Am I the only one concerned by the current events in WV1?
The cautious optimism that followed our final day win over Preston has been superseded by the gut- wrenching fear that Wolves are about to commit the same mistakes as 2016 – namely appointing a relatively unknown foreign manager and flooding the squad with unproven foreign talent.
For what it’s worth, the current managerial situation is an odd one. We can hardly say that Lambert tore up the league, with Blues at home surely the nadir of his short reign.
But he did make some astute signings that eventually got us over the line. And given our recent record with foreign managers, from Norway to Italy, we need to make sure we get this next appointment right, if Lambert is indeed on his way.
That’s not to say a foreign manager couldn’t work out well – each of the four play-off contenders this year took a chance on a left-field appointment and it has yielded more than 58 points for two consecutive seasons.
However, I don’t think the managerial situation is the issue here. It is what lies above.
The prospect of an agent running our on-field recruitment scares me a little. A man whose very role in the football industry is to engineer transfers for personal gain could be placed in charge of our comings and goings this summer.
And what’s more, he isn’t actually an employee of the club or Fosun. In an age where accountability is very much in vogue, this looks like a step backwards. Let alone whether any of these signings will actually be any good.
Mendes and our manager-in- waiting Nuno Espirito Santo (if betting offers are to be believed) have form here. Switch Fosun for another Oriental oligarch (the Singaporean Peter Lim) and we have the circus that was Valencia in late 2015/early 2016.
Take this quote from Roberto Ayala, a club stalwart and former technical director. He is referring to the set up at the Mestalla, and it is taken from the Portuguese press. Thanks to a Portuguese colleague of mine for the translation:
“I stepped back when I saw that things were not going well. There was a dangerous triangle between the owner [Peter Lim], the coach [Nuno Espírito Santo] and [Jorge] Mendes, the businessman. A triangle that was not going to help the club.”
“There was a technical secretary scouring the entire market looking for what was best for the club. Then the technical team was empowering the player and there was still the most skilled businessman in the world to negotiate.”
All sounds good so far, right?
“They bought at exaggerated prices and I could not participate in this style of management.”
And that’s where alarm bells ring. Are we about to see another summer splurge? Because if so, who is most likely to benefit from that? Our agent-cum-director of football, of course.
With Fosun remaining silent, we can only speculate. I really hope to be proven wrong, and that Mendes’ extensive phonebook yields a few Costas and no Gladons.
Thanks for the contribution Chris, it’s a great article. Loving the quote from Ayala too. I wonder if anyone within our club will fall on their sword if they see it going int he same direction? Doubtful.
If it all plays out as expected over the coming days, weeks and months I’ll be hoping for the best but fearing the worst.
I’m like most others I suppose in that an influx of exotic sounding players who look decent on YouTube is intoxicating, but my concern is a repeat of last season in that when you actually get them out on the pitch, the reality is something very different.
Never dull though and that’s enough for most people.
It can definitely tip both ways. Santo is probably the best manager we’ve had on paper. How he copes with championship remains to be seen. I’m fairly optimistic. His style of play has been described as powerful with organized pressure. I also hope Santo and Mendes will work together when recruiting players, so the players fit into Santo’s approach to the game.
We’re already linked to a Ghanian defender available on free transfer, which indeed sounds exotic.
I think Fosun should learn from last year’s mistake and hire a director which should cooperate with Mendes, someone with critical bones in the body – and also with eyes for quality players. Although Mendes managed to find some gems, he also managed to bring in players which were quite average.
Let’s bring in Frank Arnesen from Hamburger SV
Thanks mate.
Interesting to see how it polarises opinion. I wasn’t trying to be overly pessimistic, more highlight that this has been tried before at Valencia with limited success.
It also wasn’t a defence of Lambert per se – I for one hope that George Saville is never forced to play left back again now he’s gone.
If Fosun make money, Mendes makes money and Wolves succeed, then everyone’s a winner. I just hope the last of those three doesn’t become an afterthought. It shouldn’t do because there are reputations to preserve, as many have pointed out, but with so much failure in recent years can you blame me for a little cynicism?
Let’s see what happens.
If Mendes brings in his own players he makes money anyway.
If Mendes brings in the next Modric he’ll make money – and us happy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13xI2nQ6tzI
Just the type of player which could take wolves to the next level.
He could also snap up Cordosa, the next Coelho, in front of Rangers nose
Santo tagged him the best agent in the world. Benfica claim they’re sure that they’ll beat us to Krovinovic. If Mendes manages sign up Krovinovic for Wolves, then he’s clearly an asset for Wolves – one must be blind not to see that. I would rather have him dealing for Wolves, than dealing against.
Am stunned by the pessimism!
Do people not see the opportunity we are being offered?
I think Mendez knows quite clearly what he wants.
Thelwell has only been retained to be his legal front.
Fosun & Mendez have bought Wolves as a show case for their football.
We should be so lucky!
Neither of them can afford to fail on this stage they have chosen.
We the supporters should be grateful, not contemplating failure, which of course is the habit of Wolves fans.
Get on the ride, success is coming whether you like it or not!
I wonder if Ryan Bennett knows he was signed by a legal front?
Agree aswell but let’s look on the positives can we really be in a worse situation than last summer surley found have learnt from last season
They are a business want to earn money which they know all about give them the benefit of the doubt. I prey
Sorry fosun fucking predictive text
Definitely concerned about the going-on’s at the Mol. The continued unrest in the club is a big cause for concern. PL did a decent job considering what he inherited and I believe he should have been given time to bring in his own players.
We are no further forward than we were 12 months ago and are, once again, in a state of confusion.
I was excited when Fosun took over and looked forward to a possible new era at the Mol.
Now all I see is the club, from the outside, looks to be in a shambolic state.
Cheer up! Here’s supposedly Nuno Espirito Santos first signing: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/transfer-rumour-nuno-espirito-santos-13112006
Roderick Miranda, former Mendes and Santos player, signs soon.
Santos is not signing anybody.
How do you know? Lambert recruited two earlier disciples in Marshall and Weimann. Why shouldn’t Santos get the chance to do the same? He has surely worked with some incredible players since he started to coach.
My concern exactly – it’s Mendes who is bringing them in – is this guy in mendes’s stable? Is he any better than Iorfa or Hause or even Batth? Time will tell but I hope our youngsters development isn’t held back by an influx of mediocre Mendes players.
Another defender, Fabio Cardoso, linked: https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/wolves-set-to-beat-rangers-to-the-signing-of-23-year-old-defender/
I don’t know how good they are compared to Hause or Batth, since Hause and Batth actually are very good when they play out their full potential. It would surprise me if Miranda is unable to compete for a place.We know he has the experience at least. Rangers interest in Cardoso should mean he has some qualities. I would probably choose these two before Stearman and Williamson.
I guarantee you that in the past few weeks Nuno & Mendez, have already worked out the Wolves of next season.
Other than Mendez imports, the majority will be gone soon.
Well the last 10 years have not been any good so lets give it a try. Need the whole club structure changing IMO Thelwell, coaches the lot. Who Did sign Gladon ? does anybody no ?.
At least perhaps I shall not have to watch Saville anymore ?. Go for it Fosun it is your money, make it work.
Just looked closely at the picture, Jeff Shi appearing to be a bit part in the Fosum/Mendes link, if necessary put Mendes on a % if the Wolves progress from Championsip to Premier, Premier to top 6, then top 4, Money always talks in these guys field.
Wolves in dire need of a PR person who keeps us informed of whats going down, hopefully not us !!
I am a bit more optimistic that things will work out somehow. Let’s face it, we all know Fosun are in it for the money, but they will make a lot more money if the club is successful. They might not get it right the first time, but it IS in their interest to make it work. And let’s face it, it cannot get much worse eh??
Slightly off subject – who would want to be involved in football management. Put yourselves in Lambert’s place – everyone talking about him, everyone with an opinion whether he should stay or go – and he is unable to do anything about it. Sod that!!
say what you like, life under Zenga was exciting – compare that to the D*R*O*S*S served up by Lambert who managed to nullify the only quality we had – namely, attack.
This appointment is likely fast track our fate – be that towards Victories or Venkies – either way we shall soon find out.
Very interesting and illuminating pieces Chris and Thomas.
I have supported Wolves since 1957 and , as you will understand , I have experienced many highs and lows. Football clubs ownership is very different today, although we had an insight into the dangers of some dubious stewardship during the reign of the infamous Bhatti Brothers. Of course local British owners can cause damage and upset, witness The Oystons at Blackpool.
But increasingly there are instances of foreign ownership which have created problems for managers and fans alike. Paul Lambert fell foul of such owners at Villa, Blackburn and , now, Wolves. And there are others as we all know.
I am not confident that the present Wolves owners have the passion for Wolves that previous owners have had. I am certain that Mendez could not care less. As has been said, he has little accountability since he has such a huge reputation with some big hitters in his stable.
We have already seen the results of his last shipment of players to Wolves. The Championship is an unforgiving league which requires a balance of skill and robustness. There are many games in a season which includes weather patterns which are alien to Portuguese players. Witness the gloves and long stockings and extra clothing!
I can fully understand Lambert’s response if he was informed that an overseas agent would be the prime mover in securing new players. Lambert, of course, has been clever enough to remain in post and so receive a payoff which will take an average wage earner about 30 years
to earn. So no tears!
No doubt, having been born within a mile Molineux ( Let’s hope the name does not become The Thomas Cook Arena), I will of course remain a supporter at present , but not without a certain reticence and bitter taste.
Clive, it’s pure speculation that Mendes brought in any of our players except Costa and Cavaleiro, who are his clients. I know it’s a sort of truism, that he did, but it’s probably ‘alternative facts.’
To me, it’s in the realm of popular myth.
What’s more, Fosun has invested in Mendes’s company, so he is not an independent third party.
Which is why Thelwell has been retained!
He will just do as Mendez says, or be sacked and replaced by someone who will.
You forget these people have huge amounts of money to ensure they get success.
You can be sure Lambert got more than a million for keeping us up.
Kevin Thelwell is a tricky case. It’s his job to get who other people want, e.g., he got Marshall and Weimann for Lambert. Rumour has it that Mendes provided Nuno with a list of 40 players, and Nuno will choose six. It’s Kevin’s job to get those six. Kevin’s in a bind: if he fails to get the head coach’s targeted players, everyone criticises him; if he gets them and they fail, again he ends up with the buck. I’m on the fence about Thelwell; I tend to blame Lambert for not using the new players well or Jeff Shi for acquiring them. I’m not sure Thelwell is a yes man above and beyond that it is part of his job. Personally, I thought Prince and Saiss looked liked promising acquisitions—and I blame Lambert for not using them properly, ditto for CBJ. I don’t know whether Thelwell is a victim or a perpetrator.
More likely the Air China Arena.
https://www.airchina.ca/CAPortal/ca-ui_CAPortal_5.16.29_050517/portal/skin/img/ca-logo-small.jpg
Fosun original plan hit the wall when Lepetiou took the Spain Manager job.
Everthing between then and now was make weight.
In a take over (9 times out of 10) everybody goes……eventually.
Eventually has now arrived.
The light at the end of the season is here!
A new dawn.
Looking forward to it all.
Good point! With Lepetiou the story could have unfolded differently. Because it could also influenced which players we’ve bought – perhaps even Ola John would get some playing time and done well.
You echo a lot of fans fears Chris.
I’m going to keep my powder dry until the rumour mill becomes fact.
One thing I will say though.
“Nuno Espirito Santo” sounds to me like a blessing from the Pope to poor put-upon believers all over the World who are desperately seeking salvation.
Let’s hope that we don’t need one over the coming months!
Let’s hope Nuno is one! If there are any poor put-upon believers who are desperately in need of salvation, it is Wolves fans!
He was one of the candidates for the Man U job after Van Gaahl left the club. Now he’s at Wolves :=)
Surreal!
