It’s funny how the fans’ parliament meetings you look forward to the least end up offering the most insight.
Maybe this one was so informative because Jez Moxey wasn’t there, speaking so prolifically as he would, but ultimately saying so little.
In this instance, manager Paul Lambert, sporting director Kevin Thelwell and managing director Laurie Dalrymple were upliftingly honest and in Lambert’s case in particular, quite inspirational when signing-off his two-hour appearance with an unscripted, spontaneous rallying call.
With the asset stripping old regime gone and their hairbrained stupidity no longer occupying my notebook, I was expecting a somewhat sanitised meeting of little genuine substance. In my humble opinion, it was anything but.
My highlights of the evening were as follows:
- We’ll only be bringing in two or three players during the January window. These will walk into the first team. The pressing need is to cut the squad back to a ‘manageable level’ featuring a more ‘domestically balanced group.’
- We won’t be releasing as many as 10 or 12 in January though. Lambert: “Some need to go out and play, some will not make it with me.”
- Kevin Thelwell on Jeff Shi and the 13 summer signings: “Jeff would be the first to say he has learned quickly.” (It was Jeff who decided to opt so exuberantly in the transfer window after watching the Rotherham game.)
- Paul Lambert would walk away from the club if he wasn’t able to bring in the players he wants, stating: “I’m no shrinking violet, I hope you know that. If a player comes in who I don’t want then I won’t be sat here. If it doesn’t go my own way then there may as well be a mannequin sat here.”
- We’d need to ‘re-mortgage Molineux’ to afford Helder Costa. We do have an option to buy him, but virtually impossible if we are outside the Premier League. Thelwell said: “But we are talking about other options and ways to be creative to keep him here.”
- The club was ‘dead’ when Lambert arrived, who now believes we are ‘miles ahead’ of where we were when he first walked in.
But I’ll start with Paul Lambert’s concluding sign-off, which was spontaneous, off-the-cuff and absolutely rousing. His voice quiet, his accent monotone, but his role as unlikely orator quite spellbinding as a packed room could hear a pin drop.
After answering each question honestly and openly, Lambert politely – but firmly – interrupted supporter liaison officer Paul Richards’s wrap-up (and request for appreciation for Lambert’s attendance) to provide his own:
“You have a brilliant club, but you’ve just come off the rails a bit and need to get back on track. But forget it, it’s gone.
You have got the history of the club, great togetherness here and I will do everything I can to be successful for you. It might work. It might not work. But we need a bit of time.
Your support is brilliant. You are on the cusp of something really special. The club is in good hands but it just needs a bit of help. If we all pull in the same way then we can have a really successful club.”
<cue spontaneous round of applause>
Onto the minutes themselves, I will go through topic-by-topic raised by fans, with my shorthand notes scribbling everything down as quickly as possible!
Why are players playing so badly? Some of them, particularly defensively, look to have lost all their ability and can barely control the ball!
PL: “I’m not seeing that. The feeling around the football club is a lot stronger than when I came in. I think it was dead when I came in. It could be exciting but we have got to make some changes.”
On the size of the squad
PL: “There have been so many players to see and the size of the squad is far too big. Ideally you would bring in two or three in the window. Bringing in 13 was nigh on impossible. Lads that have come in don’t know the league. Look at Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Man Utd. Helder Costa has hit the ground running, Ivan Cavaleiro is starting to do it but others have taken time to adapt.
On the make-up of the squad:
PL: “I think that the squad is unbalanced and not just a little bit unbalanced. You have got to have two players for each position. We have too many in one place and less in other places. There is too much of a gap in quality. There is a discrepancy. We are top heavy in the centre of midfield and the balance is out.
What is our style of play?
PL: “You need young, energetic lads to play the way we want to play. They are fearless, they have got speed if we press or counter-press. They are quick lads who can hurt you. We have got to be better on the ball. Jack Price is excellent on the ball so he is one who can retain the ball. But we don’t lose that pressing aspect. We have got to get into the habit of pressing the game. To be fair, they are miles ahead from when I first came to the club. There has been a major difference in going to get the ball. If you look at Fulham, they should have won that game, let’s be honest. But we kept pressing.”
What is your formation? Is there a Plan A?
PL: “Yes. I look at who we are playing against and judge it from there. For the Nottingham Forest game on Saturday, I watched them in the week against Preston. Then I had the idea of going the way that we did. I thought that the front four we chose would cause them problems. In modern day football, you have got to be flexible. It is better this way than playing in one particular formation.”
On Bakary Sako possibly coming back?
