Paddy Day

Did we learn anything from Luton?

Part of me was encouraged by a display featuring the type of swift passing and movement that has largely been missing since the dying embers of Nuno’s glory days.

Fabio was impressive despite not finding the net

But I was also lamenting the lack of additions our current head coach desperately needs to build the team in his own image.

The foundations are there. All we’re asking for is three or four additions, but Fosun’s inability or unwillingness to sanction such moves is foolish. Whether it’s FFP or not wanting to invest anymore, it’s unacceptable.

As for the performance, I was pleasantly surprised.For too long Wolves have lacked a cutting edge in the final third. Chances may have been spurned against Luton, but at least they were created. That’s something to be celebrated, albeit against a limited Hatters side.

Wolves moved the ball at pace between the thirds and that intensity to is exactly what’s needed. We are too guilty of playing in front of the opposition and not getting in behind to create good openings.

On the individual performances, Silva and Doherty have played themselves into the starting XI.

Fabio has a confidence and presence that suggests he’s ready to lead the line. He looks reborn and a completely different physical specimen after his stints with Anderlecht and PSV. Lopetegui must play Cunha off Silva at Old Trafford.

At 31, Doc still has that drive to go forward and get into the box that we’ve sorely missed. How did we let him go in the first place and pay double for Semedo? It’s only a matter of time until the former forces his way in.

Honourable mentions must go to Ait-Nouri, Toti and Sasa. Like Doc, Ait-Nouri’s driving runs were causing havoc, Toti was always on hand to sniff out danger, and Sasa’s link-up play could prove more than useful.

I just find it incredibly disappointing that any positivity is negated by Fosun’s dreadful running of the club, which is selling Lopetegui, the players and the fans short.

This squad is too light and Fosun would be fools to think that they can get away without bringing in reinforcements before the window slams shuts, even if that does mean breaching FFP regulations.

Wolves 2 Brentford 0

Blog, Brentford

These precious back to back wins have created the blueprint for what we can achieve under Lopetegui.

We’re starting to resemble a team that has an appetite for pressing, defending and winning second balls.

And that intensity off the ball translates to pace and movement when in possession.

When was the last time we could say all of the above about a Wolves side?

Special praise must go to Diego. The way he presses from the front and brings Cunha and Sarabia into play is something we’ve sorely missed. The goal might have been fortuitous but he earned that luck with the position he took up. Surely he warrants another year?

As for Nunes, the way he glides between the lines is utterly joyous. He’s now playing with confidence and panache.

The same can be said about Lemina and Gomes getting through mountains of work in the engine room.

Of course Neves has to come straight back into the team, but have we already settled on next year’s midfield?

As for the defence, it’s like watching a brick wall. Dawson’s experience and excellent positioning has transformed Kilman and Semedo. Likewise with Toti, who has surprised us all with his rampaging runs down the left.

I don’t want to get ahead of myself – safety isn’t quite secured. But imagine what Lopetegui could achieve with another transfer window and a full pre-season?

Wolves 1 Chelsea 0

Blog, Chelsea

Many of us have questioned whether some of this Wolves squad have the stomach for a relegation fight.

Based on yesterday’s win, it’s an emphatic yes.

Most pleasing was the appetite for hard work. Some North Bank natives probably had enough of me standing up and applauding a particular piece of pressing or defending.

But I was excitable because the lads were finally showing some character.

Admittedly it was a poor Chelsea side, but for large periods we didn’t give them a minute’s rest. An old gold and black shirt was either pressing a Chelsea player off the ball or perfectly positioned for an interception.

Kudos to Lopetegui for playing his part with the selection of a balanced side especially the midfield of Lemina, Nunes and Gomes.

If you looked up workhorse in the dictionary, you’d find Lemina. A lot of his work goes unnoticed but subtly he’s bossing the base of our midfield, which allowed Gomes and Nunes to push on.

The former looked much more assured than his Leeds performance. Gomes is technically sound but isn’t afraid of a tackle or a spot of pressing either.

Regarding Nunes, that was probably his best Wolves performance. Play him in his best position where he can bomb on and we have a player on our hands. As for the finish, I was right behind the shot and it felt like a missile was heading straight towards me.

A word for Toti too. Like all of the defence yesterday, the work he got through was exemplary, whether that was sniffing out danger or a last-ditch tackle. Toti obviously isn’t a natural going forward, but he held his own.

The front three worked too. Cunha, Costa and Podence perhaps weren’t at their very creative best, but they linked up nicely at times and understood the need to cut out the fancy flicks. We all know Costa isn’t the player of old, but he still has something to offer leading the line. He must start there in our remaining games.

