The narrative has to change.
More specifically, Bruno Lage has to change the narrative.
That’s now 10 Premier League matches without a victory and had that sequence not been spread across two seasons we know what the likely outcome would have been.
Even before inviting Guedes and Nunes to the party, controlled possession and good defending weren’t in short supply. The problem was and continues to be putting the ball in the net.
On today’s evidence, neither of those players are the definitive answer, despite both coming close to making a difference.
Guedes showed himself to be a willing runner, making life uncomfortable for the Spurs defence in the first half, but lacking that killer instinct when he got into the positions.
For star boy Nunes, it was a lower profile debut but he did glance a brilliant header just wide in what was probably the closest Wolves came in an impressive first 45.
Moutinho and Neves in particular were masterful at times to keep possession ticking over and the home side pinned back.
But there was always the feeling Spurs would up the ante after the break and when the chances came for Kane and co the outcome would be different…and so it proved.
We had a warning with Kane glancing a header off the bar and Son smacking the outside of the post and we couldn’t maintain possession well enough in that crucial part of the game to re-establish control.
Set pieces looked like a good route to goal for them and it was a smart bit of forward play from England’s number 9 to escape Collins and nod home the only goal.
Up to that point he’d been managed admirably by the big defender, but that momentary lapse was enough to cost us the game.
It shouldn’t have been of course. Nuno would always say if we concede 0s and 1s we can get consistent results and that should ring true were it not for our laughable performance levels inside the opposition’s penalty area.
Again today, openings were created but not converted.
Ait-Nouri got in but tripped over his own feet (a consistent and frustrating trait), Raul escaped in the box but between him and Dendoncker the ball somehow failed to make it goalwards and on the sole occasion we got a clear sighter with a man in position, Podence inexplicably scuffed it into the ground.
It’s easy to say we need a striker and I’m not arguing against that obvious point but I think players of this quality should be able to produce greater returns with the right coaching and instruction around their attacking play.
This is where Lage will now be under the microscope as pressure intensifies with each blank returned.
He can console himself with the fact we stood toe to toe with a team expecting a top four finish but will know he needs a win in the coming weeks to shift the narrative around his own capabilities.
Deja vu.
I’ll say that again.
Deja vu.
It’s small margins. The difference between us and contenders for Champions League qualification this season, at home, was one well worked corner. A flick on; young Collins bamboozled by the experience of one Harry Kane. 1-0. Nathan knew before the ball hit the back of the net he’d been done. He’s young and he will learn.
And, to be fair to Collins, he marshalled Kane superbly for the majority of the game. Kilman, if anything was even better and had an excellent game. What a defensive pairing they are. And they’ll only get better with time.
Jonny is steadily improving game by game, but I developed sweaty palms every time Ait-Nourhi was on the ball in our half. Too often he was out of position or on the wrong side of a player when out of possession. The same development need as last season; to improve the defensive side of his game.
Oh boy. What a midfield 3 we have. Moutinho, the elder statesmen, Neves the padwan, soon to ascend to master and Super Matheus. The Holy Trinity. They dominated Spurs for 45 minutes. Is there a better midfield in the Premier League currently (Man City aside)?
We could and should have gone in at half time in the lead. And there it is. In a nutshell.
For all of our dominance, control, easy on the eye approach play, we couldn’t put the round thing in the net thingy. That’s it.
Nunes probably came closest, his glancing header leaving Lloris completely flat footed – stranded – helpless as time itself seemed to slow down and the ball landed inches outside the left hand stick.
What a debut that could have been. Small margins.
The second half, as so often happens, saw the balance of power shift and Spurs had the better of it. After building pressure from the restart, the inevitable goal came, by the Thanos like (I am inevitable) Kane. And despite the welcome introduction of Jimenez, with Semedo, Dendoncker and Traore all entering the frey, we just weren’t clinical enough, cool enough, sufficiently composed in front of goal.
So, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. Let’s keep our belief, patience and a healthy dose of perspective. Keep playing like this and eventually the goals and points will come.
The positives:-
We played well.
The new boys were excellent – Collins, Guedes and Nunes.
Moutinho and Jimenez are back.
We had no new injuries.
I do not subscribe to adding last season’s late losses to this season’s start and say that’s 10 games without a win etc.
This is a different campaign. A different season with a much changed squad. Last season we had zero points after the first 3 games and yet were well in the mix for Europe 7 months later.
