do so.
We’ve been had folks – you, me Laurie Darymple, Nuno, Ruben Neves et al and now Julen Lopetugui.
Not exactly what I gathered from Jeff Shi’s letter, PJB / Mike. Granted a wide strip of corporate flannel, but also a well stated and optimistic view of the present and future trials facing the club ‘moving forward’ as Conor used to say.
He sounds happy to have J-Lo still on board, which is crucial at the moment, and has identified this as a reset, comparable to a first season in the PL.
He must be getting some stick to prompt a ‘Letter to the Fans’, but I feel better for having read it. 1 lv
Rasta wolf If what you conclude is correct why have we been having details of Plans A and B all summer from both Hobbs and Lop ? Are both of these guys lying ?
I think that Shi had continued to mislead his top staff until he has arrived at the stage when he has no alternative but to to Fess up.
Mike,
Plan A, keep J-Lo at the club.
Done. So far so good.
Plan B, keep FFP onside. Read the blog. I don’t think there’s any need for deception. We know the score. And I’m not going to waste any more digital ink on repeating what we know. 1 lv
PJB No, we`re not being hard on Shi. The man may well be a puppet of Fosun, but as chairman of this football club he has a duty to keep the fan base– who actually are the heart and soul of the club — properly informed.
Good or bad.
Most of us are sufficiently grown up to accept that continuous prosperity is highly unlikely, but we will respond positively to news of temporary issues if we are given an honest appraisal.
But Shi seems incapable of such an honest approach. He either remains silent or, when finally forced, comes out with a load of drivel such as that in his latest update. This has been his stance since day one
Nick made a very good observation earlier when he commented that times are no longer ideal for Chinese corporations to be investing in English football clubs. I doubt that, even is they so wished , Fosun would in todays world be able to proceed in the manner described back at the beginning. But the truth is that there is every evidence that they have no such wish, and would like to exit at the earliest possible time.
Our club has a substantial value. A rich heritage, as well as recent success. Our best solution would surely be that Fosun sell the club. I suspect that many a very rich American enthusiast would be highly interested is such an opportunity. Surely if the mighty Tom Brady can be persuaded to become involved in Birmingham City, [ as reported today ] there must be real potential for us to secure a very desirable sale outcome , and put Fosun firmly in the rear view mirror
Thanks for the post Paddy. I agree with all of your points about the performance and the individuals highlighted.
Some sporadic thoughts on the game…
– In the last few years we’ve stocked up on wingers and had nobody in the box to convert. We finally have a giant tree standing on the penalty spot and play with no width. Typical Wolves.
– I personally think Kalajdzic is more likely to be the answer to our problems than Fabio. He was very good in the first half holding the ball, dragging defenders around and bringing others into play. Tired in the second half and missed a sitter, but I feel with time he could become instrumental.
– But Fabio was very good. Had everything but the finish. Pressing from the front is now a clear tactic and he did it superbly. In fact, it was probably the most energetic performance I’ve seen from any Wolves player for a very long time. He also looked powerful running with the ball. A few passes went astray and he should have hit the target with one clear opening but overall I was impressed.
– I can see why Gomes hasn’t been used so much. He looked a bit sluggish and off the pace. Still got through some good work though and a lovely pass through that Sarabia should have scored from in the second half.
– Boubacar looked more at home and I think we have to consider using him at Old Trafford. We need his legs and presence on that big pitch. With him and Sasa in the team, we’re a much more physically imposing side and I have some confidence we can both defend and score from set pieces.
– I think Doc is ahead of Semedo but that’s an interesting selection dilemma for Lopetegui. I wonder if we could see them both in the side with one switch to the left? Both Ait-Nouri and Bueno have shown promising glimpses but also looked weak/vulnerable in equal measure. I’m not sure what I’d do there.
– I disagree with the squad is short in terms of numbers (other than at centre back probably). Nuno did well with a smaller group of players. However, I think we lack certain qualities within the group and that needs to be addressed. I’m not as bothered about Scott as others, as I’d really like to see some experience come in to replace the know-how that’s gone out over the summer.
Spot on assessment Paddy. In fairness to fosun, they have invested in the past but the money has been squandered via Shi’s incompetence and the unhealthy control mendes has exerted. Best thing for us now is for Fosun to find buyers. Chinese ownership of European clubs is only going one way and that ain’t upwards.
Spot on Sutton
Invested poorly for 3 years and having had their fingers burnt now not investing at all Shi is clueless and WWFC is being run into the ground again. Relegation remains a real possibility – how much is that going to cost Fosun?
Nuno’s dream has turned into another Wolves nightmare and wouldn’t be at all surprised to see last season’s saviour JL call it a day sooner rather than later.