Obviously too choosey than to go to Old Trafford.
And Porto wasn’t a bad choice. He did a decent job also guiding the club to a 2nd place, six points behind Benfica.
Whoever manages Porto will do well in that league.
That’s true. If the performance in CL is added, where Porto reached the final 16, I still end up with the same verdict.
***** BREAKING NEWS *****
Brompton Wolf reporting live from North Yorkshire states that next season will see Wolverhampton Wanderers earn promotion to the Premiership after achieving a club record points tally.
He also announces the team finishing the season will be a team fully prepared for the challenges of the Premiership and is confident that development of the squad will see a push for a Champions League place occurring within the next 5 years.
He closes his report by stating “I love Triangles Me”
I Find the manner of all this a bit lacking in class.
If Mendes has a role at the club he should come out and say what his intentions are. Albeit I would think there maybe a conflict of interests there.
Treating PL in this manner leaving him hanging and all over the press is disrespectful despite the pay off and crap football at times.
Added to this is Fosun not telling fans whats going on, is taking things for granted and an abuse of fan loyalty.
Fosun may own Wolves but in my view are only custodians of a club with a rich heritage and generations of loyal fans. I would of hoped their research may have highlighted the importance of relations with fans and also of good football club models.
On the flip side I can see why they may be tempted to go in a new direction (using mendes) as no one else has been successful with this model yet… So could offer a short cut to the promised land.
To keep my comments balanced.
Watford fans took a while to adjust to their new model.
There may be an argument between deciding on a nice family loyal club or ruthless winners no matter what (that gob shite at Manu springs to mind).
It could be Fosun feel the atmosphere inside the club needs to change! Lets face it, if you were trying to break into the first team or even a regular, a lack of effort should not be an issue!
Mike, maybe I’ve got a cog missing in my brain, but I can’t see this lack of class everyone is talking about. Fosun informed Lambert as soon as the season ended that his job was under threat. What more could they have done?
If they had sacked him on the spot, then we would all be complaining about the three-week interregnum. And he’s going to get a six-figure pay-off for acting as a stand-by.
I’m sure PL was aware, but when it went public they should’ve done the deed, in my view.
Followed by a statement of direction of the club. Maybe a few updates along the way. E.g. phase 2 of interview stage, blah blah. Also would of been nice to know about the review at the end of the season then we could of all speculated the results for a week or two!
I would like to point out that a pay off doesn’t right a wrong! However, someone may agree to having the crap hurled at you for a fee. Which I suppose is the essence of football management.
If Lambert gets the Borussia Dortmund job, that would throw a new light on the entire affair. Maybe, just maybe, the parting really was mutual. What if Lambert told Fosun he wanted to hold off just in case he got the Dortmund job?
Good article Chris, I would only say solbaken wasn’t given enough time, he certainly had no problem returning Copenhagen back to winning the league and a fair few creditable champions league results! My take on events over the last few years is we never got the whole change of back room staff, recruitment etc when appointing new coaches , I’m up for that now and who knows how some of our not so popular recent signings would have gone had they been given a good run in the side! No worse than the hoofball our league one winning team dished up regularly last year ! Mid you I didn’t get one prediction correct last year so what the fook do I know!
Utw
I thought Chris’s line about each of the play-off contenders having looked further afield for their leadership was a good one, but it still feels like there are plenty of clubs who get it spectacularly wrong and I hope like everyone else that we’re not one.
I’m also sure that Lambert won’t be too hard done by in terms of a pay-off that most of us could only dream off.
However, as someone who struggles to get my head around the crazy money involved in the game, it still feels like an absolutely shocking way to treat an employee. Football doesn’t really work in the same way as most professions, I appreciate that. However, if this was how I was being treated by my employer I’d feel pretty humiliated.
I can’t help but wish Lambert the best and hope that if/when he moves on to his next role he is a huge success (albeit hopefully not at our expense).
And if Lambert would have left for greener pastures…..
And so another new chapter in Wolves history commences; lets hope it all leads to a more entertaining match day experience at the Molineux – I thinks that’s what we all really want, whoever the participants might be.
It’s not speculation any longer.
Officially announced PL gone on Sky
Good article Chris but we will soon know the outcome.
E&S reporting that Lambert gone with both the coaches and unfitness man Daley. Only Pat Mountain staying at the moment and that is under discussion. Santo to be announced over the next 24 hours as new head coach bringing in his own team.
In my humble opinion Santo is miles in front of Zenga as a coach and motivator, I am sure he would not have agreed to come to Wolves (if he has, still to be proven) if he had not been given promises by Jeff and Mendes that he would have the necessary calibre of player to work with. I think and hope that we will see some very interesting revelations from the Mol over the next few weeks.
As I said last year when Fosun took over never doubt the determination of the Chinese to complete a project once they get started on it. I learnt over many years working with them how determined and ruthless thay can be when necessary.
We can only wait and see what happens next but like Thomas I hope we see an improvement on the dreary rubbish that Lambert served up at times last season. Santo will surely clear out the dross (Saville for example amongst many) that we have had to put up with.
Only down side to today’s announcement is that Thelwell is still here.
Onwards & Upwards
FOwb
They are determined to make neat looking bridges. Too bad the bottom falls off of them occassionally
So, Lambert has officially left the club – together with Stuart Taylor, Rob Edwards and Tony Daley. This is the clean sweep many fans were calling for.
I do have mixed feelings about Lambert’s departure but we fans are merely onlookers and can only hope that things will now move on quickly in a positive fashion. At least we are much further advanced than we were this time last year. Good luck to Nuno Esperita Santo, as it looks as if his appointment will be announced very shortly.
I do also have some qualms about Mendes’ role in the future set-up but can only hope that it will be Fosun and not him who will be calling the shots. The last year would have been a steep learning curve for them also. It will be interesting to see whether there are also changes in the higher echelons of the club.
So far, you can’t belive a word of what comes out of Jeff Shees mouth. But, you have to belive that Fosun, as a multibillion company, is in this for the long shot, not months. The owners sit on big money, if used smart, there is a light in the tunnel for Wolves. No doubt. The new gaffer has to be advised on new players and allowed to stay, regardless to a picky start.
It takes time to build a good side winning Saturdays and Tuesdays, week in week out, and Championship is a dreadful long marathon to get out from. Lets hope Nuno will bring in some quality players and fantastic results to our club.
http://www.vargas12.com/2017/wolves-henter-tidligere-porto-manager/
Vargas
Yep lambert gone with everyone except mountain
Been talk of neville being his number 2 which I think would be good least he is British with good connections we will see
Up the wolves
Can’t think of a better nr 2 than Neville. Could probably take some burden away from Santos, if he needs it, in media too – interview wise
All these foreign manager’s cv’s may look impressive, but any league outside England has only got a meagre handful of decent clubs.
Spain has three, Portugal two, France three or four, Germany three, etc, etc, etc.
And look at Scotland, there has only ever been two.
My point being, its all very well having a superb winning, or scoring, record( Messi and Ronaldo) in these other leagues, but when you have sod all, cannon fodder opposition most of the time, its not difficult to build up an impressive resume.
Put them in our division, when, on any given day, everyone can beat everyone else, then its a horse of a different kettle of fish.
Lambert just been sacked, I hear, lets see if this Spiritus Sanctus is annointed, as widely predicted.
Betcha Costa dont get sold if he is!
Really fowb
Clive what English teams win the European cup on a regular basis …..none !!! and how many really good clubs are there in the premier ???? good dog even the bloody shite finished in the top half !
He was a serious candidate to follow Van Gaahl at Man U! Luckily for us he didn’t. :))) And now we’re signing a classy central defender which played for him at Rio Ave.
Clive, aren’t you getting carried away a bit there? Suggesting that the Chumps League is tougher than La Liga and the Bundesliga? And Nuno did well in La Liga with Valencia, presumably not one of the three you were thinking of.
Well spotted Clive.
Do not think Costa is going anywhere this summer.
Mendez (Thelwell will be his mouthpiece), & Fosun want success.
Think we are very lucky they picked us to be their flag bearers!
There are some that think sides do well in the Champions League because they don’t have the intensive number of fixtures and level of competition English clubs encounter week in week out. I would expect Pep and Jose to agree with that view. Every job presents its own challenges and I have never read a bad CV yet. It’s how you adapt to the next job that matters. Are you hungry enough to push on when expectations have been raised but one of your star players gets stupidly sent off and the other one scrazes his knee in the pre match kick about. Its crap and generally modern footballers are spoilt kids. So million pound beneficiary and ex Wolves manager Paul Lambert why would you want to be a football manager?
I don’t think its in Mendes’s interest to peddle Fosun some tat for his short term gain. If he supplies too many below-average players and we muddle along in mid-table for years, Mendes’ stock/reputation will take a hammering in the wider football world.
At the end of the day he’s got some of the best footballing talent in the world in his stable, so he knows how to find them, unlike a Thelwell whose contact list must be pretty underwhelming in comparison. You’d think it’s in Mendes’s interest for Wolves to be in the premier, where the money he could make from Fosun would go up exponentially? He’s a big player in the football world dealing with the biggest transfers, not scratting around with loose change in the championship.
I’m glad we’re going for a Portuguese manager whose been a lot more successful than the Jacketts, Lambert’s, Zenga’s of the world. He would surely get the best out of Costa and Caveliero and anyone else Mendes chucks at us? Portugal are the reigning European Champions, got the best players in the world, and best managers, so have I’m glad we’re going to get some of that pedigree.
I see a lot of stuff from Wolves fans on the forums making out Fosun are only interested in making a quick buck off the transfers and lining their pockets. I totally don’t see that, I think they really want us to succeed to make them look good. I think they will keep investing in us, and you can’t blame them for getting someone as well connected as Mendes involved.
We gotta support what Fosun are doing, they’re our best shot at being successful.
I’m glad they’re making changes and trying things to get us there.
Well we`ll never know if Lambert could have got us to the Prem, I`m sure he won`t be out of work for long and has been well compensated for his departure. Any confidentiality clauses means we`ll never really know what was going on. Shame as he could have been the man.
Not sorry the coaching staff have been culled, and as others have said why not Thelwell as well.
No point in moaning – I just hope the specification for any new players is significantly better considered than the last shopping spree.
Even the Forest fans saw through Texeira very quickly, and he was sent packing as soon as they could get rid. No more like him please. No -one will surely mind so long as what Fosun are doing works. Will it I wonder? well the new manager is their man, lets hope they back him significantly, at least we have time on our hands this time. Nothing boring about being a wolves fan in 2017 methinks!!
says:
May 30, 2017 at 9:46 AM (Quote)
Compare that play off final yesterday with the fa cup final.
Crap.
Couldn’t score in a brothel… either team .
If thats the best standard we have to get to then i dont see any problems what so ever.
It would seem our owners have seen the same.
You dont have to be brilliant to get out of this division just a little bit better than the others who are generally crap.
The big test comes when you reach the greed league.
PREDICTION…. Fosun will buy us out of this division and we will win it … this season .
Then they will do another of their re assessments and spend another shed load to keep us there.
We have become so used to under achievement and so consumed in our own doom that we fail to see what our new owners have quite simply recognised .
Buy a good manager, buy good coaches, buy good players, put them all together and they will get you out of this crap division.
They see it as simple and they have the resources to do it and they will do it.
Another PREDICTION… WATCH THE SEASON TICKET SALES GO THROUGH THE ROOF.
Molineux will be once again the place we all want to be on a match day ..
ITS OUR TURN NOW SO ….
Spikey, I really love your optimisum, but, mendes sent us 1 x very good (and I mean very good) player in Costa, then an average Cavelero, then some others…. then some dross
Whilst we all crave the same to see good football being played and that will get the bums on seats, I’ll reserve judgement until the end of the pre-season…..
