Could have been worse I suppose.
With Gary barely able to field a senior XI it’s commendable that things remained competitive right to the death.
Arsenal went strong with their own team selection and probed from the off without finding that killer final action to settle the nerves.
Had João Gomes managed to edge us ahead with the shot David Reya pushed against the post things would have been very interesting, but it was another Brazilian, Gabriel Jesus, who made the difference, wrestling with Matt Doherty to tee up Trossard to shank home.
You couldn’t begrudge them the lead under the circumstances but at the same time, it was harsh on Wolves for a high energy, well organised first half effort.
The title chasers dialled up the intensity after the break, but the gold shirts maintained a good shape and restricted them to relatively little.
Once Sarabia, Ait-Nouri and Lemina entered the fray, there was even hope someone might produce on the rare occasions we ventured forward but other than the occasional pot shot, nothing materialised.
There were a lot of solid performances but I’ve been pleased with Santi Bueno since he came into the side and he was composed and secure again tonight.
It was also good to see Boubacar Traore get a start and he did well enough, covering the ground and making life difficult for some illustrious opponents. I’m not sure the quality is there on the ball but he’s got a lot of other useful attributes that make him a handy squad player.
Hwang ran around up front and had a few decent touches but everything was coming back towards us instead of getting their defence turned.
Hopefully the minutes in his legs will prove a good investment and we can be more progressive in the more winnable fixtures to come next week.
With the same application we saw tonight there remains hope if not expectation.
Just hope we can push on towards 50 points which would be a magnificent effort for a team written off as relegation candidates. GON has done a magnificent job in securing our Premier League status. Which was his brief. Some big highlights along the way. Tonight we gave everything we could but came up short. And as much as I defend Jeff and Fosun on here I hope they work with Gary to secure an effective summer transfer window that enables him to progress the team further.
Cheese, you and I are often on opposite sides of the fence with regard to our appraisal of Fosun and Shi. But we share one common characteristic in that we`re both ardent fans of our team.
I fully agree with every comment made in your post. In GON we surely have an outstanding coach who has overachieved this season by a huge margin. It seems to me that if we hold on to key members of our squad, and strengthen strategically in the summer, — without going over the top –then we`ll have in place a team that`s able to go head to head with any in this league.
But now we`re coming to crunch time. It`s the time to see just how genuine is Mr Shi in providing GON with the support he surely deserves.
It`s really very straightforward. Either he supports GON and allows him to develop our team into its full potential. Or, he sells off key members of the squad to secure profits to bolster Fosun`s corporate funds, and replaces them as a token gesture with a few journeymen of limited ability.
I sincerely trust that your appraisal of Mr Shi is right and that mine is wrong. Either way we`ll soon know.
I bumped into a couple of Arsenal fans in the car park after the game so for a change here’s their view (given they usually stroll into Molineux and leave with an emphatic win). Firstly they were full of praise for the job GON has done. Secondly if Arsenal were playing say Real Madrid at the Emirates without their (Arsenals) seven best players (their words)from the starting line-up they said both their players and fans would have treated it as a foregone conclusion and the atmosphere would have been like a library. Finally with Wolves in comfortable mid table they thought the spirit of our players and the atmosphere and noise from Wolves fans was superb. They weren’t patronising – just football fans having a chat.
Let’s hope that Fosun can find a way to support Gary in the summer, clear out the dead wood and give him a stronger better balanced squad to give him the chance to really out his stamp on things and see where he can take us.
Hope season does not fizzle out, u might not agree Doherty is finished, we kneed a new gk please,enjoy your weekend ,wolves aie we,God bless u all!
Good evening cheeseburger, hope u well!
Think it’s harsh criticism that sa was at fault for second goal,he was taken out of position by the initial pass/tackle and just good finishing by a quality player, can’t criticise any of the players but id like to have seen the young lad come on for the last 5 ,think of the reception he’d get back at school Monday
NO surprise other than they were kept at bay mostly
Still think
The way we play out from Sa is needlessly risky
Good energy across the board and Gomes was immense… what a save from Rays
Doyle a little under par I thought
But he is still a bargain I hope we grab
Big opportunities coming next few days to
Finish on a more positive note
COYW
Hi Marin.
