A blog along the lines of ‘forgive me if I’m not doing cartwheels over a lifeless goalless draw that virtually secures our Premier League status’ was locked and loaded.
OK, a stoppage-time winner and Adama ending his goal drought provides some relief, but it was still a hard and frustrating watch.
Before that last-gasp drama, I was ruing Wolves’ lack of ambition, poor recruitment, average squad and less-than-pleasing playing style. We seemed miles away from a club that finished seventh for the past two seasons, reached an FA Cup semi-final and progressed to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Whether it’s 4231, or 343 after Neto’s injury (let’s not even go there), we’re devoid of any sort of identity.
Ait-Nouri and Semedo are defensively naïve, the midfield hasn’t a clue what to do in and out of possession, and the front line’s stranded. Our approach in attack is to pass the ball sideways and then lump it forward when we realise there’s no movement.
For long periods, Podence, Neto, Adama and Jose were anonymous, so too were Neves and Moutinho. They’re contributions largely involved sloppy passes and touches.
Predictably, the only passage of play in the first-half was ruled offside by VAR. It’s just the type of service that Jose thrives off. All I’ll say on VAR is that no one can convince me that it was introduced to overturn such ridiculously tight decisions – it’s pathetic. I’m all for VAR correcting obvious blunders – there’s enough of them in this country due to the diabolical standard of refereeing.
I was continuing to tear my hair out in the second half at Wolves’ failure to work out how to create anything going forward.
I’m loath to criticise our attacking talents, as the distribution from the defence and midfield has been mediocre at best since we restarted after lockdown, but Adama is a particularly frustrating case.
For long periods at Craven Cottage, Adama was barely involved. He was ineffective down the middle and continually gave the ball away.
But credit to him for standing up and producing that bit of quality when we most needed it. That’s something I want to see more from him.
At least we now have some relief for the rest of the season, although satisfaction is a long way off.
Result more important than anything else, team kneeds rebuilding, Silva and mgw did well, sorry Adama 1 goal in 49 , stats don’t lie. Time to get drunk as a skunk, wolves aie we
I agree it was a stodgy attacking performance Paddy lad and like you, I hated almost every second of it.
But we won and in truth, scored two goals worthy of winning any game. They were the only moments of Premier League quality and underline why we’re staying up and they’re probably going down.
The longer it went on the fewer ideas Fulham had and it was only ever going to be a Mitrovic header from a % pump forward or a defensive blunder that would allow them to score. I thought the defence did well and Semedo had his best defensive outing in a Wolves shirt.
In-between the goal that wasn’t and the goal that was, our attacking efforts were dire. Once the back three or the holding midfielders offloaded the ball, we didn’t seem to have any idea what to do next. There was no pattern of play or connection between midfield and attack. Podence was that link against West Ham but couldn’t do it here, other than that sumptuous cross for Jose’s header.
We looked better once Fabio and Gibbs-White came on (something I didn’t think I’d ever say) because they got around the pitch and showed a greater appetite to make things happen. This culminated in their key contributions to Traore’s winner.
And as for Adama, make no mistake about it, had we not been able to lean on his ‘unique’ attributes, we’d be right down in the brown stuff. Beating Leeds and Fulham by the odd goal has got us safe and he’s fashioned those goals out of next to nothing. I’m close to certain he’s leaving in the summer, but I hope he doesn’t. He’s the ultimate insurance policy and that is a priceless commodity in the Premier League. If we dispense with his talents then Plan A has to be a hell of a lot more compelling.
We’re safe now and with the pressure off, it would be good to see a couple of complete performances, staying strong defensively and showing greater adventure with our attacking play. We’ve rarely accomplished both in the same outing. I’d like to get a proper look at Vitinha and Otasowie to see if they can be part of the longer-term solution.
Your summary is spot on Paddy, in particular the movement of the front 3/4, which makes it easy for defenders.
And as for VAR and David Coote…. having to get a microscope to judge an offside isn’t clear and obvious…
However, that said, last night was more about the result than the performance…. oh what the bottom 4 or 5 teams would give for a win.
We’re not the swashbuckling team that came up from the Championship and for whatever reason our previously high achievements haven’t been matched …. BUT … I’ll happily settle for another season in the PL… like most on this blog…. and also to watch it inside the stadium…. whoop whoop…
I heard some commentator say the “clear and obvious” thing doesn’t pertain to offsides. Not sure why but that is what was said.
It seems that as a team we have just lost our way. Our success in recent seasons was built around continuity, a team in which all players understood precisely what was expected of them both individually and as a unit.
Now we have lost all of that. Systems change by the week. Defensively we are confused and porous. Midfield drive and creativity has disappeared. Up front we are toothless. Overall we are just plain ineffective, and very boring.
Yes, we might well have secured our status in the big league for next season, but the reality is that unless our Coach gets his act together, the future is bleak. We are unlikely to be so lucky next time around.
We need an identity. We need to establish a method which will at least give us some hope of scoring regularly from open play rather than having to rely on the occasional wonder goal struck from distance.
Surely, to carry on in the present vein cannot be a serious option.
Ok, long time listener, first time caller. Last week was pathetic, the West Ham game resulted in my having to leave the room on no fewer than 6 occasions to swear. We started like under 12’s … And then got worse.
Last night was just poor, not quite pathetic, but still a massive drop in quality from what we have seen from the majority of this squad. Yes, I was up on my feet when Jose nodded in, and I turned the air blue when the VAR overruled a perfectly good goal (I watched it with French commentary and they were literally wetting themselves laughing at how the Premier League could rule out such a well worked goal for offside).
The second half was pants, but Adama did what Adama does and made it all worthwhile in the last few seconds. How the mighty are fallen though, celebrating a last minute winner away to Fulham when last year we were competing higher up the table and gunning for Europe. Like most of us on here, I just want to switch this season off and get ready for the next one.
Bloody great feeling at the end though!
Wolves ay we.
It was a tough watch and wasn’t helped by the fact that Fulham are woeful and desperate for points.
All the more reason to play four at the back for the rest of the season now that we can’t go down- can’t make Europe.
Mix it up , give lots of game time to fabio- hoever- vithina-ottosawi even mgw ( pretty sure I spelt all those wrong except mgw)
We will be more open , Leeds like even but it will be more exciting to watch and what have we got to lose other than perhaps realising that some just won’t be good enough next year?
Beauty of a pass in assisting traore by the young prince though and what a finish by our speedster who’s value goes up and down every week.
Sheffield Utd up next , three more points ,
Top ten anyone?