How do we know they were dross. Maybe they would be good players playing under Lopetigui but not Lambert.
Rickrack, it’s pure guesswork, a myth, that Mendes sent us anybody except Costa and Cavaleiro, his only two clients amongst last year’s imports. Jeff Shi has his own contacts in Europe and, even if Mendes introduced Shi to some of the other agents, I think Shi and Thelwell have to take the responsibility for signing the other imports.
Chris great info, but again it’s always a double edged sword!
Is it good or bad? Time will tell….
I don’t want our club to have a revolving door, but 4 managers in 10 months is a chaotic way to run a club with our asperations.
Some say Fosun have been “ruthless” but Ruthless would have seen PL go after February!
Bringing in a Mendes mate as 1st team coach/manager I sincerely hope & trust will be the equivalent of a Costa of the Management World and not a Gladon….
With a proper fresh start I think this will be Fosun’s strategy going forward and if this roadmap doesn’t work, then there will be several others until it does….
One thing is for sure, this next manager WILL be a Mendes’s man, he will work with Mendes but I hope that the football will match the ambitions and then follow through to points on the board before very soon otherwise it will be another “Hasta la vista – baby!”
One thing I noticed from the Chump play-off yesterday – David Wagner certainly was given the control and had the players he wanted and they played for him… and not their next big money move.
But we’ll always beeeeeeeeeee
Properly FOstfc….
I’m really pleased Fosun are looking for success, and are prepared to move on and learn from experience. Lambert flattered for a while only to deceive, altho it must be said that each of our recent managers inherited a pretty average playing staff .
Trying to fit those new signings in with the previous Div 1 players was impossible really, and injuries played a part.
New manager, much improved skill levels to come and miracles anticipated from Espiritu Santo !
Are they learning from experience John? Could be they’re repeating their previous mistakes.
First one in…
http://sportwitness.co.uk/wolves-e3m-offer-player-accepted-nuno-espirito-santos-first-signing-club-lined/
Apparently we were after him in February.
A right sided fullback from Ghana, Phil Ofosu-Ayeh, could also be signed on free transfer. Not as impressing signing as Miranda, at first sight, but he looks comfortable on the ball. The question is how he copes with the championship defensively.
Angers’ Famara Diedhiou is a striker we’ve interested in, according to a french source: http://the72.co.uk/82061/wolves-bristol-city-fulham-chasing-senegalese-striker/
Exotic Wolves
I said last year this was a mendes project and he’s the only one making out of this. As an agent he must be getting something from every transfer. Take is one success Costa he gets a loan payment a permanent deal payment and another when he’s sold. It matters nothing about club success
it’s my belief fosun do actually care about their “investment” but are taking bad advice
I’m not saying lambert was the answer though I think he should of had a chance but it’s the outside influence which worries me and I worry what chance our young players will get now.
Sure, Mick, Mendes is in it for money—but big money! Pogba’s agent is said to have made £41m from his client’s transfer to Man Utd. Mendes is in the same class (in fact, said to be world no.1). He’s not interested in the peanuts and chicken shit from Wolves’ short-term transfers. Mendes is looking to make big money when Wolves are promoted to the Premier, and probably ten years down the road if Fosun eventually sell. Mendes is surely well motivated to get Wolves out of this division.
I really hope so , but for me only Costa as impressed so far. Clubs money was wasted last year.
Mick, read my other messages. I do not hold Mendes responsible for any of our signings except Costa and Cavaleiro, the only two imports who were Mendes’s clients. The clubs money was wasted, but by Lambert not using the signings properly or by Jeff Shi and Kevin Thelwell buying them in the first place. Even if Mendes’s advice was poor, which I doubt, Shi and Thelwell cannot avoid responsibility by whining, “We got bad advice.”
Nippy you clearly have some belief in Mendes and I accept he is a very powerful influential and successful individual. But facts relating to individual signings are difficult to establish and I am struggling to apply the same confidence as you in your assessment that Mendes was not involved in summer transfers other than Costa and Cav. Texeira and Ola John are Benfica players just as Costa was and Cav had been. Silvio had been on loan at Benfica the season before. Seems unlikely that Mendes had no involvement in those arrangements. More puzzling is the signings of Saiss Prince and Gladon. These seem to point to a north European talent spotter but you have to question the vetting process that occurred pre signing.
Remember the president of Benfica was at the Rotherham game. Jeff Shi seems to be close to him. Also, yesterday Jeff said that he had known Nuno for two years, from before Fosun bought Wolves, so Jeff has his own contacts in Europe (apparently, especially Portugal). It’s not difficult to establish that Costa and Cal are Mendes’s only clients amongst last summer’s signings—just go to Transfermarkt. Having said that, it would be misleading for me to give the impression that I do not understand your unease. However, Canute like, I do want to resist all the hysterical, Mendes-obsessed fictional nonsense in the media and on the Internet. ?
Jackomac, in yesterday’s (June 1st) Birmingham Mail there was a perfect example of “hysterical, Mendes-obsessed fictional nonsense.” Shane Ireland wrote: “Wolves . . . signed a number of players from his [Mendes’s] Gestifute agency last season, including Ivan Cavaleiro and Helder Costa.”
This outrageous misinformation was in an article headed, “Wolves managing director responds to claims that Jorge Mendes will control transfers.” As stated in my comment above, Costa and Cavaleiro were Wolves only signings from GestiFute.
Sorry, Jackomac, I added another comment in reply to my message instead of yours.
Doom and gloom , someone making money out of wolves or fosun, who cares, this is the most exciting thing to happen at wolves in my life time.
For Christ’s sake stop being so negative .
Instead of seeing deceit and corruptness simply accept it for what it is .. big money football deals …this is what happens … this is how its done … people get rich … or richer so what !!!
Its not your money ..its theirs.
Best get used to it because there will be lots more of this.
Exactly right Spikeyboy! Doesn’t matter who gets rich, as long as we get some success.
And correct about its not our money, I couldn’t care less about the wages and transfer fees, it doesnt affect our season ticket prices. (1 season ticket would barely cover the costs of a players boots!)
Well said boys, bloody well said.
Football is corrupt, but that’s no big feckin secret is it? I don’t care who it is, the bathplugs won’t get rich off me I will make certain of that.
But, I want better football than Doherty, Batth, Stearman, Williamson, Price, Saville, Coady, mason, Evans, or even, Bless his loyal socks,Edwards. Iv’e seen enough of that shite for years, I want to move on, Fosun want that too, I want the Rich league, Fosun want that too. I am of the opinion Mendes definitely gave us more than Costa, but Lambert with his pedantic egotistical atitude wouldn’t play them and gave them no chance to show what they could do.
Costa, Saisse, Cavalerio, Silva, Prince, are head and shoulders above any of the guys mentioned above, that’s not a bad days work for Mendes. If he keeps sending stuff like them I for one won’t be too unhappy.
I’m for moving on with Wolves not away from them, I also believe the ticket office will be busy again when we see in incoming players and the dross dispatched.
Onwards & Upwards
Indeed! I really hope Prince returns to Wolves
Totally agree Stu. I believe Wolves are in credit as far as their involvement with Mendes is concerned.
The decision regarding Lambert & staff and the incoming coach is a forward looking move and I’m pleased the timing gives Wolves enough time to plan what is needed player-wise.
Re your last point, I’m seriously thinking of a season ticket but wondering whether it could work in terms of travel costs and usage. Less than 24 hours to decide…..
Being 65 has advantages for me, it’s not too much of an investment. If they sell the required number we may even get a refund, but I don’t have to travel to Every match living up the road from the palace.
Go for It Dougie….
We can meet up with the DOOGooders … they’ve jumped on the bandwagon … and they come up from Wiltshire…
At least you’ll be guaranteed a ticket for the play offs ..minimum..
No play offs mate. Promoted as Champions.
Cheers guys. Decisions, decisions.
Fuck it, Dougie, even I might buy a season ticket!!!
Now, how to convince The boss I have to travel each week to England…………….
Sick parents perhaps???
Brilliant Clive. You made my day.
I see they’ve extended the season ticket deadline by two weeks. I did have a squint last night at some of the available seats in the Billy Quiet but was not overly excited.
We’re in Q170/171 and Big Mark g Davies is behind us (R170)…..
I’d put money on a single seat being available next to him… All BW upper…
Thanks for the heads up Mike.
Dougie.
Newark wolf and his lovely wife Sue are going to get tickets now, come on boy grasp the nettle. What a feckin party we can have every Saturday at the PVH, we can get shares in the place and get reduced rates at the end of season bash.
When we get promotion this year we will need that to secure a seat at the table.
Spot on Stu.
Agree completely.
In fact my belief is that Mendez has assumed the title of Sporting Director at Wolves, as far as Fosun are concerned & Thelwell has only been retained as his ‘mouthpiece.’
Our new manager is Mendez’s oldest friend & first client.
Anyone who cannot see that Mendez is putting his reputation on the line with his commitment to Wolves and thinks he just wants to make a few bucks, is out of touch with modern football.
Success is coming…
Whether you wanted PL as manager or not, there is, in my opinion, a right and a wrong way to conduct yourself. Fosun picked the wrong way. If Lambert wasn’t the man then tell him straight away not leave him in limbo. Yes I know he will be well compensated but there is a simple decency lacking in the way Fosun go about their business- ask Kenny Jackett.
With regard to the new managerial team let’s hope they know where Barnsley is – especially on a wet and windy night in February. The Algarve on a balmy summer evening it ain’t!
I have a feeling this is going to be another shambles.
I think they got Lambert in, cos he was probably the best of a bad bunch of candidates available at the time. He didnt take the opportunity to show he could take us forward. I always felt he had a 6 month audition which he failed. Fosun’s plan A was to get Lopetegui in, who now manages Spain, and now they want an ex-Porto manager. Sounds good to me.
It might have been right or wrong how they treated him, but they needed to do something soon to give someone the chance to do a proper pre-season – in the interests of our club. I bet he got a decent pay-off.
Watch the Mendes players shine with a Mendes/Portuguese manager.
“but they needed to do something soon to give someone the chance to do a proper pre-season”.
Pity they couldn’t have afforded Lambert that luxury.
Good post and I totally agree Linden.
I thought he deserved a fairer crack of the whip but hey ho we move onto our 9th manager in a little over 5 years and come January we will probably be seeking our 10th in 6 years when this all goes tits up after another 6 months.
Frankly it is very unusual for me to spout such cynicism but I am sick of tired of the constant shenanigans along the Waterloo Road with (yet another) owner(s) physically incapable of injecting any stability and on field success into this ailing and blighted club.
However I wish the latest manager all the best and hope – indeed pray – he lasts longer than the usual 6 months or so.
BOG
Bog have you been drinking with Bedders? lighten up. Next Bloggers Ball Bash we will be on Champers’ and looking forward to stamping our mark on the prem’ Get your money on now, bookies won’t give you a price in September. Positive on !!
Sorry Witley for the rant. Unlike me I know.
I watched Huddersfield clinch promotion yesterday with a starting line up that cost less than £3 million. Only two players came with a fee.
Here we are as far away from the Holy Grail as ever despite having 13 players chucked at us last summer with fees costing up to £13 million (Costa) and paying ridiculous fees to a “super agent” who obviously saw Wolves as a dumping ground to get players off his books. Good luck to him.
Now we will no doubt have another ruck of cast offs etc chucked at us this summer.
We can but home our new management team can work the oracle.
All the best Witley
BOG
Must be the fuckin’ air in Bedford, all you friggin’ pessimists!!!
If things are that bad, sandwell town ALWAYS has capacity for a few thousand more to fill the crem!!
I’m sure Lambert was told. He officially said he thought he was staying – that is how it works in this business, if you want another job, you keep the company line.
He probably has another job already lined up.
Great article Chris & you’ve summed up everything I’ve been thinking. Lambert said from the start he would do things his way or not at all, so it’s obviously there’s the door.