Regardless off Fosun’s position on recruitment, my hope is that with a smaller, tighter squad (à la Nuno) and with less of the big name players, we may end up with a more unified spirit and become a little more. “ Brightonesque”.
Their current business model is much more attainable than that of City or Chelsea, after all.
Not sure if people panicking have been paying attention to what Wolves have told us their recruitment strategy is.
Interesting question John. At end of last season plan b was described as “young and hungry in the 5-15m range” and so far we have signed a 31 year old on a free. I think you can draw your own conclusions from that …….although we have been linked today with an Italian striker, buggerdifano.
John
I think with just over a week to go till kick off and nearly £100 million received in transfers out and just two free transfers in (one a third choice GK /GK coach replacement) there is every reason to panic. Think our coach may be panicking with us. And please enlighten us as to exactly what we have been told.
Teams like luton lol
I’m so pleased we’ve got Matt Doherty back, especially on a free.
In fact I never wanted him to go in the first place and was shocked when he turned up for Spurs against us.
Not seen any games yet, so I’m sitting with my fingers crossed that Fabio has grown up some more since playing in Europe and Sasa Kalajdzic will be on tap this season. God knows, but we’ll need them to score a few!
Better than the Celtic performance but…..and it’s a big but we are relying it seems on two players to score the goals, one who has come back from a serious injury and won’t be up to speed fully until around October and two a player who has been on loan for the past 18 months who to be fair played well but again won’t but up to speed until October as well
Silva does look physically a lot better and his link up play has improved but he still cannot get on the score sheet.
I still think we need a striker especially if one of those two picks up an injury and the jury is still out whether one they can play together and two whether they can come up with the goods.
It was ironic to see Giles putting in decent crosses last night and we couldn’t for Sasha he would have thrived off that sort of service.
Reports are saying Alex Scott is on the bring of signing for Bournemouth if that’s true what a damming slur on our owner and board.
Shame on them…..we cannot with all due respect to Bournemouth compete with them after five seasons in the Premier League.
And yes…..I’m going to say it….. FOSUN OUT
Didn’t get to see the game as I couldn’t find any streams. From what I gather though Silva and Kaladjzic had good games. No goals but if we can keep Silva and Kaladjzic stays fit I think theres reasons to be optimistic they will improve with games, akin to having two new strikers and along with a resurgent Doc I don’t really see the need for all the doom and gloom, if we blew the budget to save our neck then so be it. Saying that lessons need to be learnt from buying.the wrong players at a premium, I suppose not buying any at all goes someway to solving that :). I’m joking but in all honesty I don’t blame Fosun being cautious given last Summer’s wasteful splurge, I definitely wouldn’t be handing the cheque book over to that man again any time soon.
Personally I dont think Scott is the answer to our problems, we have equal potential within our ranks and he would be an expensive gamble. I’d rather we keep what we have than sell on to buy Scott. His bottom line stats are unimpressive, Giles’s were actually better and we’ve just given him away for 5m. Saying that I don’t think Che Adams is either, he had one good season out of 4 at Southampton so I don’t see what he can bring to Wolves, we may as well hang on to Podence for that kind of return.
Hard to draw any conclusions from the game as we don’t really know what Luton are yet.
The issue isn’t Scott per say Happy, the point I’m making is we cannot compete with Bournemouth….. I mean I don’t expect us to compete with City, Chelsea, Utd, Liverpool and Spurs but Bournmouth.
It’s a sad state of affairs we are in and it’s all down to mismanagement and one mans ego.
But last season only 2 clubs spent more than Wolves on players. Chelsea. Man Utd. You want Fosun Out. Replaced by who exactly ? Someone else who will also have to play by the FFP rules.
Cheese I’m not disputing the money spent……which in fact Jeff has just said in his statement was this summers budget which he blew in January £42 million on the Brazilian lad who is not a number 9 who’ goal record was average……..that’s the problem Jeff blowing millions of pounds on average players……Gedes £26 million he’s not even with us anymore he didn’t want to come in the first place……..that’s the issue ” Jeff ” .
We don’t have a pot to piss in this summer because he ……yes he because he has the last word on everything blew it in January the proceeded not to tell anyone including his director of football who was putting in bids for players ie Scott and then Jeff pulled the plug and finally came clean.
It’s a blooding joke……..didn’t say anything though until now because of season ticket sales and shirt sales oh and not to mention ticket prices going up.
I’m not disputing Shi’s shortcomings over the last 3 seasons CH but Fosun are sensible to step back from a flawed recruitment strategy, it hasn’t worked apart from the first two seasons after we came up but on the other foot we are still up. Not paying more money for a player than they’re worth is just sound business sense, as would any purchase in any walk of life. Scott’s not worth 25m and the club have to stop paying over the odds on unproven payers cos that’s what got us in this financial situation. I don’t like it but there’s a lot worse ownerships going on. Supporters need to be careful what they wish for.
