Life is never one linear line towards happiness, is it?
Full of highs and lows and ups and downs, to the extent where Molineux marketing slogans were once designed around a roller coaster, weren’t they?
Sometimes the needle plummets like it used to in the days of Burrda. Double dips and dipsticks.
Sometimes it just flatlines altogether following hours of Glenn Hoddle tedium.
The toughest challenge is placing where we are right now, in a society crying out for guidance; a fan base in need of being spoon-fed, dare I say. The younger generation have never had it so good, but probably resent being told so? The older generation a bit longer in the tooth for Fabio Silva ‘star boy’ memes that ‘yer bald Da’ would never understand?
Should we buy a shirt? Should we baulk at the price? Is it a nice design? It isn’t what it used to be, is it?
A ham-fisted membership scheme is the latest pipe bomb to be lobbed into a fractious fan-base that I can honestly never remember being so divided.
Shirts for those that can afford it, cheaper version for the rest. Membership plus for the privileged few, free for all for the rest. @Wolves scoring own goals from the commercial department. Sad to see.
— Mijas Wolves (@MijasWolves) July 20, 2021
If it’s not a generational thing then it’s two sides of the same coin in desperate need of landing on their chosen side. Heads we win, tails you’re a twat. Both obsess about owning the consensus and both have to be correct, in a sign of the times that has rarely depressed me more.
Much as I want the shadow stripe Manders memories back, they’ve long since flickered away on a dog-eared piece of paper. Like the litter on the breeze; like the lovers on the streets.
The younger generation wouldn’t get it any more than I got Peter Knowles floating on air in a crew neck shirt that really was old gold. Hardly their fault and hardly a surprise that they just don’t relate to us old gits anymore?
Trying to assume the high ground is just pointless though, because we’re never going to agree on anything, barring one common theme…
…We all love the Wolves in our own wonderful way.
Loyalty counted for something once, when Steve Bull gave us his career from 1986 to be precise. The youngsters couldn’t embrace that zeitgeist as they just weren’t there to feel it. And in today’s society where snakes run most asylums, the very notion of loyalty is alien anyway.
That we’ve been in the Barclays League Div 4, or the Zenith Data Cup, or the Anglo Italian Trophy in the back of a Sherpa Van is literally irrelevant now. Those days have gone and they’re not coming back. I’d die for those days. Stupid eh?
In their place is something colder, non-descript and a damned sight more successful – a bit like our new replica shirt come to think of it.
Despite the noises coming from Bruno and a potential new era of progressive football, I feel I’m stuck in a dip now, somewhere between a mountain and the deep blue sea.
The vibrant effervescence of a vital young fanbase would feel differently I’m sure. And if the club wants to tap into its positivity to move Wolves forward then it will do so with my blessing. Put some respect on their names and all that, and who cares where they’re from (colourful Wolver-hampur-ton or not!)
The strength of the wolf is in the pack, but if the lame old stragglers at the back can’t keep up like this old wheezing dog, then it’s time to set them free.
I have to admit, I’m also feeling ‘blah’.
It’s like a party where the best people have left.
Bruno hasn’t exactly picked up the baton and ran with it either. Early days of course and perhaps there will be more energy in the room when he gets his full squad back at Compton and actually starts engaging with the fans?
The other downer is this lingering suspicion the team is going to have to get worse before it gets better, with the summer motto of ‘we have to sell to buy’ repeated ad-infinitum by the press. Sa for Patricio being case in point. Trincao coming in is a good move, but he’s only replacing Neto until the latter makes it back to fitness. It just seems like even the good things come with a caveat.
Off the pitch, I don’t think the club have done too bad though, have they?
The season ticket prices seem reasonable, the kits are alright and while I understand the frustration of members who’ve amassed loyalty points only to see them wiped out, I understand the decision has been made to give more people an opportunity to see a game. Not popular, but perhaps not wrong either?
