Those footballing gods have a funny way of working – if you care to believe in them in the first place.
Punishing Wolves for profligacy against Spurs in our last fixture, and doing likewise to Norwich City in this, when the game should have been buried at half-time.
But boy, doesn’t it feel good when they’re smiling our way?! This was a smash and grab; a sucker punch; a brazen daylight robbery which had us on the other side of the fence for once, to remind us of an agonising past.
In years gone by (or days if you count Tottenham) we would often dominate Premier League games but leave with nothing, rueing missed opportunities against sides ‘you can’t afford to miss opportunities against.’
We are now one of those sides.
Raúl Jiménez is a case in point. After a wretched first hour where his touch was missing in action – as epitomised when squandering possession to allow Norwich to break for the opener – the Mexican came good.
A brilliant little cameo from Pedro Neto for the anonymous Jota helped do the damage, bursting behind the Norwich backline and squaring for Doherty whose shot was parried. The rebound, however, landed on the lap of our £30 million-man and an ominous hush fell around the ground. Raul calmly picked his spot and hammered home the winner with everyone inside Carrow Road knowing the outcome before he’d even made contact.
Compare and contrast to the luckless Teemu Pukki, who never looked like scoring when frequently presented with clear openings on goal. It’s ultimately why there’s a £28 million difference in price tags and why Norwich City are surely doomed. It’s presumably why Nuno embraced our number nine for a lot longer than everyone else at full-time, too. A marksman like he is worth his weight in gold.
And what price Patricio too, who again underlined the point made by Jez Moxey all those years ago, who had it right all along. Wage bills do indeed correlate with league positions.
Before kick-off, the locals told us they won’t be spending in January, their injury list is extensive and they were a significantly stronger proposition in the division below. It was as if Jez was back in the room, reading from the script which alienated both sets of supporters.
They also said they can’t perform for two halves, so if they were to be winning after the first 45mins, then we shouldn’t read too much into it. My fellow Cannock Wolves comrade Rob was excitably telling all who’d listen to bear it in mind, as if he’d cracked an East Anglian Enigma Code.
It turns out he had, as we did more in the first five minutes of the second half than we’d mustered in the entirety of the first. This improved attitude and application combined with an increasingly brittle home side who conceded from a set play, engineered by a dazzling counter-attack by Adama Traore whose ability to induce audible gasps from opposing fans is almost as impressive as his ability on the ball itself. It was he who won the corner and Moutinho who worked it to the back post for Saiss to head home.
From this moment on, there would only be one winner. ‘F**king useless’ sang the away fans with the scoreline still at 1-1.
Even the most cautious knew the outcome at that stage.
We’d seen it all before.
If that was our bad day at the office, thank dog it is over.
Back in the olden days, if we had played that badly first half, we would have been marmelized.
That was as bad as last week was good.
Whatever Dr. N said at half time must have been along the lines of “ you can’t get any worse”
Patricio saved the game, and eventually our class told, and another three points in the bag.
Bring on Citeh!!
Marmelized.
Now there’s a great word I’ve not heard in a long time.
I predicted 2-1 in the preview but probably don’t deserve the points as I abandoned that forecast at half-time after the most abject performance of the season.
Felt convinced they’d score again and we looked incapable of stretching the game to get our forwards into good positions.
After Saiss put that header in though we were good value for everything that followed. You can see why Norwich are down there as they didn’t take their chances and then folded up when things started to go against them.
Man of the Match Patricio by a mile. Questioned repeatedly last season but right up there as one of our star performers this time and this was probably his best outing of all.
Merry Bloody Christmas.
I still think he cost us the game with his kicking last week. As great a shot stopper as he undoubtedly is he does have a tendency to put our defence under unnecessary pressure.
PMSL. Brilliant one game and we lose. Pants next game and we win. I love football.
Happiest 3 points ever lol.
How would we feel if we had beaten Spurs as we should have but lost to Norwich as we deserved? Disappointed for sure. So as it has turned out, 3 points and still 6th. This team has spirit but we need to stop conceding first. Considering Nuno’s favourite word is “control”, we give it away too easily, think on boys and get ready for the mad weekend after Christmas. Well done today .