WolvesTV were showing it HC. Another £6 in the transfer kitty if you’d only known.
Ah well. Maybe for Rennes.
That £6 could’ve got the Scott deal over the line WS
So far as I know no club has yet to be sanctioned by the PL for breach of their Financial Fair Play Rules
Any reader with time to spare and waste should try reading Appendix 1 of the Premier League’s Rules ( which in their entirety run to over 700 pages)
/PL_Handbook_2023-24_DIGITAL_25.07.23.pdf
The Appendix is clear as mud on what sanctions are likely/possible other than ‘points deduction’.
The magic number is losses sustained over 3 years in excess of 105 million pounds
So what are the considerations for Fosun? Say we lose 120 million….a fine of a million or two? Say we lose 200 million….. bigger fine and 6-10 points deducted…which could trigger relegation?
Who knows??
I we’re in the shit again by Christmas then I, for one, would say sod it…take the risk and spend like we did this year and try to be 10+ points above relegation zone by end of season
Maybe we will be mid table in December and with a clear bottom 3…in which case better to have kept our noses clean.
I’m guessing that’s the dilemma that JLo and Fosun are facing right now and for sure they aren’t going to explain their calculations.
Interesting times…..
proper link for masochists
https://resources.premierleague.com/premierleague/document/2023/07/25/21b6b92f-35ff-4cb6-bd9e-53edb700ace2/PL_Handbook_2023-24_DIGITAL_25.07.23.pdf
I see Jeff has just issued a statement on the state of play at the Golden palace.
Worth a read.
For what it’s worth it’s got some credence, but I think our biggest problem is Jeff he hasn’t got what it takes to run a Football club than I have.
Hopefully we will remain in the Premiership again this term…?
Read ‘sports quotes and facts ffp 2023/2024’ . This tells you what FFP is and there is a table showing 9 clubs over the permitted £105 m loss in the 3 year cycle. Wolves is one of them but doesn’t include last seasons spending hence why we are sailing close to the wind. There is also a list of possible penalties. So cut the conspiracy theories. Read the facts.
So instead of playing keepy uppy and keep away, maybe they should come up with a practice drill where they get the ball passed around and then when someone calls out something, the next player who touches the ball has to hit it hard at the net.
They have to practice getting a solid shot away while they are off balance and maybe on their back foot with someone standing between them and the net.
Keep uppy is a waste of time for show offs.
They had a few situations where they should have tried to just put it hard towards the net and maybe get a fortunate deflection or a corner.
While I’m here.
Apparently Nunes is very well respected by the various managers throughout Europe.
So are a couple others who have been regulars for top teams.
It is up to the coach of the team to figure out how to set the style of play to maximize their talents instead of trying to force them to play his style.
Why were other Premier league teams after him if he is so average?
John I absolutely agree with you. Before he came to us his success was based on a driving central mid field role, but here he`s been stuck out wide, a position in which he`s clearly unsuited. Yet another square peg in a round hole. Why pay massive money for a proven performer in one position and then try to re-educate him ?
Just read Jeff Shi’s statement………shocking…….the bloke is a lair…….and a charlaton.
How do you know ?
Greetings Nest of Vipers,
Not you Thomas / CoD / Happy etc. As Jeff says. Welcome to your unprecedented 6th consecutive season in Top Flight PL footy. We’ve got to thank somebody for bringing J-Lo in and getting him to stick. Who do you suggest, Charley McFarley?
Not that much has been said concerning this.
A seat at the top table is not to be sniffed at. It’s up to J-Lo to build a team to keep us there, however, whoever, that’s what you pay top class international managers to do. No offence to Bruno intended.
Granted he may not have all the tools he wants at kick off, but he must see some prospect in the new season, and the owners, to still be here.
The Saudi oil dollars are definitely having an impact on leagues the world over, and all will have to adapt accordingly. Its going to be bumpy, but at least we have a chance.
1 lv & COYW.
Firstly, Jeff Shi has at least communicated with us the fans, so that is a step forward. He has explained his view of why we are where we are and superficially it does not seem unreasonable. However, the striking things for me are :
1. The open letter is a one way form of communication, carefully scripted and allowing him to control the message exactly. Why not undertake an open interview where he is questioned and placed under proper scrutiny ? I”ll leave you work that one out.
2. One of his lines of argument is around the disruptor of covid. Sorry Jeff but this impacted every PL club and mitigation was put in place around FFP for this. To that end, it would appear that we have handled it comparatively poorly to other clubs under your stewardship.
3. There is no reference whatsoever to the overwhelming reason for our predicament i.e. the spending of literally hundreds of millions on a poorly constructed, ill advised and some would say highly dubious recruitment strategy orchestrated almost exclusively by Mendes.