I’d be interested to know what people think is the right approach to ticketing. Is there a definitive solution? If you’ve got season tickets and then members armed to the teeth with loyalty points, doesn’t Molineux become a closed shop? Is that right/fair? Maybe it is.
I think the ticketting thing is a great change. I live in Leeds and simply can’t afford a Season ticket as I can’t make every game each week, which means I don’t have any loyalty points. And with no loyalty points, I can’t buy tickets, so I can’t get loyalty points.
I haven’t been able to get to a game at Molineux for 2 years because I physically cannot buy a ticket. The closed shop you allude to is very unfair, at least for me.
NW
You have a valid point.
My brother and my son are in exactly the same position – can’t get a ticket, can’t get the points, can’t get a ticket. It’s self perpetuating.
I agree Northern. My Dad and I were season ticket holders for 20 years but life changed (I have 2 very young kids etc.) but as for the “loyalty” we were shown none when we didn’t renew our season tickets. It’s as if we never existed in the eyes of the club.
All those cold nights with 18-21,000 in the stadium as we limped to yet another 7th placed finish were for nothing as I have no chance of getting a ticket now we’re getting 32.000 and a 10,000 strong waiting list.
Easy solution, not so simple to produce.
Build a bigger stadium.
Whist there is mitigation Fosun have rather dragged their feet on this issue.
– Whaaaat?!?! We may end up with the best strike force in the premiership: Jimenez and Rafa Mir, and Leao, Trincao or Traore running down the wings. I hope the board can convince Mir to come back and give it a one more try under Lage and perhaps sign a two years deal.
The midfield is open to debate, with players like Palinha being linked (would add some dearly missed physicality in midfield), Morgan Gibbs White one of the biggest talents (played really well against Crewe), Dendoncker (did a solid work for Belgium in the European championship). Neves does probably sign for Man U.
– The defence is actually pretty good: Sa, Boly and Semedo are top notch players, Ait Nour very promising. Mosquera adds pace we’ve missed in the middle of the defence but is unproven in Premier. In Coady we have an England international.
With the transfer windows open until september, and Fosun openly expressing big time ambition with the end goal being qualifying for Europe next season, I think we may have big expectations for the incoming transfers and the new season.
And people tell me I’m cynical / sceptical.
I don’t agree that Div 4 was a thrill a minute. It had it’s moments and Steve Bull will always be a god at Molineux with his acolytes like Andy Thompson, Robbie Dennison and Ally Robertson playing their hearts out for the Wolves; how strange that all four came from WBA.
Loyalty is of course a wonderful quality, but we shouldn’t deride success either. My first season concluded with watching us win the FA Cup win against Blackburn on black and white TV and being pipped for the double by Burnley
And through the bad times there has been some significant success. 2 League Cup wins, when it meant something, stellar seasons in Europe 71/72 and 19/20, plus who will ever forget the trip to the Millennium Stadium in 2003 which brought and end to the real dark ages.
More recently Nuno’s first 3 seasons were a joy to behold with the old place packed to the rafters for every match and I feel with a group of players who in the main really did care.
We are at a watershed for sure but don’t let’s give up on the Fosun era just yet.
Not got a clue what’s happening at the Golden palace???? and I don’t think they have.
I think the shirt design and colour is crap, over priced.
It might be early doors but I fear for us this term, not enough quality players coming in at the moment,
Its an age thing….almost like when you get to a certain age, we don’t count anymore.
Our Dads have all said the same.
Lock down did nothing to help either.
For me,never the optimist it doesn’t really matter as long as wolves exist in some form.
Nothing stays the same,thankfully. Remember that feeling of “i just wish we were successful ”
Just enjoy the journey whatever way it drags us old gits along
UTW
I feel when someone buys a membership, it should be worth the same as everyone else’s membership. So give a member guaranteed access to a certain number of tickets for the season.The rest are then sold first come first served or on a loyalty points basis.
I like this idea a lot.
Well give me a thumbs up then.?