PL: “There’s no doubt he had a brilliant time here. You have to respect that he is a Crystal Palace player. Do I like him as a footballer? He is a handful. An absolute handful. But he has the African Nations Cup, so there would be a lot to weigh up. But there is no doubt that he was a massive success here.”
On Helder Costa signing permanently:
Kevin Thelwell: “He is on loan until the end of the season with no recall clause, you will be pleased to know. We have an option to buy. We might have to re-mortgage Molineux to get him. It would be difficult to buy him if we are outside the Premier League, but we are talking about other ways to be creative and keep him here.”
Kevin Thelwell on fair play rules:
KT: “You can’t continue to keep spending money with the financial fair play that is in place. We paid a lot in the first window which has to have implications on the next window. So it will be more out than in, but without question we do want to improve the group, so on that basis we will look at one or two who can come in and improve the team.”
LD: “We do have an owner who is happy to invest but we can’t flout the financial fair play rules.”
Why didn’t we think about this at the start of the season? Asked one fan…
KT: “Jeff will be the first to say he has learned very quickly. There are a number of people that support ‘the process’ here (in terms of recruitment). It was fair to say that after the Rotherham game, we had to make a number of changes quickly, so we turned from an evolved plan to a number of players which hasn’t worked. Nor has replacing Kenny Jackett with Walter Zenga. I’d love to say that we all sat here and said ‘let’s get 13 players from across the globe but that wasn’t the case. We are where we are.
“We need to reduce the squad to a manageable level. We’ve got to get back to a more domestically balanced group who can help us to move up the league.”
What is Kevin Thelwell’s role and what is the process on recruitment?
KT: “A sporting director role was created because the club does not want to subcontract the football club to one particular person (I couldn’t help but think of Mick McCarthy here folks!)
Let’s get more transparency, more diligence, go and meet the player. Will he fit with the style of play? And so on and so forth. That’s part of the role. Not all of it, but part of it. I would speak to Paul Lambert and say ‘you want a centre back, let’s sit down and talk about these types of players.’
“The only way we can sign a player is if Paul Lambert wants him.
Did this happen with Joe Mason? Asked one fan…
KT: “Kenny Jackett wanted Joe but he couldn’t find the right place for him.”
Did this happen over the summer? Asked another…
KT: “I want us to look forward rather than back. I think it is pretty clear how we want it to operate.”
Are you happy with this Paul?
PL: “I’m no shrinking violet. I hope you know that I left Blackburn Rovers at my own free will because I was not going to get my own way. If a player comes in who I don’t want then I won’t be sat here. If it doesn’t go my way then there will be a mannequin sat here.”
The message of only bringing in two or three isn’t clear amongst fans who will be expecting more…
PL: “If we keep bringing players in then we will be top heavy. I don’t think that there would be many more (than two or three). If you bring in four, five or six in January and don’t get rid of the ones you want then you have got too many to work with.
“I don’t expect 10 or 12 to leave. Some need to go to play, others will not make it with me.
“We need two or three new faces to freshen the place up a little bit.
KT: “Absolutely. We have got to get players in who are going to play.”
Will we be paying players off to leave:
KT: “We are not at that point yet. I think that would be counter-productive. Without giving too much away, we have got a number of solutions for a lot of the players. I just don’t think we are at that point.”
What do you think about the youngsters?
PL: “The best I’ve seen in years. Really, 100%. When you’ve got that bigger squad, you are stopping the development of Bright, Connor Ronan and Herc. You may as well scrap the academy. Bright, touchwood, is going to be a major star. Ronan the same, too. There are about six or seven of them. If you keep bringing in six or seven players then how do they develop? Young Niall Ennis is a terrific prospect too. I’ll be disappointed if a couple of them have not come through by the end of the season. It’s exciting!
“They need the right manager, at the right time, at the right moment. If they have fire in their bellies, the right attitude and the right ability then I will play them.”
One fan was worried about decisions to sell our best players, and used Kevin McDonald as an example, and worried Jack Price might be next:
PL: “Let me stop you there on Jack Price. As soon as I saw Jack Price I said he needed to play. Jack Price was great against Preston and did well against Sheffield Wednesday. The reason I took him out for two weeks was he was not ‘at it’ physically. If I’d have played him we’d have lost him for weeks on end. I was close to playing him together with Connor Ronan.”
A fan asked about bringing German players into the club, as Lambert has links with clubs there.
Lambert said it was difficult to prize players away from that country because they have such a great set-up there and players don’t want to leave. He could only really think of Ballack and one or two others.
KT added: “We are probably around 60/40 ratio (in terms of foreign players v domestic players). It is more 75/25 or 70/30 for successful teams that have got out of the league.
