Life has taught me not to cast judgment prematurely.
But I jumped the gun when we appointed Gary O’Neil and am happy to find myself being proven wrong. Impressive cameos on Monday Night Football aside – Wolves are playing well.
Moreover, our head coach seems to have an innate understanding of what our fanbase want to see from the team and his players are delivering.
Unlike recent incarnations, this Wolves side are hard-working, well-organised and dangerous going forward.
The result is a rocking Molineux, with tonight’s crowd being one of the most raucous in recent memory.
With so much to admire it’s a shame that Anthony Taylor did his utmost to swing the result in Newcastle’s favour.
If it was a blundering Sa who gifted the Toon Army their opener, the second had Taylor’s fingerprints all over it, as the man in black elected to award the away side a ludicrous penalty.
Hwang made contact with the man, but that’s only because he came across him after he had kicked the ball. Common sense and a monitor check should have spotted this, but those things seem beyond the Premier League.
It’s just another in a long line of injustices that have gone against us since we returned to the top flight.
Thankfully, the energetic and purposeful outfit O’Neil is moulding managed to find a way back into the game courtesy of some stellar work from Toti and a sumptuous finish from man-of-the-moment Hwang.
Incompetent officiating aside, the only downside to the game was the injury to Neto, which we can only hope is not serious. A lengthy lay-off would be a cruel twist of fate for a player at the top of his game.
But when you’re five unbeaten it’s best to focus on the positives, and right now there is plenty to celebrate.
Long may it continue.
Up the wolves
Ludicrous refereeing aside I thought a draw was probably about the right outcome.I would have taken a draw before kick off so was pleased at the end. We are no pushovers and gave as good as we got. We will give those fancy dans from North London a good kicking next up at the Golden Temple.
Coming round to Gary. Starting to look tactically astute.
He also seems to have the dressing room and I actually like his approach to substitutions – even Nuno was far too conservative in that respect. Can’t get it right every time but at least he gives it a go.
A draw was probably the right result but yet again no thanks to Anthony Taylor for that. Probably more a tale of 2 goalkeepers, both had shockers. But overall a hard fought and well earned point.
It really is time to get VAR right or scrap it because dodgy procedures make much room for corrupt practices. We didn’t fail to win just because of poor decisions onfield and in the bunker but like many not deemed to be part of the elite we are far too often on the wrong end of controversial decisions. Institutional incompetence or just plain corruption?
Great game today, well played both team teams. Football as it should be.
I juggled thoughts between 2-1 or 2-2 in my pre match prediction and went for the win for the Prediction League. Apart from a couple of bets on both varieties of win, I also had a couple of bets on both varieties of draw.
I kept saying how good a tactician is young Gary and I never once doubted him. I said this match was as much a battle between two young coaches as it was between two sets of players. And Gary came out on top. We scored two goals, one blindingly good, and what did they do? A lucky goal from Sa’s mistake, and a farce of a penalty. Plus Wilson was MOTM on Sky. I’m puking. Afterwards there was general acceptance that the penalty was not a penalty. Eddie Howe even ducked his response and didn’t try to justify it.
In the clash of the coaches, Gary came out top. It was a moral victory and by rights we should be in tenth place in the table. Where are you moaners now?
We should actually be sixth, Var also took a point at Man U and two at Luton
Great match, never a penalty, take the positives, hope neto injury is not too serious, we have our new bull, God bless u all bloggers, wolves aie we!
Don’t really blame Sa for the first goal ,coming over the top of a player is always going to be difficult plus the conditions, think Howard Webb will be going to the stationary cupboard to get us another apology certificate and why was the Newcastle man not sent off as he was last man.
Sasa pulled down and the commentary was no penalty he grabbed and let go,,down the other end Cuhna puts one arm round Wilson (I think ) the commentary think the ref should consult var go figure,totally pisses me off I’m going back to the aussie league to calm down
Unbelievable last on motd again. Why the f**k is Arsenal in a titanic struggle v Sheff u on first. Don’t get it.