Also,I would imagine attendance at League Cup and early rounds of the FA Cup would be hit hard as many, including me, attend in part to gain precious loyalty points which they can’t get from League games.
This is great for us Liverpool supporters.
Chicken sh**te for £35 to be able to have a chance to see Liverpool win again.
Overall with the top 10 clubs it would mean an additonal 50,000 memberships for Wolves, about 1.75 million pounds, perhaps that is all they were after?
Especially as they are not doing the same for away matches which have a fixed number of tickets.
IMO the pints thing the club have made the right decision but may be they could of set that buy giving discount in the club shop or at Cup games.
The alternate issue is Molinuex is not big enough now to accomidate all the fans that want to attend and when the club bang on about how important revenue is then putting expanding the stadium on hold just doesn’t make sense.
FOSUN have been in charge for five years and still Molinuex is more or less the same bar a few cosmetic changes surely expanding the stadium would solve the problem of ticket shortages and bring in more revenue the thing is they had the opertunity when fans were not permitted to extend capacity but chose not to…..why that’s up for debate I’ve made my view quite clear on theses issues.
It not just about investment in the team, Compton has been up grade but Molinuex has been left out and stadia doesn’t come under the FFP rules meaning clubs are free to invest in up grading there stadia.
I understand the hold up is reaching agreement with the council on upgrading the local road network to accommodate the extra 30,000 fans every match day.
For me Fosun need to invest in really big bucks in Wolves if they want to become a world brand.
That’s the way Man City did it and are now reaping the benefits.
We all know Fosun are Massive and have got plenty of funds for investment? But are they really interested in football?? The Chinese are shrewd business people and very cautious in their dealings. But a big But is Fosun have invested massively in getting us to where we are now and not to invest now would be a travesty. Surely invest now and reap the benefits later…
Hope I’m wrong and I hope they are listening.
????
Johnok spot on I’ve been saying the same since they rocked up…….they seemed to be having doubts and in two minds on what they want to do with Wolves…..and there really are only to options invest or sell the worst option is if they do neither.
To be fair to Fosun John, I don’t think they can simply pump £200 million into the club and spend freely on players because of Financial Fair Play rules.
Man City and Chelsea were able to do this and establish themselves amongst the elite prior to the tightening of rules, but it’s not so straightforward now.
Fosun are an investment group, but I do think if they could put in as much money as they wanted, they would do more in the belief they could close the gap on the established top order, both on the pitch and commercially, but I honestly don’t think they can.
They Could if they had the Will to take the FFP rules to Sports Arbatraction even the Goverment .
The FFP rules prevent them from investing in there business which is what every business needs football in no different for instace buying better players is only the same as buying better machinery or better tools.
The FFP rules prevent fair competion. You would’nt get Lidil being stopperd from opening more supermarkets just because there are not as big as Tesco Lidil would take them to the Monopoly and Merges Commistion.
Its the chicken and egg situation to get bigger you need to win tophies to win trophies you need to inest in better players.
All well and good, but ffp rules have caused a monopoly for the so called big six, they can buy whoever they want whenever they want. Other clubs haven’t got a chance of competing with them , so how is that fair ?
Johnok I agree with you……the FFP rules are stacked against all clubs apart from the so called big six.
I would have thought a Company as big and diverse as FOSUN would not be scared of challenging them IF they wanted to I’m sure they have the best barristers that could get the FFP rules kicked into touch they clearly prevent fair competition, they could even go to the Europen Court…IF they are serious about breaking into the top six.
You’re not in Europe any more.
Remember Brexit?
They could take UEFA to Europen Court as they are one of the governing bodies.
Chinese investors are always unknown entities. They always have one eye on the politics, as if you do not follow the dictates, you are in big trouble. Of course, they are in it to make money and I certainly cannot knock them for that, if not what’s the point? However, to be successfull, it takes very high risk, massive investmet, with no guarantees of success. Plus F.F. play restricts fast growth and makes it difficult to make that quantum leap.
I am cautiously optimistic, but not excited. By August 31, we will have an idea on their short term intentions.