This season, on the evidence of today, and this week’s acquisition, we will be fine. We are not going to be in a relegation battle. The question is can buy a No 9, gel together and fix our awful goal scoring record quickly enough to be challenging for 6/7th place and a cup run.
However, Bruno does not have an unlimited amount of time. 4 points out of the next 6 has to be a realistic target. At home to Newcastle and away to Brentford before the end of August. 5 points and a striker by the end of the transfer window and we will all feel a lot more confident.
Yes, the important stat today was we lost 1-0.
Beyond that we had 50% possession. 20 shots to Spurs 11. But only 3 on target to Spurs 4.
Obviously we desperately need ………. at least one striker before September 1st deadline. NSS.
No Shit Sherlock. Someone to provide cover and competition for Raul. Wolves have a profile that they will stick to. The player must fit in. No ego. Professional. Hard working. Family orientated. Oh, and be able to score goals in the Premier League. Every other position is amply covered. At the moment. Without further injuries and sales.
Once we start scoring goals the confidence will return. We have the makings of a very, very good team. The jigsaw is just missing one vital piece. And some luck.
Deja vu.
UTW
Deja vue indeed Muttleigh – great summary.
UTW!
Fluid football, a well functioning, dynamic trio was probably the thought behind the team selection of the three players up front. Personally I’d prefer a blend of player types instead of three players of the same type, similar to what we saw in the first half of the game. At the end of the game we pressured them and Adama had a couple of dangerous crosses. Lage gives him way too little time to make an impact. 20 minutes aren’t enough. He wasn’t supplied with enough balls to work with either. I’m very satisfied with the defensive play and the overall performance. We had enough chances to win the game. Looking forward to the next game already. We must give Lage and the new players time to gel. Given the time since the their arrival, I think the debutants were impressive.
Family orientated? I don’t think that’s relevant to a footballers ability Muttleigh.
No but getting a bollocking my Mrs Nettonho when arriving home at an ungodly hour smelling of Vinho is all part of the great plan.
But it is relevant to team-spirit methinks.
Watching wolves is like the groundhog day movie , get a cf in asp, adama is the incredible sulk, new signings give them time, 10 without a win, too good to go down?
Wolves aie we.
That’s harsh. Whatever you think of his performances he’s never been anything other than the consummate professional
The attached picture sums up our problem in a nutshell.
Lots of positives this afternoon but after our dominance of the first half, with no tangible advantage gained, it was all too predictable a result.
What do we want? A striker!
When do we want him?
NOW!!!
I’m not entirely convinced by Collins yet.
His first touch can be poor and he can switch off at critical times.
I’m sure he will come good but at the moment he reminds me a bit of Richard Stearman.
I liked him, he was a good footballer, but a lot of fans used to say “A mistake waiting to happen”.
‘Arry Kane made it happen.
If he had been on our side today, we would have won by at least two goals.
I do think that, irrespective of Collins’ ability, we shouldn’t have let Coady go. His on-field leadership skills are irreplaceable and would have been be just as valuable if he was in midfield as well as in defence.
I very much subscribe to the view that we DO take the utterly disastrous end to last season in to account .Lage is on borrowed time in my book .When you cannot score and do not create enough chances to do so the end result will be multiple defeats which we are seeing .
Personally I do not find entertainment in no points yet again and no goals yet again .
A new striker has been needed for two years and the next 10 days on that front are utterly crucial to a decent season .
Let us hope Shi and Sellars can deliver .
This was a bitterly disappointing result.
We played well first half, controlled the game and as has been said, should have been ahead at the break..
Second half however was very different… Spurs pressed us and the inevitable happened with Kane scoring a fairly straightforward nod home at the far post ,
There’s no need to pick out individual errors for that .. it happens in football… and probably Kane’s eye for an opening was the difference.
That said the statistics are beginning to ing alarm bells… they say winning can become a habit … we’ll so can losing and I’m sorry but I don’t subscribe to the argument… ‘the performance was good and didn’t merit a defeat …’
Well personally and right now … I’d much rather have an ugly 1-0 win .
Guedes and Nunes showed a lot of class and Neves was outstanding but there are questions I would ask of Traore… again he looked hapless and disinterested… admitted asked to play right wing back.., but he just seemed as though he couldn’t be bothered .. sulking maybe….
Dendoncker and Jimenez combined to fluff an opportunity and the reality is … we just haven’t got a solution to the goal drought…
Marybe I’m being unkind.. their are good signs but until we solve the malaise of scoring were in for a long season..,
No Lord Twix, you`re not being unkind. What you say is spot on right.