Other points were raised in the meeting, such as safe standing, new website (the company behind this gave a short talk about how it will be better than the current one) and ticketing. I didn’t take notes here as I needed to rest my hand for the points I felt were of most interest to you all. Please refer to the official minutes for these.
Some final bullet points:
- Roman Saiss is the only player in the group who might be affected by the African Cup of Nations
- Paul Gladon: KT said: “He probably needs to play more games. He has struggled to adapt to a strong, tough league. Intensity in Holland not nearly as high as in England. There is lots to work on, including making Paul more physical and competitive. An individual development plan is being drawn up to get him closer to the first team.”
- A lot of staff have departed / will be departing, including Matt Grayson, Lynne O’Reardon and Richard Skirrow. Existing members of staff promoted, with new opportunities being created for good people.
- Laurie Dalrymple talked about his role. Nothing groundbreaking here. A brief to be more efficient for Fosun, despite their deep pockets, I did warm to him generally. Quite a dry sense of humour, and you sense there is less spin and less appetite to grab a soundbite like his predecessor (who I note is at it again at Carrow Road, glibly talking of ‘promotion, promotion, promotion!)
In conclusion:
While this might sound convenient to many, there seemed to be an onus on looking forward, rather than dwelling on the past. Lambert alluded to this in his spontaneous sign-off, while Thelwell did likewise when reflecting on our summer spending spree.
Maybe the festive season is finally seducing me, but I would tend to agree – and hold no blame to Kevin Thelwell for our crazy recruitment policy. As our sporting director said, Jeff has learned his lesson there.
The bigger points for me are:
- Our penny pinching, expectation shrinking regime of seasons gone has left.
- Thus, those deep lying roots of evil have finally been removed, which stifled any hope of growth.
- For a flower to grow in its place takes time. If lessons have been learned, then I expect some buds of recovery in the spring. Due care and attention is already in place.
Before this meeting, I don’t mind saying I wasn’t looking forward to it. Having been, I do maintain that – to coin a phrase from our manager – that we’re on the cusp of something really special.
Merry Christmas to you all!
Here’s to a happy 2017.
Ben
Really nice to read an accurate insight from a focussed Wolves management.
Great job Wolves Blog.
Now after all that what have the rank and file learned that will stop the massdebating with the conspiracy theories and pure conjecture, as you know better than those inside Molineux ?.
Seriously who do you really think you are ?
Thelwell and Lamby are working in harmony,those there heard it and its exciting teamwork.
As it was no doubt with the M & M custody but simply was,nt succeeding.
They are on the same page as was said with KJ which you would,nt accept, hopefully you will now believe Mason was wanted by Jackett but I doubt it ?
Fans Parliament my backside, they will tell you what they want as they make the decisions and run the club, not you dreamers and I am happy they do and it,s not you..
Doggydodo and Mr T from Toronto along with the rest of the Sons of Rest, grow up and await Wolves re-emergence, without your gossip and rumours.
Merry Christmas turkeys and that you get stuffed over the holiday and not the team.
Gobble gobble gobble.
Gobble gobble gobble?
In your dreams!
Do you know Amanda …for a moment I was beginning to think that you thought Wolves FC was run and directed by what the Blog was saying…..
It’s not rocket science that forums and fans views play little part in this clubs direction….but what you shouldn’t underestimate is the FACT …YES FACT .. that’s Senior Management from WWFC ARE interested in fans and Forum views…..
This is born out by hard evidence that meetings and meeting places , are being sought out, visited and used for meetings and discussions with Wolves fans…and I’m not referring to the Parliament.
Even Jeff Shi engaged with a Wolves Blog / fan as to hearing his views …which were carefully listened too.
So Amanda … very politely….it’s high time you quit you’re vendetta regarding you’re venomous and vile attacks on people who only want success for Wolves FC….there’s absolutely no place for it here…thanks.
KwIkFix like your self given ‘handle’ grow up and stop believing your own fantasy, of being listened to.
Open another bottle of sherry and think of those young lads on the pitch as you do.
Merry Xmas.
In the words of Craig Revel Horwood ….3 syllables…Pa thet ic
Do you know something …your lights are soon going to be extinguished….
Just got in from Sandwell?… had a shit day?….never mind Thrush….
how’s the beautician business coming along …or has it gone down the Khasi…
What a miserable cow you are Cape. You only ever come on hear to moan and groan. I suppose that is the only time you actually get to “moan and groan” though.
We have our views, and sometimes those views may not be the same as others’, but they are our views nonetheless. Like others have said, there is a fan’s parliament chaired by the club to listen and report back to the fans. Why would any club spend their precious time holding these meetings if they did not feel it worthwhile. It certainly is a fantastic tool for us fans and the club to “discuss” issues that are relevant to both club and individual fan.