It’s amazing how two people can watch the same game and come up with totally different thoughts.
Doyle a little under par?
I thought he played a blinder.
Hope to see you and your clan in a couple of weeks.
Yes Doog my friend
Telescope has two ends
Looking forward to proper catch up around bloggers gig and Palace match?
50 points still possible!
We did the best we could under the circumstances and frustrated Arsenal to some degree.
I was impressed with how Chirewa is shaping up, but, as I’ve often remarked, Sa playing from the back unnerves me big time, especially passing square on to Doyle, who always has his back to the Arsenal attackers. There is only one thing he can do… pass it back, which is even riskier.
I’ve got 4 out of the last 5 predictions spot on, so I’ve absolutely no idea where I am in the predictions league. I’m currently about 20th I think, so that’s my consolation for the night.
The Cherries next… I hope we can de-stone them. 🙂
COYW
Shame young Fraser – has paid the price for his under performance against Coventry – a great opportunity for the lad to shine – but felt he got no service on the day and has paid a heavy price – with barely a look-in since.
It seems once Gary goes off of a traditional CF like Sasa ( undeserved ) and Silva ( deserved ) it seems very dificult to get back in and unfortunately Fraser now seems as though he’s ended up in the same group..
Would have been nice to have given him some minutes when Hwang came off – don’t know what he must be thinking now – confidence – wise, as seems to be continualy by-passed now – which I think is a tad unfair !
A very creditable performance considering most of our best players did not start. Hwang got a half in, and the others came in with 15 mins to go. So they all got some good minutes in and hopefully will all be fit for the next game. Which brings to mind a few years ago, when we were fighting relegation and had two games in a week – against Man u. and another team (could have been Burnley). We needed at least 3 points from those games. A weaker team was fielded against ManU (and many Wolves fans moaned) and then a few days later the manager fielded our strongest side and gained the important 3 points. And all of a sudden we all said what a genius our manager was. Maybe a win in the next game is much more achievable (hence not risking our semi fit players). Or am I looking too deeply into this??
Nope vicsmith
I was thinking the same thing. We are now more likely to do Bournemouth with a fitter squad .
Utw
Faith in the face of adversity.
What did our loss to Arsenal reveal?
Mostly things we already know.
We have brilliant supporters who are totally behind the team, what we are trying to achieve and the direction we are heading.
We stood toe to toe with a team who are top of the league and could’ve nicked a point.
That was with a tiny squad, a 15 year old on the bench and only 10 first teamers available.
We have a coach who, to say he has over achieved and smashed our expectations this season, would be a huge understatement.
We have some fantastic players who will form the nucleus of our team next season, and they absolutely deserve, on merit, the owners backing this Summer.
We should be, and are, proud to have Wolves Old Gold running through our veins.
That the future is bright.
UTW
We played well yesterday and deserved the plaudits for giving one of the best teams in the world a good game. I also thought Doyle had a great game, running the show like a quarterback from deep, and we had the confidence to play it around at the back and keep the ball. I know what you mean about Sa when we do this but I don’t think it’s his fault, often the receiving players are quite static and don’t give him any options. Sa played very well and made four or five excellent saves to keep us in the game. I don’t blame him for the second goal particularly as it was a bit of ping pong that left him wrong footed, but I’m tearing my hair out at the number of goals we’ve let in in injury time, surely the worst record in the league. We seem to lose our shape after 90 minutes and it’s cost us time and time again.
Also wondered why have Fraser on the bench if you’re not going to play him when we have zero strikers, and feel he deserves more minutes to show what he can do. Was impressed with Bouba, who hassled and harried the Arsenal midfield all game, and Gomes was amazing as always. Hugo Bueno did well to keep Saka quiet and Santi kooks a first team player now. I just hope we can keep the squad together as so many we now think of as first team players are still quite inexperienced at this level and can only get better.
Finally a word about Chirewa, who I thought looked excellent and full of confidence. Certainly one for the future. On that note, I remember last summer we bought 18-year-old Enzo Gonzales from a club in South America, who was said to be an outstanding prospect up front, but he’s not been anywhere near the squad even when all our top strikers are injured. Does anyone know why not?