Utw
My view is that this has been a soulless, disjointed mess of a season. Started with admirable intentions from Nuno for a more expansive, possession based game. And there were glimpses of this in the first three months . But as we went in to deep mid winter results and performances aided by injuries to key personnel in a small squad , regressed alarmingly culminating in defeat to the arch enemy. So we go back to basics, grind out results (16 points from 12 games since) and ensure safety. Ruben Neves admitted in a recent interview that they realised they were ‘in trouble’. Maybe we just haven’t had that swagger and confidence due to the position we were in. The nucleus of a good side is there. It just needs some wise additions in the summer. A good pre-season with personnel that can play in a back 4 (if that is the way we are going). I don’t know. The reasons are numerous and complex for this season. I am willing to forgive and forget if we give Sandwell Town a good thrashing in May! But hey! 4th consecutive season in the top flight to look forward to for the first time since August 1975. We are still riding the roller coaster. Which way will it go next season ? Over to Jeff, Nuno and Uncle Jorge…….
Couldn’t agree more. All the teams below us would love to be in our position. Just shows how our expectations have risen. We’ve had an awful time with injuries and its just got worse. That will make recruitment even more difficult in the summer. May see the likes of Mir back and on the bench, at least for a part of the season and until the injury list shortens.
Thank you Paddy for your early thoughts. Totally agree with you that it was two poor teams with scarcely any creativity between them. You had to feel sorry for the neutrals watching and if they stuck it out to the end admire their belief in footbal rewarding those who keep the faith.
And what a reward it was: Traore set free by Silva advances on goal, looks up, sees an impossible angle and blasts it past a disbelieving goalie. A true jump out of your chair moment. Of course we’d already had another great celebration. A celebration made sweeter as it was a goal for the unlucky Jose. He celebrated Wolves fans around the world celebrated. Cue the killjoy VAR, operated by a sad little man with no grasp of what football is about. And any way I still can’t see what part of Podence was offside.
But Wolves won. We can sit back while Nuno can experiment with formations, give Silva a run of starts and allow players on the fringe time on the pitch. And Shi can approach players and promise them Premier league football.I
We can look forward to a season which surely will be better than this season from hell
Another good synopsis Paddy but as others have said in the preview the result was everything. We are clearly in a muddle caught betwixt and between 5 at the back or 4 at the back with a playing squad a mix of players suited to one system but not necessarily the other. Let’s hope Nuno and wolves can sort this out with a good pre season and good recruitment in the summer to make us a more effective force next year. My overarching concern is that in both good times and during this period of struggle, it just doesn’t seem part of Nuno’s philosophy to organise a team to fully exploit its attacking talents. It is no coincidence that naturally attack minded players struggle to flourish at wolves. Jimenez is the exception. Neto scores for fun at Liverpool. Jose was scoring 1 in 3 over several seasons in primera liga. Traore for all his foibles, I’m convinced would be a more potent player in a different attacking formation. When Neto leaves I think he will flourish away from the wolves. Very little of our play in goal scoring positions is created through the middle of the park and I think this at least partially explains why our overall goal scoring record has been so poor – we are effectively making the central third of the pitch a desert of creativity. I think one of the best things we could do as a club in the summer is to a) get an attack minded central midfielder in the Bruno Fernandes mould – a player we could have signed for only a few million more than Semedo and b) get a dedicated coach for the forwards who has operated at the highest level – our finishing generally has lots of room for improvement-and I include our player of the season Neto in that.
‘…Neto scores for fun at Liverpool.’
Jota, surely.
Sorry perhaps a Freudian slip of a glimpse into the future!
A tough watch indeed. I don’t know if that was because the quality was so poor or so much rested on the result.
I’d be interested to know if anyone other than the VAR Gnome thought Podence was offside and even more interested to see if anyone living on planet earth actually believes football is a better game for its implementation in situations like that?
Anyway I managed to fume my way to the 92nd minute caring not much at all about how we drifted in and out of the game and made a frankly rubbish outfit look like they might actually belong in the best league in the world.
And then you get that one moment of magic .
Theres clarity in our investment policy in buying in promising youth and a player like no other does what no other can.
Until next Saturday all is well with the world!
That was difficult to watch. Great goal by Traore to win it, but I still consider him too inconsistent to retain. We cannot afford to carry a luxury player.
I look forward to a massive clear out for next season …… hopefully.
Over to you Fosun.
Horrible game to watch! Bad as our performance was, we are better than Fulham, and while Tarore’s late goal may make us all feel a little better, it only papered over the cracks of a dismal performance. Let us hope we have a good summer in the transfer market.
I am beginning to look at the Leeds manager with a bit of envy! They may not win anything but they sure are exciting!
Come on Nuno, we are now safe, can we attack a bit more?
Typical Wolves. We go game after game after game without scoring the opening goal, then we do it twice in one match.
I could bang on endlessly about VAR, but it gets boring so I’m not doing it. I have to say though, that I am seriously losing interest in the game as a whole. Those moments, when the ball ripples the net, those moments are why we watch football. Sure, we all admire a good touch from a midfielder or a great save. But it’s the instant ecstasy of your team scoring. That’s why we love the game and that’s why I’m beginning not to love it. The damn stupid ‘powers that be’ have stolen away the game I love from under my very nose and I hate them for it. I don’t know how they can modify it to make it acceptable. Anything that takes away the immediacy of the joy just won’t work for me. Scrap the whole thing.
I made the mistake of celebrating Willian’s goal. I don’t usually anymore but I was so pleased for him. Bigger fool me.
When Adama blasted home his late winner I sat impassively. They’re not making a monkey out of me twice in one match.
There, I did bang on endlessly about VAR after all. Sorry.
I feel exactly the same as you Wolfstroker and agree with your every word, the only difference with me was that I didn’t even flinch for either of the ‘goals’, just sat there, slumped in my seat, motionless, emotionless.
VAR has sucked all of my enjoyment from the game that I have loved since I was a kid. It’s not the game I fell in love with. It’s not football for me any more, and I’m not sure I want to be a part of it any longer.
When asked about VAR a few months ago, Jose Mourinho said “I miss my old football”.
So do I Jose, so do I…
I think many of us feel exactly the same way about VAR. It’s taken all the joy out of celebrating a goal. We all have to wait and see…by which time the moment has gone.
To me it’s seems the players are totally confused and bewildered by Nuno’s formations and instructions chopping and changing of formations. Had we been up against a better side ie like West Ham the result would have been the same or worse.
We have very good players that are now average why……it’s not all down to lose of form a lot of it is how they are being asked to play and they clearly are not buying into it.
Nuno’s game management is poor to say the least Silva on with five minutes to go of normal time and fair play to the kid he supplied a great pass for Adama. The kid finally looks like he has found his feet but is left on the bench for 85 minutes it’s very poor game management by Nuno which has been a triat way back to the F.A Cup semi final.