Can this new guy do better? I guess we have to wait and find out.
Good point is as Clive says if rumours of new manager are correct then Costa should stay.
Remember lambert was a coach not manager he got told what to do and he knew it
He has to say all the spill to the fans cause we pay his wages he wouldn’t of given a fuck about us fans he will be kissing another badge in a couple of weeks
Let’s just get behind our club because end of the day it’s out club know one can take that away from us we know who we are
Wait and see what happens next and get behind whoever the proper fans will back any coach / manager/fucking sponge man
With PL gone now we have the potential of doing something extraordinary that means extraordinary players like Costa and flamboyant other players in the Mendes stable that should get us up..
Let’s have a punt.. it isn’t boring and if they can buy a decent no 5 then we will have this league in our pocket ..
How many goals did we concede last season? How many games did we loose at home?
If we stop the rot there than bring on the Mendes ‘flamboyant’s’…
With us it’s not location location location it’s resources resources resources..
COYW.
Well that’s that then. Now to get excited and hopeful – just like last season. This time I hope that the outcome will be completely different.
Like It says on my Twitter profile……”Supporting the Wolves is never dull”
A’int that the truth!
Onwards & Upwards
Santo can speak English ..that’s an advantage over PL then…
Here’s how I see it from afar.
Mendes is not going to ruin his reputation by failing at this task. There is more money in him being able to say “Look what I did at Wolves” with Wolves being as successful Premiership club than any of the money he gets in these relatively low pound deals.
Mendes will have access to many young players who are much better than the player we currently have on the squad and these players have a chance at growing into good Premiership players, whereas the current squad players would all have to be replaced when/if promoted.
Mendes recruited players last year with the intention of them playing under Lopetegui, not Lambert (or Zenga) and therefore their talents were more suited to the style of play that Santos will, presumably, try to incorporate.
Mendes doesn’t have to only sign his own players, he can recruit any players he sees fit, he will still make money either way.
Loan players with an option to buy is the way to go so that they can decide once they get here whether or not they will succeed without spending too much up front. I hope they continue to take that approach.
Lot of short memories on this blog, I recall similarly fantastical predictions of imminent domination of the championship and beyond last summer.
As the lessons of the last twelve months dont appear to have registered, I’ll refer to a fact quoted in the BBC article about Lambert: In the last ten years, only once has a manager taken over a championship club in summer (that was also in the championship the previous season),and achieved automatic promotion.
Seven managers in six seasons, or whatever it is, certainly ain’t promotion form. And we’ll be competing against en plus teams with more settled squads, managers and owners than we have.
I’d suggest tempering expectations, or at the very least given last season’s wildly misguided optimism, a bit of humility
That should read: achieved automatic promotion straight away
… and although stats never lie – its still not a law either. With the right manager and good enough players we will succeed.
Exciting times at Wolves off the pitch and, to be fair, occasionally on the pitch last season. Our last two coaches had a lot too much to achieve in too short a time with an unwieldy, unbalanced squad. Many of the home games were awful to watch as many of our away performances were good and exceptional at times. Thanks to the guys for trying but now does seem a time to move on and make more thorough changes throughout the club. I honestly have no idea how the next season will pan out, but the past two have been really too frustrating for the home fans and a clean, new approach with a highly regarded manager may well be the medicine we all require; let’s hope for the best.
One excellent feature of the past couple of seasons has been the emergence of young, home grown talent who have not looked out of place in the first team. I hope we can continue to see the progress and integration of talent such as Ronan, Enobakhare, etc despite hopefully an upgrading of the squad. I think the Academy was ranked as the third best in the country, which, some will hate this, is thanks to Mr Morgan by the way.
Another positive is to how the team have been supported, fervently by the away following, and stoically by the South Bank in particular at home; they deserve better fare surely.
Although I am as fearful as others in regard to knowing events could have a detrimental effect on our club, the non acceptance of mediocrity to continue does leave me with a guarded optimism for the future. I await the new season impatiently and with Hope in the forefront of my mind. Yet again `Out of Darkness Cometh Light` we pray…
Bedford should give it yet one more season; how often do we say that to ourselves. I, like many, have no choice. There is no other club, which will own my soul in the same way ever.
Good to see you back in print Debenham, especially after that disastrous Teamtalk fiasco.
Yes, looked for a long time for a decent blog, only to be told by my cousin’s wife that her son ,Tom, worked on a fairly good site after a year or so of frustration. Teamtalk is back up and talking, but, having done the dirty on us, I am not so interested, although I miss the great characters from it who were so rudely taken away. This site is golden though and full of guys much more knowledgeable and able than myself so I spend most of my time reading their interesting input. I only wish some of the old characters could find their way here as the number of bloggers on the Teamtalk site was outstanding. I have a tendency to be supportive and optimistic towards the club, not an overwhelming Wolvy characteristic in my experience so, as in politics, I often have to fight my usual corner.
Bloody hell, well that’s made the summer interesting? Here was me looking forward to a summer of late and dull transfer rumours with the odd actual signing to spice things up.
I really think this is a regressive step.
No. 1 we’ve sacked a proven talent for the crime of not turning a relegation threatened club into a promotion contender in a few months.
No. 2 what manager is going to look at a hiring and firing record and think that’s where I want to be?
I wish lambert all the best no doubt he will be firing some mid table championship club to the premier league before long. Meanwhile we will have another interesting pre season before falling into a relegation scrap by Xmas.
Anybody else starting to miss mid table mediocrity and the stability of jackett!
No !!! Will never miss crap week in and week out. COYW.
Oh …by the way mr bedders i hope you didnt take up those arsenal tickets as we told you not too……….. didnt we ?
I have a little bit of sympathy with the cynics as we’ve come to expect failure but come on guys. Thankfully Fosun haven’t got the weight of years of disappointment hanging over them. To new owners looking to promote Wolves on pay per view in China it was as plain as the nose on your face that Lambert’s team selections and brand of hoofball would get us nowhere. This is great news. Fosun have put their money where their mouth is. They are not going to stand for mediocrity and neither should we. I missed the glory years and have been waiting almost half a century to see us competing at the top, whilst enviously watching billionaire owners at Chelsea and Man City buying big and hiring and firing their way to the top. I’m not going to be around in another 50 years. Now is not the time to drag our feet settling for a 2nd rate manager trying to slowly drag a 2nd rate performance out of 3rd rate, 3rd division players. We’ve had decades of that. This is our time. Embrace it, enjoy it. UTW.
Well said,wwwebs.We don’t all want to be pushing up daisies when Wolves next achieve some success. It was clear from the turgid ‘football’ we had to suffer last season that Lambert was not going to take us anywhere or even get the players to produce the brand of football we crave for. If we can’t win then at least entertain in trying. Hopefully there will be no more Saville or those headless chickens Weimann and Edwards.Not if we are really going for success.
Every team in the Championship needs it’s share of the Edwards’s and Weimann’s. Eleven Cavaleiros would only take us one way, and it ain’t up.
If you have money it’s not always that black and white. There are players which have all these attributes. That’s the kind of player we should buy.
Very interesting post, Chris.
It’ll be interesting what’s down the line for everyone. Let’s hope there’s not a dungeon of thoughts when it comes to new signings this summer, and that the possible dangerous triangle you’re speaking about does a bit of forensic analysis before acting on anything.
No one should be on the sofa, or the counter for this one!
This current situation is, of course, different from last summer in one vital aspect. Last summer, Walter was bought in only a week before the season kicked off. This year, the new man, who shall henceforth be known as NES, has the whole transfer window and pre-season to get his act together.
Much has been made of Fosun being left in the lurch last year by Lopetegui backing out at the last minute. However, I feel that if the best they could rustle up in a hurry was Walter, they should have stuck with Kenny. At least for a while to see what came up. It seems they were determined to change whatever, and I feel Mendes had a big hand in that decision.
Hopefully, this change is built on more solid foundations and you would hope that a man with NES’s reputation to protect would ensure the quality he will have to work with will be sufficient for him to do the required job.
I also think that Mendes was a little surprised at the quality of player needed to get results in the Championship, which has to be the toughest 2nd division in the world. I don’t think he will make the same mistake again.
Overall, as much as I dislike the whole ethos of Mendes’s involvement and the manner of Lambo’s departure, it is what it is and I, like everyone else, will just have to hold tight and enjoy the ride. Or not.
OK NES. Show us what you can do.
I believe so too – the situation is entirely different than when Zenga took over. According to several sources Lambert planned to bring in up to 7 players. In reality it would probably mean new midfielders, a striker and a couple of defenders. A new team so to speak, which again would need time to function as a unity. What Lambert Improved was mainly the defensive organization, so I don’t think we lost much time on this transition to be honest. I’m fairly confident NES’s ability and Fosun’s money together gets this club back where it belongs – the Premiership.
As I don’t watch European or Champions League football I can’t make any comment on Nuno as until a week ago I had never heard of him. I hope it’s third time lucky for our attempt at a foreign manager.
However I can’t get any enthusiasm for the level of control that Mendes seems to have at our club. Nor the way Fosun seem to conduct themselves which to me shows a lack of class.
I really hope this turns out for the best.
Sometimes, and generally against a kind of soporific comfort zone, tough decisions have to be made. On many occasions these decisions appear drastic and are about as comfortable as one drawing fingernails down a blackboard. Adios Paul Lambert, I wish you well.
But I won’t be mourning his departure.
A mate of mine who supports the claret and blue of brummijum gave me a brief run-down of how a Lambert team operates, ie: tap it around at the back for an interminable while….then hoof it up to the forward(s).
I don’t feel that I saw much different from that precis.
So, to the new guy. I have no idea who he is and no Portuguese mate to cheer me up with his doubtless enthralling tactics, but I’ll back the guy unconditionally (until we start playing shit and losing week-in-week-out) and try to understand what the hell his football zeitgeist is and (see earlier brackets)
The good thing is that he has a full pre-season, so we should be up and at em by August….
Another good thing (so far) is that Senor Costa hasn’t been unveiled as a Chelsea/Crystal Palace recruit……yet. So our new manager has some quality to play with before Jorge (the goat of) Mendes decides he wants a new Ferrari.
Well, that’s a lot of (brackets) and I’m off for a lie down, and it’s gotta be better than last term, hasn’t it?!
Enjoy your holidays everyone and UTW!!
Nuno Espirito Santo can be sung to the tune of Una Paloma Blanca. Just thought I’d mention it
You should be ashamed. Very ashamed.
Looks like Wolves are already overpaying for their signings this window.
– Wolves could end up paying 2.6 mill for Mendes player Miranda
– If Lambert still where at the helm, he’d expect the owners to pay approximately 5.5 mill for Hanley (Newcastle)
Not knowing anything about Miranda, I can’t compare the values.
This one sounds promising:
Fabio Cardoso for 1mill
“The Record reports that Pedro Caixinha (Rangers manager) is extremely keen on signing the 23-year-old, but Lambert’s departure leaves the path clear for the Molineux outfit to make a move.”
This is clearly an ongoing recipe for disaster. Wolves are simply repeating the exact same errors from last year.
Many people have suggested that Santo is totally different animal to Zenga, but I’m not to sure. His cv contains some questionable downsides as well as alleged highlights.
Once again it’s Mendes who is calling the shots and who will be coining it in regardless of what happens to Wolves. And as for Jeff Shi? Is he going to continue as Chairman? His credibility has been completely shattered. He announces total confidence in Zenga and soon after Zenga is fired. Then he announces how Lambert is definitely the man to lead Wolves long term and he too is soon after fired. It’s clear that Jeff is nothing more than a tool, a front man or puppet, whose strings are being pulled by others higher up within Fosun, along with, of course, the aforementioned snake Mendes. I really don’t see how Shi can remain credibly any longer. Who is ever going to believe anything he says. He may be being entirely sincere with his statements, but he’s a tool of his bosses and quite clearly always likely to be contradicted by them.
