Results such as this are guaranteed to split any fanbase.
Those of a glass half-full persuasion will argue there’s merit in gaining a point from a losing position, while those who are feeling slightly parched might suggest a draw against one of the division’s strugglers offers no cause for celebration.
As always, there’s merit in both arguments.
This was a tougher game than most expected, with Fulham proving difficult to break down despite their well-documented defensive travails.
Their approach, when matched with our own passivity, made for mostly drab viewing.
Joao Moutinho and Romain Saiss did an excellent job of dominating the midfield, but were given scant options going forward.
Raul Jimenez was as industrious as ever, and nearly managed one of the goals of the season in a first half bereft of clear-cut chances.
But his striking counterpart Adama Traore continues to frustrate, ultimately being hooked at half-time.
At the halfway point of the campaign, the jury is firmly out on our record signing. But, as is so often the case with this young and developing side, a little perspective is needed before we jump to conclusions.
It was a difficult game for any attacking player to make an impact and it could have quite easily been Morgan Gibbs-White who was benched at the interval.
As pointed out by Nuno in his post-match interview, the teenager struggled to find space in an extremely congested final third.
Such frustrations are all part of the process of trying to find the correct nucleus for our attack, and we can probably expect a few more headaches between now and the end of the season.
Ivan Cavaleiro’s second-half showing offered plenty of encouragement, with the Portuguese winger capping things off with an impressive assist.
I’d expect to see him back in the team at Spurs, in a game where we’ll have to improve significantly to stand a chance of getting a result.
As a quick aside, this is the second time I’ve seen Alexander Mitrovic cause our defence major problems so I’m inclined to say there’s room for a centre forward of his ilk in our team.
We’ve lacked an abrasive presence up top for a number of years now, and the Serbian’s endeavour could quite easily have been our undoing were it not for Conor Coady’s goal-line heroics late on.
But for now, perhaps the fact we’re even in a position to debate the value of an away draw in the top-flight offers the biggest cause for positivity.
With 26 points already on the board, we’ve a great platform to build on during our remaining fixtures.
Improvement is needed, but Nuno will know this and is probably already cooking up a masterplan for next season.
For now, it’s just nice to be experiencing life in the top-flight without looking down ominously at what’s below us.
To put it into perspective, last time we contested a Premier League fixture at Craven Cottage we were stuffed 5-0.
Progress indeed.
Masterplan for next season? Why not for January?
Transfer target nr 1: Lukaku
Hi Ben… thanks for the prompt report. Your last paragraph made me laugh because that was a Terry Connor (clipboard) moment.
Still back to the subject matter … you’re right … at times I felt we should have gone for the jugular as Fulham were really creaky in the second half but hey a point is a point away from home…. and with a 30:70 possession ratio we could rightly argue that we should have justified that with a better goal return.
It was never going to be easy so all in all ….I’m happy
Statistically… last 5 games have yielded 10 points.
Thanks … over … and after all of the wine I’ve drunk today….OUT.
Looking forward to meeting up with Stuwolf and Lowves and maybe Bedford Wolf for a trip to Wemberleeeee ….
I was as fed up as everyone else with the way it was unfolding but accept this is a Fulham side in transition so it was always going to be difficult. Very pleased to get the point and we move on .
I stick by my first thoughts after the game.
Traore is not good enough and should be moved on.
Costa needs to beef up mentally and start tackling and fighting for the ball as hard as those who regularly take the ball off him with little effort.
Vinagre needs to stop his Ronaldoisms and try getting in some decent crosses.
We need to change the law so we play the second half first, coz that first half was as dire as I’ve seen, by anyone, all season.
With all our possession, we had three shots on target, one of them a tap in.
Half term report, on being exactly mid table,
“Some good efforts, can and must do better. C+”
Ever the optimist, our Wembley trip on Saturday will have merson and co drooling about record scores against us, and bollocks like that, while complacency has to play in their minds after two big scoring games, so, we gonna win!!
Simples!
Perhaps we can convert traore to left back, just as we did with that other high scoring forward who was on our books a while back, Wardinho.
I totally agree with your comments on Traore, Vinagre and Costa but one other thing annoys me just as much and that is, why do Wolves persist in playing the ball backwards 40, 50, 60 yards when just outside the opposition penalty area?
Not only does it remove the pressure on defences but gives them more time to reform and push us back!
Wolves then have to start the move all over again only this time in our own half putting that pressure back upon us!
This happens game after game and may be a reason why we are often 0-0 at half time before almost inevitably going a goal down later on.
Now I’m not a manager but surely this is obvious even to Nuno and co and probably to Wolves fans too?