I am of the opinion that it’s not all down to the players our slump Nuno has to should a lot of the responsibly his stubbornness his failure to see when things are clearly not working and make changes like subs playing players out of position when he has players available in those same positions sticking with a formation that we clearly don’t have the right players to make it work.
Poor performance game was drifting to a 0.0 thank God for a bit of magic from Adama.
It looks like he has got away with it this season only because there are 3 teams a lot worse than us but he has used all his lives up this season next season he won’t be so lucky.
So sorry you had to rewrite your blog from all out attack mode to merely grumbling at our deserved 2-0 victory.
I am pleased we got over the line. It’s always difficult against teams scrapping for their lives. And, I can easily forgive the current lack of constant fluency you have been spoiled to expect. What could possibly be the problem?
I dunno, maybe we have new young players trying to step up in the toughest league. Maybe we are trying different solutions. Maybe we are cursed with injury to our best players. Maybe we enjoy the raw of the fans. Maybe we get robbed by officials when it really matters, like last night and definitely against the stripes.
And why no mention of MGW and Silva’s telling contributions. Are you not delighted for them? I guess you must have missed it. Never mind, looks like they may win you over.
For the record I would retain Nuno with a 250k bonus for his loyalty to club and city and beat any contract offer Adama is tempted with. They are my absolute favourites in a glut of favourites and feel blessed every time I see them in our wonderful club colours (which fittingly now include those wonderful Portuguese shades on display last night)
Absolutely nailed it Slider. Nuno has had so much more to contend with since the international break but
he has navigated a way to safety.
You ‘happy clapper’ you!
We won
1-0
Adama scored
So did Jose..I still see it as a goal
Leave the rest to the owners and Nuno
The end .
Here here yes we can carp about how poor we’ve been this season. But we’re more or less safe now, and the reasons we are so flat is the absence , for large parts of the season , and all of it in 2 cases, of 5 of our star turns from last season.
We’re like the Beatles without Paul and John , pretty ordinary and flat. But in Traore we have a match winner and I am more or less certain without him we’d have been very near the drop zone now.
But it’s celebration time! We won! There’s hope, MGW and Silva are potentially match winners, Coady looked back to form, as he played some great balls through, to dangerous positions on the wing.
All’s relatively rosy once more. I’d love to see another 4 wins but we know where we are with this team nothings written in stone. I’d love to get revenge on the Baggies and beat Brighton for once in a blue moon.
Onwards and upwards we go.
Great summary Paddy. I feel your pain! It was an ugly, low-quality win, but a precious three points all the same to banish relegation worries.
If Jose’s goal had stood (as it should have) I think it might have been the catalyst in unleashing our almost forgotten attacking flair, and his too. As it was, we went right back into our shell, feeling sorry for ourselves. Against a better team than Fulham, we would have been staring defeat in the face. I’ve seen Fulham play superbly at times this season. Thankfully last night they were even poorer than us, piss poor in fact! Mitrovic was a joke, luckily. I thought he might overpower Coady but he turned out to be a damp squib of a threat.
What to make of Traore? When he can be arsed to play, he’s brilliant (in flashes). The goal he set up against West Ham was superb. Last night he scored an absolute worldly. But these moments are far, far too few. He’s still a very rough diamond. Is it all down to Nuno? No. Traore has had a succession of coaches who have struggled to unlock his potential. The single common dominator is that he has provided flashes of brilliance at every club he’s played for, but that’s it. If anything, Nuno has extracted more from Traore than other coaches, but sadly Traore has been slipping backwards this season to the median base level of performance he reached at every club. For the first two seasons at Wolves he seemed to be breaking through that barrier. Hearing him talk, he’s as immature as his football I believe. When you see him slip on his arse during a match, and hold his arms up in appeal, it’s like seeing a child in a nursery. There’s still time to unlock his full potential, but time is running out and it might need a bloody psychiatrist to get anywhere with him.
Silva’s late cameo was a reminder of his potential. A great pass to Traore last night and a superbly-taken goal against West Ham. Even MGW looked reasonably good amongst the general dross on display at Craven Cottage!
There’s no doubt that we are paying a price for the loss of Jota and Doherty, the injury to Jimenez, the other injuries and and the poor transfer signings of last summer. Talk of the ten-year project has gone very quiet of late…
When you hear Adama speak, you have to bear in mind he’s doing so in a foreign language and he does so far better than many Brits I know. Including me.
A win, 3 points, slick passing for the goal. Everything else has been said.. 4th season in the Prem. That is not to be sniffed at.
Just need pay back at the poorthorns and time to reflect and build for next season.
Even Martin Keown and Dion Dublin on Football Focus are scratching their heads about that VAR decision last night. I read somewhere that Coote was on VAR when Pickford launched an assault on Van Dyke in the Merseyside derby. True to form Coote was unable to see the most obvious red card on the planet, but was able to get his f**king forensic lines out and spend 5 minutes coming up with a guess at the end of it all. Said it before.VAR is good if it is used to clear up obvious errors. Having to draw lines to see if someone’s finger nail is offside is not clear or obvious so leave it alone. If Podence was 3 inches offside last night and the officials missed it then VAR it . Fair enough. But not like this. Shit.
A torrid, turgid display of 22 men doing a Six Million Dollar man display, as though trying to move in a vat of molasses, with an overweight, biased official in yellow walking around the pitch, totally confused.
However, Wolves finally managed, for the first time this season, after umpteen attempts, to produce a second half performance as bad as a first.
The game, as a perfect cure for insomnia, was interrupted by two flashes of brilliance.
As to the first, how badly has Willian’s confidence been damaged by that criminal var decision?
Hopefully, he will react with anger, and a determination to get on the score sheet legally.
As to the second, how come Traore can only produce one bit of magic per game?
We all know he has the ability, but where is the connection between his brain and his body?
Sadly, I am in the “he must go” camp, a luxury we can ill afford, despite his once a season flashes of brilliance.
I too was guilty of being bored and disillusioned out of my mind, catching myself falling asleep on numerous occasions as we did the old Carl Henry two step sideways shuffle.
I agree with someone above, where has all the creativity gone?
Where are the players who can consistently take on a man and beat him, to set up a chance or two, instead of shirking all responsibility and passing back to the bloke you just received the ball from, milliseconds earlier?
Where is a Waggy when we need him?
OK, bitch and moan over, I am still a clappy happer at heart, and the three points are all that matters, and my shit eating grin, although not at full ear to ear strength yet, but a mere twitch of my lovely lips, it is going in the right direction.
A few good results over the weekend will help, along with some IPAs.
Onwards and upwards, dear boys and girls, life may not always be good, but ours are certainly interesting!