This all looks very Leeds United to me I’m afraid.
A tool of his bosses. Wow, never would have guessed that. I guess things really are different in China.
Indeed, indeed, but a Chairman must have some credibility in order for his statements to be worth anything at all and Jeff Shi has now been put in an impossible position in that respect I think.
Since when did a football club chairman have any credibility?
First of all, Leeds never had a couch of Nuno’s calibre. It all depends on which players are brought in. We have players currently close to premiership standard: Costa, Cavaleiro and Dicko when he’s in form. The defense should hold championship standard, especially with Miranda’s rumoured future arrival in mind. If we could bring in some star midfield players we’ll be miles apart from Leeds.
With respect to player quality that may be the case, although most of Mendes’ first group of signings turned out to be complete failures and others, like Cavaleiro for instance, while they had their good games were also hit and miss as well.
Let’s hope the next batch fares better, but the Championship is a hard nut to crack for overseas players. On top of that, I had in mind the distant approach of Fosun’s management style more than player quality. They have a front man as chairman and are relying totally on an agent to steer the ship it seems and that is worrying to my mind.
I expect the next batch to exceed the first one by far. At least if Mendes has put some work and used the time to set up a decent shortlist of targets. And Jordan and Zyro are also back. If the midfield is improved with star players, and maybe a top striker, we’ll have a team which really stands out from the rest
For dogs sake stop moaning about Mendes making some money
We could still be in the grasp of morgan and Poxey
THIS IS THE BEST POSITION WOLVES HAVE BEEN IN FOR A CENTURY AND I FOR ONE AM GOING FOR IT SO GET ON BOARD AND PLEASE STOP BEING NEGATIVE
Very succinctly put Spikeyboy …
I for one would not be watching Wolves had Morgan and Moxey still been in charge …. these two had no interest in Wolves other than seeing the opportunity to line their own pockets.
Not so with Fosun …. and let’s face it …accountability catches up with everyone eventually….so Mendes will b
..continuing on … will be judged in the course of time…
See ya point Twix, but Fosun are in it to line their pockets too. I reckon. Their not staunch fans, are they? As long as we improve though, their motivation is irrelevant.
You’re right Wolfstroker …. they don’t have a massive love for Wolves ….just a love of Money …
That said …they’ve got to give us some financial cuddles along the road of parenthood …!!
I’m glad the PLank has gone,he was a dullard sort of coach who was happy with a draw .Daley and co pleased they’ve gone too.
On Santo, I’m pleased we have him, and looking forward to seeing some sexy football down the mol for a change.If we were a premiership club we wouldn’t be moaning if we brought in a continental manager with foreign players would we because that’s what’s happening in our league as well as the prem.just look at the top six coaches in the championship five foreign managers + Chris Houghton.
Who are the top coaches in the prem,all foreign managers.I rest my case.
What ever happens it I hope can’t be as bad as last term.UTW
Zenga was a foreign manager too was he not? And I repeat, of the first raft of signings brought in by Mendes, all bar Costa were less than successful. Many were complete failures.
And Saunders was from the UK, was he not?
I have no idea what point you’re trying to make. Let me be clear, I am certainly NOT from the “British is best” camp. Nothing could be further from the truth. I was merely making the obvious point that because the current top 6 teams in the Championship had foreign coaches then any of them must be superior. That, of course, is nonsense. It’s down to individuals on an each case basis.
Another concern I have about a new foreign manager coming in again is the possible impact and effect on the young players from the academy. Whatever Lambert’s shortcomings may have been, he certainly gave the youth its chance and Connor Ronan and Morgan Gibbs-White took their chances impressively. There were others knocking on the door too and it would be a real shame if all of that were allowed to dwindle away.
If they are good enough, they will play, otherwise, they will be left to develop or sold. That’s life.
It’s not only “life”. It’s significantly down to an individual coaches attitude to giving young players a chance. Most recently Zenga clearly didn’t believe in it, whereas Lambert, for all of his downsides, did.
It remains to be seen what the new man’s attitude will be, but the likelihood will surely be that he will favour the players supplied by the man who has been responsible for getting him his own job – Mendes.
No, they need to have the opportunity to develop. I share the same concerns as Peter.
Could be worse Peter, they could have been at Chelsea Academy players. They only see their own ground at the end of the season.
Not true in fact. Ake, Chalobah and Kennedy have all played in the first team this year. Most do stay on loan I agree, but then Chelsea have a totally different model to ours, both in terms of the football level that they operate at and the composition of their fanbase. They’re a club situated in arguably the most cosmopolitan city in the world, (Chelsea is not an English place at all), whereas Wolves are a club situated slap bang in the heart of provincial England and the production of home grown talent is always going to be far more desired at a club like ours than it will be in a club like Chelsea.
It would make a lo more sense to compare us with the likes of Newcastle, for example, I think.
I think you got my meaning, at the last count I believe there were about 20 Academy players at other teams to gain experience. Not a bad thing either.
I am a great believer in the Academy and have followed Conor Ronan since his arrival. It would be a strange manager/Coach that left him out given his performances last season.
What I have seen of this impressive young man leads me to believe he may be the best all round player I have seen in a Wolves shirt since Peter Broadbent; skilful, creative, able to score and with great vision. Let’s hope he can maintain the standards he has set himself…
Comparing this young man with Mr Broadbent sets the bar very high indeed Deb. He was certainly my childhood hero for sure. But I agree with you. He and Morgan are prodigiously talented and we have done really well with our academy investment. It would be a tragedy if all of that were to come to nothing because of a new administration that failed to take account of the potential there.
Be sure, I am not saying that they will. Only that I fervently hope that they don’t. Because, again for all of his failings, the offering of opportunities to our young players was something that Paul Lambert cannot be faulted for.
The optimistic approach of so many is fantastic, personally I can just see another disaster, while an agent is deciding who we buy I can only see disaster. We signed how many players and one was good. If this continues I can only see us going down. I simply have no faith left. Many clubs have treated the manager like sh¥t and you think I how the club goes down after how they have acted. I think that’s how people will be looking at us from the outside.
I hope to God I’m wrong and it’s a fantastic season I just cant see it I really can’t ?
Zenga was a second or third choice coach brought in a hurry to get some sort of team together all be it with Mendes’s help.and imo did a reasonable job until he got himself into a spot of bother at a well known pub.Thats why he was sacked.
At the end of the day it’s what Fosun want, and I’m afraid we don’t count in money matters and decisions on football coach’s.we all have our different opinions but in common we’re all wolves supporters.
What ever next season throws up all I can say is let’s give a go it can’t be as bad as under the PLank.
you’re right there John, we had some excitement with Zenga, and he was steadily sorting out the 36 players he had in the squad he inherited.
He was probably never expecting to be in Wolverhampton for the long term though, still having his family in Dubai I believe………….
Lambert talked the talk when he came in, even claimed we were a million miles ahead under his regime, then continued mumbling Scotch mist. ‘A wee bit of help’ was all he felt necessary; Fosun have much more ambition than that !
Personally, I believe Lambert deserved a summer to build his squad and the chance to have a crack at next summer.
However, I’m not particularly bothered he’s gone. The concern is we are repeating our mistakes and in October we’ll be languishing in the bottom half and Santo will be sacked.
On the plus side, he has a better record than Zenga. He managed to take a small side in Rio Ave to Europe and appears to have a respectable record at both Valencia and Porto.
But I don’t care who you are, you aren’t going to boss the league with Dave Edwards and Conor Coady. He needs new players, hopefully not all untested because that is not a recipe for success.
Foreign does not necessarily mean failure. Look at the sides in the play offs, all had foreign managers.
I agree m8. I thought PL was hard done by but I’ll wait and see what happens now, reserve judgement as it were.
I can remember the euphoria which met each new signing last summer, John, Prince, Gladon, Bod and the rest. There are no guarantees it will be any different this time yet the same people who applauded these signings last year are already shouting the loudest again. I just hope we don’t fuc*k it up again. YouTube was never the greatest souting tool and with posters getting orgasmic over a 20 second clip . . . . . . sorry but I just can’t buy into it yet, I want to see them do it on the field and not just a selection of hioghlights from an otherwise drab and uninspiring CV. Its just like Mendes suddenly becoming like some posters favourite uncle.
A 20 second clip from 4 years ago, to be more specific.
Bloody pricks the load of ya!
Getting me sacked!
You can’t be Paul Lambert!
I can understand what you’ve written.
Will any new players that the triad bring in have to sign a contract with a Santo Clause?
It always bothers me when a manager loses his job, or a player is moved on. Heck, I still look out for Afobe, Stephen Fletcher and Liam McAlinden. In my world, once a wolf always a wolf. It’s a shame PL didn’t get a chance to build his own team, the players he brought in in January did a good job. But, onwards and upwards I suppose, and as has been suggested earlier in this stream, it’s not my money and I’m not party to any of the decision making. Roll on next season.
Is it a Santo clause or sanity clause Bardwolf? Anyway let’s just hope we recruit or retain some players willing to turn up on a wet Tuesday night in Middlesbrough. Mick McCarthy was always wary of ‘fancy Dans’ which would have included the likes of Sako ( I can’t write his name without weeping forlornly) or Costa. Clearly we need a mixture of their prodigious talents and some serious Championship hard men with knowledge of this God forsaken league. I am anxious but excited by what is to come.
If there is really no sanity clause then who delivers my presents at Christmas????
Cannock,
Easy!
Your mom
How about this for a prospect today…
Wolves announce new Coach and backroom staff.
Wolves announce Portuguese Fabio Cardoso CB
Wolves announce Portuguese Roderick Miranda CB
Wolves announce Senegalese Phil Ayeh Attacking full back
We keep Portuguese Silvio attacking fullback
What’s not to like.
I worked for 4 years in Portugal, I don’t want to piss on anyone’s chips here becuase everyone’s opinion is what makes this blog great, but Portugal is feckin cold, dark and damp in the winter and these guys are used to playing at Braga on cold, damp wet Wednesday nights. Braga is about 30 milrs from the Spanish border where there are Ski resorts, so they get sleet and snow too.
I can’t really comment on three of those players Stu. I’ve only ever seen Silvio do his thing.
I got all excited last year by an influx of players with exotic names that I knew nothing about. I won’t be making that mistake again.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40108246
“Wolves are set to sign centre-back Ryan Bennett following his release by Championship rivals Norwich City, reports BBC Radio Norfolk.”
My conclusion is that we’ve strengthened the squad. Bennet will probably also strengthen the first team, so I’m very happy with the dealings so far. Perhaps a bit overkill to buy more defenders after this one.
Be surprised if that one goes through. Looks like a Thelwell/Lambert selection to me and we are already being linked with two Portuguese CHs whilst we still have 4 others (DB, EEL, Iorfa, Hause) on the books.
So Norwich released him – why???
Is this really the calibre of players we expect to fire us to the promised land?
If he’s not good enough for Norwich then he’s not good enough for us.
Several other teams have been linked to him, among them Brighton and Hull.
Time will show if he manages to break into the first team. Not a bad freebie.
“The centre-back pairing of Tim Klose and Russell Martin ensured Bennett made only 24 starts this season, but the 27-year-old is still highly thought of around the Championship circuit. He was bought by Norwich for £3million in 2012 and make 101 league appearances for the Carrow Road club in five years.”
– And yes, Steppenwolfe, Lambert signed Bennet for Norwich in 2012. Definitely a player scouted and picked by Lambert. Could be a good signing, with that in mind.
And he has signed !
It seems that the club is in chaos – on the day a new head coach is announced another sub-par ‘Championship experienced’ defender is dumped on him – and this in an area where we already have numerous contenders. Utter f*****g chaos.
Stop exaggerating! :=))) Villa was also interested in signing him. Let’s sell him for a couple of millions. Easy money :=)))
You can’t make it up. Whose decision was it to sign him? Thelwell?
