Raul is back.
And for half an hour, he looked sharp, agile and ready to pick up where he left off. If Bruno takes nothing else from his first outing as Wolves boss, that’s at least one big tick in the plus column.
There was no goal for the Mexican but plenty of neat turns, intricate link-up play and even a deflected free-kick that kissed the bar on its way over.
New boy Trincao came to life and slalomed his way into space a few times in a lively enough 45-minute debut but skied his only meaningful effort on goal and misplaced several easy passes. When the rust has been shaken off, it’s clear he’ll offer more.
The midfield of Gibbs-White and Perry never looked like it had the balance Bruno would want from his central partnership, even if the former did produce one fantastic through ball that Patrick Cutrone couldn’t finish.
Collectively, Wolves controlled and dominated for 20 minutes, moving the ball around nicely and then swarming the opposition to get it back – two things Senhor Lage will be pleased to have seen.
But the longer the first half wore on, the more ragged it became and Crewe arguably worked the better openings. Hoever and Marcal were exposed a few times giving Boly, Kilman and Ruddy plenty to do.
Will Bruno persist with the Ait-Nouri in midfield experiment? He certainly showed he’s got the skill to play higher up, but that could have been the head coach just trying to fit everyone into the side.
It was all change at the break and the u23s that took over couldn’t exert much control or prevent Crewe from scoring a soft-looking winner.
Cutrone again had the best chances, denied once by a fine last-ditch block and then by a fine save from the goalkeeper.
Although it was very stop-start, Otasowie brought much-needed poise and physicality to the midfield. He’s rough around the edges, but if there was ever a player with the raw attributes to mould into an elite Premier League performer, it’s the big American. I hope he gets plenty more minutes.
Left-back Hugo Bueno was another who impressed with a controlled display. He reminded me a lot of Jonny in both his stature and style of play, also offering decent delivery from a deal ball. Another to keep an eye on perhaps?
With Sa, Coady, Mosquera, Semedo, Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Podence and Traore still to link-up with the side (who could all conceivably start at Leicester), it’s hard to glean anything concrete as yet about Bruno’s preferences, other than a desire to play some version of a 4-4-2.
The identity and shape of the side will hopefully emerge more with each passing friendly, starting next weekend against Real Betis.
Depth of squad not good enough we have only added the lad from Barca in real terms we have replaced the goalkeeper brought a right back and shipped him out to Switzerland and the lad from Columbia who knows is he first team ready or is he one for the future.
No real depth or strength added to the team if no first team ready signing come in before deadline and we sell a couple we could be even more weaker starting the season than we finished last season.
Recruitment is still based around ones for the future and sell on value we are the experienced players the team is crying out for. Last season proved we need to improve the quantity and quality of the squad.
Early doors to be complaining about signings. If ‘we sell a couple’ I imagine it will be for big money, enough to buy more than a couple. If a couple of players want out, it’s better they go, but for our valuation. Bruno needs to build his own team, and some of that team will come from within the club. It was ‘needs must’ with Nuno, to the the extent that the youngsters didn’t get much of a look in.
– Yes, I hope we’ll keep Mir. Selling Mir and buying this Braithwaite for instance makes no sense to me. Mir, an interesting player to follow during the Olympic games.
Thought Cutrone was unlucky not to score
Great to see Jimenez back on the pitch
We shall see what develops on transfers over the next few weeks
Hope Nuno does want Podence (awaits the thumbs down responses ?
Noticeable how high we pressed from the start and hunted in packs as we tried to win possession. This diminished as the game wore on but less drop back and counter a la Nuno.
I have to admit I didn’t watch it.
The lure of the sun and the garden proved too much.
Sounds like a typical first friendly of the season played without most of your first team.
I’ll have to reserve judgement until I’ve watched the ‘highlights’.
One question.
It seemed that Cutrone got a long run out and had a couple of scoring chances.
Any signs of him turning into a Premier League forward?
I thought Cutrone did ok… not much service and certainly unlucky with an couple of efforts blocked or deflected for a corner…
Oh by the way … you got something coming up next week… keep it clean DOOG…
Cheers M’lud!
The present Lady DG’er and myself will be smoking the Mk II Jag up to Oxford for a few days to visit the old haunts.
We’ll try and keep it clean.
Depends on the weather.
Come on don’t be modest… you’re heading to Corpus Christi College aren’t you… my learned friend…
Enjoy your few days away mate …. Nice wheels..
Well that for me was disappointing.