Hasta la Pasta and FOwb
Hasta el tuyo, Clive.
It’s not “var”, it’s “VAR”.
No, capital letters are only used when the subject matter has your respect.
Get it now, timmy?
I bet this Wolves team would beat the League 1 Wolves team hands down so stop your bellyaching.
Are you responding to all the bloggers, or just me in particular?
You know, folks – they’re called flashes of brilliance for a reason. If they could be done multiple times a game by every player they would be called flashed of mediocrity.
The only flashes of brilliance you can count on seeing multiple times in a short period is my insight into the game of football.
Flashed of mediocrity?
Flashed?
Is that you in a macintosh?
Insight you may have, but proofreadings skills you have nun, Mit.
That assist Monday and goal Friday have probably raised the asking price for Adama by £5 or 10 million in just a few days.
By the way, for all of you who say we have nothing else to play for the rest of the season and we should just play the younger players, remember that teams get about £2 million more for each place higher in the table that they finish. If we can go from 14th to 10th, that is about £8 million.
To put things in perspective, isn’t our main shirt sponsorship worth about £6 million?
https://sportscriber.com/football/premier-league-prize-money/
Domestic TV rights breakdown
Equal Share: 50% of the total money will be dived equally between all the teams.
Merit Payments: The next 25% of the total money will be divided on the basis of the final positions of the team in the league table.
Merit Payments: The last 25% of the total money will be divided on the basis of how many times the team’s match was shown live.
Sure. If Adama could be arsed to put the effort in consistently he could easily double his value and more. My theory is he’s so immature that he can’t really be bothered too much at Wolves as he probably thinks he should be playing for a bigger club. If Adama could channel the determination of a Cristiano Ronaldo type of character, he could be world-class. As it is, Adama is squandering his talent. Klopp recognised this talent when he called him ‘unplayable’ last season.
As Dr. Nuno said after the game, Adama offers much more than just goals and assists.
Some people don’t understand sports well enough to see that.
I’ve been trying to point that out repeatedly here and I hope at least some of my fellow bloggers get what I am saying.
Opposition coaches are saying he is unplayable but, in reality, he is not. The only problem for them is that in order to make him playable, you have to sacrifice players from elsewhere on the pitch.
It’s wonderful that you bless us with your all seeing, all knowing, all understanding of football, mit, rspecially all the more wonderful being as you are a foreigner.
One thing we English don’t like is fuckin’ patronising, so get off your mighty , better than thou high horse, and think, for once, that we might actually know what we are talking about, having lived, breathed and growd up with the sport.
It might surprise you to realise that there are sctually several folk smarter, and more modest, than you.
Me not being one of them, I are perfecto!!
You might have been English once but you can’t even spell properly now!
properly.
Howz that?
Excellent! See if you can keep it up. What position did the Doog play?
Keep it up?
They don’t call me Mr. Viagra for nothing.
Or is it Mr. Vaseline?
Anyrode, one of the three.
Playing the younger players doesn’t mean that we will finish lower in the league though, maybe we will finish higher!
Only one way to find out and I’d rather give them the opportunity now than at the start of the new season.
Utw
The highest we will get is 12th (may just shade 11th). And we will finish on somewhere between 45 and 50 points. I will say 47. Given all the problems of this season it is still comfortable mid table in the Premier League. So maybe it is not all that bad. Just not as good as the first 2 seasons..
Regardless of the performance at the end of the day the history books show we won.
Onwards & upwards!
Can’t under estimate the effort Fulham put into that game. NOTE Lemina”s reaction.
Clearly Parker-s attempt to shore up the defence has reduced their attacking abilities, in truth they caused us no problems defensive.
But although they lacked a cutting edge that was a battle and the effort had to be matched.
I honestly don’t see the point of the critical rants. We know what we are, a side damaged by a poor transfer window horrendous injuries and no pre-season preceded by the longest season in history.
It’s a long way back to our days in the Championship when we could develop a playing style and confidence in the comparitively unthreatening environment. Evolving playing styles during a season peppered with international breaks is an unforgiving challenge
Roll on next season with two up front.
Good post JackoMac, we have no god given right to outplay every team we meet. Every side in the PL has a talented coaching team, good technical players and has formed a tactical plan to nullify any advantage we have and win the game. That’s sport, players make mistakes and that’s why we love it. VAR has become more of a problem than a solution and the football administrators would be wise to listen to the players and fans. The constant griping by some is embarrassing tbh.
Yes, it’s been a hard season to watch following the delights of the previous fare under Nuno’s direction. A much larger squad was a necessity in hindsight with how the past couple of seasons have worked out and with World Cup and European Nations Cup matches filling so much time along with the African Nations Cup we need a much larger squad to avoid a repetition of this term. In my opinion our players, those making the basic framework of the club, are virtually burnt out and badly lack their previous spark. We have not recovered from the over a year season with no break playing high status games. We played more games at the time than any other team and with a tiny squad. Neves, for example, in my opinion looks tired mentally as well as physically; you don’t go from his previous stature to the shadow he is at times now without a bad injury as cause. Injuries are also, to my mind, a product of having to overplay a small squad; the game is so athletic now that any little niggle has a tendency to become a serious problem eventually.. Other clubs experienced the extra long season but not to the same extent and with such a small squad.
It was nice to see two greatly taken goals amongst the slight dross. The offside decisions given are indeed a nonsense. I read somewhere that the measurement of time and space cannot be done accurately enough with regard to the judgement of the movement of the ball from the passer and the bodily positions of the receiver. It’s totally disingenuous, if not corrupt, of an official to come up with such a decision which can be altered with micro movement of the visual `evidence`. We, the fans, are being conned. Also, There is no advantage gained by the attacking side if a part of their upper arm is one centimetre at one instance ahead of a defenders; the next instant could reverse the situation in any case. It’s just hilarious that the positions of the feet are not even considered. All teams are suffering from this needless pedantry; it must be sorted out…
We need, in my opinion, to be more understanding towards the players and team, despite our understandable frustration, throughout this awful season when our team is a shadow of what we know they are capable of, and hope that the owners have the will to try and put things right when time allows. COYW… Wow, BT Sport are pointing out what I just mentioned regarding taking the measurements for offside in the Liverpool match and how different officials do it differently and are different in their leniency.
Very clearly and sensibly articulated points.
Personal opinion but I would much prefer the opening game assessment had been presented in this calm style rather than the emotively critical scattergun approach which ignored relevant factors.
Comments spot on,.