Nothing wrong with having some good Championship players for certain situations.
Like if we stay rooted in the championship. Besides, is he really a GOOD championship player? Norwich obviously don’t think so.
Is this guy really any better than the likes of Ebanks Landell, Iorfa, Hause, Batth or even Stearman. It has got Thelwell written all over it. The new manager won’t have seen him and he isn’t one of Mendes’s. Christ, I can remember some of Thelwells finest – Gladon stands out. How the f8ck has he managed to survive the axe yet again?
Norwich couldn’t see any point in extending his contract. Is this really indicative of our premier league aspirations? This sort of aquisition doesn’t fill me with optimism I’m afraid.
The manager now states he wants build a team around Costa. Dalrymplei States that if Costa is sold it would be for “financial reasons.” Steerman was sold for
“Football reasons” . So what are the reasons for seeking promotion to The Premier League? Are they financial or footballing reasons?
If promotion is a serious ambition , wouldn’t it appear prudent to retain your best player rather than seek to make a profit by selling him?
Surely the financial rewards which come with promotion will be greater than any other financial profit from selling a player?
BREAKING NEWS:
I just spotted Fabio Capello in the street here in London in Chelsea. He’s no longer coaching the Russian national team. I wonder what he’s up to? He surely couldn’t be in the running for the Wolves job? Maybe Crystal Palace though? Maybe West Ham?
Maybe he’s going to go head to head with Kenny Jackett for the Portsmouth job.
A done deal then.
Santo Claus IS coming to town.
feels like christmas eve when i were a kid
If you think that the new team will be the golden ticket, it’s a best priced 17/1 to win the league (Paddy Power).This is a better price than for relegation (14/1). Best price for promotion is 5/1 (Bet365).
I’m on with BetVictor 16-1 we win the league.
THE SAINT has arrived!!
Nuno is uno.
Espirito sanctus….
Mendez has found us a defender his name is……..Bennett!?!!
From Norwich. Thelwell Rules OK.
But Roger Moore just died…………………………………….
Roger Moore just died? How can they tell?
Brilliant. Just brilliant!
Just put an aka on Sean Cronary and Pieced Brosnan to go next!
Behave you lot, I like Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan is really tough, he kissed that Meryl Streep in Mama Mia, now that takes a lot of guts.
Stu,
Really!
Honestly?
You’re admitting to having watched Mama Mia????
There is something in the air tonight,
New managers name to get right,
Nuno Espirto Santoooo
My sediments exactly Jim.
The news report states he made more gaffs than Danny Batth towards the end of this season, so that sounds about right for us and Thelwell.
Most of last years signings were not failures, some were just not given a decent run in the team , others were perhaps not used in the right system,or coached correctly!
Let’s hope the new guy has something a little more easy on the eye planned for Next year,
Utw
I’m sure you’re right about the new signing from last summer; they were messed about and never allowed to settle in, and moreover, had to play with the left overs from Kenny Jackett’s squad.
If I remember correctly, we achieved better results with the ‘old KJ players’ at the start of the season, than when Walter started introducing more of the new signings.
I’ve been mulling over the first prospect for our new improved team………. Roderick Miranda. Roderick from ‘Only Fools and Horses’ ? Miranda the comedian ? Or Miranda from ‘The Tempest’, who is quoted with :
‘Oh Brave new World ! That has such people in it !
We can but dream, maybe even a match where Wolves dominate throughout, and win 3-0 (at least).
*Just about to break into the Portuguese national team*
Roderick Miranda, Rio Ave, Centre-Back
A product of Benfica’s academy who was let go by the club in 2013, it has taken Roderick a while to put together a consistent campaign but he did just that this season. The 26-year-old averaged 1.2 tackles, 2.2 interceptions, 1.6 aerials won and 3.9 clearances per game. As well as being solid on the backend, he also completed an impressive 83.9 percent of his passes, scored twice and added three assists, helping Rio Ave to a seventh-place finish, and is rumoured to be on the verge of a debut Portugal call-up by Seleção coach Fernando Santos.
And Danny Batth is just about to break into the Indian national team. In his dreams.
Less than 2 tackles and aerials, whatever they are ( tv watching on the pitch?) , less than 3 interceptions, and less than 4 clearances per game, which I am assuming is full games, over 90 minutes, ……………and you rate that???
Hate to see who you don’t rate.
I admit that the stats are a bit off given that he’s on the verge of a Portugal call-up. Perhaps he’s so fast that he don’t have to tackle? :=))) The stats must have been misinterpreted by those who wrote the down the information.
Well baste my buttocks with Banks’s
1.2 tackles?
2.2 clearances?
1.6 aerials?
I think I’ve had too much sauce – how can you do .2 of a tackle in every game – but he is consistent….
same goes for .2 clearance and .6 aerials….
And last point is Santos the plural of Santo?
I’m in Tintagel as I post this blog you cannot get more history and mythology and I’m on my first pint of Sharps Cornish lager and let me tell you it’s not sharp at all in like the wife when I susgeested a drink, no it’s like drinking honey with bubbles.
I go away for a week and we appoint a holy manger, well I’m praying for him and the fact he’s bring his own back room team is a massive move forward the coaching staff have been here since McCarthy and it has shown painfully on the pitch let’s hoe a more European approach will yield better performances better results less injuries and better football on the pitch..,,….now for the boardroom and Therwell he has got to be worried a man with a job title but no job ?
You go away for a week and find that we’ve appointed the Holy Ghost. Thank God!
It could have been a Monk…
Enjoy your holiday m8. If you bump into Arthur give him our regards.
Sharps – try Doom Bar or St Austells HSD (High Speed Death to the locals).
Looking forward to your comments next season – let’s hope its a good un.
Mmmm. HSD. I grew up on that stuff. Still love it.
Remember though. Drink responsibly.
No danger of not doing so – three pints and I’m weeing all night.
Do you know what folks ? I have supported Wolves since 1976 . My first “live” game was away at the shit (Forest) in 1978 and I have been going every year since then. I have never had a season ticket because I live 83 miles away and due to my job I can only do matches on a Saturday. Night matches and Sundays are out of the equation. But, for the first time ever, I want a season ticket. I want to be able to say after a memorable season that “I was there”. I was at Wembley in 1980 and 1988 and I was at The Mol against QPR when we got promotion to the promised land. I was also at Scarborough so I have seen the lows as well. Most of my friends admire me for supporting “a little club” and I always say to them at the start of the season that “this is the year”. But, do you know what ? this IS the year. We are heading for The Premier League. Me and Sue are on the rollercoaster that is Wolverhampton Wanderers – see you there folks.
Bloody good show Ian and Sue. Old Gold and Black running through them veins.
Get another 1498 of your mates to buy one and we will get a refund.
Do you realise your two ST’s take the total to exactly 15,000 STH’s.
God bless you both, Nuno Espirito Santos to you both.
THAT’S WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR …… PURE OPTIMISM…. NOT DOOM AND GLOOM
What I want to hear is Cheeseburger of Death’s dulcet tones.
He has been very quiet since the Ball.
Perhaps we scared him?
Or is he our new manager in disguise, bit like Judy, without the glasses.
(You old ‘uns will get that.)
Whomsover we get as manager and players, I have every confidence they will be given our full support, and we will get behind them 100%.
It is then up to them as to whether said support is maintained in a positive manner.
I for one am with spikeyboy 100%
Is it only a year since the red nosed scouse twat and his bum boy ran away?
Seems longer.
Wonder whether greasel has a job yet?
Twixfix will know.
After he’s finished bonking Amanda, he always contacts his best mate, mox!!
Hello Clive- I am still alive. My laptop had a malfunction and my nephew (who works in IT) has been busy fixing it up (in between getting on with his social life of beer consumption) .He has said something like ‘160 updates’ ‘upgraded software’ ‘ downloaded windows 10.1’ etc etc – he might as well have been speaking Russian to me. Now it is working again like almost shiny and new. I welcome our latest Portugese recruits- perhaps Wolverhampton should be twinned with Lisbon. Two stylish cosmopolitan citadels together. Are we all back on the rollercoaster again ? The Espirito Santo Slalom ?
Hello Clive- I am still alive. My laptop had a malfunction and my nephew (who works in IT) has been busy fixing it up (in between getting on with his social life of beer consumption) .He has said something like ‘160 updates’ ‘upgraded software’ ‘ downloaded windows 10.1’ etc etc – he might as well have been speaking Russian to me. Now it is working again like almost shiny and new. I welcome our latest Portugese recruits- perhaps Wolverhampton should be twinned with Lisbon. Two stylish cosmopolitan citadels together. Are we all back on the rollercoaster again ? The Espirito Santo Slalom ?
Welcome back, Cheesy.
Just before the nxt thread undoubtedly discussing our new coach and Mendes and Co it would be fair to say Fosun has picked up some of the the mess of last season.
What we can’t do imo is suggest that they sat on their hands and did nothing ..they are still mopping up the blood left on the floor..
As I’ve said before prepare for Chinese unrepentant change of mind and the save face syndrome..
Next season will be interesting.
COYW
Well it’s never dull with our new Chinese friends is it! We thought it would be a period of careful rebuilding with the canny Scot. I was pleased with his appointment after Zenga and certainly he seems to have struck gold with the signing of Ben Marshall. His ethos seemed to be sound reducing the playing staff and bringing in players with Championship experience. However, the football under him wasn’t very exciting and tactically he seemed to come up short. I therefore have mixed feelings about the appointment of Santo.
On the plus side he has a much better pedigree than Zenga and will be probably be able to attract bigger names. Foreign coaches for whatever reason generally seem to do better than our British managers, just look at the Championship sides finishing in the top 6, Hughton being the exception.
My big worry is the influence of Mendes. Yes he delivered Costa who was a joy to watch. But he also gave us Zenga who was a great character but was never going to deliver us Premiership football and completely overlooked our young players. I feel Santo will probably do the same. The likes of Roman, Graham, Gibbs White etc. must be gutted Lambert has left as they know their chances will be limited. I still feel Mendes is not bothered about our club and is just using us to offload Some of ‘his’ players that aren’t good enough for the likes of Benicia. If they do come good he can move them on to bigger teams. Will Helder be here come August, probably not. Another 10 % commission for Mendes when he sells him on to Albion for 20 million. Won’t they just love that!
How Santo will be able to trim down our squad when he will bring in at least a handful of players will be difficult. Currently only 3 have been released. Will teams come in for the likes of Saville, Price, Gladon etc?Our first team squad of 30 could become 35, bigger than many Premiership squads. Good luck keeping them all happy Nuno!
Sorry should read Ronan and Benfica!
Somehow I doubt that the Mendes/NES(sie) combine will appreciate having the boy Bennett foisted on them just as they were taking up posts. Clearly Nuno will have had no input into the decision, so it will be Thelwell’s responsibility. Could that be one of his last acts working for WWFC ?
I agree with that one wolfie .. just doesnt sit right does it… almost like a last sneaky one under the counter before i go
100% agree boys, Fosun and Mendes would not have appreciated that one.
The Norwich fans have taken to the tinternet to wish us well in our acquisition of what they say is another Danny Batth waiting to happen.
I shall give the guy the benefit of doubt but Thelwell is walking a lonely trail, all his chums are disappearing in the night.
Agreed. If Bennett was a parting shot, where are the other signings hinted in a leak allegedly from Lambert’s camp? Like Tammy Abraham and Grant Hanley etc. It probably shows that the only deal that was close was Bennett. Abraham was undoubtedly pie-in-the-sky. No way would Chelsea loan him out to a 15th-placed championship club.
Sorry honley but i really dont believe this is some giant conspiracy by mendes to use fosun and wolves , after all they could buy and sell him a million times over, it seems to me to be the other way around.