At the risk of being as monotonous and repetitive as certain bloggers, I feel the dip some of you think we’re in has been there for the past 18 months or so.
It’s not just football, the whole World has gone off kilter, and until some semblance of what passed for normalcy returns, we are going to be stuck like what we are.
(Grammar my strong point never was)
I like the not knowing blasting forth from the Mol, it can be like Christmas Day if we get a signing most of us are happy with.
We are in the summer rut, when you lot over there have what you call a heat wave, and us hardy Texans wish it was that cold here, and the only news is speculation, either from us or the gutter press.
Let us wait and see.
Summers have always been thus, except we didn’t have frantic social media having to be fed juicy shit every day, 24 hours, continuously.
Not taking the piss, lads and ladies, but take a chill pill, enjoy the break from what passed for football last season, and let’s be frigging positive!
There are folk a lot worse off than us.
And I ordered my new shirt, don’t care if it’s not pure old gold, I shall wear it with pride.
Only not at the Mol coz I cor gerra tikkit!!
And if you think you are an old geezer, Ben, have pity on your Dad and me!
As a member without the required loyalty points, the only matches I’ve attended have been Newcastle away – go figure. I’m as passionate today about the Wolves as I was when my old man took me down the mol on the back of his BSA when John Richards was despatching pens. Even if I’d have attended just one game, that chance to watch the once would have been golden. There are supporters who’ve never been to Molineux, isn’t their support just as valid? I think giving all supporters the chance to witness The Wolves at Molineux is important, even if it just a once-in-a-lifetime event. Therefore, loyalty to me, isn’t the amassing of points, its supporting the team whether you’re there every week or indeed, if you’ve never set foot inside the stadium.
I agree with the sentiment mate – how can you become loyal – in the sense of having a track record of attending games – when you can’t attend any games in the first place?
And I also agree that loyalty shouldn’t strictly be defined as ‘I’ve been to a lot of games’.
A very tricky situation for the club to navigate. As others have stated, the obvious solution is simply increasing the capacity of the ground to satisfy demand. If Fosun have long term ambition to make us a mainstay of the Premier League then adding an additional 5-10k of seats seems like it should be happening soon.
It’s called Golden Age Syndrome – the mistaken and exaggerated belief that things were much better in the past than they are now. I really miss the old days of the Fourth Division, Graham Turner, Steve Bull etc, but I was a teenager back then and life was great. I suspect that the blokes who in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s etc would have thought it was terrible compared to their memories of the past.
Only a fool would argue that we are worse off now than before Fosun arrived, but Jeff made a big mistake with his grand announcements of returning Wolves to the top of the game. It was always too difficult a task to realistically achieve and now some fans just use it as a stick to continually thrash around.
Fosun are an investment company and can spend their money how they like, we will never be a Man City so it’s pointless to keep referencing them.
Perhaps where we are now is as good as it gets? Is finishing between 7th and 13th in the PL, the odd cup run or European football really that bad? Plenty of clubs would swap places with us in a heartbeat, but I still miss the 1980’s!
‘…but Jeff made a big mistake with his grand announcements of returning Wolves to the top of the game.’
As did Jack Hayward and Steve Morgan. When will these people learn that actions speak louder than words ?
Very true, Jack.
Slightly before my time but I believe there used to be a joke doing the rounds amongst “local businessmen made good” in the 1960’s & 70’s along the lines of what’s the best way to lose a million pounds? Buy a football club!
In my opinion those that invest in this game need their bumps reading but I’m glad that they do!
Can’t say I miss the 80’s.
Quick review / reality check –
Successive relegations from Div 1 to Div 4,
The Bhattis.
Standing on the North Bank of a 2 sided ground with 3000 other people and plenty of space to go for a walk during the match.
Being declared insolvent twice and being 4 minutes from extinction.
Tommy Doc and Bill McGarry revisited plus the Chapmans.
Marin Patching and Dougherty.