And who insisted that he wanted to work with a small squad? Nuno. It was stubbornness and almost negligence on his part. We went through a tough PL season with the added work load of reaching the Europa League quarter finals. It wasn’t until the defeat to Sevilla that Nuno finally admitted that we needed a larger squad. Was this a factor in Jonny’s injury last summer? The players seemed burnt out in that match, and frankly we haven’t recovered our swagger since. This burn-out could have been a factor in Jota and Doherty wanting away.
Excellent comments Debenham.
Two poor sides and awful to watch but take the points.Good set up by Silva and Adama
released the frustrations of a diabolical season. Clear and obvious does not apply to
offside but surely analysis should look at feet not arms ,as you score with feet.
A lot of hoofing but Fulham did not create much. Mix it up for final games and let’s see
what we have outside the normal 11.
I agree with the majority of the comments. Stodgy, boring, listless display etc.
Where I disagree with most is the VAR decisions. All VAR is doing is telling the ref (and assistant ref up in the booth) exactly what happened. What we should be talking about is the rules of the game. Now that the tools have been sharpened to measure offsides using pixels and microns, maybe it is time to alter the rules accordingly. However, no matter what the final wording of the rules will be, there will always be complaints if the very accurate VAR is used. I think the only way to stop any complaints about debatable offsides is to simply remove offsides from the game completely. It will change the game as we know it, but it will certainly remove a contentious rule.
Then we can talk in detail about the rules regarding handballs ! But that’s for another day.
For me vicsmith, it’s not about the accuracy of the VAR decisions. It’s about the delay meaning I can’t spontaneously enjoy that moment. The fact they then so often make such ludicrous judgements simply adds insult to injury. But the injury will remain as long as the system does.
But if you want to retain the facility of “enjoying the moment”, then you have to accept the other side of the coin on those occasions when an incorrect decision causes you to suffer the injustice of the moment.
There’s nothing wrong with the idea of technology replays per se. They’re an improvement on unchecked refereeing mistakes. What needs addressing are the current nature and wording of the laws of the game pertaining to handball and offside, along with the way that VAR is implemented. It should be implemented in the same way that it is in cricket, with each side having the right to a predefined number of challenges within a match.
We survived a hundred years of possible mix-judgments alongside unfortunate injuries inexplicable errors by players and managers, dodgy pitches and horrendous weather conditions.
But through all of the games heartbreak and foibles there was excitement tension anticipation and instant gratfication. Take that away and you have Lost – Season Two!
Don’t think so Jack. Updating the laws and improving the VAR implementation process will eliminate incorrect decisions and prevent the possibility of key refereeing mistakes being made. Mistakes which could lead to teams unjustly being relegated or denied promotion etc etc.
Rugby fans have no problem listening to the review process, (which crucially), they are able to), and neither do cricket fans. Achieving a state of clear-cut identification of what really happened in an incident has to be superior to sticking with “in the moment, mistaken decisions” being made.
Probably the greatest indictment of the present Wolves side is that the most creative player on the pitch last night was our captain and sweeper.
What has happened to Ruben Neves?
The Wonderkid from Porto has gone from showing us how many different types of slide rule passes he can slip through the opposition defence, or Wondergoals he can score, to having us all wondering whether he can muster a pass that will reach one of his own team.
As has been said, it was a truly awful game last night, highlighted by two superb goals, two superb assists and one completely ridiculous VAR decision.
Pedro Neto, before he got injured looked like he was starting to believe in his own publicity. I hope he keeps his feet on the ground. There are enough Prima donnas in football already thanks very much.
But I also hope that his injury isn’t serious.
We can ill afford to lose him.
I’m pretty sure we are safe now and I have just one ambition for the rest of this truly forgettable season.
To BEAT the BeJesus out of sandwell!
Offside?
As Mr Bumble said in the Dickens classic, Oliver Twist:-
“If the law supposes that, the law is a ass — a idiot.”
I rest my case.
Hi Mark,
I never noticed until someone pointed it out on another site but if you look the red line goes inwards and doesn’t run parallel to the white one which makes it all the more a disgrace. Had it been straight there is no way it could be called offside.
Agreed mate.
It’s also been said that if Podence’s sleeve had been longer, it wouldn’t have been given.
DOOgooder, I am with you on Neto. He is danger of seeing himself as a the main man with
little humility. I suppose with such wealth at a tender age there is little chance of that.
Perhaps his parents are eying a move to MU.
As for Neves, I agree with Debenham, above. He is worn out, as are others.
A twelve month season, hardly any break, a short preseason and a small squad.
A victim of their own success and a management decision to attempt to operate with a very small squad.
Grreetings pack,
Enjoyed your mutterings since finding this blog – post the attempted murder of Jimi by the Brazilian mafia, obviously a massive hit following the departure of ‘the Messi of the Midlands’, now scoring against us at home. However a season double over the Arse and safety is ok. Lets enjoy some football for the rest of the season.
If you had any doubt as to the importance of these 3 points take a look at the Fulham PoV on the craply named, but, considering the circumstances, well reasoned ‘Fulhamish’ blog. Even they think Jose scored! Virgil Parker chewing thistles as the disbelief turns to horror.
https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2021-04-10-five-thoughts-fulham-0-1-wolverhampton-wanderers/
1 LV & COYW
A largely forgettable game, but I’ll happily take the 3 points. Anybody else hear Nuno refer to ‘several players carrying injuries for some time’ after the game ? Clearly Neto was one of them, as his recent form has indicated. Also evident that Podence and Moutinho are not yet match fit, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there are others to whom this applies.
VAR ? I hate it with a passion. If it has to stay, (and the word from FIFA is that it will), then it must be re-formatted. Just how, I don’t know. But maybe Wenger’s proposal to the rule makers that if any part of the players body is onside then he is considered to be onside in his entirety. Even that could lead to long delays to check if (e.g.) a player’s trailing arm was actually behind the last defender or not, but at least it should reduce the number of these interminable analyses. Personally I think it should only be used if a team can identify exactly what decision they want challenged (and only 2 or 3 challenges per team per match) as its noticeable that for the vast majority of the disallowed goals nobody on the pitch is disputing anything.
With VAR offside decisions, I get quite worked-up when I hear people say “well, offside is offside, it’s black and white”.
The rules of football were designed to be applied in real-time by the naked eye, not pored over endlessly using lines, zoom-ins and freeze-frames.
Changing the rules to suit VAR is a bit like the tail wagging the dog and just wrong.
Football is a game played and officiated by humans, who make honest mistakes from time to time. If you want to eliminate mistakes, and analysis down to micron level, I suggest you go and watch or play computer games instead.
Not so Atom. Both Rugby Union and Cricket have demonstrated that the use of technology can make dramatic improvements to their sports and, if it can be done in Rugby, then it can certainly be done in football.