May I ask why you read and post on this blog? I ask, as all we get from you is a vitriolic tirade of abuse. You and only you are the upsetting factor on here. Please go away and bore some of your baggie mates.
I see one of your Sandwell pals is on here too. I assume that only because your post has had one like.
Rampton Wolf the FP is a fantastic tool for tools as you suggest alright.
You hated and abused Moxey for his initiative and this board are aware, that the FP is akin to giving a child a treat, in appeasing nasty men like you.
Now Hark the Herald Angel Sings,little donkey.
Yawn!
Ben/Thomas. Can we ban this moron from our blog. She/he is spoiling the party.
Concretemix get out the pot shed and get some fresh air like most normal people.
Perhaps, somebody in the real world might acknowledge your being ?
Amanda, whoever you are. Do you know, I can just see you now. Naked in your Sandwell slum straddling your Bob Taylor blow-up sex doll and getting off by commenting on another clubs blog. This blog is full of Wolves fans commenting on all things Wolves and we have every right to our opinions as we actually go to games. As I have said before, why do you and Jack the Hat come on these sites ? You actually make yourselves look pathetic. I can’t stand Forest but not in a million years would I ever contemplate going on one of their sites and making out that I am someone I am not. Please, get a life. From now on I think we should refer to you as “Thrush” because you really are an irritating c**t !
NewarkNark the middle aged man who cried about how he was abused by Forest fans over 35 years ago.
What a nasty little man sharing is violated childhood and teens to the public like these abused footballers.
I come on here to read positive Wolves stories not Nottingham stories from Walter Mitty.
Now enjoy your Christmas dinner but keep in mind that with your charisma, your days of pulling a cracker have long since gone Walter.
Hi thrush
I wondered when you would reply. You don’t come on here to read positive Wolves stories, you come on here to show what a sad little muppet you are. And it is his not is. I don’t need to pull a cracker as I have got a wonderful wife who loves all things Wolves just like me. I noticed you replied just before 6.00pm but it is not a school night so you are probably allowed to stay up a bit later. Have a lovely christmas and will we see you at Hillsbrough ? No, didn’t think so. I have tried rubbing Canesten Duo over your posts but I just can’t seem to get rid of the irritation. I will try yoghurt instead. Toodles.
Wow Wark!
One really has got worked up, hasn’t one? Lots of naughty words here. Lots of naughty suggestions. Not much Wolves-related though, is it?
Anyway Newark Wolves, I feel I know you so well now that I’ll call you by a more friendly, shorter name, ‘Wark’. Hope you like it. (Actually, I feel as though I know too much about you, like a blog stalker or something.)
Well, Wark, how are your studies into yam yam going? You have been very quiet on this.
I know you are trying.
Soon you could be one of us, normal Wolves Blog readers and commenters.
Bi-linguists, that is.
By now you will have discovered, no doubt, that there isn’t a Google yam yam translator. But if you like I can set you some yam yam homework taken from my vocab. jotter for you to do in the school break.
Have a nice time this Christmas, you and Mrs. Wark. Keep in touch.
Candy
Linguist (Expert in rubbish, gibberish, twattish and yam yam but not Scottish or Icelandic or Portuguese or Chinese or Irish or Welsh or Cockney or Scouse or French or Polish or Dutch, sadly.)
Amanda Cape is just what this blog needs IMO. Without her input there’d be only half the number of comments on here. We’d be arguing is 4321 better than 1441 or 424 at home games. I don’t agree with her but she gives us a laugh and gets us talking. If she wasn’t here already we’d have to make her up.
I think you’ll find there were plenty of comments before the Cape of no Hope came on the scene mate.
And most of them were about Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club (which you could argue is what a blog called Wolvesblog should be about), not stupid name calling and points scoring.
Let’s leave the points scoring to the team Eh?
Cheers Big Dic I would agree with your comment wholeheartedly whatever I comment the usual senior citizens bring their gang together to abuse.
Then like pensioner Rampton Wolf call for my banning because like a baby he cannot get his way.
The Fans Parliament/Coffee Morning for the unemployed and retired, as a liaison with the Wolves board and management, is fantastic and I,m all for the cooperation in improving Wolves ameneties.
The sharing of information,its sincerity and transparency is also great.
However that said the idiots who like sheep,try to dictate to the club about any policy should be banned.
I ask you what clown asked the important questions such as Vaping suggesting it upsets HIM and could spoil HIS view.
Also when is the ‘Liquidator’ coming back ? NEVER under Chinese ownership, as the owners do not want to be a part of the Wolves peasants pleasure.