As for recruitment in the summer, it would be good to get a couple more players but which top quality strikers will be willing to sit on the bench waiting for someone to get injured when Channy, Cunha and Me to are all fit? Sasa did that for the first half of the season and Gary O’Neil felt he had to loan him out to give him some minutes. I’d be very happy if we continue to develop the youngsters in our club and turn them into Premier League players – what’s the point in having an Academy otherwise? So I support Fosun in keeping control of the finances – as other clubs have shown, it’s not as easy to buy your way out of trouble as you think. As long as we keep Gary O’Neil and most of the current squad I’ll be happy, and bring in two or three young players like Joao and Santi to strengthen the squad.
In the end football is just an entertaining sideshow we use to distract us while the world burns, so best not to take it too seriously.
Some good points Catford, butI had to check it wasn’t April 1st when I read your comment that Arsenal are, “one of the best teams in the world “.
Well, Arsenal are top of the Premier League, the strongest league in the world, and were quarter-finalists in the Champions League. What else would you call them other than one of the best teams in the world?
I have to say Thomas that I thought your headline “Could have been worse I suppose” was close to being what Alexander Pope called “Damning with faint praise”.
I agree that it certainly could have been, considerably, worse; but, despite the dominance of our illustrious opponents – who I thought were brilliant in their quick movements downfield as they converted possession in defence into sustained attacks – with a couple of ‘fine margins ‘ working out differently it could actually have been far BETTER than could have been expected.
The result turned on three episodes – the saved shot by Gomez and their two goals. The reaction by their keeper would have had to be only minutely slower for JG to have scored. An inch to the right and the shot which brought their first goal would have hit the post and stayed out rather than going in. Very ‘fine margins’ in both cases.
That could have seen us going into extra time ahead. Things might have gone differently for their second goal – although I expect most of us would have settled for keeping the team currently top of the EPL at bay for 94 minutes before ending up with a draw. After the initial block the ball fell in the one position that gave him the chance to beat JS at the near post before he could get back in position.
In other words, with key moments working out almost imperceptibly differently, we would have drawn or even won. This surely deserves a ‘glass half full’ response rather than thinking that the need for a crib board was only narrowly averted. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Well done the lads
Well done GON
Come on you Wolves – let’s give Jurgen a send off that’ll leave him with nightmares””
Well played to those who were on the pitch under difficult circumstances.
But one look at the team sheet and particularly the bench illustrates exactly where we are. 4/5 players I’ve not even heard of, including a 15 year old apparently taken out of school to train with squad. Would be funny if not symptomatic of the Shi syndrome – do it on the cheap and chance your arm with the odd big speculative splash of disasters. (Cuitrone/Silva/Guedes/Collins et al)
We have a very talented FIRST TEAM but with very little quality back up.
Injuries aren’t mitigation for the current situation. Everyone has to deal with them but you can’t do it with our lack of numbers. Many of those on display on Saturday did their best but simply aren’t good enough to be starting. Even Nuno’s squad looked like Man City or Chelsea by comparison.
I would love to be able to enthuse as does Cheeseburger in the opening salvo above but would venture the opinion that if we don’t get it right this summer we could go into a tailspin. After the last 2 seasons aren’t we going to learn the lesson?
Gary O’Neill has done a fantastic job as did Julen Lopetegui before him.
He is now making it clear he expects to be backed. If he isn’t don’t be surprised if he repeats JL’s rapid walk through the exit door along with players like Neto, Cunha, RAN and Gomes. I know not all will stay but it’s imperative that Fosun and Shi comprehend that our football club should have aspirations way beyond an annual relegation battle. Our potential is far higher than the Brightons and Bournemouths of this world never mind Luton an d Sheff Utd. But their lack of ambition is also illustrated by the abandonment of all stadium redevelopment plans and a stadium which is showing distinct signs of moving towards being unfit for performance a la 1980’s pre Sir Jack..
Don’t think Fosun really know what they want to do with WWFC but watch out Jeff or GON will be gone before you know it. And then we could be heading back to the days of Tommy Doc, Sammy Chapman and Bill McGarry Mk2 – it happens very quickly. I’ve seen it all before and it led to 19 years in the wilderness,
Greetings,
Good effort lads.