Traore makes it obvious that he simply doesn`t want to be here. So why play him ?
Bruno is fast losing the plot. He`s become overwhelmed by the theory of HOW we play, and appears unconcerned that we consistently lose. This attitude can only permeate to all who play for him, with disastrous results. Its surely time for Bruno to understand that there`s no such thing as being a good loser. A loser is a loser is a loser. Period.
Good signs are not enough. If we don`t start winning soon this is going to develop into a hard season of playing catch-up — and we`ve already given likely relegation candidates three games start !!
– Traore got only 20 minutes and wasn’t involved often enough. He should sign a new contract and continue to improve. I hope Lage chooses a rotation system up front based on performances and opposition. When Traore got the ball, there was three players on him at once. If we could exploit that, and use it as a trap, we’d have a deadly weapon at our hands.
Because he produced more in his cameo, Mike, than most others on the pitch did in the whole game. Now only if he was interested!
We both know he’s got loads more in his locker…
It’s his demeanour that looks disinterested..:
Maybe it’s me…
I’d love nothing more than to see him sign a contract.. if that’s not to be then he should give his all and see his contract out… provided he’s not sold of course.
A lot of his problems seem to be in his own head..
sAME OLD, SAME OLD,
We are a 20 goal a season striker short of being a good team.
Fair summing up Thomas. Wolves were in control for a large part of the first half. Even second half under pressure we weren’t so bad. But there it is I was hoping WBA WOuld lose by loads Always shite.
Personally I thought we played a decent game of football but we just can not score why I don’t know its not like we don’t create chances. May be going 4 4 2 could be the answer but I’m sure Lage knows he has to do somethig we have a quality squad it just needs some confidence I don’t know answers on a postcard.
Sack Lage as they should have done at the end of last season
And replace him with whom?
Noddy presumably Doog
Younger generation want instantaneous success.
Those with a brain know that isn’t reality.
Lopetegi
He’s at Seville now so that ship has sailed. He was a free agent when Large was appointed though.
This is the kind of football Fosun wants us to play – on the forefoot. Dominating with possession play. The only ingredients missing are scoring goals and winning. I don’t always agree with his team selection, but I trust he’ll get us back to winning ways.
I would suggest there is no column for aesthetics on Fosun’s spread sheet.
Scoring goals and winning are the only thing that matter in football, everything else is a bonus
Not at all! Far too early to even consider that option, he’s building a team.
The goals, I am sure, are going to come. Patience is needed here. Teams who have the sacking manager syndrome hardly ever prosper. Man Utd are the classic example, they are the victims of their own poor decision making. Sacking of Managers is definitely not the answer. Fans and boards are far too trigger happy. Bruno is a very competent coach, he’s at last nearly got the team of his dreams, let him reap what he’s sown.
W’ell see the rewards this season I’m sure.
I don’t even want to contemplate the alternative.
While the arrival of Nunes and the other lad are welcome and have shown commitment by Fosun I can’t help thinking they have got it arse about tit.
By that I mean a striker should have been a priority I am sure we would have more points by now if they had got a striker first then Nunes and the other lad.
Bruno has to bear some of the responsibility his subs again didn’t come off he needs to be more proactive and descivise .
A good performance but the wrong result. Again! Are we able to take the positives from yesterday and win our next three league games, which on paper are all winnable?
Bruno now has a full squad and a stronger bench and yes I agree that we need another striker, but we may have to settle for what we’ve got. And that means the pressure is on Raul. Can he return to his old form? I desperately hope so because no one else is stepping up.
And the answer isn’t sack the manager, at least not now, but we all know that unless we get points on the board quickly, the board will sack him.
The willingness of Mr. Goa to stump up a very significant amount of cash for new quality players at what, for him, are very difficult times, is the be much applauded. But the stark reality is that until any available cash is used to prioritize solving our greatest weakness, we will remain in serious trouble.
If we don`t score goals we can`t win. And we can`t score goals !
This season, one goal scored within the first six minutes of the first game , followed by 264 minuets of nothing !!
No wins in the last ten games, no matter when they were played, tells its own miserable story.
We`ve known of the problem for two years. Two years of sweeping it under the carpet and scraping by on odd goal wins and a lot of draws. How loyal are our fans to continue to support the team so fervently in the face of this gross underperformance, and for how long can it continue?