Because the Herberts in the stands will spew out their usual foul mouthed song rant inside Molineux, like Wayne Rooney of Wisconsin, not even caring about decent women and innocent little children, being near them and forced to listen and even encouraged to join in.
See the gormless adverts of manhood below, from Wolves and elsewhere, banned for 3 years each starting over Xmas for provocation no different from what the Liquidator signifies.
So what will be their answer ? Abuse the board eventually and waste time with a petition probably as usual ?
If you own a company and a load of zimblits who don,t own it, told you what to do, what would you do ay ?
Yes exactly PATRONISE the PATRONS nothing more nothing less.
Stop being so fucking odd.
One of the best Christmas films of recent years was Love Actually. One of the best lines from that film was “at Christmas you are supposed to tell the truth”. So here goes.
Amanda Cape is a man – and I use the term very loosely – who supports the Sandwell Shadow Dwellers. Consequently one might think that that is reason enough for this poor dimwit to be deserving of our sympathy. But no. No sympathy from me.
Despite s/he being a pug ugly, morbidly obese, bald, out of work loner with halitosis and poor personal hygiene who lives at home with his Mum, despite being in his 50’s, and has never had a girlfriend there is no sympathy forthcoming.
Why? Well normally I am sure we would all look down on this poor wretched soul with compassion especially at this time of year. However s/he is not content with being a sad, little brain-dead apology for a human being – my guess is that after years of being subjected to watching Tony Clueless Pulis’s brand of non-football his head has been turned to mush. Year on year of praying his team achieve the heady heights of finishing 17th with no hope, no ambition, no nothing have taken their toll. His team are a rag-bag mix of not very good journeymen mixed with pantomime characters like Claudio Yacob – surely one of the WORST footballers of all time – and the odious hypocrite James McLean.
All he has left is to come on here posting his particular brand of incoherent garbage from the safety of his bedroom surrounded by his collection of action figures.
Would he dare ever show his face? Would he ever be able to match his inane drivel with actions?
No of course not. He is a worm. A cowardly worm. Sandwell Shadow Dwellers eh? You have to laugh at them.
Amanda Cape really knows how to wind you guys up!
Wow!
If you do not want her to Post it is simple.
IGNORE HER.
Yet everyone seems to rise to her bait…
It has its amusing side but then the Post turns into a:
“Who can slag Amanda worse competition” and Wolves gets lost in the damaged Egos.
Ah well…
“Merry Crimble Mr Grimbleweed,” as John Lennon said…
A Beatle with a soft spot for Wolves FC….
Thanks Robin you are right and from me its not intentional but the old bozos believe, they own the page therefore their view is the only view.
Such as the Rampton Wolf abuse a typical example of someone mentally deranged over a sports team who play a game, asking a woman for a fight.
Well he-men Wolves Blog gangstas like him, would,nt say boo to my husband or even my father.
We have had season tickets in the Billy Wright, since I was a girl and simply enjoy the Wolves win draw or lose.
The people on here that are abusive use this forum as a social site, like Doggydodo and Curly Watts of Wyoming who go to matches, if ever.
I,m sorry that when I see these dodo,s criticising especially as they did withM & M now woe betide the new owners if things don,t improve, I have a different viewpoint in opposing them.
The jury is out again on this manager, no matter that so many are desperate to believe him, as they did with Walter.
Bristol City is another big test for Mark McGhee 2 because with the talent he has, there are no excuses, despite him making enough of them.
The January Transfer Window should,nt be exciting fans either , other than Premier youngster loans, Lamby will bring in the normal averageness like that at Blackburn.
Wokves have fantastic talent but we need a manager to harness them as a winning team.
To blame blame blame the owners because they fail to select the right man.
Even Jeff Shi failed, choosing Walter when Steve Bruce was available.
The same Steve Bruce, who the expert fans did,nt want Steve Morgan to sign..
So in summary I agree that the Herberts should stick to Wolves matters and I will do the same, despite their obvious delusion.
Excellently written report Ben.
You certainly convey a quiet confidence Lambert seems to exude.
He is asking us to trust him.
He is not flamboyant, but commands attention.
A man who, it appears, given time, may match our demand for the Premier League.
He’s a canny Scot in the Fergie mould.
Mr Lambert you’ve won me over.
Well done Jeff Shi for appointing you……
Merry Xmas to you all….
Mandy’s on the happy pills again. Like the dead parrott off Monty Python- pining for the Norfolk Broads.
She IS one of the No fuck broads!!
CHEESETOASTIE ON METHS.