I absolutely agree I think it was 67 minutes before their goalkeeper had a save to make.
Spot on Clive. Traore is a waste of space.
18 million on nothing. The man is not a footballer at all. He’s a sprinter. In fact, signing Traore is a punt in the same direction as giving Usain But a run. It’s a flawed strategy from the outset.
Please Nuno please. Let’s not see him starting any other match from here on. The most he can ever amount to is coming on as an impact sub.
Thankful for the point in the end. Fulham set out to play us at our own game and nearly succeeded and grabbed a point.
Thought we should have had a penalty in the first half which would surely have changed the game’s dynamics. But you have to live with these decisions and get on with it which Wolves did .
Thought Saiss marginally was our MOTD with Moutinho a close second. MGW crowded out and Doherty never got going.
Spurs are on a roll but for Wolves life is easier against the top teams and we have to hope we can pick up points.
Remember Wolves ay we.
It was a great day, woke up in Sunny Uxbridge and went for a leisurely breakfast before getting the tube to Flum. Arrived at the ground with about 20 minutes to ko, (which was novel)
12th man in fine voice to start off, which then died off as the game deteriorated into watching 22 blokes wading through treacle with their bellies full of Christmas pud or so it seemed.
But Glass half full kinda bloke is appy wiff a point at Flum, boring game for most but we can only play the 11blokes put infront of us. News filtering through that Jota is recovering, whether he starts at Spurms or comes on for impact, only Nuno knows, but a sick, infirm, injured Jota is 10 times better than Traore in my humble opinion.
Off up London for sightseeing and a couple of shows, awaiting our Twix’s arrival and then on to Spurms on Saturday.
Now that should be a different kind of game.
For most of the game we looked toothless and bereft of any creative ideas.
Moutinho and Saiss did their best but our work in the final third continues to be very ordinary.
Mitrovic had more chances than all the other players on the field put together.
OK, he didn’t score but he really put the Willies up Boly and Co.
Oh how we could do with someone like him to frighten defences.
When he came on Cav made a big difference – unlike Costa who looked lightweight and lacking any threat.
In the end, a draw was a good result for us, but the performance was not up to the level that we’ll need against Spurs.
But we beat Chelsea, so we know that we can up the ante when we meet the big boys.
Let’s do it!
Agree 100% especially about Mitrovic. Another day he could easily have had three or four.
Great report by Ben too. Streets ahead of the E&S in terms of insight and quality.
First time ive driven there and it was alot easier than expected.Game was by and large disappointing.
Needed an early goal really but ive seen alot worst .
Away support was better than expected.
I just wish we could be more direct at times and creative than passing it sideways along the park for large parts of the game.
Big question now is how to improve and we have to be clinical about it .So I would move on Traore and Costa and bring in players with more hunger and desire to get too the top.
Thats my main fear around wolves we could turn into a team thats happy in mid- table.Get to 40 pts mentality.
Im sure Nuno is aware of it look how Douglas was sold in the summer as an example.
So for me it was performances like today that you can learn alot and whats required in the future.
For the first time this season I went to bed at half time (12.30am). Just kept nodding off with Christmas cheer and boring football. Traore obviously has photos of Nuno, because I just can’t understand what he sees in him. Everything just looked and felt sluggish. Anyways if the last Spurs game we had is anything to go by I am looking forward to the rematch COYW.
As Bens Mom and having watched the game with him today and then watching the mighty villa, losing my syndicate and drinking many G&T’s. I love my team wasn’t a great game today but I am watching the best football I have ever seen. I would say that’s a good synopsis cof the game today I wouldn’t change anyone in our team other than we need someone to put the goals away in January. ?
As Bens Mom and having watched the game with him today and then watching the mighty villa, losing my syndicate and drinking many G&T’s. I love my team wasn’t a great game today but I am watching the best football I have ever seen. I would say that’s a good synopsis cof the game today I wouldn’t change anyone in our team other than we need someone to put the goals away in January. ?
I think Nino got it all wrong in the first half. He played long ball tactics, probably in attempt to get it to Traroe. Big tactical mistake.
In the second half we played our possession football and except for their one chance, which was cleared off the line by Coady they never really threatened. They may have scored before us, but we dominated in the second half! While they could have scored in the first half with many chances, we turned the screws later. Chalk and Cheese in both halves. Very happy with second half performance!
I actually didn’t think we were as bad for a Boxing Day outing. I personally think Boxing Day fixtures are an abomination and should be abolished. A totally ridiculous tradition (sorry if this offends – just an opinion), depriving players from some downtime with family over Christmas, and as often is the case, the team who consumes less pudding does better in the match.