For me it`s the attitude of Bruno which is the most worrying. In today`s post game interview he again spoke of great pride in the way we played, but seemed totally unconcerned that we again lost, and that yet again we failed to score. He endlessly talks about the need to be ‘more clinical ‘ and that goals ‘will come’. Really ? Surely even he can`t believe this !!
My view is that Bruno needs to be looking very carefully over his shoulders. No team owner can possibly continue tolerate this degree of failure, irrespective of cause. And, as is well known, Chinese businessmen are not renowned for unlimited patience.
I agree Mike, we have some superb players, continuity in squad and culture. For me the jury is out on Bruno. Of course I want him to succeed, but there is a consistent downturn in results. Yes we need a centre forward, another finisher, it might be the difference that makes everything click, if so confidence will grow amongst the team and the manager. We do have potentially a great team, compared to some of the sides we have had down the years it is a different class! I still can’t believe the fantastic players we now have playing in our famous shirts.
Time will tell and time is very short for Lage to prove he can turn this around, I really hope he can, we don’t want to change manager. I have a nagging doubt about his motivational qualities, but prove me wrong Bruno, our owners won’t wait much longer though. Up the Wolves!
From what i saw today all we need is a striker and a good experiance central defender with Killman and for sure we challenge for Europe.The team is there, come on last push Jeff , please bring these 2 players and it will be the team to watch.
The way we played today .Particulatly first half should put the fears to bed. In the end it was just a slice of luck here and there. The corner. The geezer headit it on. Slap bang on Kanes head. Few inches here and there. Will be ok. For about 25 mins we schooled Spurs. There you go. Take your chances
Lage is probably on a shortening leash. But, truth be told, the higher ups are just now starting to provide him with support. I think he deserves the full season.
– Agree
Maybe Lou but if we’re in a relegation battle whenever halfway through the season is he’s gone.
I live in the US and it’s almost unheard of for a coach not to get at least two seasons (and, less than three is a monumental failure). So, I’m not quite as used to calling for a coach’s head.
I’m not calling for his head (yet!) but that’s the way is. Personally i think we’ll tread water this season.
I wasn’t saying it’s better in the US (sports seasons are also shorter). Just, not used to seeing coaches on the firing line after such a short time.
It’ll come
Patience folks
When this squad fires the rest had better beware!
Just hold your nerve
I can live with the result more than I can the media’s disdain for any team outside of the “top 6” (or maybe 7 now with Newcastle) right now.
Talksport yesterday and today in their so called build up to the big match may as well have been Radio Tottenham.
In the half hour before kick off today they did about 20 minutes on Spurs and more on tonight’s boxing than they did on Wolves !
But even if we beat such a team it makes no difference.
Had we done so today tomorrow’s headlines would have been “Tottenham in crisis !” then hours or air time devoted to that shite.
Talk Sport IS Radio London.
And Manchester
Now that Arsenal are doing well we’ll never hear the last of it.
Just to give that some context….
Of course, I don’t expect the media to allocate as much time to us lesser lights as they do for the commercials juggernauts and their demanding sponsors. Just a little respect is all I ask. Rather than treating us as if we are just the “other team” in the next episode of Roy of the Rovers .
National radio, my arse.
(Look at me, replying to my own posts. How more up yourself, can you get ?)
Maybe it was pre planned or Moutinho was judged to be tiring but from his substitution on the momentum changed. Gaps appeared and Spurs could apply consistent pressure. Kane found a bit of space and does what he does. And because Wolves can’t convert any opportunity the result was inevitable.
Deja vu indeed as Muttleigh said again. As Muttleigh said again.
Totally agree Penn, I thought that as soon as Moutinho went off we started giving the ball away and lost control of the game.
Prior to that we played some lovely stuff, but we really need a top class striker to finish things off.
UTW!
Our rejigged team is work in progress.
Bruno and the boys obviously know that scoring goals is a problem and I’m sure they’re trying to work something out in the training sessions.
I mean… come on… Nunes, although he knows his Portuguese team mates, was chucked into his first Premiership game stone cold. That’s hard!
Holding on to Neves is absolutely crucial now.
I’m convinced we have a really good squad of players and need to give them a bit of leeway.
Now is not the time for chucking manager and players out.
Next 7 league games include Newcastle Liverpool Man City West Ham Chelsea. That will bring me to my ’10 games’. I can only see possibly 2 points from the above so we need to beat Bournemouth and Southampton. That would put us on 9 points from 10 games which is just about keeping afloat. There does not appear to be an obvious bottom 3 at the moment but unless we start putting the ball in the net we will be one of them. We haven’t scored a goal for nearly 4 and a half hours. It can’t continue.