So instead of going to the Grand Theatre to see Cinderella, you have replaced your yearly treat by going to Molineux for the Fans Parliament, along with deluded others.
Cheesy were you the guy whose most valuable contribution was about Vaping in Molineux ?
If so did the powers that be hear you ?
Of course not but pretended to.
Very reassuring Ben. Thanks for using your time on all our behalves.
I feel PL is indicating that things may now proceed as we all hoped they would at the time of the takeover. A handful of quality rather than a bucketload of mediocrity. With our returning wounded soldiers and his willingness to play our upcoming young talent, it seems pointless bringing average quality to the club.
Also good to hear the apparent openness on display. They obviously realise many of the fans hopes and expectations have been dashed and we deserve some explanations and straight talking.
I for one am looking forward to big strides forward in the coming months.
Three players will do for me..a striker and a no 5 paramount ..
And Sako……
Lol
If Santa is good to you, you may get your wish in the New Year mate. Can’t fault you for your dogged insistence.
Also glad to see your order of priorities are akin to mine.
Thanks Ben, I enjoyed reading this. Some clear thinking appears to be happening at the Mol.
Nice not to listen to Moxy’s drivel.
Very good write up Ben, thanks. It all seems very encouraging. Let’s hope the green shoots of recovery continue against Bristol City so that we can start to get a bit of positive momentum going. Ex tenebris lux.
Apologies for this going live briefly before being whipped away chaps. I made a scheduling error and we had some internal politics with the club to overcome.
Thought as much Thomas ….although the massive positives outlined by Ben ….should be embraced big time…
Could never see Moxey being so forthcoming…as has already been mentioned.. have a great Xmas with the family..
Internal politics?
At the Wolves?
Surely not!!
Shirley Knott?
Went out with her on a double date once, with Amanda!!!
I did wonder if the club had asked for this to be taken down as there are a few quotes criticising the decisions made in the summer and Jeff Shi in particular. And we all know the Chinese love a bit of censorship and suppressing free speech!
Anyway….I am happy to go on record as being a big fan of Lambert. He was my choice for the job and everything he says is a welcome dose of common sense and reality. He has a lot to sort out and we all know how difficult promotion is to achieve but I really hope this is the start of something special.
Festive bests to all bloggers.
Thanks Ben. It’s about what I would expect from the club now we have PL at the helm = positive.
Now we wait and see.
Great report Ben, well done. The spontaneous comment by Paul Lambert towards the end was probably worth attending just for that.
As ever the semantics here are interesting. We won’t be ‘releasing’ 10 or 12 players in January – BUT that’s not to say that we might easily ship out, one way or another, (sell, loan out, return them to their parent clubs) 10 or 12 players. Personally I think at least 10 players will not be at Molineux in contention for a place in the squad come the end of January though some of them might well remain Wolves players. Gladon for instance looks set for a loan spell elsewhere. As for the ‘2 or 3 players to come in’ I personally think it will be 4. Not all permanent signings necessarily.
They will only be loans, if we return some loanees I believe. I think we have our total amount of loan players that is allowed. I may be incorrect though.
Thanks again Ben for being our representative at the FP.
I’m really pleased that you sound positive about the meeting.
I was starting to get worried about you.
Lambert can obviously talk the talk, albeit in another language, and we must give him the time to walk the walk.
The New Year will reveal all.
Can’t wait.
PL has my backing, I like the way he openly speaks his mind and beliefs, he’s not a push over and certainly made it clear about what he wants. Fingers crossed for this guy, I like him.
Merry Christmas to you all, let’s get 3 points on Boxing Day ??
Thanks for the write up Ben, very informative.
Merry Xmas to all bloggers even the Sandwell Trog.
Tipton Textile
A toerag even thrown out of Tipton, the place between Birmingham to Wolvo where you stop foir a slash and where he had a Shetland Pony in the kitchen as a pet.
Merry Xmas to you too me old mon.
Darling when you learn to spell and make a coherent comment maybe someone will listen.
Untill then have sex and travel or to put it bluntly.
FUCK OFF
Thanks for the report, its time we all stood together and had a positive attitude.
Nice one Ben – thanks.
I think, collectively, ALL Wolves fans were hoping for an instant miracle when Fosun took over in the summer.
Us old ‘uns, as we have been starved of success since 1980, except for The Sherpa Van win, and the younger fans, who’s highlights have been a total of four struggling Premier seasons.
But life is not about miracles, and we have seen first hand our hopes dashed once again.
Or so we thought.
A typical Fan’s Parliament meeting was usually dominated by a smug, smarmy greaseball of a ceo, only lying to us when his lips moved, and now spouting the same bullshit at Norwich where his team are sliding down the league table, ably assisted by his greasiness.