Mendes has access to the worlds best players and best up and coming players and i think thats where he fits into our jigsaw at the moment.
We wont attract top players until we reach the prem at the end of this season.
But with persuasion by the right agent we could attract the future stars to take a chance on us.
Benefits come both ways thats the way it goes
Until we find ourselves in the position where top players will be falling over their selves to sign for us we have to accept people on a try me out basis … some come good some dont.
What we will get is flair and quality from the overseas lot and that will show the rest the way.
I expect a large influx of foreign players over the next few weeks and also another bomb squad of ex players waiting to be moved out .
Yes it seems cruel but these guys get paid a lot of money and if they cant produce the goods then its adios amigo… thats football nowdays.
WOW ARE WE GOING TO SEE SOME STUFF DOWN THE GOLDEN PALACE
Worth a look guys and girls,
First impressions and all that. Looks so uncannily like Zenga, but speaks better EngerIshhh than Lambert.
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2017/06/01/nuno-espirito-santo-speaks-of-ambitious-new-project-for-wolves-during-first-interview—watch-/
It was interesting to hear that he don’t separate fitness and football in his coaching. That’s quite different from how Daley and co organized the training, if I’m not wrong(?). Nuno will also open the training sessions for fans.
*not big difference between pre-season and in-season in that department, in other words*
The full interview at the Molineux press conference….. 22 minutes long but worth a look.
*WARNING*
This video contains flashing images and bullshit regarding Thelwell.
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2017/06/01/watch-nuno-espirito-santos-first-wolves-press-conference-in-full/
Interesting person.
Much better command of the English language than our previous two managers.
Contradicted himself by mentioning Edwards by name, then saying there will be ball work all the time. Our Dave is gonna have his work cut out for him then!!
Not impressed with Dalpimple, sounds a lot like our non lamented ex ceo.
Time will tell on Nuno, but he’s got my full support, for whatever that’s worth!!
FOwb
What’s he doing with your support?
The doctor said you should wear it always.
(And why is it full?)
Clive,
How did you get your support over to him so quickly?
And interesting, does it fit?
Surely the sniffer dogs would have found it shipped by air-mail….
Stu’ did you supply the carpet, not sure about the colour, it’s got to go !!
Spikeyboy, you had me at ‘wow’
I notice in all the video stuff that there is a distinct lack of the word ‘Batth’….
I just hope he realises conceding goals means a shite spot in the league and boos from home fans if we loose..
I have no doubt WHATSOEVER that our forwards and goal scorers will prob be potentially the best in this division…
I’m expecting to hear that Phil Ayeh, German born Ghanaian attacking full back in the next 24 hours, had his medical just sorting terms out. Upset with his current manager and so would not re-sign with them and wanted a move. Apparently, a hard tackling skillful player that is rated in Germany.
If you listen to NES today, he hinted that we would take any good player, British, Portuguese or German.
Ayeh is actually a decent player on Football manager 2016.When I bought Cardosa an interesting comment appeared, something in the vein of: “Cardosa the next Coelho”. Mirandas stats were quite average but he did an ok job.
Well spotted Stu. I too heard him say that but didn’t put two and two together.
Well … they ve got my full support . What a fucking fantastic appointment !
Unbelievable. Valencia, Porto and Wolverhampton… absolute dream material . The caliber of player that’s going to want to play for this guy is the promise we were made last season .
Fantastic
Well done fosun !!!
London, me and the wife had a week in Valencia a couple of years back, brilliant place. NES will find Wolvo’ a tad different. Lets hope he can handle the life style change. Hope you and yours are all good, see you in about five weeks unless you have done a Bedders. Fork orf WB !!
Think you got it wrong there, Matty Boy.
It should be Valencia and Porto are honored to be in the same sentence as Wolverhampton Wanderers.
After all, we did have floodlights before Europe was invented, and, and and, the first traffic lights in the country, possibly the world.
You just cannot compete with that!!
You bought your season ticket yet Clive ?? come on I’ll get a refund, you can stay at ours !!
Can I bring the wife, the dogs and my teddy bear?
You can bring who and what you like Clive, just as long as it is not wearing a fecking stripey shirt. Let the good times roll !
He hasn’t mentioned his collection of ducks yet!
He never goes anywhere without them.
Now you are being silly.
Only the ones that behave themselves get to travel.
Don’t worry lads . Bedders will be ok
It’s not the shit football , it’s all about missing your dad ain’t it ?
I know , most of us know how things remind us and get under your skin sometimes . I often wonder why I have give such s large portion of my life to wolves but I know they will be in my thoughts when I’m in the departure lounge . Wolves ay we ?
Witley … I’m trying to dry out a bit . It’s not going well
Clive .. top Black Country man . Remind me of my dad’s brother, miserable and really funny !
Stu … I’ve been amazed at your intell
Lately . Best heads up going .wow stunning inside stuff
Bedders mate . Miss your posts man !
Matt, try hanging on the clothes line, that’s as near you will ever get to drying out !! Hollow legs, last man standing.
I am stunned by some of the paranoia displayed here!
China has huge amounts of money for football.
It is the biggest growth area for the Sport.
Mendez is clever, he saw it & allied himself with Fosun.
We have no idea as to what degree.
Nevertheless it is a multi – trillion pound company.
It makes Morgan look like a pauper.
Some people seem to suggest that Thelwell has power to make independent decisions!
No.
Ryan Bennett is a Fosun signing.
It is crazy to think Fosun will trust Thelwell with anything.
They have given him a nice fat salary, to do Mendes bidding.
No more and no less.
Legally Mendes cannot take Thelwell’s position, but in reality he can.
Jealousy about his involvement might come from other clubs, but we at Wolves should be very grateful.
This season coming will prove me right or wrong….
Robin,
Fosun being a multi-trillion pound business will see WWFC as a project – if truthful a minor project within their portfolio
Massive businesses won’t invest their monies into “non profit making projects” – they will have a short, medium & long term business plan, but, making money will be there main focus along with marketing of the name again for business growth.
& whilst they may have billions, they ain’t gonna spend £1M’s & £1Ms here at WWFC, they will however, spend on good investments – Costa is a prime example £13M in 2017 – sell for £20M + or he helps to get to the promised land…. really is a good investment
However, once in the Prem, I believe then to stay they will invest in line with the potential rewards.
I also guess that Fosun’s “project pot of cash” will buy more players, but, I guess it wasn’t Geoff Shi that wanted to sign Bennett and he’s on a free so apart from wages it’s not a massive loss if he turn out to be shite!
FOwb
Rick Rack….
“Massive businesses won’t invest their monies into ‘non-profit making projects.”
You are right.
They research before they buy into a company & then invest.
In today’s world a Premier League Club is a world-wide opportunity to advertise yourself.
There is no better stage.
Unless one has the experience of owning and running a multi-trillion business one is in the land of fantasy as to how they conduct themselves.
One thing is obvious Fosun want us to be a success.
We need to get behind them, not doubt their strategy.
Personally think this season Wolves will show that the ‘myth’ that ‘only a certain type of player will get us out the championship.’ – Is just that a myth.
Automatic promotion is what I, (and I think Fosun) expect next season.
Hiya Robin,
I think we have to agree to dis-agree on how Big Business works – we haven’t seen and guess we won’t see their business plans.
Agreed fully on their wish for success & getting behind them and I’m sure that the Gold & Black army all crave the same goal – Good/Great Football that’s entertaining (equals bums on seats), Prem League, Silverware, Europe – and for me, in that order please Fosun/WWFC if it’s on the menu.
But don’t be misguided – Fosun cannot have a “love” of WWFC unless Geoff Shi and his seniors have been in the Cow Shed or South Bonk for a number of years, but merely at this stage they will have a desire to create a successful project – and I believe that they will create that – whereas I have a “love” for WWFC since 40 years – again today we both crave the same goals but with independent agendas.
As for promotion this coming season, I will reserve cautious optimism as we’ve all been there, done that and got too many tee-shirts.
They will however get my full support for 23 home plus any cup games and several aways too – my support will remain unwavering even if we have a further 4 managers in the next 12 months, but I may be a tad disappointed if that occurred….
Wolves Ay We
FOstfc
You are right there!
Fosun cannot possibly ‘love’ Wolves, but it does know I believe, it needs those who do ‘love’ Wolves.
Such as ourselves and everyone else on this blog, in our own ways.
Am possibly being optimistic we will get automatic Promotion.
But if the Spiritu Sancto (holy spirit), is with our Nuno, anything is possible….
Nomen partum et have a great day Rick-Rack!
Hey, might be worth a little punt:
BET365 still have us at 16/1 to win chumpionship outright – so might have a cheeky little double with WBFA to be relagated at 6/1- thats 118/1
COMB
FOwb
With the way that pile of shit finished the season, they should be odds on to go down, and I don’t reckon poolis will be there much longer, that rat always jumps a sinking ship, and usually one he has scuppered himself!
I had a bit of the 16/1 with BetVictor.
WBA to be relegated? Now there’s a tricky dilemma for Wolves fans. Do we want to meet WBA next season in the PL or do we want then relegated?
I had a bit of the 16/1 with BetVictor.
WBA to be relegated? Now there’s a tricky dilemma for Wolves fans. Do we want to meet WBA in the PL or do we want them relegated as we go up?
Here’s something for the more astute bloggers amongst us to pick through, this is the language I want them talking, If we can keep Helder then it may well be game on with a new back line.
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2017/06/02/nuno-and-laurie-dalrymple-on-helder-costas-wolves-future/
I doubt either Fosun or Mendes will let Costa go.
Am sure Nuno discussed it before becoming the Manager.
Our best player is Portuguese so is our new manager & unofficial sporting director.
Be absolutely pointless considering the set-up.
Doog & Londonloyal.
Just spoke with Phil Parkes and he sounds really poorly still, he asked if I can leave it for a week or so.
I’m off to Vegas on Monday so I will get it done on my return. He is genuine, he sounds really throaty over the phone so I will get it done when he’s better.
StuWolf
OK Stu.
Thanks for the update.
***** BREAKING NEWS *****
Brompton Wolf reporting live from North Yorkshire states that next season will see Wolverhampton Wanderers earn promotion to the Premiership after achieving a club record points tally.
He also announces the team finishing the season will be a team fully prepared for the challenges of the Premiership and is confident that development of the squad will see a push for a Champions League place occurring within the next 5 years.
He closes his report by stating “I love Triangles Me”
Delusion.
Misconception, fantasy, illusion, hallucination.
All words that spring to mind after reading your blog, Brompto.
But not mine.
I was a Boy Sprout, and went to many a Jamboree, sleeping under the stars and all the manly stuff, and I have to say, with you living in a tent and all that,
I AM 100% IN YOUR CAMP.
Every single one of us wants what you have predicted, and why not?
If we don’t start EVERY match with the aim of winning it, why bother starting?
And with the resources behind us, who is to say we cannot.
This is a new beginning, the vast majority of deadwood staff has gone, brand new coaching personnel in place, right at the start of the summer, the world is our lobster!
Look down the road 6 miles, and that lot have 13 full timers at present, just lost their captain to Stoke, ( how embarrassing is that?) and although in the Prem, still couldn’t fill all their seats when Chelsea came to town.
They are always going to be a second rate provincial club, just there to make up the numbers, cannon fodder is a better term, whilst we are going places undreamed of by shit fans.
So yes, Mr. Brompt, I am with you all the way to the European Cup Final !!
Can’t wait mate. I am extremely excited to see how this coming season pans out. As you say Clive ….. we have the resources.
Clive,
the world is our lobster – fecking brillo….
was nice to see we had similar background “wen ey wer a lad” – I was in the Sea Scout’s and loved it until my tent sank… splooooooosh
Also close on too much info on the strippy fekkers, but, hey lets hope Poo-less (isn’t that an abbreviation for constipation?) takes um down to the national league…..