Agree. We have an attractive looking squad and a sense of team identity and ethos which is probably the envy of quite a few teams. BUT, for some reason we can’t score goals! I know we had the injury to Raul, but there is something else going on. I don’t know what it is, but it almost feels as though players have somehow lost a bit of their footballing instinct when it comes to shooting on target and scoring. Bruno is known as a master tactician, but could it be a case of too much coaching? Our profligacy in front of goal is ridiculous. I’m all for giving Bruno time to get the team to gel and to sort this issue out, but he is going to have to do something different, adopt a different attitude, whatever, otherwise I fear his position will eventually come under threat if the goals don’t come.
Like virtually all on this site, I`m just hoping against hope that somehow Bruno turns it all around.
But let`s face facts. Zero wins in ten games, and the team`s continuing inability to score goals is a dreadful record. This smacks of a similarity with Bruno`s second season at his last job, which ended suddenly and badly.
In the last resort, football is not about systems and tactics, nor about how attractively a team might play. It`s only ever about winning. I would suggest that not many Club owners in the most competitive league in the world would have demonstrated such extended patience.
Time is not on Bruno`s side. This ten game judgement period favored by many is totally unrealistic. I believe that if things haven`t changed significantly within the next 3 or 4 games Bruno will be gone. And frankly, in such a case he could have few complaints
Wow
If you’re starting to lose the faith COD it’s even worse than I thought.
Cheer up, we might score another goal before the end of August.
I NEVER lose the faith PJB. Wolves till I die. Premier League or Division 4. It’s what we are ay it chap.
Quote you above
“There does not appear to be an obvious bottom 3 at the moment but unless we start putting the ball in the net we will be one of them. We haven’t scored a goal for nearly 4 and a half hours. It can’t continue.”
Sorry I’d say that’s losing the faith.
Obviously we have different interpretations.
And why do you keep harping on about Div 4, it’s not where we want to be.
I don’t keep harping on about Division 4. My comments on the premier league campaign were entirely justified. I just basically said we need to score more goals. And anyway. What is the problem with highlighting Division 4. We have been there before haven’t we ? Don’t get so defensive. I know a lot of the happy clappers fro. 2018 don’t like it. Because they weren’t there.
Stroke of genius COD. No one else has managed to work out that we need to score more goals – well spotted.
And you do keep harping on about Div. 4 and you weren’t the only one there were a few thousand of us so give it a rest, it’s not relevant. Today is today.
Yes but it is relevant to where we are now and I will never ever forget where we came from. You might. Io to you.
7 to go and yes i am chomping at the bit to say something but i shall resist until the fog clears after 10 games…….. hopefully!
A striker will help our situation but it won’t change the fact that the spine of this team has not been scoring goals for more than 2 seasons. Hopefully Guedes will help fill that void but Nunes is creative rather than free scoring which won’t necessarily mean more goals with our current forward line. ‘If’ a striker does come in he will need to hit the ground running.
Positive signs in the first half but i’m not sure they were any more positive than the signs in the previous two games. We need more than signs now though else we’ll be recruiting Big Sam in the new year to steady the ship.
After 3 games still no win but if we take the positives we could and maybe should have won all 3. Yesterday was just the same plenty of good football but no end product every one knows we need a striker its just trying to get him in.All in all the positives look very good Nunes looks the real deal And Guedes is not afraid to shoot just need them on target.
Everyone knows Wolves need a goal scorer but there is a possible partial solution until\when that comes about. Comparing Wolves to other clubs, and Spurs in the second half, not enough players are getting into the opposition box. They can pick up loose balls, pull defenders out of position and distract goalkeepers.
This may seem bleeding obvious so why aren’t we doing it? Is it not part of Lage’s plan or are Wolves too cautious?
Somebody somewhere knows why we can’t score for toffee’s.
But it isn’t me.
Loads of talent in the team. No shortage of effort. Loads of attacking intent. And for what?
Zilch!!!
I never blame the manager until he has his own players. Certainly the owners have backed him in the window, and the quality of the play reflects this. But, at the end of the day, it’s a results business and something has to change.
I like Bruno. I like his footballing ethos. I like his openness. And I’m loving his team. I want him to succeed and I remain confident that he will.
I don’t feel we can condemn Bruno for last season at all as the last couple of months he had an injury ravaged squad of Nuno players.