COD. If we had a tick box would have given you a thumbs up. Where has it gone ed?
Cheers PJB. Appreciated mate.
Agree Cheesey about MOTD ..
Switched on .. and watched game 1 .. then game 2 .. surely we’d be next on .. oooh no .. blockbuster Bournemouth v Burnley came on 3rd…. and just to stick two fingers up at me .. we had a resume of todays games and a statement that you can now watch everything on iPlayer…
What a biased bunch of wasters they are .. at least both pundits agreed that it was never never a penalty .. the only two that did surprisingly were Antony Taylor and the blind idiot on VAR … disgraceful..
Agreed
The most exciting game of the day was Wolves v Newcastle and we are last on behind Bournemouth v Burnley and Arsensl v Sheff U. Disgrace.
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Wolves thwarted by a dodgy VAR decision against a top 6 side. Neto out injured after being on fire. It’s business as usual again.
That said, this was another mammoth performance that looked beyond this side for a lot of last season. Credit to Gary (and Lop before him) for putting fight back into a side that looked like highly paid mercenaries just 12 months ago.
Even Alan Shearer thought it wasn’t a penalty.
How can so many VAR operatives be so bloody incompetent?
Or corrupt?
I expect Howard Webb has told his secretary to run off a few dozen more copies of the apology note starting “Dear Wolves, so sorry about……”.
I expect he’ll be needing them over the course of the season.
But a great performance all the same, every one deserves praise for the skill and effort on show. We deserved to win but gained a point we would have been happy with a couple of weeks ago. Just shows how far we’ve come under GON.
So sad about Pedro. No sooner has he publicly stated he’s staying at Wolves and he picks up another possible long term injury.
But I’m feeling very positive about the direction we are heading.
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Great effort! My first correct match prediction. Prayers for Pedro’s hammy.
I pray England plays a World Cup game in Atlanta I’m taking you all to the gentleman’s clubs.
UTW
-DSW
Even the women amongst us?! May want to rethink that (tongue in cheek?) remark.
For a very long time we all thought that Hwang was a waste of space. But how wrong we were.
Today the way in which he made the space and then so cooly finished was top class. The guy has turned into a genuine first class goal poacher the likes of which we`ve not had for many a year.
The fact is that we now look to have a very dangerous attack, — hopefully Neto`s injury will prove to be not too serious — while the adoption of the three at the back formation has transformed our defensive capability,
But probably most important of all, we`re now playing as a real team. Fully committed, and working really had for each other. Well done to GON for creating such a united team spirit.
“We all”?
I don’t think we will get the (deserved) apology letter.
They will hide behind “it probably wasn’t deserving of a penalty – but VAR did the right thing in overturning it because it wasn’t clearly wrong”.
Bloody ridiculous.
Fantastic performance from the whole team and it was a great match.
I think we were last on MOTD because we are always last, alphabetically…
I guess 2-2 is a fair result considering how good the Toon are, but at least we had to ‘work’ for both of our goals and ‘work’ we did!
Toon were lucky by comparison and, as always, VAR worked against us.
Not a penalty in my opinion, as I thought Hwang pulled himself back, so at least he was trying to avoid a clash.
Gutted for Pedro and wish him well for a speedy recovery.
I would love to know what Sa was
doing and what that idiot ref Taylor was thinking once again we get robbed by incompetence from the ref and var.Just hope Neto is not out for to long everybody now will have to up their game in his absence .
Which of our November games will be chosen for VAR corruption?
Lemina is world class for me. So importert.
*importaint
Very good but come off it, Dag
Wolves are once again a joy to watch.
There’s definitely an unconscious bias towards some teams.
The only people who would have thought that was a penalty were sitting in the dry at Stockley park.
Not even Toon superfan Shearer thought it a foul.
On a far more important point, what’s happened to the Balti pies? From being a culinary delight they’re now only fit for the cardboard recycling bin!