Cometh the other night and light issuing forth from the tunnel leading to Division Three!
Common sense and knowledge and inspiration being spoked!
Are we at the right meeting?
Is it April 1st?
Is the piss being taken?
No, it appears there are people who know what they are doing, have plans in place, and have positive, FOOTBALLING ideas and ambitions for our beloved club.
This season may or may not be a write off, but I feel we have an excellent choice as manager, and by the end of January we will have much more clarity as to who has a future playing for the club and who wont.
Just hope it aint Sako or Afobe.
I hope all fellow bloggers around the world, including the sandwell tart, have a very Merry Christmas, a prosperous New Year, ……………………and Mrs. Bedders recovers nicely.
And, as always.
FOwb
There are all the ingredients within Molineux for the team to reach the Premier League, and maybe just maybe, with Paul Lambert we have the manager to take us there.
I`m looking forward to the January window and I`m sure that the players coming in, and departing will leave a much better balanced squad, and maybe, just maybe we could do a Derby, win seven on the trot, and get a sniff of the playoffs.
Its not impossible, difficult yes, but with half the season still to go, you never know.
Compliments of the season to Ben and Thomas, the blog gets ever more interesting. See you on Boxing Day>
Reading between the lines in my option spending will be cut back in January ie we dropped a bollock in the summer £14 million on the advice of Mendez it’s backfired spectaculary so we are going to the other extreme ie 1,2 may be 3 Locals arriving.
And all of a sudden the Fair Play rules are being brought out as a reason. I don’t expect another 13 players in January but I hope the 2 to 3 that do arrive are quality I’d suggest we need 5 decent players, center back, right, back, left back creative midfielder and a striker but they will all cost money I’m mean real money not £350,000, £500,000 or even £750,000 they will if we are buying them from League One.
I’m sorry to say the only thing that seems to of change is the owners, we back to the Morgan slogan of we are going to give the kids a chance and that all well and good but if Jeff and Foson have any real desire to get to the Premier League it isn’t going to happen with 75 per cent of the current squad or the kids that are coming through…….!
As I blogged when Fosun took over seasoned battle harded pro’s who no the Championship they are the only players that will get us out of this League.
Having attended the Fans Parliament for the first time in many years I was pleasantly surprised at how open the meeting was, and unlike the Moxey dark days I felt there was real interest in what the fans had to say.
We need to work out how to fill the Molineux and the club need to think about how to offer the North Bank quadrant as unreserved, pay on the day seating at £10.00 per person – first come first served. The club need to make a sustainable investment in attracting supporters, they need to rethink the Moxey mantra about the fans coming to watch a winning team.
Lambert very impressive, he could only have done better if he had said the Liquidator must be played, the seats ripped out of the South Bank and the big screens reinstated for Boxing Day…….
I like where you’re coming from Neil…and well done for stating (without prompting)…. the Moxey dark days…and the openness of the meeting….more importantly the fans voice.
Great post mate from a relatively newcomer…
pretty much summed up by all before so i’ll just add this is by some margin the best Wolves page on the net, so thank you for all the effort it is much appreciated.
I am one of those post sherpa van fans so am certainly hoping the gut feeling some of you have about Lambert turns out true – and whilst I dont care too much about silverware, a sustained run in the premier league is what i’ve always wanted … hopefully its not too far away.
Hope you all have a good one and UTW
On a more serious note, I’ve just come off the blower with Clive from Houston and he said that he was almost sure that Marla wasn’t coming over with him for the Bloggers’ Ballbash this May.
I said that we should get a petition up to change her mind.
I’ve got a few names to start it off.
TheDOOGooder
Doggydodo
Doggydoos
Dodgydogger
Dozydogs
Whitedogsondope
Dizzyrascaldoggeedanglers
Amanduhdodo
and
The present Mrs DG’er
That’ll do for starters.
Who else will sign?
I suppose I ought to sign!!
You better get that lady of yours over in May mate…
Yes ..I’ll sign …..I’m Spartacus….
Come on Clive we all want to meet your good lady …even if it’s to offer our sympathy for having to live with the Fenceman …xx
I hope neither of them come. Bloody Texans! Who do they think they are? Coming over here stealing our hotel rooms, eating our food, drinking our drink and supporting our club!
P.S where do I sign?
Pardew sacked, looks like Sam odds on for Crystal Palace, what price Sako sold?
If Big Sam gets the CP Job,he’s gone down in my estimation going to a small south London club when he could’ve come home.
If he really is a wolves fan perhaps he’ll let Sako come back for free.