Talking of games ahead, it’s amazing to think that there’s eight left, but if we beat Brentford on Saturday then we’re almost safe. I don’t think my heart could take our safety still up for question in the last home game against Everton.

Wolves 1 Tottenham 0

Blog, Tottenham

As much as we brickhoused our way to victory, we would have lost that game under Bruno Lage.

The lack of intensity both on and off the ball is still rearing its ugly head and it’s going to take Julen Lopetegui another window and a summer on the training ground to eradicate that weakness.

But we now have a manager who is aware of the failings and is already able to influence change with cute in-game management and a powerful demeanor.

After yet another 45 minutes in which Wolves failed to understand the need to ‘earn’ the right to get on the front foot and play slick football, I certainly wouldn’t have predicted his changes. But the sign of a good manager is that you have faith in their work even when they do get things occasionally wrong.

I wouldn’t say Wolves massively improved second half but the tweaks in personnel and system and a realisation that Spurs were there for the taking, made enough of a difference.

Raul may not be the player of old, but give him enough service and the ball in the right areas and he still has plenty to offer. The same goes for Moutinho – tight games are made for João to come on and dictate proceedings. As for Adama, he fully utilised his pace. Too often he doesn’t want to take his man on, but you couldn’t say that today. He struck fear into Spurs, and that confidence led to the instinctive winner.

Looking for Brownlow Medal betting? We’ll send you to the right place.

The old guard are of course on their way out, but they made the difference today, and fair play to Lop for getting the best out of them.

Whisper it quietly, but four points from Newcastle and Leeds before the international break, and we’ll be well on the way to safety.

I understand those concerned with relegation – it can still be a pain seeing us struggle to create much – but our relegation rivals would snap our hands off with Lop’s record of 17 points from a possible 30.

Wolves 1 West Ham 0

Blog

How are the nerves?

There was a sense of inevitably about a tense finish, but there was only one team who wanted to go all out for the three points and push up the table.

Wolves now look like a team that has the confidence to take the game to the opposition.

For much of the first half, Wolves pinned West Ham in. There was a slickness to our play, with plenty of swift passing. And we’ve finally become a side that’s willing to press. For too long, Wolves have lacked those characteristics.

If I’m being super critical, we’re still missing that final ball and clever bit of movement that leads to clearcut chances.

Matter not, Podence has hit a purple patch and took his goal superbly. Both Hwang and Podence perhaps could have done more to compliment Cunha’s smart link-up play, but you can’t keep the Portuguese out of the game for long.

It was never going to be a straightforward ending, but West Ham were always going to try and salvage something. Simon Hooper’s predictable bias to the visitors didn’t help either.

Alas, how good is it to witness a Wolves outfit that is well coached, up for the fight, and has plenty of options in terms of formation and personnel? We’ve got Sarabia and Gomes to follow too…

Although I’d feel further assured if we bring in Dawson as well as Collins’ shakiness in possession is doing nothing for my blood pressure!

A final word must go to Semedo. His decision making defensively and driving forward was spot on. Can Julen tease top quality performances out of Nelson more consistently?

After all, he is Super Lopetegui!

Wolves 2 Gillingham 0

Blog, League Cup

If it wasn’t for a world class coach now leading the Wolves ship, I’d struggle to make a case for surviving the drop.

We’re a team leaking goals at one end and allergic to scoring at the other. The latter reached absurd levels, though, against a Gillingham side sitting bottom of the Football League (though if I was online betting, I don’t think they’ll go down based on this stoic performance).

For too long the passing and movement was painfully slow and in front of a Gillingham defence that sat deeper than the Titanic. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Wolves were crying out for someone to take a risk and play a ball through the lines or make a run into space. But that’s the problem with this team – they want to do it the easy way. They expected Gillingham to roll over and panic at the first sign of some pretty but ultimately risk-averse passing.

And when better outfits need to be pressed, Wolves can’t be bothered and expect the opposition to give the ball back. We’re predictably picked off.

On his day, Podence is Wolves’ most creative outlet, but tonight he was infuriating. Rather than producing a killer pass or making a clever run, we were treated to aimless flicks. As for Guedes, he didn’t look interested, neither did Costa.

It was pleasing to see Lopetegui take a proactive approach with his substitutions but Adama should have been busting a gut to show Guedes and Podence how it’s done. Frankly, he couldn’t summon the energy to take on his man.

One positive was Hwang continuing his World Cup form. There’s an air of confidence about him, and I wouldn’t hesitate to start him at Everton.

But make no mistake, if Julen wasn’t already aware, he has a massive task on his hands keeping Wolves up when we look so toothless going forward.

Lopetegui and the promise of a host of January signings is our last hope.