Just makes up for being robbed last wik v spurs. Doe give a shit. Wolves ay we.
If we got pummelled this week history will never change…. No rich 1 v 2 Wolves … three more points … goodnight…xx
Last week we played Spurs off the park, but lost. Now, after probably our worst performance in the last two seasons, we come away with the win.
The mark of a great football team. Have a bad day at the office, but still have the spirit to get the business done.
Blimey, Mike, you’ve got a short memory. Both games against Huddersfield last season were much worse. Get your drift through.
Cardiff away wasn’t too hot either.
You`re right. Its called selective memory. At least we were a disorganized shambles at Norwich for just 45 minutes, whereas for both Huddersfield games we were absolute crap for the full 90. As I recall in each of those games we started bad … and fell away !!
My only disappointment is that Raul didn’t retrieve the ball from the back of the net after grabbing the winner and boot it out of the ground a la Peter Knowles.
Even at this early stage I reckon the 3 to go down will be out of the bottom 4. Mind the gap!
Was gonna predict a win but was too pissed at Christmas party yesterday to post my comments !
After twelve pints of Stella I’m still battling a hangover today !
Onwards and upwards boys and girls . So we played shit first half . 6th in the premier and ville are on the way back to oblivion
Mind the gap !
It seems we need two matches a week ! With a week off we were rusty and it took us until after half time to warm up. I fear for us though against M City and Liverpool.I guess we’re missing Boly. The next two matches will be great entertainment anyway, as our boys will be up for it.
Well the best I can say is great to meet up with my nephew Kev and his lad Cameron, Steve Showcase and the Newarks down in Sunny Naarwich.
How did Naarwiich lose that, I do not know.
3 points we’ll take them and move on. You just watch us beat Citehh.
Play bad and win, that’s football.
Well Norwich must feel like we did after pummeling spurs and losing 2 one
All day I’ve been cursing that this time of year you end up so pissed up you forget to do stuff like put your predictions down or you’d bets on. But when I looked I had done it . Lol
Don’t remember that
u t w
So I’ve worked in an office & doe remember having too many bad days. But Danielle Fluke must be pist that we have MOTM in goal. Good teams win when not playing so well.
Heard that Jackalyn Greaseless has given his head a wobble today, just ope the Shite don’t pass Veela on the way out the prem. Mind the gap……
And I know it’ll be like trying to find rocking horse shite but if anyone knows to 1 or more Liverpool tickets, please let me know.
Merry Chrimbo & happy new year bloggers one & all.
Wow what a pile of crap… and 3 points to show for it…really?
Give Norwich some credit as they carved us open time after time but Patricio was inspired
Hopefully we have purged our system of that shite as the next two teams up will be looking to bury us
Deep
Recruiting needs are emerging for next summer
But Traore already player of the year
Stay healthy my friend
Who’d have got that prediction right a year ago?
Merry Christmas to all bloggers wherever you are
It’s official then.
We have to play at least two games a week or we get ring rusty.
It’s like after an International break.
It seems that our boys need to keep being worked against top teams in order to put in the sort of performances that we all know they can.
This bodes rather well then for the next few matches which are bearing down on us like an express train.
Three games in quick succession against top teams (apart from Man U of course who WERE a top team but haven’t been for some while).
It will also stand us in good stead for future European games and Cup matches.
Credit to Norwich who looked a very good side for a long time, but fell apart when things started to go against them.
Summing up yesterday then – a pretty ordinary performance and three points.
It’s working for Liverpool this season, let’s make it work for us.
It was noticeable how Norwich wilted after Saiss levelled (what a fine header, by the way). From then on, there was only going to be one winner as our pass and move play sliced through them time and again. Sure enough, Raul did what Raul does and the points were ours.
What the hell happened in that dire first half is anyone’s guess. As Mr Farke said post match, they could and should have been four up and outta sight. But, largely thanks to Rui, they weren’t and the scene was set for our usual second half comeback.