Seriously though, second half was all Wolves and we probably deserved to steal it. An away draw was probably fair and good to come away with a point from a side who won’t be bottom for very much longer under a new manager and with a decent nucleus of good players.
Keep the faith. January is upon us and some new energy and quality will come in. Players will continue to grow, with many of them still so young. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a couple of our current regulars out on loan come January. They need the experience.
In defiance to our former jester Moxey, I sure hope we won’t “do an Everton” when we play Spurs on Saturday.
Happy New Year everyone!
Go Wolves!
A really good day out. I knew Fulham weren’t going to be pushovers now that Ranieri is teaching them how to defend properly. They’re becoming a much more negative side and it showed.
Our ability to dig in and keep working for the equaliser was heartening. Rui responsible for their openener but arguabley he also kept us in the game during the 1st half which was a total write off.
Mitrovic bullied our back 3 throughout. He’s a superb player, every top squad needs someone like him.
Finally, being able to break down highly defensive teams at will is extremely difficult and will take time. Even Liverpool are only now starting to get the hang of it so we need to be patient.
I cannot see what Traore offers. When he starts, we seem to change the way we play to hoofing long balls, just to accommodate his speed. But what use is this, when there is never any end product ? We are most effective when we revert to our usual on the ground passing game . We must surely try to build on this strength, rather than persevering with the Traore experiment My conclusion is that he should be moved on in the January window as a matter of priority.
Didn’t see the game read all the reports boring at times.
We need a mitrovitch for sure.
Anyway that’s another away point and we will get one on Saturday as well then beat palace and that’s five points over Christmas.
Tenth in the premier at halfway can’t moan at that.
Over to you Nuno!
Watched the game which was a bit of a none-event.
Not really too much to add apart from we need 40 points from 38 games. We got 26 from 19 so well on course for 50 points.
Once again Tott’en’ham will be on a big pitch & will see our strengths played out.
As for team selection that’s Nuno job & long may it continue.
So intrigued how we’ll cope with Spurs, L’pool & Cithe over coming weeks but for sure FWAW 🙂
Tight pitch not a lot of space, why did he play traore over cav then ?
Spurs to come, we need to have 3 up front for this one imo as to sit back could be suicide. Is son available ? or will he be gone to the asia cup ? (fingers crossed)
The play has become too slow, we have always been better at a higher tempo as when mentioned by others we passed sideways and back in the prem this just gives teams time to react and get players into position.
Someone said ‘non-event’, and that’s kinda what it was. It’s difficult to make space on a tight pitch against a team who’s top priority is to get a clean sheet. Consequently, certainly in the second half, both teams seemed to cancel each other out in midfield and the Flum box was like sardines in a can. Really pleased for Romaine Saiss to get his customary Boxing Day goal after his recent exemplary performances.
Many have mentioned our preference for playing back and across the park rather than oiking it into the box at the first opportunity. Not that I can speak for him, of course, but I think Nuno would say, if he were here, that if the opposition defence is back behind the ball and all our forward players are tightly marked, it’s better to ensure we retain possession rather than ‘probably’ lose it to the massed ranks of the defence. Theory is, of course, that it pulls the defence out and creates space in behind for us to use. We do use the long ball through or over the defence, but only when they hold a fairly high line.
Classic ‘game of two halves’. If only we could have injected some momentum/impetus into our first half showing we might have come back with 3 points. Don’t know why we are generally such slow starters. 2nd half much, much better.
Chambers was lucky to stay on the pitch after two outrageous assaults on Saiss and their goal came from a free kick which could easily have been given our way (for Mitrovic backing into Saiss).
Traore shouldn’t be starting but even if he is brought on he should be played on the right, a position he is more familiar with, not the left where he looks lost. Jimenez still doing a great job up front – if only we had (take any 2 from 7) Hazard, Pedro, Willian, Son, Salah, Alli, Aubameyang) playing off him…but we don’t and we are where we are which many of us could only have dreamt of 18 months ago.
Moutinho and Saiss joint MOTM.
A number of things come to mind from that so called game of football yesterday.
1. Treore is useless and should be moved on in January. Should never have been purchased. £18m. Boro are pissing themselves laughing.
2. We need a Mitrovich, we need some one up front to put the shits up defenders. Our current lot are too much like a powder puff.
3. Costa has lost his mojo big style and needs to be reprogammed or got rid of.
4. Saiss has to start every game as should Cavaliero.
We were very lucky to get away with a point yesterday in fact the game could and probably should have been over by half time.