Shi states that we don’t lose only learn. Take a look at yourself in the mirror, this club has regressed consistently under your stewardship over the last 4 years and it is clear that you are not learning either through inability or lack of inclination to do so. If fosun are committed to wolves as a long term project, then so be it but for gods sake let us have someone running the ship who is competent to do so and understands football and let’s completely cut out the tumour of mendes that is a malevolent force within.
I don’t know much about English newspapers, which ones have good reputations and which are tabloids, but The Mirror has reported that JL is reconsidering his position as manager. Not sure if they are reporting old news or this is based on some inside rumors, but it is concerning. It would be a disaster if he left.
I read somewhere that JL is not giving anymore interviews before the remaining friendly games.
Hope The Mirror’s report does not turn out to be true. We shall see!
I think that any player reading the news reports coming out of molineux would be ill advised to think about moving to us. The players inside the club will be affected by it also regarding how it could all turn out.
I really don’t think lop’ will continue as manager in the present circumstances, whether lied to by Shi or not. We are in a bit of a mess and this will prevent anyone joining anytime soon. This ,it seems all started with the refusal to support Nuno …
I don’t think we are nailed on relegation fodder just yet but a few injuries will pile the pressure on.
Well, since all of those players who left were released on the advice of Julen, and 6 players brought in on the advice of Julen, I would hope he mans up, buttons up and gets on with the job.
It’s getting very annoying and I’m starting to not be as enamoured of him as I once was.
If the strikers can start shooting, and we know Sasa can, at the very least, we will score more goals than last year, based on the chances created against Luton (yes I know they aren’t the best in the league).
I saw great movement, great interplay and just a need to get the ball towards the net and hope for a seam for it to go through or a deflection.
Hey, they all count. And they ain’t going in if you pass it sideways instead of shoot in the direction of the net.
I’m sick to death of seeing this non word ‘gonna’ everywhere. In my day it was another word for the pox!
Gonna stop writin gonna………very soon
Wow, that read was truly depressing. Everyone’s views are worthwhile and appreciated.
We all seem to have the same worries regarding our need to formulate a proper squad for the upcoming trial, which we know, is never ever straightforward or comfortable for any team with any sign of weakness or lack.
However, as Rasta says, we need to remember where we have come from and pay some due respect to Fosun in regard to that. This is not an easy option at present where good arguments can be made for a different approach to the business model to that being followed by Jeff Shi. I have no idea who is right or wrong, but share the uneasy feelings of many regarding the lack of depth in the squad, the position of Julen and the undoubtedly necessary requirements for the two key positions in central defence and striking ( We are an injury away from a terrible situation for the club in my view).
However, I shall try to be supportive and make no real judgement until ten matches have passed. We may have purchased, at least some recruits by then; not holding my breath but…. Or maybe we will have gelled and suffered no great player injuries; again… Whatever, I will be there appreciating the level we are playing at and hoping, just hoping.
Will be up on wet Saturday wondering how Rennes will play after their annihilation of Forest and am excited at the prospect.
Here’s hoping you all have a good season and our worries are soon overcome; good luck, folks.
Spot on Debenham. The voice of common sense.
How many strikers do most clubs carry going into the season?
Julen said he wanted two players for each position. Is striker an exception?
Fabio and Sasa.
Cheers Debs, I was reaching for the Valium, until Thomas brought it round. Top man. 1 lv.
Jam tomorrow.
Think I’ll put my head in the sand till may
Hope Lopetegui stays as if he goes, so will the rest Of his team. Then we really are in trouble. We look fitter than we have been since Nuno left. The players look up for it and he deserves all the credit for keeping us up last season. He may not get it right for every game but he did for the home games last season. We had shots on target against Luton and would have had more if they would only shoot when they have the opportunity. Given the chances created, I am sure the goals will come.
Not sure why Podence is in the squad for saturday if he is going.
Thanks to Fosun for all they’ve achieved. Sticky patch ahead but we’ll come through. Wolves ay we. Out of darkness cometh light.
Wow.
Beat the team that thrashed Notts Forest.
Two different teams, two halves both excellent.
All we need is to remain injury free and keep JL.
They say in the premier league we will have a lot of pressure to absorb.
Perhaps we should recruit players called BLOT,
Rennes seemed to have a lot of them
Not football related.. well sort of ..
I raise my cap to WOLFSTROKER ..
A 400 mile + round trip for Steve and his dedication to see his Wolves today .. … and it was a friendly…
Well done matey .. have a safe journey back to Plymouth mars . Great to be in your company..
You won’t be back home yet but best wishes from the Twixes.. xx
Just seen this M’lud.
Thanks for that but a small correction is required. I travel mostly to catch up with you and your good lady and whoever else is partaking of Dougie and Barbara’s superb hospitality. The footie is just an aside. ?
!