Keep the faith. The owners do care. The future is Golden.
“Plus ca change plus c’est la meme chose” roughly translates as “Everything changes but still remains the same”.
All credit to Fosun for the transfer business they have done, albeit I have reservations about Collins who reminds me of his namesake Neil from 20 odd years back.
But with the transfer window now into it’s dying days why oh why did we prioritise a central defender above all when every man and his dog knows we need a striker and have done since the Jiminez/Luiz incident. 39 goals in the last 41 PL matches speaks for itself.
Numerous candidates were out there and have already joined other clubs.
Serious, serious lack of judgement. Was it just to get rid of Coady?
Action needed NOW.
Yawn. It’s a wonder you didn’t mention Jota. Again….
That you compare the two Collins’s says it all in my eyes.
So we all agree a new, better CF would help. Another thought that came to me (I think a lot, you see), in previous seasons, we mostly always had a bad first half, to then see a vast improvement in the second half. And we all wondered what in heaven’s name did Nuno say to the team to fire them up ! But fired up they were. So maybe, someone (a long term player who was there), should tell Bruno what Nuno said to fire the team up.
Other than that, I would much prefer Traore than Podence. Some Wolves fans don’t think much of him, but Conte ensured there were three players covering him every time he came anywhere near the ball. Him and Guedes on the wings and Nunez behind them centrally, let Neves / Mautinho control midfield and let RAN have a good rest (and a good bloody haircut).
Finally, give the new boys and Raul a run against Preston. Hopefully they’ll get a few goals and a confidence boost (unless we miss the boat there too).
Are we too good to go down
How are Leeds and Fulham doing in the table so far?
Quite well but it won’t end that way.
Yes!!;!!
It’s only one game with the new players. In future weeks there presence will I’ve no doubt have a positive effect on the goals column. Quality through balls, dribbles up the pitch, better finishing plus Raul getting back up to speed, Neto playing for the team 😉 it can all happen and probably will. They better not flog Neves though to pay for that jigsaw completing striker.
Meet the new Wolvesmobile.
You’ve got to show some support haven’t you?
I wanted to call him ‘Wolfie’, Sue preferred ‘Coady’.
But in the end we agreed on ‘The Doog’.
A legend.
Very nice wheels on Doog … Doog…
Like the colour mate..
It was the nearest we could get to Old Gold.
Rather closer than Wolves sometimes have over the last few years.
Maybe you should have called it Willie Carr…
Or Derek Parkin … g ….!??
29 Nov. 2020.
Raul Jiminez is almost fatally injured at Arsenal.
Happily, Raul is back with us and remains a very decent footballer.
Unfortunately and unsurprisingly he is not and probably never will be the same psychologically as he was prior to the “incident” with David Luiz. We lost a world class centre forward that night and also he is now 2 years older.
A very big pair of boots to fill but we haven’t made much of a job of trying to do so. Just look at the number of goals we have scored since.
And this is what is at the core of our problem.
Sorry to highlight the elephant in the room.
“Sorry to highlight the elephant in the room”
Again, and again, and again.
FFS.
Try making a contribution of your own for a change FFS.
I used to.
Don’t like hearing the same stuff over and over and over, so have now made a decision that this is my last post.
No way mate. Might be same old shit . But same old boring conspiracy theorists. Fosun to blame erm…… the burger and chips to blame erm….Chinese Communist party to blame…. erm……
Or the elephant no longer in the room?
Maybe the teams we are losing and tying just aren’t as bad as everyone here assumes.
When you say “tying” I assume you mean “drawing”?
It might be just me being paranoid but that’s quite an odd choice of word, very North American really.
Some of your comments on recent blogs remind me of another North American who used to post on here.
Who would that be?
If Liverpool continue how they are playing (before Monday’s game), they will get 38 points and risk going down.
Yes it’s a relegation 6 pointer tomorrow night.
Tell you what PJB. Next bloggers get together. Whenever that is. Just come along and have a beer. Of course. You will be welcome. Wolves ay we !!
Don’t be silly Brommo ..we love you !
Messed up tv recording so
Have only seen YouTube highlights. And read some match reports
20 shots says 20 chances to me
It’s not. a Great start of course but we’re not crap ….and doom and gloom is way premature from my perspective
Still in my 10 game bubble and expecting clear signs of solid progress by mid October
(Don’t care about Milk Cup )
OODCL
Why? It’s one of only two chances of silverware that we’ve got. And I thought that all competitive sport was about trying to win things. Otherwise what’s the point?