Also can anyone explain to me why, for at least the last 25 years we have been able to beat teams above us sometimes with ease but struggle against lesser sides. Is it the Wolvo water or is it in our DNA. Answers on a post card to Nuno.
An indicator of how bad the game appeared, normally Border and I spend a match having a text converstion about the game, nothing yesterday. Either she was as pissed off as I was or spent the afternoon consoling her old man over Ipswich.
On a brighter note Would I have taken 10th place at halwfay at the start of the season? Of course I would, but we can do so much better as we have shown at times this season. I am sure Nuno is aware of all the problems and has a plan to solve them with the help of Uncle Jeff & Fosun.
Rant over.
Both really! We don’t mention the “I” word right now!
Happy with a point having gone behind. I didn’t see where the equaliser was coming from so hats off to Saiss for making that run and a great ball from Cav.
How the ref deemed that first tackle from Chambers to not be a yellow card I will never understand. And he seemed to be looking straight at the blatant handball that should have given us a penalty. It was a pretty mundane game but he failed in the two big flash points.
I thought we should have signed Mitrovic in the summer and wasn’t surprised he again caused us serious problems. Jimenez was one of our better players again so I’m really looking at those around him to do better. I know it’s easy to say but I think we’d have won if Jota had started.
Never really used derstood the Traore signing as he does not keep the ball well enough and speed alone is not the answer .
I hope that at latest in the summer we get of him and Costa and trade them for more effective forwards .Dontthink either will ever make the standards we are now setting .
As for Jota if he is fit give him half an hour at Spurs and unleash him against Palace
I was invited to Craven Cottage yesterday and had a great seat almost on the halfway line. From there I got a really good close-up look at Traore, and I just couldn’t see the point of him yesterday. He was mostly wayward, in spite of regular instructions from Nuno right in front of me. He wasn’t even hot and cold. The occasional flashes of brilliance just weren’t there. Nuno was giving special attention to Traore, but it wasn’t working. How long can this go on? He has to revert to an impact sub. Maybe Fulham had worked him out, as they generally immediately shut him down. Traore is a shadow of the player he was when he terrorised the Wolves defence at Middlesborough last season. I was relieved when Cav came on at half time, and what a difference. Cav is the finished article and his great cross led to our equaliser. Fulham had scored with a sucker punch against the run of play after a sustained period of Wolves pressure. Moutinho was clearly the MOTM. Jimenez not far behind, and if that overhead kick had gone in it would have been a contender for goal of the season. The rest of the pack were a bit off the boil, although Coady brilliantly rescued us from a Fulham winner after Mitrovic snuck in while we were dozing, Mitrovic may not suit our style but on the other hand Chelsea prospered with Diego Costa and have missed him ever since. Fulham are definitely in false position now but if they go down I would seriously consider signing Mitrovic.
I have a feeling Nuno is giving Traore a lot of game time lately so as to have a really good look at him before January!
I like having him on the bench tbh but I’d be a tad worried if I were Adama
I too think that Fulham will come good so I’m reasonably happy with the point
Utw
We got away with it in the first half. Mitrovich could have had at least a brace. They got away with not conceding the pen and the excellent Raul caused them a few problems but had little support.
Second half we dominated possession and upped the pace nicely. I get that we didn’t create enough clear chances but I still thought we looked most likely at the point Fulham took the lead.
The even hand of fate stepped in and Saiss was rewarded for his excellent shift, cav looked sharper and Coady did well to clear at the death.
Ranieri out thought Nuno in the first half but at times in the second it was like 11 v 9 with only hopefull balls from the boy wonder Fulhams only hope.
I really hope we can give Spurs a fright on Saturday, what a way to sign off 2018 that would be.
First of all a great point away from home.
Traore is not the answer
He must not start for us again, bring him on when we are winning to hold the ball up, because his football skills are zilch.
Nuno must know now what’s needed in the January sale to compliment our team to make sure we remain in midtable or above.2
Strikers deffo, pacey midfielder. There must be something available out there.
UTW FOWB.
Not sure about this general love in for Mitrovitch. Yes, he had our defence at sixes and sevens but his finishing was absolutely dire. Jiminez is just as good in my opinion and we need to set our sights higher. Rafa got rid and he’s not a bad judge.
Watched the game in my new Wolves official hoodie & my Wolves tactics (pass it to Jota)t shirt! Then thought I’d jinxed them as my unlucky gear at 1st.
It would help if Traore spent more time on his feet than his backside for a start. I would have preferred Cav to start being honest, I think Saiss adds an extra something to the team right now as well.
I’ll take a point but we need someone alongside Jimenez to hit the net.