Have you won the lottery Prawny , dearest pie’s in the northern hemisphere, only at the Golden Palace.
I save up my pennies during the summer to allow for match day treats. No longer though. I’m moving on to the more tasty recycled cardboard.
Try the Chilli ones, there really shite.
Thing is pre- VAR, AT doesn’t give that because he’s not sure. But post VAR he’s minded to call it anyway (and especially if it’s for a big club who they don’t want to upset!) because he knows that the VAR will look at it and tell him there was no contact or it was outside the box etc. Real problem is the VAR people are not allowed to make proper football decisions and told only exceptionally to refer or turn over the on the field decision. This leads to the VAR taking the easy line ie ‘there was not enough evidence to change the onfield decision’. So once again the fans end up asking, ‘What is the point of VAR?’
VAR seemingly protects the referees more than the players/teams, Timberwolf.
The referees don’t want to be seen to make bad decisions I guess, so VAR, invariably, takes the referee’s side, in spite of what is seen by everyone to be blatantly obvious, or not in this case.
Can’t fault the belief, desire and work rate O’Neil has instilled in the team and we’re far more of a danger going forwards. The two biggest threats to us getting something out of the game were our own players and Taylor’s decision making. If he’s one of the best we have then the PL really has got problems in that area. VAR should be there for one reason only – to ensure the correct decision is reached not to validate an error. The clear and obvious rule is being exploited by VAR referees to sweep on field mistakes under the carpet. If O’Neil can help stopping our players causing themselves self inflicted problems then we can really look forwards. After the disappointments of Brighton,Luton and Ipswich lets keep this going. It’s enjoyable again!
Spot on regarding var river wolf, remove ‘clear and obvious’ from the knobheads vocabulary and just get the right decision ffs
Uyw
Great comment. Would have given it a thumbs-up.
Spot on post.
Little to add, but I have three wishes.
Wishing Pedro a speedy recovery. For him. For the team. For all of us.
Wishing the standard of refereeing and use of VAR would reach the required standards. A different sport, but top flight rugby union makes top flight football look amateur. Very amateur.
Finally, wishing all those supporters who were less than happy with GON’s appointment a few weeks ago a happy weekend and hope you have a little more belief and optimism in October than you did in August.
UTW
That would be me Mutt1eigh.
I was very wrong.
I absolutely agree with you, Mutt1eigh, on the difference in the standard of RU refereeing and football refereeing.
RU referees seem entirely incorruptible and, in my opinion, RU is a damn sight more difficult to referee than football.
Last night’s World Cup final was no exception. I think Wayne Barnes is a brilliant referee.
In a world cup final, yes he had a great game.
But I have seen him many times down at the Warriors on a Friday night and guess what, just like Championship refs gives the top teams all the fifty fifties.
I used to be a Warrior on a Friday night and always a Wanderer on a Saturday.
You don’t want to be saying stuff like that down in nz ,the bad losers that they are blame Wayne Barnes for everything including the cost of living
Spot on Muttleigh- GON has been brilliant in so many ways.
Now VAR. Rugby Union v Football, & last nights world cup final referred by the excellent Wayne Barnes illustrates why Rugby is light years ahead in using VAR.. The big difference is TRANSPARENCY. In rugby, last night when a critical decision was to be made, Barnes spoke to the screen replay & debated with there VAR officials what he thought he had seen & what if anything they could add to improve “the decision “. Everyone could hear the conversation & see they were trying to reach the correct decision. Football VAR , NO transparency . Can’t hear what is being discussed- if anything. One ex referre who worked in VAR actually stated they did not overturn a decision so as not to humiliate the ref. We all know from our extensive life experiences the outcome ” when you are kept in the dark” Transparency also shines light on the quality of those making decisions. Thus very possible football will never do the obvious and correct thing.
Fully agree but will it ever change? I fear not.
Does Rugby require clear and obvious in order to overturn a decision?
Maybe if they remove that excuse, it is one less subjective thing they can use to screw us.