The Cherries result could determine our mood going forward. Fulham had Traore & Jimenez on the bench. We’ve been missing a threat upfront.
Watched the game with a Toffee, said we were doing alright. Can’t complain. Was pleased they got the VAR wheel of fortune pay out this week. On such 3 points are fortunes made. Nuno’s been there before I recall. Gazzbo’s had a few to deal with already. Can enough manure be dumped on the VARse unfolding before us? it takes the joy outta football. A particularly fine offside to stop Cov going to the final. Classic.
Have I got any answers? No, but I hear Tina the Psychic Snail is taking bookings for lettuce readings.
1 lv & COYW
You know, sometimes, I do wonder exactly what those who have a go at Fosun actually want from them.
To “do a Man City/Chelsea”? Yeah, that’ll work well, just ask Everton and Forest.
Complaining about FFP/PSR/whatever they call it next is all well and good, to a point, however, if the authorities got rid of it (not gonna happen), it would just add even more justification in their eyes to have a go at Jeff, Fosun, the PRC, etc. for not spending enough .
Dragging up transfers from years ago that didn’t work out to further justify their anti-Fosun stance. I mean, show me a club that HASN’T bought players for relatively big money that then turned out to be duds. It’s not an exact science, these things happen.
Throwing comments they made about their ambitions when they first took over back in their faces. Things change (just like they did when Sir Jack got us promoted).
Continually doom-mongering: GON’s gonna walk out, just like JL, THIS is the year that Fosun are going to dump us, there’s another Bhatti-type era around the corner, etc. etc., and eventually, if/when one of these scenarios does play out, they’ll be giving it the full “told you so”. I mean, if you say enough things enough times, eventually, something’s gonna stick, right?
Yes, we did have a close shave last season, and there were some panic buys at inflated prices mid-season to get us out of it, which ultimately worked out, in terms of survival, but we’re now paying for it in terms of our ability in the market. Let’s see what happens in the summer.
I’m not saying Fosun haven’t made mistakes. On the odd occasion I do post on here, I have stated where I think they’ve made mistakes (Silva and giving Nuno the bullet being the biggest), but overall, as far as the last 45-odd years of my support is concerned at least, I can’t see anyone justifying how Fosun’s ownership hasn’t been positive for us: as far as the top flight is concerned, apart from a 6th position in 1980 when we last won the League Cup, until Fosun took us back up, we’ve ALWAYS been strugglers, not to mention the near 20 years stuck fast in the second tier.
No, for me, as owners, they’ve been positive for us, and as others have said on here before, be careful what you wish for…
Couldn’t agree more. On the whole Fosun’s ownership has been positive. Their mistakes are obvious but are outweighed by their successes. OK, the ‘ten year plan’ for regular European football is badly off -track, but just look at the Championship and League One. So many of our past contemporaries, former Premier League sides, are floundering around. Our major mistakes in Silva, sacking Nuno and hiring Bruno Lage led to a period of great instability, but our early promise under Fosun/Nuno is bring strongly revived with Gary O’Neil. Next season will confirm this emphatically. I’m all for Lopetegui taking the West Ham job as rumoured if Moyes is sacked, as that will keep their thoughts away from an approach to Gary.
Occasionally I have a peep at League 2 & National League stuff, even Sunday League in the park, what is amazing is the concept of playing out from the back starting with a sweeper keeper. It has taken root in our football even in places where the pitches are poor and the players lack the fitness, technique or intelligence to make it work.
My point being that in the Premier League, Man City are clearly the best at this tactic having bought the best players to deliver it and coached to perfection. Everyone else is not quite as good by small degrees, even Arsenal & Liverpool. Our own beloved Wolves are good but not secure however the added problem for our boys is a lack of forward options, even when the ball is still in our midfield areas , we have nothing going on around or beyond the opposition defensive line especially at the moment. Jose Sa is unfairly judged many times because he is under constant pressure, our usual back three receive way too many passes from midfield players who lack forward passing options. We are basically playing football in our own half.
Not going to score and win until that changes. Think we all know what needs to be done.
Just seen the fabio Silva rangers collection be surprised if we get a B&Q voucher for him
Even the Lone Ranger would get shot of Silva!