Ok I know it’s a friendly, and a lot of the senior pros were still resting from international duties, but we had no cutting edge, seemed fumbling in defence and passed it sideways , back, forwards, sideways … etc
I’ll repeat myself .. yes a friendly.. but the pattern of play, style, attacking intent etc just didn’t come across for me.
Passes were loose and Trincao seemed more bothered with his hair than the game itself.
In fact , perhaps only Jimenez, looked sharp at all… and Fabio Silva needs to stop loving the defenders… and man up… put it about etc.
First impressions give me a scary perception of what we’re heading into…. Please let’s hope I’m not jumping the gun…
No panic buttons yet of course but a lot of … same as last year stuck out for me…. I so hope Bruno is up to the task.. I’m beginning to think this year’s going to be uphill…
Bit early to be drawing many conclusions M’lud. Great to see Raul back at least.
Did not see the game but it was great to have Jimenez back. But looking at a picture of his headgear, the side where he got butted looks more padded than the rest, understandably so, but the front portion where he will head the ball at goal, also looks quite padded. If this is so, will it not seriously affect the power that he can generate from headers towards goal? Just wondering?
Didn’t watch, much more exciting things going on over here, but the one outstanding thing that has not changed one iota is the continual bitching, moaning and fownright negativity from one particular blog member.
Mentioning no names, Paul, but would you please give your monotonous diatribe a rest.
We know your views on Fosun, try a different topic, at least until the transfer window slams shut.
Oh, and a question for you.
You just seen all the best players in Europe strutting their stuff during the Euros.
Who would you really want Wolves to buy?
Normal service resumed a Clive. Well I would if I had FOSUN wealth not be shopping in Hungery and Columbia those hot beds of talent.
I can see us sleep walking into another season without strenghing the team with the quality required I say sleep walking be Jeff and FOSUN have made there stance on recruitment crystal clear so me suggesting who to buy would just be a futile excessive as Jeff wouldn’t stump up the cash anyway.
And yes I repeat my views and the reason being time and time again Jeff and Co: give me no reason to change that view in fact it’s the opersite there actions or lack off only re enforce my view.
When did they last if ever make a Stella signing someone who Wolves would not expect to go for or get a and I’m not talking about a 18 year old kid for £35 million pound who everyone else was after but we managed to convince to come to Wolves. I a real quality signing NOT on loan a player every other club would have said……fuck me they mean bussiness…..never in five years of ownership.
At the end of the day Jeff FOSUN have said they won’t buy established players…..this is our owner a Billionare .
I will express my view untill I see evidence from Jeff and co to alter that view but thus far every word from those question and answer sessions I could only think of one question for Jeff…….why……why did FOSUN buy Wolves it surely wasn’t to build a competive challenging football team.
How many other clubs have Billionare owners that buy players with the main criteria being there sell on value.
I express my views as a warning and to inform, everything is not as is seems with Jeff and Co: the club is run by one man and IMO that’s no good ……..time will see if my views and concerns are warranted.
All very well, Paul, but until such time, please shut the fuck up, or rant on a different subject, like spelling, maybe.
Our right my predictives text is fuckling useless I’ve try to correct the fuckling thing but it just keeps playing up the bastardised thing.
Rant over…….Mann that felt belter……cheers Cive..!
A priest, a minister and a rabbit walk into a bar. The rabbit says, bloody predictive text…
If you meant all that bad spelling, very good.
If not, you are right, your predictive text is flucked!!
On the subject of spelling… it’s ‘downright’, not ‘fownright’.
And on a much more important subject, how are ‘things’ going mate?
We shall speak on Tuesday!
Wouldn`t it be wiser, Paul, to wait until the transfer business is done before coming to any conclusions ? At this time none of us can know who our real targets are. Endless predictions by those supposedly in the know will, as usual, almost certainly prove to be well wide of the mark. So we may well be in for some nice surprises.
In any event, this is surely the time to give Bruno and the Club`s management the benefit of the doubt. Time for all of us to be supportive and positive. Negativity cannot help anyone
‘When did they last if ever make a Stella signing…’ ?
Should we be looking more closely at the Belgian market ?
Would you be happy with signing Forest’s Harry Artois ?
I missed him.
Why panic. at the performance? Bruno could play 100’s of matches at Compton, and learn less than he did today. Lower league opposition who are going to play out of their skin, chase down everything, and make life awkward. And a chance to try out some of the other options that the moaners would crucify him for trying in a league match.