Another thing about top flight rugby union is that the blokes act like proper blokes and not wimpy prima donnas who roll around as if snipered when receiving a feather like brush of contact.Pathetic!
Would most of us have rather lost this game and kept a fully fit and firing Neto for the games ahead? I expect so.
I wasn’t expecting much coming into this season but he was the unexpected spark and welcome surprise, the old Neto, in his best form ever, unplayable. It is such cruel luck that his body seems to let him down, and may ultimately rob him of the career he deserves.
Even if it’s not as bad as it looks, he’s got to get back to fitness and form and, crucially, rediscover that confidence he only recently seems to have found again. It’s a massive loss for us and that shouldn’t be understated. Hwang has got the goals but everything good has come through Neto.
Let’s hope the team can carry on performing in his absence.
I think if it was gonna go Rich it would go whenever, our schedule is hardly busy. Perhaps Neto’s current playing tempo is not sustainable in the long term given his injury prone predicament. He has multiple skills though so it definately wouldn’t write him off as a top player.
As Steve K says above we should be 6th today but for VAR bias. So, massive credit to Gary for taking over when we were self-imploding. I read that a Spanish language TV program has identified him as a young coach destined to move to a top club! I hope he stays with us and becomes a modern day Stan Cullis.
Astonishing to hear that the penalty at Old Trafford today was the first to an away side in PL history! My theory about Manure’s poor form these past seasons is partly VAR in general. Before VAR they enjoyed the bias of officials. That has been gradually eroded in favour of bias to more successful teams than Manure! Therein lies the problem. The bias is still there but the lucky recipients have simply changed to the currently most successful teams.
Wow … is that true about the penalties!?
I watched the game and couldn’t help my disbelief at city getting awarded that penalty compared with the opening day debacle
I did read somewhere that the so called top six are the main selling points for the Premier league brand in the most lucrative Asian markets and are therefore ‘ protected ‘ somewhat ….. its so rigged its embarrassing
I had read it after we were denied a penalty at Old Trafford but could hardly believe it. And, it was mentioned by commentators during the match against Citeh yesterday. I’m sure it’s not an urban myth, it can be checked out. If true, it’s an astonishing indictment of favouritism towards Man U at Old Trafford.
Would be interesting if someone could do research into every deemed controversial VAR decision to see if the ‘bigger’ team benefited. Basically you could even look at every single VAR decision to see if something was overturned, or not overturned, to see if there is bias towards the bigger teams.
With the recent poor form at West Ham, it would’t surprise me if Lopetegui was not on the shortlist. Sooner or later our Gary will be going head to head with him in the PL.
One things for sure, if Rodri had been wearing gold and black there’s no way the penalty would have been given.
Sadly you are right.
Ironically it’s schadenfreude to see Man U becoming run-of-the-mill VAR victims! Also these days it’s commonplace to see 8-9-10 multiple injury time minutes added at 90 minutes. It’s almost a throw-back to Fergie Time at Old Trafford! The Man U media love-in is truly over I hope.
it’s not entirely true… in fact it’s not an easy thing to find out … i did find that between 1993 and 2004 only 4 penalties were awarded to the away team at old trafford ( not sure if they were all league games ) 3 were missed and one was scored . even back then there was rumours of Alex F somehow managing to find favour with referees.
since then they have had seasons when they have had the most penalties awarded by considerable margins.
it’s a not easy to find out though… strange that !?
I could only listen to the commentary courtesy of Mikey Burrows, but it was gripping stuff all the same. It’s been a while since we were able to take on the top teams with such swagger and pizzazz and we are now playing in the manner of the early Nuno days. What a welcome turnaround after the last couple of dismal seasons.
If the sign of a top coach is the ability to improve players, GON is at the very pinnacle. Who can name a player in our squad who hasn’t improved under his stewardship? They are playing out of their skins both as individuals and as members of the team. Busting their metaphorical guts for the cause, the coach, the fans and their teammates.
And ain’t it good to see.