Just hope The European Cup Final ain’t in Cardiff when we get there (although we had success in 2003)
Come On You European Wolves…………………………
What an end of season ball bash that would be. We might even get to see the Mrs Brompto and the Mrs Houston.
I’m with you deluded souls, Yow gotta Dream.
Just seen this on E&S – apologies for length of link but an interesting read.
https://digitaledition.telegraph.co.uk/editions/edition_mH8bu_2017-06-02/data/332186/index.html?share=1&WT.mc_id=tmgapp_inar_share&utm_source=tmgapp&utm_medium=inar&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=tmgapp_inar_share&Expires=1498777200&Signature=YD54CHQwtvH1zIU2my~-LQlYf~oTxNcsg9TzhM6~49UxIyZMJIsv75CPBqVK2BXk~wIE6u4JB60XiXPpQLTp~lTjG-sc28bZmVHrFhfVHlWkzgLI-03zjvYwkqtok4XoAOrbQQLdYCSlHHzEaeaQErJPIUUoWD48guBwUz66SZFikuU1HZHGOXiGndhkhiierOHA5bMeHBv~bdwKiAeukctqAswup6LrTv13ezvCTI2jAtC2weDHfhvYS-DnOBa3G3PtNGqGWZlD3BdNA0S2P6L1QU2XMT3IY25~VjP2VKDOjWTA-dmIU5jjTqEfzCoUyUYpydGcdmCVRDruJgRWGw__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLCEPDGCTPVKXNOA
From where it has now been removed!!$*%?!!?
It has now reappeared. Just read through it very interesting, gives food for thought
Just read the article – but what I found even more alarming – why have they used a picture of Duncan Ballatyne for Mendes?
I read that as well in the Telegraph this morning Steppenwolfe.
It ‘s ironic that the first time in centuries that Wolves have had a full page feature in the National Press it’s about the way we are being run and not the way we are performing.
I agree with a lot of what Oliver North says and share his misgivings.
But the proof of the pudding will be in the eating at the end of the season at the Bloggers’ Ballbash.
Let’s hope it doesn’t end up giving us the runs.
I too share the misgivings expressed in the article. However, as a fan, there’s absolutely nothing I can do about any of it. The fact is that the way football is run nowadays, with so much money focused in so few clubs at the top, fans of clubs like ours will clutch at any straw which promises them the success they crave. They’ll turn a blind eye to any situation, no matter how distasteful they may find it.
I consider myself, in general, a principled character, and a staunch defender of fair play in all things, especially footie. However, the way the footie authorities have rigged the financial side of our sport to maintain the status quo means that I have no problem in accepting our relationship with Senor Mendes.
A big thing in our favour is that Fosun don’t only own Wolves. They also have a healthy stake in Gestifute so Jorge better not get up to any of his old tricks.
Onwards and upwards.
COYW
I think we are all a little concerned about how much influence Mendes might have, but that article is a joke – just a Lambert love-fest.
Poor Brit ‘an honourable and conscientious manager’ replaced by monstrous foreign ‘deeply woven into the fabric’ agent. No evidence for the use of those two specific phrases but still, the Torygraph gotta sell papers somehow…
Any news on new kit design for next seasons is it still going to be made by Puma….?
Got an inside on that .. puma have a year left on their contract so next season will be with them.
Nike should be in place after that
People please
We are now under the ownership of a huge multinational corporation
We are so lucky it’s beyond belief .
We are not owned by some Asian nutcase billionaire .
The corporation that owns us have connections everywhere they are mega successful
They are using Mendes as he is using them
What’s wrong with that for dogs sake
He is not running wolves and never will
Because of him we will have access to some of the worlds greatest players
Why the f######g paranoia
This mendes is the devil ridiculous crap is driving me nuts
Others are jealous
About the money about the connections about the fact that we are on the way up
BOLLOCKS TO THE SCEPTICS AND BOLLOCKS TO THE ALBION AND BOLLOCKS TO REPORTERS FROM STUPID PAPERS WHO BECAUSE WE DON’T COME FROM LONDON DON’T LIKE US IN FACT BOLLOCKS TO EVERYONE WHO DOESN’T SUPPORT WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Agree completely SpikeyBoy.
Spot on….
Spikeboy.
What a load of Bollox.
Stu
Lots of bollocks
And as that wonderful character Oz from Auf Weidershein ( spelling, never understood French ) Pet said,
Double Bollocks.
I’m with you Spikeyboy.
A brilliant article. spot on…
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2017/06/03/johnny-phillips-we-must-recall-wolves-history-as-it-really-was/
It’s a well written piece and tells it like it is – or was.
Let’s hope that ‘what it will be’ will make an even better read.
Doog,
Did you spot the write up on Bruno Varela, 22 year old Portuguese goalie from Benfica, now with Vitoria. Tall commanding figure that they are saying would be a good move for us.
I would be interested to hear your view on the lad, Ikeme has a dodgy back, almost as bad as Matt Murray’s dodgy knee and it keeps sidelining him and leaving us exposed to Lonnie Gone-again.
Just sbove or below the item Declan’s posted, on Wolves news now.
– We definitely need competition in the GK area. Harry did well last season, but he’s a clear number two after Ikeme I’m afraid
– Another important area to strengthen is the midfield. Now we’re actually linked with
one of the biggest talents in Portuguese football: Filip Krovinovic. The only problem is that we’re rivaled for the talent by Benfica:
https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/wolves-lining-up-bid-for-highly-rated-21-year-old-croatian-midfielder/
Abrillant article in local rag by Johnny Phillips on Wolves owners…..spot on Jonny..!
If we get to 59 points next year it is progress. Is there a Portuguese-Wulfrunian dictionary ? If not, the way things are going we may well need to invent one. No doubt Helder and the boys have spread the word about the wonders of Wednesfield and the beauty of Blakenhall. Is the Sri Lanka wicket keeper (Dickwella) the son of Paul ? Is the square root of 999 333 ? Are the Caveman Brothers off Wacky Races still alive? These are just a few questions that need to be answered by Mendes. Or Jeff. Or Dave Edwards. Or even Jeremy Corbyn.
Brilliant….cheese..!
are you from this planet?????
No, he’s frum Wulveramptun!!
I’ve been in The Planet down Broad Street.
Another opinion piece this one from James Fielden a Wolves supporting journalist which I thought was balanced and interesting.
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sptnpr
I have to admit to being sceptical of Fosun and deeply concerned about the influence of Mendes. I was also hoping Lambert would have been given a fair chance but that is all irrelevant now.
I genuinely hope over the next twelve months I will be proved wrong and that Nuno will be an inspired appointment. I recall Southampton fans being upset when their club sacked Nigel Adkins who was doing a great job to replace him with a relatively unknown foreign chap called Pochettino. After years of us always making poor decisions wouldn’t it be amazing if for once we did something similar…it’s long overdue.
OODCL
On a different note … the subject of this topic ..the Dangerous Triangle …we’re coming up to the 300th comment …(tri …three ..get it)…
Well they’re now taking bets on whose going to post the 300th comment ….Brompton 4 to 1 on …good odds eh Clive boy…!!
I am not going to lower myself to the depths to which that cheating, M62 dwelling Geordie will go to get so-called recognition.
If he wants to waste time putting in a dozen blogs just to be the one to get to three hundred, more power to his cheating elbow.
Theres them who say, since he’s an army wallah, he can’t count to three hundred, unless he uses his toes 30 times, presupposing he can count to thirty!!
And talking of cheats, I loathe and despise that mouthy fuck Sergio Ramos.
I hope Juventus stuff ’em today, and Ronnie has a fit, gets sent off, and Bale gets scalped.
Only 7 needed mate lol.
Just not your day Clive, Ronaldo scores.
More to the point, that feckin Kevin Thelwell is playing for Juventus (Hugain) scary man.
Little shit got two, and Ramos should have been off for that tackle on queeradio, but instead gets him sent off.
Cheating rat.
He should enter the Wolves Prediction League, makes Brompto look a real amateur.
Only two to go, Vimpto, over to you!!!
I see Mendes players not doing bad in the big final….
Could be us in a couple or three years, Dream on !!
Just to clarify I am not getting carried away with press rumours. But I have hoped that a change of coach could get Iorfa back on the right track and help fulfill his undoubted potential. Right now with the purchase of Bennett in the bag and rumours which include O’Shea coming in and Iorfa and Costa young out I am struggling just a little to see progress. As regards the Portuguese and Croatian contingent being touted I tend to not get to excited as i recall the Talisker and Luisao saga’s. Glass half full? No I used to be lucky if I can fill a thimble at present. But I am fully ready to be inspired.
I just can believe lorry van pimple saying that Costa could go for £20M …after all this…surely by bringing in more of the Mendes mob it negates the thought…
20M is pocket money now a days. Let’s at least make a bidding war out of it.
Hello!
HELLO!!!
Thomas, Ben, Ben Rasmin?
Is anybody there?
It’s no good PMDG’er.
I think they’ve all nobbed off for the Summer.
Bennetts signing……..are we back to freebies or was this a coup…? Norwich did not offer him a new deal so I’d hardly say it was a coup are we know searching the loan market…? when all we hear from our MD is we’re are focusing on QUALITY….not quantity.
Which one is Bennetts singing fall into………..I’m just putting it out there folks..!
It’s certainly a strange one, why Bennett is good enough for us and not Norwich. Maybe, because he played for them in the Premier League, his wages are too high and he wouldn’t accept a cut, so they wouldn’t renew his contract. We would pay him more so he came to us.
Just guessing really, but it could be so.
Never mind Bennett, or any other player for that matter, I want to know if our mate Bedders is OK.
If anyone has news, let’s hear it.
We miss you, Bedders, you tosser, come back and annoy us.
Not much fun in a hotel room in Krakow and no Beders posts to read as they say in Norfolk let’s be avinyer!!!!
Know the feeling Witley.
Stuck here in The Tropicana in Las Vegas 40*C outside and no bedders.
Don’t know how I’ll cope.
Come back bedders you Prick, Arsenal, feckin Arsenal, your’e aving a Giraffe boy.
Viva Las Vegas and FOwb
Can you put £50,000 on zero for me please Stu.
If it comes up I’ll share the winnings with you and if it doesn’t, please send your invoice to:-
Major Brompton,
‘Dunbivouacing’
CO. Ferrybridge Services
M62
After the ball was over,
Bonnie took out her glass eye.
Put her false teeth in the water,
Hung up her wig to dry.
Placed her false arm on the table,
Laid her false leg on the chair.
After the party was over,
Bonnie was only half there!
Bedders, you bad boy. Where have you been?
Great little ditty, by the way.
Welcome home Beders, it’s going to be our year,super star signings, FA Cup run the full Monty.COUW !!!!!
If mini skirts get any shorter
Said the fairy to the gnome
We will have two more cheeks to powder
And a little more hair to comb.
Biggest flop in Man U’s history is on it’s way: https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/wolves-may-land-surprise-e1-5m-deal-for-infamous-sir-alex-ferguson-flop/
What do you think?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBIzqIiD-Ew
I’d say he’s a coup for 1,5 – 2mill
Welcome back bedders you wonderful man you. I for one have missed your shit poems.
Have you returned from the dark side permanently.?
COYW’s
Back from the Death star again, StuWolf.
Biggest flop in Man U’s history is on it’s way: https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/wolves-may-land-surprise-e1-5m-deal-for-infamous-sir-alex-ferguson-flop/
What do you think?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBIzqIiD-Ew
I’d say he’s a coup for 1,5-2mill
I say we buy him, and after watching that three minute clip, play him for three minutes and see if he scores and assists the same number as in the video!
If he only started 7 games for manure, how is that enough time to assess him properly?
If we get him early enough, the magical ” pre season” will be sufficient to determine he will be a world beater.
Or not.
Oh, and welcome back, Redders, or are you still Gold and Blackers??