Ben like all fellow blogger’s thanks again for attending and taking the time to the TFP on our behalf.
Interesting points raised,lets hope PL can make it happen for all our sakes.UTW
Merry Christmas- Happy New year to all true wolves Bloggers.
A lot to look forward to this season – two or three new top championship performers and the emergence of some super talent from the youth team. I’m sure we can all buy into that.
Love the mannequin comment from Paul – a direct hit on all those theories as to who is pulling the strings.
If we can get a lift in the festive games we could be on a nice roll for the visit of Villa who we have unfinished business with. COYW.
Christmas kisses to 99% of you bloggers.Thanks for making it such an enjoyable read over the last 12 months.
Gosh Rachael, who is in the 1% ?
They are talking as good a game now as they did in the summer. Hope they are actually better at achieving positive results.
Tim you’ve hit the nail on the head. A word of caution we are not out of the mire yet we good easly be dragged back in as for Fosun the jury’s still out for me they came in all guns blazing and now it’s gone tits up they are talking about Fair Play rules…………after the Morgan and Moxey years I’ve become more cautious espeacilly when the talk turns to ” the kids need to come through ” and Fair Play rules being mentioned…..it sound to familiar…!
Thanks for the report on the FP Ben. I was going to reply when your report first surfaced but suddenly it was whipped away as fast as a Chinese takeaway! Chinese whispers? I am thankful that the club is in safe and sane hands in Paul Lambert. Big Sam looks ideally placed for the Palace job now that Pardew is sacked but I believe we have the better man in Lambert.
Whatever happens I don’t believe this season is a write-off. I happen to have a couple of bets at 50-1 on promotion with BetVictor. Unlikely of course but not as bad as 50-1. implies. Even if we don’t make the top six, the second half of our season will be one of rebuilding and achievement. We may well pass Norwich on their way down the table as we move up. Can’t wait to see Fatty Chops Moxey’s face when we beat them at Carrow Road.
Wishing ALL bloggers on here a happy xmas and prosperous new year. And Bedford and Mrs Bedford. OUT OF DARKNESS COMETH LIGHT…
Cheers mate. Come to the Bloggers Ball-Bash in May and I’ll get Clive (and Marla) to buy you a drink.
Xmas cracker joke. I went to the Doctor and said “i think i’ve only got 59 seconds to live” . He said ” hang on a minute” .
Thank you, Ben. With Grayson and soon O’Reardon gone it seems that they are getting rid of the Moxey Era who are not customer focussed at all.
Dances …
I just love your positiveness.. I too haven’t written the season off….It really is possible to do a Burnley who came up from our type of league position once…
IMO Williamson holds they key or at least us dealing with defence problem as when we do score we don’t negate that..
We need game changers and at least one marquee player…and hold on to Costa as if he’s as valuable as a Sako…
I just hope January doesn’t become an anticlimax but I bet my boots PL has got his three players in mind..
The odds on Afobe must be getting shorter
too..
2017 is going to be a good year or at least it should be.
The more I see of, and listen to, Paul Lambert, the more I feel he’s the right man for the job. He exudes a calm confidence which I believe we will increasingly see reflected in the players on the pitch. Indeed, we already are.
When I say ‘exciting times ahead’, I say it with much more confidence than 4 months ago.
Wishing you all a merry Christmas
To top.it off three points v bristol.city been brilliant reading all.your blogs
Be merry and drinks lots.
And merry Christmas to Amanda cape aswell.
And now for the really bad news!
I have just booked meself into PVH for the weekend of the last match!
I is coming for the BloggersBall!!
Merry Christmas one and all
See you there big boy!
Absolutely nothing to do with this thread but a mate of mine showed me the results of the Boxing day 1963 fixtures while we were having a pint last night. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this incredible day they were as follows:
Blackpool 1-5 Chelsea
Burnley 6-1 Man Utd
Fulham 10 – 1 Ipswich
Leicester City 2-0 Everton
Liverpool 6-1 Stoke City
Notts Forest 3-3 Sheff Utd
Sheff Wed 3-0 Bolton
The Shit 4 – 4 Spurs
West Ham 2-8 Blackburn
Wolves 3-3 Aston Villa.
An incredible 66 goals in one afternoon – Those were the days!!!
Jumpers for goalposts eh???
Merry Christmas to all bloggers
OODCL
I remember those scores and also that Ipswich beat Fulham 4-2 , Man U beat Burnley 5-1 and West Ham beat Blackburn 3-1 in the return fixtures a couple of days later.
Complete madness!
Yep Wharton and Crawford brace got wolves goals that game! I’m going for a 3 0 scoreline v bristol City y not.