Sorry have to agree with Atom’s key point. I If it’s acknowledged (and it seems to be) that different CAR analysts could come to a different outcome on the same incident then what is the point of VAR being used in it’s current form on off-side decisions.
Firstly VAR should only be applied to ‘clear and obvious’ errors of judgment by the ref. Well a linesman may make a border-line mid-judgment based on the current rule but how often is it clear and obvious? Not very often at all in my experience.
I would be happy to accept their judgment call every time if it meant an instant decision.
Secondly, if you want the rule more consistently applied then make it easier to apply and why not take the chance to improve the entertainment value by requiring the need for distance (daylight) between the attacker and defender to be off-side.
Thirdly offer each side three appeals for a VAR judgment but otherwise pitch officials rule and VAR keeps its nose out.
Fourthly linesman flags as soon as off-site spotted and so speed unnecessary injury.
Finally VAR role can be reviewed it a proven automated decision can be applied.
Interpretation delays following a ‘goal’ is killing the game.
Hi Jack,
I agree with a lot of what you say here. As I tried to make clear in my original comment, the problem is not the VAR technology. It’s how it’s being implemented, which is totally wrong. Added to that, the other even more negative drawback is the nature of the laws themselves. In particular, both the offside and handball laws need attention. VAR merely looks for instances of infringements to the laws as they currently stand. And it does an excellent job of finding those infringements. What needs to change is the nature of the laws themselves and then VAR will do an equally fine job of identifying those improved infringements too.
I agree largely with what you say about the offside law. I would like the law to refer to the position of the attacker’s feet, rather than his hand(s), or armpits!
Cheers
Pete
Different sports with different flows, so I don’t think you can make direct comparisons PR.
Technology also works well in tennis, but that doesn’t mean it can work well in football.
Technology can work just as well in football as in any other sport Atom. An excellent example is Rugby. The way that technology is employed there the spectators are able to listen in to the entire dialogue between the on-field ref and the reviewers and clear, correct decisions to the benefit of all are made as a consequence, with everybody understanding the underlying thought processes.
Once again, it’s the laws on handball and offside which need changing. The technology just identifies infringements to the laws as they stand and it cannot be blamed for the stupidity of those laws in their current state. Change and improve the laws and then the technology will find infringements to them and that will be a good thing, rather than to allow matches to be decided by on-field refereeing mistakes.
Not a fan of rugby, but from what very little I’ve seen of the game, it’s more ‘stop-start’ than football, so maybe VAR delays are more tolerable in rugby? Just a thought.
I take what you’re saying about hearing what’s going during the decision making process, but in my opinion, ANYTHING that stunts goal celebrations in the way VAR does is just wrong for football, and completely ruins the game.
As I’ve read elsewhere, goals are football’s or… ‘climax’ (there may be young eyes reading this!), and thus (for most of us at least), don’t come (no pun intended) around too often, which is why they are/were celebrated with much gusto. Whereas, in rugby, there are quite a few ways to score points, so points-scoring during a game happens more often, so I guess the whole celebrating-points-scoring process is less intense?
I respect your opinion, and welcome any response, but I don’t think we’ll ever agree on this, so I’m going to have to file this one in my ‘agree to disagree’ folder!
All the best.
Yeh, you to Atom. Good to to talk with you.
Cheers
Next week’s game may be moved if it is at 3:00PM Saturday.
I hope not. I have had enough of the last 24 hours of pro Royal bullshit rammed down my throat. I dont want it next week either. Sad the bloke has died but why should you respect someone who has basically been lucky enough to be born in to immense wealth and privilege. I don’t.
Bit like Kevin De Broiner!
At least he’s worth watching!
Cheers Clive. How is it going old pal? Got your ‘where the fuck is Prince Andrew ‘ T shirt on ?
No, but I got that very rare T shirt:
I bonked Camilla
Rare? Half the Coldstream Guards have one plus a few of their horses!!
A bit harsh mate.
It’s OK to respect anybody, no matter whether they were born, by accident, into wealth or poverty.
What he did for kids in the UK, and his work to protect wildlife worldwide deserves a bit of respect in my mind.
I don’t know about that Doog. You probably have a greater knowledge in that area than me. I don’t have much time for Royalty to be honest mate. But like I said I am sorry for his death. Just don’t feel the need for radio stations and BBC4 to shut down . Is it North Korea ?
That would apply if he actually “DID” anything, if fact all he did was allow his name to be used to promote things.
With respect kiwiwolf, that is complete bollox!
The present MrsDG’er works with David Hempleman-Adams who is heavily involved with the Duke of Edinburghs Award Scheme, and knows exactly how much work he put into that.
Added to the fact that he gave up a successful career in the RN to spend the next 70 odd years in the Queen’s shadow having to fulfil over 22,000 public engagements in various parts of the World, doesn’t sound like someone who ‘Never actually DID anything’.
Whatever you think about The Monarchy, whether they are a waste of time and money, and only good as a means of tourist income, or an important part of this country’s history (I’m no Royalist and I’ve certainly got no axe to grind on their behalf), you ought to check facts before you trot out tired and inaccurate cliches about them.
Appropriately I found your reply in my SPAM folder. You stick to your beliefs and I’ll stick to mine
Season 17-18 – Massive step forward- promotion
Season 18-19 – Huge step forward – 7th etc, FACup semi
Season 19 – 20 Big step forward – 7th again, Europe etc
Season 20 -21 – Step backwards – injury to star player then further disruptions but still a mid table finish and some lessons to be learned.
Well that’s not too bad is it? Those who criticise Nuno and his “game management” have no CV to match his and no knowledge of the issues behind the scenes about form and fitness.
Last night we narrowly beat a team that is likely to be relegated so that puts our League position in context, better than the bottom but not good enough for the top.
Jon Moss is not my favourite ref but the VAR decision is not his fault, NO ONE on the pitch saw an offside player, let alone the flappy sleeve of Pod’s shirt, unanimous ridicule of the decision across the media today might convince the rule makers to resign and let football professionals take over. I thought Moss had a good game and was sensible to ignore MGW’s blatant dive and allow Fabio to set Adama on his way.
Our starting back four made me very nervous, small in stature in the middle, naivete on either side. Reverting to a back three and bringing on Moutinho was the best solution when you looked at the bench. Jose showed he can finish one touch chances- that’s the type of service he needs a pity that Pod goes missing for big chunks of time and is clearly not fit for 90 minutes.
Well done for the goals and the three points if not the performance.
The relief was quite overwhelming when Traore smacked in that angled howitzer as the referee was considering blowing the final whistle.
Just as the anger and frustration was equally overwhelming at the VAR nonsense that ruled out the Jose header.
Football is many things to all supporters- one of them being comparisons.