Days and days to go yet. No need to panic, need to get behind the guys and support them. You know, support, not run them down
Telford, I am not running the team down or Bruno for that matter I honestly think like Nuno he is being dictated to on certain football matters. We all know from last season the squad was not big enough or good enough in depth and still isn’t.
Just my view but I believe Bruno was given the job on certain understanding one of those being Jeff and Sellers have the final say on recruitment. A lot of speculation with Nuno was were the players brought in his choice……..look at Catronie for instance Nuno didn’t play him or trust him same with the lad that has gone back to Porto hardly played under Nuno no manager can work under those terms as proved when the Club sacked Nuno.
Nobody disagrees with Jeff and remains, Darylwinkle the MD the director of football who went to to New York and Nuno. One man has all the power and makes all the decision at Wolves football and all and that’s Jeff disagree with him and your out.
The thing is Paul you just keep on repeating your self which reduces any force your arguments may have. Try expressing an alternative to Fosun ‘s policy. By which I mean “spend your money”: as opposed to yours Paul.
Fosun owe us, the fans nothing. They’ve already improved our Wolves supporting life beyond anything we could have dreamed of only three or four seasons ago.
So maybe give thanks Paul – your ingratitude has achieved levels which are very irritating.
Like you Paul I would love to see Wolves achieve top four status. But it takes time. Everton have thrown money at it and are no nearer – Leicester meanwhile quietly get on with things and are always there or thereabouts.
So Paul until you have better, thought through ideas shut up.
I’ve never said I want then to spend spend spend. Invest yes what about the stadium plans Jeff says they need to generate more revenue there are 15,000 fans on season ticket waiting list and may be another five to ten walk up fans…….but no plans put on hold that alone would generate a few extra million a season.
The tempory stand 500 seats there not even putting that in. I would like to see us go for more established players and the cost but then Jeff won’t pay the going rate or because there is no sell on valve what about what the team needs……the team comes secound to cost and profit. Everything is about profit and not the team.
As far as my gratitude towards FOSUN I’ll be grateful when they for fill there promises when they first rocked up……which they have now dumbed down as the reality of owning a football club has sunk in.
I can see you are one of those fans who are just happy to be at the Premier League party and to a certain degree so am I but there comes a time when you either move forwards or end up going backwards like last season.
One more point you and other keep telling me to shut up, don’t like my view fine disagree I could tell you and others to shut up but I don’t because you are entitled to your view and so am I so I suggest you don’t read my fucking blog……..simples..!
‘I’ve never said I want them to spend spend spend.’
Really ? From your post of July 17th;
‘As for Villa at least there owners are willing to invest there wealth …
…don’t forget just over ten years ago City were in League One look what they have achieved with financial backing…’
A bit like Wolves sometimes, you’re not very consistent…
Your point about FOSUN owing the fans nothing………you are WRONG.
They freely decided to buy Wolves no one forced them to as owners and guardians they owe the fans honesty, integrity transparency and they have an oblecation to not abuse the trust placed in them by the fans to look after and grow our great football club……..that’s what FOSUN owe the fans.
‘…they owe the fans honesty, integrity transparency…’
You’re living in a dream world.
And its ‘obliGation’ BTW.
Well I can see there values you don’t hold dear. What’s your morale standing…….I’m aright Jack Fuck everyone’s else……sounds about right.
I hold those values, but I don’t expect a commercial operation to have them (and neither should anyone with half a brain).
Many a big Company has been taken down by fans……..you have a short memory………Super League who kicked that into touch…….a.
Many a Club owner has ingnored the fans and paid the price.
At least my half a brain works in like your whole brain…!
Did the Super League suggest ‘honesty’ and ‘integrity’ to the fans ? Of course it didn’t.
Those clubs whose owners have effectively been kicked out (by their fans) were being run without any suggestion of honesty or integrity. – see e.g. Chesterfield, Charlton under its Belgian owners, Bournemouth until a fans buyout etc etc the list is endless.
You are arguing AGAINST yourself. Why am I not surprised ???
I think you’ve been out in the sun to long I suggest you put a wet towel on your head now I’d love to chat but your boring me now…..!
Tat Tar.
I do share some of Pauls concerns about recruitment or lack of it, but I’m sure Bruno with his experience and knowledge of the game will recognise where we are coming up short.Fosun are a business and Wolves are a small part of their portfolio,so let’s not get carried away to much with lack of investment, Jeff is running the club, and like many Chinese people he is very cautious in his dealings.