Fingers crossed for young Pedro. GON seemed hopeful in his interview that it may not be quite as serious as first feared. We can only hope so, for the team of course, but also for him as a person. Few deserve this situation less than he.
Sarabia hasn’t improved.
Mmmm, you’re probably right John. But since joining us, I don’t think he’s gotten any worse either.
That is a very good point, Wolfstroker. Although, on current form Neto will be a massive miss, I’m very intrigued to see what GON does. As you say, he has improved many of the players in his time here and so it will be exciting to see how he solves this particular challenge. I guess the obvious candidates are Sasa, Fabio or Sarabia or perhaps ait nouri, Semedo or even Doherty in more advanced roles? Fraser as a long shot to add to the mix? I guess if it should prove longer term, Campbell or Chiquinho could perhaps be recalled?
Talking of Chiquiho. Since returning from Stoke what has happened to the lad. Last season for the few minutes he was given I thought he showed a lot of promise
Don’t forget Bellegarde he was quick. Let’s leave it to the General he will sort it
Well done to all involved in those last 3 fixtures and who would have put money on us NOT losing one of those games City Villa and Newcastle
COYW
Hes on loan at Famalicao in Portugal and hardly setting the world on fire. Seems to have regressed and maybe has an attitude issue based on his time in the Potteries.
Greetings, Nice One Ben,
Gazzbo earned his stripes Saturday and our team were up for it, a great performance in the face of adversity.
A 50 -50 dodgy penalty decision, which if not given, may not be overturned. Hwang lost control of the ball for a moment and stretching to hoof it caught Shar coming across to nick it. Not much on it, he wins the ‘Simulation Game’ on 606. A fair outcome would be that Sa saves it, which he nearly did.
Hwang Hee Chan, take a bow. The 1st player to score in 6 successive top flight home games since the legend, John Richards in 1973.
We’re going to have to fill a big hole where Neto has been ripping up the pitch. That is a big loss, my thoughts are with Pedro Neto and wish him a speedy recovery.
We have a competitive, committed team, playing for an astute and talented young British manager. Brill.
1 lv & COYW.
Raging injustice fuelled the second half performance, not just the ludicrous penalty decision, the lengthy wait for VAR but why no yellow card for Trippier for wiping out Cunha and why penalise Lemina for making a tackle that no one complained about.
The conditions made the game better, sliding tackles, the ball zipping about, I know neutrals who just sat back and enjoyed it. In the second half we were on top, Newcastle had one shot which I could have saved.
Neto going off meant we lost a big threat and Sasa was off the pace, maybe give Bellegard a go on the right side while Pedro is out.
Well done to the fans, the atmosphere helped the players and the “corrupt as F***” chant has been noted in the media and round the world.
Fantastic football match
We can and do
Go toe to toe with the best (BHA excepted) and leave them knowing they have been tested
Love the tricky stuff from the likes of Ait Nouri… more please
Still feel that as Sasa gets fitter and stronger we have a Doog:/ Richards combo in prospect with Hwang firing the bullets
Still
Think
Fosun
Clueless tho
Bring on the Blades
Everything crossed for Neto
OODCL
Rightly so everybody’s raving about Toti and Hwang sumptuous skill for the second equaliser but what about Lemina’s deft flick to Toti with the back of his boot that started the move.
I hope all the naysayers at the start of the season enjoyed a slice of pie with their post match beers, humble pie never tasted so good.
Respect to GON for calling out the utterly shite officials.
Neto posted on IG he’ll be back in a couple of weeks, let’s hope so.
Penny for your thoughts Julen?
UTW
Until a club takes legal action against Premier League officials nothing will change, we need to make people accountable and get rid of this corruption.
Agree 100% Wurzel, a two game stand down with pay and an apology for the victims of this incompetence/corruption is no deterent. In any other walk in in life heads would roll for such obvious ineptitude unless of course it fits the agenda. There is a collective apathy from pundits, commentators and journalists towards this problem due everyone who has a voice is already on the payroll and nobody wants bite the hand that feeds coupled with the fast turnover of games and next week we’re just all onto the next VAR travesty and last weeks is forgotten as well as all the mistakes prior to those. It looks like a duck and quacks like a duck yet everyone is tiptoeing round it and calling it a turkey. Meanwhile we are all falling out of love with the game.