Playing in cups for the no hopers of English football.
And much more.
Yes that was the “glamour” of Molineux during the eighties.
And then thank god along came Sir Jack Hayward.
Correction – South Bank.
Like others on here I don’t have the time nor the finances for a season ticket, but I’ve been a member for a number of years now – including last year with no matches. Getting tickets is difficult unless you go to a fair few matches otherwise it’s been a catch 22 situation – you can’t get the points unless you get tickets & you can’t get tickets without points.
Getting tickets was never an issue when we were in the lower leagues!
Personally I’m not against this new method as we all get an equal shot at getting a game.
I do agree that maybe Fosun could have done something with the ground while fans were away. I expected the other corner stand to go in at least but it would appear not.
As for the new shirt & pro shirt – honestly not impressed!
Having finally got over losing our old lab last year we have a new pup arriving next week, so that’ll be me not getting any games in anyway until pup is a bit bigger !
Enjoy, Border. Nuno might be a good name if male! Not sure about the feminine version!
Thanks, it’s a little girl. Husband & son outvoted me with another boy I suspect so I couldn’t name it Wolfe, Neves or similar!
Is the doggie a rescue?
Post pix!
We got two rescue Great Pyrenees, and will get more when we move to bigger property.
Dogs are better than children!
She’s a black Labrador, currently nearly 7 weeks old. Have tried all the lab rescues but got nowhere so gone for a pup. Realisation now hits of puppy training for the 4th time!
She’s gorgeous!
I have read that Wolves are recosidering the Loyalty Ticket issue..
I think it would be a big mistake to go back to pionts based ticket alocation because how can you gain pionts if you cannot get a ticket to see a game.
That means a generation of fans get locked out. The answer is simple expand the capacity.
I checked to see and no it isn’t April the 1st today.
Worthy of a section by itself.
Before matches I love to see the art gallery and St Peter’s church and the man on the horse but there never seems to be many other people there.
https://www.expressandstar.com/news/local-hubs/wolverhampton/2021/07/22/wolverhampton-announces-bid-to-become-nations-next-cultural-capital/
The present Mrs Dg’er and I visit the Art Gallery most times we visit the future Culture Capital.
It’s not widely known that it’s got one of the best collections of British and American Pop Art in the country.
Unfortunately it’s not always on show.
Training in Marbella…….intensity, intensity, intensity……..is Bruno the Portuguese Pulis?? ?
And on the matter of the loyalty scheme, when we were last in the Premier League there was the Ticket Priority Scheme – a part season ticket for one of three blocks of 6 games. Three times the number of supporters potentially get tickets. What was wrong with that??
For me the Loyalty system doesn’t work and I think there are many thousands like me. ‘Loyalty’ is measured by how many games or how much your spend has been. ie. to those that have shall be given even more’. My ‘loyalty’ is measured a different way. I started going to Molineux in the 60’s, attended the recent London Wolves AGM last Saturday and represented our club at Wembley in 2015 singing ‘Abide with Me’ (along with 63 other clubs in the fans’ choir) ahead of the FA Cup final. I’ve had several STs but not recently. But this isn’t ‘proper’ ‘loyalty’ is it ? So these new rules actually offer me for once a very slim chance of getting a match ticket where previously I had, these days, with the present ‘loyalty’ scheme, zero. Not that I condone the cost changes any more than my fellow fans.
Loyalty, let’s see. I started following Wolves around 1967, a bit after the 1966 World Cup. Listening to BBC sports round up, Shoot and Goal Magazine, old games on tv. Dougan, Wagstaff, Bailey, Richards, Parkin et al. Fairs cup final etc. In 1986, i went to Canada for a few years, and remember going to the Library to read English papers just to catch up on Wolves. The pain of the Bhatti brothers, and others, the pain of the fourth division, the absolute joy of Steve Bull, been there for all of it. And then the internet became available, and daily since then to this day, everyday, I check out Wolves information. I saw Arsenal v Wolves at Highbury in August 1974 live, one of my highlights, even though we lost 5-2. I will be 63 on Sunday, and there are only two things on bucket list to do before I croak. One is to see one game, any game, live at the Golden Palace where I have never been! I don’t believe I am less loyal than most. Loyalty points won’t make it easy for me for that dream! I still dream. And one day it will happen! Loyalty points or no points, I’ll get there!