Onward now to secure the double over Citeh and edge closer to a top four spot.
Bring ’em on!!
I can’t be having this 4-0 shite because once a goal is scored the game completely changes. Yes, they might have gone 2-0 up but then we’d have woken up and won 3-2 as per my prediction and not 2-1. I was confident that we’d come back in the second half and I’m sure many others were too. This is the new Wolves we’re talking about folks and not the fragile team of yesteryear.
Agreed, Pigeon. What a twat Gary Birtles is by the way.
I agree 100%, Mr. ( or Mrs.) Sight.
For those of you on the other side of the pond, Birtles is the color commentary for the tv feed here in the States.
He has an obnoxious voice, which as he witters on, rises to reach a crescendo, and usually ends with total bollocks.
I’m sure there are plenty of ex players out there who could do a much more effective job.
Andy Thompson springs to mind, though how the average American viewer could understand his black country accent and humor would be a concern!
Our fellow blogger and friend Ian Newark would love Birtles though, given his passion for anything Forest related!
I would now like to take this opportunity to wish y’all a very Merry Christmas, Happy and Prosperous New Year, and save travels wherever your Wanderings take you.
And of course, a heartfelt FO wb
Deleha Smith will be crying over her scones this morning, while we enjoy a big dolup of jam on ours.
Listened to the Vanila fans on radio want Smith out and they’ve only just given him a five your contract………..laugh I nearly fell off me seat..!
Well I had the score correct but the wrong way round. With Hind Sight I maybe should have used my unicorn blood to clean up my crystal ball to enable me to see more clearly.
Lesson learned.
First half woeful, second half much better.
Never, ever, give up
Those of you who made the long trip east (not you Mr Hadley who popped down the road) and saw the whole game: is there an argument for starting Neto? He and Jonny seem to have an excellent understanding while Diogo still seems to be struggling.
Regarding Rui and his distribution for me his saves more than make up for any deficiencies when kicking out. Allison didn’t look great with his passing for Liverpool in the World Club Cup.
I think you need to get out more, Happy, if all you have to do is watch Liverfool.
You should only watch them twice per season, or thrice if we draw them in a cup competition.
Good point Clive but my wife is Liverpool mad. So if Liverpool are playing I watch them with her. In return she watches Wolves with me, even to the extent of often coming with me to the Mol including during the era of Morgan and Moxey. Nowadays it is almost impossible to get her a ticket so for the Man City game we’re going corporate.
Loving the Watford crowd.
“We’re winning at home”
We’re winning at home”
“How shit must you be”
“We’re winning at home”
Watford 2
Man U 0
Yes, well done to the ugly number nine !
Life is good, correct prediction and the…
Cream rises to the top?
Sorry Norwich but when the gods are against you are royally f##cked.
And there aint nothin you can do about it .
Play your hearts out it wont make any difference we know all about it we”ve been there we”ve got the t shirts …not shirt …shirts !
Its Tough at the top table as aston vanilla your fellow relegation candidates are finding out .. biggest club my hairy arse!
Best get the boys in all week i think nuno as having a rest doesnt do them any good at all.
Lucky mmmmm maybe but no more lucky than spurs, citeh, scousepool or chelski.
Now sheff utd are earning their wings the hard way but its a long season boys so dont hold your breath.
Us well we definately dont like time off it upsets our ying and yang too much and with needing to do the double over citeh we will have to be on top form.
Playing the scouse gits straight after will suit us .. i would take a point there.
Off to the bookies to put a bet on his greasiness to desert the sinking vile ship in jan odds on though i think,
What have a 1977 hit record by Queen and Liverpool’s win on Saturday have in common ?
# We are the Champions # ( of the world)
Until 29th December.
So no sign of Man U going above Wolves. Just need Mourinho’s wheels to fall off. Chelsea are losing momentum and gravity will takeover at Sheffield U. So top four finish. Simples.
Not to mention that Gdansk is beautiful in May.
Have a room booked in Gadansk, will sub let to bloggers , its only a game. Happy christmas.
So part 2 of my wish list!