If Bruno see’s a player he thinks will improve the team I’m sure Jeff will put up the money. Friendly ‘s aren’t much to go on IMO I only see them as a training session and a means of fitness. So not to worry to much at the moment.
Onwards and upwards I hope.???
We don’t have a billionaire owner. Chelsea do. We are owned by a company!!
So are Chelsea……and for that matter City, Villa, Man Utd and Liverppool are all owned by holding company’s just like FOSUN. In fact most football clubs are owned by holding company’s Sir Jack owned the compamy that owned Wolves that’s how it works.
No way are Fosun a ‘holding ‘ company. They are an investment company in their own right. The fact that their main man is a billionaire is irrelevant as far as Wolves are concerned, unfortunately.
I Looked up who looked up who owns Wolves FOSUN International …..HOLDING COMPANY…….!
Where’s your idea that Abramovich doesn’t own Chelsea come from?Everything I’ve seen suggests he owns club himself.
Look up who owns Chelsea at Company House this information is free to Joe Public……..and you’ll find a holding company owns Chelsea and anbramvich owns the holding company……..for fucks sake you haven’t a clue the pair of you.
Maybe not, but at least they can spell ‘Cutrone’.
There’s fux alll up whith my spelings…..you try Bloging with a lap top on Stuck on Italian settsings.
That excuse takes the Garibaldi!
May I respectfully ask you to re-read Thomas’s ‘State of the Blog’ on 25 May relating to offensive comments about fellow bloggers. Let’s not go down that road again.
Things are getting a bit heated here. If we are going to split hairs, you’re all wrong! In English law (and it’s derivatives throughout the world) nobody ‘owns’ a company. A company is a separate legal ‘person’ in law, and like natural legal persons (i.e. human beings), cannot be ‘owned’. Yes, even if you hold a majority of shares in a company, you control it but you don’t own it. It follows that nobody owns Wolves or Chelsea. It is instead a question of who controls those clubs.
I think that if it came to a vote you might lead the field in not having a clue. And don’t swear at me.
Interesting game yesterday. I think Alex had already played a couple of games and their attitude was great; it was a `cup` game for them and they looked a useful side.
One worry for me is that we looked no sharper up front with regard to the chances being created. Plenty of first teamers missing, but, even then, we ought to have enough class to create more. I don’t blame the strikers; Cutrone was unlucky not to get on the score line and his movement is quite good off the ball. Jimenez looked sharp and just needs to get more familiar to the play of the new guys to be back to normal. It was good to see him taking a free kick with a chance of scoring as opposed to midfielders who rarely score.
We do need to, in my opinion, work better defensively as we often seemed to be caught short of players at the back at times. With his attacking system we need box to box midfielders to address the lack of numbers as the holding players are no longer confined to their defensive duties. In the Premier League this could be suicidal. More creativity in midfield is also necessary. Maybe there will be additions to the midfield to address Bruno’s needs; if not, I cannot see how we can play an attacking, pressing game effectively without being caught on the counter attack.
A few of the youngsters look promising and Chem Campbell, Taylor Perry and one or two others look up to the job. Otasowie will do well if he can avoid injuries to my mind.
Being a preseason game the result doesn’t on its own prove much with such a mixed squad being used, but a season of struggling in front of goal needs to be addressed and I think central midfield changes and additions are required badly to enable Bruno’s emphasis on attacking play to work in our league. So I will be looking at further purchases to boost this area. Striking and defensive requirements are still there if we really wish to make progress.
I, personally, thought Nuno did well to keep us away from the bottom three with all that went on last season after no break from the previous season. It’s too early to panic and whatever occurs over the next few weeks, I will seek to support the team and management, coming to no `set in stone views` until we’ve played ten or so games.
And a big Well Done, to Sir Lewis, doing a fabulous Michael Schumacher on Verstappen on the opening lap, taking the penalty, and still winning at Silverstone.
Just shows that Formula 1 is as fixed as footie. VAR works better than that!
Wtached live on Wolves TV.
Game of two halves.
First half thought Raul, Silva, Taylor Perry and Trincao looked very good.
Raul held the ball well and linked the midfield and attack.
Silva put himself about and looked stronger than last year.
Trincao looked very tricky and combined well with Raul and Silva.
Taylor Perry was a dynamo in midfield.
The attack can only get better this year, especially when Netto and hopefully Adama returns.
Second half the kids came on, started slowly but grew into the game.
Otasowie showed confidence and leadership but some of his passes were wild.