We must care about The Milk Cup.
Otherwise we won’t grow big and strong.
Neto to arsenal ?????? unlike mgw that would be a very big loss .
Around 50 mill so that should get us a striker at least.
Crazy football world merry go round.
That’s just the way it is accept it and move on.
were justa stepping stone.
At the moment!
Crazy merry go round it is and as you say we have to accept it. I’m afraid I’m old school and preferred the days when you signed a player he was here for at least a few years -most of the ’70s team were with us for a decade
But if it balances the books sufficiently for us to bring in a top class striker without losing anyone else then I suppose so be it.
If Wolves were to sell Neto it would be a disaster. Bruno is supposed to be building an attacking fluid front line. Neto is the jewel in the Wolves crown and surely would make no sense at all to sell him at this point? I would much rather keep Neto and spend a relatively low amount to bring in a back-up striker (we’ve been linked to a few sub £10m strikers that look interesting). Are we saying we would be willing to get say somebody like Ramos and lose the potency and vast potential of Neto? Not for me and surely a move that Bruno would not countenance – well let’s hope not.
I totally agree but are we seeing a jota type scenario where promises are made that if you sign for us and a “BIG” club comes in for you as long as the price is right you can move on…. (only in jotas case the price definitely wasn’t right so something else was afoot there.)
Is this the way we are managing to attract these players as a shop window ?
I suppose if that’s the way we have to play this game then that’s what we have to do until hopefully we become one of those “BIG” clubs.
Every word spot on both Silverwolf and spikey.
If we are to build a team selling Neto is completely counter productive in the same way Jota was. But we’re in the grips of Mendes and this is the way he works – the faster his merry go round revolves the more money he makes; we were warned way back by Valencia.
But at the moment we are in a catch 22 because we can’t score goals even with Neto. Let’s just hope that Jeff and his principals realise the better investment option is to hang on to your prize assets because selling clubs don’t break the mould. The correct answer is to reinvest the MGW money on a proper striker and hang on to Neto at all costs.
Let’s hope they see sense and keep Mendes on a short leash; as far as I’m aware Jeff Shi runs WWFC not Jorge Mendes.
We MUST keep Neto! He’s truly exceptional!
Selling Neto would be a real mistake, but this is Jorge’s world and we just live in it …
Can’t see it ‘appening DW.
Yes, the narrative has to change Thomas. But this time a year ago we were saying or thinking the same thing. Then it was null points from 3 games, and now it’s just a
measly one point better. Last season we moved from three successive defeats in August, to genuine European contenders by January 2022, albeit scoring at a snails pace. Bruno showed his quality in that period. However our threadbare squad finally cracked after that and the loss of Traore on loan without replacement was crucial.
But, we have a superior first team squad this time, with more to come after a comprehensive summer clear-out. Deficiencies in the squad have been resolved with signings of very high quality, including a couple that we could only have dreamt about before. We are spending serious money. A season ago we weren’t. A striker will almost certainly come in, but new signings will take a while to gel. To me the narrative should be patience. The team is good enough. Bruno is good enough. Give them time.
The current rumours seem to be focused on Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic. If we are to believe the press, Wolves have a verbal agreement to sign him. He seems to have a decent record in the Bundesliga.
Just hope he’s better than a mother Austrian – a certain Stefan Maierhofer…..
For ‘a mother’ read ‘another’.
‘The Hoff’ as we called him had pretty serious stats before Wolves. 24 goals in 38 matches for Rapid Vienna. That’s almost Messi-like! Don’t know about Rapid Vienna but his career went downhill in rapid fashion after Wolves! Should the Baggies be interested, he’s a free agent at the age of 40, with PL experience…
I presume there’s a world of difference between the top flight in Austria compared to Germany where Sasa Kalajdzic plays? We could do with some height up front, so maybe he’s the answer? Well, Man U wanted him, but that’s not a reference these days!
I did see The Hoff get his first goal for Wolves but after that, things just didn’t work out for him. I seem to remember him having a bit of a cult following.
Interestingly, I’ve just found this https://wolvesblog.com/555/revolving-door
Maybe there’ll be an announcement ahead of tomorrow’s match.
What’s happened to that lot of bloggers (apart from the Austrian ones)? Maybe we can get the lowdown on our prospective new boy from our old Austrian friends.