Like a fair few on here I suspect, Wolves have been relegated on 6 occasions from the top flight since I first set foot in the “Cow Shed” with pa.
1964/65
1975/76
1981/82
1983/84
2003/04
2011/12
On 35 points before last night the (admittedly somewhat remote) possibility of another relegation scrap filled me with dread, particularly considering the dismal season we have endured – compared to the last 3 seasons that is.
However if you look at the 6 relegation seasons highlighted above 35 points (now 38) at this stage would have us all leaping like salmon on the Tweed. In 1965 (using 3 points for a win over 42 games and not 38) we were relegated with 43 points.
In 1976 relegated with 40 points over 42 fixtures using 3 points for a win.
1982 by now 3 points for a win but still 42 games we went down with 40 points again.
1984 was particularly painful – down with a mere 29 points after winning just 6 games over 42 games and our way to division 4.
2003/4 now playing 38 games the Molineux ship sunk with 33 points winning just 7 games
2011/12 Wolves won the first 2 games then drew at Villa Park – we were yelling “going to win the league”. Just another 3 victories were recorded all season and we were doomed before May with 25 points and on our way to division 3.
Now I have been as disappointed as anyone with this season, mainly because our expectations have risen or more to the point Fosun raised them for us with their “mission statement” of the Premier League being a “stepping stone” to the Champions League or something akin to that.
Yet – looking back at those relegation seasons, 38 points from 31 fixtures would have had us “dancing on the ceiling” (with due thanks to Lionel Ritchie).
Consequently I awoke this morning with a song in my heart and a dance in my step and convinced myself that yes – matters along WV1 and the Waterloo Road have been below what I expected but they have been worse – by Christ a lot, lot worse.
If we win the last 7 games (who knows!) we will end up with 59 points and maybe Europa League again!
I know – I am being silly now.
Enjoy the weekend bloggers
Bedfordshire Old Gold
BOG
Brilliant Bog. Somewhere in your analysis is my assertion that we begin next season akin to August 1975. This is the 4th consecutive season in top flight. I would say that this is 46 years on. A good indicator of progress in my book.
Spot on C of D.
We ain’t had 4 successive seasons in the top flight since 77/82.
In fact if you chart Wolves’ promotions and relegations since 1965 it reads like the adventures of a barmaids knickers.
Down – up
Down – up
Down – up
Down – down – down
Up- up – up
Down – up
Down – down –
Up – up
One thing about it Cheese
It certainly ain’t boring !
One final prayer from me
Please please please – beat The Shit. PLEASE!
Take care
BOG
Love the analogy. Brings a few barmaids I used to know back into my thoughts!
On the subject of barmaids……
On the breasts of a barmaid in Craille,
Was tattooed the price of brown ale,
While on her behind,
For the sake of the blind,
Was the same information in Braille.
Ha ha ha brill
The majority of the seasons your talking about clubs were more evenly balanced,the sky money wasn’t in the game. Man Cities wage bill this season 375 million, ours a quarter of this. 300 million pounds worth of players on the bench yesterday against Leeds. We have a long way to go to compete at this financial level, if we ever will. So a mid table finish having a small squad,no preseason, injury’s to key players Raul, Jonny, Boly, selling Jota,Doc mid table is probably as good as we could have expected.
Great stuff BOG Sir. I agree entirely.
Been sayin for a while that a big finish is in prospect … and 50 points…. (and a dagger in the heart of Sandwell along the way)
Meantime my Geordie mate has promised a 4 pack of Boddingtons as a thank you
(I told him my prediction was 0-1)
Yes I agree that it’s a bit of a shitshow right now but Nuno and his team haven’t suddenly become useless
Coaching has transformed the likes of Coady and, I insist , Traore…yep more work needed there I know… and Saiss has also gotten better
In 6 months we might have a new and improved Semedo …maybe even MGW…..who Knows? And Ait -Nouri and Hoever and Vitinha all have potential…Otasowie? Dunno there.
A ball carrying midfielder with creativity won’t be cheap…nor an alternative to Kilman if it’s decided he won’t make it
That’s where we must splash the cash
Neves is a bit of a mystery … but that’s for another blog
And of course there’s a chance that Raul will come back better than ever
Let’s see the glass half full here ….
If we’re bottom 6 next Christmas I’ll eat my words…but top 6 is very doable with some fancy signings and sufficient time for the coaching to work
OODCL
No, Nuno hasn’t become useless and if we didn’t have all of the injuries, we probably would get around 60 points.
The problem is, more teams will be getting more points and so we still would move down the table and losing prize money.
Nuno is basically learning on the job now with his four/two at the back.
Everybody can’t get more points Tim.
A few things I learned from the game:
1. Given the right service Willian Jose is a very good back up to Jimenez.
2. Fabio Silva might, just might, prove me wrong and become a half decent player. Maybe.
3. VAR or at least the way it’s being used is a disaster and ruining the game. Football is in essence a spontaneous and passion driven sport not a slide rule science.
4. We cannot play 4 at the back unless and until we have the players who can play in that system. Semedo and Ait-Nouri are wing backs not full backs and Coady is far more accomplished in the middle of a back three. We would also need a proper defensive central midfielder or enforcer to play alongside Neves.
Delighted with the win but still can’t wait for this season to end.
OODCL
BVHLW
Just found a few more old programmes
which you’re welcome to have
LMK. Brianchad29@ Gmail.com
Hi Brian
Thank you very much for the offer – very kind of you. However I don’t have the heart or the inclination to try and rebuild my collection. It took me the best part of 55 years to accumulate it and some of the items only come up once every 5 years if not longer. Besides if it took me another 55 years I’d be 119 years old!
Thank you again for the thought.
OODCL
Sorry to hear that Dave. I have over 250 ranging from 1965 that can be collected from a friend just outside Wolverhampton. If you don’t want them I will let him know.
Some great and interesting points made about VAR on both sides of the question as to its use. I tend to think that the problem is not with the technology itself but its implementation and the rules it works to enforce. I want a fair game and feel VAR used correctly will improve that aspect of the game. At the moment it is doing the opposite and producing numerous unfair and contrary decisions taking too much time. If you have to have your set square out then it is neither clear or obvious and therefore to close to matter in the great scheme of things.
To my mind, the off side law is wrong to start with; it should be based on the positions of the feet and there being at least daylight between the `offsidee` and the defender’s feet. Either side should be able to appeal for or against a decision for a set number of times during a match and only then would VAR be used to make a decision. In my opinion measuring other parts of the body is needless and nonsensical in its application. Otherwise the match continues with officials making the decisions initially but allowance being made for appeals when sides feel hard done to. How many appeals for this; maybe three per game? Two?
I remember begging to keep Sako once purely that he was a game changer even when we were playing shite.