Samuels looked OK with a brief cameo appearance, no shortage of confidence there.
If 442 for the future not sure that Coady would thrive in this system?
We will get a better picture when the full first team returns and all the transfers are completed.
Really pleased that any thoughts of selling Dion Sanderson have been put to bed. 4 year deal and a loan to the Bluenoses is ideal. Could well play a big part going forward.
I fully expect to be downvoted here. But, with Lage playing two center forwards, Cutrone could be a very useful third striker. It would be a win-win if he can get some decent runs, spell Fabio/Jimenez, and prove he’s not a locker room cancer (the cancer thing is more my impression than anything I’ve read).
His value can’t get much lower than it is right now.
I’d rather keep Rafa Mir,but I don’t disagree with you. At least until something better comes up.
Nobody mentioned Kilman. I thought he put in some solid defensive work, a couple of really nice crosses, and nicely pushed the ball up the middle a few times. I have to admit that i liked him last season and hope he gets to see some playtime under Bruno.
I totally agree, Canada. He has been so dependable that we tend to take him for granted. He inevitably does the job without being flashy and is a great squad member. Numerous teams have been asking as to his availability, but we seem happy to rely on his stability to fill in when necessary. I am surprised he hasn’t asked to go out on loan to gain more play time…
Sanderson appears to have taken the other route of gaining as much first team football experience as possible. Two good players to my mind and I shall always be interested in following their careers as with Ryan Giles and Conor Ronan…
A Big, Hearty, Have a Great Day, Happy Birthday to The Dooglegooder.
85 today.
Congrats and have a Bostin day!
Luv frum Texus
Happy birthday DOOG!
Two weeks ago I had earned 290 points and thus was looking forward to getting tickets to the first few home matches.
I now have 100 points and little or no chance of getting tickets to the first few games.
Be careful what you are doing Fosun, your product needs to be exceptional and continue to be exceptional to maintain the demand you currently enjoy!!!
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2021/07/20/fan-fury-as-wolves-scrap-loyalty-point-sales-windows-for-match-tickets/
I understand this decision is already under review.
It’s a difficult one for the club and they can’t please everyone. It’s 200miles to the Mol for me so I generally stay overnight and travel back the next day so no lack of commitment here. But you can only accrue loyalty points if you can get a ticket in the first place so I find myself sitting in the uncovered corner at cup games to get points. However I never seem to get enough to see the top PL matches.
You can’t please all the people all the time but to be fair to all members, perhaps a membership should guarantee maybe six PL tickets per season,of varying status, then the rest are done on loyalty points.
away games will be done via loyalty points.
I also live nearly 200 miles away. I travel on match days, the ones I am able to get tickets to…. So as soon as this membership was promoted I paid the £38. If I am able to book tickets and pick games, rather then go to games that dont fill out, it benefits me.
Could be worse, We could be Everton
It seems to me that the new system means that if you currently have enough points to qualify for Wolves + and £20 to spend you are guaranteed as many tickets as you want. In perpetuity. A kind of European Super League of fans. Can people ever lose their place in the fortunate few?
Maybe I’m just misunderstanding the system.
I agree with your sentiments.
My gripe is the lack of communication from Wolves.
Every day I get an email from Wolves asking me to renew my membership….. which I did when the first opportunity arose.
Every day I get an email from Wolves asking me to buy pre-seaon Wolves TV (another one arrived today)… which I did when the first opportunity arose.
My 290 points just disappeared with no explanation or email from Wolves to explain the reasons.
Now I find out via the media and NOT Wolves what they plan to do.
Their product is not only football but all the other after sales services they should provide to keep the fans happy and informed.
To quote my favourite author – Its badly done Wolves, badly done.
So have you been invited to join the elite 3,500 Bardwolf, with your 290 points.
No contact at all except for trying to sell me products that I already have.
I have no problems with what they did, they can run their business anyway they like, I do have every problem with the way that have implemented the decision WITHOUT directly informing fans who are affected AND after asking for people to buy memberships for 2021/2022.
Why don’t Wolves fans embrace what we have. We’ve come a long way in a short space of time. I agree Nuno lost his way and if fans had been in the ground he wouldn’t have seen the season out or mourned as much as he was.
Enjoy this time, Fosun are doing a great job . The one thing I know about the Chinese culture is their business men are very proud and not allowed to fail on a project.
I agree with the scrapping of loyalty points make Wolves games open to all rather than the stale regulars whom are never happy.
Stop moaning and get behind the pack