If I remember correctly, when Wolves brought The Hof in, we had a guy (Surman ??) who used to launch throw in’s a great distance. We all thought great ! New tactic. Any throw in, in the opposing half will be like a corner to us with the Hof (at 6′ 9″ as the target). Unfortunately, every time Mick brought on Hoffy as a sub, he would take Surman off. I do remember distinctly making a point at the time. His first goal for Wolves was about 2 mins afetr he came on and scored with his feet, not his head).
Am I the only one who feels that Neto just isn’t the same player that had us enthralled pre knee injury? I know he’s only young but it was extremely serious and in his games at the end of last season and this he has, niall honesty, been a luxury we can’t afford. To boot he’s so one footed that defenders with nouse can usher him out of dangerous situations.
I for one would take £50m plus on the proviso that it is invested wisely.
So far Hindsight absolutely not the same player I agree and if we could sell for £50illion it might be tempting.
But on a wider issue it’s about time the authorities did something about players being “got at”, which quite clearly Arsenal are doing to Neto and in a very blatant fashion.
Is Arsenal to blame or Mendes?
What Jorge giveth, Jorge taketh away”.
But Arsenal are also in on this up to their necks.
The authorities should be looking at them both.
Why? It’s not tapping up, it’s just the way all clubs do their business.
We have agreed personal terms with the Austrian striker that plays for Stuttgart, but have yet to agree a fee with them for the player.
We’ve used Mendes to get Guedes and Nunes this summer, probably talking with both players behind the scenes for quite some time I would imagine.
Perhaps we should report ourselves to the authorities?
Of course it’s tapping up; Have you read all Arsenal’s press releases? In fairness to Jeff that’s NOT the way we do business.
Are you for real? It clearly is the way we do business – talking to players via agents before talking to their clubs – as do all football clubs.
I’d bet all of Mendes clients were on the hook before we even tabled an offer to any of their respective clubs.
That’s a good point you make regarding Neto, Hind Sight. When you combine him being not quite on his game together with Raul and Adama both misfiring, this is the nub of why we are toothless in attack. Perhaps now is the time to be ruthless and bring in a new forward line but it’s a risk particularly when they arrive from abroad.
First of all Hind Sight, your proviso is open to multiple different interpretations and secondly, if we’re to get a new striker, then it wouldn’t be sensible to deny him the services of our most exciting and creative provider surely?
Pre injury, I’d agree with you Pete.
Wolves just signed Neto to a new contract presumably paying him more money.
If that means nothing for Wolves, what’s the point?
Make him pay back the extra wages he got for signing the new contract if he isn’t even going to stay for a year. And demand top dollar.
Of course, we don’t want to piss off Jorge too much.
If we can get enough for him to bring in two more forwards of high enough quality, I would consider it because he doesn’t seem to be that high of a goal scorer.
I like him but if it is a business to him, then it is a business to us.
Hi John. I disagree with your points.
Neto is an exceptionally good young player and Wolves should do everything they can within reason to retain him.
So they offered him a new 5 year contract and a pay rise. It was absolutely the right thing to do.
Like all professional footballers, playing is their paid job. Therefore their relationship to the club is different to ours. They are employees who play for a living. We are supporters who follow a team for our entertainment.
If a player is offered a new job, that is more attractive and pays better, good luck to them.
In the defence of both Pedro and Wolves, the player has said he’s very happy where he is and the club have said they really do not want to sell him, hence the leaked £50m valuation.
I really struggle to understand your position.
UTW
Go back over the last few blogs and read John’s comments.
His position is that he is a wind-up merchant.
I’ll be happy to hold my hands up if I’m wrong, but I have my suspicions that he sounds eerily similar to Clive’s old friend.
I’ve a few little points.
Leave Pedro alone. He’s been brilliant for us and will be again. A really bad injury can take some getting over but, given time, he will, and we will once more revel in the way he skins a defender with ease before thumping it home. I only want to see that in a Gold shirt.
I think the Austrian Alp we are eyeing would be a good signing. He’s not just tall (very), he has by all accounts, great feet and a good footballing brain.
As my old Grandad, who knew a thing or two about football, used to say,
” A good big ‘un is better than a good little ‘un any day ”.
Strong team against PNE tonight please. We need to build a little confidence and score a couple of goals. Hopefully, despite their astonishing defensive record so far this season, PNE can offer themselves up as whipping boys and our heroes can kick-start their spluttering season.
Wolves 3 v 0 PNE
If anybody would have told us before the season started that we would be one point behind Liverpool after 3 games, we would have been very happy.
Very astute, Timbo.