Traore used to be our secret weapon and tore the arse out of full backs with Klopp saying he was unplayable.
He won this game for us with a blinder of a goal ..
He must be worth keeping surely ?
I can’t imagine how we all would feel if
We got just 1 point with Jose’s goal disallowed.
These depressing days should be over give or take Nuno’s continual head scratching moments which make even the happiest clapper miss.
Well done Traore!!
Some interesting stats. In our 13 games against the current top 8 we have won 1 drawn 3 and lost 9. So 6 points from 13 games at an average of 0.46 points per game. In the 18 games against the rest (9th down to 20th) we have won 9 drawn 5 and lost 4 amassing 32 points (out of 38). An average of 1.78 points per game. This is interesting because in our first season back we tended to struggle against the ‘lower’ teams and give the top six a bloody nose. All that seems to have drastically changed this season. The only win v the top 8 was against Chelsea at home and that was the last kick of the game!
The other thing to note we will relegate Sheffield Utd if we beat them at the weekend barring a massive swing in goal difference which isn’t going to happen. Sad really. Always had some great away days in Sheffield down the years at both Bramhall Lane and Hillsborough. Great city and loads of good pubs!
I know. It is especially sad as it is one of my ‘local ‘ away games being just an hour away from me.
Oh and Prince Andrew appeared on telly today. First time he has been seen for 16 months. He had better watch out he don’t suffer burn out. Bless him.
Perhaps he is looking for a pizza of the action, really no sweat.
Can’t wait for football attendance to start really missing my visits to Wolves.
Like it….
After watching West Ham v Leicester, our performance against the Hammers doesn’t look too shabby.
To add to the ongoing debate about Traore, I can’t help but raise comparisons with Saint-Maximin of Newcastle and Antonio of West Ham. Compared to these two, Traore is just not playing to his full potential. Saint-Maximin? Traore is more like Saint-Minimin! We know what Traore is capable of.
At one point against Fulham, Traore was bundled off the ball near the Fulham penalty area, ended on his arse and sat there raising his arms in appeal. It wasn’t a foul. Meanwhile the ball was being passed towards our goal. Instead of getting up to defend, he just sat there like a toddler in a nursery. And yet, a single moment of his brilliance at the death gave us the points.
Traore is no longer a spring chicken. If he can bring maturity and consistency to his game, we could have a potential world class player.
Absolutely right Dances he could be world class but after seasons of promise he is back to his most frustrating this season. Is it one assist and one goal so far? Saint Maximen had done that within eight minutes of coming on. I love Traore but as you say, for a footballer he ‘s getting on. Which means this summer maybe the time to cash in.
Totally agree. He is a luxury player like Sako. Cannot afford to ‘carry’ these players “just in case they score”
If they don’t bring back Mir, they should be looking for about £35 million for him.
Adama is not a luxury player. It would be hard for anyone to score with 3 people watching them.
It seems like Nuno has finally given Neves permission to jump into the attack and so the benefit of Adama opening up spaces elsewhere on the pitch might soon be realized.
Is ‘ watching’ a euphemism for ‘ continually fouling’ Tim? Adama is certainly marmite for most fans- i think we will see the best of him again when Raul is fit and firing- providing both scenarios occur. Body blow for Pedro- really feel for the lad, it’s his breakthrough season with club and country. What a crap season, but a chance for others to shine now.
Well what a relief to get the 3 points against a very poor side , with Mitrovich in particular looking well past his sell by date. Their big chances were free headers for Mitrovich and that Chelsea loanee, our two small and slow centre halves were stationery with feet on the ground whist these great chances were spurned.
With Boly back next game hopefully it will improve the situation, but as others have said repeatedly on this blog, we may be safe now but playing 4 at the back with Coady and Saiss as the centre halves is a recipe for disaster.
There are some ominous noises in the press about Fosun cashing in by selling our best players in the close season. At least after this game Traore maybe put another few quid on his value, but if there is no smoke without fire could be a worrying few months ahead.
I’m glad it was Fulham we were playing, as they look like they have given up the ghost now. They were simply poorer than us. Likewise we are playing an even worse team In Sheffield U on Saturday and hopefully three more points for us. That should give us confidence against the other supposed relegation certs, WBA. They’re giving me the jitters with their superb recent form.
Looks like Neto is out for the rest of the season.
I noticed Corbeanu played on the left side for the U23s this morning/afternoon.
I wonder if that is just a coincidence or if we will be seeing him at least on the bench as backup for whoever starts there.
I would think he’ll be on the bench given our injury situation.
Latest reports state that Neto could be out for 6 months following knee surgery and, just as a final kick in the bollix, Neves has tested positive for COVID.
Really cannot wait for this dreadful season to end !!!!
Trouble is that our injury problems are going to extend well into next season too.
Pedro Neto out for the rest of the campaign.
Ruben Neves tested positive for Covid.
What more can go wrong this season?
And the shit have scored 8 in their last two games!
At least Olive won’t get a prediction right, including me leaving. Hope is fencing is better.
Sandwell Town are now beginning to seriously annoy me. Like a stubborn piece of dog s**t stuck on your shoe you just can’t get rid of them. If they stay up from this position I will actually explode. I am in secret talks with next door neighbours cat about how we can disrupt the sudden Brazil like renaissance. Issues on the agenda include : * Russian style kidnap of Big Sam and detaining him in a fridge in Ukraine * Large scale bribery of officials in remaining games eg giving Mike Dean a million quid bung to give appalling decisions against Sandwell* introducing a widespread covid 19 infection at the Sandwell training ground * enforced removal of the Hawthorns from Sandwell and relocating it to the Everglades swamps of Florida so that the Sandwell players have to play in Wellington boots . Introducing these measures should finally ensure relegation. Next door neighbours cat is currently under cover in Kiev.
Desperately sad for Neto but I guess the only silver lining is that he won’t be going anywhere in the summer now. No one will sign him crocked . However it puts even greater challenge on our summer transfer plans.
Given the current injury crises, yes crises, that we are enduring, could I suggest to Dr Nuno if he reads this that Jade Cross is on fire and worthy of at least a place on the bench. After all, we’ve got no one else left.
If anybody is bored and wants to see how far we’ve come look up The Moment Of Truth WWFC, on YouTube.
Apparently it was on BBC2 in the 80’s following 2 kids hoping to become full time in the Doherty era. Some great footage of the Molineux, and traning ground.
Was good to get perspective of today. As I say, if you are bored it’s a blast down memory lane.
The link just in case you are really bored
http://youtu.be/E4CgKK2SrQE
This was he only way he was going to score playing for Sandwell Town:-
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/russell-hoult-west-brom-orgy-23919843