Great 3 points at Norwich of which by all accounts we didn’t deserve , so what, that say what goes around coney around and for once it did.
ManU and cheating spurs lost today so we stay in 6th place for Christmas.
Up the wolves and mind the gap Vile.
Merry Christmas and happy new year to all associated with our wonderful club.
I would also like to express
My sincere condolences to Martin Peters family, What a great player and a true Gent….England World Cup winner.
So, it appears there is a Dog.
Man U get humped by lowly Watford and Deeney grabs a Penalty.
Better still, Spurms get their just rewards and more. Humped by Chelski, VAR’d to death on their fouling, diving and thuggery. Son who I do like, sent off for another act of thuggery which VAR picked up.
It must have been broken last Sunday, but hey ho I’ll take an unjustified win at Naarwich, Man U and Spurms getting beat and staying beneath us.
A few weeks back I prayed for us to hold our form until Christmas, then maintain a spot around 5th or 6th until Nuno could get the new players in. If they turn out to be as good as Fosun are saying they will be, then we could be witnessing another level unfolding.
So it’s Messi and Ronnie then, Stu?
I know naffing
And I thought that you had inside info, Stu, because I’ve not seen anything to suggest that Fosun will be spending big in January. It’s most unlikely that the sort of player required to improve the squad ( Champions league quality) will be available. It is notoriously difficult to acquire top players in the January window.
Come on now. Hind sight. All over Wolves newsnow a Month or so back. Even Nuno is saying we are buying in January.
My mate has a pal who’s business is aligned to Fosun. He was over in China and Mr Fosun took them out for a meal, there he told them, “there will be a big signing in January that will shock the fans”
I expect Bennett to go to Naarwich in January.
I’m with Mr Sight on this one. Any real big business will be done in the summer. That’s not to say we won’t buy in January but the stand out player(s) will come later.
Come on Stuwolf, you can’t leave us all hanging. Spill the beans!!
Just got back from a fab weekend in Norwich, thank you Mike, we really appreciate it, feel a bit for our Norwich supporting friends who not only sorted the hotel and the restaurant but also drove us the 105 miles there and back but hey, that’s football. Really nice to catch up with Stu, Jenny, Ken & Carmen. Talk about a game of two halves but you can’t beat winning ugly. Little bit disappointed by the Wolves fans around us, they probably don’t read this blog but why ? after the equaliser did they hit my wife on the head and after the winner, why ? did they knock my glasses off and try to push us from row K on to the pitch. I am all for celebrating but grow up ffs !
This is so funny for all the right reasons, Traore is an absolute star in this, get your earplugs ready on the “Happy Birthday” part.
Funny as feck.
Love the guy even more now.
https://mobile.twitter.com/wolves/status/1208795081215332352
I saw that too. Made me smile,lol.
So, as I recall the game of conkers …
….If mine was a 12 er and yours a 76 er and I whacked yours into pieces then mine became a 77 er.. right?
( it helped I think if mine had been baked a bit in the oven..but only just a bit of cheating)
So by the end of next week we could be champions of PL and ….world’s best club.. with just 44 hours between the two matches
Just saying
Bring it on
U T W
Wrong, Marin. Yours would be an 89er (aggregate of all wins plus the latest match) but we’d still be world champions.
But the poor darlings will have been tired out even though we’re the ones who have played more games and with a smaller squad too boot!
Thank you Santa. Merry Christmas everyone.
Travelling for Xmas, so missed this one, but have been reading rave reports about Buendia’s performance. Maybe he’s the type we need to unlock the ‘park the bus’ teams ?
I watched an interview recently where Conor Cody was asked who he thought was the strongest player at Wolves. He thought for a bit and came up with the answer “Willy Boly”.
Bloody hell!
I might possibly have gone for someone else…
…and I don’t mean Moutinho.
Quite embarrass in the first half
Pukey normally buries chances
Anyway we won and shut the home crowd up.
The amazing part for me was to watch Traore player of the season he took them on on his own more than once..
What a player …
Nice to see Stu Wolf !!