Get in touch with the club.
They used to reserve about 200 tickets for overseas fans, and special cases, such as yours.
I got two tickets a couple of years ago for the last game of the season, against Fulham, the day Nuno got Doctorized.
Begging always helps, ask my wife!
Good luck.
Thanks Clive, I may very well do that! And in respect to begging— I have found, from experience, that it is a lot easier to get forgivness, than it is to get permission! Live de life!!!
Thank you for sharing your Wolves past, it bought a tear to my eye. We are indeed, the lucky ones who have the opportunity to watch the team at the Molineux and should cherish that. As an aside, a friend’s family own a property in Nevis and if we can get there next year, perhaps we can share a red stripe?
Been loyal through the years shouldn’t mean you get preference over tickets. Tired of hearing fans saying I was here when, I was there etc.
Loyalty to Wolves means love for Wolves but that love has to be shared to the younger fans and new fans who haven’t been in the position to attend games in the past.
Brilliant decision to open Wolves to all not for a few. This is the way a club grows
So why are Wolves keeping away ticket allocations the same as previous years?
One stage at a time my friend.
Best way to run a company. Club moving forward that will become international and a famous brand
The PMDG’er and I have renewed our season tickets but I must admit that, for a number of reasons, not least Nuno’s departure and the gradual premature break up of the side that brought us such success, I am less excited about this season than I have been for many years.
The dissatisfaction of a lot of fans seems to fall into three main categories:-
1) Fosun’s lack of spending to produce a side that can challenge the big six –
or even survive in the Premier League.
2) The shortage of tickets and the unfairness of their allocation
3) No signs of stadium expansion
Self solving problems if all are allowed to take their course.
Lack of on field success… relegation even… back to crowds of 19 or 20,000 hardcore supporters.
Tickets for all!
If you want them.
This is my last ever post on this blog Mark ,I would love to know why you got down arrowed for your perfectly logical post. Me and Sue have been members for years and have always gained 100’s of loyalty points due to attending up to 30 games a season even though we travel 83 miles from Nottinghamshire. We can’t have season tickets as we work in schools and can’t do night games. We deserve to accumulate loyalty points as we have been attending games for years. All those who are complaining about not being able to go to a game ,WHY ? If we had got relegated last season you would be fine , you didn’t follow us in League 1 or the shit Championship years so why are you coming out of the woodwork now ? I will tell you why , because you want to watch Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool et al ! Why weren’t you at the Molineux against Wigan on a freezing cold Wednesday night when tickets were available to anyone ? Please don’t give me the “I have supported Wolves all of my life but can’t get tickets anymore” that is absolute bollocks, I have followed Wolves “live” since the 1970’s and I can still get tickets, you glory seekers make me sick.
Don’t take it to heart mate.
Dislikes don’t bother me. Everyone has, and is entitled to, their opinions.
I was just proposing a theoretical situation which probably will never happen.
I don’t think it will, but it would certainly solve the ticketing shortage.
If only 19 or 20 thousand hardcore supporters attended matches before Fosun took over, it would seem to suggest that more fans want to watch now we’ve been successful.
That’s just natural, but it brings its own problems.
As we can see.
With fans not being allowed to games for the last year or so, it was a fantastic opportunity to increase the capacity. Their lack of any action in that area, to me speaks volumes.
Why?
Name me another company apart from online retailers who expanded during the pandemic
Surely expanding the stadium (which they originally stated was something they wanted to do) when there are no fans, thus not in any danger of losing revenue through the closure of parts of the stadium, would make sense in the long term? Fosun are a multi million pound business, are they not?