Having just watched the Sky ref review spot with Dermot Gallagher I have come to the same conclusion WW. I thought Stephen Warnock spoke eloquently about the problem in his condemnation of the system and its worsening in spite of the publicity about the steps being taken by Howard Webb to improve things. I was also very pleased that he spoke – re WWFC – about the Newcastle, Luton and ManU games.
Like others who have commented, I agree that in many walks of life failures to the extent we are now seeing would result in legal action of some sort. I’ve only worked it out quickly, but it looks as though, without the three travesties mentioned by SW we would, after ten games be 7th [Someone I think said 6th, but I think BHA have a better GD] and we would be above both Newcastle (8th) and ManU (11th).
I suppose the question is who employs PGMOL to officiate, is it the clubs or the EPL. I suspect it will be the EPL, in which case the clubs should be pushing them to take action before the whole thing becomes totally unworkable.
It must be kept in mind that at the end of a season the clubs receive payment based on league position. If our situation remains the same as now, we’ll be five places lower than we should be. Five places at £2M/place – £10M and probably ++. How about we get some FFP . At this stage legal action in some form is looking more and more likely .
Others have compared the rugby version of VAR. It seems that it can be got right. Isn’t it about time that soccer was ‘persuaded’ to follow suit?
Or fans can sue them. It can affect people financially if they have made a legal bet which becomes useless because of a screw-up.
Someone said in another forum. Name a controversial decision IN OUR FAVOUR under VAR. I can’t think of any. I can think of loads against us.
That will keep us up all night cheese.
This is interesting. Premier League goalkeepers ranked this season. You’ll never guess who’s in first place. Jose Sa…
https://www.football365.com/news/feature-premier-league-keepers-ranked-2023-24-psxg
Great spot DWW- typically, the headline is Vicario second.
No plaudit for Jose.
It appears today that Taylor has been demoted to referee in The Championship
this weekend. How should fans supporting Championship sides be supposed to feel?
You beat me to it mate!
Read today that Anthony Taylor, the ref against Newcastle, has been demoted to the championship for his next match. Taylor has been ref in Champions League matches this season, so his demotion is humiliating. I can only assume that the VAR officials were in awe of him and didn’t want to send him to the monitor to review the penalty. But VAR officials are surely equal or more to blame for the decision? Here’s the link:
https://www.lep.co.uk/sport/football/preston-north-end/anthony-taylor-wolves-newcastle-united-alan-shearer-gary-oneil-ian-wright-preston-north-end-v-coventry-city-4393224
I think most fans will agree with you DWW.
Those VAR officials are embarrassing.
Poor Anthony Taylor, not! From the highlight of reffing the Barcelona v Porto match a few weeks ago, it’s quite a comedown to be in charge of Preston v Coventry! It’s a salutary warning to all refs out there: mess up a Wolves decision and you’re in the sin bin mate.
I’ve just seen that Matt Hobbs, our sporting director, has been charged by the FA for misconduct for what he said to match officials after the Newcastle game. Well done to him, I hope you gave the complete bell ends what for! It might cost you a few bob but you will never buy better PR with any right minded Wolves fans!
Good on you, Matt Hobbs. Get a barrister to help you contest this ludicrous charge, and plead justification and provocation. Make it uncomfortable for the FA to listen to this all too familiar tale of gross incompetence by the match officials.
A timely reminder of what we lost, from Tim Nash on 28/11/2019 – goals in all competitions:
Raul Jimenez – 15
Raheem Sterling – 14
Sergio Agüero – 13
Harry Kane – 13
Sadio Mane – 12
Jamie Vardy – 12
Referee relegated to the Championship the next week. Wolves top of the league !