Brilliant write up again Ben. Having slept on it, this is some debut season from a young side who are stepping up into the top league in the world. The top teams, on their day, are practically unplayable as evidenced by the number of goals being scored. Ultimately I was happy with an away point against an improving side who have spent heavily in the summer and have a PL winning manager at the helm. We are still learning to compete at this level and some will not be able to make the step up- Traore and Costa- are struggling and cannot hold the ball. As supporters we should encourage and try and give confidence to the strugglers when they wear the shirt. All we ask is commitment to the team and their undoubted talent may yet come through. Until we have acquired better players, we are not helping the team with our criticisms. Let’s get behind everyone of them, I thought the 12th man @ Fulham were brilliant. Hope we move the ball quicker against Spurs and have a real go.
Two different performances in each half. Much improved 2nd half with Moutinho outstanding. Not only a ball player but he really gets stuck into the opposition. Jim again showed he is a class forward who is much more than a goalscorer.
Mitrovic is a big unit and unsettled our defence, but we/they knew that was going to happen. Without Mitrovic Fulham are toothless.
Still think Adama is an impact player, coming off the bench for the last 20 mins to run at tired defenders.
Not disappointed with a draw.
Now we head back to the smoke to take on Toteringham. Should be interesting…..
🙂
Mike
With Mitrovic, Fulham are still toothless.
As pointed out above, he SHOULD have scored several but didn’t.
We have enough players on our books who should score on occasions, but don’t, without signing another one!
CFH’s C+ as a mark for the game and outcome would be a bit generous. As a mark for the season it’s a bit mean! We’re 10th in our first season FFS! Having said that, there are games where we really could/should have done better. It’s all about perspective and the expectation we’ve now created. Talking of which, Neville really hacked me off yesterday – amongst other snipes, apparently our players do better against top teams because they think that’s who they should be playing for. Then Jimenez’s sublime control that created the chance for the overhead shot was pretty well dismissed because the defender should never have allowed him the space! Then there was mockery from the other one about earlier references to qualification for Europe – the press lapped that one up and enjoy taking the piss when we have a bad game. Still, they did reckon we should have had the penalty and Chambers deserved two yellows.
C + given coz I don’t understand the letter grading system!!
I think a grade of 65% would be about right for the half way mark of the season.
I would NOT grade the Fulham game that generously, though!
Happy Between Boxing Day and New years Eve to everyone.
And Neville seemed to be under the impression Neves was playing.
We can beat Chelsea we can draw with Man City but we can’t beat the bottom club.There is something wrong with that.
2 players needed striker and a Traore replacement..
Spurs will be as biggest a test as Liverpool..
Loved to of been there.
26 points very good return for a promoted club, very pleased with that we need a bit of strengthening in Jan but we should be very pleased with what we have seen, keep going lads well proud of you.
How about Kevin Lasagna?
Is he not pasta his best??
But he has many layers to his game.
Personally, I think he’s Bolognese
He’s no good. I wouldn’t pay a penne for him.
I suggest we also look at Pino Grigio. Goes well with Lasagna.
Bad disciplinary record – he’s got short fusilli.
Three wins and a couple of draws and we are safe. If someone had said that a couple of years ago after the excruciating 1-0 defeat to Wigan with us in the second tier bottom six or seven I would have said you are fucking bonkers. So 26 points in 19 is truly fantastic in the first season back in the Premier League.Too many people have short memories. Don’t forget we are a third of the way up Fosuns mountain and we will steadily climb. I have no doubt. I will keep on banging on about perspective till I am blue in the face. BELIEVE.
Blue Cheese burger. Yuk!!
I hope it’s not that dark blue, Tesco bag colour.
On the subject of traore and costa can I just remind everyone that a lot of people wanted Jota sold a few weeks ago.
Traore needs time to adapt to Nuno’s methods there is no doubt he scares defenders with his pace, his decision making needs work.
Costa is currently lacking confidence as Jota was just a couple of weeks ago.
Not sure who these lots of people were but I agree in general although Costa certainly needs to harden up.
Also a danger that Jota is seen as the goal scoring saviour, but he didn’t hit his first until a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully he and Jimenez can be the partnership for 2019. Not to mention tomorrow!
I wonder if with the tactics, Nuno was thinking of the Spurs game? Resting Neves, not risking Jota, only half a game for Cav. In tacking about between long balls and ineffective possession was he looking after the team with an eye on Wembley?
Dunno! But it’s worth a thought and, if right, a draw was a satisfactory result.
A point away. I will take that, shit game or not.
Just taking the dag for a morning shit in a spurs stronghold not far from here